Paddock Arcade facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Paddock Arcade
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Paddock Arcade
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | Washington St. between Arsenal and Store Sts., Watertown, New York |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1850 |
| Architect | Otis Wheelock |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001224 |
| Added to NRHP | June 15, 1976 |
The Paddock Arcade is a very old shopping mall in Watertown, New York. It was built way back in 1850. This makes it one of the oldest covered shopping malls in the United States.
What's really cool is that it has been open and used continuously since it first opened. This means it's the oldest continuously operating covered shopping mall in the entire country! The Paddock Arcade was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. This is a special list of places that are important to American history.
Where is the Paddock Arcade?
You can find the Paddock Arcade at No. 1 Public Square in downtown Watertown. It's a key building in the city's historic area. The arcade stands next to another building called the Paddock Building.
The arcade was built in a style called Gothic Revival. This style often features pointed arches and detailed designs. The roof of the arcade is made of glass, which lets natural light shine through. The Paddock Building next door has an Italianate look, which was popular in the 1800s.
How the Paddock Arcade Started
The Paddock Arcade was built by a man named Loveland Paddock, who was from Watertown. The design was created by an architect named Otis Wheelock. They got their ideas from similar shopping arcades that were built in Europe and the United States around that time.
When it first opened, the ground floor of the arcade was filled with shops. The floors above were used for offices.
Around 1916, a big part of the Paddock Building was taken down. This made space for a new, tall building called the Woolworth Building. Later, in the 1920s, the arcade got a major makeover. Its original Gothic style inside was changed to a more modern look. They even put in a new ceiling made of steel and wire-glass. This new ceiling still allowed light from the glass roof to filter down into the arcade.
Paddock Arcade Today
Today, the Paddock Arcade is still a busy place for shopping and businesses in downtown Watertown. In recent years, the building has been improved. New businesses have also opened there, helping to keep the arcade alive and well for the future.
In 2013, some of the businesses inside included Johnny D's Casual Dining, Paddock Club Tavern, and The Village Peddler bicycle shop. There was also Paddock Antiques, Europe Cakes, and Satyana Yoga. In 2007, the arcade even hosted Watertown's popular farmers' market during the fall season.
