First Reformed Church
Also known as: North Dutch Church
Why it's listed
Standing on high ground at North Pearl Street and Clinton Square in Albany, this brick church was completed in 1798 for a Dutch Reformed congregation organized in 1634 at Fort Orange. Philip Hooker, then a young local architect, designed it with builder Elisha Putnam, and the congregation spared little expense, even covering the roof in tin. Two three-tiered towers flank the front. The central section, with a stone arcade of three round arches, was added in an 1858 renovation by Steinwehr and Hodgins, which also brought a vaulted ceiling and stained glass. John Boardman enlarged the rear in 1830, and the west wing was rebuilt again in 1858 and 1939. The church was first called the North Church; a South Church formed in 1814, and the two reunited in 1938. It is the focus of much of Albany's Dutch heritage and is Hooker's earliest known major work, one of few of his buildings still standing in the city.
Significance in brief: The church is the historic focus of much of Albany's Dutch heritage and a long-lived city landmark. Despite heavy alterations, it is an important landmark in the career of architect Philip Hooker, whose earliest known major work it is. It is one of the few Hooker buildings surviving in Albany.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 74001214, listed January 21, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 56 Orange St., Albany |
|---|---|
| County | Albany County |
| Listed | January 21, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001214 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1798 |
| Architect / builder | Philip Hooker (architect) and Elisha Putnam (builder); later alterations by John Boardman (1830) and Steinwehr and Hodgins (1858) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied, in excellent condition and in religious use; altered, on its original site. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.65586, -73.74866 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 74001214.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5452657
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.