Early Hudson's Proud History PAGE 3

Volume 2 Number OneVolume 2 Number One Published by the Columbia County Historical SocietyPublished by the Columbia County Historical Society

IN THIS ISSUE:

Take a Close Lookat Warren Street

PAGE 7

Hudson’s South Bay—Landscape and Industry

PAGE 10

The Private Communityof Willard Place

PAGE 14

A Hudson AlbumPAGES 18 & 19

News of theColumbia CountyHistorical Society

PAGE 20

History Around the CountyPAGE 24

Collections HighlightsPAGE 26

A Visit to Hudson in 1890PAGE 27

Hudson’s HistoryA Bibliography

PAGE 28

The Columbia CountyCourt House

PAGE 29

Columbia CountyHistorical SocietyEvents Calendar

PAGE 31

�

SUMMER 2003

Early Hudson’s Proud History PAGE 3Batchellor’s Bazaar, between 2nd and 3rd Street, north side of Warren Street c 1870

$2.00

Columbia County Histor ica l Society www.cchsny.org

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COLUMBIA COUNTY HISTORY & HERITAGEE D I T O R I A L B O A R D

EditorHenry N. Eyre, Jr.

“Jim”

Around the CountyJulia Philip

Editorial CommitteeGeorge N. Biggs, III,Albert S. Callan, Joan K. Davidson,

Mimi Forer, James P. Hamilton, Stephan M. Mandel,Mary Faherty Sansaricq, Dr.Will Swift,

Susan Gerwe Tripp, Dr. David William Voorhees

Design and ProductionRon Toelke and Barbara Kempler-Toelke

Ron Toelke Associates, Chatham, NY

Columbia County History & Heritage is published by theColumbia County Historical Society and is mailed to allmembers of record at the time of publication. Copies may beobtained, as available, at $2.00 per copy from the Societyoffices at the Columbia County Museum, 5 Albany Avenue,Kinderhook, New York, 12106; 518-758-9265; www.cchsny.org

Hours:Monday,Wednesday,Friday 10:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m.,Saturday 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Call for expanded summer hours at518-758-9265.

S TA F FSharon S. Palmer Executive Director

Helen M. McLallen CuratorRuth Ellen Berninger Educator

Carla R. Lesh Registrar/Assistant EducatorRita Laffety Membership

Juanita Knott Administrative Assistant

The first issue in our second year of publicationand, as you can see, bigger than ever! What agreat job we feel our energetic editor, Jim Eyreand his staff have done, not to mention thedynamic graphic design work of Ron Toelke.

How grateful we are to them and to all the contributing writ-ers and advertisers who have made this publication possible.And how grateful we are to the most important people in theequation, our readers, whose enthusiastic acceptance andcontinued encouragement inspire us to try to make eachissue more enlightening than the last.

In this number we embrace the broad sweep of history inour county seat, the City of Hudson. Not always the countyseat, not always a city, Hudson’s story illustrates the vagaries(or are they really the ineluctable trends?) of history itself.It’s a fascinating story, with dark moments and light, withuncertainty and progress and with the promise of a happyending — at least in our time.

As the historical society of all of Columbia County, CCHShas much material in its collections from Hudson and aboutHudson. And as a historical society, we take great delight inthe current renaissance of this long unappreciated gem of asmall city.The silver lining — in the cloud of economic vicis-situdes Hudson survived — is that there was not the incen-

CountyColumbia HERITAGEHISTORY&

Stephan M. MandelPresident

John B. CarrollVice President

Woodruff L.TuttleTreasurer

Russell PomeranzAssistant Treasurer

Beth O’ConnorSecretary

Dr. David William VoorheesAssistant Secretary

Arthur BakerGeorge N. Biggs, III

Albert CallanNancy Clark

David CrawfordJoan K. DavidsonHenry N. Eyre, Jr.

Mimi ForerJohn Hannam

Willis HartshornTimothy Husband

Brian KellyJulia Philip

Richard RyanSamuel O.J. Spivy

Colin Stair

A Message from the President continued on page 21

A Message from the President

Any attempt to include all of the City of Hudson’s history in thirty-two pages wouldbe doomed to failure. There is just too much to tell. Therefore the reader of this issueof our magazine will find omissions both in content and in periods of time.

With more space we might have written more about the venturesome individualswho founded Hudson, the artists, the writers, about music and theater, or about thepoliticians and the captains of industry. We could have described Hudson in its daysas a major agricultural center and market.We could have told about the layers of dustfrom cement plants that — for many years — daily filled lungs and coated leaves,darkened fields of snow, and left a powdery film on cars and household furniture inthe city and for miles around it. We could have told more about steamboats, theriver trade and ice boating in winter. We might have talked about prostitution on theinfamous Diamond Street, or the depression years and prohibition. Or we could havegiven praise to the Hudson’s brave and daring soldiers who fought so well in allof our many wars. And, also important, we could have chronicled our city’s recentrenaissance as one of New England’s largest antique centers.

It might well be that we will cover each of these subjects in a future issue. Untilsuch time, however, we highly recommend that you visit the “History Room” on thesecond floor of the Hudson Area Library at 400 State Street. You will find a treasureof information there and personnel willing to assist you.

We hope that in this issue we have given you a glimpse of Hudson and the wayit was in its early days and how it developed through the efforts of an industriousand inventive people into a major port and gateway to New England. We feel thatthough all cities may have a story to tell, Hudson’s is unique.

We always welcome our reader’s comments and suggestions. Also, we encouragethose who wish to submit articles on our county’s history to contact us.

Jim EyreEditor

Editor’s Preface

COLUMBIA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETYB O A R D O F D I R E C T O R S

Columbia County Histor y & Heritage Summer 2003

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By Craig Thorn IVPhillips Academy Andover, MAEditor’s Note: Craig Thorn IV is ateacher of English at PhillipsAcademy in Andover, Mass., andis the son of Craig Thorn III, amember of one of the old familiesof Hudson. The original of thisarticle has been framed andhangs in the entry hall ofProprietors Hall, a building onSeventh Street constructed by hisfather. In the planning of thisbuilding the architect wasrequested that his design followas closely as possible the lines ofthe D.A.R. house at 113 WarrenStreet. We commend this effort.We have taken the liberty ofmaking a few small changes andadditions to the article for its bestuse in the magazine.

On September 27,1609,Henry Hudson’sship, the Half Moon,

ran aground on an alluvialisland directly across fromwhat are now the docks atHudson. Friendly EsopusIndians, most likely theMinnisinks, plied him with“stropes of beads”. Hudsondescribed the surroundingland as “…the finest for culti-vation that I ever in my lifeset foot upon, and it alsoabounds in trees of everydescription.”

Nearly half a century later,Jan Frans Van Hoesen pur-chased the grant that stilldefines much of Hudson(today) from the Mohicanswho battled the Mohawks forriver rights until they foundthemselves on either side ofAmerica’s fight for independ-

ence. The lands descendingby primogeniture for anothercentury, it came to pass thatrelatives, Peter Hogeboom (ason of Van Hoesen’s grand-daughter) and Colonel JohnVan Alen (married to adescendent of Van Hoesen),ran the two primitivewharves that established“Claverack Landing,” forerun-ner of the present dayHudson.

Early settlers in ClaverackLanding and the surroundingarea were principally farmers,but some were also engagedin fishing in the HudsonRiver. The area was filledwith “…luxuriant fields ofindigenous white clover…”

which gave rise to its name,the Dutch word for cloverbeing klauver and the wordfor field being rachen.Aroundthe early 1780’s ClaverackLanding consisted primarilyof the two rude wharves,described above, on pierswith small storehouses con-nected to these. There wasa ferry operated by ConradFlock there and a water-mill for grinding grain.However, this was all tochange radically in 1783,when four “sober, undemon-strative Quaker men” arrivedat the obscure landing place.

Their prosperous whalingbusinesses jeopardized by theBritish tariffs after the

Revolutionary War, these fourmen represented a group offamilies from Providence,Newport, Nantucket andEdgartown who wanted tomove their enterprises to amore sheltered location. Inshort order, the leader of thisgroup, Thomas Jenkins, Esq.,purchased properties fromHogeboom, the Van Hoesensand the Van Alens. He was aspectacularly successful busi-nessman who, unbeknownstto his associates, had everyintention of building anentire city. Sensing the impor-tance of the venture forthemselves and their families,they called themselves “TheProprietors” and drafted arti-cles of agreement thatinsured total commitmentamong their number. “Thateach and every one of theproprietors shall settle therein person and carry [there]his Trading Stock on or beforethe first day of October, a.Dom., one thousand sevenhundred and eighty-five”.Upon the arrival of his fel-lows, Jenkins called a meetingin which all the streets—including Front, Second,Third, Union, and State—were laid out as well as thepromontory now known asPromenade Hill. Many of thefamilies arrived with pre-made houses. On November14 1784, The Proprietorsresolved without debate ordissent, to change the nameof the settlement fromClaverack Landing to Hudson,over the objections of thengovernor George Clinton,

Early Hudson’sProud HistoryEarly Hudson’sProud History

View of the City of Hudson by Guy Wall c. 1820; a dramatic vistaof the Catskill Mountains looms in the distance.

The Proprietors resolved withoutdebate or dissent, to change the

name of the settlement fromClaverack Landing to Hudson…


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who “was much displeased attheir disregard.”

Under The Proprietors,Hudson grew from a smallsettlement to a full city invery short time. In two yearsthere were two shipyards,ship-carpenters, caulkers, rig-gers, ship-smiths, sail-makers,numerous water lots forsloops from Europe andSouth America, and goodsbearing the mark of “exoticparentage festooning the mar-ketplace.” There were soon awide variety of new business-es, such as: West Indian andNew England Rum, Iron, Salt,and Dry Goods; Green andMansfield, merchants in drygoods; other merchantsCotton Gelston and SchubaelWorth; Dilworth’s spellingbooks; Bunker and Easton,tanners; Latham Bunker,blacksmith; John R. Bolles,saddler; Dr. Levi Wheaton,the town’s first physician;Webster & Stoddard, printers;Thomas Worth’s Silk & StuffShoes; Peter Field, watch-maker and jeweler; DennisMacnemara, tailor; EzekielGilbert, lawyer;Titus Morgan,ship-builder; a brewery whichbrewed “Hudson’s Ale;” andJames Robardet,“instructor inthe polite accomplishment ofdancing.” A school was soonopened after the arrival ofThe Proprietors. There werepublic houses to accommo-date the “many figures of for-eign aspect,” seventeen alltold, fifteen of which werejointly owned by TheProprietors and descendantsof original settlers. In 1785Ashmel Stoddard and CharlesR.Webster commenced publi-cation of a weekly newspa-per, called the HudsonGazette “…to be issuedweekly at the rate of twelveshillings per year; money tobe refunded to subscriberswho were not satisfied withthe paper.” In 1786, a circulat-ing library was established

with approximately 300 vol-umes. Subscribers to thelibrary were permitted “…tokeep books as long asdesired, except books new,

and in great demand, whichmust be returned withinone week.” In this span oftime one hundred and fiftydwellings, wharves andshops were built. Truly TheProprietors had performed aremarkable transformation ina very brief period of time.

In 1785 The Proprietorswon their petition before theState Assembly to have theirtown fully incorporated andenjoy the rights of a city inthe State of New York. “Aprison being a necessaryappendage to a city govern-ment,” the governing council,Seth Jenkins presiding as thetown’s first Mayor, built agaol, and began city hall onthe corner of Fourth andMain. In 1790, Hudson wasmade a port of entry. In lessthan a decade, the cityenjoyed an international rep-utation, became the thirdport of entry and the thirdsite of a bank in the state.Thecitizens enjoyed one of thefew postal offices in the state.They published their owncurrency.They had their ownconstables. They had taxes.Those first taxed to financethe nightwatch were ances-tors to families livingin the county today: Allen,Plass, Decker, Hallenbeck,Hathaway,Worth, Paddock.

Two years after Jenkinsdied in 1808, the ProprietorsAssociation disbanded itself,

having agreed nearly unani-mously that they had realizedJenkins’ vision of a thrivingcommercial community.Cotton Geltson, however,

resisted the decision to dis-solve the organization andhad to be restrained in hisattempts to forestall the trans-fer of all deeds and records tothe common council. GilbertJenkins finally wrested thebooks from Geltson, whoremained unassailably discon-solate despite the fact that ascity clerk the deeds andrecords were to be turnedover to him anyway.

The Proprietors had madea city far more sophisticatedthan the farming communityof Van Hoesen’s day. Oilworks and other industriesdominated the river view.Though the end of whalingchallenged Hudson’s eco-nomic future, many of themen and women who lived inthe city were direct descen-dants of the enterprisingJenkins and Van Hoesenclans. Furthermore, theopportunities to be foundalong Hudson’s bustlingstreets created ventures thatanticipated the future ofAmerica’s small cities. Thelate 1840’s witnessed anindustrial revolution inHudson presaging the moredramatic change in America’sentrepreneurial spirit afterthe Civil War. Hudson wouldsurvive the challenges of his-tory, remaining the commer-cial center of the countywithout losing its charm asthe sheltered harbor of

charming vistas that firstattracted The Proprietors toClaverack Landing.

Hudson’s illustrious historyof whaling bespeaks theresilience of the earlyAmerican frontier business-man. Many of The Proprietorswere whalers from Nan-tucket, including StephenPaddock, the first in anextraordinary line of twenty-three sea pilots.When ThomasJefferson dealt the final blowto American whaling in 1807by initiating an embargo inresponse to England’s block-ade of France and Napoleon’sblockade of “all the BritishIsles,” Hudson sea captainRueben Folger observed that“(the embargo) was a signal tothe nation to heave to underbare poles; that the ship ofstate had been turned out ofher course and yawed aboutby a lubberly helmsman, untilthe voyage was ruined andthe owners half broken.”However, Hudson continuedto look to the water, bothits past rewards and futurepromise. Not four monthsbefore Jefferson’s ominousdecree, the citizens turnedout to cheer Robert Fulton’sClermont as it churnedupstream past Hudson docks.In New York and all along theriver, ship’s captains had aban-doned their vessels in terrorand “fled into the woods” andupon seeing the “fiery mon-ster” ladies fainted. In Hudsonsloops fired their cannons and“raised huzzahs” to the tri-umph of “Fulton’s Folly”. Theladies waved handkerchiefsfrom the docks. It was atelling contrast to the recep-tion Fulton and Livingstonhad received elsewhere.

Barely a decade later,Hudson reestablished itselfas a major port of entrywith two steamboats of itsown, the Bolivar and theLegislator. At the forefrontonce more, Hudson surprised

In less than a decade, the cityenjoyed an international

reputation, became the thirdport of entry and the thirdsite of a bank in the state.


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many nay-sayers with the for-mation of a new association“having for its object therevival and prosecution of thewhale-fishery.” The presidentof this new association wasLaban Paddock,direct descen-dant of the original Paddockof Nantucket. It was calledthe Hudson WhalingCompany and the founderscame up with $300,000 tofinance the construction ofand financing for theAlexander Mansfield, whichset sail on a cloudy day inJune 1830. On March 29,1831, the following reportappeared in the Hudsonpapers: “Huzza for theMansfield… has returnedwith a full cargo having onboard 2,020 barrels of whaleoil, 180 barrels of sperm oiland 16,000 lbs. whale bone.On Sunday evening shearrived at this place and safe-ly moored at the company’sdock amidst the loud huzzasof the citizens, and the firingof cannon… The Mansfieldwill be immediately refittedfor a second voyage….Such isthe spirit of the young men inthis vicinity that there arealready more applications forberths than will be wanted toman her.” In three years therewere fourteen ships built andlaunched in Hudson, includ-ing the James Monroe,George Clinton, and Americawhich brought in $80,000worth of sperm oil, the most“valuable cargo brought toour hamlet ever.”

However as whaling suc-cumbed to more economicways to obtain the same mate-rials,Hudson remembered thevision of Robert Fulton’ssteamboat, and despite criesthat the enterprise was a“manifestation of insanity” the“railway agitation” amongHudsonians was so strongthat the citizen themselvesbegan their own company.While larger firms in New

York, Connecticut andMassachusetts bickered in thecourts over road rights, theHudson Gazette proudlyreported that three days afteropening the books for sub-scription to stock in theHudson and Berkshire Railroada total of $746,550 was sub-scribed, “an astonishing sumthree times what was neededto open the railroad.” Thosesame families who first paidtaxes nearly half a centurybefore were among thosewho chiefly financed the ven-ture: Allen, Power, Reed,Hallenbeck, Barnard and fit-tingly Paddock. A primitiveaffair of ordinary flat-bar ironand wooden stringers, theHudson-Berkshire line was souneven that one of the firstlady passengers was instruct-ed to tie a seat cushion to herhat. Nevertheless, in 1838, thecitizens of Hudson turned outonce more to greet the prom-ise of a new future, yet anoth-er connection to the sea andthe impossibly distant city ofBoston.

By 1841, the unbrokenroute between Hudson andBoston was opened, endingjust south of the city’s greatdocks. Around this great con-nection, now establishingHudson as the link betweenBoston and New York, theindustries of the future founda home:The Hudson Foundry

and Machine Shop, TheHudson Iron Company, Hunt& Miller’s Stove-Foundry, TheClapp & Jones ManufacturingCompany, The Phillips SpiralCorn-Husker Company, TheHudson Paper Car-WheelCompany, Herb’s TobaccoFactory,The Hudson KnittingMill, Clark’s Clothing Factory,and the New York andHudson Steamboat Company,originally founded by CaptainJudah Paddock. A visitorwrote in the AmericanTraveler that one “could hearthe steady hum of new pulsein this inventive little town,the hum of engines.”Eventually, the Hudson-Berkshire line was absorbedby a cooperative venture thatbecame the Boston-Albanyrailroad.The line moved northto Chatham, but Hudsonremained a major businesscenter, reincarnated yet againas an industrial city inventingnew ways to use steamengines and turbines in theproduction of goods.

Hudson had been a quiet,rural agricultural community,a fledgling mercantile town,an exotic trading port ofentry, a bustling whaling portand finally a growing industri-al town.As pioneer farmers inthose early times and venturecapitalists in more recenttimes, Hudsonians alwaysenvisioned change as oppor-

tunity. When the whalingindustry faded in 1845, acynic wrote in RandomRecollections of Hudson“thatthe cause for quiet docks wasthe lack of liberality andenterprise in the citizenswho, although possessed ofsufficient pecuniary means,were afraid or unwilling torisk one farthing for the gen-eral good, having neither thepublic spirit or energy ofcharacter to employ thosemeans to advantage.” He didnot know Hudson’s past. Hehad not known the nativeHudsonian, Andrew Brink,Captain of Fulton’s Clermonton its maiden voyage. He didnot know the story ofJenkins, Gelston, Hudson,Van Hoesen, Hogeboom orPaddock. He never knewabout the three thousandfarmers who came to Hudsonon one weekend in 1801 todeliver their goods to twenty-three ships which were pre-pared to ship them all overthe world. He never came toknow the recurring theme ofnatives on Claverack Landinggreeting new people and newideas with huzzas and cannonfire. And he did not knowHudson’s future. He wouldnever know about the townthat built its own railroad.He could not know aboutHudson’s role as a leader inthe use of the river as asource for power in manufac-turing. He didn’t know aboutthe foundries and the ironworks, the textile mills andtanneries. He could not knowthat by 1860 Hudson wouldenjoy the services of sixbanks, including The HudsonCity Savings Institution,which opened its doors with$1,000,000 in assets in 1850and which much later helpedfinance the building ofProprietor’s Hall on SeventhStreet, which was construct-ed by this author’s father. �Hudson and South Bay in the early 19th century, seen from the

Athens shore.


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Taken from a story in the April 1941 CCHS Bulletin by Ruth A Sickles

THE INDOMITABLE CAPTAIN COFFIN FROM NANTUCKET

The principal Yankee settlers of Hudson at the turn of the nineteenth century were Quakers, mostly whalers wholeft Nantucket after the British destruction of their industry during the War of the Revolution. One of the promi-nent families of old Hudson was the Coffins. There is an interesting story told of Captain Coffin, an honorable,

belligerent man, who seems the perfect type of this great race of sturdy sailors. Since the Federalists had started party strife in Hudson, The Captain declared that it was up to the Democrats to finish

it. Coffin, therefore, offered to be one of twenty men to meet twenty picked Federalists to fight the matter out. TheCaptain was undoubtedly sincere when he suggested this novel method of settling political difficulties, but fortunately itwas not adopted.

The old man was a man of strong political prejudices and a fiery temperament and was always ready for a fight. Oneelection day, while he was at the polls, a dog passed between his legs causing him to fall. The Captain was unaware of thecause of his misfortune, and so naturally attributed it to some political opponent. Turning in a belligerent frame of mind,he shouted, “Come on, I can whip the whole d––n lot of you.”

On another occasion, the story is told that a young man, who wishing to explain some matter then in dispute, laid hishand upon the Captain’s shoulder and requested him to step to the door. Mistaking the object of the demand he cried,“Yes sir — fist or pistols; don’t care a d––n which!” The absurdity of this reply evoked a hearty laugh, in which theCaptain joined as soon as he saw his mistake.

Under the direction of men like this and many other seafaring folk, Hudson became a noted port for shipping. It is quitegenerally believed that the ships of Hudson about the year 1786 were almost wholly engaged in whaling; this idea, althougherroneous, probably arose from the fact that many of the proprietors were from the whaling port of Nantucket. Only afew of these ships, however, were engaged as whalers, and the greater part were busy with trade with the southern ports ofthe United States, Havana, Santo Domingo and Brazil.

Editor’s Note: We are reprinting this article as it appeared in theIndependent because of importance that we attribute to the creationof a strong Historic Preservation Commission. We applaud theenactment of the new law and hope that the Commission will act force-fully to prevent the further destruction of the city’s fine buildings andarchitectural heritage.

The Independent, Friday, June 13, 2003By Diana LaddenHUDSON — A measure creating a commission to establish andpreserve landmarks and historic districts in Hudson wassigned into law Tuesday by Mayor Richard Scalera.

Under the new law, no one who owns a building designat-ed as historic, or lying in a defined historic district, can pro-ceed with exterior work that could change the appearance ofthe building or the cohesiveness of the district, without theCommission’s okay.

Any alteration, restoration, reconstruction, demolition ornew construction—including painting the exterior—requiresa Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic PreservationCommission before a building permit can be issued.

The seven-member commission will be appointed by theMayor, but the law sets specific criteria for five of the seven

members: an architect experienced in the original methods ofconstruction and historic buildings, a historian, a member ofthe Planning commission,a resident of the historic district,anda person who has shown interest in and commitment topreservation.

The term of service on the commission is four years.Among the other powers of the commission are:• Adopting criteria to identify significant historic, architec-

tural and cultural landmarks and delineating historic districts;• Conducting surveys of significant historical, architectural

and cultural landmarks and historic districts;• Designating identified structures or resources as land-

marks and historic districts;• Increasing public awareness of the value of historic, cul-

tural, and architectural preservation by developing and partic-ipating in public education programs;

• Making recommendations to city government for utiliza-tion of state, federal or private funds to promote preservation;

• Employing professional consultants;• Recommending acquisition of landmarks when private

preservation is not feasible.

Used with permission

New historic site panel to control city aesthetics


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By Bruce HallEditor’s Note: Bruce Edward Hallis well known to many as theauthor of Diamond Street, abook which ably describes adifferent and equally famousaspect of Hudson’s history—oneof prostitution, vice and corruption.This book is available for purchaseat the Columbia County HistoricalSociety Museum in Kinderhook.

Eight layers of wallpaper.Eight layers of thick,impenetrable wallpaper,

some with two coats of paintand a crumbly layer of Spackleover that.Endless scraping andsteaming and scraping andstripping in the spaces thatbecame the kitchen,the diningroom, living room, library,down the long center hallway,crawling up the stairs until onecame to the spot where I final-ly gave out, and where the oldwallpaper continued to hanguntil the day I moved out.People questioned the wisdomof buying the long-neglectedtownhouse at 239 WarrenStreet. It was 1982, the placehadn’t been lived in for years,and across the street, theTainted Lady Lounge was stillin full swing. “An attachedhouse?”my sister-in-law wailed.You bought an attachedhouse?” I pointed out that hersuburban condo was attached,to which she snorted,“I don’tlive in an attached house! I livein a condominium unit!” Still,I was seduced by the wistfulforlornness of the old place,the proportions of the small,but stately rooms, the architec-tural detail that seemed to defyperiod. The Federal layout onthe ground floor was accentedwith dark-varnished, lateVictorian woodwork, anupstairs parlour had a set ofmagnificent Greek Revivalpocket doors, while most ofthe bedrooms sported modestFederal mantelpieces. Thenthere was the façade, squareand symmetrical, yet bursting

with bay windows, dormers,and sharp gables,unique to theblock. And oh yes, furtherinducement was the purchaseprice of $14,500 (markeddown $500 when the garageburned down the day beforeclosing).

But to get back to the wall-paper. As I scraped throughthe final layer on the kitchensidewall, I was stunned tofind a blocked-up window,which would have lead

directly into the housenext door. Further down, abricked-up fireplace openingwas bisected by the wall nowseparating the kitchen anddining room. On the otherside of the house, blocked upfireplaces were partially oblit-erated by the wall separatingthe library and the livingroom, and more oddly, by thecurrent living room fireplace,which projected out from thewall in a huge chimneypiece,one of four interior chimneysin the building.These ghostlyhearths had me stymied untilI realized that they lined upwith my neighbors’ chim-neys—chimneys that hadapparently once been the

original exterior chimneys ofmy own house. A littleresearch showed that the twoneighboring buildings—oneformerly an oyster house, theother the exclusive privatehospital of one Dr. AbijahCook—had been built in the1850s. The lot my housestood on had been purchasedby Proprietor Joseph Barnardin the 1790s,meaning that forpossibly 40 or 50 years mynow-attached house had

been blissfully unencum-bered, a freestanding, four-square Federal villa from theturn of the 19th century.A gut remodeling job in1899 resulted in all thosedormers and bays, plus newinterior walls blocking theold hearths. Stepping outonto the street, I began to seethat many of my “attached”neighbors may have beenfreestanding 200 years ago.Apparently, this busy, built-upthoroughfare had once beena quiet street of prosperousmen’s homes, surrounded bygardens, fruit trees, and pigs,encouraged to roam and actas municipal garbage collec-tors.Who knew?

When the Proprietorsarrived in 1783, the townthey laid out had its commer-cial center on Front Street, amain road out of town inthe form of Partition Street,and a couple of residentialavenues, poky Union Streetand the much grander MainStreet, which after 1799would be called Warren, aftera popular Revolutionary Warhero. Main Street was thebroadest boulevard in thefledgling city, starting atParade (later Promenade) Hilland petering out four blockseast at the deep gully whichran along what is now FourthStreet. Access to Main Streetwas somewhat restricted byrocky outcroppings on Frontnear Union, setting it apartfrom the rest of the town. Itwas the first street to havepaved sidewalks (beforewhich it was said that it costtwo shillings to extract a ladyfrom the mud) and the firststreet to be served by amunicipal water supply.While other Hudsonians hadto trudge down to one of thepublic pumps, Main Streetresidents could tap into awooden water main fed by aspring further up the hill. In1797 there were 126 peoplein the city who had estatesworth at least £100, makingthem Hudson’s wealthy elite.With Main Street’s attractiveamenities, it was only naturalthat these nabobs shouldchoose to build there.

With a little imaginationone can still see Warren Streetas the Proprietors knew itaround 1800. Of course, it’smuch easier to imagine theirwell-heeled lifestyle the clos-er one goes to the river.Urban renewal may have costus some fine town mansionsin the first block of WarrenStreet, but the north side ofthe street remains remarkablyintact. It is a solid row of sub-stantial Federal houses, start-

Take a closelook at

WarrenStreet

With a little imaginationone can still see Warren Street

as the Proprietors knew itaround 1800.


8

ing with what was once animposing, single-family three-story mansion at number 8,and ending with the flamboy-ant Greek Revival CurtisHouse on the corner of First.But other fine examples arehidden by years of abuse and“improvements.”For instance,across the street at 102Warren, a good hard lookreveals a handsome antiquehome, with its 6 over 6 win-dows on the attic floor. Andthen there are the obviousstars such as the D.A.R. houseat 113 and the magnificent Jenkins man-sion next door at 115. The exquisite1805 Adams style First Bank of Hudsonat 116 was a harbinger of the commer-cial future of the street, notwithstandingthe fact that it went out of businessseven years later. Despite all theVictorian fill-buildings, these freestand-ing landmark houses make it easier tovisualize life in Hudson during the firstAdams administration.

Where such visualization gets toughis Warren Street’s 200 block. Across thestreet from my old place, there is thegreat, hulking gray Federal mansion at244, still surrounded by garden, and asrecently as 15 years ago,still sporting theoriginal magnificent star-burst stencilingon the floors of the principal parlours.Once its windows were graced withshutters, and a decorative wooden cor-nice-board ran along its roofline. In thelot to the east, where Ben Eaton’s nurs-ery is now, there stood, until the late‘80s,half of a pair of Greek Revival town-houses, with elegant doors and eyebrowwindows, surrounded by their owngreenery.To the east of that, there are thefoundations of an L-shaped brick house,which burned down in the 19th century.Its replacement burned down in themid-20th century, (along with one of thepair of townhouses). Old-timers remem-ber the surviving townhouse as thehome of the barbershop where LegsDiamond used to come for a shave and ahaircut, shades tightly closed, armoredPackard at the curb.

To the west of the gray Federal man-sion now stands a row of apparentlynondescript buildings. But looking atthese structures, one notices that theeasternmost of them is made of brick,

and roughly the same size as 244. It hasbeen heavily renovated over the years,with entrances moved and commercialwindows added, but it seems as thoughthis could have been another free-stand-ing town mansion of the late 18th cen-tury, festooned with an impressive entry-way, window shutters, and a decorativecornice board of its own. Andin the westernmost of the buildings,number 222, one can still see a lovelyearly fireplace inside, served by a mas-sive chimneystack, bespeaking its origi-nal role as a gentleman’s home.

Next door at 216–218 stands the longneglected side-by-side building, which isat last undergoing a welcome renova-

tion. It started out as a single-family house, the palatial resi-dence of Thomas Jenkins, oneof the original Proprietors.Good Quaker that he was, Mr.Jenkins couldn’t resist the oldmaxim,“If you’ve got it, flauntit,” and was roundly criticizedfor the supposed ostentationof his home. One is remindedof the stately, three-storybrick mansions of Newbury-port, Massachusetts, withtheir gently hipped roofs andblack shutters, stunning intheir simple elegance.Later in

the 19th century, part of the house wasincorporated as “The Misses PeakesSeminary for Young Ladies.” In the 20thcentury, another kind of young lady wasin mind when “The Tainted LadyLounge” was opened in a cheap brickaddition in the front yard.Next door,212looks like a farmhouse dropped from thesky, and in 201 Warren, which has beenmuch abused over the years,one can stillmake out the plain,Federal edifice that itonce was.

The 300-block of Warren Street is thehardest place to pick out the gems.Thisblock was difficult to build on in theearly days. Deep gullies transversed thestreet with some early builders forced tobuild wooden gangways to reach downto the ground. A bridge was built overthe deepest gully, with the street endingat Fourth where the plain city hall andjail stood across from each other, a sim-ple footpath continuing on towardsClaverack and beyond. Still, there weresome magnificent houses in this block aswell, all of which are unfortunately longgone. The elaborate, high style Federalmansion at 308, was torn down in the1930s to erect a utilitarian building forSam’s Market. And the exquisite houseacross the street where there is now aparking lot eventually housed the some-what notorious Lincoln Hotel.

As the 19th century progressed, com-merce and hubbub came to WarrenStreet.The roadway was leveled off withbridges and landfill, allowing it to beextended, making it the principal com-mercial street of the town. Gradually theside yards and gardens were filled inwith merchants’houses of the 1840s and‘50s. Elegant hotels, banks, and an operahouse took advantage of the traffic.The

The D.A.R. house at 113 and the Jenkins mansionat 115 Warren Street.

Built in 1805, the First Bank of Hudsonwas the harbinger of Warren Street’s commercial future. However, it went out of business 7 years later.


9

By Mary Faherty Sansaricq

January in Columbia County bringsfrigid cold air and bitter winds thatturn the hamlets and towns into

desolate and quiet byways by the riverand the mountains.With the fallen dark-ness, folks are happy to stay by the safeand warm comfort of their homehearths secure in the knowledge thatthey are protected.

In the late 1780’s the cold weathernights were often a time of fear anddread for the residents of ColumbiaCounty. Hudson was a growing seaportwith whale ships and sloops that trav-eled the world over. Seamen and tradersfrom Ireland, Turkey, Africa, SouthAmerica, and the Indies came in and outof Hudson daily. Robberies and rowdydrinking were frequent, and the city wasnot yet equipped with padlocks, win-dow latches, or safes.

It was on January 5th in 1788 that agroup of Hudsonians, with the approvalof the Common Council, voluntarilyjoined into a “Night Watch” to protectagainst thieves and fires, and to preserveand protect order in the city duringthe night.

The Night Watch consisted of four cit-

izens for each night to begin at 9 o’clockin the evening and continue until day-break. Jonathan Worth was appointed bythe council to notify each citizen in turnfrom the roll of residents at least 12hours before he was to come to TheWatch. Each Watchman was providedwith a large oak club that he would bangagainst the walkways (mostly plankwood) or hitching posts calling out thehour and “all’s well.”

The Watch was empowered to inter-rogate any person out at an unreason-able hour and to confine any suspect inthe Watch House until the followingmorning.

One such Watchman who found favorwith the Common Council was appoint-ed Town Crier. His name was JemmyFrazer. The Town Crier would walkthrough the streets of the town, ringinghis bell, and calling out the news and thehours. A story is told of how Jemmy,“who loved his glass of grog, and washappier, it is said, with two than withone,” was called upon to help the Bankof Columbia located at the foot ofWarren Street. James Nixon, the firstcashier, working late one night lost thekey to the Bank. Afraid to call attention

to the situation,Nixon told Jemmy to crythe lost key through the streets ofHudson without letting on that it wasthe key to the Bank that was lost.

Jemmy had been up much of thenight in the lower wards hanging withthe boys, giving his speeches, and enjoy-ing his grog. So, as he made his roundthrough the streets calling his “Hear ye,hear ye, lost at night a large key,” hismind was foggy and somewhat con-fused. One of the boys, always happy totaunt Jemmy, asked him, “what sort ofkey was it?”

Jemmy cried out in his tipsey state,“Go to the Devil, and I tell ye that, ye’llbe after getting into the Bank with it!”

After the next gathering of theCommon Council, who regularly met inthe various public houses, Jemmy losthis commission.

The offices of the Night Watch andthe Town Crier continued on for manyyears and the citizens of Hudson longenjoyed the sense of personal securitythese watchers and criers gave on coldwinter nights. �

Of the Night Watch and the Town Crier

200 and 300 blocks became the center ofHudson’s medical establishment. AbijahCook built his private hospital at 241 in the1850s, Dr. Benson constructed his imposingmansion at 306 in the 1880s, and in 1877,Dr. Logan caused a stir when he removed agiant tapeworm from one Mrs. SarahMcGuire in his office in one of ThomasJenkins’s former bedrooms at 216–18. It wasput on display at the Opera House where“the reptile… was alive for over an hourafter it was removed from the lady.”

But one thing that is great about Hudsonis the many layers of the past still visible forthose who know where to look. The littlecity on the river has gone through a myriadof reinventions and image transformationsover the last 220 years.Like the wallpaper inmy old house, as each layer is peeled back, anew pattern is revealed,and who knows thescope of surprises lurking the closer onegets to the beginning. �

216–218 Warren Sireet, once the palatial residence of original Proprietor ThomasJenkins — later the Misses Peakes Seminary for Ladies. In 1877 Dr. Logan removeda giant tapeworm here from Mrs. Sarah McGuire and in the 20th century the frontyard was the site for the “Tainted Lady Lounge.”

Reprinted with permission from theColumbia County Weekly Shopper.

By Don Christensen

At the time of Hudson’sfounding in 1785, theopen waters of South

Bay covered some 110 acres.This tidal estuary of theHudson River and its com-panion bay on the other sideof Hudson—North Bay—along with the river itself onthe west all but encompassedthe new city in water. Fromthe beginning, the water sur-rounding Hudson served adual purpose. It defined a nat-ural landscape beauty thatwas fully appreciated at themoment of the earliest settle-ment in the area, and it pro-vided the means to pursuecommerce.

While landscape beautyand commercial potentialwas seen in all the watersaround Hudson, South Bayattracted particular attentionin both regards.

The view across South Bayfrom Hudson offered a stun-ning vista of Mt. Merino risingat the south shore of the baywith the Hudson River andthe Catskill Mountains in thebackground framing thescene in an almost idealizedmixture of landscape featuresof water and varying moun-tain heights. In the mid-19thcentury virtually everyHudson River School artistwould paint some version ofthis scene. Literally hundredsof different interpretations ofthis vista have been done --seen in oil paintings,watercol-ors, drawings, lithograph andchromolithograph reproduc-tions, photographs, postcards

and even reproduced in the1830s on a set of StaffordshireChina dinnerware.

At the same time, SouthBay was continually beingrethought for commercialuse. At first, the deep watersof the Bay offered a calm har-bor for every sort of maritimeactivity, from docking facili-

ties for cargo boats to ship-building and sail making. Oneearly commentator claimedthat the ships moored inSouth Bay were so plentifulthat you could walk from oneto the next across the entirewidth of South Bay withoutever setting foot on land orwater. One early industrial

use of South Bay includedleather tanning. The name ofthe street that once edged thenorth shoreline of South Bay,Tanners Lane,provides lastingevidence of the importanceof the tanning business in theearly years of Hudson’s devel-opment.Tanners Lane can stillbe visited today; it is lined bymany of the street’s originalbuildings.

As Hudson grew, land own-ers of the dock areas on theHudson waterfront started fill-ing in portions of both Southand North Bays to expandtheir warehouse and dockingcapabilities.The 1799 PenfieldMap of Columbia County inthe collection of the ColumbiaCounty Historical Societyshows that the waterfrontedges of the city had alreadybegun to extend into the bays.

Since Hudson was the lastplace on the Hudson Riverwith a natural water depthsufficient to accommodateoceangoing ships, it becamethe virtual last stop for manyships to unload cargo to betransported by shallow-bot-tomed boats and land wagonto other destinations north.(The Hudson River wouldn’tbe dredged to accommodatelarge ships toward Albany andTroy until the 1920s.)

The competition for attract-ing docking fees in South Baywas fierce. It is perhaps one ofthe reasons that, when in 1837the residents of the country-side area of Hudson successful-ly petitioned to form their owntown, they included the southshore line of South Bay in theirnew town and tried to attract


10

Hudson’s South Bay� LANDSCAPE AND INDUSTRY �

Detail from Columbia County Historical Society’s Penfield Map,1799. Originally the City of Hudson extended out into theHudson River with deep bays north and south.As this mapsshows, however, the outer edges of the bays were already beingfilled in to widen the waterfront for commercial purposes.

View Near Hudson. C 1820. Lithograph after watercolor by WilliamGuy Wall (1792-1865?). Irish artist William Guy Wall captured thisview of South Bay, Mt. Merino, the Hudson River and the Catskillsfrom a vantage point that is today Third Street and Allen Street inHudson.The road leading down to the bay is today’s US Rt. 9G —then the Highland Turnpike, opened in 1806 and maintained asa toll road until the turn of the century.


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ship owners into using the har-bor docks in that area by nam-ing the town for this commer-cial use—the green port.

The formation ofGreenport split civic owner-ship of South Bay in two,andthe first railroad leading fromthe river’s edge to the inlandarea of the state was builtacross the north edge ofSouth Bay. The Hudson andBerkshire Railroad, which wasfirst operated in 1838, wasbuilt on a trestle across thebay, cutting off Tanner’s Lanefrom navigable access to thebay and the river. Initially, thisrail line reached WestStockbridge, Massachusetts(and an iron ore mine there).Later it was extended toPittsfield and Boston. Todaythe same rail line is used forrail traffic to the ADM Mill inGreenport, leading from theriver and traveling throughthe public park at SeventhStreet in Hudson. (When therailroad was first built, thewaters under the open trestlewere maintained. The twoparts of the bay were referredto as Big Bay and Little Bay. By1890, however, the trestle hadbeen filled in and Little Baybecame the sold land massseen today.)

Any success that the dockowners in South Bay mayhave enjoyed in the first partof the 19th century wasabruptly ended when theHudson River Railroad(today’s Amtrak path) wasconstructed in 1851 acrossthe mouths of both South andNorth Bays. Apparently therewas very little resistance tothe closing of navigableaccess to South Bay. Likeother river communities,Hudson was anxious to be astop on the north/south rail-road. In addition, the proposalto build across the bays wasmade during a depression inthe 1840s that almost bank-rupted the Hudson/Berkshire

Railroad; the owners of thatrailroad—mostly local Hud-son businessmen—hopedthat the direct connectionwith the Hudson RiverRailroad would improve theirfortunes.And it did.

At this point, the industrialdevelopment of South Bayincreased rapidly. First, theHudson Iron Works receiveda “grant of land underwater”in 1855 from the StateLegislature to fill inseveral acres ofthe river onthe westside oft h e

new railroad. The Iron Workswas built on these lands“reclaimed from the water”and remained a dominatepresence on the Hudsonwaterfront until it went bank-rupt and was torn down inthe late 1890s. Later, the areaof the river first filled in foruse by the Hudson Ironworks was taken over by AtlasCement for its dock facilityand is today owned by St.

Lawrence Cement.Waste mate-

rial fromthe Iron

Worksw a s

poured into South Baythroughout the second half ofthe 19th century. The result-ing land fill was later occu-pied by a variety of facto-ries—from a knitting mill to aglue factory to wheel manu-facturer and others—all clus-tered around the conven-ience of rail and river ship-ping capabilities.

As the industrial activitywithin South Bay increased,its role as a defining naturallandscape feature declined.Few artists found inspirationfrom the South Bay/Mt.Merino viewshed after 1880,although postcard images ofthe view looking south downBay Road (today’s US Route9G) were produced throughthe 1920s.

One of the most significantimpacts on the waters ofSouth Bay was the construc-tion of a second railroad bedrunning east and westthrough the center of the bay.Approved by the people ofHudson in 1874, followingnearly 20 years of oppositionto similar proposals, the rail-road linked the waterfrontand the Hudson RiverRailroad to stone quarries ofFred W. Jones at BeecraftMountain two miles from theriver. Prior to the building ofthe railroad the stone was car-ried by mule-pulled wagonsthrough the streets ofHudson to the river’s edge.

The Jones railroad wasapproved after assurancesthat it would be built on anopen trestle and occupy lessthan 16 feet of width throughthe South Bay waters to pro-tect what remained of SouthBay. Although approved in1874, the railroad was notcompleted or used until1889. By 1900, the rail bedhad been filled in andwidened to nearly 80 feetwith only a culvert openingbetween the north and southportions of the bay. Jones’

Mount Merino and South Bay, c. 1840. Unknown Painter. Thisearly oil painting of South Bay and Mt. Merino is in the collectionof the Columbia County Historical Society. It follows the "classic"composition that innumerable artists would follow in countlessother interpretations: The waters of South Bay in the foreground,Highland Turnpike (today’s Rt. 9G) to the left, Mt. Merino in themiddle ground, the Hudson River and Catskill Mountains on theright in the near and far distance.

Clew Staffordshire China, produced 1829-1836.The scene on thisplate was based on Wall’s interpretation of South Bay and Mt.Merino.The China set featured eight scenes of the Hudson Valleyafter the work of Wall.


12

stone quarry business went bankrupt in 1900. In 1903 theHudson Portland Cement company acquired the combinedproperty of the bankrupt Hudson Iron Works and the bankruptstone quarry and railroad to establish the first cement produc-ing operation in Hudson and Greenport.

By the beginning of the 20th century, the constrictedwaters of South Bay had begun to deteriorate rapidly andbegan taking on the characteristics of a shallow swamp thatcan be seen today. In the 1920s,dredging waste from the clear-ing of the Hudson River channel to Albany and Troy weredeposited on the Greenport shoreline of South Bay.

Throughout the 20th century, all of the factory buildingsbuilt on fill in the South Bay during the 19th century wereabandoned.

In the early 1980s further fill was made into South Bay forthe construction of a facility for the furniture manufacturerL&B Industries.

While today the actual waters of South Bay bear little resem-blance to the images we see in the artistic interpretations ofthe Hudson River School artists of the 19th century, travelingsouth down Rt. 9G still offers an impressive open view of Mt.Merino and the Catskills in the background. �

South Bay Road and Mt. Merino. Postcard. C. 1900. By the timethe photograph was taken for this postcard, the river’s edge andthe Catskill Mountains were cut out of the picture to avoid record-ing the massive industrial use of South Bay. Vegetation can beseen growing within the Bay in this postcard image, showing theeffects of silting fill into the bay.

Hudson Iron Works and South Bay. C. 1895.This photo shows thepeak of 19th century industrial use of the waters of South Bay.All of the area shown as land up to the doorstep of the house atthe bottom with the Dutch-style roof was originally open water.(This house still stands.)


13

By Patricia Fenoff, Hudson Historian

Agreen and weathered bronzestatue of St. Winifred keepswatch over the City of Hudson

and the river from a rocky promontorycalled Promenade Hill. A saint of Welshorigin,Winifred has been called by somethe Patron Saint of Mariners.

Indian dugout canoes, Dutch sloops,whalers and sealers, and most of thesteamboats had disappeared from theriver traffic before St. Winifred took upher vigil by the Hudson River in 1896. Today, the only marinersthat pass beneath her watchful eye are the seamen on thetankers, tugs, barges and the occasional Coast Guard cuttersthat ply the river from New York City to the Port of Albany andthose operating the many and varied pleasure craft.

The statue of the Welsh saint was not originally created tostand watch over this city. But, before we look at how her like-ness came to be here, let’s look briefly at her life.

Legend has it that Winifred, more than any other Welshsaint, was known and venerated outside her owncountry. But, oddly, there were no written recordsabout her until 500 years after her death. This facthas led some authorities to assert that she may havenever existed.

According to Butler’s account, Winifred’s fatherwas a wealthy man. His wife’s brother was St. Bueno(Buenno), who lived nearby, and who was a greatinfluence on the young Winifred. She spent manyof her early years listening to her uncle’s teach-ing and seemed destined for a religious life.

We are informed, Butler continues, that ayoung man,Caradog by name,a chieftain fromHawarden,had fallen in love with her.Findingit impossible to gratify his desires, hebecame enraged. And one day he pursuedher, as she was fleeing from him to takerefuge in the church that St. Bueno hadbuilt, and cut off her head.

In an account by Prior Robert ofShrewsbury’s Abbey, the earth then swal-lowed up Caradog’s body, and a springsprang forth at the very point where Winifred’shead fell.The maiden was raised to life again bythe prayers of St. Bueno, who set the severedhead upon her shoulders where it healed atonce, showing only a scar.

Winifred eventually left home to enter thenunnery of Gwytherin in Denbighshire and laterwas chosen to be the abbess at St. Eleri, whereshe died 15 years after her “miraculous resuscita-tion.”A spring called St.Winifred’s Well is locatedin a place called Holywell by the English andTreflynnon (Welltown) by the Welsh. Manycures and pilgrimages have been recordedat this site over the year.

While the events surrounding thehistory of the real Winifred remain

clouded in mystery, much more isknown about the placement of herimage in Hudson overlooking the river.

From the Hudson City Minutes, welearn that the Proprietors voted on March9, 1795 to set aside that “certain piece ofland, known by the name of Parade, orMall, in front of Main street, and on thebanks fronting the river,which should begranted to the Common Council forever,as a public walk or Mall, and for no otherpurpose whatever.”

According to Stephen B. Miller’s “Sketches of Hudson” thismall remained in an “unimproved condition for many yearsexcept for the addition of an octagon shaped refreshmenthouse called the Roundhouse.”

In 1834, the area was improved with proper walks and theRoundhouse, “which had become a nuisance” was removed.After some lengthy deliberation the park was given its presentname, “Parade Hill.” One local source notes that during theheight of the Victorian era, the word “Parade”seemed too com-

mon, so numerous strollers began referring to thearea by its alternative name,“Promenade Hill.”

General John Watts DePeyster had becomeowner of Lower Claverack Manor through his

grandfather, John Watts, and as such was calledthe “Last Patroon.” He was a resident ofTivoli. According to the history of that vil-

lage written by Richard Wiles, the generalpurchased “a plot of land 25 feet squaresouth of the church (St.Paul’s Episcopal)which allowed him to indulge in his pen-

chant for erecting monuments.” It wasone of his practices to select and pur-chase a site and then offer a statue to beerected.

One of the gifts or monumentsordered by General DePeyster was the$10,000 statue of St. Winifred createdby sculptor,George E.Bissel, in Paris. Itwas intended to be a gift to theMethodist Church of Tivoli and to besurrounded by a fountain of runningwater.The fountain was not part of thegift, and since the Methodist congrega-tion did not have the funds to providethe water supply, they declined the

offer.The general who delighted in erect-

ing memorials was not deterred by theaction of the Methodists, and promptlyoffered the bronze statue to the Cityof Hudson. Hudson’s Public WorksCommission gave $2,600 to provide

water for the fountain, and workbegan on the base and pedestal whenthe statue arrived from Paris in Mayof 1896.

SaintWinifred

Continued on page 31


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By Dr.Will Swiftor a glimpse ofHudson’s 19thcentury aristo-

cratic heritage, head southfrom Warren St. on ThirdStreet, take a left on AllenStreet and the first right bySt. Mary’s school into WillardPlace where six grandVictorian era homes, rangingfrom Tuscany-style to SecondEmpire to Colonial Revivalstyles, form a privilegedenclave far from the bustle ofWarren Street. There wereoriginally eight homes, butthe elegant Second Empiremansion at 1 Willard Placewas torn down in the early1950’s, and the similar homenext door (#2) was alsoremoved in the 1970’s.

C. Van Rensselaer in his1887 pamphlet HistoricalReminiscences of Hudson,NY & Vicinity says that WillardPlace “received its namefrom the original proprietor[Henry A.Willard] of Willard’sHotel, Washington D.C., ofworld wide reputation.”According to Van Rensselaer,Mr. Willard was a guest for atime in the Scovill Mansionadjacent to Willard Place. Mr.Willard briefly consideredretiring to Hudson and pur-chased a large plot of land inWillard Place, which heowned from 1864 to 1867.

Based on the strength ofthe transportation, iron andtextile industries, and itsplace as the county seat forgovernment and legal profes-sionals in the 1870’s, Hudsonentered a period of increased

prosperity.Thisis exemplifiedby the elabo-rate rebuildingof the façade ofWarren Street’s FirstPresbyterian Church. ManyIrish immigrant families, whohad arrived in Hudson onlyone generation before, pros-pered and moved ontothe main Front Street. Inresponse, the established fam-ilies, descendants of the city’sNantucket founders and theearly Dutch settlers, moveduptown to create exclusiveneighborhoods. Influencedby a nationwide movement tocreate aristocratic enclaves inthe midst of a burgeoningdemocratic society, and bythe lawlessness of the city,some of Hudson’s wealthiestand most prominent citizenswanted a private,gated neigh-borhood of their own to rivalNew York City’s GramercyPark and Sutton Place.

Surprisingly, Hudson was

also a hotbedof crime andprostitution. In

S e p t e m b e r1869 the editor of

the Hudson EveningRegister decried the unsafesituation in the city:“The factis, murderers, robbers, pick-pockets, assassins, and crimi-nals of every dye are invitedto operate in our city by theinducements of dark streets,an inefficient police force,and a frail structure for thekeeping of prisoners. It is use-less to attempt to conceal thefact that there is no securityfor life or property in ourmidst…”After a series of dar-ing Warren Street robberiesshocked the public in 1872,Hudson’s penurious residentsfinally funded a municipalpolice force and developed aprivate citizen’s organizationto help clean up thecity, which the HudsonRepublican called “the mostlawless city on the River.”

According to Bruce Hall’sDiamond Street, criminalshad full reign at night; thestreet lamps were still only litwhen there was no moon,and then only until midnight.In 1876 Hudson was fired upwhen, just before Christmas,brothel owner Johnny Kierekilled Charles Hermance,who was trying to rescue afriend’s fifteen year old wifefrom a whorehouse on NorthSecond Street. A near riotbroke out as Kiere was arrest-ed. Though he tried to pinthe murder on his wife, amadam of the house, Kierewas sentenced to a lifetime ofhard labor in a sensationaltrial,which captured Hudson’slurid and unruly spirit

On April 1, 1872, theHudson Register announcedplans for Willard Place, con-ceived as a private, gatedcommunity. It was describedas “the most importantimprovement that has beenprojected in this city fortwenty years;” and one thatwould realize all its projec-tors contemplate.” Civic-minded attorney and realestate agent Willard Peck,who served as policejustice, postmaster and whoreformed the school systemas a member of the board ofeducation, placed regularfront page advertisements inthe Register. He sold the cor-ner lot at Third and Allen tolumber yard owners WilliamI. Traver and his son WilliamH.Traver.The lot would “opena street fifty feet wide… toterminate upon the brow of a

F

A period postcard showing Willard Place with five Victorianhomes on the right leading to 8 Willard Place at the end.

The Private Community ofWillard Place


15

hill with a park [Willard Park] one hun-dred and fifty feet square, handsomelyadorned with trees and shrubbery, withcircular carriage way around it.” Therewould be fourteen “handsome lots...designed to erect handsome villa hous-es… the sites are most eligible and sight-ly on the Hudson River.”

Willard Place was inaugurated onApril 10, 1872 in a ceremony conductedby the Travers,Willard Peck, and attorneyHerman Esselstyn. At the junction ofAllen Street and Willard Place, there werewrought-iron gates to keep out undesir-ables.Only four blocks away on DiamondStreet (now Columbia Street) therewere many houses of ill-repute. Severaldecades earlier the brothels had coexist-ed with the smells of the slaughter houseand the oil and candle works,which usedsperm oil and whale blubber.

Thereafter, sandwiched in theRegister between advertisements forvinegar bitters, to invigorate the stomachand cleanse the liver, Kennedy’sHemlock ointment, Bachelor Hair Dye,and a book on Soul Charming, a guide toinstant winning of love and affection,Williard Peck offered the “valuable build-ing lots” on Willard Place. Later WilliamTraver placed a notice in the paper offer-ing the lot at what is now 8 Willard Place(originally 9 Willard Place before Hudsonchanged house numbers) for sale for$2600. Intriguingly, the lot remainedunsold for eighteen years until Traverbuilt on it himself in 1892.Willard Placewas not as successful as its founders hadprojected. Not all of the fourteen lotswere developed. The financial panic of1893, set off by railroad, bank, and stockmarket failures, and the ensuing eco-nomic depression of the 1890’s caused

great economic insecurity. Citizens ofHudson were not immune. No furtherhomes were built in Willard Place after1892.

One of the founders eventually losthis home. By the middle of 1875 two ofHudson’s leading society figures —Herman Vedder Esselstyn, a prominentattorney and surrogate court judge, andhis wife Margaret — moved from theincreasingly Irish neighborhood aroundtheir Front Street home. They built athree story house at 5 Willard Place. It

was in the Second Empire style, the mostfashionable design used in America inthe 1870’s and 1880’s. Then, wealthyAmerican families copied the eleganthomes being built along the newly con-structed grand boulevards in Paris underNapoleon III’s Second Empire.The win-dow lintels are Gothic or elaboratelycarved. Over a projecting front bay, atower extended above the mansard roof,but both were destroyed in a 1939 fireand not rebuilt. The two lower floorsremain today. The entrance hall has anelegant curved staircase, which is said tobe one of the most beautiful in Hudson.

By 1887 Esselstyn’s career foundered.In May of that year he mortgaged thehouse for $4,500 and was unable to paythe mortgage when it came due in 1892.Starting a series of lawsuits, he boughttwo years reprieve before the house wassold at auction on the steps of the CourtHouse for $5,166.73 in 1894. HermanEsselstyn, eulogized by the HudsonGazette as “one of the most brilliant oflawyers,” died five years later leaving anestate valued at less than fifty dollars. In1989 Meg Mundy, the British-born stageand television actress, bought the homeand renovated it during the decade shelived there.

Both William I. and William H. Travismentioned above ran a lumber yard pro-ducing household woodwork and mold-ing. A collection of letters William H.Traver wrote to his son Charles during aEuropean trip in 1891, show him to havebeen a well-spoken, thoughtful and sen-sitive man who was a keen observer ofhis environment. He was the epitome ofthe 19th century small-town version of aself-made man:he parlayed success in hiswood-working business into a job as the

On April 1, 1872, theHudson Register

announced plans forWillard Place, con-ceived as a private,gated community.

William Traver’s Second Empire homeat 1 Willard Place. It was torn downin the 1950s.

Voice: 518 392-3040

Fax: 518 392-3121

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16

President of Hudson CitySavings Institution and apolitical career, serving as themayor of Hudson. Travermoved his family to a SecondEmpire mansion at 1 WillardPlace, which St. Mary’schurch tore down in the1950’s and replaced with St.Mary’s school.

Traver also built a twoand one-half story ColonialRevival style home at 8Willard Place for Charles, hiseldest son and business part-ner, in celebration of his mar-riage to Grace Boynton,daughter of a Warren Streetboot and shoe maker.The rec-tangular house with its gam-brel roof, pierced by threeshed roofed dormers, wasbuilt over the course of a yearcommencing in November1892. The facade features afrieze of swags of bell-flowersmounted with decorative rib-bons. Fluted pilasters definethe corners. The paired dou-ble sash windows on the firstfloor and the bowed secondstory triple window haveornately detailed cornices.Onthe steep hillside behind thehouse there is an elaborateturn-of-the-century woodlandgarden. In the heyday of theenclave, there was a carefullymanicured park (WillardPark) within the circulardrive in front of the house.

The center-hall houseserved as an advertisement

for the William Traver & Sonplanning mill and woodwork-ing plant, which was laterknown as Griffin’s Supply. Onthe first floor there is elabo-rate beaded oak woodwork inthe formal front parlor, theback library and the entryhall, which also has the kindof decorative Delft-tiled fire-place that only wealthy fami-lies could afford. The libraryfeatures a built-in seat under awindowed bay looking outtoward the famous view ofMt. Merino and South Bay,which Hudson River paintersso favored. Around the ceil-ings in the second floor bed-rooms there are decorativewood moldings, different inevery room. The third floor

bathroom has an original,built-in, zinc-lined, copperbathtub. The house has onlyhad three owners. It was rent-ed from 1946 until 1955 untilCharles Traver’s daughter soldit to a pharmacist and hiswife, who in turn, sold it tothe current owners, Don andJo Christensen in the 1980’s.

Because Willard Place wasprivately owned until 1969,the city did not provide serv-ices like snow removal; therewere neither utility poles norsewers on the street. Mostlikely in order to obtain cityservices, the owners peti-tioned the city council to pur-chase the street and its park,which the city bought on May15, 1969. The original gates,

enclosing the street,had beenremoved in the early 1950’swhen St. Mary’s school wasbuilt.

A new owner is restoringthe Second Empire styleframe house at 4 WillardPlace, formerly divided intoapartments, into a one familyhome.Today, for the first timein sixty years, and reflectingHudson’s new era of prosper-ity, all of these grand homesare once again single familyresidences. The current resi-dents are worried that theproposed development of theformer gardens of the Scovillmansion (more recentlyknown as the Martin resi-dence), which is adjacent toWillard Place, will compro-mise the integrity of theneighborhood. They fearbuilding on the left side ofWillard Place will spoil themagnificent cul-de-sac and aviewers trip back in time. �

Dr. Will Swift has just finished ajoint biography of the Rooseveltsand the British Royal Family to bepublished next spring by JohnWiley&Sons. The Rooseveltsand The Royals tells the story ofthe Roosevelt dynasty and theBritish Royal Family from the1880s to the present. It highlightstheir friendship, which helpedrestore British-American relations,and save democracy during WorldWar II.

The Charles Traver House built by William Traver in 1892 forCharles, his son and partner in business, on the occassion of hismarriage.


17

This is an old time article as it appeared inthe Columbia Washingtonian newspaper,Hudson, N.Y., May 14, 1846,Vol.V, No.3,Whole No. 211,William Rockwell, Editor

The steamer Hudson — This popu-lar boat has come out this springmost tastefully painted and orna-

mented, by that skillful artist, Mr.Ary, ofour city. Her extensive accommodationsand conveniences, her cabins, saloonsand state-rooms have now elegance andbeauty added to the real home comfortswhich they presented last season. Herofficers were “never better”! Capt. Kingneeds but to be named to bring pleasantrecollections to the mind that may seenin the countenance of every traveler tothe “great city” from this quarter of thecountry.The steward gives just that kindof evidence of his unwearied attentionand skill in his department which oneloves to witness, as you gather aroundthe richly furnished board, amid thecheering steam of “Golden Chop,” “OldHyson,” and here and there a richer per-fume that tells of “Java’s Isle,”of “Mocha’sShore” and thenthe friendly recog-nition and thepleasant chat,whileevery want isanticipated by thefaithful, busy wait-ing ones around.Every evening inthe week, exceptSunday, passengersembark for NewYork, either in theHudson or theFairfield, no lessaccommodating,sure and safe, with-out fear of pick-pockets or a roughand uncouth crowdgathered from thepurlieu of ourlarge cities, andfloating on the

waves of adventure, they care not whith-er.Our neighbors in the States East of us,and along the line of the great “WesternRailroad” are our brethren. They stillenjoy a view of the scenes of our earlyyears, and we still are brethren, and wemeet as such.

The Hotels of Hudson, too, deserve apassing notice. We have ample accom-

modations in these for every grade oftravelers. Hudson may well boast herHotels Those in the upper part of thecity, the Eastern House by Mr.Martin,andthe Columbia House by Mr. Rogers, arewell known establishments, obligingpleasant landlords who are truly whatare called good-hearted clever fellows.Their accommodations are convenient

for both men and teams.They both sell(we are sorry for it) pernicious bever-ages which ruin many of our fellowmen,and against the use and traffic of whichwe have waged an uncompromising war.

The Mansion House by Mr. Bradley, isan old stand, too well known to requireany notice here. It has long enjoyed avery extensive patronage, and has fineaccommodations, and as many comfortsfor the weary traveler or his horses ascan be found anywhere;and is a landlordthat will never do worse than he says.Atany rate, it is a favorite principle withhim “That every man should mind hisown business.” He does it and thereforehis business is well done.

The Hudson House by Mr. Bontwell[is] A large commodious establishmentaffording genteel accommodations fortravelers and visitors. Families from theSouth and from our large and crowdedcities find here a pleasant retreat fromthe dust and bustle and heated bricks oftheir own haunts. Mr. B. is extensivelyknown as a liberal, generous provider.

Attentive andpolite, his househas long been theresort of gentle-men and ladiesfrom all parts ofthe land.

These last twoalso keep the “spir-it of mischief,” butas if aware of itsevil tendency it isnot exposed toview,except when“called” for.

The NationalHotel by Mr. D. B.Stranahan, late ofthe KinderhookHouse. This is anew house, justopened, on the

TRAVELING FACILITIESOF HUDSON: 1846

Steamboats and Hotels

“

Pleasant as travel by steamboat oftenwas, it was not without its hazards!

Continued onpage 25

Here we are happyto assure the public,“there is nothing that

can intoxicate.”


18

Hudson River Trust Company, c1875; building demolished. Warren Street, between 3rd and 4th Street; City Hall Placeand Opera House at left. For a time City Hall and thePolice Department were located in the Opera House.

Ferry steamer George H. Powers, the ferry boat that traveledbetween Hudson and Athens, late 19th century.

Park Square, Warren Street and Park Place, late 19thcentury; the statue of Venus and the fountain stands in thecenter of the park.

Waldron House (left) looking down Warren Streetfrom 1st Street, c1860s; most of these buildings are gone.

Looking down Columbia Street from Academy Hill, mid19th century; the Federal period house on left was demol-ished by Columbia Memorial Hospital for a parking lot.


19

Laying cobblestones on Warren Street between 4th and 5thStreets, late 19th century.

Looking south from Warren Street, with Christ Church andthe Parish House, late 19th century.

“BusinessDock” area between 6th and 7th Streets (across from Park Square), looking west down Warren Street, 1868.

�A HUDSON ALBUM�Images from the Rowles Studio Collection, Courtesy of Historic Hudson


20

New at The Columbia County Historical Society Museum

By Julia Philip

THREE TOWNS JOININ HISTORY EXHIBIT

A small model of a Hudson River ice-house now stands just inside theentrance to the exhibition room at theColumbia County Historical Society’sMuseum on Albany Avenue inKinderhook. It is an important part of“Around Columbia County,” the first in aseries of exhibits the Society is mount-ing in collaboration with town histori-ans. This first installment was created bythe town historians of Clermont,Germantown and Livingston to showthe agricultural and industrial heritage ofthe southern part of the county.

On the wall to the right of the galleryhang examples of the tongs, grapplinghooks and two-man saws that were usedto harvest ice from the river.This was anessential industry before the days ofrefrigerators and refrigerated cars andtrucks. Facing the entrance a flail, twohay forks and a saw are displayed. Thesewere used to harvest hay and other graincrops that were the basic fuel for horsepowered machinery and transportationin the early 19th century. Barrel and boxmaking frames and packinghouse equip-ment for the fruit producers of the coun-ty are displayed with photographs of ahorse drawn spray rig at work in anorchard. A photograph of the mine

entrance at the Burden Mines inLinlithgo, the mine payroll box and alarge piece of iron are the reminders ofthis industry that was dominant until themid-1800s.There are photographs also ofthe brick kilns along the river and sam-ples of old county-fired bricks.

All of the items displayed come fromthe collections gathered and maintainedby town historians — Mary Howell ofLivingston who is also county historian,Anne Poleschner of Clermont andMarguerite Riter of Germantown — aswell as several private collections. RuthEllen Berninger, educator, Sharon S.Palmer, executive director, and Carla R.Lesh, registrar/assistant educator, of theColumbia County Historical Society,mounted the exhibition. It will remain inthe Museum gallery through November22nd.

MUSEUMS INTHE CLASSROOM

The fourth grade class taught byStephanie Bell at the Martin Van BurenElementary School has produced theexhibit that greets visitors at theentrance to the exhibition galleries atthe Society’s Museum in Kinderhook.

The students chose a theme of simplemachines — the lever, the inclinedplane, the screw, the pulley — and havedemonstrated them in a collection ofingenious (and sometimes almost “Rube

Goldberg”) inspiration. There are work-ing models to show these machines inaction.They raise a flag, move a theatercurtain, lift wood planks, and return amechanical car to a starting point.Others of the 23 children in this classhave made posters illustrating the themeof simple machines.

The exhibit is the product of the“Museums in the Classroom” programcreated by Ruth Ellen Berninger, theSociety’s educator, assisted by Carla R.Lesh, the Society’s new registrar/ assis-tant educator. This school program,sponsored by the Society for the pastthree years, involves over 200 studentseach year from the third and fourthgrades of several elementary schools inthe region.

AN EXHIBIT OFPHOTOGRAPHS FROM

ARTHUR BAKER’S NEW BOOKA strikingly impressive collection ofphotographs from Mr. Baker’s book,Wooden Churches: Columbia CountyLegacy will hang in the CCHS gallerythrough November 22nd. The book isreviewed elsewhere in this publication,and is available for purchase in theMuseum Shop.The Museum is now openMonday through Friday from 10 am to 4pm and on Saturdays from 1 to 4 pm. �

The 1737 Luykas Van Alen House, Route 9H, Kinderhook,NY, is open for the summer season:Thursdays, Fridays andSaturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 5p.m. Visit the grounds of this National Historic Landmarkand tour the site with informative guides before the houseundergoes a year or two of restoration work. Funded by thefederal “Save America's Treasures” grant, the New York StateEnvironmental Protection Fund, and other donors, therestoration will focus on the roofing system, brickwork, sitedrainage, and archeology. Don’t miss the opportunity thissummer to visit this outstanding surviving example of ruralDutch architecture. Over ten years ago, filming for “The Ageof Innocence” took place at the site. Group tours may alsobe arranged by calling the Society’s office at 518-758-9265.

• THE 1737 LUYKAS VAN ALEN HOUSE •


21

News of the Columbia County Historical Society

THE SOCIETYNEEDS YOU

The Columbia County Historical Society depends upon volunteers to help itin its many endeavors.We are seeking individuals with experience and inter-est in any of the following areas to contact the Society and volunteer theirtime and effort. Don’t hesitate to contact us even if you think that yourbackground is not suitable. We can explore with you our needs and yourinterests to determine how best you can help us.

If you are skilled in typing and/or inputting materials into computers,you could help us manage and catalogue our collection. Museum or archivalexperience would be helpful. Please call Helen McLallen, Curator, at758-9265. She will be happy to discuss in more detail the type of assis-tance needed and what is required.

We need people who have an interest in either writing or presentingeducational programs to help the staff Educator in this important outreacheffort. If you have an interest in developing such programs or workingwith students, please contact Ruth Ellen Berninger, Educator, at 758-9265.

Finally, the Society can use help handling a wide variety of tasks in itslibrary and office at the Museum in Kinderhook. If you would like to assistus in these areas, please call Sharon Palmer, Executive Director, at the tele-phone number shown above.

Columbia County History & Heritage is interestedin hearing from you — if you have articles, pictures, orother items about Columbia County history and culturalheritage suitable for publication, please let us know.The Editorial Board will review all submissions, and allsubmissions considered for publication are subject toediting.We regret that we cannot guarantee publication.

Want to advertise your business in ColumbiaCounty History & Heritage? Call 518-758-9265for more information.

tive, in a less enlightened age immediately past, to “modernize”most of the city. We are therefore able to enjoy urbanstreetscapes like Warren and Union Streets with a remarkablestock of period architecture. In this issue we hope to bringthat architecture to life.

It has always been our intention that this be a magazine oflocal history with broad appeal (if we are not fulfilling thatintention, let us know), rather than a conduit for Society news.During 2002, when it was our only publication, we felt com-pelled to include important Society news and we will contin-ue to do so. But to a lesser degree, leaving more room forreal history, for we are now beginning a supplementary publi-cation, a members’ newsletter, The Bulletin of the ColumbiaCounty Historical Society. Members can expect to find it intheir mailboxes three times a year.

Stephan M. MandelPresidentBoard of Directors

Our Mission

The Columbia County Historical Society is aprivate, not-for-profit organization dedicated tothe preservation and interpretation of the history and

culture of Columbia County for its residents andvisitors.

It is the Society’s goal to encourage understanding,knowledge, and preservation of the county’s heritagethrough the acquisition and conservation of historic lands,buildings, objects and documents, and the sponsorship ofresearch, publications, exhibitions, and educational pro-gramming. To help achieve its mission, the Society owns,maintains, and interprets to the public, buildings and col-lections of historical significance, and operates a museumthat includes exhibition galleries and an extensive researchlibrary.

A Message from the President continued from page 2


22

By Pat FenoffEditor’s Note: Pat Fenoff enjoys the title ofHUDSON HISTORIAN and is a very knowl-edgeable and capable local goverment officialappointed by the Mayor of Hudson. She hasbeen most helpful by reviewing the articles inthis issue for accuracy.The words below are taken from anarticle found in the Hudson Gazette,dated August 2, 1883:

HUDSON PUBLIC FOUNTAINNow that the beautiful fountain in the publicpark is nearly completed and our citizens haveenjoyed the sight of “Venus Rising From TheSea,” exhibiting in the most effective mannerthe power of our water supply, and provingthat it can be put to ornamental as well as use-ful purposes, it is proper to speak in detail ofthis work of art, and award credit to those whowere chiefly instrumental in procuring it.

The total height of the fountain, includingthe foundation is eighteen feet. The pan is gar-goyle octagon, eight feet five inches above thebase, diameter of pan, eight feet eleven inches.The ground basin is twenty-five feet in diame-ter. The foundation is of Coral Marble, hand-somely cut, from the quarries of SupervisorFred W. Jones, and was donated by that ener-getic and public-spirited gentleman. The foun-dation is capped by a fine slab of Vermont mar-ble, which was generously donated by Mr.Patrick Hoctor, of the Hudson Granite andMarble Works.

From this rises the base surmounted by thefigures all in graceful proportion and artisticdesign. But to be fully appreciated, it must beseen when the water in full force is playing

through its numerous jets and rising andfalling in fantastic forms.

Mr. D. Martin Haviland is entitled to muchcredit for his persevering efforts in securing tothe city not only this beautiful fountain, butalso the handsome park in which it is located.

One of the most unsightly spots in the cityhas within a few years been converted into oneof the most attractive. In this enterprise Mr.Haviland’s efforts have been generously sec-onded by the Boston and Albany RailroadCompany, by the action of our CommonCouncil, by the contributions of citizens and bythe local press.

At the outset we said the fountain wasnearly completed. It only lacks the finishingtouches of the artist brush. This we under-stand, Mr. Silas W. Tobey, the veteran artist, hasvolunteered to do, and this assurance is suffi-cient guarantee that the work will be well doneand in keeping with the fountain and it’ssurroundings.

For 89 years, as an ornament to thecity and a monument to publicminded citizens, Venus, flanked by

her accompanying dolphins, reignedmajestically in the park and was verymuch appreciated by adults and childrenalike.

In June of 1974 the statue was paint-ed blue by Charles Rogers Jr. ofStockport, Mass. and was cleaned. In1975 Inspiration Fountain was added tothe park and the statue of Venus wasmoved to a new location at theColumbia Street and North 7th Streetend of the park.

Then in 1978 it was damaged by twovandals. The statue was removed to berepaired by Robert Allen of Ghent whowas at that time affiliated with a muse-um in Albany. It was returned to its site inNovember of that year. The cost of therepairs was $800, paid by the vandals.It was again removed from the site byMr.Allen for repairs in October of 1978after being severely damaged by adrunken driver. It was returned to thepark in 1980.

In 1978 Roderic H. Blackburn, thenAssistant Director of at the AlbanyInstitute of History & Art, estimated thestatue’s value at $3000–$5000. He wrotethat the statue appeared to be a late 19thcentury or early 20th century scuplturemodeled in the academic tradition of theBeaux Arts style. He claimed that it wasof high quality and worthy of being pre-served and properly restored.

Suffering from continued damage atthe hands of children who played on it,the statue of Venus was removed by thecity in recent years and has not beenreturned to the site. It is hoped that thecity still has the statue — that it will berepaired and returned to a spot where itcan be again enjoyed by public mindedcitizens but protected from damage. �

WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO VENUS ?

A Book by Arthur A BakerStephan M. Mandel

With painstaking and meticulous care and attentionto detail Arthur Baker has most successfully cap-tured and chronicled the elegant and silent beauty

of Columbia County’s wooden churches. In the days prior toradio and television, these churches, most of which werebuilt in the nineteenth century, served not only as centers forworship but for meetings both political and social. It natural-ly followed that religious groupings and their clergy playedpowerful and important roles in the development of ruraland city governance.This book gives one the opportunity tobetter understand their influenceand appreciate the fine buildingsthat housed them.

The book is published bythe Columbia County HistoricalSociety, and was supported in partby grants from Furthermore, a pro-gram of the J.M. Kaplan Fund,and The Graham Foundation forAdvanced Studies in the Fine Arts.The large format publication fea-tures duotone photographs of all 63extant old wooden churches in thecounty. It contains an incisive essayby local historian Ruth Piwonkathat reveals the manner in whichboth the nation’s and the county’sclosely meshed religious and secu-lar history not only influenced thegrowth and development of the var-ious faiths, but also everyday life inthe community. Basic historic andarchitectural data relating to each church illustrated is numer-ically keyed to the photographs and the church locations onthe included Columbia County Church Location Map.

The historic data were verified and augmented by many ofthe county’s town and church historians. Ron ToelkeAssociates of Chatham designed the book.

A resident of East Taghkanic,Arthur A. Baker states in hisintroduction,“Columbia County,New York is endowed with arich heritage of wooden church architecture which coversthe full design spectrum, from the simplest vernacular shel-ter to imposing Gothic Revival structures. In microcosm, itexhibits the influences of the nation’s changing architecturalstyles, and the growth of the varied religious denominations.Collectively, the churches reflect a remarkably creative,diverse range of building design and form.” He also stressesthat the wooden churches are an integral part of ColumbiaCounty’s visual heritage and form part of the continuum link-

ing the past, present and future, and that their preservation isof paramount importance.

Baker is uniquely qualified for this project.A distinguishedarchitect who practiced in London, England and New York asthe partner of such iconic figures as Sir James Stirling andPeter Eisenman, he has for some years been devoting himselfto large format photography. This exhibition and book are the culmination of a project that began over ten years agowith a smaller exhibition at the County Museum.

The churches have been photographed from a consistentfrontal view, in a black and white format that encapsulates theessence of each structure, presenting it in a manner that

emphasizes the church massing andsilhouette rather than its denomina-tion, location, period or architectur-al style. This approach enables aneasy comparative analysis of thesimilarities and differences of thechurch designs. Critics who haveseen the photographs and the bookhave been enthusiastic.

“A skilled photographer, whotrained as an architect, ArthurBaker has produced an historical-ly significant record of the wood-en churches of Columbia County.His calculated documentaryapproach enhances the visualand structural character of hissubject, while in its entirety,Baker’s project underscores theimportance of the cultural her-itage that surrounds us.”

Willis E. HartshornDirector, International Center of

Photography, New York

“Just contemplating these wooden churches of ColumbiaCounty so serene and splendid, ranging from the allbut invisible to the energetically Gothic in West Copake andthe majestically classical in St. Thomas in Churchtownimbues one with peace and tranquility and a longing fora purer age.”

Thomas P. F. HovingAuthor, former Director of the

Metropolitan Museum of Art

The book is available for $24.95 ($22.45 for CCHS members)at the County Museum Shop and for $24.95 at otherlocations in the area. �

Book Review:

Wooden churchesColumbia county legacy

23



24

History Around the County

BLUEBERRY DAYAT AUSTERLITZ

Blueberry pies, blueberrymuffins, blueberry jams, blue-berry ice cream and evenblueberry bushes to plant inyour yard will be featured atthe Austerlitz HistoricalSociety’s Blueberry Festivalon Sunday, July 27th. Theevent will be held at theAusterlitz Fire House onRoute 22 from 9 to 4 o’clock.Blueberry pancakes will beserved from 9 to 1 o’clockand are included in the admis-sion fee of $5 for adults, withchildren under 12 admittedfree.

19th century crafts will bedemonstrated, and there willbe a display of antiques andcollectibles many of whichwill be for sale along withhandmade gifts with a blue-berry theme. Entertainmentfor children will includeRoger the Jester and perform-ances presented by Stage-works’ Summer Stage.Proceeds from this event willbenefit the educational pro-grams of the AusterlitzHistorical Society.

AUTUMN INAUSTERLITZ

On Saturday, September 20th,townspeople in period dresswill greet visitors and offerthem a glimpse of life in thecommunity as it was in the1830’s. Demonstrated will bemany of the skills and toolsneeded to provide the neces-sities of life in that earliertime.The event will also pro-vide an opportunity to seethe progress made in recon-structing the Morey-Devereaux House on the sitedonated by Robert Herron.The building was transportedfrom Nassau in over 3000numbered pieces.

The Autumn Soup Kitchen

will offer homemade breadsand soups for sale as well asitems from the gift shop andthe Baker’s Table.Admission is$5 for adults with childrenunder 12 admitted free.

FALL GARDENPARTY AT

STEEPLETOPAn early autumn “GardenParty at Steepletop” will beheld on the afternoon ofSeptember 20th from 3 to 5o’clock by the Friends of theMillay Society at the home ofthe late poet, Edna St.VincentMillay.

The house,on a remote hill-top in Austerlitz, was namedby the poet for the steeple-bush, a tall pink wildflowerthat grows in the surroundingfields. Her home and its con-tents are virtually as she leftthem on her death in 1950and include her personallibrary, music, clothing, shoesand household goods. Millay’sgrave and that of her husbandand her mother are located ina clearing in the woods a half-mile from the house.

The autumn gathering willbe the first major effort of theFriends Society to expand itsmembership and to supportmajor preservation of thehouse and grounds so that intime they can be opened tothe public.

To reach Steepletop, turnoff Rte. 22 at Austerlitz ontoEast Hill Road by the smalltown Post Office. Continueup the hill for 2.5 miles untilyou reach the house on theleft across from the Millay ArtColony. For more informationabout the gathering call (845)757-3214, (212) 777-0283 or(518) 851-7744.

ANCRAM PLANSA THREE DAY

BICENTENNIALCELEBRATION

Under the leadership ofTown Historian Clara VanTassel Ancram’s BicentennialCommittee has planned athree day festival beginningwith a chicken barbecue onFriday evening,September 12,5 to 7 o’clock at the newTown Hall. Saturday morningboasts a flea market from 7 to10 AM with tours of theAncram Mill and the newlyrenovated Simon’s GeneralStore from 10 to 2 PM fol-lowed by a show of antiquecars. At 5 PM there will be aparade of fire companies fromthe area preceding the officialdedication of the new TownHall and observance of theTown’s bicentennial by stateand local dignitaries. Therewill be refreshments avail-able,a sale of raffle tickets andactivities for the young. Theday will close with a displayof fireworks. On Sundaythere will be an EcumenicalWorship Service at 1 PM atthe tent at the Town Hall fol-lowed by an Ice Cream Social,tours of the Town Hall and thedrawing for the raffle.

TAGHKANICCELEBRATES

BICENTENNIALBanjo music by the Jug Bandfrom 11 to noon and theGhent Brass Band playingfrom 2:30 until 3PM willwelcome visitors to theTaghkanic Town Bicentenialcelebration on August 2, 2003to be held on Route 82 atWest Taghkanic. Displays ofearly Taconic baskets andhistorical documents areplanned accompanied by dis-plays of wood carving,basketweaving and blacksmithing asit was done in the time of the

town’s first settlement.Thesecrafts and fly fishing will bedemonstrated by expertcraftsmen from the communi-ty. Town fire fighting equip-ment will be displayed.WhileIndian skills of fire buildingand survival are shown, asmoke trailer from theCounty Fire Association willdemonstrate escapes from amodern burning building.There will be craft vendorsacross the highway, food forsale and a tent with entertain-ment and rides for childrenfollowed by fireworks at duskat Lake Taconic State Park.Nancy Griffith,Town Historian,has been in charge of plan-ning the event’s festivities.

CANAANThe Canaan Historical Societyhas announced plans forweekly informal Saturdayafternoon programs to beheld at the Meeting House atCanaan Center from 1 to4p.m in July and August.

• The first program on July19th will concentrate onbarns and be presented byRichard Babcock who is theauthor of Old Barns in theNew World .

•On July 26 the subjectwill be the UndergroundRailroad presented by BeverlyMills from Troy who has lec-tured about Harriet Tubman,the conductor of over 300slaves to freedom.

• Paul Marino, who haslectured extensively for his-torical societies in theBerkshires, will talk about oldcemeteries on August 2.

• On August 9, Jack Trowel,President of the BerkshireScenic Railway,will talk aboutthe rails that serviced andpassed through Canaan toother towns and cities.

• The Historical Society’sMeeting House and other his-


25

REMODELING, RENOVATION & REPAIR SERVICESFOR HOME AND BUSINESS

30 year’s experience, B.S. Construction Management

VOICE/FAX 518-794-9158

East Chatham, NY 12060 • References upon request

JOHN CAIOLA

south side of Franklin Square, but a few steps from the steam-boat landing and the ferry. It is large and neatly and elegantly fin-ished and furnished. The parlors are spacious and well fur-nished, and present an airy inviting appearance.The numerouslodging rooms are of good size and airy, not cramped, confinedand unventilated—they have the look and aspect of health andpurity.The comfort of the guests seems to have been the oneobject of the experienced occupant, while superintending thefinishing of the interior of the building, and collecting the furni-ture for his commodious and handsome edifice.

The beauty and extent of prospect from the windows of thishouse would furnish ample material for a volume descriptive ofnature’s beautiful, picturesque, grand and sublime scenery.Theartist might spend half a life in transferring to his canvass theextended landscapes here presented to his view. A moredelightful place to while away the days of flowery Spring, orthe weeks of sultry Summer’s heat we cannot conceive.

Here we are happy to assure the public,” there is nothingthat can intoxicate.” Mr. Stranahan has opened this new andpleasant house,A Temperance Hotel.” �

Reprinted by courtesy of theColumbia County Historical Society

Traveling Facilities of Hudson, continued from page 17

toric buildings will be the subject of David Snook’s presenta-tion on August 16.

• Archeologist Steve Oberon who is directing the digs atthe Warner Tavern in Canaan will speak on August 23 about hisfindings there and at other sites.

• On August 30 the Historical Society’s Meeting House willbe open to visitors to explore this museum and its manyartifacts and memories of Canaan in celebration of its 30thanniversary year. �

Holmquest FarmsFreshest Home Grown Vegetables Available

Best Corn in the County

Thomas HolmesTerri Holmes

516 Spook Rock Road, Hudson, NY 12534— or —

Fairview Avenue, Greenport

851-9629

This unusual and visually appealing c1850 HudsonBusiness Directory was recently donated by DavidJohnson. The directory offers 25 local advertisements,

along with information useful to business proprietors, such asrailroads and steamboat lines, telegraph services, a map of theHudson River from Troy to New York, and monetary andpolitical information. Some of the businesses didn’t survive

long; several were not listed in the 1851-52 Hudson directory,which was published in the more familiar book form. Otherswere long-term enterprises, enduring for decades. Stained andworn,particularly along the top edge, the directory would ben-efit from conservation so that it may be used in exhibits.Anyone wishing to support its treatment is welcome to callthe Society’s curator, Helen M. McLallen, at (518)-758-9265. �


26

Highlights from the Society’s Collections

Law offices of

Connor, Curran& Schram, P.C.

Since 1959

441 East Allen Street, Hudson, NY 12534

(518) 828-1521

Fleet Bank Building, Chatham, NY 12037

(518) 392-3641A Full Service Practice Emphasizing…

Personal Injury • Automobile Accidents • Medical MalpracticeProduct Liability • Wrongful Death

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By Mary Faherty Sansaricq

For many years the city of Hudson was “one of the mostbeautiful and flourishing towns on the noble river whosename it bears.” Visitors came from all over because of the

popularity of the mountains, the natural springs, and the richand varied political and religious residents who attracted pub-lic attention and notoriety.Whether visitors were just stoppingover or staying on for a while, Hudson had a great deal to offerthe typical guest in 1890.

Visitors to Hudson might stay at The Hotel Lincoln whichwas described in 1890 as one of the finest hotels on theHudson River, supplied with all the modern improvementssuch as steam heat, electric bells, and electric lights. The HotelLincoln offered “handsome suites of rooms for gentleman andwife or families.” Other guests who did not require such selectfinery could find shelter at The Central House which provided“good rooms, good table, and good attention for commercialtravelers and businessmen.” It is interesting to note how in1890 hotel accommodations were advertised for gender andmarital status, in addition to amenities.

Shopping was a popular diversion in Hudson because of thevariety of goods and services easily available due to the city’sposition as an active international port.At Tilley & Aldcroftt at401 Warren Street, overcoatings “of the smoother effect ofmeltons and fur beavers, and suitings and trouserings in a vari-ety of fine foreign woolens are shown exclusively from themammoth stock of novelties.” For the ladies, black dress goodswere available at Guernsey & Terry on lower Warren includingblack cashmeres, brocade cashmeres, and silk and woolHenrietta cloths that are “jet black and color guaranteed.” Forhandmade clothes, Bachman & Co. at 601 Warren Streetoffered remnants of “one price goods marked in plain figures.”

Boots and shoes in French kid, hog’s calf, pebble goat, alliga-tor and calf kangaroo were featured at Wm.S.Hallenbeck at 533Warren Street where “new styles of elegant designs in opera toeand common sense for ladies and misses will warrant a perfectfit.”Also rubbers made from pure gum,pebbled leg,artic Alaskasin light and heavy weight for both sexes and all ages.

Nearby at 536 Warren, J.T. Rider offered the best in second-

hand instruments that have been taken in trade and will be dis-posed of at a very low cost. And for reading pleasure, bookscould be purchased at S. B. Miller’s at 532 Warren Street.

Ladies and gentlemen visiting Hudson could benefit fromthe tonsorial arts of Monsieur Hyacinth Lescure who offered “achoice lot of Essences near the Market House also, he wouldfurnish cushions to the ladies, and queues to gentlemen ofexcellent human hair for which he would take his pay inwheat and Indian corn.” Monsieur Lescure is described aswalking back and forth before his little shop door, humming atune and snapping his fingers. It was said he served as a drum-mer under Burgoyne, and “his dress was in keeping with hisperson and profession; a broad striped calico gown, a shortwhite apron, tight nankeen small clothes, ruffled shirt, com-pleted with silk stockings and yellow slippers.”

And at the end of a busy day in downtown Hudson, visitorscould attend the Hudson Opera House presentation “for onenight only the superbly lyric and scenic production of NewtonBeers’ Lost in London with Miss Jessie Lee Randolph as Nellieand with the talented young character actor Sam C. Young,along with the celebrated North Britain Pan Pipe Singers whowill positively appear! �

A Visit to Hudson in 1890

The Main Street Cafe3032 Main Street, Valatie, NY

518-758-9000

Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Mexican Night every WednesdayPrivate Parties

Reprinted with permission from the Columbia County WeeklyShopper.

28


Joan K. Davidson

In search of the history of the City ofHudson one would be well-advisedto begin with a visit to the excellent

Hudson Area Library, at State and 4th,where a whole room is set aside for thepurpose. Here to be discovered arebooks, pamphlets, reports, journals,newspapers, photographs, maps, andmore, covering the history of New YorkState, and Columbia County and all itsvillages and towns, including Hudson.Subject matter stretches from 18th cen-tury death notices to the poems of EdnaSt.Vincent Millay, who lived in Austerlitz.

Closely related to the story of Hudsonis the grand literature of the HudsonRiver and its Valley, full of fascinatinginformation about natural and culturalriches, politics and economics, andneighboring places — the Catskills,Adirondacks, Berkshires, DutchessCounty — along with juicy biographiesof noted folks from all walks of life,including the influential Livingston fami-ly. Most works are non-fiction, but nov-els dote the shelves too, quite a few forchildren. To all these sagas the libraryoffers a guiding hand.

The great granddaddy of ColumbiaCounty books, which includes a thor-ough section on Hudson, is the compre-hensive work by Captain Franklin Ellis,

published in 1878, whose name, so self-effacing was he, does not appear on thetitle page. The Ellis book’s dense, fact-filled text is enlivened by delightful lith-ographs of 19th century worthies andtheir country seats.This essential volumehas been reprinted in paperback by theestimable Purple Mountain Press.Also inprint are the wonderful A VisibleHeritage: Columbia County, New York,A History in Art and Architecture by RuthPiwonka and Roderic H. Blackburn,2000, for which we have Black DomePress to thank, and Diamond Street: TheStory of the Little Town With the Big RedLight District by Bruce Edward Hall(1994 Purple Mountain Press).

Stay tuned. Several interesting newbooks are due to appear: The WoodenChurches of Columbia County, byArthur Baker, [ed. note: This book hasrecently been published; please seereview on page 23] and Hudson: WhatHappened to America. The story in textand pictures of the rise and fall of asmall American Town, by Byrne Fone,and a major effort (ten years in prepara-tion!) Looking for Work: The IndustrialArcheology of Columbia County byPeter Stott.

Among the many out-of-print worksabout Hudson, some may be of moregeneral interest than others. Here’s a

sampling: History of the City ofHudson, New York: With BiographicalSketches of Henry Hudson and RobertFulton by Anna R. Bradbury, 1908, MostLikely to Succeed: Multiple Murder andthe Elusive Search for Justice in anAmerican Town by Alan Gelb, 1990, TheParsonage Between Two Manors:Annals of Clover-Reach Hudson, NewYork by Elizabeth Louisa Gephard, 1909,Hudson Revisited by Jean BriceMcMullin, 1985, History of the Hudson:Embracing the Settlement of the City,City Government, Business Enterprises,Churches, Press, Schools, Libraries byStephen B. Miller, 1862, The Hudsonian,Old Times and New: A Home Record ofHistorical Sketches Pertaining to theCity of Hudson, and Its ImmediateVicinity by Robert M. Terry, 1895,Recollections of Hudson by GorhamWorth, 1847 First Reformed ProtestantChurch: Semi-centennial Celebration ofthe First Reformed Protestant Churchby M. Parker Williams, Register andGazette, 1856.

New and recent books are availablefrom the Columbia County HistoricalSociety and general bookstores in theCounty. Out of print works might befound at, or possibly ordered fromdistinguished local purveyors of second-hand and rare books: Main Street

Books in Germantown,The Book Barn inCraryville, and Frisch’sin Livingston.

For their researchesand title suggestionswe are immenselygrateful to Frank Rees,Librarian, Hudson AreaLibrary; Tom Wermuth,Dean of Liberal Arts atMarist College and hisstudents; and toDr. Byrne Fone, VicePresident of HistoricHudson. �

Hudson’s History...a Bibliography[ ]

Hudson Area Library, 400 State Street — This historic building enjoyed many uses before becoming alibrary in 1957: 1818 to 1830 – Almshouse; 1830 to 1850 – Insane Asylum; 1851 to 1865 – Academy forYoung Women; 1865 to 1881 – Private residence; 1881 to 1957.


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By Emily Pulfer-TerinoMs Pulfer-Terino is a scholar fromSarah Lawrence College who isengaged in continuing research onthe architecture of Hudson, NY.

Among Hudson’s archi-tectural treasures, theColumbia County Court-

house is one of the most sig-nificant and under-recog-nized. Beyond its beauty, thebuilding is of great historicalimportance and must be rec-ognized as such. It wasdesigned in 1908 by the NewYork architects WhitneyWarren and Charles Wetmore,who are acknowledged ashighly influential in the devel-opment of America’s modernarchitectural sensibility andare most famous for thedesign of Manhattan’s GrandCentral Terminal. Warren andWetmore were early advo-cates of the City Beautifulmovement, America’s firstserious attempt at a new kindof urban planning that wouldcreate cohesive city environ-ments with acute attentionboth to beauty of design andto efficient human activity.

The existing Courthouse isthe third on its site. Afterfire destroyed the previoustwo structures, Warren andWetmore drafted plans withmodern pragmatism.The cur-rent building is fireproof,made almost entirely of gran-ite, sandstone and iron.Besides their attention tofunctionalism, Warren andWetmore composed thebuilding with close referenceto surrounding structures.Rather than dominating thearea, the Courthouse works inconcert with the square andneighboring homes. At onceimposing and austere, itemploys classical composi-tion, harmonious scale, and

with Washington Square,makes the south end ofFourth Street an elegant pub-lic space.

The architects avoided theexcesses common amongcommissions of such signifi-cance by limiting ornamenta-tion and diminishing theapparent height of the build-ing. The Courthouse’s mainbody is set on a raised base-ment. The ground floor actsas a plinth from which thebuilding rises above the parkin stately fashion. This tacticstresses the exterior’s hori-zontality, reducing the build-ing’s verticality and perceived

scale. That clever approach,also used in Grand CentralTerminal, elevates theCourthouse as an urban mon-ument while balancing itsscale with the surroundings.

Warren and Wetmore usedclassical design elementsinventively and flexibly. Thebalustrade above the second-story windows is set clearlyin relation with the heights ofneighboring houses. Thedome,which marks the termi-nation of Fourth Street, isshallow and set forward overthe main courtroom. Thisreduction in the height of thedome prevents it from domi-

nating Courthouse Squarewhile maintaining visibilityand stressing the building’scivic importance.

The Columbia CountyCourthouse deserves furtherrecognition and study, partic-ularly regarding its exact rela-tionship with Grand CentralTerminal, constructed soonafter the completion of theCourthouse. Hudson is fortu-nate to have not one but twoWarren and Wetmore build-ings.The former Hudson CitySavings Bank, now theDepartment of Motor Vehiclesoffice on Warren Street, wasalso designed by the firm.Thecity is doubly fortunate forthe opportunity to preservethe structures themselves aswell as the harmony betweenthese buildings and theirurban environments.

Editor’s Note: Interior renovationsto this remarkable and distin-guished Courthouse building arecurrently underway which includethe installation of lower ceilings,the masking of fireplaces, and thecovering of masterful and impor-tant architectural details. Onthe exterior white vinyl windowinserts with flat panels above —some to accommodate air condi-tioners and some not — havebeen installed in various windowspaces replacing the originalwooden windows. The renovatedinterior spaces appear more mod-ern and comfortable, but at whata tragic cost to the architecturalintegrity of one of Hudson’s mostimportant landmarks. What fur-ther destruction in the name ofmodernization is planned for thisbuilding is unknown. In so manyother cases approaches whichare more sensitive to continuinghistoric values and the publicappreciation of such have beenextremely successful.

��

��The Columbia County Courthouse

The fourth Columbia County Courthouse (the second built on thissite); it was destroyed by fire in 1907.

The present Columbia County Courthouse, seen here in an earlyphoto shortly after completion.


30

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Columbia County Historical SocietyCalendar of Events

Please note in your calendarsthe following events anddates.For additional informa-tion regarding these, pleasecall the Society’s office at(518) 758-9265 or visit ourwebsite at www.cchsny.org.

Aug 31stConcert and Picnic

Aug 16th & Aug 23rdMonthie Slide ProgramHudson Opera House

SeptemberSecond Century Circle

Dinner

October 18thAnnual Meeting at the

Columbia County Museum

Nov 8thJacobs Benefit RecitalNathan Wild House

Dec 6th unt i lDecember 14th

Gallery of Wreaths andHoliday Craft Boutique at the

Columbia County Museum

Dec 12thGreens Show and House

Tour in Kinderhook Villageon Candlelight Night.

Dec 12th unt i lDecember 14thGreens Show at the

James A.Vanderpoel House.

Pat & Larry Phone (518) 766-3008Fax (518) 766-9818

4228 Route 203 Post Office Box 219North Chatham, NY 12132

On Sept. 28th of that year the statue was dedicatedwith numerous public figures in attendance. Included wasGeneral DePeyster who spoke of his family’s history in thearea and presented the saint “for the admiration not only ofHudsonians, but of the countless thousands who pass up anddown the river.”

Water to St. Winifred’s fountain was long ago turned off.In 1975 the sword was replaced, having been stolen severalyears before.As old photographs have shown, the sword wasalso missing in the 1930s.The sword was stolen again in 1994and replaced in 1996. Aside from these indignities, thegood saint continues her vigil over the city and the river. �

St.Winifred, continued from page 13

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For updated information about events and other activites of theColumbia County Historical Society, please visit our website at www.cchsny.org

HISTORIC HUDSONby Byrne Fone and Carole Osterink

Historic Hudson is a not-for-profit corporation founded in1996 to promote the preservation of the unique archi-tectural heritage of the City of Hudson, a remarkable

collection of largely intact 18th-, 19th-, and early 20th-centurybuildings. By many Hudson is thought of as a veritable diction-ary of American architectural style. The mission of HistoricHudson is to preserve that heritage, which it achieves throughadvocacy and public events and programs that disseminateinformation about the city’s history and foster appreciation forits historic architecture. Among its programs are the annualPreservation Awards, lectures and exhibits on various aspects ofHudson's architecture and history,creation of a guide and walk-ing tour of the City of Hudson, which street by street describesHudson's many historic buildings by date and style, and main-tenance of the Historic Hudson/Rowles Studio Collection ofphotographs, numbering nearly 300 rare and unique images ofthe City of Hudson from the 19th and early 20th century.

When the situation demands, Historic Hudson ensures thesurvival of buildings through acquisition, stabilization, andresale to new owners committed to restoration and preserva-tion, a process which recently saved a historic 18th-centuryhouse at 126 Warren Street from demolition.The organizationis the advocate for the preservation of the ca. 1812 Plumb-

Bronson House, on the grounds of the Hudson CorrectionalFacility.The house was built in the Federal style for its originalowner, Samuel Plumb. In 1838, it was purchased by Dr. OliverBronson,who commissioned Alexander Jackson Davis to “refit”the house in the Picturesque style in 1839 and later to expandthe house, adding the west facade with a decorative verandaand a three-story tower in the Italianate style. Historic Hudsonis currently working with the Hudson Correctional Facility andthe New York State Department of Corrections to acquire along-term lease, which will make Historic Hudson legal stew-ard of the Plumb-Bronson House. Once this goal is accom-plished, and with a grant from the Regional and CommunityHistoric Preservation Plan,matched by the generous donationsof its members, Historic Hudson will begin its first majorrestoration project at the Plumb-Bronson House, repair andrestoration of the windows.

Historic Hudson’s Board of Directors includes CaroleOsterink, President; Dr. Byrne Fone, Vice President; JamisonTeale, Secretary; John Ashbery, Lynn Davis, Richard Donovan,Timothy Dunleavy, David Kermani, Robert Mechling, DavidPetrovsky, Jeremiah Rusconi, Ann H. Scott, Dr. David Seamon,Dr. David Voorhees, Rudy Wurlitzer, and Reggie Young.

Historic Hudson’s offices are located at 554 Warren Street inHudson. For more information about membership in HistoricHudson, to contribute to any of its projects, including thePlumb-Bronson House, please call 518-828-1785. �

Early Hudson's Proud History PAGE 3

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