Lehigh Valley Railroad Station
Why it's listed
Built in 1905 to designs by F.D. Hyde of New York City, this railroad station at 99 Court Street in Rochester rests on massive rock-faced limestone piers and steel I-beams directly above the Genesee River and the Johnson and Seymour raceway. The main building is brick, with a hipped roof, a corner tower and French Renaissance detailing. Its upper walls are mottled mustard-yellow brick laid with thin red-tinted mortar, set above a sandstone watertable and a battered base of red paving brick. A terra-cotta panel bears the initials L.V.R.R. and the date 1905. A wooden porch and waiting platform lead to a one-story brick freight building. The Lehigh Valley line reached Rochester late, and passenger service ended in the 1950s. After a short period as a bus depot, the building has stood vacant. It is the only surviving railroad station among the several that once served the Inner Loop area, which makes it a rare reminder of the railroads' part in the city's growth.
Significance in brief: The station is a representative example of a small urban railroad station from the first decade of the twentieth century. It is also the only surviving resource in the Inner Loop area that recalls the role of rail transportation in Rochester's growth. Its picturesque massing, colorful materials and French Renaissance references reflect late Victorian taste, and its siting over the river is dramatic.
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 85002858, listed October 4, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 99 Court St., Rochester |
|---|---|
| County | Monroe County |
| Listed | October 4, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002858 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | F.D. Hyde (N.Y.C.), architect; builder unknown |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian with French Renaissance overtones |
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant since the station closed to passengers in the 1950s and briefly served as a bus depot; condition listed as deteriorated, with deterioration named as a threat. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 43.15313, -77.60789 (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 85002858.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14706782
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.