Payne, Colonel Oliver Hazard, Estate (Boundary Increase)
Also known as: Wiltwyck; Wiltwick
No coordinates published for this listing.
Why it's listed
Overlooking the Hudson River at West Park in Esopus, this 60-acre estate centers on a large Mediterranean-style palazzo designed in 1905 by Thomas Hastings of Carrere & Hastings for Col. Oliver Hazard Payne. Built of reinforced concrete faced with Italian limestone, the house wraps around an open courtyard with a fountain and is covered by red tile roofs. Its exterior features rusticated and smooth stonework, Ionic pilasters, carved classical window hoods and a colonnaded east facade facing the river. Interiors used Italian marble, mahogany, teak, Circassian walnut and carved plaster. A stone boathouse of 1905 with an ornate iron grille also forms part of the property. Payne, a Civil War veteran who became a wealthy businessman, financier and philanthropist, assembled over 400 acres here after 1909. The property is recognized as an outstanding example of Italian Renaissance Revival estate architecture and a prominent landmark of the Hudson Valley. Its significance runs from 1905 to Payne's death in 1917.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the estate is an outstanding example of an early twentieth century country estate in New York and of Italian Renaissance Revival architecture. It is also tied to Col. Oliver Hazard Payne, a Civil War veteran, financier and philanthropist. The mansion is described as one of the Hudson Valley's most prominent residential landmarks and the last and most luxurious of the millionaires' houses on the river.
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 100009323, listed January 19, 2024. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NY 9W, Esopus |
|---|---|
| County | Ulster County |
| Listed | January 19, 2024 |
| Reference number | 100009323 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1905 - 1917 |
| Architect / builder | Carrere & Hastings |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century Revivals/Italian Renaissance |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The boathouse, heavily damaged by ice, has been extensively restored by the present owner. The house's upper west section is used as private office space. Historic and current function are both listed as single dwelling. |
| Acreage | 485 |
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 100009323.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.