Bain Commercial Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Bain Commercial Building
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East (front) elevation and north profile, 2008
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| Location | Wappingers Falls, NY |
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| Nearest city | Poughkeepsie |
| Built | 1875 |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| MPS | Wappingers Falls MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 84002369 |
| Added to NRHP | 1984 |
The Bain Commercial Building is a historic building found at the corner of Church and West Main (NY 9D) streets in Wappingers Falls, New York, United States. It's an old brick building from the late 1800s. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. This means it's an important historical site!
This building is special because it's the only one left in the village built in the "Second Empire" style from that time. It's also one of the few old buildings in the part of the village west of Wappinger Creek. This area was once called Channingville before it joined Wappingers Falls in 1871. The building hasn't changed much since it was built. Today, it still has businesses on the first floor and homes on the upper floors.
Contents
What the Building Looks Like
The Bain building has two stories and a special roof called a mansard roof. This type of roof is a key feature of the Second Empire style. The roof is covered with colorful slate tiles.
Outside Features
The building's foundation is built into a slope. This means you need to walk up steps to get to the front door. The front has a main entrance for the upper floors. On each side of this entrance are two separate storefronts. Each storefront has a door with large windows next to it.
The top edge of the roof has fancy decorations called a cornice. It has brackets and panels. Smaller, simpler versions of these decorations are also above the storefronts. The second floor has five windows. Above them, on the roof, are three smaller windows called dormer windows. There are also chimneys on the north and south sides of the roof. Strong metal columns help support the building where the front parts meet.
Changes Over Time
To make the building work better as apartments, wooden stairs and small sheds were added to the back. One of the original sheds is still there. It is considered an important part of the historic property.
History of the Bain Building
Most people in Wappingers Falls believe the Bain family built this building in 1875. This was shortly after Channingville became part of the village. The building was likely their home and their business place. They might have also rented out the other storefront.
In the 1900s, after the village's factories slowed down, the upper floors were changed into apartments. The Bain family's descendants still owned the building and made these updates. Today, the building still has both businesses and homes. One of the storefronts is now a coffee shop.
Why the Building is Unique
It's not common to find detached Second Empire commercial buildings in towns or cities. The Bain building shows that the Channingville area didn't have much development back then. It was also a bit far from the creek and the main downtown area of the village. Because it stood alone, it allowed for more detailed Second Empire designs. These include its unique roofline, the way the upper windows are placed, and its colorful slate roof.
