Terpenning-Johnson House and Cemetery
Why it's listed
This farmstead on Brooker Hollow Road in Richmondville, Schoharie County, combines a house, four agricultural outbuildings and a family cemetery in a rural setting of pastures and nineteenth-century farms. The east wing, a one-and-a-half-story, two-room dwelling, was probably built for John and Mary Johnson soon after they arrived between 1800 and 1810. The two-story, five-bay main block, with moulded surrounds and paneled doors, was added around the 1840s, probably for their son Peter. The barns, workshop and garage mix hand-hewn timbers with sawn lumber, reflecting changing materials and farming practices. The cemetery holds thirteen marked headstones for the Terpenning and Johnson families, including Revolutionary War veteran Jacob Terpenning. Burials run from 1813 to 1873. The property was listed for its settlement history and for its intact examples of regional building techniques, with a period of significance from about 1810 to 1873.
Significance in brief: The house, barns and cemetery together record the settlement and growth of a rural area that became Richmondville. The early wing shows vernacular building practices after the Revolution, and the larger block shows a rural builder's Greek Revival interpretation. The outbuildings show regional timber-framing techniques and changes in farming across the nineteenth century.
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 12001260, listed February 5, 2013. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 674 Brooker Hollow Rd., Brooker Hollow |
|---|---|
| County | Schoharie County |
| Listed | February 5, 2013 |
| Reference number | 12001260 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | c1810-1873 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Early Republic; Mid 19th Century (Greek Revival elements) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Historic and current functions are listed as single dwelling, agricultural outbuilding and cemetery. The cemetery is mostly overgrown, and the house has non-historic siding and a rear kitchen ell. |
| Acreage | 3.7 |
| Coordinates | 42.63028, -74.60723 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 12001260.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q23092112
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.