Sahler, J., House
Also known as: Elm Rock
Why it's listed
Set close to the old King's Highway in the Town of Rochester, Ulster County, this brick dwelling is believed to date from about 1807, when Sahler purchased the property. It is a rectangular, five-bay Federal style house with a central entrance framed by fluted Doric pilasters and sidelights, and a pair of semicircular lunette windows in the attic level of the facade. Most early houses in the town were built of fieldstone, and this is one of only four surviving pre-1850 homes there made wholly or partly of brick. Local tradition holds that the bricks were fired in a kiln at the rear of the property. Inside, the center-hall plan, original woodwork, plaster, wide-plank floors and period mantels remain. A late 1980s restoration replaced a deteriorated rear wing with a larger two-story addition, and a late nineteenth century barn now serves as a guesthouse. The house was listed for its architectural character and its intact rural setting.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a rare example of Federal era brick residential architecture in a town where nearly all early houses are fieldstone. It is one of only four pre-1850 houses in town built wholly or partly of brick. It retains a high degree of integrity in its form, floor plan and interior finishes, and its lunette attic windows are an unusual detail.
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 97000118, listed May 1, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NY 209, SW of jct. with Co. Rd. 63, Rochester |
|---|---|
| County | Ulster County |
| Listed | May 1, 2000 |
| Reference number | 97000118 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca.1807-ca.1880 |
| Architectural style | Early Republic/Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still a single dwelling in current use; a late-1980s restoration replaced the deteriorated rear wing with a two-story addition, and the late nineteenth century barn has been renovated as a guesthouse. |
| Acreage | 1.3 |
| Coordinates | 41.82458, -74.19039 (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 97000118.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6107054
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.