Cannon Building
Also known as: Cannon Place
Why it's listed
Cannon Building is a large commercial block at 1 Broadway in Troy, New York, forming the southern edge of Monument Square, the open space where River Street, Broadway and Second Street meet. Built in 1835, it was designed by architect Alexander Jackson Davis and is reportedly one of the few surviving commercial buildings by him in the country. The rectangular brick building has bearing walls and wooden floor joists, with shops at street level and offices above. It began with four stories; a mansard roof with bracketed cornice and hooded, pedimented dormers was added in the 1870s, making it five. An original Greek Revival storefront survives on the eastern portion of the Broadway facade. In the later nineteenth century the building housed Frear's Troy Bazaar, one of the city's best-known commercial establishments. Its architecture, its association with Davis and its commercial history supported its listing in 1970.
Significance in brief: The building is cited as a reportedly rare surviving commercial work by Alexander Jackson Davis. It keeps many original features, notably a Greek Revival storefront on the eastern portion of its Broadway facade. Later in the nineteenth century it housed Frear's Troy Bazaar, one of Troy's best-known commercial establishments.
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 70000427, listed March 5, 1970. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1 Broadway, Troy |
|---|---|
| County | Rensselaer County |
| Listed | March 5, 1970 |
| Reference number | 70000427 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1835) |
| Architect / builder | Alexander Jackson Davis (architect) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival storefront; mansard roof added in the 1870s |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, in good condition and altered; shops on the first floor and offices above, with commercial present use. |
| Within district | Central Troy Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.73137, -73.69181 (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.
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 70000427.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q1033446
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.