Union Street Historic District (Poughkeepsie, New York)
Union Street Historic District | |
Federal, Late Victorian | |
NRHP reference No. | 71000537 |
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Added to NRHP | 1971 |
The Union Street Historic District in
It dates to 1767 when a path to the
Geography
The district is roughly rectangular. It is bounded on the north by the rear property lines of
Union Street runs across the district roughly west-southwest to east-northeast. Delano and Grand streets are also included in their entirety, and portions of South Bridge, South Clover and South Perry streets are within the district as well.[1]
Topographically, the district slopes down towards the river from east to west. All its streets are developed, with a few vacant lots. Buildings and lots, both the smallest, on average, in any area of the city, are densely clustered, with many having yards in the rear rather than the side. There are many older, taller trees that provide shade and greenery.[1]
History
The street began as a winding footpath connecting the early settlement of Poughkeepsie, around the present-day location of Market Street, to the Union Store on the river. In 1767 it was expanded into the first road from Poughkeepsie to the river.[1] Maps prepared in 1799 show it as Union Store Road.[2]
A neighborhood gradually arose around it, becoming the first residence for many immigrant groups in the city: the
Throughout the 19th century builders put up the same general house plan, adapting it only slightly to prevailing
The houses were located on narrow lots with no sideyards, only a rear yard. This created a strong sense of community, and a division between public and private space. Within this, the oblique angles of the Union Street intersections, and the slope of the land gave each house its own perspective on and within the neighborhood.[1]
By the late 1960s many of the surrounding neighborhoods had been razed for road construction or extensively rebuilt through urban renewal programs. The historic designation made this less likely to happen in the Union Street area, and preserved it as it had been.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Mauri, Stephanie (May 1971). "National Register of Historic Places nomination, Union Street Historic District". New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Retrieved May 8, 2009.
- ^ Smith, James H. (1882). "XXX, Part I". History of Dutchess County, New York. usgennet.org. Archived from the original on March 22, 2008. Retrieved May 8, 2009.
At the terminus of 'Union Store Road,' at the Lower Landing, was a union store, which gave name to the road.