Alas, They Are Gone

In February 2015, Gossips reported the good news that the row of houses along Route 9, immediately south of Ten Broeck Lane, were to renovated not demolished. People were concerned about them, because all but one of the houses was vacant and had been for a while, and there was a notice on every door. Investigating, Gossips discovered the notices were building permits not demolition permits.

At the time, Gossips mistakenly indicated that the houses had been built by Fred W. Jones, owner of the New York Coral and Shell Marble Company, who, in the latter part of the 19th century, lived directly across the street. It turns out that the houses were probably not built until after Jones's death in 1901, and they are associated with the Ten Broecks, who owned all the land on that side of the road and for whom Ten Broeck Lane was named. At one time, this stand of houses was known as "Ten Broeck Row."

Photo 1928 courtesy Peter Cipkowski

In August 2015, Gossips reported the bad news that the plans for renovating the buildings called for the removal of the front porches. Various attempts were made to prevent the removal of the porches, including nominating the row of houses to be one of the New York State Preservation League's Seven to Save in the hope of bringing public attention to the importance of these humble vernacular houses, but all proved ineffective. (Of the several properties in the Hudson Valley seeking to be one of the Seven to Save for 2016-2017, the League appropriately chose the magnificent Dutch Reformed Church in Newburgh, designed by Alexander Jackson Davis.)

Still, through the months that the porches remained, the hope that they might be preserved endured . . . until just a few days ago. Now they are gone.

COPYRIGHT 2016 CAROLE OSTERINK