Old Lutheran Parsonage
Also known as: Lutheran Parsonage
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Why it's listed
Built in 1743, this small frame parsonage sits behind the Lutheran Cemetery and Church in Schoharie. It was erected for the Reverend Peter Nicolas Sommer, an Evangelical Lutheran preacher from Hamburg, Germany, and was first used for a service on September 16, 1743. The building is one and a half stories on a stone foundation, with post and beam construction, clapboard on the first story, shingles above, and a steep wood-shingled gable roof. Inside, exposed ceiling beams, 18th-century hand-wrought hardware and original clay and straw daub in half-timbered end walls survive. The congregation soon moved to a blockhouse and then a church, and the parsonage housed the church sexton until 1801 and later other occupants. It is described as probably the oldest building in Schoharie County and as a reminder of Palatine German settlement. Its alterations, made for daily use, were left in place rather than restored to one period.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is probably the oldest remaining building in Schoharie County and one of the oldest religious buildings in New York State, and that it survived the French and Indian War and Revolution raids. It represents the growth of the Lutheran church and early Palatine German settlement. It has also never been restored to a single period, so its fabric shows its history of use.
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 72000913, listed June 19, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Adjacent to Spring St. in Lutheran Cemetery, Schoharie |
|---|---|
| County | Schoharie County |
| Listed | June 19, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72000913 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th Century (specific date 1743) |
| Architectural style | Half-timbered wood post and beam construction (not given a named style) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is marked fair and altered, on its original site. It is owned by the Village of Schoharie, and the form lists a restoration grant for chimneys, windows, sheathing, floors and plaster. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | St. Paul's Lutheran Church Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.66164, -74.30824 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 72000913.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7084399
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.