Mill Street–North Clover Street Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Mill Street–North Clover Street
Historic District |
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Houses on North Clover Street, 2008
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Map showing current boundaries of district
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| Location | Poughkeepsie, NY |
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| Area | 27 acres (11 ha) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne (original) Greek Revival, Second Empire (increase) |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000834 (original) 87000812 (increase) |
| Added to NRHP | February 7, 1972 (original) May 21, 1987 (increase) |
The Mill Street–North Clover Street Historic District is a special area in Poughkeepsie, New York. It's found along Mill Street, North Clover Street, and Main Street. This district is about 27 acres (11 ha) in size. It sits on a gentle slope leading up from the Hudson River towards downtown Poughkeepsie.
This area is home to about 139 historic buildings. There are very few new buildings here. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. This means it's recognized as an important place to protect because of its history. Like the Union Street Historic District nearby, this neighborhood has stayed much the same since the 1800s.
Some buildings in the district are so important that they are listed on the National Register by themselves. These include the Vassar Institute, the Vassar Home for Aged Men (which are now an arts center), and the Church of the Holy Comforter.
In the 1970s, Poughkeepsie was tearing down many old areas to build new things. This was part of a plan called "urban renewal." The historic districts were created to save buildings that were not going to be torn down. Some areas next to the district, on Main and North Bridge streets, were first planned for demolition. But those plans changed. So, in 1987, the district was made a bit bigger to include these old blocks that were still standing.
Exploring the District's Layout
The Mill Street–North Clover Street Historic District has a shape that looks a bit like a horseshoe. It touches Main Street in two spots to the south. It connects its two main parts using Mill Street in the north. Most of these borders were set when the district was first created in 1972.
The land here slopes gently upwards from US 9. It levels off at the western edge of downtown Poughkeepsie. On the west side, the district includes the Church of the Holy Comforter. It also has houses on Davies Place and Wheaton Park to the north. Almost all the buildings on North Clover Street are part of the district. Some homes on Main Street were added in 1987.
In the northern part, the district gets narrow for a short distance. It only includes buildings on the south side of Mill Street. Then it gets wider again, covering both sides of Mill Street. It even includes some buildings on Charles Street. Two blocks of North Bridge Street are also inside the district.
The eastern part of the district is bordered by Mansion Street to the north. It then goes south along the back of properties on Washington Street to Mill Street. It includes that side of Mill Street all the way to the back of properties on Main Street. The district crosses Main Street to include the Vassar Home for Aged Men building. Almost all of Vassar Street and all of Lafayette Street are also within the district.
Most of the district is made up of homes. There are also a few churches and other public buildings. Many buildings are made of brick. Some are in the Second Empire style, which is not often seen with brick. You can also find some Federal and Greek Revival buildings. The Second Baptist Church is a great example. It's the only church left in Poughkeepsie built in the Greek Revival style.
The only places with shops or businesses are along Main Street and near the Mill–North Clover intersection. Wheaton Park is the main open area in the district. Some vacant lots are also present because old buildings were torn down in the past.
A Look Back at History
In 1702, a Dutch settler named Baltus Van Kleeck built the first house in what would become Poughkeepsie. This house was on the path that later became Mill Street. Mill Street was one of the first paths connecting the Poughkeepsie settlement to the river. As the area grew, Mill Street became a more important road.
The arrival of the Hudson River Railroad in the 1850s helped the neighborhood grow even more. The railroad passed very close to the area. By the middle of the 1800s, this area had become Poughkeepsie's downtown. All the historic buildings you see today were built between 1840 and 1875.
One important person who helped the area was Matthew Vassar and his family. Their land and homes gave Vassar Street its name. In 1835, they tore down Van Kleeck's original house.
The Vassar family owned the land where the Second Baptist Church was built. Because of its colonnaded front (like a row of columns) and its use as a synagogue after the Civil War, it was sometimes called the "Vassar Temple." Matthew Vassar's nephews built the unique brick Vassar Institute and Vassar Home for Aged Men. They built these on family land, now at Vassar and Main streets. They wanted to continue the family's work in education and charity.
The neighborhood stayed mostly the same well into the 1900s. Local people who cared about history helped save it from being torn down during urban renewal. When many urban renewal plans were canceled, the district's borders were made larger in 1987.
Important Buildings in the District
Five buildings within this historic district were listed on the National Register of Historic Places even before the district itself. These include two churches, two buildings that were once institutions, and one house now used by an organization.
- Church of the Holy Comforter: This church was built in 1860 in the Gothic Revival style. It's on Davies Place. It was designed by Richard Upjohn. Its tall steeple is a landmark for drivers on nearby Route 9.
- Italian Center: This is a late Victorian brick townhouse. It's now used as the main office for a local Italian American organization.
- Second Baptist Church: This is the only Greek Revival church left in Poughkeepsie. It's located at Vassar and Mill streets. It was later known as "Vassar Temple" because the Vassar family owned the land. It has a front with columns and was used as a synagogue for a time.
- Vassar Home for Aged Men: Built in 1880, this building was originally a home for senior citizens. It's at Vassar and Main streets. Today, it holds offices for the Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center and other local non-profit groups.
- Vassar Institute: This unique brick building was built in 1882. It's right across from the Home for Aged Men. It is now the main building for the arts center's programs.
