To the Editor:
McKownville is an historic part of Guilderland, and it is now receiving formal recognition of a part of that history. All are invited for the unveiling, on June 28 at 11 a.m., of a roadside marker that identifies the McKownville - Country Club Highlands Historic District.  The marker is placed on the north side of Western Avenue at Glenwood Street.

The McKownville hamlet is named after the McKown family that operated a hotel, tavern, and stockyards for travelers on the Great Western Turnpike in the early 1800s. The hotel was located along the current Western Avenue, roughly across from where Stuyvesant Plaza now stands.

In 1912, development of a residential subdivision called the Country Club Highlands was started in the same area on the outskirts of Albany, primarily by members of the Witbeck family.

Here is how the McKownville - Country Club Highlands district is described in the nomination document for the historic designation:

“Sustained housing development was initiated during the 1910s and most of the contributing housing stock, which constitutes the district’s singular resource type, was constructed by the end of the 1940s. Originally located adjacent to the Albany Country Club, from which it took its name — and which has since been transformed into the State University of New York’s sprawling uptown Albany campus — the historic district encompasses a remarkably intact and cohesive residential enclave.

“It retains a strong sense of place, as manifested in its intact residential streetscapes with characteristic expressions of early- to mid-twentieth century American suburban architecture, and its street plan, consisting of principal streets and parallel alleys. Conspicuous among the district’s housing, some of which was architect-designed, are noteworthy examples of the Arts & Crafts movement in addition to expressions of the Colonial Revival and Spanish Mission modes, among others.”

The residents of McKownville are proud of how the character of this district has been defended over the years from the pressures of commercial development. The McKownville Improvement Association worked to gain recognition for this special area and offers a great wealth of information on the full history of McKownville at its website: mckownville.org.

Please come out on June 28 at 11 a.m., at the corner of Western Avenue and Glenwood Street, for the unveiling of the marker and brief comments on the history and significance of this early suburban enclave.

Doug Smith, Vice President, McKownville Improvement Association