Sherman Farm
Why it's listed
Sherman Farm is a 123-acre farmstead in south central Pittstown, Rensselaer County, New York, developed in the late 18th century by the Sherman family. Its centerpiece is a two-story main house built about 1797, with a heavy hand-hewn oak frame, a center chimney and a symmetrical five-bay front. The house was remodeled in the Greek Revival style around 1840, and a porch was added in 1888. A rear wing likely began as a moved timber-framed outbuilding. Seven agricultural buildings line Sherman Road: a hay barn, wagon barn, corn house, hog barn, ice house, cheese house and shop barn. Most date from the late 18th or early 19th century. Because the barns were not heavily altered for new farming methods, they still hold the working parts that reflect their historic use. Diaries and account books kept by the Shermans record crops, livestock, timber sales, carpentry and the exchange of labor among neighbors. The family farmed the land until 1929.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the farm as a well-preserved example of a late 18th and early 19th century family farm that remained in one family for generations. The barns were not significantly altered for new farming technology, so they keep the working parts that reflect their historic use. Family diaries and account books document farm and household life in detail.
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 03000597, listed July 5, 2003. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 35 Sherman Rd., Pittstown |
|---|---|
| County | Rensselaer County |
| Listed | July 5, 2003 |
| Reference number | 03000597 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Early Republic: Federal (with c. 1840 Greek Revival remodeling) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The farm was actively farmed by the Sherman family until 1929. The house and seven outbuildings survive and are all counted as contributing; about 90 acres remain tillable. |
| Acreage | 123 |
| Coordinates | 42.85652, -73.50982 (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 03000597.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7495170
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.