Van Wagenen Stone House and Farm Complex
Also known as: Het Killities Landt
Why it's listed
Set at the corner of Lucas Turnpike and Kyserike Road in Rochester, Ulster County, this farm centers on a linear one-and-one-half-story stone house with origins around 1700. Reputedly built by brothers Symon and Benjamin Van Wagenen, it was doubled in length in 1801 by Wessel Brodhead Van Wagenen and his wife Maria Hardenberg, whose names appear on a date stone over one entry. Few Rochester stone houses have three linear parts; most have two. Behind the house stands a timber-frame bank barn with an 1883 inscription, along with sheds, a storage barn and the sites of a smokehouse and dug well. The farm operated as a dairy until 1971, and the nearby O&W Railroad creamery at Kyserike reflects the dairy boom that followed the railway's 1902 opening. The property was recognized for its architecture, both as a representative Hudson Valley stone dwelling and for its intact farm buildings.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an outstanding example of the classic Hudson Valley and Ulster County linear stone dwelling, and one of only two area houses with a three-part linear form. The surviving farm complex, including an 1883 bank barn, documents the town's agricultural and dairy history. The farm was active as a dairy until 1971.
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 99000994, listed August 12, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2732 Lucas Turnpike, Rochester |
|---|---|
| County | Ulster County |
| Listed | August 12, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99000994 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca.1700-ca.1885 |
| Architectural style | Colonial/Dutch Colonial; Early Republic/Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling with agricultural outbuildings; the farm was an active dairy until 1971. The 1883 barn is described as in an excellent state of preservation. |
| Acreage | 125 |
| Coordinates | 41.80591, -74.18360 (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 99000994.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14707598
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.