Aiken House
Why it's listed
Built around 1816, the Akin House is a brick townhouse near the Hudson River in Rensselaer, New York. It was built by William Akin, who bought land from Stephen Van Rensselaer in 1810 and went on to found the village of Greenbush, later the city of Rensselaer. The main block is two and a half stories, with Flemish bond brickwork on the street-facing sides, stepped gable ends with four chimneys, and sandstone lintels and sills. The south gable has an unusual arrangement of two oval windows flanked by two round ones. Inside, Federal woodwork includes door frames with cornices and paneled pilasters, and a curved stair hall divided by an arch on Ionic columns. The house is thought to be the work of Albany architect Philip Hooker, though the evidence is circumstantial. Vacant for several years and damaged by fires, including one in 1973, it was listed for its architecture and its link to Rensselaer's founder.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a superb example of Federal-period architecture with unusually fine interior woodwork. It is also important as the home built by William Akin, who founded the village of Greenbush, later Rensselaer. It is thought, though not documented, to have been designed by Albany architect Philip Hooker.
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 74001296, listed December 31, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NE corner of Riverside and Aiken Aves., Rensselaer |
|---|---|
| County | Rensselaer County |
| Listed | December 31, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001296 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architect / builder | Thought to have been designed by Philip Hooker (not documented); built by William Akin |
| Architectural style | Federal period |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as empty for several years, in fair-to-deteriorated condition, and damaged by several fires including one in 1973; a local historical society hoped to acquire it as a headquarters. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.63556, -73.74895 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 74001296.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4696939
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.