Hills, Ebenezer, Jr., Farmhouse
Also known as: Component No. 10
Why it's listed
Built around 1785, this two-story wood frame farmhouse on the Troy-Schenectady Road in Colonie sits on a dry-laid stone foundation and is five bays wide, with louvered shutters, 2/2 windows and an entrance framed by sidelights and crown molding. A shed-roofed porch of about 1860 with square columns and scroll-sawn brackets covers the central bays. Inside, the first floor has a double-pile plan with large rooms and a hall, while the second floor is plain, with pine plank partitions and original hand-wrought hardware, recalling early garret space. The house is regarded as a rare surviving example of a pre-Revolutionary regional house type, mixing Dutch tradition with Neo-classical formality. Ebenezer Hills, Jr. moved here from Connecticut. After the turnpike opened in 1802, the building became a tavern and post office by 1820 under his son Laban, and it has been a local landmark since. About 29.4 acres remain, along with three contributing barns, and the site is still farmed commercially.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a rare surviving late-eighteenth-century vernacular frame farmhouse with Dutch-influenced features and a central hall plan reflecting Neo-classical influence. It is also tied to the early development of northern Colonie along the Troy-Schenectady Turnpike, where it later served as a tavern and post office.
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 85002712, listed October 3, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1010 Troy-Schenectady Rd., Colonie |
|---|---|
| County | Albany County |
| Listed | October 3, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002712 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Late eighteenth-century vernacular frame farmhouse with Dutch tradition and Neo-classical influence |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The 1982 inventory lists the present use as vacant, condition as fair, and airport expansion and deterioration as threats. The property continues to operate as a commercial farm. |
| Acreage | 29.4 |
| Coordinates | 42.76305, -73.80300 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 85002712.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5331691
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.