Beardslee Farm
Why it's listed
Beardslee Farm is a 256-acre agricultural district on flat, fertile land beside the Unadilla River in Pittsfield, Otsego County. Jabez Beardslee began assembling the property around 1799, and the family farmed it for generations. The farmhouse grew in three stages: a c1790 tavern moved to the site, a c1800 section, and a larger 1810 Federal-style block later given Italianate details. Nearby stand a horse barn, carriage house and corn house built in 1855, a pump house from the 1920s, and a draft-style hop barn from the 1860s. A small Fairchild family cemetery and the site of an earlier farm lie to the north. The farm reflects the shift from hop growing to dairying. Jabez Dwight Beardslee sold early NATCO silos and helped found the Dairymen's League of New York State in 1911. The family also held local offices, including Pittsfield town supervisor.
Significance in brief: The farm is significant for agriculture, social history and architecture, tracing a family farm from about 1799 through the hop-growing era to dairy farming. The Beardslee family took part in local government and in dairy organizing, including the founding of the Dairymen's League in 1911. The farmhouse and 1855 barns illustrate regional building traditions.
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 00000748, listed June 30, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | NY 80 at Cty Rd. 18, Pittsfield |
|---|---|
| County | Otsego County |
| Listed | June 30, 2000 |
| Reference number | 00000748 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | c1799-c1946 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Early Republic; Mid-19th Century (farmhouse is a vernacular Federal/Adam style with Italianate details added in 1856) |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Social History, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The farm is still in family ownership and under cultivation; the farmhouse remains a dwelling and the barns are used for agricultural storage. The 1790 tavern section was converted to a garage in the 1970s. |
| Acreage | 256 |
| Coordinates | 42.62321, -75.32137 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 00000748.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4876680
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.