Time capsule

History uncovered in Niskayuna house restoration

In retrospect, he should’ve knocked it down. When Joel Bisaillon acquired 2627 Troy-schenectady Road (Route 7) as part of a 4-acre purchase at the intersection of Shannon Boulevard,

there were holes in the roof, extensive water damage, raccoons in residence and other structural problems.

As part of site prep for the Kelts Farm subdivision, Bisaillon demolished a crumbling house along River Road that was too far gone to save. But Bisaillon doesn’t want to be known as the developer who demolishes old houses in Niskayuna. So after restoring 2421 Troy Road — known as the Mesick house, it dates to 1771 — and selling it, he turned his attention to 2627 Troy-schenectady Road.

The house, built in 1909, had been empty since the death of former owner Guy Cregier, who also owned the Mesick house until 2015. Both houses were overgrown by trees, making them almost invisible to passers-by. Bisaillon is waiting for approval from the town to build a small subdivision along Shannon Boulevard. He donated to the town 1.5 acres along the Lisha Kill with frontage on Route 7.

And in the basement, the biggest clue to the home’s origins: a catalogue of homes produced by Sears. From 1908 to 1940, Sears, Roebuck and Co.

At left, an undated photograph of the circa-1909 Sears kit house developer Joel Bisaillon is renovating and, at right, a more recent image.

sold about 75,000 homes by mail order, according to the Sears archives. The houses went up quickly in places with train depots, like Albany. Bisaillon, with help from town historian Denis Brennan, matched the house at 2627 to the Hamilton model in the Sears catalogue, “a 10 room house for $2,065,” with a living room, parlor, dining room and four bedrooms upstairs. The only differences? Bisaillon’s house has front and back staircases, and whoever ordered the Hamilton in 1909 didn’t spring for the front porch.

Bisaillon started work on the house in August. Just getting into Cregier’s former home to make repairs was an effort, Bisaillon said: a huge mound of Cregier’s belongings had been left behind. Bisaillon learned about the man as well as the home. He discovered portraits of Cregier’s Union College fraternity spanning 50 to 60 years. They were too water-damaged to save. He found world almanacs from

1895 until the last years of the 20th century. Although much of the stuff was ruined, Bisaillon held a garage sale for salvageable items that brought in $4,000. Another surprise find was Cregier’s stamp collection - 151 boxes. A collector bought the lot for $8,000.

After clearing it out, Bisaillon found the house was sinking because a key structural support was missing. He and his crew replaced that and stabilized the structure, gutted the kitchen, fixed the framing, tore off the back porch and replaced the electrical service. The house isn’t move-in ready, but Bisaillon is ready to move on and will put it on the market soon. The next chapter of the old house will be up to new owners.

Photos by Lori Van Buren / Albany Times Union

Photos by Joel Bisaillon Joel Bisaillon renovated the historic structure at 2421 Troy-schenectady Road, at left, and will soon have its neighbor at 2627 on the market.

Photos by Lori Van Buren / Albany Times Union At left, a double stairway in the circa-1909 Sears kit house in Niskayuna that developer Joel Bisaillon is renovating. At right, one of the rooms.

Items found in the circa-1909 Sears kit house developer Joel Bisaillon is renovating in Niskayuna include, from left, a “bride’s chest” that, according to the note at right, dates back to roughly 1843. At center is a 1902 Sears, Roebuck catalogue and a photo of the house.