Rail and Titsworth Canal Warehouse
Also known as: DeCilio's
Why it's listed
Beside the remains of the Genesee Valley Canal at the end of Hughes Street in Belfast, New York, stands a two-and-one-half-story wood warehouse built about 1853. Measuring roughly 61 by 32 feet, it has board and batten siding, a side-gabled roof, a central gabled dormer, a small cupola and a dry-laid fieldstone foundation. Its emphasized cornice lines and returns reflect vernacular Greek Revival style. The warehouse served canal trade when the waterway brought commercial importance and lumber shipping to Belfast. After the canal closed in 1878 and a railroad took its place, the building passed through other uses, including a hotel that was apparently a brothel in the early 1900s, and later an animal barn. Remnants of wallpaper from the hotel period survive on the second floor. It was recognized for its link to the canal and railroad, for retaining its original form and fenestration, and for the possibility that the surrounding land holds archaeological evidence of a dry dock and early uses.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is the oldest surviving warehouse on the route of the Genesee Valley Canal and the only extant warehouse of its type. It is tied to the canal and the Genesee Valley Canal Railroad, which shaped Belfast's growth. It also retains its vernacular Greek Revival character despite changes in use.
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 00000987, listed August 16, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Hughes Rd., Belfast |
|---|---|
| County | Allegany County |
| Listed | August 16, 2000 |
| Reference number | 00000987 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1853-1910 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Vernacular (Greek Revival details) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed current function is vacant; the building is boarded up and the upper floors are reached by free-standing ladders. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.34273, -78.12558 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 00000987.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7283924
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.