Becker Stone House
Also known as: Becker 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
Built between 1772 and 1775 on a knoll above Fox Creek near Schoharie, this stone farmhouse was home to Joseph Becker, son of Johannes Becker, one of the Palatine German refugees who reached the Schoharie Valley area in 1712. In 1782, when Becker commanded the militia at the Lower Fort, Tories and Mohawk Indians raided the house. Becker's brother was killed, but Joseph and most of his family held out inside the stone walls until help arrived from the fort. The walls resisted attempts to burn the house, though tradition says the original gambrel roof was partly burned. Architecturally, the house blends Georgian elements, including bolection molding, egg and dart trim and a full second story, with older Palatine and Dutch features such as a divided Dutch door, a wrought iron spring lock and planed ceiling beams. The site also includes the location of an early grist mill, and farmland still surrounds the house.
Significance in brief: The house is tied to the family of the first Fox Creek settler and to a 1782 Revolutionary War raid by Tories and Mohawk Indians that the Beckers fought off from inside the stone walls. It is also well preserved, with much original or very early fabric. Its mix of Georgian features and older Palatine and Dutch details shows changing tastes among German settlers in the Schoharie Valley.
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 79001630, listed November 20, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | E of Schoharie on Murphy Rd., Schoharie |
|---|---|
| County | Schoharie County |
| Listed | November 20, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79001630 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1700-1799 |
| Architect / builder | Johannes and Joseph Becker |
| Architectural style | Georgian character mixed with Palatine and Dutch traditions |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition and little altered; occupied as a private residence, with a 1956 kitchen wing added. |
| Acreage | 4 |
| Coordinates | 42.67272, -74.25173 (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 79001630.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4878669
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.