It's mid-July, and as we move deeper into summer, here is what's happening.
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| South elevation--Columbia Street |
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| West elevation--North Second Street |
The Hendrick Hudson Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution has successfully concluded a restoration that was funded in large part by a $496,775 matching grant from the federal Department of Interior, National Park Service. The grant itself was funded through the Historic Preservation Fund and the Save America's Treasures grant program, and it funded 50 percent of several major rehabilitation projects of the 1811 Historic Robert Jenkins House at 113 Warren Street in Hudson, NY.
The nearly $500,000 grant was matched by generous donations by chapter members as well as local institutions including the HRBT Foundation, the William G Pomeroy Foundation, and the Bank of Greene County. Many neighbors, city and county, many local businesses, and visitors from all over the country were very generous donors as well. In June, a significant donation of $15,000 was received from the Home for the Aged, to be used exclusively to achieve accessibility at the chapter house.
The Home for the Aged was founded in 1883 with its purpose being "the providing of a suitable home for and proper care, support and maintenance of aged and indigent men and women in the said County of Columbia." It is a privately endowed institution that for well over 100 years maintained a stately home in Hudson at Union and Seventh streets. Currently, the foundation provides support for senior citizens in Columbia County.
Restoration projects at the Robert Jenkins House that have been concluded include a stunning new slate roof, new gutters, and repaired masonry on the house's east and west parapets. Now finishing up is a new electrical system on the first floor, which required a demolition of outdated 20th century finishes in its basement, revealing the house's 1811 fireplace with beehive oven and wood box.
The chapter is now beginning repair work to exterior doors at the rear of the house. Those restored doors will lead to a thoughtfully designed accessible entrance, including a historically compatible, curved, ADA-compliant access ramp and expanded landing areas which include a handsome patio of stone pavers. The design prioritizes what will be a new and important entry to the chapter house, which is surrounded by a lovely backyard that has been a focus of the chapter's attention in recent years.
Chapter Regent Virginia Martin said, "It would be difficult to overstate the importance of these beautifully executed restoration projects, or of the project for accessibility that we are now embarking on. The Federal-style Robert Jenkins House is arguably Hudson’s most iconic and historic residential structure. Built in 1811, the interior was gently remodeled in 1900, and it remains remarkably untouched since that time. The house sits on the most beautiful and historic block in Hudson, in the Front Street-Parade Hill-Lower Warren Street Historic District. Its size and imposing roof parapets are striking, distinctive, and visible from blocks away."
She continued, "The house has among the most prominent lineage in the City, as it was built by the son of a Proprietor. The Proprietors founded the city in 1785 after moving their families and whaling business from Nantucket, where the British were harassing them, to what was then Claverack Landing. They created a city, named it Hudson, and established a thriving whaling economy that we remember and celebrate now."
Chapter membership is determined that the beautiful house be made accessible to everyone for their enjoyment--be they visitors interested in touring the house and its museum and genealogical and historical library, or people interested in attending its public programs, or the chapter's own members.
The Robert Jenkins House was gifted to the Hendrick Hudson Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution in 1900 by the granddaughter of Robert Jenkins, who herself had been born in the house in 1833. The purpose then was to establish it as a focal point for city residents, which continues to be a goal of the chapter.
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR), founded in 1890, is a nonprofit, nonpolitical women's service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America's future through better education for children. There are currently about 190,000 members in chapters in all 50 states and abroad. The Hendrick Hudson Chapter of the NSDAR, founded in 1895 and chartered in 1896, currently has 130 members and meets in the historic Robert Jenkins House, which it owns.
DAR members trace their lineage back to a patriot in the American Revolution--whether serving as soldier, shopkeeper, or seamstress. The organization welcomes eligible women without regard to race, creed, or religion. It is one of the most inclusive genealogical societies in the country.
The chapter and the chapter house can be accessed at hudson-dar.org, facebook.com/HudsonDAR, instagram.com/robertjenkinshouse, hendrickhudsonchapterdar@gmail.com, and (518) 828-9764.
For more information on the completed restoration project or the accessibility project just beginning, please contact chapter regent Virginia Martin at (518) 828-9764 or hendrickhudsonchapterdar@gmail.com. For questions regarding the Save America's Treasures grant program, or to comment on this or any other proposed Historic Preservation Fund grant project, please contact the State, Tribal, Local, Plans & Grants Division, National Park Service, at (202) 354-2020 or stlpg@nps.gov.
Like many hospitality businesses, we have faced ongoing staffing challenges that have made it increasingly difficult to deliver the level of quality, hospitality, and experience that has always been at the heart of Banque. Rather than compromise those standards, we believe it is the right time to step back, regroup, and thoughtfully consider what comes next.
This is not necessarily goodbye. We remain deeply committed to the vision behind Banque and are exploring what the next chapter may look like. While we don’t yet know exactly what form that will take, we are excited by the possibilities and look forward to sharing more when the time is right.
For the safety of bikers participating in the Bike Rodeo tomorrow [Thursday, July 9], Glenwood Blvd will be closed between Parkwood Blvd and the entrance to Oakdale between 4:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Please plan accordingly. Please spread the word and if you're free tomorrow evening, stop over!
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| Photo: The Humane Society of the United States |
Friends of the Public Square (FOPS) and the City of Hudson are pleased to announce that new bids are being solicited for the first stage of renovating the Seventh Street Park. The revised bid documents, prepared by Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects & Planners, cover improvements that will cost around the $1 million in funds that FOPS has raised to date.
Requests for Information will be due on July 31, and bids will be due on August 11, 2026. A committee that includes New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) and Hudson Mayor Joe Ferris will select the winning bidder in August.
Once a bid is accepted, groundbreaking in the park can happen in Fall 2026. FOPS co-chair Katherine Kanaga said, “We are thrilled that we now have the pieces in place to break ground this year. Hudson, more than ever, deserves a beautiful oasis in the heart of its business district.”
The $1 million to pay for this first phase comes from a $500,000 matching grant OPRHP and grants from Spark of Hudson and grants initiated by Assembly Member Didi Barrett and Senator Michelle Hinchey. It does not include a federal grant of $250,000 obtained for the park by Representative Josh Riley. This additional funding, once it is received, will be used for a new fountain at the square’s center.
"Hudson's original gathering place is one step closer to once again becoming a public space for everyone," said Hudson Mayor Joseph Ferris. "The release of the construction bid for phase one of restoration work for the Seventh Street Park means shovels will soon be in the ground. This will bring an expanded plaza, new open seating area and lighting, restored pathways and a new location for the veterans memorial that provides it the greater place of prominence it deserves. Today's milestone is the result of a true team effort. Representative Josh Riley, State Senator Michelle Hinchey, Assembly Member Didi Barrett and their offices have done incredible work securing crucial grant funding. New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation have been an essential partner in this project as have the community partners who have provided generous support. And none of this would have been possible without the tireless work and unflagging commitment shown by the Friends of the Public Square team."
On the first weekend of August, the Hudson Film Festival returns for its fourth season of showcasing diverse and award-winning films. The 2026 lineup expands programming for youth education, short films, events, and special presentations, with a total of twenty-five films and a presentation of preserved video art from XFR Collective's "Monday/Wednesday/Friday" archival tape collection (1980-1985). The festival returns to venue partners Hudson Hall, Time & Space Limited, Basilica Hudson, and The Spark of Hudson, along with screening technical partner Story Screen. In 2026, there are also new venue partners: Community Theater and Avalon Lounge in Catskill.