Congdon, Hiram, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1848 for farmer Hiram Congdon, this one and one-half story timber frame house sits on a small portion of what was once a 100-acre farm in Putnam, Washington County, New York. It has a five-bay front with a central entrance framed by pilasters, sidelights and a full entablature, along with side gables, clapboard siding and six-over-six windows. Inside, the center stairhall plan, shouldered door and window trim, graining and distinctive double-tiered paneled doors remain. Congdon, a Freewill Baptist deacon, farmed wool, cider, butter, grain and honey until selling in 1881. Ownership changed often afterward, and the house was last lived in around 1903. Because it stood empty for roughly 90 years, it escaped the alterations that changed similar houses in the region. The foundation and kitchen ell were rebuilt in the 1990s. It is valued as a well-preserved example of Greek Revival design in the North Country.
Significance in brief: It is argued to be a largely intact example of mid-19th century Greek Revival residential architecture in New York's North Country. Its elaborate center door surround, shouldered architraves, graining and unusual double-tiered paneled doors survive. Because it sat vacant for about 90 years, it kept an unusual level of original integrity.
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 97001203, listed September 30, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NE of jct. of NY 22 and B Rd., Putnam |
|---|---|
| County | Washington County |
| Listed | September 30, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97001203 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c.1848 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th century Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored in the 1990s, with the foundation rebuilt in 1993-1995 and the kitchen ell rebuilt in 1994-1996. Current use is a single-family dwelling. The house was last occupied around 1903 and sat vacant for about 90 years. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 43.69940, -73.43057 (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 97001203.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14706375
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.