Griggs, Hiram, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1873 for attorney and politician Hiram Griggs, this two-story frame house on Prospect Terrace in Altamont is a well-preserved example of Italianate residential design. It sits on a limestone foundation and has narrow clapboard siding, a low hipped roof of rolled metal, and wide eaves carried on paired scroll-sawn brackets. A full-width front porch with turned balustrades, punched ornament and a polychrome paint scheme gives the north facade its richest detail. Inside, a center hall with a fluted newel staircase is flanked by double parlors and a dining room, and original gas piping remains. The house is also valued for its link to Griggs, who helped bring the railroad and the name change from Knowersville to Altamont, then served as the village's first President from 1890 to 1898. Under his leadership Altamont gained a water system, fire protection, street lighting and a park. The period of significance runs from the house's construction to Griggs's death in 1909.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an intact, distinguished local example of Victorian Italianate residential architecture. It is also tied to Hiram Griggs (1836-1909), Altamont's first Village President, who led the village through incorporation, waterworks, fire protection, street lighting and other public improvements while living here.
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 10000483, listed July 19, 2010. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 111 Prospect Terrace, Altamont |
|---|---|
| County | Albany County |
| Listed | July 19, 2010 |
| Reference number | 10000483 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1873-1909 |
| Architect / builder | Mason- Robert L. Zeh: carpenter unknown |
| Architectural style | LATE VICTORIAN: Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling; original shutters and porch balustrades have been partly replaced with exact reproductions, and most original window mouldings, surrounds and glass survive. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Coordinates | 42.64202, -74.03578 (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 10000483.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5769165
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.