15 Church Street

15 Church Street

The building is a 3-story Second Empire style brick building at the major crossroad (Church Street and John Street) of the Hoosick Falls Historic District. There are 2 storefronts that face east on John Street. The building is one of the older brick structures in the historic district, having been built prior to 1881 (as early as 1855). The structure was noted to be especially significant in the 1980 application for placement of the Hoosick Falls Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places (#800004280).

The exterior of the building is largely intact, and architectural features are preserved, including the slate Mansard roof, window architecture, storefronts with original wood details and interior tin ceilings in some rooms.

The village of Hoosick Falls was incorporated in 1827. Thanks to its location on the Hoosick River, the village became a prosperous manufacturing center, initially cotton and in the mid-1800’s the manufacturer of farming equipment by the Walter A. Wood Company. Hoosick became one of the leading manufacturers of farm equipment by the late 1800’s, and as a result the Historic Downtown has a number of outstanding buildings from this period, including the one at 15 Church Street (formerly listed as 11-13 Church Street on Fire maps).

Over the years the building housed a number of businesses, including a general store with groceries, teas, neckties, shirts and notions in 1881, a wallpaper, paint and grocery store in 1886, a stove and tinware shop in 1891 and the express office in 1897.

At the turn of the century the building housed a tailor as well as a stove and tin shop as well as an express office. In 1912 a physician’s office and some of the Walter A. Wood Manufacturing offices were located at the address.

Since the early 1920’s the building housed a general store, sporting goods store, cigar store and pizza shop.