White, Sidney, House
Why it's listed
Set on a hillside in rural Albany County, this two-story farmhouse near Preston Hollow was built around 1841 for Sidney White, a local farmer who served as road commissioner and tax assessor. A heavy hand-hewn timber frame sits on a fieldstone foundation, and white clapboard covers the five-bay main block. A smaller wing, probably built as a woodshed, was later converted to living space. Inside, a center-passage plan holds a parlor and kitchen, four brick hearths and a bake oven. Flat Greek Revival moldings appear throughout, while the balusters, doors and parlor mantel recall the earlier Federal style. White bought his land in 1841 after the end of the old patroon leasehold arrangement, and eventually assembled about 320 acres. The house is considered significant as a largely intact local example of vernacular timber-frame building, retaining its original plan despite some replaced windows and doors. The surrounding property keeps its pastures, stone walls and orchard, and a conservation easement now protects it.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a relatively intact example of heavy timber-frame vernacular domestic architecture in the Preston Hollow area of southwest Albany County. Its interior mixes late Federal and mainly Greek Revival details. It was built for Sidney White (1800-1871), a local road commissioner and tax assessor whose farm reflects the end of the Van Rensselaer leasehold system.
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 05001394, listed December 7, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 483 Travis Hill Rd., Preson Hollow |
|---|---|
| County | Albany County |
| Listed | December 7, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05001394 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1841- c. 1880 |
| Architectural style | Mid 19th Century: Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently a single dwelling; a conservation easement is attached to the deed. Some windows, the front door and sidelights are later replacements, and the woodshed wing was altered for living space. |
| Acreage | 23.4 |
| Coordinates | 42.46933, -74.19931 (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 05001394.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7509420
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.