Courthouse Square Historic District

About

The Courthouse Square Historic District in Albion offers a remarkably preserved glimpse into the architectural and civic legacy of Orleans County. Anchored by the majestic 1858 Greek Revival-style courthouse, the district is home to an array of distinctive public buildings, stately homes, and sacred spaces that reflect nearly two centuries of local history. From Gothic Revival churches built with locally quarried Medina Sandstone to ornate Eastlake and Queen Anne residences, the area showcases the craftsmanship, community values, and cultural evolution of Albion.

1. Orleans County Courthouse
Designed by Wm. V. N. Barlow and built in 1857-58 for $20,000, this courthouse is a late example of the Greek Revival style. It serves as the central focal point of the historic district. Its large dome, topped with a cupola, is a landmark visible for miles.

2. Orleans County Clerk’s Office, 3 South Main St.
Designed by Isaac G. Perry and built in 1882-83 in the Eastlake style, the building features intricate brickwork and detailed windows. The second floor served as the Orleans County Legislative Chambers until 2019. Perry also designed the “Million Dollar Staircase” at the New York State Capitol in Albany.

3. Central Hall, 34 East Park St.
Built in 1882, Central Hall served as a school until 1934. It then became Sheret Post 35 of the American Legion and was acquired by the county in 1980. Over the years, it has housed various county departments. Today, it is home to the county historian’s office, which preserves materials and assists researchers.

4. Pullman Memorial Universalist Church, 10 East Park St.
Built in 1894 by George M. Pullman, a railway car magnate, in memory of his parents, the church was designed in the Old English Gothic style by S.S. Beman. Constructed of Medina sandstone, it features windows by the Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company. Pullman grew up in Albion before relocating to Chicago.

5. St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 106 South Main St.

Dedicated in 1897, this Gothic Revival church on West Park Street was built from locally quarried Medina sandstone and features original stained-glass windows. According to local lore, the land was sold by a Baptist on the condition that the church block the view of the neighboring Baptist church from Main Street. It was refurbished in 1952.

In 2022, the Medina Sandstone Society inducted the church into its Hall of Fame, along with St. Joseph’s School and Lyceum, built in 1905 on Main Street, and the chapel at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, built in 1920 on Route 31. The lyceum is the first school to receive the honor.

6. First Baptist Church, 30 West Park St.
Dedicated in 1860 and designed by Harlo Wilcox in the Victorian Romanesque style, the church features a 160-foot hexagonal tower and spire. The original three-dial clock mechanism still works. A now-unused community crypt lies beneath the structure.

7. Christ Episcopal Church, 26 South Main St.
Built in 1830 by a Presbyterian congregation, the building was traded in 1844 to the Episcopalians. It is the oldest church in Orleans County still in use and features a Steer and Turner tracker-action pipe organ built in 1877.

8. Albion Post Office, 8 South Main St.
This post office features a 1939 WPA mural by Judson Smith, depicting an Erie Canal village with a lift bridge and factories. Albion’s roots trace back to 1821 with the Erie Canal’s arrival, which spurred its development as a trading and political center. Quarrying, farming and food processing shaped the town’s growth.

9. Former Swan Library, 29 West Avenue
Originally built as a residence for Roswell S. Burrows in the 1840s in the Greek Revival style, the home was transformed into a library in 1899 in the Colonial Revival style. It opened to the public in 1900 and closed in 2012, when services moved to Hoag Library.

10. First Presbyterian Church, 29 East State St.
Constructed of Medina sandstone in 1874 with funds from Elizur Hart, the church is the county’s tallest building at 175 feet. Hart allegedly insisted the steeple be taller than a nearby Baptist church’s. A Greek Revival sanctuary from 1845 still adjoins the newer Gothic Revival structure.

11. Queen Anne Residence, 31 East State St.
Designed by A.J. Barlow and built in 1893 as a manse for the First Presbyterian Church, this well-maintained home became a private residence in 1987. It remains an excellent example of Queen Anne architecture.

12. First United Methodist Church, 19 North Platt St.
Constructed in 1860 and remodeled in 1877 and 1914, the brick building features a large Tiffany-style window of the Good Shepherd. The congregation’s roots go back to the days of circuit-riding Methodist preachers.

13. Greek Revival Residence, 12 Ingersoll St.
This stately home features Doric columns and a cast-iron fence. Once the home of Sanford E. Church, former lieutenant governor and presidential candidate, it later served as the Merrill-Grinnell Funeral Home until 2018.

14. Second Empire Residence, 134 East State St.
Designed by local architect Wm. V. N. Barlow and built in 1879, this home features a mansard roof and hexagonal tower. It is a standout example of Second Empire architecture.

15. Free Methodist Church, 25 South Platt St.
Built in 1860, this is the oldest Free Methodist church structure. It was formed when a local minister split from the Methodist Episcopal Church over abolition. Constructed in the Norman Revival style, it features board-and-batten siding.