Cunningham House
Why it's listed
Built in 1910-11 at 169 Warren Street in Glens Falls, this two-story stuccoed building began as a pottery studio for Nell Pruyn, youngest daughter of lumber magnate Samuel Pruyn. Boston architect Henry Forbes Bigelow designed it, and R.H. Rhinelander of Glens Falls was the contractor. The hipped roof is clad in wood shingle, the foundation is limestone rubble, and the street front has an entrance pavilion with a stepped gable pediment and a small wrought iron balcony. Inside, a two-story skylit center court with a marble fountain is surrounded by salons, bedrooms and a conservatory, while the basement holds the ceramics studio. When Nell Pruyn married Dr. Thomas Cunningham, a two-story service wing designed by Charles Adams Platt was added in 1919 and the studio became their home. Landscaped gardens and walkways tied it to the nearby Hyde and Hoopes houses. It is valued as an unusual, intact Bigelow work outside Boston and as part of a prominent family's estate.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant for its architecture and local associations. It was an unusual special-purpose building and one of only four Bigelow designs in Glens Falls. It was also part of the Pruyn family estate linked to the Hyde and Hoopes 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 84003258, listed September 29, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 169 Warren St., Glens Falls |
|---|---|
| County | Warren County |
| Listed | September 29, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84003258 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect Henry Forbes Bigelow; builder R.H. Rhinelander, contractor, Glens Falls (1919 service wing designed by Charles Adams Platt) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Remains in use as a residence and office for staff of the Hyde museum; condition rated fair, with industrial pollution noted as a threat. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Three Squares Historic District |
| Coordinates | 43.31051, -73.63322 (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 84003258.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5194322
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.