Reviewing the Year Past: 1913--Part 7

Gossips continues the retrospective of the year 1913, originally published in the Hudson Evening Register in the early days of 1914.

General Review of Many Important Developments.

Excellent evidence as to the prosperity experienced by a municipality during a year, is to learn how the places of amusement have thrived. In Hudson the theatres, especially the Playhouse, had a better year in 1913, than the previous one, we understand. The high grade productions were maintained by the Playhouse management and this theatre continued to reflect credit upon the city.

From Historic Hudson: An Architectural Portrait

Below we continue the retrospect of various changes, improvements, etc.:

Frank Keller purchased of Harris Winstein, property on Union street, between Front and First streets. [According to the Hudson city directory for 1912, the residence of Harris S. Winstian (the name seems to have been misspelled in one place or the other) was 27 Union Street.] 

Old Macy property on Warren street, just above Fourth, owned by C. H. Evans, improved on exterior as well as interior. [Information in the Hudson city directory suggests that the "old Macy property" was 406 Warren Street, a building that was illegally demolished at the end of 2006. It appears in the historic photograph below, behind the tree.]

From Historic Hudson: An Architectural Portrait

From Historic Hudson

J. J. Fardy opened office in Farmer's National bank building, along with the firm of Race & Rice, Mr. Fardy being engaged in the real estate business.

Resolutions adopted by Common Council to investigate Public Works Commission, number of charges having been made against that board, nothing was heard of the matter thereafter, however.

Casey property on Union street sold to John Dowling. [The Casey property was 314 Union Street.]

Henry D. Ely discontinued hotel business at river. [Henry D. F. Ely ran the Commercial Cafe at the ferry dock.]

Courtesy Historic Hudson

About 250 hunting licenses issued in Hudson.

James Kelly enrolled as a partner of F. A. Flick in barber business in Harder building on Warren street. [Fred Flick's barber shop was located at 542 Warren Street.]

Patterson & Malone laid half-mile water pipe for Farrand & Watson on their property in Fifth ward.

Frank McDonald purchased cigar store of Edwin Rogers, establishment being located on upper Warren street.

Fred Coon opened grocery store on North Fourth street in Eckstein's building.

A. A. Elliot, manager of Playhouse, purchased building lot on Green street.

Residence and lot at 109 North Fifth street purchased by Mrs. Daniel W. Bugel. This building was formerly occupied by the late Mrs. Mary Van Deusen Walker.

Howard Roofing company completed contract to paint tin roofs of lower Union mill.

From Illustrated Hudson, N.Y.

Julius Thomsen removed studio from Farmers bank building to his residence at 93 North Fifth street. [J. J. Thomsen had a music studio.]

Johnson's coal sheds at the river underwent repairs.

Jacob H. Vosburgh sold his feed business on Columbia street to P. Edwards Engel, of Ghent. Mr. Engel dying shortly after taking possession of the establishment, however. [Jacob Vosburgh's feed business was located at 729-731 Columbia Street.]

Imperial meat company, of Hudson, opened branch store in Newburgh.

Contract to decorate interior of post office with oil colors awarded to C. MacArthur.

Paul Hirchman opened clothing store at 14 South Front street.

Harry Miller had addition placed on southeasterly side of the "Graceland." Thomas Cruise did the work. [This entry appears in the 1913 Hudson city directory: "MILLER HARRY C., The Worth, 213-219 Warren." Could it be that "Graceland" refers to the General Worth Hotel?]

Board of Health instituted "Complaint Department," of which Sanitary Inspector is the head.

Tracey Mower established photograph studio at 526 Warren street, coming here from Athens.

Edgar E. Davis purchased of Emma Akens, property on Warren street, above Fifth.

Frank K. Walsh bought of Charles B. Cure, property at 213 Union street.

Efforts begun to organize Young Italian club here.

Sixty-nine liquor tax licenses issued for Hudson, 176 for the county.

Miss Metcalf secured as district nurse for Hudson.

Upcoming City Hall Matters

On Monday, January 13, the Common Council will hold its organizational meeting. At this meeting, the Council president typically announces the makeup of the seven standing committees: Arts, Entertainment & Tourism, Finance, Fire, Legal, Police, Public Works, Youth & Aging. This year there is a request for a new subcommittee.

On January 1, first time aldermen Alexis Keith (Fourth Ward) and Tiffany Garriga (Second Ward) wrote a letter to their fellow aldermen, Council president Don Moore, and Mayor William Hallenbeck requesting the adoption of a diversity recruitment policy and the creation of a Common Council diversity subcommittee. Keith and Garriga explain the rationale:

For too long the City of Hudson has suffered with a large disparity in its workforce. There are no minority commissioners, department heads or professionals, and very few minorities on boards and commissions. The few minority city employees that are on the payroll, mostly do manual labor.

In the past, the city has done little to address the barriers, policies and procedures that have prevented Hudson's workforce from reflecting the diversity of Hudson's residents. One example is the inconsistency or complete failure to post available jobs on the city's website, on social media, in the newspaper or with community based organizations.

They specifically cite the lack of diversity in the Hudson Police Department and recommend that the department do direct recruiting "to encourage members of the African-American, Bangladeshi, Latino and LGBT communities to apply to serve the city as police officers." They posit, "Community relations would be drastically enhanced, if the makeup of the police force better reflected the wonderful diversity of our residents."

The responsibilities envisioned for the diversity subcommittee would be to "work toward enhancing recruitment of potential employees, facilitate civil service testing preparation and oversee the implementation of a city-wide diversity plan." The subcommittee would also be charged with "helping to fight nepotism and preferential hiring" on the county level, "which has an even worse record in this area than the city."

The issue of diversity--or lack thereof--among the people employed by the City of Hudson is not a new one. During the mayoral debate in 2011, sponsored by HAALA (Hudson African American Leadership Alliance), one of the three questions asked of the two candidates--Bill Hallenbeck and Nick Haddad--was "How will you address the fact that African Americans are underrepresented in the City's workforce?" At that time, Hallenbeck spoke of the possibility of reviving the 1991 Minority Task Force, and Haddad talked about working with the schools and the community college to prepare people to take the civil service tests required for many City jobs. 
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Missing the Winter Market

It is a testimony to the popularity of the indoor/outdoor farmers' market at Christ Church that people, according to Gossips sources, showed up at the church, eager to buy winter vegetables, greens, and all the other good things the market offers, on November 30--the weekend before the market's three-weekend pre-Christmas run--and on December 28--the weekend after. Sad to say, the market is taking the bleak and frigid months of January and February off, but it is expected to return in March. When that's confirmed, Gossips will let you know.

In the meantime, you can satisfy your need for quality produce right here in Hudson at Olde Hudson (421 Warren Street) and Bruno's (227 Warren Street).

The Best-Laid Plans . . .

Here are two reasons why snow emergencies don't work exactly as they are supposed it.

Just before noon, Mona Coade-Wingate snapped this picture of Second Street just south of Warren. Cars are parked on both sides of the street, in clear violation of the Snow Emergency Plan, which states: AT NO TIME DURING A SNOW EMERGENCY WILL THERE BE PARKING ON 2 SIDES OF ANY STREET.

And then there is this phenomenon, which isn't even addressed in the Snow Emergency Plan. At some time between 5 and 6 p.m., when there was little or no possibility that a snow plow would come through again, someone on the even side of the street shoveled all the snow from his sidewalk into the street, effectively eliminating two parking spaces for the cars still dutifully parked on the odd side, waiting for it to be 8 p.m., when they could move to the even side.

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Reviewing the Year Past: 1913--Part 6

The inventory of developments and improvements of the year past, which appeared in the Hudson Evening Register in the early days of 1914, with annotations and photographs--not as many of the latter as usual. (The snow and cold weather have interfered with Gossips photo excursions.) 

W. A. Harder office building on Warren street, sold to Joseph Shiner, of New York.

Peter Pappas, proprietor New York Candy Store here, purchased confectionery store in Plattsburgh. [The New York Candy Store was located at 407 Warren Street, where The Cascades is today.]

M. J. Eaton sold to Patrick Hector property 206-8 State street, known as Thomas Collins estate, and owned by Mrs. M. E. Cummings, of New York.

Mrs. Mary Sullivan's building moved from new High school site to place below orphan asylum property. [In 1913, the orphan asylum was located at 400 State Street and had been since 1881. Whether "below" means farther down the street or back behind is not clear.]

Mrs. Netty Thompson made many improvements to property on Columbia street. [Mrs. Nettie Thompson lived at 927 Columbia Street.]

Joseph F. Orris disposed of tobacco store at 711 Warren street, to Adolph J. Weldinger.

Frank K. Walsh, of Hudson, opened grocery store at Lake Charlotte.

Crescent Garage, Warren and Eighth streets, repainted and improved considerably. [The Crescent Garage was located at 752 Warren Street, the future location of Hudson Anchor.]

L. Rosenfeld, the tailor, removed his business from 240 Warren Street to the opposite side of the street in the store formerly occupied by C. J. Diestel, the optometrist, who removed uptown. [C. J. Diestel's office was located at 227 Warren Street, where Bruno's is today.]

Hudson Ice company, of 104 Fulton street, organized.

Henry Drumm, of Hudson, purchased harness business of H. M. Demarest, at Mellenville.

Leander H. Weaver completed numerous repairs to his down-town planning mill. [Leander Weaver had a lumber and planing mill on Water Street.]

Three students, John J. Harlow, Paul J. Delaney and Mary A. King, graduated from St. Mary's academy.

Twenty-eight received diplomas from Hudson High school, largest of graduation classes in school's history. The graduates were: Winifred Bugel, Hazel Drumm, Mabel Holden Earle, Margaret E. Shook, Allen Rifenburgh Simmons, Jessie E. Williams, Alethe Holsapple, Anna Elizabeth Denegar, Elizabeth Draffin, Anna S. Eckstein, Edward D. FitzGerald, Ethel M. Fleahman, Pearl A. Heath, Carrie Winslow, Freeman Boice, William F. Crofts, Jr., Isabel Collins, Bernard C. Decker, Clara Fasake, Philip Frienberg, Helen Gertrude Hake, Harold Macy, Katharine Agnes Milham, Everette J. Raynor, Christine Swain, Mina Helena Van Woert, Jennie Van Alstyne, Albertina Hover Miller.

Sheriff Storm put "lid" on Sunday base ball here.

Movement started to establish a Greek Catholic church here.

Two cottages and new school building begun by Berrigan Contracting company, of Little Falls, at New York State Training school here.

Charles H. Becker sold to John Gaghardy, property on Fulton street, just below Winstain's [sic] factory. [Meyer Weinstian, who was a tailor, lived at 15 Fulton, but the Hudson city directory for 1912 offers no help in locating "Winstain's factory."]

Mrs. Anna Matthews opened beauty culture parloir [sic] at 528 Warren street. 

Brick house at 343 Diamond street, purchased by Morris & Edias Solomon, painters.

Chester place on Union street, below City Hall place, purchased by Levine & Christiana, carpenters.

Grossman & Carter enlarged and remodeled their confectionery store on lower Warren street. [Grossman & Carter was located at 15 Warren Street, which was one of these building demolished during Urban Renewal.]

William H. Broderick made numerous improvements to the Albany hotel. [The Albany Hotel was located at 28 South Front Street, now a vacant lot.]

Attempt begun to revive boxing in Hudson by the Hudson A. C. 

Patrick McDonald began remodeling property in Union street, the former Guernesy residence. [Lorenzo C. Guernesy, of Guernesy & Terry, lived at 547 Union Street.]

Douglas H. Weaver, of Glenco, began erection of residence on Green street.

Many fire escapes placed on buildings about the city.

Director's apartment annexed to Hudson River Trust company's building. [The Hudson River Trust building is what is now City Hall. One wonders what part of the building was the director's apartment.]

Mayor Van Hoesen vetoed resolution changing name of Front street to Broadway.

James McClure property at 228 Allen street, sold by Mrs. Thomas Buckley to Abe and Louis Gold.

Several building lots on Farrand tract in Fifth ward purchased.

Dr. Carleton Harris opened office of dentistry on Warren street.

January Is Fafafel Awareness Month

It is predicted that, as more and more people learn about the health and environmental benefits of a plant-based diet, falafels--those vegetarian "meatballs" made from chick peas, onions, herbs, and spices--may become the hamburgers of the 21st century. If you're still stuck in the last century, scarfing down beef burgers, Falafel Awareness Month is meant for you.

During the month of January, says Justin Goldman, manager of Park Falafel & Pizza, "anyone who wants to try a falafel sandwich will have the opportunity to enjoy one for free. All they have to do is purchase any other item (such as a homemade dessert or a drink). They must bring a photo identification to Park Falafel & Pizza to claim their free falafel sandwich." (There's a limit of one per person during the month.)

Park Falafel & Pizza's falafel sandwich includes falafel balls, hummus, freshly chopped cucumber salad, and tahini sauce (sesame dressing) wrapped in pita bread that's baked daily in Park's very own bakery. Falafel sandwiches contain no animal  products; they are completely vegan. Take advantage of this offer during Falafel Awareness Month, and you may become a regular at Park Falafel & Pizza, where, for more than three years now, they've been serving freshly made, quickly served inexpensive meals right here in Hudson.  

Snow Emergency Declared

The mayor has declared a snow emergency to begin at 8 p.m. today and remain in effect until 8 a.m. on Saturday. At 8 p.m., cars must be moved from the even side of the street to the odd side, where they must remain until 8 p.m. on Friday. Click to see the complete Snow Emergency Timeline.

Snow Emergency Update

It's been an hour since the mayor's snow emergency meeting, and so far, no snow emergency has been declared. However, this morning, this message, outlining the snow emergency plan, appeared on the City of Hudson website.

Winter Storm Hercules Approaches

At 3 a.m., when this picture was taken, it had been snowing for two hours or more.

Although the mayor reportedly told people after the inauguration yesterday that he intended to declare a snow emergency, he hasn't done so yet. The Register-Star reported shortly after midnight that the mayor has "called a meeting at 10 a.m. to coordinate for the potential of a snow emergency."

Meanwhile, in case you missed it when it was published last week, here's a Ghent resident's critique of our last snow emergency here in Hudson: "Snow debacle."

Sale of Warren Inn Confirmed

Gossips reported it at the end of November. Today the Register-Star has the story: "After 4 decades, Warren Inn changing hands."

John Mason reports that the hotel has been purchased by "a young couple from New York City," effectively dispelling the rumor circulated on Facebook earlier this week that the Warren Inn was yet another Galvan acquisition. It is reported that the new owners "plan to renovate the hotel and bring back the restaurant that flourished for many years, running the business as a full-service hotel." That being the case, it is fitting to recall the building's glory days, when it was first converted from a movie theater into a motel known as the Roylton.

Reviewing the Year Past: 1913--Part 5

The inventory of the improvements and developments of 1913, which appeared in the Hudson Evening Register in the first days of 1914, continues, with illustrations--some historic, some present day--and annotations supplied by Gossips.

 PROSPERITY IS INDICATED

Below we continue the retrospect of Hudson during the year of 1913.--The list has been carefully prepared only most important changes, improvements, etc., being cited. However, there may have been a few accidentally omitted, and in each case we should be pleased to receive information of same. The retrospect started on the afternoon of January 2, and should be saved for future reference:

Charles E. Joslen & Son purchased business of William Lawrence, which was formerly conducted by the late Joseph O'Rourke. [According to the 1912 Hudson directory, O'Rourke & Beauregard had a cafe at 409 Warren Street.]

Courtesy Historic Hudson

The "H" branch of Union mills had motors installed to run it, power being furnished by A. S. company.

Lawrence Martin retired from Hudson police department after twenty years service.

Arthur Van de Carr sold to Arthur Stacy property on Union street. [In 1912, according to the Hudson city directory, Arthur Van de Carr and Arthur Stacy were partners in a carpentry and building business located at 323 Union Street, where Van de Carr also resided.]

Improvements made to interior of Coons' cafe on Gifford Place. [Sterling C. Coons was the proprietor of the Dewey Hotel, located at 704 Gifford Place. When the Gifford family was preeminent in Hudson, what is now called Columbia Street, between Sixth Street and Park Place, was called Gifford Place.]

 

B[erkshire] & A[lbany] made shift of tracks at Public Square, making various other improvements in its yards.

John Lenahan embarked in carpentry business for himself, after being with Lyman Simmons four years.

Sanitary Inspector Armstrong took up quarters on second floor of City Hall building. [In 1913, City Hall was the building we now know as the Hudson Opera House. The second floor is the auditorium, and one wonders where in this space the Sanitary Inspector's office was located.]

Rouse & Co., hardware dealers, discontinued business on Warren street. [Rouse & Co. was located at 319 Warren Street, now the dining room of the Red Dot.]

Courtesy Red Dot

Charles A. Carpenter, laundryman, erected large brick laundry in rear of 456 Diamond street on property formerly occupied by John N. Dyer. [This large brick laundry is no more.]

William Tiel erected residence on Clinton street, below Fifth.

Bresky building, corner Warren street and City Hall place, remodeled, one apartment on first floor being occupied by Gates' confectionery store. [It seems the Bresky building is where Ca' Mea is now located.]

Numerous improvements made to Cedar Park cemetery.

Emil Moskovitz made various improvements to the interior of his store on South Front street. [Emil Moskovitz's shoe store was located at 22 South Front Street.]

Contract between and the Mohawk Division of the Humane society for licensing dogs renewed.

Property adjourning [sic] premises of Arthur Daley, on Robinson street, sold to Fred Christianna by Max Levine. [Arthur Daley lived at 225 Robinson Street.]

Coon & Petry leased store, Columbia and Eighth streets, remodeling it to demonstrate automobiles. Later occupied by George Cook, who again embarked in meat business. [The retail space used for automobiles and then meat is now Stoddard Corner Bookshop.]

Heading the To-Do List for 2014

The election was two months ago. The mayor's inauguration to a second term in office was supposed to happen earlier today. It seems high time someone removed these campaign banners on Harry Howard Avenue.

According to Chapter 244.34 G of the city code, "Temporary election signs shall not be erected prior to 40 days before any election and shall be removed not more than five days after the election."

A Rare Opportunity for the New Year

If you've always dreamed of rescuing a quaint old house in a picturesque setting, 2014 may be the year you realize your dream.

This pre-Civil War house, located just outside the village of Kinderhook, is for sale for only $35,000. Granted it needs a lot of work, but it can be rescued by a person of vision and substance, and when it is, imagine the possibilities. 

The original part of the house--what appears at the left in this picture--dates back to the 1850s. The part at the right, with the shed dormer, was added in 1888. The house sits on 2.5 acres along Kinderhook Creek, with 1,000 feet of creek frontage--a secluded setting where one could grow a garden, learn to make jam and "put up" garden produce, take up painting, keep a rowboat, harbor city weary friends on weekends, write a book or just read lots of them. Another advantage of this potentially perfect country house: it's just a five-minute walk to the center of the village. In a house such as this, one could live like Mapp and Lucia, Henry David Thoreau, or Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings.

For more information about the house, click here and here.

Of Interest

Sam Pratt has published his list of "some of the biggest ups and downs" in the year almost past: "2013 in review."

Following Up on the Abused and Abandoned Dog

At the end of August, Gossips reported the disturbing story of a dog that had apparently been starved and left to die, tied to the Holcim fence down at the waterfront. By sheer good fortune, the dog was discovered by a Hudson police officer, rescued, and delivered to the Columbia-Greene Humane Society. (And his abusers were subsequently identified and arrested.)

Browsing the Columbia-Greene Humane Society website today, Gossips discovered that the dog, called Aleric and weighing a healthy 76 pounds, was made available for adoption in November. 

The website describes Aleric's transformation from August to November: 

Aleric was frightened and unsocial, unwilling to trust visitors, even those that came bearing treats. . . . He is [now] happier and has discovered what a "real" dog's life entails: playing with toys, going for long walks, and lots and lots of well-deserved affection. Aleric will need a home without young children and without a lot of people coming and going; he would prefer a low-key mellow home to relax and spend the rest of his days in. He will need a home experienced with dogs, seeing as he came from such deplorable conditions and he does not know exactly how to be a "dog" just yet.

Aleric is still listed on the website among the dogs available for adoption. He may have already been adopted, but a call to the shelter to find out has not been returned. Let's hope that, if Aleric has not already found a loving home, he will soon. Happy new year, Aleric!

Hudson in New York Magazine

New York Magazine published its annual Design issue a while back, and among the designers' picks in Design Hunting Winter 2014, Stephen Burks named Culture + Commerce Project, right here in Hudson at 428 Warren Street. 

Reviewing the Year Past: 1913--Part 4

Last Thursday, Gossips began presenting a series of articles that appeared in the Hudson Evening Register in the early days of 1914, inventorying the improvements and developments that had taken place in Hudson during the previous year, 1913. Today we continue this century-old review, with the addition of illustrations and annotations.

Building on Warren street formerly occupied as a laundry by Willie Law, occupied by Barnett & Co., dry goods merchants, who later removed to store formerly occupied by Baker Shoe company. [In 1912, Baker Shoe Company was located at 305 Warren Street, now the location of Red Chopsticks.]

County lawyers formed a bar association with J. Rider Cady, of Hudson, president. [J. Rider Cady and his partner Ezra Delamater had their law office at 520 Warren Street. Cady's residence was 6 West Court Street.]

Electric lights installed in First M. E. church by A. E. Johnson.

Charles E. Hessenthaler purchased of William Fardy property at 51 Allen Street.

William Seebachs discontinued tonsorial parlor on Columbia Street. [William Seebachs barber shop was located at 719 Columbia Street.]

One of the worst floods of city's history occurred here on March 27 and 28.

Ebenezer Kilmer, of West Taghkanic, purchased of Miss Gretchen Longley, house and lot at 50 Worth avenue.

Frank E. Mesick erected house on Worth avenue, being a one family residence of eleven rooms.

Property on Montgomery street occupied by Thomas Mahar, purchased by George Zappo, from Patrick Burns. 

Edward Riley purchased the Cortland billiard parlor on Warren street, for several years conducted by August Schnack. [The billiard parlor--the only one in Hudson at the time--was located at 428 Warren Street, now the location of culture + commerce project.]

Night school at Hudson High school building begun, meeting with excellent success and large attendance.

Wilson inaugurated President of the United States and Marshall vice president.

Improvements made to interior of various hose houses.

John McCoy purchased cigar and tobacco business of Martin Vincent.

New gas mains laid; nine new hydrants placed about city.

Police Sergeant John Cruise sold his residence at 18 Union street to Samuel Ginsberg. 

Isadore Goodman bought residence of John Dowling at 249 State street.

249 and 247 State Street

Samuel Law, of 337 Prospect street, enrolls in business for himself, doing excavating work.

Charles Weeks has a new house erected on Clinton street.

Several new bill boards constructed by city, indicating excellent year for Hudson Bill Posting company.

Alderman Thomas Connelly sold property at 247 State street to Michael P. Finn and John Doyle.

William Friss purchased property of Charles Cramer on Columbia street.

Sheriff Robert Storm became owner of the Atkin property at head of Green street, which he put in building lots.

General clean up in city May 9 and 10, was a success.

Sibley company's shops in Gifford-Wood building shut down indefinitely. [By 1915, the ground floor of the Gifford-Wood building was the showroom for William Petry's automobile company.]

Eighteen more cans to receive waste paper and other refuse placed about town.

Levi P. Cooper, of 425 Diamond street, purchased property on North Fifth street of Mr. and Mrs. David Kline.

William Heintzelman purchased of Mary A. Hudson, property corner of Dodge street and Rope alley.

Douglas Hills had old Clapp building on Union street torn down, replacing it with two-family building.

Store formerly occupied by Shaver, the grocer, remodelled by Rose Bresky, owner, then occupied by Columbia Confectionery company. [Minard Shaver's grocery store was located at 37-39 South Third Street.]

Charles Myers occupied place on Columbia street, vacated by Seebachs, barber. Myers conducting a shoe repairing establishment. [Myers opened his shoe repairing establishment at 719 Columbia Street.] 

Restaurant of Mrs. Philip Brabender on Warren street enlarged. 

William G. Williams began an automobile livery business.

Numerous purchases of building lots on Fairground boulevard took place. Work begin on erection of several residences. [The "Fairground boulevards" are Glenwood, Parkwood, and Oakwood.]

Elks made big hit with their first annual minstrel show.

Addition to Tamarin & Goldstein's furniture manufactory on Cross street.

Tilley & Aldcroft's clothing store had perpendicular light installed thereon.

Last Friday at the HPC

The Historic Preservation Commission meets twice a month--on the second Friday and the fourth Friday. At their first meeting, they review applications, determine if applications are or are not complete, and decide whether or not to grant a certificate of appropriateness. In the intervening two weeks, the HPC's legal counsel--these days that's Carl Whitbeck--writes the narrative that explains why the HPC is granting or denying a certificate of appropriateness, and at their second meeting of the month, the HPC votes to approve the language, the chair stamps and signs the document, and it is delivered to the applicant. That's the usual process, but last Friday they bent the rules a little to allow two projects, whose applications had been deemed incomplete two weeks ago, to come back before them.

The HPC started out by approving the certificates of appropriateness for a new sign for 320 Warren Street (formerly Kennedy Fried Chicken) and for a fence around the side yard at 39 South Fifth Street.

On December 13, the HPC approved a certificate of appropriateness for a store front for 117 Warren Street with the exception of the doors. The doors proposed were molded fiberglass, and the HPC, after encouraging the applicant to use real wood doors, wanted to see an actual sample of the fiberglass faux mahogany doors being proposed.

On Friday, December 27, the applicant returned with a new proposal for the doors. It was discovered that a pair of 30-inch doors would not be ADA (American with Disabilities Act of 1990) compliant unless a mechanism were installed that would open both doors simultaneously. The new proposal, which replaced the molded fiberglass doors with doors custom built from genuine mahogany, substituted a single 36-inch door with a 24-inch sidelight for the double doors originally proposed, losing in the process some of the symmetry of the design. 

Although HPC member Tony Thompson expressed concern about the lack of symmetry in the proposed new design for the doors, in the end, the HPC voted unanimously to approve the design change and to modify the certificate of appropriateness to reflect the change.

Another returning project was the roof at 105 Warren Street. The owners had originally wanted to replace the metal roof with a synthetic slate roof, but HPC members held that slate was not a roofing material that was authentic to the house and urged the applicant to consider a shake roof (a roof that still exists under the current metal roof) or a metal roof.

Courtesy Rural Intelligence

On Friday, the owners of 105 Warren Street appeared before the Historic Preservation Commission to say that they had decided to replace the existing metal roof--on the back of the house and the front--with a new standing seam metal roof. Since the roof replacement was now "like for like"--the existing metal roof was being replaced with a new metal roof--the HPC decided that the project did not need a certificate of appropriateness, even though the owner of the building wanted the HPC to grant one anyway.

The next project taken up by the HPC was 12 Willard Place. It had been slotted third on the agenda, but because the HPC is still a member short since Scott Baldinger's resignation at the end of August, architect member Jack Alvarez rarely makes the journey from Albany for the second (essentially pro forma) meeting, Thompson had to recuse himself (it was his project), and Peggy Polenberg arrived late (as she often does), it had to be postponed until Polenberg got there to make a quorum.

Before the HPC voted to approve the language of the certificate of appropriateness for 12 Willard Place, Ellen Thurston, who lives in the carriage house behind 335 Allen Street, two lots away from the site of 12 Willard Place, indicated that she had some questions about the process. HPC chair Rick Rector responded, "We've already made a decision. We've already approved it." Rector further advised Thurston, "This meeting is not the time for questions," suggesting that she should have been at the December 13 meeting if she had anything to say about the project. After the HPC had voted to approve the language of the certificate of appropriateness, however, Thurston was permitted to ask her questions.

Thurston began by recalling that when the first structure at 12 Willard Place was being considered by the HPC, there was a public hearing, and she wanted to know why a public hearing had been waived this time. In their answers to her question, Rector and HPC vice chair Phil Forman indicated that the only issue with the project was the introduction of modern architecture into a historic district and that was dispensed with when the first structure was granted a certificate of appropriateness in June 2011. Thurston then asked if both buildings--the studio and the residence--had been proposed in the original application for a certificate of appropriateness. The question was not answered directly, but, in fact, only the studio was granted a certificate of appropriateness in 2011. In his response, Rector seemed unwittingly to explain the very reason why segmentation is frowned upon in land use planning: the addition, he said, was appropriate to what already existed and what was on the property. In other words, the studio had established the precedent, and the addition did not require similar scrutiny.

The HPC then moved on to its final application: the proposal to install columns to support the oriel at 445-447 Warren Street. To show that the oriel that originally been supported by columns, the owners produced this amazing photograph of the building taken around 1900.

Instead of attempting to replicate the original columns, which had fairly ornate capitals and bases, prefabricated fiberglass columns with simple Doric capitals and bases were being proposed. The reasons given were that it was hard to see from the photograph exactly what the design of the original columns was, and the simpler columns would better showcase the door, which is flanked by the original pilasters. 

Rector reminded the commission, "This  is an emergency situation" (the oriel is pulling away from the building), and urged, "Let's get this building structurally sound for the community." Polenberg expressed the opinion that the proposed columns, which had been Photoshopped into a picture of the building shown to the commission, seemed "very small." David Voorhees expressed concern about the columns resting directly on the sidewalk. 

HPC legal counsel, Whitbeck observed that the Egyptian Revival columns on 357 Allen Street were more like the original columns than what was being proposed. Thompson talked about "two philosophies" of historic preservation, one being "to make changes obvious so there is no confusion" between what's original and what's new--a philosophy that usually applies to new additions to buildings not the replication of architectural details. Rector opined that there was "nothing worse than trying to duplicate what was there [and getting it] wrong."

In the end, the HPC determined the application was complete and voted to waive a public hearing and direct legal counsel to draft a certificate of appropriateness. Rector, Voorhees, Thompson, and Forman voted aye; Polenberg voted nay.
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