Smith Flats
Why it's listed
Smith Flats, at 53-61 Bay Street in Glens Falls, is a square, three-story apartment building with a flat roof and brick veneer, built around 1895 on a rock-faced limestone foundation. Projecting three-story bay windows, three-tiered wood porches with turned posts, and a bracketed pressed metal cornice define its exterior, while molded brick, terra cotta and pressed metal ornament the lintels, belt courses and doorways. Inside, an entrance vestibule has a tiled floor and embossed wainscoting, and staircases carry Queen Anne style newels. Local architect William E. Lawrence designed it, and Frank P. Shippey is named as builder. It was one of several apartment houses built as investments in a city short of working-class family housing, following the Pruyn Flats of about 1880 and alongside the Argent. Its Queen Anne and Renaissance Revival details and good preservation make it a rare surviving example of early multiple dwellings in Glens Falls. A 1981 survey recorded it as vacant.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a rare intact example of a late nineteenth century multi-family residence in Glens Falls. It was built as an investment venture in a community where working-class family housing was scarce. It shows Queen Anne and Renaissance Revival detail and retains substantial integrity of design and materials. It is among the earliest surviving multiple dwellings in the city.
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 84003404, listed September 29, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 53-61 Bay St., Glens Falls |
|---|---|
| County | Warren County |
| Listed | September 29, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84003404 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect William E. Lawrence; builder Frank P. Shippey |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne and Renaissance Revival detail |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The 1981 inventory lists the building as vacant, in deteriorated condition, with a new roof installed in 1979 and no other known alterations. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 43.31265, -73.64661 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 84003404.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7545146
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.