{"nrhp_refnum":"79001617","name":"Orleans County Courthouse Historic District","other_names":["See Also:US Post Offices in New York State,1858-1943,TR"],"category":"district","location":{"address":"Courthouse Sq. and environs","address_restricted":false,"city":"Albion","county":"Orleans County","state":"NY","lat":43.245808554000035,"lon":-78.1933890125713,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1979-08-31","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Politics/Government","Architecture","Religion"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A historic district of 33 contributing buildings clustered around Courthouse Square in the center of Albion, Orleans County, New York, mostly built from the 1830s to before 1910. It includes seven churches, eighteen residences and eight public and institutional buildings.","why_significant":"The nomination argues the district is architecturally significant, with buildings ranging from late Federal to Colonial Revival styles, both vernacular and architect-designed. Frequent use of local Medina sandstone gives it a distinct local character tied to the area's quarrying economy. It also reflects Albion's role as the county seat and the political, religious and cultural life of the county.","narrative":"Courthouse Square in Albion, New York, anchors a district of 33 contributing buildings, most built between the 1830s and 1910. The square was given to Orleans County by Nehemiah Ingersoll and holds the 1858-59 courthouse designed by W.B.M. Barlow and the 1888 Surrogate's Building. Around it stand seven churches, eighteen houses and several public buildings, ranging from Federal and Greek Revival to Queen Anne and Colonial Revival. The Presbyterian Church, with a 175-foot spire, is the tallest structure in the county. Many buildings use Medina sandstone, quarried near Albion and important to the regional economy, including S.S. Beman's Pullman Memorial Universalist Church of 1894. The district reflects Albion's position as county seat, its Erie Canal and agricultural prosperity, and local religious history, including the first Free Methodist church. The 1937 post office and 1970 jail are noted as intrusions. Buildings are largely little altered, and the area still serves as the center of local life.","period_of_significance":"1830s to 1910 (form checks 1800-1899 and 1900-1910)","architect_builder":"Andrew Jackson Warner; S.S. Beman; W.B.M. Barlow; Harvey & Charles Ellis; Hurd Harling (attributed)","architectural_style":"Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Italianate, Romanesque, Queen Anne, Second Empire, Eastlake, Colonial Revival and Federal","criteria":[],"status_note":"The district is described as continuing to function as the active center of a rural community. The nomination notes the courtroom was redecorated in 1975 and the Swan Library was restored.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:50:39.147884-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_NY/79001617.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/79001617/14c7f7fb5c-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/79001617/14c7f7fb5c-1600.webp","licence":"CC BY-SA 3.0","author":"Daniel Case","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Orleans_County_Courthouse,_Albion,_NY.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">Daniel Case</a>, <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0\" rel=\"license noopener\">CC BY-SA 3.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Orleans_County_Courthouse,_Albion,_NY.jpg"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/75320813","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orleans_County_Courthouse_Historic_District","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7103257"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/new-york/orleans-county/orleans-county-courthouse-historic-district-79001617/"}