Brykill
Why it's listed
Brykill is a stone country estate on Bruynswick Road in Gardiner, Ulster County, set along the Shawangunk Kill on about 180 acres of landscaped and farm land. Its earliest section was probably built about 1720 by Isaac Smedes, who enlarged it in 1736. William E. Bruyn, a descendant of the original land grantees, bought the property in 1926 and commissioned architect Myron Teller to restore and enlarge it in 1927. Teller added a second floor, a breezeway and a west wing, and copied early shutters, strap hinges, latches, panelled walls and mantels from surviving originals. Bruyn also built into the house a date stone salvaged from the Jacobus Bruyn homestead. The estate includes a caretaker's cottage, carriage house and stable, garage, spring house and a gazebo of about 1890. It is valued as the largest example of Teller's work and as an early twentieth century gentleman's estate that honors the regional stone building tradition within a Colonial Revival outlook.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues Brykill is architecturally significant as an early twentieth century expression of reverence for the traditional rural stone architecture of Ulster County. It is described as the grandest and most extensive work of local architect Myron Teller, known for restoring early Dutch houses. It shows how the local vernacular tradition was blended into the national Colonial Revival interest.
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 83001813, listed September 26, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Bruynswick Rd., Gardiner |
|---|---|
| County | Ulster County |
| Listed | September 26, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001813 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect: Myron Teller (1927); builders: Isaac Smedes (1720 and 1736), unknown (1927) |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, incorporating the local Ulster County vernacular stone building tradition |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good; present use is still a residence, with a 1927 restoration and enlargement noted as the major alteration. |
| Acreage | 180 |
| Coordinates | 41.66523, -74.21621 (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 83001813.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4980782
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.