Binnewater Historic District
Why it's listed
Binnewater is a small cluster of nine frame buildings about two miles north of Rosendale in Ulster County, New York. At its center is the former Wallkill Valley Railroad depot, built soon after the line's 1872 incorporation, with a deeply overhanging slate roof, large scrolled brackets and an intact wainscotted waiting room. Nearby are a privy, a general store and post office, a boarding house, a livery stable, a wagon shed, two barns and a farm cottage, most built around 1900. The district is recognized for its link to the Rosendale cement industry, which supplied material for projects such as the Brooklyn Bridge. The store began as a company store of a cement works, and the boarding house likely lodged its employees. Keator family land, farmed since the eighteenth century, supplied the depot lot and five of the buildings. The depot is the only one left of the region's stations. Despite deterioration, the group remains visually cohesive.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the buildings are closely tied to the Rosendale-area cement industry and to the railroad and tourist traffic that followed it. The district includes the only surviving depot on the old Wallkill Valley line, which is also noted for its architecture. The store and boarding house reflect the cement company's presence, and the Keator farm buildings reflect development meant to capture railroad traffic.
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 82001272, listed November 4, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Sawdust Ave., Breezy Hill and Binnewater Rds., Rosendale |
|---|---|
| County | Ulster County |
| Listed | November 4, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001272 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899, 1900- (specific dates c.1872, c.1900) |
| Architectural style | Vernacular frame buildings; the depot has a low-pitch hipped slate roof with scrolled brackets |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Most structures are unoccupied or abandoned and show some deterioration from neglect, though the district retains its integrity; the Byrnes House is owner occupied and the Keator House is rented. |
| Acreage | 6.7 |
| Coordinates | 41.85764, -74.08566 (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 82001272.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4914437
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.