1850 Greek Revival – New Kingston, NY
Added to OHD on 5/8/20 - Last OHD Update: 10/9/20 -
SOLD / Archived Post
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5090 County Highway 6, New Kingston, NY 12459
Map: Street
$249,000- 4 Bed
- 2 Bath
- 2172 Sq Ft
- 1.3 Ac.
Situated in the very center of the charming Hamlet of New Kingston this Greek Revival beauty built in 1850 has been in the same family for generations. Ideally & conveniently located between Margaretville & Bovina this hamlet home has the added advantage of sitting on a large 1.30 acre parcel with long range back views. The house is a 2 story, gable-roofed frame building with a decorative, recessed center entrance flanked by sidelights with fluted Doric columns that evoke a bygone era. The house retains Greek Revival style cornice corner pilasters matching those on the center front on all four corners. Inside the Main floor has good flow with spacious, bright rooms including a big eat-in Kitchen and a separate Dining room, Living room & Parlor. Also on the main floor is a large Pantry / Laundry Room & full Bath. The 2nd floor has 4 Bedrooms and a full Bathroom with tub. All original woodwork & floors throughout. Forced Oil Heat with a recent furnace keeps it cosy during the Catskills winters. A covered back porch takes advantage of the lovely views and with more than an acre of land gardening opportunities abound. There is a full basement with a laid stone foundation & Bilko doors. As per the New Kingston Valley Historic Resources Survey (2003): This property is individually eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion C as a highly intact & representative example of its type. Residential structures dating from the late 19th century line the street opposite. A rustic barn has previously been used as a 2 car garage and a separate small workshop is nearby. Check out this rare property with so much potential. Catskill Village Living at it's Best!
Contact Information
Laura Krukowski, Catskill Dream Team(917) 399-3243
Links, Photos & Additional Info
State: New York | Region: Northeast (Middle Atlantic) | Associated Styles or Type: Greek Revival
Period & Associated Styles: Greek Revival (1825-1860), Romantic Era
Features: Painted Wood
Period & Associated Styles: Greek Revival (1825-1860), Romantic Era
Features: Painted Wood
37 Comments on 1850 Greek Revival – New Kingston, NY
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Commenting means you've read and will abide by the comment rules.
Click here to read the comment rules, updated 1/12/20.
OHD does not represent this home. Price, status and other details must be independently verified. Do not contact the agent unless you are interested in the property.
Columbia River Gorge, WA
I REALLY like the way this house looks from the front. Is it indeed considered Greek Revival?
I wish there were more pictures!
MI
Those floors ♥️ Very pretty house and awesome location. I too would love to see more!
This is one of the most handsome Greek Revival facades I’ve ever seen. The full-height pilasters flanking the slightly recessed entry (and tripartite window above) really reinforce the feeling of a Greek temple. Just beautiful.
Noblesville, IN
It is very handsome for sure.
I find myself wondering if it might have been a more substantial structure though if the owner had not been burned out and forced to move. I don’t remember ever seeing one of this specific form before which didn’t have an upper (portico?) which was nearly a mirror of the front door and surround below; whether it was a door or just windows. This one with it’s more demure upper detail seems very unusual. That stair is such a slight little thing as well. Pretty special as is IMO.
Recessing the center of the main elevation in instead of projecting it as we are most used to seeing is rare but not unprecedented in American neoclassical architecture, e.g. see the reconstructed Boscobel mansion in upstate NY: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Boscobel,_Garrison,_NY_-_front_facade.jpg and the even earlier lost Apthorpe House in NYC: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apthorp_Farm#/media/File:Apthorpe_Mansion_002b_crop.jpg
A.O. could you please tell me why the mantels were used on the interior rooms where no fireplace would have been possible. i grew up in a house that had one of these features. thank you.
It was surprisingly common in the nineteenth century to have a fake fireplace(s) in nicer houses. I’ve seen numerous examples myself, mostly in the Mid-Atlantic states — the absence of a hearth set in the floor is a sure sign that these mantels were purely decorative and never functional. Mantels were valued for their utility as well as decorative effect. They were handy for displaying items such as clocks, etc., and served as a focal point for any room needing a little more formality. Many millwork catalogs of the era offered an abbreviated form — a simple mantle shelf (without the flanking side pilasters) — which served the same purpose but at less cost:
https://ia800608.us.archive.org/BookReader/BookReaderImages.php?zip=/21/items/combinedpricelis00pain/combinedpricelis00pain_jp2.zip&file=combinedpricelis00pain_jp2/combinedpricelis00pain_0220.jp2&scale=2&rotate=0
I remember seeing an example on OHD several years ago of such a fake mantel which wrapped around a corner which looked odd to those perceiving it as an actual fireplace. When understood to be a decorative shelf it made more sense!
I wonder who designed and built this house? I love the front!
The house was built for Isaac Birdsall (1823-1900) merchant, farmer, postmaster and part-time preacher, who was a key figure in the development of New Kingston village in the mid-1800’s. The house is said to have been built from a published design though none has been identified. The house is nicely preserved and the property retains a wonderful early barn.
The Swart & Birdsall store was established next door in 1848. A school, church and other homes and businesses followed and New Kingston appeared on maps by 1856. Birdsall became postmaster and distributed the mail from his store, and also sold insurance. The Faulkners took over the store in the late 1800’s and eventually the house, which is still owned in the family. The store was later expanded and remains the post office to this day.
Then:
https://storage.googleapis.com/hippostcard/p/a48e0efbdd340af163d9b81d097f2f7f.jpg
Now, store with house at left:
https://goo.gl/maps/pFwZYcy95Hs
http://www.livingplaces.com/NY/Delaware_County/Middletown_Town/New_Kingston_Historic_District.html
Noblesville, IN
Can someone recommend a good biography, or source of info, about the Livingston family? I find myself wondering just how much land they had back then. I know their holdings were various, and not singly held, being possessed by different members of the family; but just giving away five thousand acres is impressive even at that level. Thank’s in advance.
Nashville, TN
Here’s a book on the Livingstons’ homes. There’s history of each home with details on ownership and land grants, etc. I’ll warn you that the Livingstons were not creative in terms of naming their offspring and the family tree becomes very confusing owing to the replication of the same names.
https://www.amazon.com/Life-Along-Hudson-Historic-Livingston/dp/0847863239/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=Houses+of+the+Livingston&qid=1555454834&s=gateway&sr=8-5
Noblesville, IN
Thanks’ Steven.
This link is a good overview of the Livingston property, especially the Hardenburgh Patent in the Catskills:
http://www.hudsonrivervalley.org/review/pdfs/hvrr_5pt1_evers.pdf
The original Manor of Livingston between the Hudson and Massachusetts was acquired by political intrigue and fraud by Robert Livingston, the First Lord. About 150,000 acres of it passed to descendants of the eldest son Philip and was sold off in the mid-1800’s.
Younger son Robert received the southwest portion of the Manor (13,000 acres), built the Clermont mansion and acquired over 500,000 acres of the Hardenburgh Patent. That all passed to Margaret Beekman Livingston, his only son’s widow, who also inherited from her father much of the riverfront estate property in Dutchess County. Her son Robert R. Livingston (the Chancellor) helped draft the Declaration of Independence and later made the Louisiana Purchase.
Noblesville, IN
Thanks’ Jim.
Lovable as well as livable.
Rural, IL
JimH – Wanted to thank you for the research and history lessons you share with us. Were you a teacher and/or historian at one time? You never get bogged down in the “I’d do this or that” or “petty sillyness”; just kind, balanced and patient instruction. Thanks.
Thanks Diane! I was never a teacher but I have been reading about history and old houses for a long time. And I do say what I would do with some houses although I agree those comments can get tiresome, probably mine included.
While we all appreciate the expertise that so many capable commenters provide here, let’s keep in mind that this site is called Old House Dreams… it’s seriously OK for the comments reflect the dreams of others. Especially now.
Actually that cute little fireplace mantle looks like it just ‘tiptoed’ around the corner to me… Sweet.
Love the front. I would change the exterior color……I don’t like when everything is the same color. I think it hides details that should be emphasized. I would also put the shutters back up. Would have liked to have seen the upstairs landing, the windows.
I agree totally
Chestatee, GA
Agent replaced with new interior photos showing more of the home than the old ones. Updated, moved to the front page.
Thank you! I love the interior, a nice combination of early preserved elements with later but not very recent updates. It’s perfect for a weekender (or a full-timer), and it doesn’t need a new kitchen! (I hate when a rural house is updated by city folks to look like a condo or Brooklyn loft!)
D I T T O !
I hate that.
Me three!
Noblesville, IN
Yeah, thanks’ Kelly. This is just such a wonderful house. Great kitchen. Great everything; down to the somewhat faded, chalky green front door.
Leaving that fab. bottle collection was genius! Often, subconsciously, that’s just the sort of thing which might tip someone’s emotional scale toward a sale.
Such a treat to see it again; and more to see every time. Choice.
Upstate, NY
Absolutely, Jay! And the area is just wonderful. I keep checking back on this one and am amazed that it remains on the market… Just a bit beyond my meagre budget, unfortunately.
Otis Orchards, WA
I love those floors!
Real estate agents can be such unintentional comics. The house is in New Kingston, which I’ve never heard of, and “Ideally & conveniently located between Margaretville & Bovina,” which I’ve also never heard of. Margaretville has only 600 people and Bovina has fewer than that. They are not ideal or convenient.
The town sign says that people got settled in New Kingston in 1855 after the British burned their town of Kingston in 1777.
Where were they during the 78 years in between?
Chestatee, GA
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Kingston,_New_York
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaretville,_New_York
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bovina,_New_York
Looking at the map, New Kingston is indeed between Bovina and Margaretville almost the same mileage, Margaretville is 8 minutes away. There are two small grocery stores in Margaretville, a small hospital, eateries and other places. But Oneonta has even more and is about 50 minutes away. Kingston is an hour away for even more. There may be other options along the way but that is typical for rural living.
Short answer:
They rebuilt their homes in Kingston instead of moving out into the hinterlands. Livingston’s gift of the New Kingston Tract was an act of charity at the time and a strong statement that they supported the Revolution, though ultimately a failed attempt to settle their vast holdings.
Burning of Kingston:
http://www.revolutionaryday.com/usroute9w/kingston/default.htm
Description and history of New Kingston here:
https://www.livingplaces.com/NY/Delaware_County/Middletown_Town/New_Kingston_Historic_District.html
I would assume most real estate ads are written for the local economy – I imagine 99.9% of anyone looking in New Kingston knows exactly where the other two towns are. As I live here (and in Manhattan) I can assure you they are both IDEAL AND CONVENIENT for what people in the market want & if you live downstate as 70% of us here do ! If youre not lazy – you can see Kingston is a port town on the mighty Hudson because the British did not want anyone on the water (OBVIOUSLY) and no one would go 50 miles inland and up a hill – which has worked out beautifully for the rest of us – plus the entire 5000 ac is a NH landmark…..Ideal.
Melbourne, Australia,
What an absolute stunner!
Agree with Architectural Observer it’s one of the best Greek Revival facades I’ve seen too, and with Jim’s research that it was built from a pattern book…the sort of entry detailing you would expect to see in a wealthy city at the time and even more interesting that it’s in a rural area.
So much original fabric and millwork and the design of the newel post and balustrading is quite unique.
Seriously beautiful house.
Brookfield, CT
I don’t see a chimney. I”m assuming this house had one (likely central based on the age and covered fireplaces), that was removed at some point?
The fireplaces you see aren’t “covered”; they were built this way on purpose. Note that the original wood floors show no sign of hearths in front of these decorative mantels. By 1850 it is likely that the house was entirely heated with a few cast iron wood stoves and not reliant upon fireplaces for heat. These would still require a chimney stack, but it would have been smaller than earlier chimneys. The chimney seen at the back of the house is not original. I agree that the original chimney was likely centrally located (some of it even may still remain).
Windham, CT
Dave, given the build date, it is possible this home was originally heated with stoves, and not a central chimney. Stoves, or even an early central heating system would have been touted as the latest heating innovation. In Windham, CT, a furnace salesman came through town, in the 1860’s (according to local historians)and was successful at convincing several homeowners to switch. As a result, central chimneys were removed and replaced with central halls and grand staircases. One of my neighbors still has the hearthstones in her floors – but no fireplaces.
Regarding previous comments, first thing I noticed was what wasn’t there: chimneys. There could have been fireplaces, Franklin stoves, or wood stoves. Regardless, there would have been chimneys. House looks strange without them.