Dr. James McChesney Home

Posted on 2/21/25

Authored & Curated By
M.J.G.

The McChesney family had deep roots in Rensselaer County. Dr. McChesney’s father, Joseph S. McChesney (1795–1873), was an early settler in the region. Dr. James McChesney's residence in Troy, New York, was built during the 1880s and stood as a notable mansion, reflecting his esteemed success in the community. This post will explore their home through three exterior shots and two interior photos.

A big thank you to MattZ for emailing this photo collection to me with permission from the original owners.

Dr. James McChesney & Family
From left to right: Dr. James McChesney, his wife Elizabeth Rose, his daughter Emma, his son Daniel Rose, and not pictured, his youngest son Joseph. Dr. Joseph McChesney, followed in his father’s footsteps, practicing medicine in Troy for over 30 years.

James was a distinguished physician in Troy, New York, during the 1880s, recognized for his dedication to medicine and community service. Born on August 22, 1823, in Brunswick, Rensselaer County, he became a respected figure in the medical field. His residence, a prominent mansion in Troy, reflected his standing within the community. Throughout his career, his contributions to healthcare and the well-being of local residents cemented his legacy.

According to this 1881 atlas, the older neighboring home on the corner was Dr. McChesney’s property. They later built a newer, more modern home next to it, a small portion of which can be seen to the right in one of the photos we’ll see today. No Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps of this section can be found that shows this parcel unfortunately. Any additional information is always welcome.

The Dr.’s Home
This photo appears to have been taken in high summer, with the summer awning blocking light from entering the house to keep it cool and protect the interior from sun bleach. The home stands tall at 460 Pawling Avenue in the city of Troy New York.

The home stood strong with finials, dormers, and a variety of windows. It also appears to be painted in alternating colors.

A close view of the front porch and first-floor windows.

Beyond the dirt road, there is a sidewalk and a nice iron fence. Further ahead, you can see wooden steps. Assuming these steps are carriage stairs, it’s likely there was a driveway in that location.

The property was large and featured a nice rolling hill.

Lounging on the Lawn
Here is a wonderful corner view of the home, which sits very nicely on this open property. You can also see the old saltbox home in the background to the right. Take note that there are only shutters on this side of the home and a couple of front windows, but the others are absent. It’s not uncommon for not every window to have shutters.

Here is a closer look at the box bay, featuring a carved wood arch sunburst over the transom window. The stained glass window transom is beautiful and reflects the typical 1880s design.

Probably the side porch to the kitchen and mudroom, the older lady is leaning on a nice planter while a lady lounges playfully on the grassy hill. To the left is possibly a white cat, which we will see posed later in another photograph.

The little building could be a shed, or perhaps an outhouse. Not everyone was confident in indoor plumbing during the 19th century, and while many people had begun installing bathrooms and toilets in their homes for convenience, there are reports of others being skeptical of “sanitary plumbing.” As we all know from studying photos from this era, however, this could simply be a nice little shed. In front of it stands what appears to be a trellis, and in front of that is a clothesline.

Presumably, judging by most architectural drawings, this is the service wing of the house, which likely includes the kitchen and servant’s room. There are some types of pipes on the third-floor dormer that I’m unable to identify, presenting a fascinating mystery. Also, note that the shutters are closed to keep the sun out of this room.

You get a nice view of the box bay on the corner, the arched dormer window, and roof finials. Notice that the roof finials on the two front rooflines are different from the top finial and side roof finial. Finials were a fascinating trend in 19th-century architecture that is sadly lost.

The Family on the Veranda
Here we have some of the family posing for a photo on their veranda enjoying a summer day.

The staircase featured two very solid railings, one on each side. Lots of fields visible in the background when the area was much more rural than it is today.

Here we have James and his wife Elizabeth. Above him is the sign for his services. In popular Victorian font, “Physician & Surgeon” is displayed, along with letters above that are difficult to make out. Behind the lady, you can make out fringed window shades and shutter blinds.

A close look at the front doors reveals typical incised lines of the 1880s Eastlake style, Eastlake doorknobs and escutcheons, a door plaque which may have the Dr.’s name inscribed, and to the right on the trim, an Eastlake doorbell. This could be a mechanical pull to a bell on the other side, or it could be an electric bell. Electric bells came in various styles and were battery-operated.

Late 19th-century hardware stands out as one of the most creative and artistic periods in hardware design. Whether it is viewed as stunning or too ornate, it’s undeniable that immense time and thought went into crafting the hundreds of intricate patterns from this era and should be appreciated for that alone.

This lady, presumably their daughter Emma, stands smiling at the camera, with the cat resting on the railing for the shot.

The Reception Room or Library
The reception room or library is located in the front left room of the home when entering through the front door. A typical 1880s room, it features a frieze border and wall fill, wall-to-wall carpeting, and plenty of furniture.

This marble-top table is either stained wood with gold gilt incised line details or ebonized wood with gilded incised lines. It looks like a braided rug sits in front of the fireplace, behind the table.

A typical 1880s Eastlake settee sits in front of the bookcase.

The top of the bookcase is adorned with cupid bronze statuary, two little cups or vases, and a few random items like a small picture leaning against the wall and possibly two books. A very simple framed painting hangs above it.

This is either a marble mantel or possibly a painted wood mantel designed to simulate marble. A beautiful clock sits atop the mantel, surrounded by numerous cabinet card pictures scattered around. One is placed in front of the clock, another covers the pendulum, and a third rests on top of the clock face.

Here we get a closer look at the frieze paper and the picture rail, as well as a hanging litho print on wire from the picture rail.

The Front Parlor & Dining Room
The front parlor and adjacent dining room are beautifully decorated in typical 1880s fashion, featuring detailed wall and ceiling designs. Both rooms are gas-lit and have full wall-to-wall carpeting.

A closer look at the fixtures and wallpapers in these two rooms. The dining room fixture, like many we’ve seen—especially in dining rooms—features an extension lamp that can be lowered to bring light closer to the table. The two gas globes on the left and right appear to be made of colored glass. You can also make out a ceiling paper. The door to the right leads to a butler’s pantry.

Here we have a closer view of the dining room table and chairs, featuring curved backs. To the right, there’s a clear view of the pocket door, partially pulled out, revealing a large Eastlake recessed handle. Leaning against the door on the floor is a canvas or some type of material with a floral design—perhaps someone’s handiwork.

Random books and items are strewn across the table haphazardly, as seen in many photos of the era, giving the room a lived-in look—even if staged.

The windows are unadorned, featuring only fringed window shades. Looking at the lower sash, you can see the exterior shutters closed over the windows. The frieze displays a scroll pattern, while the wallpaper appears to be a typical non-directional fill.

A close-up of the piano for our piano lovers. While I’m unable to make out the maker, I’m sure someone could identify it by the design.

Dr. James McChesney passed away in 1912 at the age of 89, leaving behind a lasting impact on the medical community and the city he served.

The House Today
The street view of the house today shows the original home to the right, which still exists. While some of the fence is gone, the stained glass windows are missing, and the roof finials are absent, the house remains mostly intact. The dining room is missing the mantel seen in the old photo, and the mantel in the reception room or library has been replaced with a newer one.

This home was features on OHD recently for sale. Due to copyright photographs I didn’t do any side by side compares but feel free to visit the link here and do your own discovery.

Thanks for visiting!

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