Stone Jug
Encyclopedia
The Stone Jug is a historic house
at the corner of NY 9G
and Jug Road in Clermont
, New York, United States. It dates to the mid-18th century and is largely intact, although it has been expanded somewhat since then.
It was built by Konradt Lasher, a Palatine German immigrant to the area who first farmed as a tenant
of Robert Livingston
. Unusually in an area where brick was the favored material, he chose stone. In the mid-19th century his descendants bought the land and built a farmhouse, now across the street. It, the stone house and several other buildings from the Lasher family farm were listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1978. Later, in 1992, it became a contributing property
to the Hudson River Historic District
, a National Historic Landmark
.
of two other stone houses. All are considered contributing properties
to its historic character.
The Stone Jug is a -story house consisting of a main block faced mostly in stone with a gable
d roof. The west gable end is in brick, as is the chimney that rises from that side. The north wing, added more recently, is of concrete block faced in fieldstone
on the east and weatherboard on the north and west.
Original Dutch door
s are on both entrances, at the south of the basement and east of the first story. The lintel above the east entrance has the year 1752 and "K.B.L & J." carved into it. The lower one opens into a large room with a 7 feet (2.1 m) hearth
built into the west wall. The staircase is original except for the steps. Upstairs, the main room is also mostly intact except for a small entry hall partitioned off to the east. Most of the windows are original except for the double casement on the west wall. On the top is a garret
with exposed rafter
s.
Across Route 9G is a five-bay
, -story frame
farmhouse. South of Jug Road is an L-shaped frame barn. West of the house on either side of Jug are the remains of two other 18th-century stone houses. A garage on the southeast corner of the intersection is modern and non-contributing.
. Britain decided in 1710 to resettle them to the lands of Robert Livingston
in the Hudson Valley
, lands now making up northwestern Dutchess
and southwest Columbia
counties. They were to work for Livingston on a scheme to produce naval stores
for the crown.
The scheme failed because many of the crops required could not survive the harsh winters of the region. In 1713 Livingston released the Germans, and many settled elsewhere in the area. Their impact can be seen today in placenames like Germantown
and Rhinebeck
and the many Lutheran
churches in the area.
One of them, Bastian Lasher, stayed on the land he had originally settled. He and his three sons were able to work it as tenant farmer
s, and by 1752 Konradt had built his house near his brothers George and Johannis, using stone rather than the brick more popular with the Palatinate settlers. The family kept the farm, and in 1846 Philip Lasher was able to buy an 85 acres (34.4 ha) parcel and build the frame farmhouse across the road.
In the 1950s the north wing was added. In the process of doing so the original staircase's steps were replaced with wider ones. There have been no other changes to the house.
Historic house
A historic house can be a stately home, the birthplace of a famous person, or a house with an interesting history or architecture.- Background :...
at the corner of NY 9G
New York State Route 9G
New York State Route 9G is a state highway in the Hudson Valley of New York in the United States. It runs north from U.S. Route 9 at Poughkeepsie, starting out as Violet Avenue, then follows the Hudson River mostly along the eastern side of the US 9 to Rhinebeck, where the two...
and Jug Road in Clermont
Clermont, New York
Clermont is a town in Columbia County, New York, United States. The population was 1,726 at the 2000 census. The name of the town is French for "Clear Mountain," referring to the mountain views in the town....
, New York, United States. It dates to the mid-18th century and is largely intact, although it has been expanded somewhat since then.
It was built by Konradt Lasher, a Palatine German immigrant to the area who first farmed as a tenant
Tenant farmer
A tenant farmer is one who resides on and farms land owned by a landlord. Tenant farming is an agricultural production system in which landowners contribute their land and often a measure of operating capital and management; while tenant farmers contribute their labor along with at times varying...
of Robert Livingston
Robert Livingston the Elder
Robert Livingston the Elder was a New York colonial official, and first lord of Livingston Manor. He married Alida Schuyler in 1679. He was the father of nine children, including Philip, Robert and Gilbert...
. Unusually in an area where brick was the favored material, he chose stone. In the mid-19th century his descendants bought the land and built a farmhouse, now across the street. It, the stone house and several other buildings from the Lasher family farm were listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1978. Later, in 1992, it became a contributing property
Contributing property
In the law regulating historic districts in the United States, a contributing resource or contributing property is any building, structure, or object which adds to the historical integrity or architectural qualities that make the historic district, listed locally or federally, significant...
to the Hudson River Historic District
Hudson River Historic District
The Hudson River Historic District, also known as Hudson River Heritage Historic District, is the largest such district on the mainland of the contiguous United States...
, a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
.
Property
The house is part of a 9.7 acres (3.9 ha) former farm property on both sides of Route 9G. It includes another farmhouse, a barn, and the remaining foundationsFoundation (architecture)
A foundation is the lowest and supporting layer of a structure. Foundations are generally divided into two categories: shallow foundations and deep foundations.-Shallow foundations:...
of two other stone houses. All are considered contributing properties
Contributing property
In the law regulating historic districts in the United States, a contributing resource or contributing property is any building, structure, or object which adds to the historical integrity or architectural qualities that make the historic district, listed locally or federally, significant...
to its historic character.
The Stone Jug is a -story house consisting of a main block faced mostly in stone with a gable
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
d roof. The west gable end is in brick, as is the chimney that rises from that side. The north wing, added more recently, is of concrete block faced in fieldstone
Fieldstone
Fieldstone is a building construction material. Strictly speaking, it is stone collected from the surface of fields where it occurs naturally...
on the east and weatherboard on the north and west.
Original Dutch door
Dutch door
A Dutch door , or stable door , or half door , is a door divided horizontally in such a fashion that the bottom half may remain shut while the top half opens...
s are on both entrances, at the south of the basement and east of the first story. The lintel above the east entrance has the year 1752 and "K.B.L & J." carved into it. The lower one opens into a large room with a 7 feet (2.1 m) hearth
Hearth
In common historic and modern usage, a hearth is a brick- or stone-lined fireplace or oven often used for cooking and/or heating. For centuries, the hearth was considered an integral part of a home, often its central or most important feature...
built into the west wall. The staircase is original except for the steps. Upstairs, the main room is also mostly intact except for a small entry hall partitioned off to the east. Most of the windows are original except for the double casement on the west wall. On the top is a garret
Garret
A garret is generally synonymous in modern usage with a habitable attic or small living space at the top of a house. It entered Middle English via Old French with a military connotation of a watchtower or something akin to a garrison, in other words a place for guards or soldiers to be quartered...
with exposed rafter
Rafter
A rafter is one of a series of sloped structural members , that extend from the ridge or hip to the downslope perimeter or eave, designed to support the roof deck and its associated loads.-Design:...
s.
Across Route 9G is a five-bay
Bay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
, -story frame
Framing (construction)
Framing, in construction known as light-frame construction, is a building technique based around structural members, usually called studs, which provide a stable frame to which interior and exterior wall coverings are attached, and covered by a roof comprising horizontal ceiling joists and sloping...
farmhouse. South of Jug Road is an L-shaped frame barn. West of the house on either side of Jug are the remains of two other 18th-century stone houses. A garage on the southeast corner of the intersection is modern and non-contributing.
History
In the early 18th century, several thousand Palatine refugees from the War of Spanish Succession were temporarily housed in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Britain decided in 1710 to resettle them to the lands of Robert Livingston
Robert Livingston the Elder
Robert Livingston the Elder was a New York colonial official, and first lord of Livingston Manor. He married Alida Schuyler in 1679. He was the father of nine children, including Philip, Robert and Gilbert...
in the Hudson Valley
Hudson Valley
The Hudson Valley comprises the valley of the Hudson River and its adjacent communities in New York State, United States, from northern Westchester County northward to the cities of Albany and Troy.-History:...
, lands now making up northwestern Dutchess
Dutchess County, New York
Dutchess County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. The 2010 census lists the population as 297,488...
and southwest Columbia
Columbia County, New York
Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 63,096. The county seat is Hudson. The name comes from the Latin feminine form of the name of Christopher Columbus, which was at the time of the formation of the county a popular proposal...
counties. They were to work for Livingston on a scheme to produce naval stores
Naval stores
Naval Stores is a broad term which originally applied to the resin-based components used in building and maintaining wooden sailing ships, a category which includes cordage, mask, turpentine, rosin, pitch and tar...
for the crown.
The scheme failed because many of the crops required could not survive the harsh winters of the region. In 1713 Livingston released the Germans, and many settled elsewhere in the area. Their impact can be seen today in placenames like Germantown
Germantown, New York
Germantown is the name of three places in the U.S. state of New York:* Germantown , New York, in Columbia County* Germantown , New York, in Columbia County* Germantown, in the town of Clarksville, Allegany County, New York...
and Rhinebeck
Rhinebeck (town), New York
Rhinebeck is a town in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 7,548 at the 2010 census.The Town of Rhinebeck in the northwest part of Dutchess County in the Hudson Valley. Rhinebeck is also the name of a village in the town. US Route 9 passes through the town...
and the many Lutheran
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
churches in the area.
One of them, Bastian Lasher, stayed on the land he had originally settled. He and his three sons were able to work it as tenant farmer
Tenant farmer
A tenant farmer is one who resides on and farms land owned by a landlord. Tenant farming is an agricultural production system in which landowners contribute their land and often a measure of operating capital and management; while tenant farmers contribute their labor along with at times varying...
s, and by 1752 Konradt had built his house near his brothers George and Johannis, using stone rather than the brick more popular with the Palatinate settlers. The family kept the farm, and in 1846 Philip Lasher was able to buy an 85 acres (34.4 ha) parcel and build the frame farmhouse across the road.
In the 1950s the north wing was added. In the process of doing so the original staircase's steps were replaced with wider ones. There have been no other changes to the house.