I’m just back from almost two weeks staying at my brother’s house in Rhinebeck, New York, right in the middle of the Hudson River Valley. I’ve seen a lot, and have many beautiful photographs to upload here, but I’m not quite sure how to curate them: no theme is emerging other than wow, there’s so much here. I’ve been to this region quite a bit over the past few decades, and I thought I knew it, but this longer stay has convinced me that I do not, really. You know I’m not really interested in nature (apart from its harnessing) so it’s not about the River for me, it’s about the houses and the towns, the built environment. Do I organize my hundreds of photos of structures and streetscapes by family (the Livingstons are everywhere), by chronology, by origin (Dutch vs. English), by size (the two cities of Kingston and Hudson on the west and eastern sides, surrounded by smaller towns and “hamlets” and the larger cities of Poughkeepsie and Tarrytown to the south), or by style? Mansions or private residences? Shops, or more particularly, shop windows (which seem to be curated here to a level we haven’t seen in Salem since the 1950s)? One theme which might work is that of stewardship, which I always think about when I’m in the midst of a region as architecturally and institutionally rich as this valley, but that will take some work and as I have officially entered the last week before classes that means I have SYLLABI looming: better stick to highlights!
Mansions and Cottages:
The stunning Lyndhurst Mansion in Tarrytown, designed by Alexander Jackson Davis for the Paulding and Merritt families over several decades beginning in 1838 and later acquired by Jay Gould, whose daughter left it to the National Trust for Historic Preservation; neighboring Sunnyside, the home of Washington Irving; Wilderstein in Rhinebeck and a detail from its stables; Montgomery Place and its stables, now the property of Bard College.
A Decayed Mansion with much potential: The Point, or Hoyt House, at the Mills Mansion/Staatsburg State Historic Site, Hyde Park.
There are several impressive structures on the vast riverfront acreage of the Staatsburg State Historic Site, including the Classically columned Mills Mansion, but I only had eyes for the Hoyt House on my hike. Designed by Calvert Vaux before his Central Park partnership with Olmsted, it just looks perfect, despite its decay (or maybe because of it?) The Calvert Vaux Preservation Alliance, of which my brother-in-law Brian is a director, is raising funds for the Hoyt House’s restoration and potential repurposing as a center of traditional craftsmanship training—talk about stewardship! I’m wondering if this cottage on the main road outside of the park is tied to the estate, as well as this adjacent entrance?
Alexander Jackson Davis’s furniture: almost everything is arched.
Chairs, beds, mirrors, even tables, so there is no “head” of the table: all at Lyndhurst.
Private residences: both vernacular and very high style—-all sorts of styles.
A Foxhollow Farm cottage, more contemporary board and batten, and two houses in Claverack to the north (I spent a lovely hour or so inside the white brick Hillstead, at the gracious invitation of Bruch Shostok and Craig Fitt); all sorts of restorations going on in Hudson; the lighthouse at the entrance to Kingston’s harbor.
And shopping! Mostly at Hudson, a bit at Kingston (Grounded) lured in by creative shop windows (which we need more of in Salem). History was in the windows too.
August 24th, 2021 at 1:21 am
Thank you. You could have spent the entire post on Alexander Jackson Davis’ house and I would have been delighted 🙂 I normally find the Gothic Revival style best for external architecture, but he clearly wanted the ceiling, furniture, paintings and decorative arts to match.
August 24th, 2021 at 6:26 am
Oh I know, I’m obsessed! Will return to him–have much to learn.
August 24th, 2021 at 6:25 am
Beautiful photos – you captured the essence of the Hudson Valley’s beauty, I have never been up that far, but have done a lot of articles about the lower Hudson Valley. Was the painting of the Mother w child a Bouguereau?
August 24th, 2021 at 6:28 am
Yes, and the tour guide at Lyndhurst explained talked about Bouguereau a bit in that gallery, although I have to admit I was distracted by the furniture! I think she was saying, in essence, that everyone thought he was the one to collect in the Gilded Age.
August 24th, 2021 at 6:45 am
Gorgeous buildings, some quaint. I love how you say you are about the “built environment.” Perfect way to describe your passion, Donna!
August 24th, 2021 at 8:32 am
Well I wish I could be a true lover of nature, but I feel my heart rushing more rapidly when I’m looking at a building!
August 24th, 2021 at 8:35 am
I had no idea how cool the Hudson River Valley is! Now I have it on my bucket list. Loved all the pictures. I feel like I took a mini vacation.
August 24th, 2021 at 10:34 am
Thank you, Tracy! Carve out some time—-there’s much more!