Dickey, William J., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1890 by William J. Dickey, superintendent of the Egbert Woolen Mill, this wood frame house at 16 Imperial Avenue sits on the highest ground of its block in western Cohoes. The area opened for development after a bridge over the Erie Canal was built in 1867. The two-story house combines Queen Anne and Stick Style features: asymmetrical massing, projecting bay windows, ornamental stick work, verge boards, brackets, and a jerkin-headed roof of patterned polychrome slate. A rounded porch of turned posts and brackets wraps the front and south sides and is singled out as particularly fine. An early twentieth century stained-glass stair window was added on the north side. Inside, plaster walls, original architraves, door surrounds and hardware survive. A contemporary carriage barn, now a garage, contributes to the property. The house was listed for its architecture and its high degree of integrity, and it serves as a local landmark of Cohoes's late nineteenth century growth.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a highly intact example of late nineteenth century Queen Anne and Stick Style residential architecture in Cohoes. It notes the asymmetrical massing, elaborate stick work, bracketed eaves, projecting bays, a round Victorian porch and a patterned polychrome slate roof. The house is described as retaining an outstanding degree of integrity and as an important local landmark.
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 98000138, listed February 20, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 16 Imperial Ave., Cohoes |
|---|---|
| County | Albany County |
| Listed | February 20, 1998 |
| Reference number | 98000138 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1890 |
| Architect / builder | William J. Dickey (builder) |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian/Stick (described in the text as Queen Anne inspired and Stick Style) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a single dwelling; the carriage barn is now used as a garage. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.77122, -73.70603 (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 98000138.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8013200
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.