Reformed Presbyterian Church Parsonage
Why it's listed
Built around 1829, this two-story, five-bay frame house on Duanesburg Churches Road served as the parsonage for a Reformed Presbyterian congregation. It sits on a hilly 6.08-acre lot just north of the crossroads hamlet of Duanesburg Churches. The house is a vernacular version of the Federal style, with a gable roof, cornice returns, a brick end chimney, 12/12 sash windows and a central entrance framed by slender fluted pilasters, a transom and a small entablature. Later changes include a rear wing, a modern shed-roofed addition and metal siding. A large frame barn to the north contributes to the property. The land was donated by Catharine Duane during the ministry of the Reverend Gilbert McMaster. The congregation, thought to be the oldest in its denomination in America, dissolved in 1951 after a fire destroyed its church. The parsonage was listed for its representative architecture and its link to local settlement history.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the parsonage is a representative example of early nineteenth-century vernacular Federal style residential architecture in Duanesburg, with particularly notable delicate entrance trim. It also draws significance from a substantially intact nineteenth-century barn and from its link to an early Reformed Presbyterian congregation.
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 84003271, listed October 11, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Duanesburg Churches Rd., Duanesburg |
|---|---|
| County | Schenectady County |
| Listed | October 11, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84003271 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Vernacular Federal |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a residence, as it was originally; condition rated good, with additions to the rear and east side, a new roof and modern metal siding. |
| Acreage | 6.1 |
| Coordinates | 42.77112, -74.15667 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
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 84003271.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7307526
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.