Jacob P. Mesick House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Jacob P. Mesick House
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | Claverack-Red Mills, New York |
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| Nearest city | Hudson |
| Area | 79 acres (32 ha) |
| Built | ca. 1840 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| MPS | The Architectural and Historic Resources of the Hamlet of Claverack, Columbia County, New York |
| NRHP reference No. | 97000947 |
| Added to NRHP | 1997 |
The Jacob P. Mesick House is a historic home located in Claverack-Red Mills, New York. It's a beautiful wooden house built around 1840. The house shows off the Greek Revival style, which was popular back then.
This house is a great example of its style because it has stayed mostly the same since it was built. Its front was even carefully restored in the early 1900s. Jacob Mesick, who built the house, was a successful local farmer. He later became involved in politics. The house has stayed with his family for many years. In 1997, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's a special historic site.
What the House Looks Like
The Mesick House sits on a small hill above Van Wyck Lane. It's part of a large property that is about 79 acres (32 hectares). There are other buildings on the land, but they are newer and not part of the historic listing. A nearby historic bridge, Shaw Bridge, is also listed on the Register.
The house itself has two stories and is quite large. It's made of wood planks called clapboard and sits on a strong stone foundation. The roof is sloped on all four sides, which is called a hipped roof. Four brick chimneys stick out from the roof.
The main front door is designed in a style called Colonial Revival. It has glass panels on the sides and above the door. Inside, there's a wide hallway with a staircase. The walls still have their original French wallpaper! The big living rooms on either side of the hall also have their original details. An archway connects the front and back rooms on the north side of the house.
Near the main house, there are a few other buildings. These include a modern garage and a barn that has an apartment. These buildings are newer and not part of the original historic property.
The House's Story
The land where the Mesick House stands was once owned by the Van Buren family. Later, it was passed to the van Rensselaers. In 1785, Jacobus Delamater bought the land. He then sold it to Jacob Mesick in 1831.
Jacob Mesick built a very successful farm on this land. This success led to the building of the house around 1840. The Mesick House is one of the few Greek Revival buildings in Claverack. It shows how this grand style was used in local buildings. Its detailed decorations, balanced design, and large size are key features of the Greek Revival style.
Later in his life, Jacob Mesick served in the New York State Assembly. This is where state laws are made. After Jacob, the house was passed down to his son and then his grandson. It is still owned by the family today.
Over the years, the house has seen some changes. In the late 1800s, the original front columns were replaced with a long front porch. Then, in the early 1900s, the original entrance was put back. This was part of the Colonial Revival movement, which brought back older styles. Later, a new archway was added on the first floor. Also, the old oven and water pump were removed from the kitchen in the mid-1900s.
