Blaisdell, Dr. Wesely, House
Also known as: John Colvin Home; Maplehurst
Why it's listed
Dr. Wesley Blaisdell built this brick house in 1838 on a high rise of land in Coeymans Landing, overlooking the Hudson River from the west side of South Main Street. Blaisdell was a physician and the son of a wealthy landowner, and he built on land received from his father. The two and one-half story house has a temple front with a pedimented gable, a monumental two-story portico on four paneled posts, and a detailed entrance with a date plaque reading "W.B. 1838." Inside, the original stair newel post, parlors with pocket doors, and the doctor's office with its safe survive. After Blaisdell died in 1864 while serving as a Civil War surgeon, John J. Colvin bought the house and updated it with a bay window and an Eastlake fireplace. It is listed as an intact regional example of Greek Revival design and a local landmark tied to prominent families. The site covers 1.9 acres and includes a modern shed.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an outstanding, intact regional example of Greek Revival temple-front architecture. Its monumental two-story portico on paneled posts, finely crafted entrance and hilltop setting are cited as key features. It is also tied to leading local families, the Blaisdells and later the Colvins.
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 12000418, listed July 17, 2012. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | S. Main St., Coeymans |
|---|---|
| County | Albany County |
| Listed | July 17, 2012 |
| Reference number | 12000418 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1838- ca. 1875 |
| Architect / builder | Dr. Wesley Blaisdell (builder/owner) |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century/Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a single dwelling; in the late 20th century it served as an adult residential group home, and the interior retains a high degree of integrity. |
| Acreage | 1.9 |
| Within district | Coeymans Landing Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.47435, -73.79281 (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 12000418.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q23091418
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.