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

221 Lancaster Street

Photographed by Trudi Jacobson, October 4, 2026

1. 221 Lancaster Street Marker

Inscription. Built for Elisha Bailey
Dry goods dealer
1871

Erected by Historic Albany Foundation.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Historic Albany Foundation series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1871.

Location. 42° 39.32′ N, 73° 45.966′ W. Marker is in Albany, New York, in Albany County. It is in Center Square & Hudson/Park. It is on Lancaster Street, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 221 Lancaster 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: 40 Willett Street (within

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shouting distance of this marker); 42 Willett Street (within shouting distance of this marker); 216 Lancaster Street (within shouting distance of this marker); Glynn Mansion (within shouting distance of this marker); 214 Lancaster Street (within shouting distance of this marker); 204 Lancaster Street (within shouting distance of this marker); A Tropical Oasis (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Remembering John J. Wagner (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Albany.

Regarding 221 Lancaster Street. The Historic Albany Foundation marker identifies Elisha Bailey, a dry-goods dealer, with the construction of this house in 1871. Bailey was also listed in the 1868 Albany City Directory as a partner in Bailey & Gunn, a commission merchant business.

The house was part of a small group of adjoining residences developed by members of the Bailey family. Research conducted by Historic Albany Foundation for neighboring 223 Lancaster Street establishes that members of the family built the houses on either side of that property. The neighboring house at 223 was constructed for Nelson Bailey, another

Photographed by Trudi Jacobson, October 4, 2026

2. 221 Lancaster Street Marker

Albany dry-goods merchant, in 1871–1872.

Together, the adjoining houses illustrate the role of Albany's merchant families in the residential development of Lancaster Street during the early 1870s.

Across the street, 222 Lancaster Street was built in 1890 by James Eaton for attorney John De Witt Peltz, illustrating the continued residential development of this block nearly two decades after the Bailey houses were constructed.

Sources:
Albany Directory, 1868, p. 17. Lists Bailey Brothers (Isaac and Nelson) as dry-goods merchants at 87 Washington Avenue, and Elisha Bailey as a partner in Bailey & Gunn, commission merchants, at 57 Quay.

Historic Albany Foundation. Historical research file, 223 Lancaster Street. Documents construction, changing street numbers, assessed values, family development, and subsequent ownership.

Waite, Diana S., 1993. Albany Architecture: A Guide to the City. Albany, NY: Mount Ida Press.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 6, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 6, 2026, by Trudi Jacobson of Slingerlands, New York. This page has been viewed 7 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 6, 2026, by Trudi Jacobson of Slingerlands, New York. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.