Pulaski Library
Also known as: Hudson Branch Library
Why it's listed
Pulaski Library is a one-story branch library at Hudson Avenue and Norton Street in northeast Rochester, built in 1931-1933 for $75,000 plus $23,620 for the site. Architects Herbert Bohacket and Lewis Brew gave it an Italian Renaissance character, with a red barrel-tile hipped roof, an inset corner portico with Doric columns, pilastered window bays, and Indiana limestone over concrete block. Inside, oak paneling, Art Deco hardware and a children's wing with a fireplace and a hidden stair to a basement story-hour room survive. It was the city's second permanent library and served a Polish-American neighborhood of about 9,000 people. In 1931, 46 Polish organizations and churches asked that it be named for General Casimir Pulaski. The request was refused at the time, but a bronze plaque by Alphonse Kolb was installed in 1933 with a time capsule. The library was officially renamed for Pulaski in 1981 and has long been a source of local pride.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the library is significant for its link to the growth and importance of Rochester's North Side Polish community, which supported its construction and later secured its name. It is also significant as an intact example of Italian Renaissance design applied to a neighborhood civic building.
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 01001562, listed February 5, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1151 Hudson Ave., Rochester |
|---|---|
| County | Monroe County |
| Listed | February 5, 2002 |
| Reference number | 01001562 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1931-1933 |
| Architect / builder | Bohacket & Brew |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals/Italian Renaissance |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function is listed as vacant/not in use; the interior has had its furniture removed. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 43.18663, -77.59984 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 01001562.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7259206
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.