Academy Street Historic District (Poughkeepsie, New York) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Academy Street Historic District
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Restored houses on Academy Street, 2007
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| Location | Poughkeepsie, NY |
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| Area | 140 acres (56 ha) |
| Built | 19th and 20th centuries |
| Architect | William J. Beardsley, Percival Lloyd, William Appleton Potter |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival architecture, Hudson River Bracketed, Second Empire, Queen Anne, Eastern Stick-Eastlake, Colonial Revival |
| MPS | Poughkeepsie Multiple Resources |
| NRHP reference No. | 82001117 |
| Added to NRHP | 1982 |
The Academy Street Historic District is a special area in Poughkeepsie, New York. It's a neighborhood with many old and interesting buildings. This district is located along Academy Street, between Livingston and Montgomery streets. It's not far from US 9 and near Springside, which was once the estate of Matthew Vassar.
This historic district covers about 140 acres (56 hectares). It includes 46 buildings, most of which are homes. These buildings show off many different architectural styles from the 1800s and early 1900s. It was the first neighborhood in Poughkeepsie that was planned out before homes were built.
Contents
History of Academy Street
How the Neighborhood Began
The land where the Academy Street Historic District now stands was once part of a large farm. This farm belonged to Bronson Smith in 1805. In 1836, a group of people bought the land. They planned to build many homes there.
Building Homes and Styles
A financial problem in 1837 slowed down building for a while. But later in the 1800s, many homes were built. The houses in the district show a mix of styles. Homes closer to downtown Poughkeepsie have smaller yards. Those further away have bigger yards.
Christ Church was also built during this time. It still looks much like it did when it was first built. This church is an important part of the district's history.
Protecting the Historic District
Why Residents Wanted Protection
In the late 1970s, people living in the Academy Street area wanted to protect their neighborhood. They saw how well the nearby Garfield Place Historic District had done. That district had helped increase property values. It also kept the old look and feel of the neighborhood.
Because of this success, 85% of the residents voted to create the Academy Street Historic District. This showed they really cared about their homes and history.
Becoming a National Historic Place
The Academy Street Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. This is a special list of places important to American history. Being on this list helps protect the district. It has encouraged people to fix up and restore their homes. Real estate agents even use this special status to help sell homes.
How the District is Managed Today
Today, the Academy Street Historic District is one of three historic districts in Poughkeepsie. It has special rules about how buildings can be changed. The city's Historic District and Landmark Preservation Commission (HDLPC) helps enforce these rules.
Famous People from Academy Street
William Allen Adriance
One notable person who lived in the district was William Allen Adriance. He lived at 154 Academy Street. He was famous for making farming equipment. He was also the father of the actress Jan Sterling. William Allen Adriance also started the Adriance Memorial Library. This is the main public library in Poughkeepsie.
