Westbrook, Dirck, Stone House
Why it's listed
Set in a rural part of Rochester, Ulster County, New York, this stone house at 18 Old Whitfield Road combines two building campaigns. An early eighteenth-century one-and-one-half story rubble stone wing, with a central chimney and projecting beehive oven, extends from the rear of an early nineteenth-century vernacular Greek Revival stone front. The five-bay south facade has a recessed central entry with sidelights and a classical cornice. The house is attributed to Dirck Westbrook, who was active in Rochester by 1709, though no construction date has been documented. It is valued as a regional example of the linear stone dwelling that dominated Ulster County building from the late seventeenth to the mid nineteenth century. Of seventy-one early stone or brick houses identified in the town, this is one. The 4.5 acre property also holds a smokehouse, a privy, a 1929 historical marker, and two modern buildings.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an outstanding regional example of a linear stone dwelling typical of the Hudson Valley and Ulster County. The early rear wing with its surviving beehive oven adds to its importance. Early nineteenth-century changes such as eyebrow windows are typical of the period. It is one of many early stone or brick houses identified in Rochester.
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 95000949, listed August 10, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 18 Old Whitfield Rd., Rochester |
|---|---|
| County | Ulster County |
| Listed | August 10, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95000949 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca.1709 - ca.1890 |
| Architectural style | OTHER/vernacular (vernacular Greek Revival stone front on an earlier stone wing) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Historic and current function is single dwelling with secondary structures; the property includes a modern garage and caretaker's house that do not contribute. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 41.80615, -74.22107 (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 95000949.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5280192
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.