Babcock, Dr. John, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1851 for Dr. John Babcock, a well-known local physician, this red brick house sits on a ten-acre rural parcel in the Town of Bethlehem, Albany County. It has a cubic form, a shallow hipped roof, a limestone foundation, brownstone trim, and a bracketed wood cornice. Its design appears to derive from a Tuscan-style cottage plate and variation in Andrew Jackson Downing's 1850 book on country houses. Greek Revival touches, such as six-paneled doors and a columned entrance, mix with Gothic Revival porches and Italianate massing. Inside, double parlors with sliding pocket doors, plaster cornices, marble mantels, and wide plank floors survive, and the original brick cistern remains in the basement. A timber-framed carriage barn and the original acreage preserve the rural setting. Four generations of the Babcock family lived here with few alterations, which is why the house is valued as a well-preserved mid-nineteenth century country dwelling.
Significance in brief: The house is significant as a remarkably intact example of pattern book-inspired Tuscan-style domestic architecture, derived with modifications from a design in Andrew Jackson Downing's 1850 book. It keeps a high level of integrity to its 1851 construction and blends Greek Revival, Gothic Revival and Italianate elements. The carriage barn and the surviving original ten-acre parcel preserve its setting.
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 03001278, listed December 10, 2003. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 101 Lasher Rd., Selkirk |
|---|---|
| County | Albany County |
| Listed | December 10, 2003 |
| Reference number | 03001278 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1851-c. 1871 |
| Architectural style | Mid-nineteenth century: Italianate, Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling; changes since 1851 have been few, mainly a summer kitchen wing, a c. 1920 bathroom and electricity, and central heating about 1966. |
| Acreage | 10 |
| Coordinates | 42.54956, -73.81279 (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 03001278.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14706245
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.