Altamont Enterprise
July 7, 1961
Historian Notes Three Periods of Cobblestone
Architecture in N.Y. State, and in Local Area
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By A. B. Gregg, Guilderland Town Historian
At a state convention officials a number of years ago, an illustrated lecture was given on “Cobblestone Architecture” that interested me greatly. Since then I have had in mind to present to the citizens of the Town of Guilderland facts and pictures of certain examples of this type of architecture that still remain in our town.
This lecture was given by the foremost authority on the subject, Carl F. Schmidt, an architect of Scottsville, N.Y. He is the author of the book on “Cobblestone Architecture,” as well as numerous articles on “Cobblestone Masonry” from which he has graciously give me permission to quote.
Mr. Schmidt says: “Until about two decades ago cobblestone houses were accepted by up-state New Yorkers without much thought. That there developed a type of masonry wall of unique beauty and interest was never realized except by a few people. With but few exceptions, this type of masonry wall is not found elsewhere in our country.” There are a number of examples of cobblestone houses in Ontario, Can., several in Michigan and Ohio, one in Brattleboro, Vt., and several around Albany. In several instances these houses were built by people who had moved from this region.
“Generally, we can say that Rochester is about the center of the cobblestone region. If we draw a circle of about 60 miles, using Rochester as a center, we would include about 90 per cent of all cobblestone buildings.”
Mr. Schmidt says in his highly illustrated book: “Cobblestone houses are sturdy, compact structures built of small stones, laid up neatly in horizontal rows between straight lines of exceedingly hard mortar, with square cut quoins of red or gray stones at the corners.
“The gathering of the small cobblestones that formed the facing or veneer was a long laborious procedure. It is said that the children and often women aided in gathering the stone from fields, creek beds, and gravel pits. The stones were ’sized’ by posing them through an iron ring, called a ‘beetle’ ring, or by passing them through holds cut in a board.
“How did the mason build a cobblestone wall? In all cases, the small stones are only a veneer, or skin, which is backed up by regular rubble masonry of large field stones, or large stones roughly squared… It appears that the backing wall of about 14 inches thick was built up first, at least sections of it were built first, and after the mortar dried, the veneer of cobblestones was laid up. It was a slow process. A good mason could lay up about thee courses of stone on one side of a house in one day. This is about the night of nine inches of vertical wall. It may be readily understood why it took two or three years to build a house. The average mason received #1 to $1.25 per day, plus board. Ten to 12 hours a day was the work day.
Claude Bragdon, who wrote the preface to Mr. Schmidt’s book, said: “It would cost a small fortune to construct such a cobblestone house now-a-days, even assuming it could be done. The Civil War, which raised the price of labor, spelled the doom of cobblestone structures.”
And quoting Mr. Schmidt again: “The cobblestone era really divides itself into three periods - early, middle and late. The early period includes that work which was built from the late 1820’s until about 1835 - the middle period, 1835 to 1845, and the late period those erected after 1845. The Civil War seems to have ended cobblestone construction; only a few scattered structures were built after 1866.”
Mr. Schmidt lists under these various periods almost 300 cobblestone structures in the Rochester area. There are numerous illustrations and architectural drawings of these beautiful farm houses, barns, schools and offices.
The cobblestone structures of the Town of Guilderland illustrated in this issue of the Altamont Enterprise, can hardly be classed as beautiful, but are presented with the belief they may add to the story of this long abandoned type of architecture.
Our first example is that of the school house of old District No. 6 of the Town of Guilderland Center. It was used as a school house until 1941, when the district sent its pupils to Voorheesville, under contract. Since the centralization of Guilderland schools in 1950 it has been used as an office and now as a supply storehouse by the Guilderland Central School District.
Visible only to the most searching observer is this inscription, carved on one of the upper front quoins: “R.E. Zeh, mason, 1860.”
The cobblestones in the front of the building are small and uniform. Nine curving cut stones with smooth surfaces form an arch above the door. The front corner quoins are of ill regular dimensions, becoming larger at the bottom. The three windows on each side of the building are reinforced with long, wide slabs of cut stone at the top, and long, narrow slabs at the bottom, while vertical and horizontal quoins reinforce the sidewalls about the windows. Long, flat rough cut stone slabs support the building on top of its fieldstone foundation.
The second is a close-up view of the southwest corner of the building, showing the irregular size and shape and arrangement of the cobblestones as well as the quoins, the large square stones used at all four corners of the building and about the windows.
Number three is a view of the former schoolhouse of District 10, Town of Guilderland. When old-time residents of Guilderland or New Scotland referred to “the cobblestone schoolhouse” this was the one they meant. Used as a private dwelling since the centralization of the district with the Voorhees Central School isDistrict, it lies just outside the southern boundaries of the extensive U.S. Army Reservation. Somewhat larger, its general construction followed of the Guilderland Center school. No record of date or builder can be discovered.
A third cobblestone schoolhouse, that of old District 9 at Osborn’s Corners was destroyed by fire about 1890, and the present wooden structure, now used as a private residents, was erected on its site.
Number four is a view of the receiving vault of Prospect Hill cemetery at Guilderland. It is only a few feet off U.S. Route 20, at the base of the cemetery. The marble tablet above the door bears the inscription: “Prospect Hill cemetery. Chartered 1854. Receiving Vault, 1863.”
Number 5. A view of the receiving vault of the Guilderland Cemetery at Osborn’s Corners. Above the door is a marble tablet with the inscription: “Guilderland Cemetery, 1872, Receiving Vault,” and cut in the keystone of the arch below: “Guilderland Cemetery, 1872.” The large cobblestones in the side walls ae large and multi-colored: those in front multi-colored but smaller and more uniform. The quoins are smooth faced with rough ends. This is no doubt the latest of all the structures pictured.
The cemetery itself is much older than the vault, dating at least to 1850. Prior to that, from the days of early settlement, in the beginning of the 18th century, burials were made in private farm grave yards. The cemetery and vault like a short distance behind the parsonage of the Helderberg Reformed Congregation, built in 1790. Their first church and for years the only one of any denomination between Albany and Schoharie, was built about 1750.
We conclude from the data available that cobblestone schoolhouses in the Town of Guilderland were constructed in the 1860s and were the product of the same mason, R.E. Zeh. It is probable he also built the two receiving vaults in 1863 and 1872, respectively. Why tase examples of such a are type of architecture came into being in our town a century ago will probably never be known. They are worth of preservation and public markers.
Again we must express our indebtedness to Mr. Schmidt, for without his skilled research and history of cobblestone structures, these pictures of our own Guilderland landmarks would be meaningless.
Cobblestone Schoolhouse District at 479 Route 46 in Guilderland Center built for District No. 6 in Guilderland Center. Carved in upper left front corner is the inscription, “R.E. Zeh - Mason - 1860.” It was used as a schoolhouse 81 years and is still owned by the Guilderland Central School District. Its solid foundations and walls remind one of a Revolutionary blockhouse. Externally and internally, this structure is in splendid condition, belying its antiquity.
This schoolhouse is located on the west side of Route 146
in Guilderland Center and is still owned by the Guilder-
land School District. Current plans include establishment
of a one room museum.
A close-up view of one of the walls of the Guilderland
Center school, showing the irregular size, shape and
arrangement of the cobblestone used in the construction.
The schoolhouse in the early 1900s. Children attended the cobblestone schoolhouse on Route 146 in Guilderland Center from its start in 1860 through until 1941, according to “Guilderland, New York” (Images of America) by Alice Begley and Mary Ellen Johnson.
Historical photos from Guilderland Historical Society collection.
The former schoolhouse of District 10 at 1064 West Townline Road, Town of Guilderland. It is a near duplicate of the Guilderland Center schoolhouse. When old-time residents of Guilderland or New Scotland referred to “the cobblestone schoolhouse” this was the one they meant. It is now a private dwelling since the centralization of the district with the Voorhees Central School District. Somewhat larger than the one at Guilderland Center, its general design is the same. But no record of date or builder has been found. Close up photo by Glenn Hinchey. A third cobblestone schoolhouse, that of old District 9 at Osborn’s Corners was destroyed by fire about 1890, and the present wooden structure, now used as a private residence, was erected on its site. It is similar to District #6 schoolhouse, a rectangular plan with the entrance in the center of one end flanked by single windows. The cobblestones are the water-rounded variety found in the fields and gravel pits, laid three courses to a quoin height. Window openings have stone sills and lintels Quoin stones of alternating lengths are built into the side jambs of the windows.
Receiving vault at Prospect Hill Cemetery at 2167 Western Ave., Albany. The marble table above the door bears the inscription: Prospect Hill Cemetery, Chartered 1854. Receiving Vault, 1863.” It has a slate covered gabled roof. It is built of course stones with smooth quoins and a stone lintel above the door. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
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Cobblestone receiving vault of the Guilderland Cemetery at 6432 Stitt Road, Osborn’s Corners. The marble table above the door bears the inscription, “Guilderland Cemetery 1872 Receiving Vault.” The cemetery itself is much older than the vault. It is also known as the Dutch Reformed Cemetery, being located on the original lease of 43 3/4 acres from “the proprietor of the Manor of Rensselaerwyck, Stephen Van Renesselaer, Esq., to the Minister, Elders, and Decons of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Helderberg.” The lease was dated October 25th, 1794.
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Cobblestone out building at 600 Route 156 and Anderson Lane, Town of New Scotland. The dimensions of the cobblestone summer kitchen are 17' 8" on the sides and 14' 2" on the door and back.
House and cobblestone outbuilding in the early 1900s. Courtesy of Ann Potts.
Fireplace inside the building.
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