This Weekend at the Dr. Oliver Bronson House

Opportunities to see Hudson's most architecturally significant residential property and its only National Historic Landmark  are of necessity few and far between, but for those who've never seen the Dr. Oliver Bronson House and for those who can't see it enough, the upcoming weekend offers many hours of free access to this remarkable building. On Saturday and Sunday, May 14 and 15, Historic Hudson, steward of the Bronson House, celebrates 2011 New York Heritage Weekend by opening the house to visitors on both days from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

For the occasion, there will be an exhibition at the house entitled "Business on Warren Street," composed of selected items from the John Hathaway Collection, acquired by Historic Hudson in 2008. One of the items in the exhibition is an annotated map, circa 1800, that illustrates the early plans for Hudson's grid design and identifies the properties owned by the original Proprietors. The deeds and titles to these properties will also be displayed. The exhibition also includes antiques dealer Benjamin Wilson's collection of fanciful billheads from 19th- and early 20th-century businesses located along Warren Street.

On Sunday, at 5 p.m., Historic Hudson holds its Fifteenth Annual Meeting at the Dr. Oliver Bronson House. This is the occasion when the Historic Hudson Board of Directors reports on its activities and achievements during the preceding year and thanks its members for their support with wine and a groaning board of hors d'oeuvres prepared by board members. 

Directions to the Dr. Oliver Bronson House, which is located on the grounds of the Hudson Correctional Facility, can be found on the Historic Hudson website.