Center Square & Hudson/Park in Albany in Albany County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

397 State Street

Photographed by Trudi Jacobson, August 16, 2026

1. 1882 Marker

Inscription.
Designed by H.H. Richardson Architect for NYS Capitol & City Hall
1882
Built for Grange Sard, President Rathborne Sard & Co

Erected by Historic Albany Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture. A significant historical year for this entry is 1882.

Location. 42° 39.419′ N, 73° 45.956′ W. Marker is in Albany, New York, in Albany County. It is in Center Square & Hudson/Park. It is on State Street just east of Henry Johnson Boulevard, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 397 State Street, Albany NY 12210, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York

and in the Capital District.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: In Grateful Memory of Colonel Marinus Willett

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Albany Soldiers and Sailors Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Parading and Promenading (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); 1883 (about 300 feet away); Townsend Park (about 400 feet away); 10th Ward War Memorial (about 400 feet away); Spanish-American War Memorial (about 400 feet away); Glynn Mansion (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Albany.

Regarding 397 State Street. The renowned architect H. H. Richardson designed three buildings in Albany, NY. Two are major public buildings: the New York State Capitol and Albany City Hall. This townhouse facing Washington Park is not too far from either of those other buildings. Although far less imposing than Richardson's two Albany public buildings, the Sard house is significant in a different way: it is one of only two urban houses designed by Richardson that survive largely in their original form. The other is in Illinois.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. The three Albany buildings designed by architect H. H. Richardson

Also see . . . The Grange Sard, Jr., House Reconsidered.

1882 House Designed by H. H. Richardson, with the marker visible to the left of the door image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Trudi Jacobson, August 16, 2026

2. 1882 House Designed by H. H. Richardson, with the marker visible to the left of the door

These comments by Douglas L. Sinclair were originally presented at a Society of Architectural Historians symposium, "H. H. Richardson in Albany. "Sinclair writes, "One of the least-known works to have come from the office of architect Henry Hobson Richardson is the house built in 1883 for Grange Sard, Jr., in Albany, New York. Very little has been written about the house, which is one of only two urban houses by this architect still standing much in its original form.

Grange, Jr., attended the Albany Academy and the Albany Classical Institute, two of the best schools in the city. At seventeen he was hired to work for stove-makers Rathbone & Company. His aptitude for the business is apparent in that he was offered a partnership in the firm eight years later. In 1873 the company was renamed Rathbone, Sard & Company. The factory operated in one of the largest industrial plants in Albany and by 1886 had an annual output of about 75,000 stoves."

(Submitted on August 16, 2026, by Trudi Jacobson of Slingerlands, New York.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 18, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 16, 2026, by Trudi Jacobson of Slingerlands, New York. This page has been viewed 6 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 16, 2026, by Trudi Jacobson of Slingerlands, New York. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.