Schoolcraft, John, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1835, this house on Western Turnpike in Guilderland is regarded as one of the finest Gothic Revival homes in Albany County. It is believed to have been built for John Schoolcraft, whose family helped develop the local glass industry; he was an uncle of the writer, scientist and businessman Henry Rowe Schoolcraft. The wood-frame house is clad in wide horizontal beaded boards and carries a rich set of Gothic details: gingerbread vergeboards, pinnacles with crockets, casement windows with diamond panes and hood moldings, bay windows with tracery, paneled chimneys and a balustrade with low-relief tracery. Its style was unusual in the region when it was built, and it remains a rare example of its type and period in the town. Although it now holds apartments and has lost its chimney crowns, it still stands out against the surrounding modern suburban development, next to a Presbyterian church and commercial properties.
Significance in brief: The house is described as an outstanding and rare example of Gothic Revival architecture in Guilderland and one of the finest in Albany County. It was unusual in the region for its time. It is also tied to the Schoolcraft family, who helped develop the local glass industry.
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 82001081, listed November 10, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2299 Western Tpk., Guilderland |
|---|---|
| County | Albany County |
| Listed | November 10, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001081 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Originally a residence, now divided into apartments; condition rated fair, with chimney crowns removed in recent years. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Coordinates | 42.70393, -73.90948 (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 82001081.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6256948
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.