Hoosick Falls Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hoosick Falls Historic District
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View from Church Street along
John Street to Main Street, 2008 |
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | Hoosick Falls, NY |
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| Nearest city | Bennington, VT |
| Area | 8 acres (3.2 ha) |
| Built | late 19th-early 20th century |
| Architectural style | Italianate, Second Empire |
| NRHP reference No. | 80004280 |
| Added to NRHP | 1980 |
The Hoosick Falls Historic District is a cool place located in the downtown area of Hoosick Falls village in New York State, United States. It's about eight acres (3.2 hectares) big. You can find it mainly along Church, Classic, and John streets (which is also NY 22), just south of the Hoosick River.
Most of the 40 buildings in this district are still standing strong from the late 1800s and early 1900s. This was a time when Hoosick Falls was doing really well economically. Mills and factories used the river's power, bringing lots of jobs and money to the area. In 1980, this special area was officially recognized as a historic district. It was then added to the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important place to protect.
Exploring the District's Layout
The Hoosick Falls Historic District is shaped a bit like an upside-down "L". It follows the path of Route 22 through the village. The district starts in the south on Church Street. It then moves west to include buildings on Main Street.
It continues along the south side of Classic Street. From there, it goes north towards the Hoosick River. The district then stretches west along the riverbank to Church Street. It also includes buildings on the west side of Classic Street.
Inside this area, you'll find 40 buildings. Many of them are multi-story buildings used for shops or a mix of shops and homes. They were built between the 1880s and the 1920s. Most of these buildings show off the popular styles of their time. You'll see many in the Italianate and Second Empire styles. There are also a few Georgian Revival buildings from the 1900s.
The few homes in the district are mostly in the Stick-Eastlake style. This style was popular in the late 1800s. The district also has some empty lots and a parking lot.
A Look Back at Hoosick Falls History
Hoosick Falls was first settled by two men from Connecticut. This happened just before the Revolutionary War. After the war, they built a gristmill (a mill for grinding grain) on the river. They also built the first bridge in the area. In 1827, about 50 years after it was founded, the settlement became an official village.
Other business owners from New England came to the village. They set up textile mills along the river. These mills made cloth and other fabric products. The most famous manufacturer in the village was Walter A. Wood. He arrived in 1836.
In 1853, Walter A. Wood created a special machine called a mower. He started making both mowers and reapers (machines that cut crops). After the Civil War, his company, the Walter A. Wood Mowing and Reaping Machine Manufactory, moved into an old cotton factory. Just four years later, they had to build a brand new, bigger factory.
Wood's company became the best in the world at making mowers and reapers by the end of the 1800s. At its busiest, it employed 2,000 local people! Walter A. Wood himself even served two terms as a member of the House of Representatives. This meant he helped make laws for the country. He also built the large, three-story Wood Block building, which is a major landmark in downtown Hoosick Falls.
Eventually, Wood's company closed in 1924. This happened because of new competition from companies like John Deere, which made motorized equipment. Fires and new ways of powering businesses also made it harder for the company to stay profitable.
