Elkanah Watson House

Elkanah Watson House
Elkanah Watson House, Port Kent, 2009
Location Port Kent, New York
Coordinates 44°31′29.81″N 73°24′21.12″W / 44.5249472°N 73.4058667°W / 44.5249472; -73.4058667Coordinates: 44°31′29.81″N 73°24′21.12″W / 44.5249472°N 73.4058667°W / 44.5249472; -73.4058667
Built 1828
Architect Sheldon & Merritt
NRHP reference # 66000518
Significant dates
Added to NRHP October 15, 1966[1]
Designated NHL July 19, 1964[2]

Elkanah Watson House is a National Historic Landmark located in Port Kent, New York. The formal stone house overlooks Lake Champlain to the east and was designed by Sheldon & Merritt. It was constructed under the supervision of Charles Watson as the residence of his father, Elkanah Watson. It originally occupied a small portion of Watson's 5,000-acre property on the lake, but pieces were later sold off and have been developed for other residences.[3]

The senior Watson was a Revolutionary-era diplomat, founder of the agricultural fair, which he developed to stimulate competition and best practices, with activities for women and children; a banker and businessman, and an early promoter of canals in New York State. He occupied the house in May 1828 and also operated a farm on his property. The house was later the residence of Winslow C. Watson, one of his sons and a historian who completed Elkanah's autobiography. Elkanah Watson is buried in the family cemetery located near the house. Most outbuildings from the time the property was a working farm have been removed.[3]

The house was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1964.[2][3] The house is owned privately and used as a residence; it is not open to the public.

House facing east, with porch wrapping to the south, 1963

The house is located on the southwest corner of Lake Street and South Street in Port Kent.

References

  1. ↑ National Park Service (2007-01-23). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. 1 2 "Elkanah Watson House". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. 2007-09-11. Archived from the original on 2011-06-05.
  3. 1 2 3 Richard Greenwood and Cecil McKithan (December 1977). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory: Elkanah Watson House" (pdf). National Park Service. and Accompanying Photos, exterior, from 1963 and 1975 (1.04 MB)

Further reading

  • 'A Neat Plain Modern Stile:' Philip Hooker and His Contemporaries: 1796-1836, University of Massachusetts Press ISBN 0-87023-768-3 (catalogue of a history and art exhibition). Mary Raddant Tomlin, ed. (Excerpt at Google books version accessed August 2007. )
  • Elkanah Watson Papers, New York State Library


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.