Hart-Cluett Mansion
Why it's listed
Built in 1827 on Second Street in downtown Troy, this Federal townhouse has a limestone and marble front facade set in a row of fine nineteenth-century houses. Its off-center entrance has a portico, elliptical fanlight, columns, sidelights, and a marble architrave with a vermiculated keystone and quoins. Inside, a central hall leads to the staircase, dining room and back parlor, and much of the original woodwork, plasterwork, marble mantelpieces and some furnishings survive. William Howard, a New York City fur merchant, had it built as a wedding present for his daughter Betsey and her husband Richard P. Hart, a Troy financier, railroad president, mayor and founder of several civic institutions. The design is attributed to Albany architect Philip Hooker. George B. Cluett bought the house in 1892, and Albert E. Cluett acquired it in 1910. Mrs. Cluett gave it to the Rensselaer County Historical Society in 1952, which maintains it as a museum. Continuity of ownership kept the house remarkably intact.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an exceptionally fine example of a Federal townhouse, with exterior and interior remarkably intact because two prominent Troy families owned it for about 125 years. It is tied to Richard P. Hart, a leading Troy financier and civic figure, and later to the Cluett family of the Cluett-Peabody shirt and collar firm. Its setting in a largely nineteenth-century neighborhood adds to its value.
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 73001256, listed April 11, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 59 2nd St., Troy |
|---|---|
| County | Rensselaer County |
| Listed | April 11, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001256 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century; specific date 1827 |
| Architect / builder | Attributed to Philip Hooker, Albany architect (attribution by Bernd Forster in Architecture Worth Saving in Rensselaer County) |
| Architectural style | Federal townhouse |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned and maintained as a house museum by the Rensselaer County Historical Society; condition listed as good, with some alterations; a balustrade restoration was in progress when photographed. |
| Within district | Central Troy Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.72959, -73.69356 (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 73001256.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q1587001
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.