Hart-Cluett Mansion facts for kids
|
Hart-Cluett Mansion
|
|
|
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
|
Front (east) elevation, 2009
|
|
 Location in New York
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Troy, NY |
|---|---|
| Built | 1827 |
| Architect | Martin E. Thompson |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Part of | Central Troy Historic District (ID86001527) |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001256 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | April 11, 1973 |
| Designated CP | August 13, 1986 |
The Hart-Cluett Mansion is a beautiful historic house located in Troy, New York. It was built way back in 1827. This special building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's important to American history. It's also part of the Central Troy Historic District, a whole area with many old and interesting buildings.
Since the 1950s, the mansion has been the home of the Rensselaer County Historical Society. This group changed its name to the Hart Cluett Museum at Historic Rensselaer County in 2019. Today, you can visit the house as a historic house museum to learn about its past.
The mansion was designed by architect Martin E. Thompson from New York City. It's built in the Federal style, which was popular in the early 1800s. The house has fancy marble and limestone on its front. It's considered one of the best examples of this style in Troy. A man named John Bard Colgrove built the house as a gift for Betsey Howard Hart and her husband, Richard P. Hart. Betsey's wealthy father, William Howard, wanted a home similar to grand mansions in New York City. Many of those city mansions are gone now, so the Hart-Cluett Mansion is a rare chance to see what they were like.
Later, in the late 1800s, another local businessman named George Cluett owned the house. His nephew, Albert Cluett, bought it in 1910. Albert's wife, Caroline Cluett, generously gave the house to the Historical Society in 1952.
Contents
Exploring the Mansion
The Hart-Cluett Mansion has a unique L-shape. It's two and a half stories tall with a full basement. The front of the house faces the street. The other sides are made of brick.
Outside the House
The front of the house is very grand. It has a special entrance with a recessed door. This door is set inside a small porch, called a portico. It has an oval window above it, called a fanlight, and windows on the sides. Small columns support the portico. Around the entrance, there's decorative marble. No other marble houses like this are found nearby. The marble likely came from a quarry in Massachusetts.
The roof is made of tin and has a pointed shape, called a gable. There are two windows that stick out from the roof on the front side, called dormer windows. Two chimneys rise from each end of the house. Behind the main building, there's a former carriage house. This is where horses and carriages would have been kept long ago.
Inside the House
Inside, the mansion follows a common design for Federal-style homes. It has a central hallway with high ceilings. The windows are tall and narrow, letting in lots of light. Many of the original decorations and furniture are still there. The plaster and wood designs are just as they were when the house was built. You can see a beautiful marble mantelpiece and a large mirror in the dining room. The original kitchen was in the basement. A newer kitchen was added on the first floor later.
A Look at History
Richard P. Hart was an important businessman in Troy. He was a friend of William Howard, who gave the house as a gift. Richard Hart made his money by supplying the Army during the War of 1812. He also earned money from trade using the Erie Canal and Champlain Canal. He was even the president of a railroad and helped many local charities. Richard Hart also had a career in politics. He served as a state assemblyman and was even the mayor of Troy.
Building the Mansion
John Colegrove, who was 29 years old, was hired to build the house. He moved to Troy in 1826 to work on this project. He stayed in Troy and built many other famous buildings in the city. When he passed away in 1860, his obituary mentioned the Hart-Cluett Mansion as his first big success in Troy.
The original house was just a square building. It was made bigger in 1836 when Richard Hart was mayor. Richard Hart passed away in 1843. His wife, Betsey, lived in the house until she died in 1886. Their daughter, Sarah Wool Hart, was the last Hart family member to live there. After she died in 1892, the house was sold to George B. Cluett. He was the founder of Cluett, Peabody & Co. Inc., which made famous Arrow Shirts. George and his wife, Amanda, added a new section to the house. This moved the kitchen from the basement to the first floor. George sold the house to his nephew, Albert E. Cluett, in 1910.
Albert and Caroline Cluett made changes to the third floor. They raised the roof to make more space for their four sons. They also added new oak floors and decorative moldings in the two parlors and entrance hall. The old wallpaper was removed, and the walls were painted ivory. A beautiful scenic wallpaper from Paris, France, was put up in the Entrance Hall on the first floor.
Albert Cluett passed away in 1949. He and his wife Caroline had encouraged the Rensselaer County Historical Society (RCHS) to raise money to protect the house. Caroline lived in the house until 1952. Then, she officially gave the house to the RCHS. The society has kept it as a historic house museum. They use the building next door, the Joseph B. Carr Building, as their main museum office. This building has changing art shows, a research library, and storage for their collections.
Visiting the Museum
You can visit the Hart-Cluett Mansion for a guided tour. Tours are usually offered on the second Saturday of each month at 2 PM, from May through December. You can also arrange tours at other times by making an appointment. The tours on the second Saturday cost $10.00 for adults.
Images for kids
-
Floor Plan of Hart Cluett Mansion, from 1934
-
Elevation of Hart Cluett Mansion, from 1934
