Guilderland in Albany County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Knower House

Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, November 5, 2011

1. Knower House Marker

Inscription. Est. as hat factory about 1800
by Benjamin Knower
Gov. William L. Marcy
Married Cornelia Knower
in this house

Erected 1932 by New York State Education Department.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1800.

Location. 42° 42.287′ N, 74° 1.167′ W. Marker is in Guilderland, New York, in Albany County. Marker is on New York State Route 146, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 757 Route 146, Guilderland NY 12084, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Dr F. Crounse (within shouting distance of this marker); Inn of Jacob Crounse (within shouting distance of this marker); Knowersville (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Altamont, New York (about 500 feet away); Family Cemetery (approx. ¼ mile away); Old Plank Road (approx. ¼ mile away); Severson House (approx. ¼ mile away); Altamont High School (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Guilderland.

Regarding Knower House. This two-story Georgian Colonial house if five bays wide with center entrance with Palladian

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

window above. It was constructed for Benjamin Knower, a prominent businessman and banker for whom the village was named after his death. Knowersville became Altamont in 1887 when the Post Office requested the change to avoid confusion with another town. Knower was a hatter by trade and developed a waterproofing method for his beaver-skin hats. It is believed that the room in the western side of the second floor was used as a display room because of the unusual barrel vaulted ceiling and the handcrafted peg boards around the entire room. William L. Marcy, who later became governor of the State of New York and U.S. Secretary of State, married Cornelia Knower in the grand hall of this house in 1824. The house is located in what was the center of the village along the Schoharie plank road and is located next to the Crounse Inn.

Also see . . . Knower House - National Archives. National Register of Historic Places documentation (Submitted on November 14, 2023, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York.)

Additional keywords. Knower Knowersville Altamont

Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, November 5, 2011

2. Knower House Marker

Marker is on the front lawn of the Knower House, on the right in this photo, along Route 146, just east of the Village of Altamont.

The Knower House image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, November 5, 2011

3. The Knower House

Credits. This page was last revised on November 14, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 12, 2011, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. This page has been viewed 781 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 13, 2011, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.