McNiven Farm Complex
Why it's listed
This farm complex on Altamont Road in Guilderland centers on a two-story, five-bay farmhouse with a center entrance and gable roof, built about 1860. A one-story porch runs across the front and extends east to form a porte-cochere, and a two-story ell extends from the rear. The interior remains largely unaltered. Behind the present house, evidence survives of a small Dutch house from the 1790s, which was the original dwelling before the farm grew and the larger addition was built in the 1860s. A barn complex of notable vernacular design stands to the east. The property sits far back from the road and keeps its original farm setting, even as suburban development has grown around it. It was recognized as an excellent example of a restrained rural farmhouse and as a reminder of Guilderland's agrarian character in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The architect and builder are unknown.
Significance in brief: The house is described as a largely unaltered, excellent example of a restrained 19th-century rural farmhouse. It reflects Guilderland's heritage as a rural, agrarian community of the 18th and 19th centuries. The barn complex has a notable vernacular design, and the buildings keep a high degree of integrity amid modern suburban development.
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 82001074, listed November 10, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 4178 Altamont Rd., Guilderland |
|---|---|
| County | Albany County |
| Listed | November 10, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001074 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a farmhouse; the form lists no known threats and describes the farm as retaining its original setting, set far back from the road. |
| Acreage | 1.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.70558, -74.00225 (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 82001074.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6802558
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.