Guilderland
Historical
Society
- Guilderland properties listed in the
National Register of Historic Places - Chapel House
The Chapel House was destroyed by fire 26 May 1985.
A brief paragraph and photo was included in the Altamont Enterprise
1985-05-30.
Known as the Barnes
Bungalow, or Lodge, until its conversion in 1966 to religious
uses.
The Chapel House site viewed from the west across the University at
Albany ring road (April 2019).
Built in 1909 on top of the hill shown here, the northern part of
which was cut away by the construction of the road in 1963-4.
Photos of the Chapel House in the 1982 NRHP nomination document
(marked July 1980)
click on an image to obtain full size view
1. Chapel House, entrance and driveway on the north
side
2. front doorway to the Chapel House or Barnes Lodge
3. detail of exposed
framing
4. detail of window north side
Text information from NRHP nomination of 1982
Chapel House entered on the NRHP 10 November 1982
Application file # 1; National Register Guilderland Multiple
Resource Area # 16.
Building is located in a wooded area on the southern edge of the
State University at Albany campus.
Features: Two-story, Arts and Crafts style house with stucco
walls and half-timbering; asymmetrical plan; hexagonal tower on
south side; large overhangs with exposed timbers; grouped casement
windows; interior retains some original details.
Date of initial construction: 1909 [1910 in NRHP document]
Architect: Marcus T Reynolds [stated unknown in NRHP
document]
Historical and Architectural importance: Built around 1910,
this fine Arts & Crafts style home was very secluded and
adjacent to the Albany Country Club. The State University system
took over the course [Country Club golf course] to construct the new
campus at Albany. The house is now used as an ecumenical center for
the University. The building is the only example of the Arts &
Crafts style in the town*. It remains, largely intact and secluded,
as a statement of the suburban lifestyle of the period in which it
was constructed. Its survival in an area near modern suburban
development adds to its significance within the multiple resource
area.
Chapel
House NRHP nomination document (11MB pdf)
* In fact there are multiple examples of contemporary and slightly
younger, albeit smaller Arts & Crafts style houses right nearby,
on the streets of McKownville north of Western Avenue More detail
here: McKownville-Country
Club Highlands Historic District
map location from NRHP document (Chapel House #1)
site map with building location from 1979 tax map
Google Earth kml
file
Guilderland NRHP properties
Guilderland Historian
Guilderland Historical Society