For Sale

More About This House

The “Cloisterie”, one of the county’s grandest historic homes, built in 1860 as a wealthy family’s residence, many years afterwards an adult home, it sold 16 years ago when the proprietor retired and it reverted to a private residence. It is now for sale again due to an untimely death in the family. There are facilities here for a very large family + 2 separate apartments.


Location: village’s edge, it enjoys a private tranquil feel. Indeed, there is only one neighbor visible from the land and there will never be others. There are 908.8’ of frontage on two roads, a main one from which it cannot be seen, and a very quiet side street where it can only be glimpsed The surveyed 2.72 acre grounds are beautifully kept, largely shaded, but with abundant flower gardens. Large maple sugars, spruces and cedars dominate and partly shadow the circular drive. An 800’ long tall chain link fence separates it from the busier road.


The home is a 5666 square foot brick Italianate building and is structurally impeccable - from its hand cut limestone block foundation to the large 4th story widow’s walk, you will not fail to be impressed. It’s many attractive antique features are perfectly preserved - 2 sets of tall pocket doors, nearly 12’ ceilings and 9’ doors throughout, many marble fireplaces, plaster ceiling rosettes, walnut spiral staircase, multilayered crown molding, superior baseboard, window and door trim, oversized original windows. The family rooms are large (17x20’ is a common size), light and airy and the floors are 8” planks, everything feels square and level.


Let’s take a verbal tour. Entry from the drive and you go up a handicap accessible walk to a deck (there is also a covered porch), then into the room with the spiral stairs, then to the dining room, off of which are a sun room, kitchen, and double living rooms, all large. There are 1 1/2 baths on this floor and 3 bedrooms. On the second floor is a full bath, a large landing room and two other large common rooms for music, crafts, exercise, along with 3 more bedrooms. Above the second floor is an attic and what an attic it is, with its multitude of exposed beams, wide board floors and ornate windows. On the fourth level is the widow’s walk. This one is bigger than normal and was a finished space, with crown molding and a 360 degree series of ornate windows looking out across the river and the village. It has never been updated. The basement is full, high ceilinged, and dry. It is also (imagine this!) clean.


Recent improvements. The septic is newly installed as are the hot water heater and the oil furnace. There is also a coal stove to keep the downstairs rooms cozy. 200 amp electric, 3 drilled wells (one for the home, one for the carriage house apartment, and one if you want a swimming pool.


An original brick extension into what was once housed carriages is now a 4-5 room apartment, one that could become part of the main living space simply by re-opening a doorway. It has its own kitchen, bath, living room and a single bedroom. Half of it’s roof is new and the other half only partly new. The older section once leaked. The owner died before the job could be finished. It has recently been finished but the ceiling still needs sheetrock.


A large 2080 foot square apartment is in the carriage barn. It can be accessed from a second story deck or from the one car garage. It has 2 huge rooms, one on each floor, plus a utility room and a storage room that once housed a spa. The kitchen and bath are on the second story. It is on a separate lot but still part of the 2.7 acres total.


A second two story barn functions as a barn, a place to store things, maybe keep a few critters. It is about 26x38’. Except as noted all buildings are in good condition or better.


Taxes are $7447 and the price was just drastically dropped to $499000, a figure which more than takes into account certain planned upgrades that the owner no longer is able to finish. The owner is already looking for a new place, and is ready to begin a new life.

Surrounding Area

Fonda-Fultonville Central Schools, regarded as the county's best, are 1 mile away. Village amenities are the same distance and 3 cities are only a 15 minute drive. Just 35 minutes brings you to the Capital District. Go in the other direction and it's all farmland.