Harlow Row facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Harlow Row
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Row in 2007
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| Location | Poughkeepsie, NY |
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| Built | ca. 1874 |
| Architect | William Harlow |
| Architectural style | Second Empire, Romanesque Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 82001142 |
| Added to NRHP | 1982 |
Harlow Row, also known as Brick Row, is a set of brick townhouses. They are located in Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. Even though their address says Market Street, they are actually on a small side street called Little Market Street. They sit across from a park with a special fountain, near the edge of the city's downtown area.
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What is Harlow Row?
Harlow Row is made up of four red brick houses. Each house has three stories. They feature a special roof called a mansard roof. This roof style is common in Second Empire architecture. This was a popular building style in the late 1800s.
Unique Architectural Details
The bottom parts of the houses have a rough, stone-like look. This is called rusticated stonework. They also have cool arched doorways. On the north end of the row, there is a unique tower. This tower is built in the Romanesque Revival style. This style often uses round arches and strong, heavy shapes.
Who Built Harlow Row?
The houses were likely built around the 1870s. The builder was probably William Harlow. He was a former mayor of Poughkeepsie. He was also an architect, meaning he designed buildings. He designed St. Paul's Church in the city.
Inspiration for the Houses
William Harlow might have been inspired by another former mayor. This mayor, Harvey G. Eastman, tried to build affordable houses. These houses were near a park now named after him. Harlow's project was similar, but on a smaller scale. City tax maps from the mid-1870s show Harlow as the owner of the land. However, the maps do not clearly show who owned the houses themselves.
Later Owners and Changes
In the 1880s, two local lawyers owned the houses. Later, a businessman named Charles Robinson became the owner. He probably added the unique tower. This tower was likely built between 1887 and 1895.
Keeping History Alive
The houses have mostly stayed the same over time. In 1981, some parts of the houses were updated. Windows were replaced in the south and west sections. But most of the original inside features are still there. In 1982, Harlow Row was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of important historical buildings in the United States.
Bringing Harlow Row Back to Life
By the late 1900s, the houses started to fall apart. Many old buildings in Poughkeepsie faced this problem. In 2000, a local group called Hudson River Housing got money. Dutchess County gave them $194,000. Their goal was to fix up Harlow Row.
A Successful Renovation
The plan was to turn the row into eight rental apartments. It would also have four spaces for businesses. The project was finished in 2002. The total cost was almost $2 million. After the renovation, Hudson River Housing began renting out the new units. This helped save an important historical building.
