Schoonmaker, C. K., Stone House
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built into a south-facing bank on Queens Highway in Rochester, Ulster County, this two-story stone house has its main floor at ground level on the north side and above a fully exposed basement on the south. The south front is symmetrical, with five bays, a central entry with sidelights and transom, and a small two-story gabled porch. Windows are six-over-six with board and batten shutters. Inside, a central hall plan, wide plank floors, exposed beamed ceilings and original wood molding survive, and the kitchen sits at basement level. The house was listed as an example of the stone dwelling tradition typical of the Hudson Valley and Ulster County. It is one of 56 surviving masonry houses in Rochester built before 1850, and one of four bank houses in town with a similar plan. Despite limited nineteenth century alterations, it remains a rare surviving example of that building tradition. It is still used as a single-family home.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is architecturally significant as an example of the classic stone dwelling found in the Hudson Valley and Ulster County. It is one of 56 surviving masonry dwellings in Rochester built before 1850 and one of four bank houses there with a similar plan. It is described as a variant of the linear one-and-one-half story stone house type that dominated the area for over a century.
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 97000107, listed February 21, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 294 Queens Hwy., Rochester |
|---|---|
| County | Ulster County |
| Listed | February 21, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97000107 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca.1840 |
| Architectural style | OTHER/vernacular |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a single-family dwelling; the form notes limited nineteenth century alterations, a dormer removed since 1966, and traces of a barn foundation on the property. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 41.80939, -74.26977 (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 97000107.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5006623
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.