Peekskill Downtown Historic District
Encyclopedia
The Peekskill
Downtown Historic District
is located in the downtown section of that city in the U.S. state
of New York
. It includes the 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) along Main, Division, South, Park, Bank, Brown, First and Esther streets, and Central and Union avenues, near where those streets intersect. There are 150 buildings and one object counted among its contributing resources.
Peekskill, originally a settlement along the shore of the Hudson River
where farmers from inland Westchester County
brought produce for transshipment to markets in New York City
and elsewhere, began to grow inland in the early 19th century due to the intersection of two major roads that roughly corresponds to today's Central and Division streets. The Albany Post Road
, followed later by US 9 until its relocation to the Croton Expressway closer to the river, and the Danbury Turnpike, still followed by US 202
(and, in the western part of the city and district, US 6
and NY 35
). Two houses in the district, in a typical Hudson Valley
vernacular
style
, remain from this era.
Industrialization began changing downtown after 1830, with brick buildings supporting that use replacing older wooden ones along Magregere's Creek. Many of the district's churches were built by the mid-19th century. Fashionable houses, later known as "Doctor's Row", were built on Main Street. In the 1880s the Moorish Revival
tower was built on a structure in the center of town that has remained a landmark for passing travelers ever since. Other late Victorian
styles made their mark as well.
In the 20th century, some more buildings were added in more modern
contemporary styles, and the increasing use of the automobile affected downtown as well. The decline of retail shopping in the district led to urban renewal
efforts in the 1960s and 70s. While some historic buildings were razed, the major urban renewal projects coincided with the eastern boundary of the downtown core, sparing most of it. The district was recognized and added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 2004 as a rare example of intact 19th-century Hudson Valley downtown architecture.
Peekskill, New York
Peekskill is a city in Westchester County, New York. It is situated on a bay along the east side of the Hudson River, across from Jones Point.This community was known to be an early American industrial center, primarily for its iron plow and stove products...
Downtown 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 located in the downtown section of that city in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
. It includes the 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) along Main, Division, South, Park, Bank, Brown, First and Esther streets, and Central and Union avenues, near where those streets intersect. There are 150 buildings and one object counted among its contributing resources.
Peekskill, originally a settlement along the shore of the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
where farmers from inland Westchester County
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
brought produce for transshipment to markets in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and elsewhere, began to grow inland in the early 19th century due to the intersection of two major roads that roughly corresponds to today's Central and Division streets. 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:...
, followed later by US 9 until its relocation to the Croton Expressway closer to the river, and the Danbury Turnpike, still followed by US 202
U.S. Route 202 in New York
U.S. Route 202 is a part of the U.S. Highway System that runs from New Castle, Delaware, to Bangor, Maine. In the U.S. state of New York, US 202 extends from the New Jersey state line near Suffern to the Connecticut state line east of Brewster. While most of US 202 is signed...
(and, in the western part of the city and district, US 6
U.S. Route 6 in New York
U.S. Route 6 is a part of the U.S. Highway System that runs from Bishop, California, to Provincetown, Massachusetts. In New York, US 6 extends from the Pennsylvania state line at Port Jervis to the Connecticut state line east of Brewster...
and NY 35
New York State Route 35
New York State Route 35 is the principal east–west highway in the northern part of Westchester County, New York, carrying average daily volumes of around 16,500 vehicles...
). Two houses in the district, in a typical Hudson Valley
Hudson Valley
The Hudson Valley comprises the valley of the Hudson River and its adjacent communities in New York State, United States, from northern Westchester County northward to the cities of Albany and Troy.-History:...
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...
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...
, remain from this era.
Industrialization began changing downtown after 1830, with brick buildings supporting that use replacing older wooden ones along Magregere's Creek. Many of the district's churches were built by the mid-19th century. Fashionable houses, later known as "Doctor's Row", were built on Main Street. In the 1880s the Moorish Revival
Moorish Revival
Moorish Revival or Neo-Moorish is one of the exotic revival architectural styles that were adopted by architects of Europe and the Americas in the wake of the Romanticist fascination with all things oriental...
tower was built on a structure in the center of town that has remained a landmark for passing travelers ever since. Other late Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
styles made their mark as well.
In the 20th century, some more buildings were added in more modern
Modern architecture
Modern architecture is generally characterized by simplification of form and creation of ornament from the structure and theme of the building. It is a term applied to an overarching movement, with its exact definition and scope varying widely...
contemporary styles, and the increasing use of the automobile affected downtown as well. The decline of retail shopping in the district led to urban renewal
Urban renewal
Urban renewal is a program of land redevelopment in areas of moderate to high density urban land use. Renewal has had both successes and failures. Its modern incarnation began in the late 19th century in developed nations and experienced an intense phase in the late 1940s – under the rubric of...
efforts in the 1960s and 70s. While some historic buildings were razed, the major urban renewal projects coincided with the eastern boundary of the downtown core, sparing most of it. The district was recognized 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...
in 2004 as a rare example of intact 19th-century Hudson Valley downtown architecture.