Sanford House
Why it's listed
Built around 1797, this two-story Federal style house on Ridge Road in Queensbury was the home of David Sanford, who arrived from Connecticut in 1795 and became one of the town's earliest and most prominent settlers. He ran a mercantile and lumber business, an ashery and a large farm, held several town offices, and the surrounding ridge came to bear his name. The clapboard house has a five-bay symmetrical facade, a pedimented porch with urn-like columns, a Palladian window with tracery and a carved cornice. Inside, the center-hall plan, wide pine floors, Federal mantels and original paneled doors survive. A rear wing with Greek Revival detailing and a converted carriage house were added later. A large 1880s barn built by DeWitt C. Jenkins, once part of the property, stands to the north and is counted with the house. Later occupants included the McDonald and Haviland families, both influential in the region.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a highly intact and distinguished example of late-18th century Federal residential architecture, with a Palladian window, carved cornice and urn-like porch columns. It was also the home of David Sanford, one of Queensbury's earliest settlers and a local civic and business leader. The adjacent barn, built by DeWitt C. Jenkins in the 1880s, is included as a contributing resource.
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 98000549, listed May 29, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 749 Ridge Rd., Queensbury |
|---|---|
| County | Warren County |
| Listed | May 29, 1998 |
| Reference number | 98000549 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c.1797-1880s |
| Architect / builder | House: unknown; Barn: DeWitt C. Jenkins |
| Architectural style | Early Republic/Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently used as a residence and bed and breakfast; the form describes the house as largely intact and in excellent condition. |
| Acreage | 3.3 |
| Coordinates | 43.35188, -73.62027 (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 98000549.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7417627
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.