Walker House
Why it's listed
Set among woodlands on the east side of Cat Rock Road in Garrison, this two-story frame house was built around 1890 as a summer cottage. Samuel Sloan reportedly built it as a wedding gift for one of his daughters, Mrs. Walker, and it appears on an 1891 map as part of the W.S. Sloan estate. The house is covered by a complex series of slate roofs, including a steep chateau-type main roof with eyebrow vents, crocketed ridges, gabled dormers and three chimney stacks. A veranda with turned posts and decorative brackets wraps around three sides. Inside, each room has a large fireplace. Apart from converting a butler's pantry into a kitchen, the building has changed little; utilities were added in 1956. It was listed as a distinctive example of Queen Anne architecture in the Hudson Highlands, retaining a rare level of integrity in design, setting, materials and workmanship.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a distinctive example of Queen Anne style architecture in the Hudson Highlands multiple resource area. It retains integrity of design, setting, materials and workmanship, which is described as rare for this house form in the region. Its varied roofs and wraparound veranda show strong Queen Anne influence.
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 82001256, listed November 23, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Cat Rock Rd., Garrison |
|---|---|
| County | Putnam County |
| Listed | November 23, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001256 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Built by Samuel Sloan (architect listed as unknown on the inventory form) |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition rated good; still used as a residence. Mechanical systems were added in 1956 and the widow's walk railing was removed in 1978 but kept for restoration. |
| Acreage | 4 |
| Coordinates | 41.37318, -73.93344 (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 82001256.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7962275
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.