Morton Memorial Library
Why it's listed
Morton Memorial Library is a small stone library on Elm Street in Pine Hill, in the town of Shandaken, Ulster County. Built in 1902-1903, it is a one-and-one-half-story Georgian Revival building of rusticated ashlar blocks with smooth limestone quoins, keyed lintels, a slate hipped roof, gabled dormers and a denticulated cornice. The north entrance has paired Ionic columns and a balustrade, and a half-round reading-room wing projects from the east side. Inside, a fireplace with a finely crafted mantel separates the main room from the reading room, and an iron spiral stair rises to the attic. The library honors Henry and Clara Morton. Henry Morton, a summer resident and president of the Stevens Institute of Technology, had earlier funded a small Birch Creek Club Library, stone bridges, paved roads and tree planting in the village. He died in 1902, before the new building opened. It is valued as a regional example of Georgian Revival civic architecture and as a reminder of his educational philanthropy. It remains a library today.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an outstanding regional example of early twentieth century Georgian Revival civic architecture. It is also tied to education and to the philanthropy of Dr. Henry Morton, president of the Stevens Institute of Technology, who funded local projects in Pine Hill. The library reflects the Progressive Era belief in self-improvement through education.
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 97000119, listed February 21, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Elm St., SW of NY 28, Pine Hill |
|---|---|
| County | Ulster County |
| Listed | February 21, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97000119 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1903 |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century Revivals/Colonial Revival (Georgian Revival) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a library; publicly owned by the Town of Shandaken; interior described as virtually intact with limited changes. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Pine Hill Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.13420, -74.47922 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 97000119.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6914918
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.