The Simeon Rockefeller House, also known as Rockefeller Tavern, is a historic house located in
Germantown, New York.
The beginnings of the noted family in American history can be traced to this historic home. As indicated on the historical marker placed by the State of New York, it was the home Simeon or Simon Rockefeller (1730-1795), son of the immigrant Diell Rockefeller. This family originated among the
Palatine Germans
Palatines (german: Pfälzer), also known as the Palatine Dutch, are the people and princes of Palatinates ( Holy Roman principalities) of the Holy Roman Empire. The Palatine diaspora includes the Pennsylvania Dutch and New York Dutch.
In 1709 ...
who immigrated to
Columbia County seeking religious freedom. Descendants include
John D. Rockefeller
John Davison Rockefeller Sr. (July 8, 1839 – May 23, 1937) was an American business magnate and philanthropist. He has been widely considered the wealthiest American of all time and the richest person in modern history. Rockefeller was ...
who was known to have visited the site. It was added to the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
in 2009. While it is now undergoing restoration as a private residence, it was originally a stage stop, tavern, and restaurant. In addition, the early settlers engaged in farming. It is a plain structure with colonnades on a double porch. It is built with
fieldstone
Fieldstone is a naturally occurring type of stone, which lies at or near the surface of the Earth. Fieldstone is a nuisance for farmers seeking to expand their land under cultivation, but at some point it began to be used as a construction mate ...
and as was typical, had a basement kitchen.
The house was in poor condition and had had many unsympathetic alterations when it was bought by Mary Black and Michael J. Blackstone. The two friends restored the building and used it as separate but conjoined residences; the central hall was agreed upon as the dividing line, and both agreed to give the other veto power over any exterior alterations.
References
Federal architecture in New York (state)
Houses completed in 1755
Houses in Columbia County, New York
Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in New York (state)
National Register of Historic Places in Columbia County, New York
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