Plumbush facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Plumbush
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Front elevation in 2008
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | Cold Spring, NY |
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| Nearest city | Beacon, Peekskill |
| Area | 9 acres (4 ha) |
| Built | 1865 |
| Architect | George Edward Harney |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| MPS | Hudson Highlands MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 82005386 |
| Added to NRHP | 1982 |
Plumbush is a historic house in Cold Spring, New York. It was once the home and farm of Robert Parker Parrott. He was famous for inventing the Parrott gun. A local architect named George Edward Harney built the house in 1865. Plumbush is special because of its link to Robert Parrott and its unique design. It is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
Exploring the Plumbush Main House
The main Plumbush building is one of four structures on a 9-acre (4 ha) property. This land is what's left of Robert Parrott's original 65-acre (26 ha) farm. The house is across the road from Fair Lawn, another historic home.
The house was designed by George Edward Harney. It has three main rectangular parts that look much like they did when built. The largest part is two stories tall. It has a special roof covered in patterned slate tiles. A veranda (a covered porch) wraps around two sides of the house. There are also two smaller wings. Later, two more wings were added when the house became a restaurant. These additions were carefully hidden so they wouldn't change the house's old look.
Many of the original windows and decorations are still there. Some newer parts, like a fancy wrought-iron spiral staircase, were added later. These new parts were designed to match the old style of the house.
Other Buildings at Plumbush
Besides the main house, there are three other buildings on the property. One of these is the old wood house. It still looks much like it did originally. It has a roof with a small tower called a cupola on top. The inside of this building has been changed a lot. It is now used as a home.
There's also an old carriage house, which is now a garage. It might be as old as the main house. However, it has been changed so much that it doesn't look like its original self anymore. A larger house was built near the back of the property in the mid-1900s.
The Unique Style of Plumbush
George Edward Harney built Plumbush in a style called "Picturesque." This style was inspired by ideas from Andrew Jackson Downing. Downing was a very important designer who wrote books about homes. He lived nearby in Newburgh. His books influenced many homes built in the mid-1800s. These homes often had a Gothic Revival or "Carpenter Gothic" look. You can see many of these homes in the Hudson Valley.
Andrew Jackson Downing believed that country homes should fit in with nature. He thought they should look like they belonged to the land. Harney followed these ideas when building Plumbush. He placed the veranda next to a group of trees. He also made sure that you could see the Hudson River and the Hudson Highlands from the upper windows.
The house itself shows Downing's influence. It has an uneven, interesting shape with its three main parts. The different rooflines, unique chimneys, and large veranda are all features found in Downing's designs. In 1870, George Edward Harney even published his own book. It included the original plans and drawings for Plumbush. His designs clearly showed the influence of Downing's ideas.
A Glimpse into Plumbush History
Robert Parker Parrott was one of the first people to settle in Cold Spring. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point. During the Civil War, he worked for the Army at the nearby West Point Foundry. After the war, the foundry owner, Gouverneur Kemble, asked him to leave the Army. He wanted Parrott to become the superintendent (manager) of the foundry.
In 1839, Robert Parrott married Mary Kemble, who was Gouverneur Kemble's niece. They moved into Plumbush. Robert Parrott passed away in 1877. In 1971, Plumbush was changed into a restaurant. Later, in 2014, the main Plumbush building and one of the other buildings were updated. They are now home to The Manitou School, which is a private elementary school.
