Colgate, Robert, House
Also known as: Stonehurst
Why it's listed
Stonehurst is a two-story Italianate villa of gray Maine granite overlooking the Hudson River in Riverdale, the Bronx. Built in the early 1860s for Robert Colgate, a New York merchant and philanthropist, it has a square plan, a low-pitched dormered roof and four differently composed facades. The north front is a classical entrance facade, while the west and south fronts have semicircular two-story projections with round-arched windows that take in views toward the Palisades. The granite was cut and finished on the site, and the interior keeps its round-arched doorways, moldings and fireplaces. The architect is unknown. The house was among the first estates in an area planned as a private villa community in the 1850s. In 1902 industrialist George W. Perkins bought it as part of an 80-acre family compound; it later became a single private residence again. It is regarded as one of the few intact Italianate picturesque villas left in New York City.
Significance in brief: It is presented as an exceptionally intact picturesque villa in New York City, retaining almost complete integrity of setting, design and materials. It was one of the first estates built in an area planned as a private villa community in the 1850s. Its symmetrical, classical massing is unusual within the generally asymmetrical Italianate villa tradition.
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 83001638, listed September 8, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 5225 Sycamore Ave., New York |
|---|---|
| County | The Bronx |
| Listed | September 8, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001638 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific dates: early 1860s) |
| Architectural style | Italianate picturesque villa |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition, on its original site, and occupied as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.90196, -73.91219 (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 83001638.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7343029
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.