Downtown Gloversville Historic District
Why it's listed
Downtown Gloversville is a compact commercial and civic district in a small industrial city in the foothills of the Adirondacks. Built around the X-shaped "four corners" where Main and Fulton Streets meet, it includes 92 buildings, 78 of which contribute to its historic character. Most date from the 1870-1900 boom, when leather processing and glove manufacturing made the city prosperous. Typical buildings are three-story brick blocks with Italianate bracketed cornices, alongside Second Empire, Romanesque, Neoclassical, Renaissance Revival and Art Deco examples. Landmarks include the Kasson Opera House, the Kingsborough Hotel, two bank buildings with columned porticos, the Free Library, and several churches. Architects from Troy, New York City and Gloversville designed some of them. Scale, density and the use of brick give the area a cohesive look, even though most storefronts have been altered and a few demolitions have left gaps. The district was recognized for the integrity and variety of its architecture and for how it records the city's five stages of growth.
Significance in brief: The district is a well-preserved central business district that reflects Gloversville's growth as a leather and glove manufacturing city, with most buildings from the 1870-1900 boom period. It shows five stages of the city's development and a wide range of styles, from Greek Revival through Italianate, Second Empire, Romanesque, Neoclassical and Art Deco. Work by noted architects such as M. F. Cummings, Henry F. Kilburn, Wilson Potter and F. L. Comstock adds to its architectural value.
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 85002367, listed September 12, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Roughly bounded by Spring, Prospect, E. Fulton, N. and S. Main and Elm Sts., Gloversville |
|---|---|
| County | Fulton County |
| Listed | September 12, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002367 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | pre-1850 - 1931 |
| Architect / builder | M. F. Cummings (Troy); Henry F. Kilburn (New York City); Wilson Potter (New York City); F. L. Comstock (Gloversville) |
| Architectural style | Predominantly Italianate, with Greek Revival, Second Empire, Romanesque, Neoclassical Revival, Renaissance Revival and Art Deco examples |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Most buildings are intact above the storefronts, though nearly all storefronts have been altered. Upper floors are used for offices, apartments and storage, with some vacant space. Three empty lots on Main Street, including the former southeast corner of the four corners, compromise the district. |
| Acreage | 25 |
| Coordinates | 43.05061, -74.34473 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 85002367.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5303443
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.