Be the master of your kingdom at Crow Hill, a meticulously restored Greek Revival villa in Kinderhook.
Back in the 1800s, Margaret Rogers emigrated from Ireland and married American General Charles Whiting, a stove merchant from Kinderhook. Margaret envisioned a noble home on a hill; Charles brought that dream to fruition in 1839 with the Palladian-style home that’s now called Crow Hill.
The white clapboard home, which can be admired from all directions, is an interesting interpretation of Greek Revival symmetry, down to its twin sets of chimneys and center cupola. The entry vestibule and great hall — the openness of which came from off-setting the home’s staircase to one side — serve as spacious central parlors, overseen by portraits of Margaret and Charles painted by folk artist Ammi Phillips. Flanking the rooms are the master suite with a fireplace and full bath, two other bedrooms (each with a fireplace, and one with a private bath), and a dining room. The kitchen is also on the main level; it has an original fireplace, and charming open shelves, white cupboards, and a wide-plank hardwood floor. But don’t let the quaint look fool you — appliances like a huge stainless-steel refrigerator, chef’s gas range, and built-in wine cooler are meant for modern entertaining.
Throughout the main level of the house are 12-foot ceilings, pocket doors, antique hardware, and “walk-out windows” — an unusual feature in which the weighted, double-sashed windows slide up into a pocket in the wall, to allow a person to walk through and go outdoors.
Upstairs, you’ll find two more bedrooms (suitable for a children’s suite) and a loft-like recreation area dominated by thick original structural beams. A massive ladder leads up into the cupola itself.
Doric columns line the porches outside, which lead to rolling lawns, woods, and meadows with 2,600 feet of Kinderhook Creek frontage. On hot summer days, cool off in your own swimming hole. There are five fields on the property waiting to be tilled; legend has it that they were first cleared by the Mohegans.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Crow Hill is awaiting its next lucky owner.
The Details
2705 Route 9H
$2,700,000
5 bedrooms, 4 baths
4,600 sq ft
123.77 acres
School District: Ichabod Crane
Estimated Taxes: $37,178
