Hudson's Lost Historic District, Part I

In the National Register of Historic Places, there are two entries for the Front Street-Parade Hill-Lower Warren Street Historic District. In the first entry, added in 1970, there were 95 buildings; in the second entry for the same district, added in 1986, there were only 25 buildings. 

Recently Gossips obtained from Bill Krattinger at the State Historic Preservation Office copies of the documents from the 1970 National Register application. Here's how the district was described in that application:

The Front Street-Parade Hill-Lower Warren Street Historic District includes buildings along both sides of Warren Street between Second Street and Parade Hill; both sides of North and South Front Streets between Diamond Street and Allen Street (Ferry Street); both sides of Prison Alley between North Front Street and the edge of the bluff; the north side of Fleet Street; and Parade Hill and Franklin Square. 

This area includes a number of late eighteenth, nineteenth and early twentieth century buildings, which were built in a variety of architectural styles and for a number of uses. A common building type is one with a store or other commercial use on the first floor with dwelling space above.

Along South Front Street which connects Warren Street (originally Main Street) on the top of the bluff with the Hudson River landing area to the south are a number of late eighteenth century commercial structures.

The area also includes two public open spaces, Parade Hill and Franklin Square.  

The inventory of buildings in the district contains thumbnail descriptions of every one. What follows are the descriptions of the buildings that once stood on the west side of South Front Street. Read them and use your imaginations. The photographs that accompanied the application have yet to be discovered.

A few things to bear in mind: Pennoyer Street was the continuation of Union Street on the west side of Front Street; Fleet Street was the continuation of Partition Street; there was once an alley running west of Front Street between Pennoyer and Fleet streets.

SOUTH FRONT STREET West Side
(Between Warren and Pennoyer Streets)

1  Three-story brick structure, gabled and semi-hip roof, five bays wide on West Warren Street, three bays wide on Front Street, flemish bond brickwork, brick flat arches, fan windows in gable.

This structure was built in the late 1780's or early 1790's and used as store by Marshall Jenkins, who was one of the original proprietors.

3  Three-story brick dwelling and store, three bays wide, gabled roof, stone lintels, flemish bond brickwork.

5  Three-story wood dwelling four bays wide, gabled roof, remodeled first floor.

7  Three-story brick dwelling and store, three bays wide, flat roof, flemish bond brickwork, stone trim, original arched doorway trim intact, modern storefront.

9  Three-story frame dwelling, three bays wide, gabled roof, bracketed cornice, remodeled first story, modern asbestos siding.

23  Two and one-half story brick dwelling, five bays wide, hip roof, flemish bond brickwork, splayed brick flat area, remodeled doorway and porch.

(Between Pennoyer and Fleet Streets)

27  Three and one-half story brick dwelling, five bays wide, gabled roof, bracketed cornice, flemish bond brickwork, splayed stone lintels, central arched doorway with original stone trim, fan windows in gable.

29  Three and one-half story brick dwelling and store, three bays wide, gabled roof, two dormers, splayed stone lintels, flemish bond brickwork, remodeled first story.

31  Three-story brick dwelling and store, two bays wide, gabled and flat roofs, common bond brickwork, remodeled first floor store front.

33  Two and one-half story brick dwelling and store, four bays wide, gabled roof, common bond brickwork, brick flat arches, first floor bracketed store front.

35  Three-story brick commercial and residential block, three bays wide on Front Street, seven bays wide on Fleet Street, flat roof, common bond brickwork, bracketed and paneled cornice, first floor store front.

FLEET STREET North Side (From river east to Alley)

Two-story wood dwelling, gabled roof, three bays wide, wooden porch extending width of house on first floor.

Three and one-half story brick dwelling, three bays wide, gabled roof, bracketed cornice, common bond brickwork, wood lintels, enclosed first floor porch.

ALLEY West Side (Between Fleet and Pennoyer Streets, west of Front Street)

Three and one-half story wood dwelling, five bays wide, gabled roof, modern siding.

FRANKLIN SQUARE

This square is the site of the first settlement made by members of the Proprietors' Association. On the north side of the square were located the houses of Seth Jenkins and John Alsop built in the fall of 1783. Ravaged by fire in 1838, the block was declared a public square by the Common Council four days after the fire. Now a playground, the area almost certainly contains archeological remains of the original buildings constructed in Hudson.

Tomorrow we'll begin publishing the descriptions of buildings on North Front Street that were part of the original 1970 Front Street-Parade Hill-Lower Warren Street Historic District.