Hughson Mansion
Why it's listed
Hughson Mansion is a large, rectangular, two-and-a-half-story wood-frame house at 374 Loudon Road in Loudonville, in the Town of Colonie. It was built before 1883 in the Second Empire style, with a mansard roof, dormers, a bracketed cornice and window surrounds with Baroque detailing. Most windows are topped by cornices, though some have pediments. Inside, the woodwork, marble mantels and cornice moldings remain intact, although acoustical ceilings were added in some rooms and some renovation took place in 1954. An 1866 map shows a house in this location under a different owner's name, and an 1883 lithograph lists J.C. Hughson, who ran a lumber business in Albany, as the owner. A Hughson descendant gave the house to the Loudonville Community Church in 1953. It was listed as a high-style example of Second Empire architecture that reflects its owner's wealth and the period's taste for imported styles. It is now surrounded by newer church buildings and was described as unused when documented.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a high-style Second Empire house that reflects the wealth of its owner and the American fascination with imported architectural styles during the period of eclecticism. It is described as remarkably intact, with its original woodwork, marble mantels and cornice moldings. It is also tied to J.C. Hughson, an Albany lumber businessman.
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 79003245, listed October 4, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 374 Loudon Rd., Loudonville |
|---|---|
| County | Albany County |
| Listed | October 4, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003245 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is rated fair and the building is currently unused. It was formerly a residence, later a church property, and some interior renovation took place in 1954. It is surrounded by newer church buildings. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.69596, -73.75494 (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.
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 79003245.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5933602
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.