Gillespie House
Why it's listed
This small farmhouse at 2554 Western Turnpike in Guilderland, Albany County, was built around 1840 in the Greek Revival style. It is a one-and-one-half-story wood frame building with clapboard siding, a center entrance framed by a pilastered door surround, five small eyebrow windows in the frieze, and a small ell at the rear. A garage stands on the 1.3-acre lot. The house sits close to the heavily travelled Western Turnpike (U.S. Route 20). It was included in a survey of the town's historic resources as an example of the modest rural homes built in the mid-nineteenth century. The survey notes that it retains its original integrity and modest detailing. The surrounding area is under pressure from suburban development, and next to the tract-type housing nearby this small farmhouse stands out as architecturally and historically significant. It was a residence originally and remained one in 1979, in good condition.
Significance in brief: The inventory form describes it as a significant example of the modest rural homes built in the town in the mid-nineteenth century. It retains its original integrity with modest detailing and is highly visible from the road. Compared with the surrounding tract-type development, it stands out as architecturally and historically significant.
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 82001066, listed November 10, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2554 Western Tpk, Guilderland |
|---|---|
| County | Albany County |
| Listed | November 10, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001066 |
| 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 both originally and at the time of the 1979 survey; condition rated good; no threats known. |
| Acreage | 1.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.71267, -73.92960 (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 82001066.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5562117
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.