Gorham House
Also known as: Elliot House
Why it's listed
Built in 1926 at 347 Loudon Road in the Town of Colonie, this brick residence was designed by Albany architect Norman Sturgis in the Colonial Revival style. It has five bays and two stories, with flanking one-and-a-half-story wings and an attached garage. Much of its fabric came from the c. 1806 Hegeman house in Vischer Ferry, including structural members, much of the brick, the doorway and first-floor hallway woodwork, and several mantels. The Gorham family who built it copied the general exterior of the older house, but changed its setting: the Hegeman house sat on treeless river flats, while the new home was placed at the edge of a rugged wooded ravine, screened from the road by dense vegetation. The house is significant as an example of early twentieth-century enthusiasm for American history and the colonial past, a taste also seen in other Loudon Road homes built during suburban expansion. It remains a private residence on about 5.6 acres.
Significance in brief: The house illustrates the intense interest in early American history that arose in the first quarter of the 20th century. It was built using the exterior appearance and many salvaged materials of the c. 1806 Hegeman house in Vischer Ferry. It reflects the colonial taste seen in other Loudon Road homes built during suburban expansion.
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 79003239, listed October 4, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 347 Loudon Rd., Loudonville |
|---|---|
| County | Albany County |
| Listed | October 4, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003239 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Norman Sturgis of Albany (architect) |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in good condition, original site, used as a residence, with no threats known. |
| Acreage | 5.8 |
| Coordinates | 42.69169, -73.75124 (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 79003239.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5586407
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.