Lackman, J. Leonard, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1895 for J. Leonard Lackmann, a locksmith and gunsmith shop proprietor, this large wood frame house at 28 Imperial Avenue in Cohoes is a fine local example of Queen Anne architecture. It rises two and one-half stories on a stone foundation under a steeply pitched crossed gable roof of polychrome slate. Clapboard covers the first story and imbricate shingles the second, while projecting bays, bracketed gables, carved swags and a round corner turret with a conical roof enliven the elevations. Inside, the entry and stair hall keep an inlaid parquet floor, a carved staircase, paneled walls, a delicate mantel and a round-arched stained-glass window, and patterned metal ceilings survive in much of the house. Imperial Avenue was laid out as Cohoes expanded onto its newly opened western side after the 1860s. The house was listed for its architecture, since it retains exceptional integrity of design, materials and craftsmanship and still serves as a single-family home.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an outstanding and highly intact example of Queen Anne residential architecture in Cohoes. It displays asymmetrical massing, varied shingle and clapboard siding, projecting bays, a complex gabled slate roof and a round corner tower. Its exterior and interior retain a very high degree of integrity, making it an important local landmark tied to the city's late nineteenth century western 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 98000136, listed February 20, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 28 Imperial Ave., Cohoes |
|---|---|
| County | Albany County |
| Listed | February 20, 1998 |
| Reference number | 98000136 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1895 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian/Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling; interior described as substantially intact, with a non-contributing early twentieth century two-stall garage on the lot. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.77088, -73.70606 (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 98000136.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6106346
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.