Russell-Colbath House, 1830s homestead in Albany, New Hampshire
The Russell-Colbath House is a homestead along the Kancamagus Highway with a five-bay front and a centered main entrance. The building displays the craftsmanship of early 19th century construction, featuring sidelights, decorative pillars, and a peaked roof line.
The house was built in 1831 by Thomas and Amzi Russell and remains the only surviving early homestead structure in the Swift River Valley. It later served as a post office and home to multiple families who maintained ties to the developing local community.
Ruth Priscilla Russell served as the first postmistress of Passaconaway when the house functioned as a post office during the 1890s.
The property has parking available on site and can be visited during daylight hours, with tours available that explain early American farming and household practices. The barn on the grounds serves as a space for educational programs and displays about daily life in the 1800s.
Ruth Russell, the first postmistress of the settlement, demonstrated an unusual form of dedication that has fascinated visitors and local historians for generations. Her story links personal endurance with the isolated nature of living in this remote valley during the 1800s.
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