Parks-Bentley House
Also known as: Parke Farm; Old Bentley Place
Why it's listed
Perched on a river bluff along Ferry Boulevard in South Glens Falls, this two-story brick house dates to about 1840 and joins a much older frame wing from the late 1700s. The older wing was the home of Daniel Parke II, whose family were the first settlers of what became the Town of Moreau. Daniel Benedict, a brick maker, built the main house using bricks fired on the property. It combines late Federal elements, such as a center-hall plan, with Greek Revival features including a deep cornice, massive limestone lintels and sills, and a recessed entrance. Later 19th century additions include a rear shed wing, an office room and two porches. The house was listed for its architecture and its link to early settlement. The older wing preserves a cooking fireplace with a beehive oven and hand-hewn timbers. Today it serves as a local historical society museum, though quarry vibrations and limited funds threaten its walls.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a distinctive regional example of brick Greek Revival residential architecture that blends late Federal and Greek Revival features. It retains a rare late-18th century frame wing from the settlement period. Together the sections show how architectural style and construction methods changed from early settlement through industrialization. It is also tied to the Parke family, the first settlers of Moreau.
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 94000331, listed April 21, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 53 Ferry Blvd., South Glens Falls |
|---|---|
| County | Saratoga County |
| Listed | April 21, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94000331 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | late-18th century - c.1870 |
| Architect / builder | PARKE, DANIEL II; BENEDICT, DANIEL |
| Architectural style | Colonial; Mid-19th Century/Greek Revival (late Federal/early Greek Revival) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a museum and headquarters of the local historical society; structure in fair condition, with interior details in good repair. Threatened by limited maintenance funds and quarry blasting vibrations. |
| Acreage | 1.1 |
| Coordinates | 43.30004, -73.62371 (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 94000331.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7138636
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.