Farkas, Samuel, House
Also known as: Farkas House
Why it's listed
Completed in 1889 on Broad Avenue in Albany, this Second Empire brick mansion was built for Samuel Farkas, a Hungarian immigrant who arrived in the United States at 18. He started in his uncle's general store, then established a stable in 1872 and traded chiefly in mules, a business tied closely to the area's agricultural economy. Within two decades he had amassed a fortune. The two and a half story house is faced in buff brick laid in stretcher bond, with asymmetrical massing, broad bracketed eaves, pedimented dormers in a fish-scale slate mansard roof, and white stone keystones over the windows. Inside are 17 rooms, five baths, heart pine floors and carved mantels. A new porch and sun parlor were added in 1920, and a two story rear addition followed in 1940. It is described as the last remaining mansion of Albany's nineteenth-century merchant princes.
Significance in brief: It is described as the last remaining mansion of an Albany nineteenth-century "merchant prince." Samuel Farkas, a Hungarian immigrant, built a fortune in the mule trade that figured largely in the area's agricultural economy. The house is also called one of Albany's most significant residences architecturally and a major residential landmark near downtown.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 77000419, listed November 9, 1977. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 328 W. Broad Ave., Albany |
|---|---|
| County | Dougherty County |
| Listed | November 9, 1977 |
| Reference number | 77000419 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Second Empire (Victorian) |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition, altered, and undergoing some interior renovation for use as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Within district | Downtown Albany Commercial Historic District |
| Coordinates | 31.57675, -84.15500 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 77000419.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q17030329
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.