Menands Manor
Also known as: Component No. 16; Home for Aged Men
Why it's listed
Menands Manor is a brick building at 272 Broadway in Menands, set back from busy Route 32 on a wooded lot of 3.77 acres. Its oldest part was built before 1840 for Joseph Strain, an Albany soap manufacturer, and kept Federal features such as a five-bay central hall plan, a large Palladian window and an Adamesque mantel. In 1877 a group of Albany philanthropists formed the Home for Aged Men and hired architect William M. Woollett to convert the house. He added two three-story corner towers, a slate hip roof with dormers, cross-gables and a two-story porch, with Stick Style details including bargeboards, exposed framing and a decorative porch frieze. Richard Wickham, a well-known Albany builder, carried out the carpentry. Woollett's designs were published nationally, and this is a rare documented surviving example of his work. A 1925 south addition and a garage do not contribute to the property. The building continues in use as an old age home.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is a distinctive example of the Stick Style by prominent Albany architect William M. Woollett. It incorporates an early nineteenth-century Federal farmhouse. It is also noted as the work of Albany builder Richard Wickham, who was known across New York State for his carpentry and building skills.
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 85002743, listed October 3, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 272 Broadway, Colonie |
|---|---|
| County | Albany County |
| Listed | October 3, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002743 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect: William M. Woollett (1877 additions); Builders: James A. Shattuck, mason; Richard Wickham, carpenter |
| Architectural style | Stick Style (over an earlier Federal-style central hall house) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as an old age home; condition listed as good; interior accessible by appointment. A 1925 south addition and a ca. 1925 garage are non-contributing. |
| Acreage | 3.8 |
| Coordinates | 42.69311, -73.72484 (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 85002743.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6816445
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.