Harrison, Edward, House
Also known as: Brockport Alumni House
Why it's listed
Built in 1877 at 75 College Street in Brockport, New York, this wood-frame house on a stone foundation was the home of Edward Harrison, a merchant tailor and clothier who employed as many as 200 workers in the early 1880s. It has a three-story main block and a two-story rear wing under steeply pitched slate mansard roofs, with curved-top windows, carved lintels and a projecting bay on the east side. Local decorator David Bruce painted the interior. Colonial Revival changes, likely made around 1898, include a leaded-glass entrance, an interior alcove with Tuscan columns and a tiled fireplace. The State of New York bought the house in 1898, and it served as the residence for the adjacent Normal School's principals from 1898 to 1942 and later for the college's presidents. It is regarded as an intact example of Second Empire residential design in a canal town that prospered through farm machinery manufacturing. Today it serves as the Brockport Alumni House, furnished in early 20th-century style.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an intact representative example of French Second Empire residential design in Brockport (Criterion C). It is also significant for its association with the Brockport Normal School, later the State University College at Brockport, which used it as the principals' and presidents' residence (Criterion A). The house and its circa 1900 renovations reflect the prosperity of late nineteenth-century Brockport as a manufacturing and educational center.
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 10000854, listed October 22, 2010. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 75 College St, Brockport |
|---|---|
| County | Monroe County |
| Listed | October 22, 2010 |
| Reference number | 10000854 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1877 - ca. 1900 |
| Architectural style | French Second Empire; Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently used as a social meeting hall for the alumni association; the interior has been decorated in early 20th-century style with period furniture. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 43.21180, -77.94314 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 10000854.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q23091768
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.