Smith, John, House
Also known as: Mrs. C.S. Smith House
Why it's listed
Built around 1860, this two-story wood frame house at 103 Albany Avenue in Kingston stands on a narrow lot at the corner of Albany Avenue and Chandler Drive. It is a three-by-three-bay Italianate residence with original clapboards, a raised brick foundation, a hipped roof, broad eaves, a molded cornice and paired brackets. A cupola once crowned the roof but was removed in the early twentieth century because of structural damage. A full-width front porch, a recessed paneled entry and a side bay window add to its detail. Inside, a central hall with flanking parlors retains moldings and coved plaster ceilings. The house appears on an 1870 atlas as the home of Mrs. C. S. Smith, later identified as Catherine S. Smith, widow of John Smith. It was listed for its architecture, as a locally important Italianate house and as one of the finest examples of craftsmanship on Albany Avenue, despite a setting altered by road expansion.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an important local example of Italianate residential architecture. Its cubic massing, ornate cornice with frieze and paired brackets, and finely crafted porches, bay window and entry are cited as some of Albany Avenue's finest craftsmanship. It is also described as a reminder of the opulence and social status once associated with the neighborhood.
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 02001315, listed November 15, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 103 Albany Ave., Kingston |
|---|---|
| County | Ulster County |
| Listed | November 15, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02001315 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1860 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian/Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling; the setting has been compromised by the expansion of Albany Avenue and Chandler Drive. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.93286, -74.01125 (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 02001315.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6258388
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.