I’ve always been vaguely aware of this classic Greek revival building on the lower block of Union Street in Schenectady’s Stockade. For as long as I could remember, it housed offices of the Schenectady City School District, and I guess I never gave any thought to what it had been, if anything, before that. Turns out that it was an early (perhaps first) Schenectady County Courthouse. According to the Historic American Building Survey, it was erected from 1831 to 1833. Offices were on the first floor, the courthouse was on the second floor, and the county jail was in the basement of the rear wing. HABS took note of its two-story portico with pediment and Greek Doric columns (20 flutes, low Attic base with round plinth. And, of course, Doric entablatures. The walls are of brick, Flemish bond on the main portion, American bond on the rear wing. The building was constructed by John W. Teller for $9,964. It was used as a courthouse until about 1915, and then by the school district.
And guess what? It’s for sale. Where else but Schenectady could you find a piece of history like this for under half a million?