Fair Lawn
Why it's listed
Fair Lawn is a brick Italianate house of about 1860 on the west side of Route 9-D near Cold Spring, in Putnam County, New York. It rises three stories under a flat roof, with stone quoins at each corner and round-headed six-over-six windows topped by drip moldings. Thomas P. Rossiter, a well-known painter of portraits and religious and historical subjects, moved from New York City to Cold Spring in 1860 and lived in the house, which he designed himself. A later owner, Chalmers Dale, added the Greek dentiled cornice around the top floor and altered the porch supports. Over time a porch wrapped the first floor on three sides, a porte-cochere extended from the east front, and a brick and shingle wing was added on the north. The house faces east toward a private drive and woodlands, with the Hudson River to the west. It is regarded as one of the most important Italianate residences in the Hudson Highlands, and its link to Rossiter adds to its importance.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of the most important Italianate residences in the Hudson Highlands. It occupies a prominent site overlooking the Hudson River and West Point and retains significant classical elements and decoration. It is also associated with Thomas P. Rossiter, a nationally renowned painter who designed it for himself.
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 82001240, listed November 23, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | NY 9-D, Cold Spring |
|---|---|
| County | Putnam County |
| Listed | November 23, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001240 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect: Thomas P. Rossiter; builder unknown |
| Architectural style | Italianate (mid-19th century residential architecture) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition described as good; still used as a residence, as it was originally. |
| Acreage | 68.1 |
| Coordinates | 41.41650, -73.94451 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 82001240.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5429847
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.