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W. & L. E. Gurley Building facts for kids
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W. & L. E. Gurley Building
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View from southwest, 2008
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 514 Fulton Street, Troy, NY |
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| Built | 1862 |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000432 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | March 5, 1970 |
| Designated NHL | May 4, 1983 |
The W. & L. E. Gurley Building is a very old and important building in Troy, New York. It was built in 1862. This building is special because it looks like a classical style structure. It used to be home to the W. & L. E. Gurley Company. This company made very exact measuring instruments. The Gurley Company was one of the first in the country to make such precise tools. Because of its history, the building was named a National Historic Landmark in 1983.
Contents
A Quick History of the Gurley Building
The W. & L. E. Gurley Company bought a metal workshop, called a foundry, from Julius Hanks in 1852. Sadly, this first building was destroyed in the Great Troy Fire of 1862. This huge fire burned down many buildings in Troy.
The new W. & L. E. Gurley Building was built very quickly. It took only 8 months to finish! This was seen as an amazing building achievement back then. At first, the ground floor was used for shops. Other companies rented the third and fourth floors. Over time, the Gurley Company grew and started using the whole building.
Gurley Company's Important Work
The company was run by two brothers, William Gurley and Lewis Ephraim. They were leaders in making precision tools. They even published a book that explained how their tools worked. During the American Civil War, the company helped the military. They made special brass parts for navy weapons. They also made improved brass parts for horse saddles.
In the 1960s, a company called Teledyne bought Gurley. Then, in 1993, it was sold again. Today, the company is still in business as Gurley Precision Instruments.
The Building Today
The W. & L. E. Gurley Building was officially named a National Historic Landmark in 1983. Today, the building is rented by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. This school uses parts of the building for its Lighting Research Center. This center moved there in the year 2000. Some sound labs for the school's architecture program are also there. The Human Resources department of the school is in the building too. Gurley Precision Instruments still uses the first floor of this building. They also use the entire building right across the street. The building is located on Fulton Street, between 5th and Union Streets in Troy.
What the Gurley Building Looks Like
The Gurley Building is a four-story building made of red bricks. It is shaped like the letter "U" around a small open area. There used to be a metal workshop (a foundry) on the ground level on the north side of this open area.
The building's base is made of strong stone. Its main walls are made of brick. Inside, there are cast-iron columns that help hold up the building. The outside of the building looks like a classical style. It has arched doors and windows. These arches have rounded brick designs above them. The main entrance is on Fulton Street, but it's not exactly in the middle of the building's front.
Images for kids
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1969 photo of the Gurley Building
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Close-up of the building's top part
- Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. NY-13, "W. & L. E. Gurley Building", 6 photos, 11 data pages