Godfrey Farmhouse
Also known as: Elm Tree Farm
Why it's listed
This one-and-a-half-story farmhouse at 1313 Loudon Road in Colonie was built around 1836 in the Greek Revival style. Its temple form, impressive portico with fluted columns and rear wing faced with four pilasters and a full entablature make it a rarity in the town. A side entrance has a small Greek Revival porch. Inside, the original woodwork, stairway, mantels and much hardware survive. The land was once part of the Fonda property, divided after Henry Fonda died in 1835. Isaac F. Lansing acquired it in 1836, and George A. Godfrey in 1840. The Godfrey family later sold off portions of the original 217 acres but kept the farmhouse for several generations. Set on a hill with the Mohawk Valley behind it, the house is in good condition and still used as a residence, though commercial development along Route 9 is encroaching. It is listed as part of a group of historic resources along Route 9 in Colonie.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a rare Greek Revival farmhouse with a classical portico in the Town of Colonie. Its interior is remarkably intact, with original woodwork, stairway, mantels and hardware. The Godfrey family kept the farmhouse for several generations after acquiring the land in 1840.
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 79003240, listed October 4, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1313 Loudon Rd., Cohoes |
|---|---|
| County | Albany County |
| Listed | October 4, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003240 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, temple-form |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a residence; condition rated good; threatened by encroaching commercial strip development along Route 9. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 42.80785, -73.73423 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 79003240.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14706291
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.