Johnson Hall | |
 A 1903 painting despicts the presentation of medals to theSix Nations Iroquois Confederacy in 1772 | |
   | |
| Location | Johnstown, New York |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 43°0′54″N74°22′58″W / 43.01500°N 74.38278°W /43.01500; -74.38278 |
| Built | 1763 |
| Architect | Peter Harrison (architect) |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000520 |
| NYSRHP No. | 03541.000030 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966[1] |
| Designated NHL | October 9, 1960[2] |
| Designated NYSRHP | June 23, 1980 |
Johnson Hall State Historic Site was the home ofSir William Johnson (1715–1774) an Irish pioneer who became the influential BritishSuperintendent of Indian Affairs in theProvince of New York, known for his strong relationship especially with theMohawk and otherIroquois League nations.
Johnson Hall is located at Hall Avenue, West State Street and Johnson Avenue, inJohnstown, New York.
The house was built seven miles from theMohawk River, close to Hall Creek.[3] Hall Creek provided water sufficient to power asawmill and later agrist mill. Built of wood, the house frame was covered with wood planks intended to simulate stone. Johnson engaged leading colonial architectPeter Harrison to design the house; he hired the carpenter, Samuel Fuller, to build it.[4] At least some of the ideas for the house came from theBuilders' Companion magazine. Johnson also had two stone block houses built as defenses against attack on the frontier, as the British had just ended theSeven Years' War with the French. The stonehouses were also used for storage and other domestic uses.[5]
Johnson foundedJohnstown, New York, and came to own a 400,000-acre (160,000 ha) estate. Johnson moved here fromOld Fort Johnson in 1763 and lived here until he died in 1774. The house was inherited by his son,John Johnson. During theAmerican Revolution, the rebel government in New York seized Johnson Hall because the Johnsons had gone to Canada asLoyalists. In 1779 the state sold the house toSilas Talbot, a migrant from New England.[6]
It was used as a private residence by various owners until 1906, when the state bought it for preservation and interpretation as ahouse museum of the most important colonial landowner in the state. It received restoration in the early twentieth century and in the 1950s, to remove additions of the late nineteenth century and better reflect its original time. The historic site includes more than 18 acres of land.[6] The mansion and the West Stonehouse are the only original structures on the site; the East Stonehouse is a reproduction.[5]
The house was declared aNational Historic Landmark in 1960.[2][6]
{{cite journal}}:Cite journal requires|journal= (help) andAccompanying 14 photos, exterior and interior, from 1984. (2.96 MB)
