Purdy, Joseph, Homestead
Why it's listed
Overlooking the old road through the Titicus Valley in Purdys, New York, this two-and-a-half-story frame house began as a rectangular dwelling built by Joseph Purdy in 1776. Over time a wing of similar proportions and several one-story additions were attached, creating an L-shaped main block. The original section has a central chimney, hand-hewn shingle sheathing, bracketed eaves and a five-bay porch added around 1870. Inside, wide floor boards, original hardware and window panes, and exposed hand-hewn oak beams survive. Purdy received land in 1768 from his grandfather, Daniel Purdy, who had obtained it from the Van Cortlandt family, and he established mills where the Titicus and Croton Rivers meet. His family went on to found the hamlet, promote a woolen mill that made cloth for War of 1812 uniforms, and donate land for the Harlem railroad branch in the 1840s. When the village site was flooded in 1895 for a reservoir, the house stayed in place.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a good example of a late 18th-century rural frame dwelling and a landmark in local settlement and community development. The Purdy family founded the hamlet of Purdys, ran mills, and donated land that brought the Harlem railroad branch to northern Westchester. The house has remained on its original site and in continuous family occupancy.
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 73001290, listed January 25, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Jct. of NY 22 and 116, Purdys |
|---|---|
| County | Westchester County |
| Listed | January 25, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001290 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th and 19th centuries (specific date 1776) |
| Architect / builder | Joseph Purdy (erected the central block in 1776) |
| Areas of significance | Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good; the form states the house has been occupied continuously by the Purdy family since construction. |
| Acreage | 15 |
| Coordinates | 41.32832, -73.65551 (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 73001290.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6286376
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.