Time and Again

An accident last year, in which the operator an e-bike failed to stop at the "Stop" sign and collided with a pickup truck, was among the incidents that prompted the Common Council Legal Committee to consider new measures and ordinances to encourage e-bike and scooter safety. 

I was reminded of the Legal Committee's current efforts when I came upon the item below in the Columbia Repiublican for July 6, 1909. E-bikes and scooters may be a new phenomenon, but the problems they cause are the same as those dealt with more than a hundred years ago. (Click on the image to enlarge. Because even when enlarged the the text is hard to read, the most relevant parts are transcribed below.) 

The motorcycles are under fire. They have been abusing their privileges. They have been speeding along the streets and country roads with too little regard for the safety of others. . . .

The need of regulation is becoming more apparent every day. In a case in the municipal court in New York the other day a police captain appeared as an assistant to the prosecution of a youthful motorcyclist arraigned for running his machine at reckless speed. He said that the motorcyclists are more flagrant violators of the law than the automobile speeders and much more dangerous. . . . 

The fascination of the motorcycle appears to make the rider forget the rights of others. As it can be guided between passing vehicles and used in narrow spaces along the roadway by the side of automobiles, street cars, and wagons, it becomes an added menace to the pedestrians. The reports of accidents in which the cyclist is killed because of inability to stop his machine in time to avert collisions increase in number. It is evident that carelessness and recklessness have elements of danger to the rider himself. 

It is a desirable thing to secure some regulation of the motorcycles. They appear to be practical and useful machines for pleasure and business. But it also brings danger to large numbers of other people who have other equal rights in pleasure and life. . . .

There is nothing new under the sun.

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An Addendum for Presidents Day

On Monday, Gossips republished a post, originally written for Presidents Day in 2018, which recounted all the presidents that have visited Hudson over the years--before, during, or after their terms in office. The one whose visit to Hudson remained something of a mystery was William Howard Taft, our 27th president. 

In 2015, Alan Levine contacted Historic Hudson and in turn Gossips seeking information about this photograph, which is labeled "From the Rowles Collection." 

This is a detail from the photograph.

  

In a post published on Presidents Day in 2016, Gossips established that the central figure in the picture is William Howard Taft and the railroad car is his private rail car named The Mayflower. But we still didn't know when and why Taft was in Hudson.

Tonight, Rob Perry sent Gossips the link to an article that appeared in New York Almanack on December 1, 2020, that may explain the circumstance surrounding Taft's appearance in Hudson: "President Taft at Old Ticonderoga." The article reports that on July 6, 1909, Taft traveled from Grand Central Station to Albany and then on to Addison Junction station in Ticonderoga to attend the celebration at Fort Ticonderoga of the 300th anniversary of the visit of Samuel de Champlain to the region. The article recounts this about the journey:

On the way to Ticonderoga on July 6th, the President's train stopped at Poughkeepsie at 9:36 am, observed seemingly by few, other than a local newspaper reporter.

"President Taft looked ruddy with a good, strong coat of tan and was in the best of spirits," the reporter observed. "He had nothing special to say, and thought the press was keeping the public well informed as to his whereabouts and doings."

The President's train was expected to pass through Hudson at 10:40 am.

If this photograph does in fact show Taft on his way to Fort Ticonderoga on July 6, 1909, it is evidence that his train did more than simply "pass through Hudson." It clearly stopped, and Taft appears to have spoken to the assembled crowd, which was much larger than the "few, other than a local newspaper reporter" that gathered in Poughkeepsie.

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Of Interest and Relevance

Hudson Common Sense today published an assessment of the local media landscape: "The Hudson Media Ecosystem: Signal, Noise, and the Cost of Truth." It may seem shamelessly self-aggrandizing and self-promoting to link to it here, but so be it. Hudson Common Sense and The Gossips of Rivertown are completely independent of one another, and who wouldn't want to share a good review?

An Event Happening This Saturday Afternoon

The Hudson Literacy Fund, whose mission is to support literacy development by putting as many books as possible into the hands and homes of Hudson's youth, is holding a fundraising event on Saturday, February 21, at Upper Depot Brewing Co., 708 State Street. 

Use the QR code in the image above or click here to buy your ticket and reserve your spot.

How Many Differences Can You Find?

In the past, some have described Hudson as a Potemkin village because Warren Street seemed much more prosperous and better cared for than the rest of the city. Now, thanks to the magic of AI, it seems there may be some deliberate deception occurring in how Hudson--and undoubtedly other places as well--is being presented to certain audiences.

Lisa Durfee, known for her keen eye for detail, brought this to Gossips' attention. An online listing for 208 Warren Street, now on the market for $1,750,000, shows the exterior of the building, as well as the immediate neighborhood, not exactly as it is in reality. The first picture below accompanies the listing; the second was taken by Durfee yesterday morning.

In the first image, not only has the portico of the building been reconstructed and painted black, but the sidewalk has been widened, the adjacent building has doubled in size, and Second Street seems to have disappeared altogether.

Another image from the same source shows 206 Warren Street (the building next door) with no entrance at all and makes 208 Warren appear as if it were comparable in size to the Brousseau Buildings (202 and 204).

The image below, from Google Maps, shows the actual size of the buildings in relation to one another. 

Most people are aware that staging and photography are important elements in selling real estate, but one wonders if there are any ethical standards governing the use of AI to make a building appear in pictures as it could be rather than how it actually is.

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Parking Woes

People have a lot of complaints about the new parking system in Hudson: I didn't know paid parking extended the length of Warren Street and got a ticket. I tried to use the QR code to pay but still got a ticket. I couldn't figure out what I was supposed to do so I got a ticket. I was running late and didn't want the hassle so I got ticket. I don't have a smartphone so I got a ticket. 

The remedy for most of the problems, except the last one, is simply to download the ParkMobile app. Once you've done that, paying for parking involves just a few taps on your phone. For those without smartphones, the kiosks are on the way. 

Tiresome as it is for those of us who park on Warren Street to adjust to the new system, consider how it has changed the job of parking officer. In the past, the parking officers could walk up and down the street, on the sidewalk, looking for expired meters. When they saw one, they would issue a ticket. Now their job requires that they scan the license plate of every car parked on the street to find out whether or not the parking fee has been paid. On a holiday weekend like this past one, that's a lot of cars and a lot more work for the parking officers than in the past. 

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Opera at the Red Dot

It has often been the case (four times to be exact) that hearing opera at Hudson Hall (a.k.a. the Hudson Opera House) was followed up with dining at the Red Dot. Next Saturday, February 28, opera--arias, as well as show tunes--is coming to the Red Dot.

To reserve your spot for an evening of live music, use the QR code in the image above or click here.

Addenda to Meetings and Events

Two events were unintentionally left out of this week's "Meetings and Events in the Week Ahead." They have since been added, but for those who don't go back to yesterday's posts, here's what was left out: two of Mayor Joe Ferris's town hall meetings.

• On Wednesday, February 18, a town hall meeting for the Third Ward takes place at Creative Legion, 7 Fairview Avenue.
• On Thursday, February 19, a town hall meeting for the Fifth Ward takes place at FASNY, 125 Harry Howard Avenue.

Both meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. and are expected to continue until 8:00 p.m.

Three Projects of Interest Before the HPC

The architects designing the replacement for this accessory building behind 30 Union Street were back before the Historic Preservation Commission on Friday, February 13.

At its January 9 meeting, the HPC expressed concern about the increased height of the new building and also about its design, which was very different in character from the existing building. It was noted that the doors are a distinctive element of the original building, and it was suggested that the design of the new building should somehow harken back to what was there. It was agreed the applicant would consider the concerns of the HPC and come back with revisions. 

The revisions presented at the February 13 HPC meeting, however, consisted only of altering the pitch of the roof to lower its apex. The result is a building that looks even more like a modern generic garage than the design with the more steeply pitched roof that was originally proposed. 

New building as originally proposed on January 9

Revised design presented on February 13

Asked about revisions in the design to make it reminiscent of the historic building and more compatible with its surroundings, the architects they had created such a design, but it had been rejected by their client, the owner of the property. They did, however, show the revised design to the HPC.

The HPC declared the application complete and voted on what had been proposed. It was unanimously rejected by the members of the commission. Phil Forman, HPC chair, requested that the next time the proposal came before the HPC, the owner of the property be present at the meeting, either in person or virtually.

A second proposal of interest involves 26 Warren Street, a true Federal house constructed in 1810, which is now being operated as a hotel called the Hudson Mariner.  

The proposal, which was presented by architect Walter Chatham, is to increase the occupiable space by introducing dormers at the front and building out an addition at the back.

Cara Cragan, the architect member of the HPC, noted the roofline of the house is in actuality much lower pitched than it appears in the drawings. Of the proposal, she opined, "This is a reasonable solution for a business problem, but there is thought that the building should not be touched at all." 

It was determined that Chatham would return with the necessary adjustments to the drawings, and that there would be a public hearing on the project to take place at the next HPC meeting on February 27.

Demolish and demolition are two words you don't like to hear at an HPC meeting, but they are central to the proposal for 309-311 Union Street. The owners wish to demolish everything on the lot--the two-family house and the two accessory buildings--and construct new buildings in their place. 

The owners reported that an engineer's study, recommended by former code enforcement officer Craig Haigh, "advised against even attempting to salvage the house." The renderings below show what they are proposing to build in its place. The first two show the house, which would face Union Street; the second two show the "carriage house" (a garage with an apartment above), which would be behind it on Partition Street.

Cragan acknowledged that the proposed new structure was "in keeping with the building that exists." HPC chair Phil Forman described the proposal as a "loss of history issue not a compatibility issue." Cragan then suggested that the house might be replaced with something contemporary, "to create something that the future wants to preserve as well." Commenting later in the meeting, Ron Kopnicki questioned the principle of contrast, saying that what good contemporary design is has not been determined. He urged that the HPC "have respect for the past and respect for context." 

HPC member Paul Barrett spoke of 34 South Front Street, saying, "It should have fallen down by itself, but it didn't. It was salvaged." (According to Apartments.com, one of the apartments in the building is now renting for $2,800 a month.) Barrett suggested that the owners of 309-311 Union Street speak with the man who salvaged 34 South Front Street about his experience.

34 South Front Street before renovation

34 South Front Street today

Kopnicki noted that the house at 309-311 Union had not been condemned, and, up until the house was sold at the end of 2024, there were people living in it. (According to the assessment rolls, the property is currently owned by Dinally Home Restoration of Hudson LLC, with an address in Bloomfield, NY.) Matt McGhee urged the HPC to request photographic evidence of "the crumbling walls and other things claimed," commenting, "People who don't understand old buildings may not understand that was the way they were meant to be."

For this proposal too, the HPC will hold a public hearing at its next meeting on February 27.

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More Attention to Botstein in the Times Union

The Times Union today has another article about Bard College president Leon Botstein and the revelations of his connections with Jeffrey Epstein: "'S___show': Bard students protest Botstein's ties to Epstein as trustees meet." The explanatory phrase following the headline tells it all: "Anger on campus is mounting amid Bard College's continued silence about its president's relationship with the convicted sex predator." The following is quoted from the article:

Trustees have not censured Botstein for the relationship, which the president has characterized as an unpleasant and ultimately unsuccessful attempt at raising money for the college. None of the trustees contacted by the Times Union responded to questions.

Their silence has spawned rumors and at least one fake press release that duped a local news outlet into falsely announcing Botstein's resignation over the weekend. The phony announcement was sent to reporters from an address that mimicked the name of Bard Communications Director Jennifer Strodl. It remains unclear who sent the email, and the college quickly clarified that Botstein was not stepping down.

The local news outlet misled by the fake press release was Rural Intelligence. Early on Saturday afternoon, Jamie Larson, editor of Rural Intelligence, published this retraction: "CORRECTION: Leon Botstein Resignation Story a Hoax."

Hudson Has a New Code Enforcement Officer

The following announcement appeared this morning on Hudson Hub and the City of Hudson website:

Effective today, at Mayor Ferris' appointment, Nick Fox was sworn in as the City of Hudson's new Code Enforcement Officer. Nick is a seasoned facilities professional with over 20 years' experience building, maintaining, and managing residential and commercial properties. He is skilled in electrical, plumbing, HVAC, structural systems, and groundskeeping, with extensive knowledge of codes, safety regulations, and preventative maintenance. A strong leader, Nick has overseen capital projects with a focus on facility safety and efficiency.

In 2022, Fox was named one of Mayor Kamal Johnson's "Forty Under Forty." At that time, he was the owner of Silver Fox Builds and Renos.

Meetings and Events in the Week Ahead

As the long weekend that included both Valentines Day and Presidents Day winds down, here is what's happening in the rest of the week.

• On Tuesday, February 17, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., it's the annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper at Christ Church Episcopal, 431 Union Street. 

• Also on Tuesday, February 17, the Common Council holds its informal meeting at 6:00 p.m. So far, there's not much of interest on the agenda for the meeting except a communication from the Board of Elections informing the Council of the intent to move the Election Day polling place for the Fourth Ward from 401 State Street to the Central Fire Station, 77 North Seventh Street. Early voting will continue to take place at 401 State Street. The informal meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at City Hall and in Teams. Click here for the link to join the meeting remotely.
• At 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 17, the Columbia County Democratic Committee holds an Assembly Candidates Forum, moderated by Abbie Hodgson, CCDC co-chair. The following candidates will be participating: Assemblymember Didi Barrett and Sam Hodge, running in AD106, and Chloe Pierce and Chris Lansing, running in AD107. The forum takes place on Zoom. Click here to register to attend.

• On Wednesday, February 18, the Hudson Housing Authority Board of Commissioners meets at 6:00 p.m. It is likely there will be some discussion of HHA's appearance before the Planning Board last week and perhaps also of the elevations for the proposed buildings that were submitted to the Planning Board. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person in the Community Room at Bliss Towers and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely. 

• Also on Wednesday, February 18, at 6:00 p.m., the Zoning Board of Appeals holds its monthly meeting. The meeting takes place in person only at City Hall. No agenda for the meeting is as yet available.
• Yet another thing happening on Wednesday, February 18, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Mayor Joe Ferris is holding a town hall meeting for the Third Ward at Creative Legion, 7 Fairview Avenue. 
• On Thursday, February 19, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Mayor Joe Ferris is holding a town hall meeting for the Fifth Ward at FASNY, 125 Harry Howard Avenue.  

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Presidents in Hudson

Today, on Presidents Day 2026, I repost the inventory of presidents who have visited Hudson, first published eight years ago in 2018. 

Before Presidents Day 2018 is over, Gossips presents this review of the presidents who have visited our little city. Of the forty-five, ten came to Hudson--before, during, or after they were president.

Thomas Jefferson (3) and James Madison (4) came to Hudson in the spring of 1791, before either became president. They came to visit Seth Jenkins, who owned a large distillery, with the hope of persuading him that French wine would produce better spirits than molasses from the British West Indies.

Martin Van Buren (8) visited Hudson often. Long before he became president, Van Buren had a law office in Hudson. In 1839, at his midterm, Van Buren came to Hudson expecting, as reported in the Columbia Republican, that he would be greeted by "a pageant, brilliant, glorious and unprecedented in the history of Presidential tours," but, alas, Van Buren was a Democrat, and the city leaders of the time were Whigs. The Common Council "wisely refused to squander the people's money in defraying the expense of Mr. Van Buren's electioneering tour." Even the fire department, "whose splendid appearance on gala days have won for them an enviable reputation," refused to turn out.

Abraham Lincoln (16) stopped in Hudson in February 1861 on his inaugural journey from Springfield, Illinois, to Washington, D.C. Hudson was one of eighty-three stops along the route. In 1865, after his assassination, Lincoln's funeral train, retracing the route of the inaugural journey to carry his body back to Springfield for burial,  stopped briefly in Hudson on the night of April 25.

Theodore Roosevelt (26) visited Hudson in 1914, five years after he left the White House. He came to speak about his Amazon expedition at the Hudson Opera House, but he made the crowd assembled to hear him speak wait while he stood in the wings and devoured not one but two big bowls of vegetable soup fetched for him from a lunchroom across the street. The lunchroom that supplied the soup was very likely the establishment of Thomas E. Cody, located at 330 Warren Street. 

There is photographic evidence that William Howard Taft (27) visited Hudson, probably on a whistle-stop tour while he was president, but exactly when this happened is uncertain.

On Saturday, November 11, 1916, Woodrow Wilson (28) was briefly in Hudson. Traveling from Williamstown, Massachusetts, to Washington, D.C., his train stopped in Hudson. His private car was attached to the end of a regular train, and when the train pulled into the Hudson station, his car came to a standstill under the Ferry Street bridge. A crowd, reported to number nearly 500, clamored to get a glimpse of the president. He came out onto the rear platform just as the train started up again, and he remained on the platform until the car passed the station. The Hudson Evening Register reported, "Several people had the opportunity to grasp his hand." 

 

Franklin Roosevelt (32) visited Hudson in 1932, when he was governor of New York, to dedicate to the hospital at the Firemen's Home.

Photo courtesy Lisa Durfee

On October 10, 1952, Harry S Truman (33) stopped in Hudson while campaigning for Adlai Stevenson. Hudson was one of a dozen stops made that day.

The tenth president to visit Hudson was Bill Clinton (42), who was here just about a year ago, on February 27, 2017, having lunch at Grazin'.

Photo courtesy Aaron Enfield and Amy Lavine

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What Else Was Lost for a Parking Lot

Recently, the picture below, which appeared in the Register-Star for Monday, February 5, 1973, inspired Paul Barrett, the historian member of the Historic Preservation Commission, to wonder about the building being demolished. He shared his discoveries with Gossips, along with permission to publish his research.

Most know that the parking lot in the 300 park of Warren Street, across from what is now The Maker Gymnasium, was the site of the Hotel Lincoln, which was damaged by fire and subsequently demolished in the 1950s. 

But the parking lot occupies the site of another building as well: 313 Warren Street. According to the 1911 Sanborn map, the building was the location of a Chinese laundry.   

This picture, taken in 1956, documenting the fire at the Hotel Lincoln, shows the building that once stood at 313 Warren Street and was demolished in 1973 for no known reason other than it was old.

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