Garrison Landing Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Garrison Landing Historic District
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East (front) elevation of Garrison Art Center and other mid-19th-century commercial buildings, 2008
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | Garrison, New York |
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| Nearest city | Peekskill |
| Area | 5.3 acres (2.1 ha) |
| Built | 19th century |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| MPS | Hudson Highlands MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 82001243 |
| Added to NRHP | November 23, 1982 |
The Garrison Landing Historic District, also known as Garrison's Landing, is a small area with shops and homes. It is located in Garrison, New York, right next to the Hudson River. Most of its buildings were built in the 1850s. This was around the time the Hudson River Railroad laid its tracks here.
The president of a local ferry company built many of these homes. He wanted to rent them to local workers. His family lived in the area for a long time. They also helped keep the historic buildings safe. In the 1960s, the movie Hello, Dolly filmed scenes here. The area looked so much like the 1890s! In 1982, Garrison Landing became a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places.
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Exploring Garrison Landing
This special district is bordered by the Hudson River on the west. The train tracks are on the east. Dock Road is to the north, and Depot Square is to the south. This area includes 17 buildings and structures. Most of them help make the district historic.
Most buildings are on the west side of Depot Square. This is the main road into the district. The old train station, now a community theater, is the only building near the tracks. The buildings are a mix of shops and homes. The few buildings on Dock Road are all homes. All buildings here use "Garrison Landing" as their address.
There is a marina with a grassy area and a gazebo at the southwest corner. From most of the district, you can see the U.S. Military Academy across the river. Most buildings are Carpenter Gothic style. This means they are wooden houses with fancy details. Only three main buildings are made of other materials. These are the Golden Eagle hotel (brick), the old train station (stone), and the former Guinan's Pub (stucco).
A Journey Through Time: Garrison Landing's Story
The oldest building in Garrison Landing is the home of Henry White Belcher. He owned the Garrison and West Point Ferry Company. His home was built in 1800. It has brick on the first floor and wood siding above. The Belcher family lived there until the late 1900s.
When the railroad started building in the 1850s, Belcher built most of the other homes. He rented them to his workers and to people working at nearby riverfront estates. Most of these were the wooden Carpenter Gothic style homes. This was a popular new style at the time.
Buildings and Changes
The Golden Eagle Hotel was an exception. It was finished in 1854. This is a three-story brick building with a stone foundation. It has fancy wooden trim around the windows. In 1892, the train station was built. It mixed different styles like Italianate and Victorian Gothic. It is a one-story stone building with a curved roof. The original wooden station from the 1850s was moved nearby.
Some more wooden buildings were added in the early 1900s. Not much changed until 1968. That's when the movie Hello Dolly was filmed here. The film crew repainted some buildings. They also added a small tower (a cupola) to the train station. They built the gazebo near the marina, which is still there today.
Since being listed as a historic place, Garrison Landing has become an arts and culture spot. The old train station has been home to the Philipstown Depot Theatre since 1996.
Guinan's Pub: A Local Favorite
In 1959, an Irish immigrant named Jim Guinan opened Guinan's. It was an Irish pub in the stucco building at the south end of the district. Over time, it became a very important local spot. A book called Little Chapel on the River was written about it. It was a popular place for people to get coffee in the morning. Commuters also stopped for a drink after work.
News of the pub closing in 2007 led to efforts to keep it open. It stayed open for another year. Its closure even inspired a play and a music CD. The building is empty now. People in the area hope it will become a cafe or similar business again.
Keeping History Alive
Garrison Station Plaza Inc. (GSP) is a company that owns most of the buildings in the district. It is owned by the non-profit Garrison Landing Association. These two groups own 10 of the 17 properties. Their job is to keep the historic look of the area.
