Maxwell Farm
Also known as: O'Donnell-Hill Farm
Why it's listed
Maxwell Farm, also known as the O'Donnell-Hill Farm, is a cluster of agricultural buildings on a shoulder of land in the Taconic foothills of Jackson, Washington County, New York. The nominated area covers 102 acres of historically associated land. The heavy timber-frame house dates to about 1815. It began as a story-and-a-half building with a rear kitchen ell and was later given Greek Revival trim, while interior details such as the stair and east parlor mantel reflect Federal-style design. The main barn grew from a small English barn, dated to about 1790, whose hand-hewn oak frame is among the earliest surveyed in the area. Other contributing resources include a corn crib, two secondary barns, a milk house, a garage and a well with hand pump. The Maxwell family came from Scotland late in the eighteenth century and farmed the land into the 1870s, followed by the Hill family. The farm is significant for its architecture, its record of regional agricultural change and its intact rural setting.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the farm is architecturally and historically significant as a largely unaltered agricultural complex in an intact rural setting. The main barn's early English-barn core is among the earliest frames surveyed in the area. The farm also illustrates settlement by the Maxwell family and the changing agricultural practices of the region from the 1790s through the 1920s.
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 12000368, listed June 27, 2012. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 311 Cty. Rd. 61, Jackson |
|---|---|
| County | Washington County |
| Listed | June 27, 2012 |
| Reference number | 12000368 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1790-c. 1920 |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century: Greek Revival; Other: Vernacular |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Agriculture, Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Historic and current functions are listed as domestic single dwelling and agriculture/subsistence; the setting is described as substantially intact. |
| Acreage | 101.2 |
| Coordinates | 43.10526, -73.39880 (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 12000368.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q23091926
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.