Fifth Avenue-Fulton Street Historic District
Why it's listed
Two blocks of Fifth Avenue on the eastern edge of downtown Troy, New York, make up this district of thirty-seven residential, religious, industrial and commercial properties built between 1862 and 1894. Nearly everything in the area burned in the Great Fire of 1862, and it was rebuilt quickly in a consistent scale and building height. The dominant house type is the three-story brownstone-style rowhouse with a basement, with carriage houses on the parallel service streets, Williams and Union. The district also includes the W. & L.E. Gurley Company main building, nominated separately. Architect M.F. Cummings, one of Troy's notable architects of the later nineteenth century, shaped the area. He designed the Second Presbyterian Church, and many rowhouses may follow his pattern book. The district is valued for its architecture and setting, and for the nineteenth-century residents whose business and social careers form a significant chapter in Troy's history. Exteriors are largely intact and in generally good condition.
Significance in brief: The district was almost entirely destroyed by the Great Fire of 1862 and quickly rebuilt in a consistent scale and height. It mixes compatible residential, industrial, religious and commercial buildings and shows the influence of Troy architect M.F. Cummings. It is also noted for the prominent nineteenth-century occupants of its houses.
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 70000428, listed March 5, 1970. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Bounded by Grand, William, and Union Sts., and Broadway, Troy |
|---|---|
| County | Rensselaer County |
| Listed | March 5, 1970 |
| Reference number | 70000428 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (buildings constructed 1862-1894) |
| Architect / builder | M.F. Cummings (Second Presbyterian Church, possibly Fifth Street Baptist Church); William Hodgins (session house); William J. Howes (contractor for church) |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Community Planning and Development, Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as intact and generally in good condition, with most buildings little altered on the exterior; the east side of Fifth Avenue between Broadway and Fulton Street is the exception. Occupied; uses include commercial, industrial, private residence and religious. |
| Coordinates | 42.73340, -73.68263 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 70000428.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.