Simmons Stone House
Also known as: Component No. 22
Why it's listed
Built between 1847 and 1849 on Boght Road in Colonie, this two-story stone house was constructed of random-coursed ashlar blocks taken from a small quarry nearby. It has a cruciform plan, an intersecting gable roof with wide eaves, a central chimney, and windows with stone lintels and sills. A one-story front porch with a cobblestone foundation dates to about 1920, and a small enclosed rear porch was added around 1960. The house was built for Daniel Simmons, owner of the Simmons Axe and Edge Tool Company in Cohoes, which made an innovative cast-steel axe, and who was also a founding director of Cohoes's first bank. The Simmons family lived nearby in an Italian villa style residence, and this house was probably occupied by a family who worked on the Simmons property. Its low-pitched roof, broad cornice and picturesque massing reflect mid-nineteenth century fashion, making it a distinctive local stone dwelling that remains a residence today.
Significance in brief: It is described as a unique example of nineteenth-century stone residential architecture in the Colonie multiple resource area. Its cross-gable plan, low-pitched roof and broad overhanging cornice show awareness of the Italianate style, and its random-coursed ashlar construction and cruciform plan give it a picturesque quality. It is also associated with Daniel Simmons, a locally prominent businessman.
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 85002747, listed October 3, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 554 Boght Rd., Colonie |
|---|---|
| County | Albany County |
| Listed | October 3, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002747 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Italianate-influenced mid-nineteenth century picturesque style |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good; used as a residence, with no known threats and interior access by appointment. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.78375, -73.73716 (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 85002747.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7518017
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.