Wyant-Talbot House
Why it's listed
Built around 1870 at 42 Clark Avenue in Cornwall-on-Hudson, this two and one-half-story frame house is a vernacular interpretation of the Stick style. It has clapboard siding, cross gables with lattice trim and diagonal braces, a two-story pyramidal-roofed pavilion over the west porch, and a two-story southern wing with a porte-cochere. Inside, the side-hall plan keeps large first-floor rooms, marble mantels, hardwood floors, four-panel doors with original hardware, an arched opening between the parlors and the original staircase with its polygonal balustrade. A board-and-batten barn/garage and a wooden gazebo also contribute. The land was once part of a larger holding owned by merchant L. N. Wyant and later associated with a Mr. Talbot, also a local merchant. Later subdivision and modern infill altered the surroundings, but this lot keeps its historic setting. The house was recognized as a well-preserved example of the town's Victorian dwellings of 1850 to 1900.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the house as a representative example of the Victorian Dwellings property type (1850-1900) in the town of Cornwall. It is described as a highly intact Stick style dwelling that keeps its original porches, windows, doors, mantels, staircase and woodwork. It is listed under Criterion C for architecture.
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 96000151, listed March 8, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 42 Clark Ave., Cornwall-on-Hudson |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | March 8, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96000151 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca.1870 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian / Stick Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single-family residence; the exterior and interior are described as highly intact with little alteration since construction. |
| Acreage | 1.8 |
| Coordinates | 41.44403, -74.02760 (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 96000151.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8039471
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.