Ross-Hand Mansion
Why it's listed
Overlooking the Hudson River in South Nyack, this two-story brick mansion at 122 South Franklin Street was designed and built by stone contractor Azariah Ross between 1856 and 1869 as a summer home. Its Gothic Cottage character shows in a steeply pitched gable roof, carved bargeboards with drop pendants and pinnacles, and projecting central pavilions. The 4.1-acre estate also keeps a summer kitchen, a carriage barn and a smokehouse. Ross reflected the picturesque taste promoted by Andrew Jackson Downing. Financial trouble led Ross to turn the house into a hotel, which failed in 1878, and the building fell into disrepair. Mary E. Hand, wife of New York City builder William H. Hand, bought it at auction in 1883, and the family renovated the interior, adding a conservatory and decorative plaster, parquet and carved stair details. The property is valued as a well-preserved example of mid-nineteenth-century Gothic cottage design and for its association with Ross and the Hand family.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the mansion is a distinctive example of Gothic Cottage architecture reflecting the picturesque ideas promoted by Andrew Jackson Downing. Its steeply pitched roof, carved bargeboards and landscaped setting embody that style. It is also tied to Azariah Ross, a local stone contractor, and later to the Hand family of New York City builders.
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 83001787, listed September 8, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 122 S. Franklin St., South Nyack |
|---|---|
| County | Rockland County |
| Listed | September 8, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001787 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | circa 1860 |
| Architect / builder | Azariah Ross |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival / Gothic Cottage |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence; described as an intact, well-preserved example with an 1880s interior renovation and an added conservatory. |
| Acreage | 4.1 |
| Coordinates | 41.08681, -73.92260 (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 83001787.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7369153
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.