Odell House
Also known as: Rochambeau Headquarters
Why it's listed
Odell House, at 425 Ridge Road in Hartsdale, is a farmhouse built in stages over more than a century. John Tompkins built the central section in 1732 on what was a tenant farmstead of Philipsburg Manor. An east wing followed in 1765 and was raised to two full stories in 1785, and a two-story fieldstone west wing was added between 1853 and 1855. The wood-frame core is covered in cedar shingles and retains divided Dutch doors, corner fireplaces, red pine floors, original mantels and trim, and Dutch-type strap hinges. Some walls still hold mud and straw fill or plaster over wattle and daub. Beyond its architecture, the property served as headquarters for Count de Rochambeau and his French forces from July 6 to August 18, 1781. There he and Washington confirmed the Franco-American alliance and planned the Yorktown campaign. The Odell family owned the house until 1965, when it passed to the Sons of the American Revolution.
Significance in brief: The nomination cites the house's link to the early white settlement of Hartsdale and its use as Count de Rochambeau's headquarters in 1781. It is also valued as an early 18th-century farmhouse that has kept much of its original fabric. Washington and Rochambeau met here to agree on the Southern Plan before the march to Yorktown.
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 73001286, listed March 28, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 425 Ridge Rd., Greenburgh |
|---|---|
| County | Westchester County |
| Listed | March 28, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001286 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th and 19th centuries (specific dates 1732, 1765, 1785, 1853-55) |
| Architect / builder | John Tompkins of Eastchester built the central portion in 1732 |
| Areas of significance | Military, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition, altered, on its original site; under restoration, with the building intended to represent the Revolutionary and post-Revolutionary years rather than a single point in time. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 41.01948, -73.81725 (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 73001286.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7077646
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.