{"nrhp_refnum":"12000328","name":"Michelsen, George J. Furniture Factory","other_names":[],"category":"building","location":{"address":"182 Ave. D","address_restricted":false,"city":"Rochester","county":"Monroe County","state":"NY","lat":43.182542537000074,"lon":-77.61940779099996,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"2012-06-06","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Industry","Architecture"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A four-story, L-shaped brick factory at 182 Avenue D in Rochester, Monroe County, New York, built in 1914 for the George J. Michelsen Furniture Company and designed by architect James R. Tyler.","why_significant":"It is significant under Criterion A for its link to Rochester's furniture industry and industrial growth, and under Criterion C as a well-preserved example of early twentieth century industrial architecture. It shows the shift from heavy timber mill construction to more modern design with large window openings. Its largely unaltered interior makes it an unusually intact survivor of the period.","narrative":"Built in 1914 at the corner of Conkey Avenue and Avenue D in Rochester, this four-story, L-shaped brick factory housed the George J. Michelsen Furniture Company, a family firm dating to 1868. Architect James R. Tyler, who specialized in industrial plants, combined heavy timber construction with brick walls, large paired window openings, and cast stone trim. The site was chosen for its access to the New York Central Railroad, which supplied coal for the former power plant and handled shipping. Michelsen specialized in bedroom furniture and survived the Depression partly by selling directly to the public from first-floor display rooms. Manufacturing ended in 1958 when the Michelsen family sold the property. The building has changed little since construction, keeping its open timber interior, original southeast stair, and elevators. It is listed as an intact example of early twentieth century industrial design and for its role in Rochester's furniture industry. The building is currently vacant.","period_of_significance":"1914-1958","architect_builder":"James R. Tyler (architect)","architectural_style":"Early 20th Century Commercial Style","criteria":["A","C"],"status_note":"Listed current function as vacant; structure and masonry described as in generally good repair.","vacant_flag":true,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:50:48.163643-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_NY/12000328.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/12000328/b3b9e819d0-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/12000328/b3b9e819d0-1600.webp","licence":"CC BY-SA 4.0","author":"Jerrye &amp; Roy Klotz, MD","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:GEORGE_J._MICHELSEN_FURNITURE_FACTORY,_ROCHESTER,_MONROE_COUNTY.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">Jerrye &amp;amp; Roy Klotz, MD</a>, <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0\" rel=\"license noopener\">CC BY-SA 4.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:GEORGE_J._MICHELSEN_FURNITURE_FACTORY,_ROCHESTER,_MONROE_COUNTY.jpg"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/75318882","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_J._Michelsen_Furniture_Factory","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q23091937"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/new-york/monroe-county/michelsen-george-j-furniture-factory-12000328/"}