Discovering Troy's Federal (and Federal Style) Architecture

Originally published in the Troy’s Treasures* column of the Record Newspapers

To residents of a city known for its Victorian architecture, it might or might not come as a surprise to realize that we have enough “Federal” style buildings within our borders to make fanciers of this particular style very envious. The fact that most of our remaining examples are “incognito” may account for the lack of recognition in a city that is known for its variety and scope of architecture.

The so-called “Federal” period of architecture in America is generally said to be between the years 1780 and 1820. These are the very years when Troy was just getting started. Federal is a style characterized by simple lines and little, if any, ornamentation. It is also noted for stark attention to linear regularity; for example, windows and doors lined up precisely over or under each other. Even cellar windows were not allowed to escape this strict discipline. Doors were generally simple four panel construction, and fireplace mantels and door trim were usually spartan pieces with only a beaded edge to betray a glimmer of the carpenter’s art in a life where survival was the order of the day.

A style that was prominent among the early settlers of Troy was known as the “Side-Hall Federal”, (see photo) as opposed to the “Center-Hall’’ style which was much more grand and seen more often in the New England area. And, though much of Troy’s Federal is long gone, there remain an amazing number of examples of this side-hall variety still standing…mostly hidden behind layers of “improvements” in the name of, well, let’s just say improvements.

A few years back, the City published a list of tax-foreclosed properties – close to 300 parcels in all – and on the list was one such Federal-Style house, standing right there at #380 Third Street. I say Federal-Style because I don’t know for sure if it was, in fact, built within the Federal-Period mentioned above. I do know that it existed in 1851, because thanks to Barbara Urban at RCHS I saw it on a map of Troy of that date. But to pin it down any closer than this means researching deeds and other time-consuming avenues, when pinning down its exact birth date is not my point here.

I also managed to get inside for a look-see when Collar City Auctions was hired to show these tax-reclaimed properties, and there are some clues to report. Without tearing into any of the overlaid paneling to see what a look behind might reveal, I observed a Greek Revival mantelpiece surrounding the fireplace on the second floor which argues for construction a bit later than 1820. And since the chimney appears to have two flues, we can safely assume there is another fireplace on the first floor which is probably behind more of the same paneling such as found on the second. We can further assume that these fireplaces are typical of that time frame, although all this needs verification. Certainly, we can be sure we are dealing with an early house of Federal Style which, if properly restored, would be an added attraction to its neighborhood and the city.

Then I borrowed a flashlight from the CollarCityAuction guy who was showing the place to bargain seeking visitors and poked my way down into the cellar. Behold, another clue – a flat stone foundation, which, I am told, argues for old. The rule is generally – stone cellars older, brick foundations later. So, is this definitive? No, it is not. But clues are clues, and they matter.

The whole point of all this is to say, really shout, to any who will hear it, “Here is a house that was standing when John Quincy Adams was President of the United States of America; here is an example of an important and endangered species of architecture; it could be restored at reasonable expense; it would be a charming and comfortable house to live in; and it would improve the neighborhood if someone would take on the task to restore this gem of Troy’s Architectural Treasures.”

It even comes with a nice little iron fence surrounding the petite front yard.

Authors Note:  This house was consequently sold by the city but soon reverted to city ownership. Some years later it was sold again and is now once again on the tax rolls.

** “Troy’s Treasures” is a project of the Troy Rehabilitation & Improvement Program (TRIP), Inc.