Salyer, Edward, House
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Set on a half-acre lot in Pearl River, Rockland County, this wood-frame farmhouse is believed to have been built about 1765 and is thought to be the oldest surviving building in the hamlet. It follows the Dutch building tradition of the lower Hudson Valley, with a five-bay center-hall facade, a sweeping gambrel roof with broad overhangs, and brick and stone end chimneys. The frame is made of hand-hewn, adzed beams joined with pegs, resting on a thick fieldstone foundation. Wood construction of this age is uncommon in the region, where most survivors are sandstone. Inside, the former basement kitchen preserves a jambless fireplace and the outline of a beehive oven, along with wide floorboards and exposed framing. Later owners added Federal mantels around 1800 and a Greek Revival entrance around 1840. A stone-lined well from the early period also survives. The house recalls the farming settlement of the Kakiat Patent area and the Salyer family, early residents of Pearl River.
Significance in brief: It is argued to be architecturally significant as a rare surviving wood-frame example of Dutch building tradition in the lower Hudson Valley and is believed to be the oldest extant building in Pearl River. It retains eighteenth-century interior features along with Federal and Greek Revival alterations. It also recalls the community's early agricultural settlement and the Edward Salyer family.
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 86002178, listed September 4, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 241 S. Middletown Rd., Pearl River |
|---|---|
| County | Rockland County |
| Listed | September 4, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002178 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1765 - ca. 1840 |
| Architect / builder | Edward Salyer |
| Architectural style | Dutch vernacular building tradition (with Federal and Greek Revival alterations) |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence in excellent condition, altered, on its original site; includes a modern frame wing and a ca. 1980 wellhouse. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 41.05132, -74.01362 (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 86002178.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5345207
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.