DeRham Farm
Why it's listed
This farm complex sits between Route 9D and the Hudson River near Garrison, in Philipstown. Its core is a two-and-a-half story house, originally Federal in style and probably built by the Wheelock family around 1802-1810, on land that was once part of the Philipse Upper Manor and earlier farmed by tenants of the Davenport family. In the 1830s the house held the Highland School, run by the Watson brothers. Henry C. DeRham, a New York merchant and banker, bought it in 1834 and used it as a summer home; his family kept it until 1949. The DeRhams added a Greek Revival porch and mansard roofs with pedimented dormers. Surviving support buildings include a brick Romanesque carriage house, a Gothic Revival cottage used as a photographic studio, a caretaker's cottage, an orchard house enlarged in 1929 by architect Richard H. Dana, Jr., and various sheds, greenhouses and a barn. The layout of the buildings remains as it was in the nineteenth century.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that the farm illustrates the historic and social development of the area and represents the design characteristics of a nineteenth-century gentleman's farm as it evolved over time. The complex is described as an excellent, intact example of a summer residence and compound of a wealthy New York City family, and the main house is one of the oldest and most substantial residences in this part of Putnam County.
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 80002750, listed March 28, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | N of Garrison on Indian Brook Rd., Garrison |
|---|---|
| County | Putnam County |
| Listed | March 28, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002750 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Federal, with Greek Revival, Mansard, Stick Style, Gothic Revival and Romanesque elements |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The farm is divided into four parcels with separate owners; the main house, carriage house, orchard house and caretaker's cottage are in use, mostly as residences. The east wing and tower of the main house were demolished about 1950. |
| Acreage | 19.4 |
| Coordinates | 41.40523, -73.93758 (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 80002750.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5244057
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.