The Evolution of 13 South Third Street

At the dawn of the 21st century, this is what 13 South Third Street looked like. The building started its long life--it's believed to be one of the oldest surviving buildings in Hudson--as a blacksmith's shop, and at the time this picture was taken it was owned by artists--painters.

Almost a decade ago, Eric Galloway bought the building and, in the process of renovating it, stripped away much of its authenticity. The front wall was rebuilt to introduce three arched windows. The wall along the alley was totally rebuilt as a single-course "veneer" brick wall over a new structural wall. After it was renovated, the building was sold to Kim Bach, who established her very popular tea shop, Verdigris, there.

The building is now undergoing further change to become Zak Pelaccio's new restaurant, Fish & Game. It's been gutted and structurally reinforced, and efforts are being made to re-create in the interior a sense of age and historic luster. Last week, an article by architect Michael Davis on Huffington Post explained the genesis of his concept for the restaurant space and provided a preview of the changes being wrought. Earlier this week, Gossips got more information about how Davis is incorporating details in his design that are handcrafted, using period sensitive techniques, or reclaimed and repurposed. These are some of the elements that will be part of the restaurant design: 

• Tables crafted from black walnut, many sections with the living edge preserved
• Pre-war voided velvet wallpaper
• Reclaimed tin ceiling panels used as decorative elements
• Custom unadorned fireplaces constructed from on-site salvaged foundation stone and brick
• Salvaged cement from New York City sidewalk used in the hearthstone of the fireplace
• Custom Italian dining chairs
• Brick salvaged from demolished walls in the restaurant used to build the brick oven in the kitchen
• A collection of salvaged and contemporary American and Italian light fixtures throughout, including over the exposed kitchen island
• A selection of antique tribal carpets
• Hand-wrought iron fireplace rotisserie, cooking implements, and tools based on 18th-century models
• Authentic copper and glass exterior gas lanterns
• Custom-built leather chesterfield sofas
• A selection of antique vernacular furniture from the surrounding Hudson River Valley
• An 18th-century American handcrafted brass candle chandelier

Davis's goal in his design for Fish & Game is "to create an environment that will look and feel like the food will taste"--to which Gossips suggests some possible adjectives: complex, comforting, inventive, elegant, authentic.