It isn't over until it's over.Yesterday I announced that, with Exhibit 13, Gossips had concluded its "Galloway Gallery" series, but I was wrong. Last night I learned from a reliable source that, within the past two months, Eric Galloway has acquired this house: 119-123 Union Street.
Probably since the 1930s, the house has been divided into four apartments. Colum Riley, who was an alderman for the First Ward from 2001 to 2005, used to live here, as did his brother Kieran. Christopher Froese, the pastry chef for Brandow's and brother of Tom Froese, president of the Hudson Opera House Board of Directors, also had an apartment in this building.
In its simple, symmetrical Georgian Colonial design, this house is similar to three others on lower Union Street--all built by Proprietors (the founders of Hudson) or sons of Proprietors: the Paddock House (117), the Worth House (211), and the Macy House (241). Eric Galloway now owns two of the four houses.
This house has fancy woodwork done approx 1904 by the woodcarver for our Morgan Jones House. Perhaps Marcus Reynolds had his office there or the building housed the workers (or both). None of this has been substantiated but I like the possible connection.
ReplyDeleteEvery single detail of the planning and design of the Morgan Jones House is readily available for public examination at the Albany Institute of Art. Anyone interested in knowing the complete story -- instead of relying on rumor or legend -- can go to the museum and look through the detailed diaries of Marcus Reynolds, examine the handwritten original designs, see the financial records for all the purchases for the Morgan Jones House, and read the letters from Morgan Jones (and his mother) himself. There is no need to rely on myth or something that is unsubstantiated because ALL the original historic records for the Morgan Jones House have been carefully gathered, indexed, and protected at the Albany museum. It's not too far away for easy access.
ReplyDeleteYes I have been to The Albany Institute of History and Art many times over the past 4 years and what a great cash of info it is. I have read Marcus Reynolds daily diaries in great detail. So far I have not found any mention of 119-123 Union. Unfortunately, with state cutbacks the records (other than blueprints and diaries ) you speak of are no longer accessible.
ReplyDeleteI welcome any help you can offer.
please contact me off this forum
the most delicious of all secrecies is this untouched property of so many years - a stoic in it's presentation - vast in it's propietary land holdings for Hudson - a gem of purity architecturally - whose fate lands in ...
ReplyDeleteVince--I hadn't thought about Galloway's brutal propensity to subdivide and maximize in relation to this house. I do hope he doesn't plan to plunk one of his "Greek Revival" confections between this Georgian beauty and 117.
ReplyDeleteAs my mother and grandmother were born in Hudson and my Dutch ancestors came here hundreds of years ago, it is not surprising that both Worth and Macy families are related to me.
ReplyDeleteyikes, a house in between 117 and 119? Is that really a possibility?
ReplyDelete