House at 249 Main Street
Why it's listed
This two-story clapboard house at 249 Main Street in Nelsonville, New York, dates from the late 19th century; the inventory gives c. 1880, while tax records suggest c. 1870. It first appears on the 1912 Sanborn map. The house has a brick foundation, intersecting gable roofs, a central chimney, a panelled frieze board and decorative vergeboards. Pointed-arch two-pane windows sit under the north, east and west gables, and other windows are two-over-two with molded lintels. An oriel window projects on the west wall and a two-story bay on the east. A flat-roofed porch with four piers and corner brackets spans the north front, and a rear frame wing extends south. The house was recognized as a distinctive, intact example of late 19th century residential architecture in the village, blending Carpenter Gothic and Italianate details. Such buildings rarely survive with their original location, design, setting, materials and workmanship. It sits on a third of an acre beside the First Baptist Church of Cold Spring.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls the house a distinctive, intact example of late 19th century residential architecture in the village, combining Carpenter Gothic and Italianate detailing. It argues that this type of architecture rarely survives with integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship.
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 82005382, listed July 31, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 249 Main St., Nelsonville |
|---|---|
| County | Putnam County |
| Listed | July 31, 1989 |
| Reference number | 82005382 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Carpenter Gothic and Italianate detailing (late 19th century residential architecture) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in good condition, on its original site, with no known threats; used as a residence. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 41.42331, -73.94913 (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 82005382.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14706429
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.