Hart-Cluett Mansion

The house is L-shaped, two and a half stories high with a full basement. The short end facing the street to its east and the long end wrapping around the brick house to its north. The front facade is four bays wide; the southern facade, accounting for the house's full depth from the street and overlooking a narrow alley, nine. All other facades save the front are done in brick.[1]

That front facade is dominated by its off-center entrance. The recessed door is set in a portico, with elliptical fanlight supported by small columns and sidelights. Around the portico are a marble architrave with vermiculated keystone and quoins.[1] No similar marble houses, are found in Troy, or the vicinity. The marble is presumed to come from a Berkshire quarry, possibly near Great Barrington, Mass. The marble has vertical comb finish, approximately 6 to the inch and is laid with 1/8" lime mortar joints.[5]

The tin gabled roof has two dormer windows on the east side. Two chimneys apiece rise from the north and south ends. There is one outbuilding, a former carriage house, in the rear of the building.[1]

Inside, the house follows the standard Federal-style central hall plan, with high ceilings and narrow, tall windows. Much of the original furnishings and trim remain. The plaster and woodwork are unaltered, as are such details as a marble mantelpiece and dining room mirror. The original basement kitchen remains, along with a late 19th-century one on the first floor.[1]

Hart, an early member of Troy's business elite, was a personal friend of Howard when he married Betsey. He had made his money first by supplying the Army during the War of 1812 and then in commerce from the Erie and Champlain canals. He later served as president of the Schenectady and Troy Railroad and several local philanthropies. He had a political career as well, serving as a state assemblyman and mayor of Troy.[1]

To build the house, 29-year-old John Colegrove was hired. He moved to Troy from New York in 1826 to supervise the job, and stayed there, going on to build many other notable buildings in the city. His obituary in 1860 referred to the mansion as his first major local accomplishment.[4]

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The original house was just the square block. The house was first enlarged in 1836 when Richard Hart was Mayor of Troy. Richard Hart died in 1843. Betsey remained in the house till her death in 1886 and her daughter Sarah Wool Hart was the last Hart to live in the house. She died in 1892 and the house was then sold to George B. Cluett, founder of Cluett, Peabody & Co. Inc. makers of Arrow Shirts. George and his wife Amanda had a new addition built that moved the kitchen to the first floor, replacing the original basement kitchen. He sold the house to his nephew Albert E. Cluett, in 1910.

Albert and Caroline Cluett made alterations on the third floor, raising the roof to accommodate the growing needs of their four sons. New oak floors, picture and chair rail mouldings all in the Colonial Revival Style were added to the two parlors and entrance hall. The old wallpaper was removed and the walls were painted ivory. A scenic wallpaper from the Zuber & Co. of Paris, France was installed on the walls of the Entrance Hall on the first floor.[1][5]

Albert Cluett died in 1949 but not before he and his wife Caroline challenged the Board of Trustees at RCHS to raise money to support the preservation of the house. Caroline lived in the house until 1952 when she then signed the house over to RCHS. The society has maintained it as a historic house museum and uses the adjoining Joseph B. Carr Building (57 2nd Street) as their museum headquarters that house the changing exhibition galleries, research library, collection storage and administrative offices.

The house is open to the public the 2nd Saturday of the month at 2pm for a guided tour, May through December. Tours are also available by prior appointment. 2nd Saturday tours are $10.00 for adults.[6]

• Hart Cluett Museum at Historic Rensselaer County