Swart House and Tavern
Why it's listed
Set on a rise above the Mohawk River in Glenville, this brick house began as a pre-Revolutionary, shed-roofed dwelling built by the Swart family, who settled the river flats around 1713. About 1792 Nicholas Swart is credited with adding a long two-story, six-bay brick block, turning the original house into a rear wing. When the Mohawk Turnpike opened around 1800, the building served as a tavern and coach stop, and Governor De Witt Clinton lodged there in 1810. Inside, the tavern room keeps its plank wainscot and large hearth, and a winding enclosed stair, family rooms and a basement bake oven survive. After turnpike traffic declined, the Swarts turned to broom corn and broom making until the property left the family in 1868. A stone smokehouse is the only surviving historic outbuilding. The property was listed for its role in local settlement and for its well-preserved vernacular architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the property is significant under Criteria A and C. It is a rare, highly intact combined residence and public house that reflects early settlement, farming and turnpike travel in the Mohawk Valley. It is also a notable example of vernacular brick architecture of the settlement period in Glenville.
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 06001211, listed January 4, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 130 Johnson Rd., Glenville |
|---|---|
| County | Schenectady County |
| Listed | January 4, 2007 |
| Reference number | 06001211 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | circa 1750-1868 |
| Architectural style | Early Republic/Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently used as a single dwelling; the tavern room, winding staircase, family quarters and basement bake oven remain substantially intact. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 42.88631, -74.05000 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 06001211.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7653926
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.