Davis Stone House
Why it's listed
Set far back from NYS Route 209 in the Kyserike hamlet of Rochester, Ulster County, this fieldstone house dates from 1784 and is attributed to Judge Richard W. Davis, whose initials are said to appear on a stone above the front door. The linear, one-and-one-half story dwelling has five bays, a central entry and a frame rear extension, with a half-story frame addition above the stonework. Inside, a center-hall, single-pile plan survives with some original moldings and exposed beams. It is one of seventy-two stone or brick houses identified in the town that predate 1944, and it represents the most common form of stone housing in the county from the late seventeenth to the mid-nineteenth century. A 1920s renovation introduced Craftsman-inspired elements. A small gambrel-roofed frame barn and a silo foundation, both from about 1920, also survive. The barn's modest size suggests a subsistence farm, and few historic barns remain in the town. The property was listed for its architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a classic example of the linear one-and-one-half story stone dwelling typical of the Hudson Valley and Ulster County. It shows the features of this regional type, including native fieldstone walls, linear plan and later wings and dormers. A 1920s renovation added Craftsman-inspired elements, and the surviving early twentieth century barn adds to its significance.
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 99000995, listed August 12, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 4652 NY 209, Rochester |
|---|---|
| County | Ulster County |
| Listed | August 12, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99000995 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1784-ca.1920 |
| Architectural style | Colonial/Dutch |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent preservation; the barn is in fair condition. The house remains a single-family dwelling. |
| Acreage | 15.5 |
| Coordinates | 41.81947, -74.19990 (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 99000995.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5241973
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.