Wood, Wilford, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1890 on Pleasant Hill Road in Mountainville, this two and one-half story frame farmhouse in the town of Cornwall combines clapboard siding, a gable roof with simple brackets, and a small hip-roofed entrance porch with classical columns. Inside, a center hall divides each floor, and original features survive, including a paneled Dutch door, nine-over-nine windows, oak floors, the main staircase and hand-hewn attic timbers. The house sits on about two acres, the only part of a larger farm that still keeps its historic character. It was recognized as a representative Victorian farmhouse that also served as a boarding house during Cornwall's era as a summer resort. Large rooms, cross ventilation, wide lawns and views of the mountains and Moodna Creek drew summer guests, while the kitchen and service rooms supported the farm family. A 1996 garage addition was designed to match the original building.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a representative example of Victorian dwellings and of residences tied to the summer boarding industry of 1850-1900. It retains a high degree of architectural integrity, including original sash, doors, floors and stairs. It is also linked to Cornwall's agricultural development and its popularity as a summer resort.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 98001118, listed August 28, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 58 Pleasant Hill Rd., Mountainville |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | August 28, 1998 |
| Reference number | 98001118 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca.1890 |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling; a three-car garage and breezeway were added in 1996 in a style designed to conform to the historic house. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 41.41129, -74.07320 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 98001118.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8001721
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.