The Albany Damien Center

ALbany Damien Center’s CUrrent Property on Madison Avenue

Many Albany buildings have supported the stories of organizations and people significant to the greater Albany community. As part of the We Save Albany’s Stories project, the Albany Damien Center has provided a look into these stories through the historic structures it has operated from.

“the Damien Center is a resource center designed to improve health, reduce stress and increase the quality of life in a supportive atmosphere for individuals and families living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. ”

— Albany Damien Center

The COnclusion of the Grace & Holy Innocents Church construction ca. 1970

The Albany Damien Center, founded in 1988,  first operated from the Grace & Holy Innocents Church at the intersection of Clinton and Robin Avenues. This 3 story brick structure was one of roughly 500 mid-to-late 19th century buildings within the area. The original property was sold in 1875 by owner John McPherson. McPherson was a farmer living just on the North side of Clinton who had held the vacant property since at least 1840. The brick structure boasts a round-headed window above the entryway, a flat roofline, a side tower with rectangular windows, and a triple arch above these windows.

In September of 1998, the Damien Center purchased a late 19th and 20th century Queen Anne Revival Victorian at 12 South Lake Avenue. The property had been home to Family & Children’s Services for nearly 30 years before the purchase. Constructed in the early 1900s, the 3 story brick building included a clipped front-gable roof with a segmental roof dormer and slate shingles. A wide wooden porch with broken pediment and brackets stood above the main entrance way. This porch was upheld by square piers and balusters with a paneled lattice under skirting and was accompanied by wooden front steps. Both the first and second floors had oriel windows and the property displayed cornice with overhanging eaves supported by corner brackets. 

12 South Lake Property prior to the 2013 fire

In August of 2013, the South Lake Property tragically burned down. The cause of fire remains unknown but it is likely to have started in the basement food storage room. Within about 45 minutes, the property and its contents were lost to the Damien Center, and the organization was forced to relocate. The Damien Center briefly operated from the First Lutheran Church on Western Avenue. This building was constructed in 1927 and had been in use since 1929, making First Lutheran the second oldest church in Albany. The congregation was very welcoming, and their partnership allowed the Damien Center to continue providing essential services.

“The congregation was very welcoming, and their partnership allowed the Damien Center to continue providing essential services.”

The Albany Damien Center then purchased its current property on Madison Avenue. The original property consisted of a two story Italianate style house with a hipped roof,  center gable, and symmetrical front- facing windows. The property was later adjusted to include vinyl siding, new windows, doors, and entryways, and a new side entrance.

Original Italiante structure prior to the 2016 renovations

The building was constructed in 1875 for the family of Painter John Palmer. Following his death, ownership was transferred to Palmer’s wife, Margaret, but the property was then sold in 1910 to the Vice President of Ryan & Graves Insurance, Samuel C Harcourt. Harcourt and his wife occupied the property and allowed Margaret to remain there as a boarder. It was then converted into a meeting-house for the Church of Latter Day Saints. The building was vacant for over 10 years before the Albany Damien Center purchased the property and restored the original porch, painted brick exterior, and attic window. 

“In 2016, the Albany Damien Center renovated the original Italianate house and built new structures to provide more services”

In 2016, the Albany Damien Center renovated the original Italianate house and built new structures to provide more services. With the resulting three story addition to the property, the Damien center now includes twenty units of residential apartments for homeless individuals with HIV/AIDS. The addition works in tandem with the historic two story building to provide ample space and resources for those in need.

by Alexa Moynihan

Original structure with renovation plan ca. 2016

Renovation of 728 Madison Avenue 2016

The Dark Side of Center Square Tour

BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL: VISIT HERE FOR TICKETS >>

**MEETING POINT IS OUTSIDE THE ALBANY INSTITUTE OF HISTORY & ART**

Join Historic Albany Foundation as we resurrect "The Dark Side of Center Square", a guided walking tour exploring historic true crime, local lore, conspiracy and mysteries embedded in the streets of Albany's Center Square.

Follow in the footsteps of the infamous Silent Stalker, and uncover the stories previously told only in lost newspapers and hushed whispers. From Legs Diamond to Gallows Hill, find out more about the Dark Side of this historic neighborhood.

Booking is essential. Each tour has a maximum of 10 attendees. There are 4 dates (Thur 15th, 22nd) and Sat (17th, 24th) all with 4 times (6pm, 6.30pm. 7pm. 7:30pm). Tours last for 90 minutes.

Please note: By registering for this tour, you affirm that everyone in your party will follow CDC guidelines including wearing a mask for the duration of the tour and will keep a 6-foot distance from the tour guide. Everyone in your party will affirm that they have not experienced COVID-19 symptoms in the last 14 days, have not tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 14 days, and have not knowingly been in close or proximate contact in the past 14 days with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or who has or had symptoms of COVID-19.

'Albany's Mid-Century Modern: a driveable self-guided tour'

Download the Guide Here>>

We've been having tons of fun this week on our Facebook releasing snaps of mid-century modern architecture as part of #WhereinAlbany, joining in with DOCOMOMO US's #70sTurn50 month-long celebration.

Today we're happy to release 'Albany's Mid-Century Modern: a driveable self-guided tour' for everyone to enjoy. You can print it off, read it on your phone, visit the buildings, Google maps them, or just learn more about some of the sleek architecture that Albany is home to.

Want to help us continue our work making tours and saving buildings? Make a one-time donation (for any amount) here, or even better become a member ($45 for the year) of our organization. We’d love to have you!

Spite Houses & Tiny Houses

Equality House

Topeka, Kansas

Spite Houses are buildings that are constructed to annoy, irate or “spite” neighbors. Often, these buildings were constructed in such a way as to obstruct views or access to sunlight. On some occasions, Spite Houses were built alongside property lines to provoke neighbors. In some instances, Spite Houses are used to protest. One famous modern example of a spite house would be the Equality House in Topeka Kansas. This building was decorated with the rainbow pride flag to celebrate the LGBTQ + community. It happens to be across the street from the Westboro Baptist Church, an institution that promotes homophobia, amongst other prejudiced views.

The Miracle House

Freeport, NY

In other instances, spite houses are built to protest conforming to town or city ordinances. The Miracle House, a home in Freeport, NY, was constructed in 1902 over the course of one day. The developer of the property, John Randall, built the house on a triangular plot of land, forcing city planners to divert from their straight-line construction project. “Randall "maintains that a straight line would reduce his frontage of land so as to make it worthless," wrote The Brooklyn Daily Eagle on March 5, 1902.” (Chamoff - A Freeport House with a Quirky History.)

Tiny Houses

Occasionally, Spite Houses are built in extremely confined, small plots of land. The result is typically a bizarrely small or narrow home that was designed to either block access to a street, or to block the view of whoever was the target of the “spite.” The Skinny House in Boston, Massachusetts is a perfect example of such a home: According to local legend, one of two brothers that owned the land built a large house on the property; the other brother, who disagreed with the project, decided to build a 10-foot-wide by 30-foot-long house to block the view of the harbor and sunlight.

The Skinny House

Boston, MA

Nowadays, people are designing and building their own tiny houses to protest in another way. The tiny home is now a statement against materialism and consumerism. The tiny house movement was started by people who longed for a simpler way of living, that revolved around decluttering their lives and living within their means. Another reason why people are now opting to live in tiny houses is to reduce their carbon footprint. Yet another is for mobility; some people choose to build their tiny homes on wheels, so that it can be taken essentially anywhere. A typical tiny home that is constructed from scratch rarely surpasses 500 square feet, but there is no shared consensus as to when a “tiny house” becomes a “small house.” Whether they are tiny homes or little houses, there is a shared history between the little houses of a bygone era and the anti-materialistic tiny home movement of today. 

Historically, various peoples around the world utilized little houses for mobility and practicality. Mongolian Yurts constructed by the peoples of central Asia and the Eurasian Steppes are portable and dependable. They are circular structures made out of poles adorned with felt or animal hide, and can easily be taken down and rebuilt when the nomadic people move with migratory animals.

Georgetown Historic Shotgun House

Georgetown, TX

Within the United States, homes were generally smaller in size and corresponded with availability of resources and practicality. Shotgun houses in the American South, particularly in Louisiana, are an example of smaller homes that were built due to their practicality. Shotgun houses are generally up to 12 feet wide, with rooms extending directly behind the facade without a hallway in the home. These efficient, smaller homes were used in areas with a dense population that were inhabited by working class people. The architectural style of shotgun houses was introduced in New Orleans by the Afro-Haitian community in the 19th century.

In the city of Albany, NY, there are some fascinating historical homes that are either rather small, or unique in shape. These houses are located at 303c State Street, 27 Wilson Street, 172 ½ Washington Avenue, 77 Westerlo Street and 229 Elm Street.

27 Wilson Street

Albany, NY

303c State Street, according to the owner, Adam Ladopoulos, was formerly a carriage house. In an interview posted in an “All Over Albany” article entitled “Little House on State Street,” Ladopoulos didn’t have much more information regarding the history of the home. According to the realestate site Trulia, 303 State Street was built in 1856 - 303 and 303c State Street both appear to have been built around the same time. The building is located in the Central Avenue neighborhood in Albany. 

27 Wilson Street: Built in 1876, this unusually narrow house made out of brick is quite an interesting site to see. This house is located in the Ten Broeck Triangle in the Arbor Hill Neighborhood. The Ten Broeck Mansion is a Federalist period mansion that was built by Abraham Ten Broeck in 1797. According to the Albany City Directory from 1876, two Machinists, James and George Gledhill used to reside and or work at this location. 

172 ½ Washington Avenue: Built in 1900 according to realtor.com, this brown stone is another narrow building, in between 172 Washington Avenue and 170 Washington Avenue. Not much else is known about this location, unfortunately. It is located in the Central Avenue Neighborhood.

229 Elm Street: Built in 1900, this charming 855 square foot residence is located in the Center Square & Hudson Park Neighborhood. According to a Building-Structure Inventory Form from March, 1975, the building was formerly commercially zoned. It was described as a “detached, single story commercial building” that had considerably deteriorated.

77 Westerlo Street: This peculiar building was constructed in 1876 and can be found in the Pastures Historic District in Albany. The building is adorned with ornate brickwork. The city of Albany Historian Tony Opalka informed us that it was constructed on “a leftover piece of land that was wedged between the commercial building on S Pearl and the last building on Westerlo.”

If anyone has any information on these buildings, or know of any other small houses in Albany, please let us know!

By Andrea Lurie.

77 Westerlo Street

Albany, NY

303 c State Street

Albany, NY

172 1/2 Washington Avenue

Albany, NY

229 Elm Street

Albany, NY

Image sources: Equality House, Freeport NY Miracle House, The Skinny House, Georgetown Historic Shotgun House, 77 Westerlo Street, 303c State Street, 229 Elm Street.