Silliman Memorial Presbyterian Church
Also known as: Silliman Memorial Church Complex
Why it's listed
Three connected buildings fill most of a city block in downtown Cohoes: a church, a church house and a manse. Built in 1897 for the First Presbyterian congregation, the complex was funded in large part by Dr. Horace B. Silliman, who offered the lot and the church on condition that the congregation build the church house. Albany architects Albert Fuller and his partner Wheeler designed it during the peak of Cohoes's prosperity from mills powered by the Cohoes Falls. The church is built of rockfaced brownstone, with four corner towers and an early English Gothic character. Inside, exposed steel trusses with Gothic tracery span an open meeting room. The church house is Richardsonian Romanesque, and the manse is a remodeled earlier house. Religious use ended in 1969 after a congregational merger, and the buildings have been vacant since 1974. The complex is valued as a local landmark and as an example of late nineteenth century eclectic church design.
Significance in brief: The complex is an important visual landmark in Cohoes and reflects the wealth of the city's industrial prosperity at the end of the nineteenth century. Its early English Gothic church paired with a Richardsonian Romanesque church house shows the design eclecticism popular in late nineteenth century church architecture. It is also a notable work of Albert Fuller, called the dean of Albany architects.
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 79001565, listed August 1, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Mohawk and Seneca Sts., Cohoes |
|---|---|
| County | Albany County |
| Listed | August 1, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79001565 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Albert W. Fuller and Wheeler (Fuller and Wheeler, Albany) |
| Architectural style | Early English Gothic (church) and Richardsonian Romanesque (church house) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used for religious purposes until 1969, when the congregation merged to form the United Church of Cohoes; the buildings have been vacant since 1974. Condition is listed as good and unaltered apart from replaced stained glass. |
| Acreage | 1.4 |
| Within district | Downtown Cohoes Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.77451, -73.70019 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 79001565.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14707300
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.