Washington Park Historic District (Albany, New York)
Washington Park Historic District | |
Location | Washington Park and surrounding properties, Albany, New York |
---|---|
Coordinates | 42°39′25″N 73°46′18″W / 42.65694°N 73.77167°W |
Area | 136 acres (0.55 km2) |
Architect | John Bogart and John Cuyler (for park) multiple for residences including HH Richardson and Stanford White |
NRHP reference No. | 72000818[1] |
Added to NRHP | June 19, 1972 |
Washington Park in Albany, New York is the city's premier park and the site of many festivals and gatherings. As public property it dates back to the city charter in 1686, and has seen many uses including that of gunpowder storage, square/parade grounds, and cemetery. The park is often mistaken as being designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, as it incorporate many of the philosophical ideals used by Olmsted when he designed Central Park in Manhattan.[2] The park is about 81 acres (33 ha) in size with the 5.2-acre (2.1 ha) Washington Park Lake, a roughly 1,600-foot-long (490 m) and 140-foot-wide (43 m) lake, in the southwestern corner.[3][4][5]
Not only is the park historic, but so is the mostly residential surrounding neighborhood. Many architectural works line the streets facing the park, designed by some of the most famous architects of the late 19th century, including Henry Hobson Richardson. At least two governors of New York lived in buildings facing Washington Park outside of their term in office.[6] Due to the historical and architectural significance of the park and neighborhood both were included in 1972 as the Washington Park Historic District;[1] and in 1998 the park was named one of the nation's 100 most important parks by the American Association of Architects.[7] In 2008 Boston-based composer Peter Child wrote an orchestral piece inspired by the park, entitled Washington Park.[8]
History
Cemetery and parade grounds
Washington Park has been public property since the
For years leading up to the creation of the park, the leading citizens and newspapers in Albany had pushed for a grand public park.[10] Frederick Law Olmsted's Olmsted, Vaux and Company was hired in 1869 to plan such a park. In their plan they envisioned Washington Park as the centerpiece of a string of parks and boulevards similar to those they had designed in Buffalo, Boston, and Brooklyn. Though Olmsted and his company was not involved in the actual design of the park, their broad vision was followed for the detailed designs, including the idea of damming the Beaver Kill (Beaver Creek) to form a grand lake.[6]
Construction of the park
The
Work on the Washington Parade Grounds between Willett and Knox streets was begun in July 1870 and finished by the end of the year. During 1871 the former cemetery was landscaped and that area reopened as part of the park. The section of Washington Park between Lexington (formerly Snipe) and Robin streets was the focus of work in 1873, including the damming of the Beaverkill to form
The Commissioners were given by the state additional powers to build and maintain approaches to the park and other parks as well, this allowed the commissioners to build a series of boulevards around the city.
Modern times
In 1958 Lancaster Street, which had previously ended at Willett Street opposite the park, was extended through to Northern Boulevard (today Henry Johnson Boulevard).
In the 1950s
Structures
Originally, Washington Park included many buildings: several shelters of untrimmed logs, a pavilion, wellhouse, croquet shelter, and lakehouse once dotted the landscape. The wooden lake house was replaced in 1929 with a "modern" brick structure while the others over time succumbed to age and changing use-patterns for the park and no longer stand.[13] The footbridge over Washington Park Lake, erected in 1875, is the only remaining original structure in Washington Park. The lamps on the bridge were originally gas lamps, but they were electrified in 1881.[6]
The current Washington Park Lake House was built in 1929 replacing the original
Monuments
- Dr. James H. Armsby Memorial is a bust of James H. Armsby, the co-founder of Albany Medical College. Erected in 1879, it was the first memorial in the park.[21]
- Robert Burns Statue is a bronze statue erected in 1888, with four panels around the base installed in 1891.[22] It is of the famous Scottish poet Robert Burns, his statue was sculpted by Charles Calverley and each of the four panels around the base have one of Burns' poems carved by George H. Boughton. The Saint Andrew's Society funded conservation of the statue in 1978.[6]
- King Memorial Fountain is a fountain erected in 1893 with a monumental bronze statue of Israelite slaves around the statue on the side of the mountain represent the four stages of life: infancy, youth, adulthood, and old age. The fountain is in the center of formal gardens laid out by William S. Egerton. It was a gift from Rufus H. King and was sculpted by J. Massey Rhind, who also sculpted the Philip Schuyler statue that stands at the center of the intersection of Eagle Street and Washington Avenue in front of city hall. [6] In 1988, the statue of Moses was cleaned and applied with a wax coating to protect it from the weather, and an arm was reattached to one of the four other statues on the fountain.[23]
- Marinus Willett Memorial is a monument to Colonel Marinus Willett commemorating his combat and character during the French and Indian Wars. It consists of a 33,000-pound (15,000 kg) boulder from the "scenes of conflict" he fought in, and the plaque is dedicated to his "patriotic services in defense of Albany and the people of the Mohawk". The boulder was placed by the Sons of the American Revolution in 1907, facing towards an entrance to the park from the corner of State and Willett streets, an entrance that no longer exists. The boulder's back faced Henry Johnson Boulevard (formerly Northern Boulevard) and was the scene of many vehicular accidents as drivers missed a sharp curve. In 2006, as part of the 200th anniversary of the park, the boulder was moved 60 yards (55 m) to the corner of State and Willett. [24]
- Soldiers and Sailors' Monument is a marble monument sitting on a granite base with a bronze statue representing the Nation, holding the palms of victory. The monument is built of Tennessee marble above the seat and the remainder is of Stony Creek granite. It is 22 feet (6.7 m) high, 21 feet (6.4 m) long and 5.5 feet (1.7 m) deep, surrounded by a seat, the whole resting upon a platform 70 feet (21 m) long by 64 feet (20 m) deep. It sits at the Henry Johnson Boulevard entrance from State Street to the park. The monument represents "The Nation at Peace Won Through Victorious War".
- Henry Johnson Memorial is a bust of World War I hero Henry Johnson in a traffic island at the intersection of Henry Johnson Boulevard and Willett Street near Madison Avenue, erected in 1991.[17]
Activities
Washington Park has many activities open to visitors and residents, some maintained by the city, others are spontaneously set up by individuals. Washington Park's open spaces are often used by visitors to play
Washington Park is the site of many festivals, concerts, and special occasions. The
Many fund raisers are held every year in the park as well, such as the
Historic district
The streets surrounding Washington Park, State Street to the north, Willett Avenue to the east, Madison Avenue to the south, and South Lake Avenue to the west, along with Englewood Terrace, Thurlow Terrace, and the residence at 76 Western Avenue to the northwest, are all included in the Washington Park Historic District.[1] Most of the existing properties date to after the 1880s, with very few predating the creation of the park.[6]
State Street
State Street is a one-way eastbound street along Washington Park's northern border.[26] Over 60 townhouses sit on State Street facing the park, most are of brick or brownstone and three stories tall. Many of these homes were built for industrialists, bankers, railroad executives, and politicians by notable national architects such as Henry Hobson Richardson and Stanford White, and local ones such as Marcus T. Reynolds and Albert Fuller.[1][6] Many of the buildings have fine details such as decorative tiles, terracotta, or stone.[1] On the corner of State and Willett is located the First Presbyterian Church, designed by J. Cleaveland Cady in 1882, and the church is noted for its four Tiffany windows. New York Governor John Alden Dix lived at 491 State Street before and after his term in office.[6] 423 State Street is owned by the University at Albany and used by its Center for Legislative Development.[38] At 465 State Street is the Benjamin Walworth Arnold House and Carriage House, the only buildings in Albany designed by Stanford White.[39]
Willett Street
Willet Street is a northbound one-way street comprising three blocks, stretching from the southeastern corner of the park at the intersection with Madison Avenue to the northeastern corner with State Street.
Madison Avenue
Madison Avenue is part of the cross-country
South Lake Avenue
South Lake Avenue facing Washington Park consists of 23 rowhouses, a modern apartment building, and a converted
Englewood Place and Thurlow Terrace
Englewood Place and Thurlow Terrace were constructed by the Commissioners of Washington Park and maintained by them for some time, with half the maintenance cost assessed on the private property facing the street. Restrictions were placed to prevent fences and unwelcome uses to preserve a park-like appearance.[4]
Englewood Place was a part of Robin Street until receiving its current name in the 1870s; it was laid out in lots in 1879, with large mansions and carriage houses built between 1879 and 1887. 5 and 7 Englewood Place were designed by Robert Gibson, who also designed the
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012. Retrieved June 1, 2010.
- ^ Judy Shepard (October 28, 1987). "Studying Washington Park's Landscape". Albany Times Union. p. C1. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
- ^ Arthur James Weise (1884). The History of the City of Albany, New York. E.H. Bender. p. 482. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e William S. Egerton (1892). The Public Parks of the City of Albany, N.Y. Weed, Parsons & Co. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
the public parks of the city of albany.
- ^ "Washington Park Lake" (PDF). New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources. Retrieved June 6, 2010.
- ^ ISBN 0-9625368-1-4.
- ^ Jacquelyn Swearingen (November 21, 2001). "Walk-way Adds Old-time Grace". Albany Times Union. p. F1. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
- ^ Joseph Dalton (January 24, 2008). "Heart of the city". Albany Times Union. p. P16. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
- ^ Banks, A. Bleeker (1888). Albany Bi-centennial. Banks and Brothers. pp. 431–454. Retrieved May 27, 2010.
dongan charter albany.
- ^ a b c d e f g George Howell and Jonathan Tenney (1886). Bi-Centennial History of Albany. History of the County of Albany, N.Y., From 1609 to 1886. W.W. Munsell & Company. pp. 517–8. Retrieved May 31, 2010.
- ^ "Burying the Dead in Early Albany". Colonial Albany Social History Project/New York State Museum. September 29, 2005. Archived from the original on May 29, 2010. Retrieved June 2, 2010.
- ^ Laws of the State of New York, Passed at the One Hundred and Nineteenth Session of the Legislature Begun January First, 1896, and Ended April Thirtieth, 1896, in the City of Albany. Vol. II. State of New York/James B. Lyon. 1896. p. 640. Retrieved June 2, 2010.
- ^ a b Jay Jochnowitz (April 8, 1988). "Group Asks Why City Reneged on Snow-Shoveling Deal". Albany Times Union. p. B1. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
- ^ Judy Shepard (December 4, 1988). "Probing the Park's Past Group Trying to Mesh Practical Necessities With Scenic Value". p. F1. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
- ^ "Chronological History of Washington Park, Albany, New York". Washington Park Conservancy. Retrieved June 6, 2010.
- ^ Jay Jochnowitz (April 27, 1988). "11 Compete for Tulip Queen Events Outlined for Albany Spring Celebration". Albany Times Union. p. B2. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
- ^ a b Carl Strock (March 19, 2002). "McNulty plans to object to Army's decision". Schenectady Gazette. p. A6. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
- ^ Elizabeth Benjamin (August 19, 1999). "Plans to Restore Park's Historic Look Take Root". Albany Times Union. p. B1. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
- ^ Frances Ingraham Heins (May 5, 2002). "A Tulip Tour for this Year's Fest, Washington Park's Grand Gardens Have Been Restored to Their Original 19th Century Dimensions". Albany Times Union. p. G1. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
- ^ Brian Nearing (July 12, 2006). "No takers on lakehouse eatery plan". Albany Times Union. p. B3. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
- ^ a b c John D. Whish (1917). Albany Guide Book. J.B. Lyon. p. 162. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
washington park monuments albany.
- ^ Muir, John, ed. (1892). Annual Burns Chronicle and Club Directory. D. Brown & Co. p. 36. Retrieved June 7, 2010.
- ^ Deborah Gesensway (January 2, 1988). "Moses Due for a Face Lift Washington Park Restoration to Commence in April". Albany Times Union. p. B1. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
- ^ Colin McDonald (March 8, 2006). "A rock in a hard place rolls on to new home". Albany Times Union. p. B1. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
- ^ a b Richard Wexler (November 12, 1986). "America's Soldiers Honored and Recalled Cold Day in the Sun for Vets". Albany Times Union. p. A1. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e Frances Ingraham Heins (September 11, 2005). "Washington Park: Diversity, convenience prevail". p. H1. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
- ^ "Playgrounds and Recreational Facilities" (PDF). City of Albany. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 17, 2010. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
- ^ Jay Jochnowitz (July 13, 1994). "Army of Skateboarders Rolls Over Albany Ban". Albany Times Union. p. A1. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
- ^ a b "Albany, New York, Special Events". City of Albany Office of Special Events & Volunteer Services. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
- Albany Times Union. Retrieved July 30, 2009.
- ^ David Filkins (October 7, 2007). "Honoring a favorite son of Italy". Albany Times Union. p. B1. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
- ^ "Hannaford Capital Holiday Lights". Retrieved June 5, 2010.
- ^ a b Alan Wechsler (October 19, 2008). "They Move With Purpose". Albany Times Union. p. C8. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
- ^ Pete Iorizzo (June 6, 2010). "Winning Race and a Record". Albany Times Union. Retrieved June 6, 2010.
- ^ "IAAF awards Gold and Silver Labels for Road Races". International Association of Athletics Federations. December 20, 2007. Retrieved June 6, 2010.
- ^ "Freihofer's Run for Women". USATF Adirondack Association. 2010. Archived from the original on March 28, 2010. Retrieved June 6, 2010.
- ^ "Freihofer's Run for Women 5 km". Association of Road Racing Statisticians. June 5, 2010. Retrieved June 6, 2010.
- ^ "Center for Legislative Development". University at Albany's Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy Center for Legislative Development. Retrieved June 7, 2010.
- ^ Neil G. Larson (May 1981). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: Benjamin Walworth Arnold House and Carriage House". New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved October 13, 2010.
- ^ De Socio, Mike (May 8, 2019). "'It looks great,' but 'where's that biking crowd?' Checking in on the Madison Avenue redesign". American City Business Journals. Archived from the original on March 12, 2023.
- ^ "The Word on the Streets: Albany Neighborhoods". State University of New York at Albany. Archived from the original on January 24, 2003. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
- ^ "University at Albany President's Residence". University at Albany, State University of New York. Retrieved June 7, 2010.
- ^ "Renovation". The State University of New York. Retrieved June 7, 2010.
Further reading
- NY Times article on the unveiling of the King Fountain
- Collyer, Robert (1889), Sketch of the Burns Statue, the McPherson Legacy to the City of Albany, Weed, Parsons & Co.