Pumpkin House
Also known as: Hart Tenant House
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Why it's listed
This two-story frame house at 180 Fourth Street in Troy, also known as the Hart Tenant House, dates to about 1820. It has a high-pitched gable roof, a three-bay facade, clapboard siding and a heavy post-and-beam frame. Two rear wings were added around 1830 and 1870. The builder is unknown, but the house was probably built for a shop owner or tradesman's family. Later, the property passed to William Howard, a New York merchant, who likely rented it out as an investment. The Brannen family lived there from the 1860s until 1913. Troy once had many frame residences, but few survive and most early ones have been heavily altered. This house kept much of its original interior, including its main staircase, woodwork and fireplace mantels. A restoration between 1991 and 1996 returned the facade to its original appearance. It is valued as an example of the modest housing most Trojans lived in during the nineteenth century.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a rare surviving example of early-nineteenth century frame urban architecture in Troy and a good representative of a middle-class Federal residence. It remains largely intact and is described as perhaps the best remaining example in Troy of the more modest living conditions of most nineteenth-century residents.
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 98000573, listed June 8, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 180 Fourth St., Troy |
|---|---|
| County | Rensselaer County |
| Listed | June 8, 1998 |
| Reference number | 98000573 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | C. 1820 - C. 1870 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Early Republic: Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a single dwelling; restored and rehabilitated between 1991 and 1996. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Central Troy Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.72635, -73.69001 (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 98000573.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7259850
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.