W. & L. E. Gurley Building
Why it's listed
Built in 1862, this four-story brick building at 514 Fulton Street in Troy housed the W. & L.E. Gurley Company, makers of surveying and mathematical instruments known around the world. Construction began right after the Great Fire of May 10, 1862 destroyed the firm's earlier buildings on the site, and operations moved in on December 10 of that year. Orrison Salisbury, a Troy carpenter, was the builder. The structure is U-shaped around an open courtyard, with ten bays on Fifth Avenue and sixteen on Fulton Street, arched openings in every bay, and a corbeled brick cornice topped by a bracketed sheet metal cornice added soon after completion. Gurley used the second floor for manufacturing and part of the first for offices, while collar companies and retail tenants rented the remaining space. The nomination values it as an industrial building that fits well with the residential buildings on the rest of its block, and as the home of one of the oldest surveying instrument makers in the world.
Significance in brief: It housed a firm known worldwide for quality surveying and mathematical instruments and is described as a landmark of downtown Troy. The nomination calls it an outstanding and unusual industrial building that is architecturally compatible with the neighboring residential buildings. It also reflects the Gurley brothers' business sense, since it was planned to pay for itself through rented space.
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 70000432, listed March 5, 1970. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 514 Fulton St., Troy |
|---|---|
| County | Rensselaer County |
| Listed | March 5, 1970 |
| Reference number | 70000432 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1862 (19th Century) |
| Architect / builder | Orrison Salisbury, Troy carpenter (builder) |
| Areas of significance | Industry |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated March 5, 1970 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in good condition, unaltered and on its original site, and occupied when nominated. Related correspondence says the Gurley firm was moving and that urban renewal plans had considered demolishing the building. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Central Troy Historic District (Boundary Increase) |
| Coordinates | 42.73243, -73.68711 (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 70000432.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7945271
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.