Knower House
Why it's listed
Built around 1800 on Altamont Road in what was once the center of the village along the Schoharie plank road, this two-story Georgian Colonial house sits beside the Crounse Inn. It was constructed for Benjamin Knower, a hatter, businessman and banker who developed a waterproofing method for beaver-skin hats. The village of Knowersville was named for him after his death and became Altamont in 1887. William L. Marcy, later governor of New York and U.S. Secretary of State, married Cornelia Knower in the house's grand hall in 1824. The five-bay frame house has a center entrance with a Palladian window above, cornice returns and a tripartite second-story window. Inside are a large central hall with an elliptical arch, a carved newel post, hand-carved mantels, raised-panel doors with strap hinges, and a barrel-vaulted room that may have served as a display room. Asbestos shingles added about 1950 cover the clapboards, but many details remain. The house survives amid modern suburban development.
Significance in brief: The house was built for Benjamin Knower, a prominent businessman and banker for whom the village was named after his death. William L. Marcy, later state governor and U.S. Secretary of State, married Cornelia Knower in its grand hall in 1824. It also keeps notable Georgian Colonial exterior and interior details despite its later siding.
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 82001073, listed November 10, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 3921 Altamont Rd., Guilderland |
|---|---|
| County | Albany County |
| Listed | November 10, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001073 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Georgian Colonial |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a residence, in good condition; the owner was removing the asbestos shingles (added ca. 1950) to restore the original clapboards. |
| Acreage | 1.8 |
| Coordinates | 42.70483, -74.01984 (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 82001073.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6423203
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.