Dunsbach, Martin, House
Also known as: Component No. 5
Why it's listed
This brick farmhouse at 140 Dunsbach Ferry Road in Colonie was built around 1840 in the Greek Revival style. It has a two-story main block with a side-hall plan, a three-bay gable-end facade, tooled stone lintels, and a recessed entrance with pilasters, sidelights and a transom. A one-and-one-half-story ell with large eyebrow windows extends from the main block and includes a kitchen and two carriage bays separated by a large cooking fireplace and chimney. The carriage shed is described as unique among the town's surveyed historic resources. Martin Dunsbach, a farmer, bought the land in 1837, and his family also operated the ferry across the Mohawk River. The farm remained intact until the 1950s, when a highway was built across the property. Today the house stands on about 2.5 acres without most of its farmland. Its significance rests on its rare brick construction and its place in Colonie's agricultural growth.
Significance in brief: It is a distinctive example of a brick Greek Revival rural residence and one of the few brick farmhouses built in the town of Colonie. It is also notable for an attached two-bay carriage shed at the end of the side ell, described as unique in the multiple resource area. The form ties it to the farming settlement of Colonie after the decline of Van Rensselaer tenancy.
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 85002705, listed October 3, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 140 Dunsbach Ferry Rd., Colonie |
|---|---|
| County | Albany County |
| Listed | October 3, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002705 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a residence; condition rated fair; the farmland was cut off when a highway was built across the property in the 1950s, leaving only a non-contributing garage and shed. |
| Acreage | 2.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.78513, -73.75645 (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 85002705.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6775354
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.