Church Park Historic District facts for kids
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Church Park Historic District
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First Presbyterian Church and park, 2015
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | Goshen, NY |
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| Nearest city | Middletown |
| Area | 1,020 acres (410 ha) |
| Built | 18th-20th century |
| Architect | Thornton Niven, Richard Upjohn, Calvert Vaux and N. Van Sickle |
| Architectural style | Federal style, Greek Revival, Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 80002735 (original) 04000991 (increase) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 17, 1980 |
| Boundary increase | September 15, 2004 |
The Church Park Historic District is a special area in downtown Goshen, New York. Goshen is the main town, or seat, of Orange County. This historic district gets its name from a big, triangular park in the middle of the village. The park is surrounded by Main Street, Park Place, and South Church Street.
The district includes 107 buildings and three other important items. At the north end of the park stands the First Presbyterian Church. Its tall, pointed spire is a famous part of the village's skyline. This church is so important that the district is named after it! The area was first recognized as a historic place in 1980. It was later made even bigger in 2004 to include more historic spots.
A few years after it became a historic district, the village created an "Architectural Design District." This means that any new buildings or changes in the area must fit in with the old, historic look. This helps keep the district's unique character. Most buildings here are churches, government offices, or businesses. Some homes are found on the side streets. There are also a few shops along Main Street.
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What is the Church Park Historic District?
A historic district is a special area that has many old buildings or places. These places are important because of their history or how they look. The Church Park Historic District in Goshen, New York, is one such area. It helps protect the unique past and look of this part of the village.
The district covers a large area. It stretches from Green Street in the south to Main Street and Webster Avenue. It also crosses Main Street near the Historic Track and goes to Kelsey Lane, South Church Street, and South Street. This wide area includes many different types of buildings.
The First Presbyterian Church is a key landmark here. Its tall spire is a symbol of Goshen. The district was first added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This is a list of places in the United States that are important to history. In 2004, the district was made larger to include even more historic sites.
Exploring the District's Special Places
The Church Park Historic District has many interesting places. Three of these places are so important that they are also listed on the National Register of Historic Places by themselves. Let's explore some of the most famous spots in the district.
The Historic Track: A Racing Legend
One of the most famous places is the Historic Track. This is a very special place for harness racing. Harness racing is a type of horse race where a driver sits in a two-wheeled cart behind the horse. The Historic Track has been holding races since 1838. This makes it the oldest horse racing track in the United States that has been used without stopping!
Right in front of the Historic Track, on Main Street, you'll find the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame. This museum is built in a style called Tudor Revival. It looks like an old English house. It tells the story of harness racing and honors its greatest stars.
Important Buildings and Monuments
Across Main Street from the First Presbyterian Church is the 1841 Goshen Courthouse. This beautiful building was designed by a local architect named Thornton Niven. It is built in the Greek Revival style, which looks like ancient Greek temples. This courthouse was built in 1841 and is still an important part of the county government.
Just north of the First Presbyterian Church is another county government building, built in 1887. In the middle of the intersection of Main and Park streets, you'll see a statue by Theo Alice Ruggles Kitson. This statue honors the "Orange Blossoms." This was a local group of soldiers who fought bravely in the American Civil War.
The Goshen United Methodist Church is also nearby. It is almost as tall as the First Presbyterian Church. It stands next to the old courthouse.
At the corner of Park and South Church streets, there is another monument. This one remembers the village's part in the American Revolutionary War. A tall granite stone, called an obelisk, marks a mass grave. This is where local soldiers, called militia, were buried. They died in a very difficult battle called the Battle of Minisink. It took 43 years for people from Goshen to go to the battle site and bring back the bones of these brave soldiers.
Main Street, north of the main intersection, is very wide. It is lined with many historic buildings. One of these buildings is a house where President Ulysses S. Grant watched horse races in 1873. There is also an old school building from the early 1900s. Today, this building serves as the main offices for the Goshen Central School District.
Protecting History in Goshen
The village of Goshen wants to make sure its historic character lasts. That's why they created the Architectural Design District. This means that any new buildings or changes in the Church Park Historic District must be approved. The goal is to make sure they look like they belong with the older buildings. This helps keep the district's special historic feel.
The buildings in the district are mostly churches, government offices, and businesses. Some homes are also found on the quieter side streets. There are also a few shops along the west side of Main Street. This area is close to Goshen's main shopping district. This mix of old and new, and different types of buildings, makes the Church Park Historic District a unique and important part of Goshen.
