Hurley Historic District
Encyclopedia
The Hurley
Historic District
is a National Historic Landmark
that includes 10 stone
houses in the hamlet of Hurley, just outside Kingston
, the seat
of Ulster County
, New York
, USA. It stretches for 250 acres (1 km²) on both sides of US 209, which bisects the community, along Wynkoop Road, Main Street and Hurley Mountain Road at the boundary
of the Catskill Park.
Hurley is historically important both for the houses and its role in the Revolution
. Along all three streets are well-preserved examples of Dutch Colonial
architecture that, while not quite as old as those found on Huguenot Street
in New Paltz
to the south, date from the early 18th century. Originally settled by the Dutch
, it came under English control soon thereafter although its inhabitants continued to speak Dutch
and preserve other aspects of that culture for at least another century.
The newly formed New York state government moved here for two months in late 1777 while Kingston was being rebuilt. The British Army had burned it in retaliation for the creation of the state there (Albany, New York's traditional capital, was under threat of attack by a large army lead by Burgoyne). It is thus the second of the state's three capital cities.
The area was designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1961.
Hurley (CDP), New York
Hurley is a hamlet in the Town of Hurley, Ulster County, New York, USA. The population was 3,458 at the 2010 census....
Historic District
Historic district
A historic district or heritage district is a section of a city which contains older buildings considered valuable for historical or architectural reasons. In some countries, historic districts receive legal protection from development....
is a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
that includes 10 stone
Masonry
Masonry is the building of structures from individual units laid in and bound together by mortar; the term masonry can also refer to the units themselves. The common materials of masonry construction are brick, stone, marble, granite, travertine, limestone; concrete block, glass block, stucco, and...
houses in the hamlet of Hurley, just outside Kingston
Kingston, New York
Kingston is a city in and the county seat of Ulster County, New York, USA. It is north of New York City and south of Albany. It became New York's first capital in 1777, and was burned by the British Oct. 16, 1777, after the Battles of Saratoga...
, the seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Ulster County
Ulster County, New York
Ulster County is a county located in the state of New York, USA. It sits in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 182,493. Recent population estimates completed by the United States Census Bureau for the 12-month period ending July 1 are at...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, USA. It stretches for 250 acres (1 km²) on both sides of US 209, which bisects the community, along Wynkoop Road, Main Street and Hurley Mountain Road at the boundary
Blue Line (New York State)
The Blue Line is the term used in New York state for the boundaries of the Adirondack and Catskill parks, within which can be found the state's Forest Preserve...
of the Catskill Park.
Hurley is historically important both for the houses and its role in the Revolution
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. Along all three streets are well-preserved examples of Dutch Colonial
Dutch Colonial
Dutch Colonial is a style of domestic architecture, primarily characterized by gambrel roofs having curved eaves along the length of the house...
architecture that, while not quite as old as those found on Huguenot Street
Huguenot Street Historic District
The Huguenot Street Historic District is located near downtown New Paltz, New York, approximately north of New York City. The seven stone houses and several accompanying structures in the district were built in the early 18th century by Huguenot settlers fleeing discrimination and religious...
in New Paltz
New Paltz (village), New York
New Paltz is a village in Ulster County in the U.S. state of New York. It is about north of New York City and south of Albany. The population was 6,818 at the 2010 census.The Village of New Paltz is located within the Town of New Paltz...
to the south, date from the early 18th century. Originally settled by the Dutch
Dutch colonization of the Americas
Dutch trading posts and plantations in the Americas precede the much wider known colonization activities of the Dutch in Asia. Whereas the first Dutch fort in Asia was built in 1600 , the first forts and settlements on the Essequibo river in Guyana and on the Amazon date from the 1590s...
, it came under English control soon thereafter although its inhabitants continued to speak Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
and preserve other aspects of that culture for at least another century.
The newly formed New York state government moved here for two months in late 1777 while Kingston was being rebuilt. The British Army had burned it in retaliation for the creation of the state there (Albany, New York's traditional capital, was under threat of attack by a large army lead by Burgoyne). It is thus the second of the state's three capital cities.
The area was designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1961.
See also
- List of National Historic Landmarks in New York
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Ulster County, New York