Gen. William Floyd House facts for kids
Gen. William Floyd House
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![]() South front of house, from southeast. HABS, 1970
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Location | W side of Main St., Westernville, New York |
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Area | less than one acre |
Built | 1803 |
Architectural style | Georgian |
NRHP reference No. | 71000549 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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Added to NRHP | June 17, 1971 |
Designated NHL | July 17, 1971 |
The General William Floyd House is a special old house in Westernville, New York. It was built in 1803. This house was the last home of William Floyd (1734–1821). He was one of the important people who signed the Declaration of Independence. William Floyd also helped a lot to settle this area.
This house was named a National Historic Landmark in 1971. This means it is a very important place in American history. Today, the house is a private home. It is not usually open for people to visit.
About the William Floyd House
The General William Floyd House is in the middle of Westernville village. You can find it on the west side of Main Street, where it meets Gifford Hill Road. The main part of the house is a two-and-a-half-story building made of wood. It has a pointed roof and two chimneys inside. The outside is covered with wooden boards called clapboards.
The house faces mostly southwest. There is also a two-story section that extends out to the west. The front of the house has five window sections, with the main door in the middle. Inside, there is a central hallway. The main stairs are on the left side of this hall. There are two living rooms on the right. The dining room and a study are on the left. You can still see old parts of the house, like wide floorboards and special wooden walls around the fireplaces.
Who was William Floyd?
William Floyd built this house in 1803. He was born in Mastic, New York. During the American Revolutionary War, William Floyd served in the New York army. He became a major general, which is a very high rank.
For his service in the war, he received a lot of land. In 1787, he was given over 10,000 acres (about 4,000 hectares) in Upstate New York. He started to develop this land soon after. In 1803, when this house was finished, he moved to what is now Westernville. His family owned the house until 1956.
Other Homes of William Floyd
William Floyd had another home in Mastic, New York. That house still stands today. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These two houses are thought to be the only homes left in New York that belonged to people who signed the Declaration of Independence.