A. J. Clark Store facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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A. J. Clark Store
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Store in 2007
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| Location | 286 Main St. Cornwall, NY |
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| Nearest city | Newburgh |
| Built | ca. 1875 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| MPS | Cornwall MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 96001432 |
| Added to NRHP | December 6, 1996 |
The A. J. Clark Store is a really old and special building in downtown Cornwall, New York. It was built around 1875 and still looks a lot like it did back then. This building is so important that it's even listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which is a list of places in the United States that are worth protecting because of their history.
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Discover the Historic A. J. Clark Store
The A. J. Clark Store is a great example of a building from the late 1800s. It shows us what commercial buildings looked like when Cornwall was a popular place for people to visit in the summer.
What Makes the Building Special?
The store is made of brick and has a style called Italianate. This style was very popular in the late 1800s. Italianate buildings often have tall, narrow windows and decorative details.
Unique Features
- Roof Design: Around the entire roof, there's a two-foot (60 cm) tall wall called a parapet. This gives the building a unique look.
- Front Porch: It also has a two-story covered porch that faces the street. This would have been a nice place for people to gather or relax.
- Inside Details: When you go inside, you can still see many original parts from when it was built. These include a ceiling made of pressed metal, beautiful hardwood floors, and the original doors and staircase.
- Well-Preserved: What's really amazing is that the building hasn't changed much since it was first built. It's like a time capsule!
A Store Through Time
The A. J. Clark Store has a long and interesting history, serving the community for over a century.
From Butcher Shop to Modern Business
- The Beginning: Around 1875, a man named Archer Clark built this store. He needed a new place for his butcher shop because his old one was destroyed in a fire in 1870.
- A Century of Business: His butcher shop stayed in this very building for about 100 years! Imagine buying your meat from the same place your great-grandparents did.
- New Uses: Later, one of Archer Clark's family members changed the store into a delicatessen. A delicatessen is a shop that sells prepared foods like sandwiches, salads, and cold cuts.
- Today: Even now, another person from the Clark family uses the ground floor of the building. They run a business that helps people with financial planning. It's cool how the building has stayed in the same family and adapted over the years!
Why the Store is Important
In 1996, the A. J. Clark Store was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This happened because it's a great example of a commercial building that has kept its original look and feel. It reminds us of a time when Cornwall was a popular summer getaway.
