Aldrich, Peter, Homestead
Why it's listed
This farmhouse on Decker Road in Gardiner, Ulster County, grew in several stages. The oldest part, the middle section with a steep roof and an east end chimney, probably predates 1794 and may have been built by Peter Souw around 1750. Peter Aldrich received the land by deed in December 1794 and built a larger saltbox-roofed western addition about that time, which doubled the size of the house and changed its main entrance and orientation. Later changes include a bay at the southeast corner around 1900, a north addition and porch in the 1960s, and new siding and a rebuilt chimney in 1980. The interior is the main reason for its listing. The living room and small parlor hold mantels and paneled cupboards carved with reeded, interlace and pinwheel motifs, described as the finest vernacular Federal carving in the region. The nominated parcel covers about 15.8 acres of farmland, partly reforested, with a modern barn.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant for its historic exterior form and for its elaborate surviving Federal-style interior woodwork. The parlor mantels and paneled cupboards carry reeded, interlace and pinwheel carving. These are described as the finest example of the vernacular Federal carving tradition in the region and a singular example in the Shawangunk Valley Multiple Resource Area.
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 83001811, listed September 26, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 168 Decker Rd., Gardiner |
|---|---|
| County | Ulster County |
| Listed | September 26, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001811 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; builder Peter Aldrich (original section likely built by Peter Souw, c. 1750) |
| Architectural style | Federal (vernacular Federal woodwork) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a residence, in good condition, on its original site; no threats known. Siding was replaced and the west chimney rebuilt in 1980. |
| Acreage | 15.8 |
| Coordinates | 41.66995, -74.25650 (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 83001811.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7172483
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.