Batavia Club
Also known as: Bank of Genesee
Why it's listed
Built in 1831 at the corner of Main and Bank Streets in Batavia, this two-story brick building with stepped gables first served as the Bank of Genesee, one of the earliest banks west of the Genesee River. Batavia was then the center of Holland Land Office operations and gained further business from the Erie Canal. Rochester architect-builder Hezekiah Eldredge designed it as both a bank and an elegant home for the cashier, and costs ran well beyond the $6,000 first appropriated. Only one other Eldredge building, the Lockport Bank, is known to survive. The three-bay front has paired colonettes around the doorway and windows, while a heavier door hood was added later. The Batavia Club bought the building in 1886 and has used it as a men's club for almost twice as long as it served as a bank. Its woodwork, mantels and stairway remain carefully maintained, and a fire-damaged dining room has been restored.
Significance in brief: It housed the Bank of Genesee, one of the first banks west of the Genesee River, in a village that was the center of Holland Land Office operations. It is also one of only two known surviving works of Rochester architect-builder Hezekiah Eldredge. The Batavia Club has occupied it since 1886 and kept its interior woodwork, mantels and stairway well maintained.
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 73001192, listed June 19, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Main and Bank Sts., Batavia |
|---|---|
| County | Genesee County |
| Listed | June 19, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001192 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1831) |
| Architect / builder | Hezekiah Eldredge, Rochester architect-builder; Daniel Ryan, carpenter |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in use as a private men's club by the Batavia Club since 1886; condition marked good and altered; a kitchen wing burned around 1966 and was replaced by a one-story cement block structure. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.99768, -78.18165 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 73001192.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4868666
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.