Shute Octagon House
Why it's listed
Set on a 41.6-acre farm along McGuire School Road in Duanesburg, this octagon house was built in the 1850s by master carpenter Alexander Delos "Boss" Jones for John Shute. The two-story, eight-sided main block has a low-pitched polygonal roof topped by a widow's walk, with Greek Revival details including an encircling entablature, broad corner pilasters and a trabeated entrance. A one and one-half story wing is contemporary with the main block, and a large porch with porte-cochère was added around 1906. The house follows the octagon mode promoted by Orson S. Fowler, and it is one of only two surviving octagons in the town. It is also one of three known Boss Jones houses built with stacked plank construction. Seven nineteenth-century outbuildings, including barns, sheds and a brick smokehouse, remain on the property, preserving the historic farm setting. The Shute family held the land from about 1788 until 1911.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a representative example of the octagon mode popularized by Orson S. Fowler, and the work of Duanesburg's most prolific and skilled mid-nineteenth century master carpenter, Boss Jones. It is also one of a few Boss Jones houses built with stacked plank construction. The intact outbuildings and surviving farm setting 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 84003276, listed October 11, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | McGuire School Rd., Duanesburg |
|---|---|
| County | Schenectady County |
| Listed | October 11, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84003276 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Alexander Delos (Boss) Jones |
| Architectural style | Octagon mode with Greek Revival features |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as excellent; still used as a residence and working farm, with a porch added ca. 1906 and a new roof. |
| Acreage | 41.6 |
| Coordinates | 42.77576, -74.21895 (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 84003276.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7505615
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.