Main Street-Albertson Street-Park Place Historic District
Encyclopedia
The Main Street-Albertson Street-Park Place Historic District is located in the residential neighborhood just west of US 9 near central Hyde Park
, New York, United States. It is a predominantly residential area of 6.8 acres (2.8 ha) along the named streets, also including Hyde Park's library and a few former church buildings since converted into houses.
Its buildings were the core of Hyde Park in the 19th century, before later development and expansion shifted the center of Hyde Park to its current location just to the northeast. Many are in their original condition. In 1993 it was recognized as a historic district
and added to the National Register of Historic Places
.
lines and streets. It begins at the intersection of Main Street and Route 9, including all buildings fronting on Main for the two blocks west to Park Place. All the buildings on Park between Main and Albertson streets to the south are included, as well as some buildings at the west end of Albertson.
This includes 36 buildings and structures in all, only six of which are not considered contributing properties
to the district. Most of them are frame
houses and their outbuildings built between 1840 and 1860, a time of slow transition between the Federal and Greek Revival
architectural style
s at the vernacular
level.
The most significant exception is the newest contributing property, the James Roosevelt
Memorial Library at 2 Main Street, constructed of fieldstone in 1927 at the behest of Roosevelt's son Franklin, since his family made the donation that allowed for its construction. Buildings at 15 and 19 Park Place are the former Baptist Church and St. James Rectory, dating to the late 1840s. Across the street, 20 Park was likewise once a Methodist parsonage.
along the east bank of the Hudson was known as Hyde Park as early as the 1730s, but remained largely unsettled until the 1760s, when the first large estates
that were initially used as summer residences were established. By the end of the century, both the present center of Hyde Park and Staatsburg
had been established.
Hyde Park became a town in 1821. Fifteen years later, in 1836, Main Street established itself as a short route between what was then the Albany Post Road
and today's Market Street. A hundred lots were subdivided, and by 1858 maps show a thriving community with churches, houses and businesses in the area of the present historic district. Most of their owners were local businessmen and craftsmen. Later, the influence of large estate-owning families like the Roosevelts
and Vanderbilts
grew to the point they played a major role in the local economy, and their workers resided in the houses. This culminated in 1927 with the Roosevelt Library's construction.
Most homes in the district were built in a modest Greek Revival
style, three bays
wide rather than the customary five, since the lots were narrow. Later on, in the late 1860s, two houses had mansard roof
s added, in keeping with the Second Empire style growing in popularity at the time.
In the 20th century, the rise of the estates, the growth the area experienced after Franklin Roosevelt became President and spent his vacations in the area and the rise of the automobile changed the geography of downtown Hyde Park. Main Street was still unpaved
in the 1930s; at that time Roosevelt spearheaded the construction of the new post office
at the crossroads of what was now Route 9 and Market, where it joined a new firehouse
. The center of the town shifted to that junction, northeast of the old downtown. The buildings of what had historically been Hyde Park remained largely untouched, with a few modern additions to the neighborhood in the later decades of the century.
Hyde Park, New York
Hyde Park is a town located in the northwest part of Dutchess County, New York, United States, just north of the city of Poughkeepsie. The town is most famous for being the hometown of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt....
, New York, United States. It is a predominantly residential area of 6.8 acres (2.8 ha) along the named streets, also including Hyde Park's library and a few former church buildings since converted into houses.
Its buildings were the core of Hyde Park in the 19th century, before later development and expansion shifted the center of Hyde Park to its current location just to the northeast. Many are in their original condition. In 1993 it was recognized as a historic district
Historic district (United States)
In the United States, a historic district is a group of buildings, properties, or sites that have been designated by one of several entities on different levels as historically or architecturally significant. Buildings, structures, objects and sites within a historic district are normally divided...
and added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Geography
The irregularly-shaped district boundaries are mostly lotLot (real estate)
In real estate, a lot or plot is a tract or parcel of land owned or meant to be owned by some owner. A lot is essentially considered a parcel of real property in some countries or immovable property in other countries...
lines and streets. It begins at the intersection of Main Street and Route 9, including all buildings fronting on Main for the two blocks west to Park Place. All the buildings on Park between Main and Albertson streets to the south are included, as well as some buildings at the west end of Albertson.
This includes 36 buildings and structures in all, only six of which are not considered contributing properties
Contributing property
In the law regulating historic districts in the United States, a contributing resource or contributing property is any building, structure, or object which adds to the historical integrity or architectural qualities that make the historic district, listed locally or federally, significant...
to the district. Most of them are frame
Framing (construction)
Framing, in construction known as light-frame construction, is a building technique based around structural members, usually called studs, which provide a stable frame to which interior and exterior wall coverings are attached, and covered by a roof comprising horizontal ceiling joists and sloping...
houses and their outbuildings built between 1840 and 1860, a time of slow transition between the Federal and Greek Revival
Greek Revival architecture
The Greek Revival was an architectural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in Northern Europe and the United States. A product of Hellenism, it may be looked upon as the last phase in the development of Neoclassical architecture...
architectural style
Architectural style
Architectural styles classify architecture in terms of the use of form, techniques, materials, time period, region and other stylistic influences. It overlaps with, and emerges from the study of the evolution and history of architecture...
s at the vernacular
Vernacular architecture
Vernacular architecture is a term used to categorize methods of construction which use locally available resources and traditions to address local needs and circumstances. Vernacular architecture tends to evolve over time to reflect the environmental, cultural and historical context in which it...
level.
The most significant exception is the newest contributing property, the James Roosevelt
James Roosevelt, Sr.
James Roosevelt, Sr. was a businessman and father of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States...
Memorial Library at 2 Main Street, constructed of fieldstone in 1927 at the behest of Roosevelt's son Franklin, since his family made the donation that allowed for its construction. Buildings at 15 and 19 Park Place are the former Baptist Church and St. James Rectory, dating to the late 1840s. Across the street, 20 Park was likewise once a Methodist parsonage.
History
The area north of PoughkeepsiePoughkeepsie (city), New York
Poughkeepsie is a city in the state of New York, United States, which serves as the county seat of Dutchess County. Poughkeepsie is located in the Hudson River Valley midway between New York City and Albany...
along the east bank of the Hudson was known as Hyde Park as early as the 1730s, but remained largely unsettled until the 1760s, when the first large estates
Estate (house)
An estate comprises the houses and outbuildings and supporting farmland and woods that surround the gardens and grounds of a very large property, such as a country house or mansion. It is the modern term for a manor, but lacks the latter's now abolished jurisdictional authority...
that were initially used as summer residences were established. By the end of the century, both the present center of Hyde Park and Staatsburg
Staatsburg, New York
Staatsburg is a hamlet in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 911 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined...
had been established.
Hyde Park became a town in 1821. Fifteen years later, in 1836, Main Street established itself as a short route between what was then the Albany Post Road
Albany Post Road
The Albany Post Road was a post road - a road used for mail delivery - in the U.S. state of New York. It connected the cities of New York and Albany along the east side of the Hudson River, a service now performed by US 9.The rough route was as follows:...
and today's Market Street. A hundred lots were subdivided, and by 1858 maps show a thriving community with churches, houses and businesses in the area of the present historic district. Most of their owners were local businessmen and craftsmen. Later, the influence of large estate-owning families like the Roosevelts
Roosevelt family
In heraldry, canting arms are a visual or pictorial play on a surname, and were and still are a popular practice. It would be common to find roses, then, in arms of many Roosevelt families, even unrelated ones...
and Vanderbilts
Vanderbilt family
The Vanderbilt family is an American family of Dutch origin prominent during the Gilded Age. It started off with the shipping and railroad empires of Cornelius Vanderbilt, and expanded into various other areas of industry and philanthropy...
grew to the point they played a major role in the local economy, and their workers resided in the houses. This culminated in 1927 with the Roosevelt Library's construction.
Most homes in the district were built in a modest Greek Revival
Greek Revival architecture
The Greek Revival was an architectural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in Northern Europe and the United States. A product of Hellenism, it may be looked upon as the last phase in the development of Neoclassical architecture...
style, three bays
Bay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
wide rather than the customary five, since the lots were narrow. Later on, in the late 1860s, two houses had mansard roof
Mansard roof
A mansard or mansard roof is a four-sided gambrel-style hip roof characterized by two slopes on each of its sides with the lower slope at a steeper angle than the upper that is punctured by dormer windows. The roof creates an additional floor of habitable space, such as a garret...
s added, in keeping with the Second Empire style growing in popularity at the time.
In the 20th century, the rise of the estates, the growth the area experienced after Franklin Roosevelt became President and spent his vacations in the area and the rise of the automobile changed the geography of downtown Hyde Park. Main Street was still unpaved
Dirt road
Dirt road is a common term for an unpaved road made from the native material of the land surface through which it passes, known to highway engineers as subgrade material. Dirt roads are suitable for vehicles; a narrower path for pedestrians, animals, and possibly small vehicles would be called a...
in the 1930s; at that time Roosevelt spearheaded the construction of the new post office
U.S. Post Office (Hyde Park, New York)
The U.S. Post Office in Hyde Park, New York, serves the 12538 ZIP Code. It is a stone building in the Dutch Colonial Revival architectural style, located on East Market Street just east of US 9....
at the crossroads of what was now Route 9 and Market, where it joined a new firehouse
Hyde Park Firehouse
The Hyde Park Firehouse is located along US 9 in downtown Hyde Park, New York, USA. It was built in 1905 as headquarters for the Eagle Engine and Rescue fire company, which later became part of the Hyde Park Fire Department and moved to newer quarters a block further up Route 9...
. The center of the town shifted to that junction, northeast of the old downtown. The buildings of what had historically been Hyde Park remained largely untouched, with a few modern additions to the neighborhood in the later decades of the century.