Two historic sites in Ulster County are among 23 places across New York State nominated for inclusion on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. The nominations were reviewed and recommended by the New York State Board for Historic Preservation at its September 9 meeting.

Forstmann Castle (Denning): Constructed between 1915 and 1916 for wool magnate Julius Forstmann, this Catskills mountain lodge was designed as a private home combining an estate with a working farm, pastures, barns, livestock, and a deer farm. Clad in cobblestones and shingles, the structure was built using German masons and carpenters and features ornate interior details such as coffered ceilings, nail-less wood floors, and imposing stone fireplaces.

It’s currently home to an art gallery run by the Frost Valley YMCA, with a permanent exhibition space run by the North American Indigenous Center of New York.

First Presbyterian Church of Marlborough (Marlborough): Built in 1870 to replace a previous church building destroyed by fire in 1868, this masonry church was designed by New York architect John A. (J.A.) Wood. The structure is a rural interpretation of the Romanesque Revival style and retains much of its original architectural fabric, including a copper spire installed in 1916 to replace the original steeple following a fire.

Official listing on the State and National Registers helps property owners revitalize historic structures by providing access to public preservation programs, including state matching grants and federal historic rehabilitation tax credits.

Following the state commissioner's approval, both local landmarks will be officially entered into the New York State Register of Historic Places and forwarded to the National Park Service for final review and entry onto the National Register.