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Union Street Historic District (Poughkeepsie, New York)
Encyclopedia
The Union Street Historic District in Poughkeepsie
, New York, United States, is an area of eight blocks
(roughly 42 acres (17 ha)) southwest of downtown and just north of the Mid-Hudson Bridge
approaches. It is the oldest neighborhood in the city.
It dates to 1767 when a path to the Hudson River
was developed into a street. In 1971 it was designated a historic district
and became the first property in the city to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
on the south side of Main Street, on the east by the crest of the slope up from the Hudson River
(roughly the rear property lines of the west side of Market Street, 200 feet (61 m) above the water), on the south by US 44
and NY 55
(the East-West Arterial) and on the east by US 9 (the North-South Arterial). This eight-block area of 42 acres (17 ha) included, at the time of its Register listing, 173 contributing properties
. None of them are separately listed.
Union Street runs across the district roughly west-southwest to east-northeast. Delano and Grand streets are also included in their entirety, and portions of South Bridge, South Clover and South Perry streets are within the district as well.
Topographically, the district slopes down towards the river from east to west. All its streets are developed, with a few vacant lots. Buildings and lots, both the smallest, on average, in any area of the city, are densely clustered, with many having yards in the rear rather than the side. There are many older, taller trees that provide shade and greenery.
A neighborhood gradually arose around it, becoming the first residence for many immigrant groups in the city: the Germans
, Irish
, Poles
, Italians
, other Slavic groups. Descendants of many of them stayed in the neighborhood for years. In the mid-20th century the area became racially integrated
when African-Americans began settling in the area.
Throughout the 19th century builders put up the same general house plan, adapting it only slightly to prevailing architectural style
s: a two-and-half-story structure with three-bay
facade
. This was done first in brick with stone trim, then wood, then in more detailed brickwork
. They evolved from having simple steps to the street, to stoops
to, at the end of the century, elaborate verandas. Some buildings, usually at the intersections, had businesses at street level.
The houses were located on narrow lots with no sideyards, only a rear yard. This created a strong sense of community, and a division between public and private space. Within this, the oblique angles of the Union Street intersections, and the slope of the land gave each house its own perspective on and within the neighborhood.
By the late 1960s many of the surrounding neighborhoods had been razed for road construction or extensively rebuilt through urban renewal
programs. The historic designation made this less likely to happen in the Union Street area, and preserved
it as it had been.
Poughkeepsie (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...
, New York, United States, is an area of eight blocks
City block
A city block, urban block or simply block is a central element of urban planning and urban design. A city block is the smallest area that is surrounded by streets. City blocks are the space for buildings within the street pattern of a city, they form the basic unit of a city's urban fabric...
(roughly 42 acres (17 ha)) southwest of downtown and just north of the Mid-Hudson Bridge
Mid-Hudson Bridge
The Mid-Hudson Bridge is a toll suspension bridge which carries US 44 and NY 55 across the Hudson River between Poughkeepsie and Highland in the state of New York. Governor and local resident Franklin D. Roosevelt and his wife Eleanor attended the opening ceremony on August 25, 1930. The bridge...
approaches. It is the oldest neighborhood in the city.
It dates to 1767 when a path to 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...
was developed into a street. In 1971 it was designated 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 became the first property in the city to be listed on 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 district is roughly rectangular. It is bounded on the north by the rear property lines of lotsLot (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...
on the south side of Main Street, on the east by the crest of the slope up from 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...
(roughly the rear property lines of the west side of Market Street, 200 feet (61 m) above the water), on the south by US 44
U.S. Route 44 in New York
U.S. Route 44 in the state of New York is a major east–west thoroughfare in the Hudson Valley region of the state. Its entire length is maintained by the New York State Department of Transportation, with the exception of the Mid-Hudson Bridge, which is maintained by the New York State Bridge...
and NY 55
New York State Route 55
New York State Route 55 is a state highway in southern New York, running from the Pennsylvania state line at the Delaware River in Barryville to the Connecticut state line at Wingdale...
(the East-West Arterial) and on the east by US 9 (the North-South Arterial). This eight-block area of 42 acres (17 ha) included, at the time of its Register listing, 173 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...
. None of them are separately listed.
Union Street runs across the district roughly west-southwest to east-northeast. Delano and Grand streets are also included in their entirety, and portions of South Bridge, South Clover and South Perry streets are within the district as well.
Topographically, the district slopes down towards the river from east to west. All its streets are developed, with a few vacant lots. Buildings and lots, both the smallest, on average, in any area of the city, are densely clustered, with many having yards in the rear rather than the side. There are many older, taller trees that provide shade and greenery.
History
The street began as a winding footpath connecting the early settlement of Poughkeepsie, around the present-day location of Market Street, to the Union Store on the river. In 1767 it was expanded into the first road from Poughkeepsie to the river. Maps prepared in 1799 show it as Union Store Road.A neighborhood gradually arose around it, becoming the first residence for many immigrant groups in the city: the Germans
German American
German Americans are citizens of the United States of German ancestry and comprise about 51 million people, or 17% of the U.S. population, the country's largest self-reported ancestral group...
, Irish
Irish American
Irish Americans are citizens of the United States who can trace their ancestry to Ireland. A total of 36,278,332 Americans—estimated at 11.9% of the total population—reported Irish ancestry in the 2008 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau...
, Poles
Polish American
A Polish American , is a citizen of the United States of Polish descent. There are an estimated 10 million Polish Americans, representing about 3.2% of the population of the United States...
, Italians
Italian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
, other Slavic groups. Descendants of many of them stayed in the neighborhood for years. In the mid-20th century the area became racially integrated
Racial integration
Racial integration, or simply integration includes desegregation . In addition to desegregation, integration includes goals such as leveling barriers to association, creating equal opportunity regardless of race, and the development of a culture that draws on diverse traditions, rather than merely...
when African-Americans began settling in the area.
Throughout the 19th century builders put up the same general house plan, adapting it only slightly to prevailing 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: a two-and-half-story structure with three-bay
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:...
facade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
. This was done first in brick with stone trim, then wood, then in more detailed brickwork
Brickwork
Brickwork is masonry produced by a bricklayer, using bricks and mortar to build up brick structures such as walls. Brickwork is also used to finish corners, door, and window openings, etc...
. They evolved from having simple steps to the street, to stoops
Urban stoop
In urban architecture, a stoop is a small staircase ending in a platform and leading to the entrance of an apartment building or other building.-Etymology:...
to, at the end of the century, elaborate verandas. Some buildings, usually at the intersections, had businesses at street level.
The houses were located on narrow lots with no sideyards, only a rear yard. This created a strong sense of community, and a division between public and private space. Within this, the oblique angles of the Union Street intersections, and the slope of the land gave each house its own perspective on and within the neighborhood.
By the late 1960s many of the surrounding neighborhoods had been razed for road construction or extensively rebuilt through 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...
programs. The historic designation made this less likely to happen in the Union Street area, and preserved
Historic preservation
Historic preservation is an endeavor that seeks to preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes or other artifacts of historical significance...
it as it had been.