Fraser-Hoyer House
Also known as: Smith,William,House
Why it's listed
Set on a ridge off Route 9W in West Haverstraw, this two-story clapboard house looks out toward the Hudson River and Haverstraw Bay. It has a rectangular plan, a stone foundation, a hipped roof, five bays and end chimneys, with a symmetrical front and a full-length porch carried on four Doric columns. The entrance has a transom and sidelights with leaded elliptical designs. Inside are eight rooms, a central hall and fireplaces in every room. The Fraser family built it in the 19th century on the site of the William Smith House, which burned around 1808 or 1809. Smith was a Loyalist, a historian and a British informer during the Revolution. His family's land included the nearby Thomas Smith house, later called the Treason House after the meeting between Major John Andre and Benedict Arnold. The Hoyer family acquired the house in the early twentieth century, and it has remained a private home.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls the house a good example of vernacular Federal architecture common in the Hudson Valley in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It argues that the site's link to local Revolutionary War history matters even more. The land belonged to William Smith, a Loyalist and noted historian, whose family's nearby house became known as the Treason House after the Arnold-Andre meeting.
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 76001270, listed April 22, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Treason Hill off U.S. 9W, West Haverstraw |
|---|---|
| County | Rockland County |
| Listed | April 22, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001270 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architectural style | Vernacular Federal |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in fair condition and altered, on its original site, and used as a private residence. The Hoyer family has built a newer house nearby. |
| Acreage | 9.5 |
| Coordinates | 41.21162, -73.98760 (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 76001270.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5493553
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.