Merchant, Walter, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1869 at 188 Washington Avenue in Albany, this two-story brick townhouse has a finely cut brownstone front and was built for Walter Merchant, a local produce dealer. He bought a neighboring lot, demolished the buildings on the combined parcels, and put up a five-bay Italianate house with quoins, a bracketed cornice and a recessed, segmental-arched entrance. Inside, the center-hall plan keeps original trim, mantels, stained glass, and coffered and paneled woodwork. A seven-bay brick carriage house on Spring Street and a cast iron fence and gate also survive. The basement was converted to a medical office in the early twentieth century. The house is listed as an outstanding local example of Italianate design in an urban setting. It is one of few such dwellings left on this stretch of Washington Avenue, and it recalls the wealth that Albany's growth after the Erie Canal brought to its merchant class.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an outstanding local example of the Italianate style, with Renaissance Revival elements, applied in an urban setting. It is a rare surviving freestanding brownstone dwelling in a neighborhood now dominated by modern development. Its intact interior, carriage house and cast iron fence add to its significance.
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 02000137, listed March 6, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 188 Washington Ave., Albany |
|---|---|
| County | Albany County |
| Listed | March 6, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02000137 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1869 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian/Italianate (with Renaissance Revival elements) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored in the 1990s; now used as offices (commerce/trade). |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Washington Avenue Corridor Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.65600, -73.76231 (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 02000137.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7965620
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.