News of Columbia Turnpike

Columbia Turnpike, now known as Route 23, connected the farms in the eastern part of Columbia County with Hudson and the river. Two toll houses, both listed in the National Register of Historic Places, survive at either end of the turnpike: East Gate in Hillsdale and West Gate in what is now Greenport. (Columbia Turnpike was established before the secession of Greenport in 1837, so West Gate was originally in Hudson.)

East Gate

West Gate

The Pomeroy Foundation, which placed a historic marker at the West Gate Toll House, explains this about Columbia Turnpike:

Built during what the History of Columbia County, New York (1878) called the "era of turnpike roads," the Columbia Turnpike was meant to link New York farmers near the Massachusetts border with the Hudson River. The History goes on to state that the Dutch settlers in the area were originally against the construction of such a road, because they believed that if their grandfathers didn't need one, then they wouldn't either. It is thought, however, that New Englanders were able to assert their influence, and since there were settlers from out east in the town of Hudson, and New England was just past the Taghkanic Hills, "a turnpike-road between these two points was inevitable." The turnpike was chartered in 1799 and stretched through six towns, covering 20 miles, and it is stated that the first toll was taken in November of 1800.

The West Gate Toll House is made of stone, but the East Gate Toll House is wood and consequently was more vulnerable to modern-day hazards in its location close to the road. In 2023, approval was obtained to move National Register-listed building thirty feet to protect it from traffic and road hazards. 

Yesterday, Friends of East Gate made the following announcement about the progress in reconstructing and preserving the East Gate Toll House:

Friends of East Gate announced today that reconstruction of the historic East Gate Toll House will enter a major new phase in early April, when the building's original early 19th-century timber frame will be mounted onto its newly completed foundation along NYS Route 23, just west of the Massachusetts border in Hillsdale.

Motorists traveling along Route 23 this spring will be able to witness the long-anticipated reassembly of one of few surviving tollhouses in New York State—a visible milestone in a preservation effort that began nearly a decade ago.

Friends of East Gate was established in 2016 with a mission to save the East Gate Toll House from collapse and restore it as a landmark of early American transportation history when the building was added to the National and New York State Registers of Historic Places. Since then, the structure has been carefully investigated, stabilized, and supported to prevent further deterioration.

Constructed following a 1799 act of the New York State Legislature, the East Gate Toll House served travelers on the Columbia Turnpike, a toll road organized by the founders of the City of Hudson—known as the Proprietors—that connected the Hudson River to the Berkshires. The East Gate was one of three tollhouses along the route.

Given the structure’s fragility, it was carefully dismantled to preserve its historic fabric. Its original timber frame and many salvageable materials were documented and safely stored for reuse. A new foundation was constructed in 2025—safely set back from the roadway—preparing the location for reconstruction.

The historic timber frame will be raised and secured onto the foundation by Babcock Timber Framing of Lanesborough, Massachusetts, marking the moment when the building will once again stand along the historic turnpike corridor.

Work will continue throughout the spring and summer to restore the exterior structure. Additional fundraising will be required to complete the building’s historic details and interior, ensuring that the tollhouse can serve the community as an educational and cultural resource.

“This is the year the East Gate Toll House gets back on its feet,” said James Wagman, chair of Friends of East Gate. “After years of planning, stabilization, fundraising, and careful preparation, the public will finally be able to see this historic structure rise again in the landscape where it stood for two centuries.”

The reconstruction represents a significant step in preserving regional history and the legacy of the Columbia Turnpike—one of the earliest transportation corridors linking local farms and industry to Hudson River markets—and restoring a rare surviving example of vernacular toll house architecture.

“Reconstruction is only the first step,” Wagman added. “We are now beginning the search for a responsible tenant—ideally a nonprofit or low-impact business—that will help sustain the building, support public interpretation of its history, and ensure its long-term vitality.”

To learn more about the project and the vision for this historic structure, visit friendsofeastgate.org.

Mystery Solved

Gossips didn't report on this last week when it originally happened, but the Register-Star did--twice: "Ex-Hudson mayoral aide finds dead fish on windshield" and "'Person of interest' photo released in Hudson fish-on-car case." 

Although we ignored that story when it happened, Gossips finds the resolution of interest. Earlier today, Columbia County Morning News reported the outcome of the investigation:

The Hudson City Police Department has concluded its investigation, determining that the individual responsible was a cousin of Justin Weaver, who carried out the act as a prank.

According to an official statement, "As a follow-up to this matter, the suspect has been identified as an acquaintance of Mr. Weaver, and the act was intended as a practical joke. Consequently, the case is now closed."

Update: Since Gossips published this post, the Register-Star published its own story: "Fish on ex-mayoral aide Justin Weaver's windshield was prank, police say."

Hudson in the New York Times

Galvan's gift of property in Hudson is the subject of an article today in the New York Times: "How Bard College Became a Major Real Estate Player 20 Miles Away."

Photo: Cole Wilson for the New York Times

Meetings and Events in the Week Ahead

In this week, which sees the end of March and the beginning of April and leads up to Easter Sunday, not much is happening. 

• Wednesday, April 1, is April Fool's Day. Be on the lookout for pranks.

• On Thursday, April 2, the Columbia County Housing Task Force meets at 3:30 p.m. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at 1 City Centre, Suite 301, and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely.  
• Also on Thursday, April 2, the Common Council Services Committee (Youth Department and Senior Center) meets at 5:30 p.m. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at City Hall and on Teams. Click here to join the meeting remotely. 

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No Kings!

This afternoon in Courthouse Square. The crowd was estimated to number 1,700.

Photos courtesy Lance Wheeler

Parody in the Hud

If you need a chuckle this morning, check out Trixie's List and its take on a mystery currently vying for the attention of the Hudson community. 

Foiled Attempt at Voter Fraud

We never heard much about voter fraud before Donald Trump came on the scene, but it's nice to know that attempts at voter fraud are caught and prevented in Columbia County. The following press release was issued today by the office of District Attorney Chris Liberati-Conant. The person identified as a "Hudson man" does not live in Hudson. He may live within the 12534 zip code, but Gossips' research found he actually lives in Livingston.

A Hudson man was arraigned on a sealed indictment this week that alleges he attempted to obtain a mail-in ballot for the 2024 fall election in the name of a deceased person.

Kevin Sweet, 42, faces eight counts--four felonies and four misdemeanors--in connection with the incident brought to light when the Columbia County Board of Elections discovered the attempted illegal act and presented its findings to law enforcement.

The indictment, issued by a Columbia County Grand Jury March 24 and unsealed March 25 in front of Judge Brian Herman charges Sweet with Procuring Fraudulent Documents in Order to Vote, an unclassified felony; Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, a Class E felony; Perjury in the Second Degree, a Class E felony; Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, a Class E felony; Falsifying Business Records in the Second Degree, a Class A misdemeanor; Perjury in the Third Degree, a Class A misdemeanor; Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the Second Degree, a Class A misdemeanor; and Illegal Voting, a Class A misdemeanor.

Each Class E felony carries a maximum sentence of between one-and-a-third to four years in prison while the Class A misdemeanors carry a maximum sentence of one year in jail. Sweet is set to return to court April 29, 2026.

It is alleged Sweet submitted a fraudulent mail-in ballot application in October 2024 in the name of a deceased person in an effort to have a ballot sent to an address associated with Sweet. Security measures in place by the Board of Elections kept Sweet from bring successful in his effort to obtain a ballot.

"I thank our election commissioners for their vigilance and cooperation," said District Attorney Chris Liberati-Conant. "Elections are the foundation of our democracy, and I will scrupulously protect their integrity. Defendant thought he could obtain an absentee ballot for a dead man. Instead he got caught. Do not try to commit election fraud in Columbia County. You will be caught and you will be prosecuted."

Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Nicholas Rohlfing oversaw the investigation for the District Attorney's Office and represents the People of the State of New York. Joseph Granich of Albany represents the defendant.

Redefining the Role of the HPC?

Hudson's historic preservation ordinance, Chapter 169 of the city code, was adopted in 2003 and "amended in its entirety" in 2005. The purpose of the ordinance is defined in the code as follows:

It is hereby declared, as a matter of public policy, that the protection, enhancement, and perpetuation of landmarks and historic districts are necessary to promote the economic, cultural, educational, and general welfare of the public, inasmuch as the identity of a people is founded on its past, and inasmuch as the City of Hudson has many significant historic, architectural, and cultural resources which constitute its heritage, this chapter is intended to:

A.  Protect and enhance the landmarks and historic districts which represent distinctive elements of Hudson's historic, architectural, and cultural heritage;

B.  Foster civic pride in the accomplishments of the past;

C.  Protect and enhance Hudson's attractiveness to visitors and support stimulus to the economy thereby provided;

D.  Insure the harmonious, orderly, and efficient development of the City; and

E.  Promote stewardship through education, advisement, and consultation.

The Historic Preservation Commission exists to carry out the law, yet at its meeting on February 27, Phil Forman, who chairs the Historic Preservation Commission, made this statement regarding the purpose of the HPC: "We're here to help people get their projects done. We're not here for preservation as an abstraction." You can hear him make this statement here at 2:01:53.

Forman's interpretation of what the Historic Preservation Commission is about was on full display at today's HPC meeting. The commission was continuing its review of the new construction proposed for 309-311 Union Street. It will be remembered that on February 27 the HPC agreed that, "contingent on the approval of the proposed design, the Commission will not oppose demolition." The approval of the design was a pretty significant thing. Not only would the approval of the design trigger approval of the demolition of a historic house, but it would also determine what would be introduced into the homogeneous fabric of a block in one of the city's historic districts. Despite the magnitude of the decision, Forman was seemed intent on pushing the project forward.

At its March 13 meeting, the HPC had suggested that the proposed new house be situated farther back on the lot, to align with the houses on either side and to replicate the dominant pattern on the block of sidewalk, planting bed, porch, and then house. At today's meeting, the applicant reported that the plan was now for the porch to be four feet back from the property line and six feet back from the sidewalk.

The HPC also expressed concern about the windowless side walls. (Shown in the first set of drawings below.) The drawings presented today showed two more windows on those walls--one more small window near the front on the first floor and a larger window toward the back on the second floor. (See the second set of drawings below.)

When HPC member Miranda Barry observed that the side windows were "not in the style of the other windows in the house," the architect explained they were "trying to create wall space for furniture." HPC member John Schobel expressed the opinion that the windows proposed would not "negate the enormity of that wall." Cara Cragan, the architect member of the HPC, told the architect, "The little windows suggest suburban context and dumb down the other things you've done." The architect argued that he didn't want the windows to dictate the interior layout.

In the end, it was decided that a two-over-two window, the same size as the windows on the front of the building, would replace the little window on each side nearest the front porch. Forman, expressing concern about holding up the process, suggested that the change in the windows be a contingency for a certificate of appropriateness. He called for a vote on whether or not the application was complete. The commissioners agreed that it was. Forman then indicated they were ready to vote on granting a certificate of appropriateness.

It was then that Henry Haddad, councilmember from the First Ward, where the site is located, called for a public hearing on the design, stressing the importance of the decision and alleging what was being proposed "is not built for quality of life; it is built for profit." Forman told him, "We're in the middle of a vote. We're not doing this."

Forman then made a motion to "waive a public hearing and instruct the city attorney [Victoria Polidoro] to prepare a certificate of appropriateness." 

The roll call vote started, but got sidetracked when Schobel declared he was voting no to waiving a public hearing. Forman objected, "We gave these folks every reason to believe we would approve this project." HPC member Hugh Biber added, "People are entitled to build houses." Barry commented, "If we open this up to the public, the real issue will be the demolition." 

Forman went on to say, "There has to be some limit in code or in practice where we do not put people through an unlimited gauntlet of opinion. This is new construction. There are a lot of ways to do new construction. If Cara and I had our way, we would probably be looking at stainless steel with a swoop on the top."

The vote went forward, with five members (Forman, Biber, Cragan, Barry, and Paul Barrett) voting in favor of granting the certificate of appropriateness, and only one (Schobel) opposed. The seventh member of the commission, Jeremy Stynes, was absent from the meeting. Schobel declared the decision, "Great risk to a beautiful block and great risk to our patrimony."

After the vote was taken, Ronald Kopnicki, attending remotely, asked to be recognized, but Forman refused to let him speak. The meeting was over in less than an hour.

In defending the project and urging that the project move forward, Forman asserted, "We agreed with the engineering report." That report can be found here. What the HPC seemed also to take into consideration in making their decision was the applicant's claim that repairing the foundation of the house would cost $500,000. 

At the February 13 meeting of the HPC, Barrett suggested that the applicant seeking to demolish the house at 309-311 Union Street speak with the owner of 34 South Front Street. At that same meeting, Schobel referenced 116 Union Street was an example of a building that had been brought back from near ruin. The applicant contacted the owner of 34 South Front Street, who said that the building's foundation had been in good shape when he embarked on the restoration. The applicant did not contact the owner of 116 Union Street, who is Henry Haddad and who would undoubtedly have told them exactly what he told Gossips after he reviewed the photographs of the foundation provided as evidence of the need for demolition: "Those pictures are every pre-reno basement in Hudson. I just did 116 Union. It's more than twice that size and was in far worse state. I did it for $165K with local, never left Columbia County carpenters."

Haddad might have provided this same information to the HPC this morning had Forman given him a chance.

Haddad has real experience with these things. He also rescued and restored the house at 66 North Third Street, bringing it from what's shown in the first picture below to what's shown in the second.

 

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Harry Howard Update

This just in from City Hall:

The City, along with outside engineers, has identified the cause of the large crack in the road on Harry Howard Avenue near Underhill, and the issue has been remedied. Excavation will begin next week once utility location is complete, after which DPW will do subterranean work and lay the road's subbase. Final paving will commence at the end of April. Weather permitting, we anticipate reopening the road by early May. In the meantime, we ask that everyone heed the road closure signs. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

South Side, North Side

Tomorrow morning, the Historic Preservation Commission will continue its review of the proposal to demolish the structures--a house and two outbuildings--at 309-311 Union Street and use the site for new construction. 

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, at 309-311 State Street, something worthy of note is happening. The same person who brought about this remarkable restoration of 307 State Street . . . 

is building two houses at 309-311 State Street, a lot that was vacant because the building that stood there was destroyed by fire more than twenty-five years ago. The intent was to re-create the streetscape as it once was. The project was proposed two years ago and is now nearing completion. The outcome is admirable and worthy of celebration. This photograph was taken earlier today.

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Happening This Weekend

On Saturday, March 28, it is No Kings Protest in Hudson. The rally begins at 2:00 p.m. in Seventh Street Park, followed by a march down Warren Street to the Columbia County courthouse. Speeches at the courthouse begin at 2:45 p.m.

On Sunday, March 29, the Columbia County Historical Society hosts a lecture by Thomas Shannon, Germantown Historian, on William Smith, Jr., publicly prominent Loyalist. Shannon will cover highlights of Smith's diary, from October 1776 through July 1778, when Smith passed the early stages of the war under self-exile and later house arrest at the Hermitage, formerly located on Wire Road in Livingston. The lecture takes place at 2:00 p.m. in the Community Room at the Hudson Area Library.

Of Interest

A post by "Dizzy Rascal" on the Hudson Area Community Board Facebook page tipped me off to this. According to Zillow, the building at 7-9 South Seventh Street is now for sale.

This building was purchased by The Spark of Hudson in 2022 from the legendary slum lord Phil Gellert. It was one of six buildings purchased from Gellert by The Spark of Hudson, and one of twelve buildings that were part of the HudsonDots program. Why that plan for the building was abandoned and the building is now for sale is not known.

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Money for Events in Hudson

This year, as in years past, the City has allocated $30,000 to support  "events, event series, or other tourism-related initiatives." To be eligible, events must be ADA compliant.

Hudson Jazz Festival 2025, Sounds Around Town--Photo: David McIntyre

The deadline for submitting applications is 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 16. At 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 16, the Common Council Finance Committee will review the applications. To submit an application, click here. 

To see what events were funded last year, click here.

A Reminder

This month's Mayor's Open Office Hours are tomorrow from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. All are welcome to visit City Hall to meet with the mayor and discuss all things Hudson.

The State of Things Financial

Last year around this time, Mayoral Kamal Johnson suggested that Councilmember Rich Volo should resign for raising the specter of the City's imminent insolvency.

As it turns out, although the term bankruptcy may have been a bit extreme, Volo was not wrong in warning about the City's increasingly precarious financial situation. 

At last night's Finance Committee meeting, Heather Campbell, city treasurer, reported that the unrestricted funds in the City's fund balance now total $2.27 million. The shortfall between anticipated revenue and actual revenue in 2025 is expected to reduce that amount to $1.88 million. It is recommended that a municipality's unrestricted fund balance be equal to two months (or 16.7 percent) of expenditures. For Hudson, two months' expenditures amount to $2.66 million.

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News of Higher Education

At a ceremony that took place earlier today, Havidán Rodriquez, president of the University at Albany, and Victoria Walsh, president of Columbia-Greene Community College, signed a dual admission agreement allowing Columbia-Greene students to continue their education at UAlbany.

Under the agreement, students can apply for dual admission to both colleges when they enroll at Columbia-Greene or during their first semester. After completing their studies at Columbia-Greene, students can transfer into a related bachelor's degree program at UAlbany, entering with junior-year standing. In the near future, the two institutions plan to formalize a transfer matriculation agreement for students pursuing a nursing degree.

A Bit of Good News

For anyone who has resented having to pay for a full hour of parking on Warren Street when your reason for being there takes just five minutes, here is some good news from City Hall.

The Mayor's Office and HPD are pleased to announce that on-street parking can now be paid in 30-minute increments rather than the previously programmed 60-minute increments. Feel free to reach out to either department with any questions.

In Memoriam: Dan Udell

The news was shared on Facebook that Dan Udell died earlier this month in a memory care facility in Orlando, Florida. He was 91.

Dan and his wife Mary, who passed away in 2024, lived in Taghkanic but were familiar faces in Hudson. The Udells generously devoted their energy and talent to the community of Hudson. Dan taught videography to students at Hudson High School. Dan and Mary published an annual catalog of summer events and activities called Hudson Is a Summer Festival. For more than a decade, whenever something of interest and significance happened in Hudson, Dan, usually accompanied by Mary, was there to videotape it. His documentation of Hudson in the first two decades of the 21st century survives at udellcommunityaction. In 2017, the Udells were the recipients of the Ellen Award for exceptional public service.

Dan and Mary Udell, with Ellen Thurston, for whom the award was named

Hudson's legislative body, the Common Council was the subject of many of Dan's videos. Before the pandemic and the introduction of hybrid meetings, Dan videotaped every Common Council meeting and posted them on YouTube. He stopped doing this briefly in 2014, in protest over a decision made by the Council. Dan and Mary were great dog lovers, and when, in March 2014, the Council voted to continue the ban on dogs in Henry Hudson Riverfront Park, Mary declared the decision "insane" and left the room. Dan said he was disgusted by the majority opinion of the Council and would no longer volunteer his time to document their proceedings. (Gossips' account of that meeting can be found here.) In time, however, Dan's sense of civic duty overcame his personal outrage, and he returned to documenting Council meetings, which he continued until the pandemic brought a halt to public meetings.

Dan Udell's obituary can be found here. Amusingly, it refers to Columbia County as "Hudson County" and calls the City of Hudson "Hudson Town."

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