Greenwich Historic District
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The Village of Greenwich Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. Portions of the text below were, selected, transcribed, and/or adapted from a copy of the original nomination document. [ † ] The village of Greenwich Historic District is located in the south-central part of the town of Greenwich, Washington County, New York. The village lies on both sides of the Battenkill River which traverses the village in a northeast/southwest direction. The river along with its falls and islands provides a backdrop for the district and contributes to its beauty and historic ambience. The historic (and present) north-south axis of the village is a former turnpike, now New York State Routes 29 and 372 (Main Street). These routes link Greenwich with New England to the east and central New York State to the west. The district consists of approximately 98 acres and encompasses the historic center of the village, including residential, commercial, civic and ecclesiastical buildings as well as six memorial parks (Memorial, Dorr, Mowry, Monument, Baptist and Prospect). The majority of buildings within the district were built between 1840 and 1900 with earlier and later buildings interspersed and few modern intrusions. A variety of 19th and early 20th century architectural styles are represented, with many notable examples of Federal, Greek Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne and Colonial Revival. The district boundaries ware delineated with the help of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and were based on an historic survey of the township completed in 1981. Boundaries were drawn to encompass those areas of the village which contain the largest concentration of historic buildings retaining historic architectural integrity.[1] The district is roughly bounded by Mowry Avenue on the north, John Street and the Battenkill River on the south, Main Street on the west, and Prospect Street on the east, with the greatest concentration of buildings occurring along Main, Church, Salem and Cottage Streets, respectively. Washington Square buildings are also included within the district as are a limited number of buildings on Academy Street and Gray Avenue. Total contributing resources - 199; total non-contributing resources - 39. A distinctive feature of the Village of Greenwich Historic District is the concentration of six historic parks (village greens) within its boundaries. Each park is a triangle formed at the point of converging roads. The oldest parks are Mowry, Baptist, and Dorr, all deeded to the village by 1850. Mowry Park (Main and Church Streets) is open green space with mature trees/plantings and a modern non-contributing gazebo; Baptist Park (Church and Salem Streets) has a memorial stone (1926) honoring the founder of Greenwich, Job Whipple; Dorr Park (Main and Cottage Streets), deeded to the village by the Mowrys and Bleecker estates, has mature plantings and a modern non-contributing (replacement) fountain and benches. Two of the remaining three parks, Monument (1917) and Memorial (1931), are memorial parks dedicated to the men and women of Greenwich who served in the nation's wars. Memorial Park (Corliss and Main Streets), the largest of all six parks, is located at the northern boundary of the district and contains a flagpole surrounded by twelve rectangular granite stones (contributing) inscribed with the names of soldiers from Greenwich who lost their lives in WW I. Monument Park (Salem Street and Washington Square), located within the core of the district, contains mature trees/plantings and a large Civil War monument (1916) the A. M. Cook Post No. 326 and area resident Civil War veterans. The smallest of the six parks is Prospect Park (1931), which is located at the eastern boundary of the district (Prospect and Salem Streets) and contains mature plantings and a flower bed. Residential buildings comprise the largest percentage of buildings in the district with the oldest, largest and most distinctive examples located at its core within the Church, Main, and Salem Streets area. These streets form a triangle which is intersected (north-south) by Washington Square and contains three of the six parks in the district (Mowry, Monument and Baptist), as well as three of the four historic churches (the Methodist Church, Bottskill Baptist Church and the Episcopal Church) within the district. The commercial core of the district is concentrated along Main Street primarily between Salem and John Streets, but continues beyond Salem Street for a few buildings along the west side of Main Street at which point, the character of the area turns residential (still within district boundaries). Beyond John Street to the south (outside district boundaries), Main Street is a mixture of heavily modified 19th century buildings, late 20th century commercial/residential buildings and some vacant lots. Due to numerous fires which claimed many of the early frame commercial structures throughout the 19th century (the last of which occurred in 1868) and the subsequent rebuilding which took place, the commercial core reflects primarily a mid-late 19th century ambience with rows of two and three story commercial (primarily brick) buildings featuring first-floor storefronts and second/third-floor office/residential space. Although some earlier buildings still survive within this commercial core [Nos. 73 (1812); 72 (1850); 94 (1844); 80 (1850); 104-106 (1850); 111 (1844 — the oldest extant commercial building on Main St.); and 133-135 (c. 1840) Main Street] its overall historic character is typical of late 19th century Italianate-inspired commercial architecture. Excellent examples of this genre are Nos. 83-85 (c. 1870), 89 (1866), 95-99 Main Street (1870 -- currently undergoing restoration of its first-floor storefronts), and 5 Washington Square (received Washington County Preservation Award in 1989 for restoration); all of brick construction with first-floor storefronts and second/third-floor office/residential space, and featuring prominent heavily bracketed cornices, decorative lintels and some round-arch windows. Unfortunately, in 1951, a fire destroyed the third floor of what was the largest and most distinctive Italianate commercial building within the commercial core, the Hill Block, located at 108-112 Main Street. Today, without its third floor which displayed the most elaborate Italianate detailing, this building reads as a rather modest and restrained version of commercial Italianate architecture. The district's pre-1850 commercial history is clearly represented by the highly visible and distinctive 9 Washington Square (1848), a large (15 x 3 bay) 2-1/2 story brick Federal/Greek Revival factory (originally a shoe factory, now converted to apartments) with full-length first-floor window bays (now enclosed with wood insets and smaller modern sash), and Nos. 104-106 (1850) and 111 (1844) Main Street, both three-story buildings with first-floor storefronts. Interspersed throughout the commercial core are a number of turn-of-the-century buildings (Nos. 86-88, 101, 103, 109 and 124 Main Street) which blend in with and compliment the earlier 19th century architecture and streetscape. With the exception of 124 Main Street (1892), which has three stories, and 86-88 Main Street (1896) which has had its storefront enclosed, these late 19th century buildings are all two-story brick buildings with first-floor storefronts, second-floor office/residential space and restrained decorative embellishments limited primarily to brickwork and cornices. Of this group, 124 Main Street is the most outstanding, featuring brick corbelling, brick pilasters between bays and full second-story bay windows. Directly north of 124 Main Street is 132 Main Street, another distinctive building within the commercial core. Built c. 1866 and remodelled early 20th century, this brick front-gabled one-story building, despite the loss of its front entry and original sash, displays a strong Neo-Classical influence with its projecting pedimented center bay and elaborate entablature. Other non-residential historic buildings within the district, include four churches (the Methodist Church, Bottskill Baptist Church, United Church of Greenwich Presbyterian, and the Episcopal Church) and one civic building (Village Community Building/Union Village Academy). The Methodist Church (1866) and the Bottskill Baptist Church (1865) are located a few doors from one another on the north side of Church Street within a residential neighborhood. Both churches are constructed of brick, are of similar architectural detailing (eclectic blend of Gothic Revival and Romanesque Revival) and are imposing edifices on the streetscape. An historic settlement-period cemetery is located to the rear of the Bottskill Baptist Church and the original carriage steps to the church are in place. Around the corner on Salem Street is another imposing edifice, the United Church of Greenwich Presbyterian (1874), a very distinguished High Victorian Gothic Revival building with elaborate detailing. The Episcopal Church (1882) is located at the southeast corner of Church and Main Streets (bordering on Mowry Park), and reflects a more restrained vernacular interpretation of Gothic Revival architecture than the other churches. Aside from its ornate side tower, this frame church (now vinyl-sided) is relatively modest with simple lines embellished by a large rose window and pointed arch windows. The one historic civic building within the district is the Village Community Building (originally the Union Village Academy) located at 6 Academy Street. Built 1848, this large, imposing two-story brick building with prominent projecting center gable, clearly reflects its institutional nature and place of distinction within the community. The remainder of the buildings in the district are primarily mid-late 19th century residential; however, there are also a number of highly intact pre-1850 residential structures within its boundaries. Although early structures can be found interspersed throughout the district (notable examples at 1 Prospect Street, 66 Salem Street and 73 Main Street), the greatest concentration occurs within the heart of the district in the Church, Main and Salem Streets area. For the most part, there are the fashionable residences of the early prominent families in the village. Especially noteworthy examples are: 5A Washington Square (c. 1825) and 6 Church Street (c. 1845), both Federal/Greek Revival brick residences with distinctive stepped parapet gables, and later (Victorian period) elaborate parapet walls and cornices with modillions and brackets; 145 Main Street (1816) and 146 Main Street (1816) both 2-1/2 story 5-bay side-gabled brick residences with Adamesque-inspired detailing; and 18 Church Street (c. 1814/1840), a unique, high style Greek Revival frame residence with parapeted roof, heavy entablatures around first and second stories, prominent pilasters separating bays, elaborate lintels, square and round columns on projecting front entry portico. The buildings at 6 Washington Square and 36 Church Street (both c. 1830) provide excellent examples of typical Federal style residential architecture in the region (i.e., 5-bay, side-gabled, front entry with sidelights and pilasters, corner boards, interior end chimneys, boxed cornice, unadorned frieze and clapboard-sided). The brick residence at 4 Church Street (c. 1845), although more modest in scale than its neighbors, is a remarkably intact example of transitional Federal/Greek Revival architecture. There are also a number of highly intact notable examples of Greek Revival architecture within this area including two distinguished gable-fronted, side hall residences at 2 Church Street (c. 1839) and 17 Church Street (c. 1840), as well as a very prominent temple front residence at 1 Washington Square (c. 1833) and a more modest, but no less distinguished example at 44 Salem Street (c. 1850). The residence at 46 Salem Street (c. 1830/55) is an interesting example of a Greek Revival updated with an Italianate tower and detailing. Complimenting the long-standing historic ambience of this neighborhood are two outstanding high style Colonial Revival residences (c. 1907) at 8 and 16 Church Street. As the district radiates out from its commercial and residential core, the residential architecture becomes more modest and vernacular with the largest percentage being of late 19th/early 20th century vintage. With few exceptions, the remaining building stock within the district can be characterized as a heterogeneous mix of Victorian period working class residential architecture ranging from very modest vernacular housing to more stylish upscale housing, most of which retain a high degree of historic architectural integrity. The type of late 9th century modest vernacular housing within the district ranges from the cluster of small c. 1890, gable-fronted workers' houses on Salem Street [Nos. 41, 43-45 (two joined together) 54 and 58) to the larger, but still vernacular c. 1900 residences at the northern end of Main Street (Nos. 165, 167, 168, and 181), to the c. 1900 typical gable-fronted two-family urban residence (with front porches) at 24 Cottage Street. The range or more stylish/less vernacular residential architecture can best be illustrated by notable examples, such as: 23 Cottage Street (c. 1875), a highly intact Gothic Revival cottage; a number of buildings along Main Street (north of the commercial coral including the distinctive Italianate residences at Nos. 141 (1878) with round arch windows and paired brackets and 156 (1865) with its cupola, brackets, pedimented window hoods and elongated windows; the (c. 1880) Queen-Ann residences at Nos. 142 and 161, both characteristically asymmetrical with decorative shingles, multi-gables, projecting gables, and wrap-around porches; and a Colonial Revival residence with a Gambrel roof (1900) at No. 169. Additional noteworthy residences include a very modest but distinguished Italianate residence at 20 Church Street which features paired/triple round arch windows, and two very similar (c. 1880) ornate Italianate-inspired cross gabled residences at 32 Church Street and 144 Main Street. Additional contributing features to the Village of Greenwich Historic District include numerous carriage houses, contemporaneous garages, barns, and assorted outbuildings as well as a number of hitching posts scattered throughout the district. The Village of Greenwich Historic District is historically and architecturally significant for its highly intact, cohesive collection of architecture which spans the 19th-early 20th centuries and reflects the historical growth and development of the village from a small early 19th century rural agricultural community to a prosperous milling community by the end of the century. The district encompasses nearly the entire historic core of the village and includes fine examples of 19th-early 20th century domestic, commercial, civic and religious architecture, as well as a number of historic village greens. Distinguished examples of Federal, Greek Revival, Italianate, Carpenter Gothic, Queen Anne and Colonial Revival style architecture are represented in the district, as are vernacular interpretations of these styles. The historic qualities of the district are complemented by the survival of hitching posts, old wells, a variety of contributing outbuildings, as well as mature plantings. The Village of Greenwich Historic District is significant as an outstanding example of a rural/industrial village which retains its historic associations as well as its architectural and spatial characteristics which illustrate family and community life patterns in southern Washington County from the late 18th through the early 20th centuries. It retains an unusually high degree of integrity and represents one of the largest and most intact 19th century commercial/residential districts in the north county region of New York State. The district features 238 buildings/features, of which only 39 are non-contributing. The building located at 1 Prospect Street is the only extant resource within the district that is associated with this early settlement period. Built in 1778, this building was originally located just outside of what came to be the village limits. It was moved to its present location c. 1800, and operated as one of a aeries of taverns/inns extending from East Greenwich to Lansingburg, the head of navigation at the time. It served farmers of the surrounding area as they made their way to the Champlain Canal by which they sent their produce to market. Although scattered settlement and minor industry had occurred in and around the area of what was to become the village of Greenwich prior to the 18th century, it was not until the beginning of the 19th century that the full potential of the Battenkill River for providing power for mill sites/industry was realized. In 1803, Job Whipple, a Quaker from Rhode Island, along with William Mowry, a worker from the Slater Mills in Rhode Island, established New York's first cotton mill along the banks of the Battenkill in 1804 (Grieve and Fernald). This partnership marked the advent of what was to become a thriving village first known as Whipple City, later incorporated as Union Village in 1809 and finally renamed Greenwich in 1867. William Mowry married Whipple's daughter, Lydia, and thus began the family which brought about the "Golden Age" of Greenwich, that time when the Mowy-Whipple mill reached its height of productivity. The Mowry children went on to establish other businesses and a bank within the community. Job Whipple, for whom the village was first named, answered the call of the West, leaving behind a wife and children. His sons became builders and are responsible for some of the fine carpentry found in the village[2] (eg., Nos. 61, 63 & 78 Salem Street). Many buildings directly associated with these two important founding families and their descendants are located within the district. By 1807 the cotton mill, which is purported to be the earliest in the country to use the double speeder weaving machines,[3] was thriving. Yarn was farmed out to housewives in the surrounding area to be woven into cloth. Saw mills and grist mills became a part of the mill complex on the Battenkill River. The first cast iron plow manufactory in the country was established in the village by Perry Miller, one of Greenwich's original settlers.[4] Pottery shops sprang up inside and outside the village and prosperity followed. As mills producing linen thread, underwear and paper appeared, Irish, Italians, Germans and French Canadians came bringing with them cultural differences and churches of other denominations. A Dutch Reformed congregation was formed in 1807 and in 1810 built a wooden church which was replaced in 1874 by the brick church that now stands on its site at 37 Salem Street. The Methodists had a circuit rider preacher as early as 1804 and their first church stood at the site of the present Methodist parsonage at 22 Church Street. In 1805 the Union Village Library was founded and by 1814 a school district, which included the towns of Greenwich and Easton, was formed. A number of noteworthy buildings from this initial industrialization period survive within the district, the most modest of which are located on Salem Street. The building at 66 Salem Street (across from the site of the original Job Whipple house) is one of the earliest residences within the village. Built c. 1800, this two-story five-bay frame building continues to reflect its Federal period origins through its form, fenestration and detailing. It also features a primitive but unique circular interior stairway with a domed ceiling. Another residence, similar in form, is the residence at 40-42 Salem Street built c. 1800 by Zacheus Adams, who was a wagon maker and sign painter. Parts from a group of c. 1800 houses built on Salem Street by Job Whipple's sons, and later partially destroyed by fire, have been incorporated into the present buildings at 61 and 63 Salem Street. James Whipple is credited with the construction of both residences which to this day remain remarkably intact and reflect typical modest vernacular interpretations of popular styles. The earlier of the two, at 61 Salem Street (c. 1820), embodies typical Federal-inspired characteristics. The residence at 63 Salem Street (c. 1840), while modest in size and scale, embodies distinctive Greek Revival characteristics (i.e., side hall plan with recessed front entry, pedimented front gable, entablature and corner pilasters). The fashionable residences of the early prominent figures in the village were built primarily on Main and Church Streets. A number of these survive, largely intact, within the district. The T-shaped brick Federal residence at 73 Main Street, the most modest of this group, was built in 1812 by Charles Ingalls, the first lawyer in the village (two of his sons went on to become Supreme Court judges). In 1816 Joseph Boles, a partner of Ingalls, built the large impressive Adamesque-inspired Federal brick residence at 145 Main Street (now St. Paul's Rectory). In the same year, William Mowry built an equally impressive brick residence (now a bank) across the street at 146 Main street. Both these high-style Federal buildings reflect the level of prosperity enjoyed by the early entrepreneurs of this newly formed village. Another distinguished building from this early period is the residence at 18 Church Street[5] built in 1814 by Henry Holmes, who married Anna Mowry, a daughter of William and Lydia. Originally built in the Federal style, this building was remodelled c. 1840 into the unique high-style Greek Revival seen today. Mr. Holmes along with Leroy Mowry established the village's first bank in the right wing of this building (no longer extant -- the one-story wings flanking the main block of the building were removed c. 1940. This residence later became the home of Dr. Henry Gray, who moved to Greenwich in 1867 and served the community as a physician for the next fifty years; he was also the first president of the Board of Education. Another original Mowry house is located at 10 Church Street. Built c. 1838 by William and Leroy Mowry, this transitional Federal/Greek Revival residence, although expanded and somewhat modified over the years, has retained sufficient historic architectural integrity to reflect its place in history. The distinguished Federal/Greek Revival residence at 6 Church Street (c. 1845)[6] was built for William Mowry's son, William Mowry II. Distinctive features of this building are its stepped parapet gables and elaborate cornice with modillions and brackets, features it shares with the residence at 5A Washington Square built in 1825 by Simeon Crandall, a doctor, who also served as village postmaster. Soon after William Mowry's death in 1845, the Mowry children had the brick Federal/Greek Revival residence at 4 Church Street built for their mother, Lydia, as a dower house.[7] The large, impressive temple front building at 2 Academy Street (c. 1845) is one of three prestigious residences built by Dr. Cornelius Holmes, who established his practice in the village in 1809.[8] The other two are at 72 Main Street (built c. 1850 for his son Asa) and Dr. Holmes' original residence next door at 80 Main Street (non-contributing). Another highly-visible and prestigious temple-front residence is located at 1 Washington Square, built c. 1833 for Judge Erastus Culver. Judge Culver then left Greenwich to practice law in Brooklyn and later became Ambassador to Venezuela. The residence was then sold to Henry Holmes who purchased it as a wedding gift for his daughter, Marion Bishop Holmes (granddaughter of William Mowry and Lydia Whipple). Judge Culver eventually retired to Greenwich and lived at the Martin Dyer home at 46 Salem Street. In 1827 there were 500 people in Union Village including two doctors (Dr. Hiram Corliss and Dr. Cornelius Holmes), two lawyers and eight merchants. By 1845 the population had grown to 1,050. The industrial base of the village expanded to include a shoe factory (9 Washington Square) which employed 40 workers and made 13,000 boots in 1850; the Eddy Plow Works which employed 20 workers; various grist mills which produced 52,000 bushels a year; and wagon makers who produced 114 wagons and sleighs. Other businesses which supported the community were ropemaker, stone cutter, hatter, watchmaker, tinsmith, tanner, harnessing, tailor, cabinet/furniture makers, grocery and clothing merchants. During this period, the commercial core along Main Street became firmly established. Along with the growth in population came the establishment of cultural, civic and educational institutions. The Washington County Agricultural Society, formed in 1825, held county fairs in Union Village in 1844, 1847, 1852 and 1856. The Union Village Library (founded in 1805) was opened in 1828. The Washington Journal, a local newspaper, was established in 1842. Today, this newspaper (now known as the Journal-Press) is still in existence. The village's first regular fire company, Fire Company No. 1, was established in 1837. In 1836, the Union Village Academy, a highly-respected private boy's school, was opened by the Honorable James Lourie (who also built the c. 1830 five-by-two bay frame Federal residence at 34 Church Street). In 1849 this school was relocated to a new building at 6 Academy Street. Among its students were several people who rose to prominence, including: Chester A. Arthur, president of the United States from September 20, 1881 until March 3, 1885; Daniel Anthony, Governor of Kansas; and Henry Tefft who established the post offices in California. By this time, several other schools had sprung up in the community; one of these, at the end of Gray Avenue (now a residence and outside of district boundaries), had as its teacher Susan B. Anthony, the renowned suffragist who pioneered the battle for women's rights. The Anthony's moved to the town of Greenwich (village of Battenville) in 1826 when Susan was 12 and left in 1839 when the family went into bankruptcy following the financial panic of 1837 and closure of the cotton mill that Susan's father managed. The family moved to Rochester where their family home is now preserved as a National Historic Landmark. Susan returned to Greenwich a number of times to visit the family home there; she also spoke on temperance and slavery at the Congregational Church. Also during this pre-1850 period a conflict arose in the village over the abolitionist movement which resulted in a splinter group leaving the Dutch Reformed Church in 1847 and forming the Congregational Church. The Greek Revival church which they built on lower Main Street burned in 1920 and was not replaced. Dr. Hiram Corliss, who headed the splinter group, was supported by Angeline Mowry, wife of William Mowry and whose home was at 6 Church Street, and Leonard Gibbs, a lawyer who came to Greenwich in 1846 and lived at 150 Main Street. Local legend has it that these two houses, 6 Church Street and 150 Main Street, were connected by tunnel to each other as part of the underground railroad which was very active in Greenwich. Gibbs became famous for his connection with the "Jerry Rescue" in Syracuse, New York in 1848. More should be said about Dr. Corliss for history reports that he was not only influential as a doctor, but he also involved himself in politics, wrote articles for newspapers and built a store on lower Main Street. He was one of the founders of the American Medical Association and was actively involved in the Underground Railroad in Greenwich and elsewhere. Of his three sons, two were inventors. His son George invented the Corliss engine, which was one of the wonders at the 1876 Philadelphia Exposition, and his son William invented a spherical safe, one of which was used in the Washington County Bank for many years. Neither of Dr. Corliss' residences exist. One was on lower Main Street and the other an imposing stone structure on Bridge Street. Three of the six parks/greens (Mowry, Baptist, & Dorr), which have become distinctive character-defining features of the village, were in place by 1850. All three parks are triangular parcels at the point of intersecting streets. Mowry Park, at the corner of Main and Church Streets (and across the street from the original Mowry home at 146 Main Street), was donated to the village by the Mowry family. It is graced with mature trees and plantings and surrounded by other homes built by the Mowry family (Nos. 4, 6 and 10 Church Street). Baptist Park, at the intersection of Church and Salem Streets, contains a monument (1926) dedicated to the founder of Greenwich, Job Whipple. Dorr Park, at the corner of Main and Cottage Streets, was deeded to the village in 1850 by the Mowry and Bleecker estates. It was named for the Dorr family, who were prominent merchants, village officials and librarians in the mid-late 19th century and whose Greek Revival home (named "Parkside") at 153 Main Street, bordered the park on its north side. Extant historic resources within the district which reflect the mid-19th century industrial, commercial and cultural character of the village include: -- The shoe factory (c. 1848) at 9 Washington Square, founded by Leroy Mowry, Henry Holmes and Edwin Andrews[9] (Mowry and Holmes also founded the Washington County Bank originally located at 18 Church Street which later relocated to 132 Main Street) which anchors the commercial core of the village as it rounds the corner onto Washington Square. This building has not only played a major role in the historic economic development of the village, but also has been a prominent edifice on the streetscape and strongly contributes to the historic character of the village. Although it no long-functions as a factory (converted to apartments in 1989), the building has retained a substantial level of integrity and clearly reflects its utilitarian history. -- The building at 111 Main Street (1844), originally a general store, is the oldest commercial building within the district. In addition to its historic commercial use, the third floor of this building was commonly used for village activities. This three-story brick building with simple lines and detailing and first-floor storefront replaced an earlier ca. 1800 commercial building in which Eraspaes Folsom ran a business. This building has retained its integrity of use and design over the years. -- The shop of Erastus Potter, tailor, (c. 1850) at 104-106 Main Street across the street from the oldest commercial building, 111 Main Street, this building is of very similar design, also with a first-floor storefront. It, too, has retained its integrity of use and design. -- The Union Village Academy (now the Village Community Building) at 6 Academy Street was built in 1849 to house a private boy's school, which in 1869, merged with the present Free School system. This large two-story brick building retains a substantial degree of integrity and is significant for its architecture (Greek Revival institutional building) and for its historic associations with the social history of the village. By the mid-19th century the village was firmly established and residential development began radiating out from its core. The majority of the houses built were middle/working class single-family types reflecting a strong Greek Revival influence, characteristic of the period. Although most of these buildings have been, in some way, modified over the years, almost all still retain an unusually high degree of historic architectural integrity which contributes to the overall cohesiveness and ambience of this district. A number of variations of the Greek Revival style are represented within the district. Both 44 and 46 Salem Street provide examples of the typical side hall/side-gable Greek Revival; however, 44 Salem Street (c. 1850) is the more representative of the two with its full cornice, pedimented gables, round columns in antis within the recessed front entrance, and heavy corner pilasters. 46 Salem Street. (c. 1830) underwent renovations during the latter part of the 19th century during which a three-story Italianate tower was added to its side-gable end in addition to other Italianate-inspired detailing. The residences at 153 Main Street (1850), 7 Cottage Street (1840), and 63 Salem Street (1840), with their fully pedimented gable fronts, represent a more elaborate variation of the Greek Revival style. Less ornate and more vernacular examples of Greek Revival residential architecture within the district can be found at 11 Cottage Street (c. 1840), 78 Salem Street (c. 1835), 17 Church Street (c. 1800/1840), 24 Church Street (1843), 154 Main Street (c. 1850), 157 Main Street (c. 1840), 158 Main Street (c. 1840). All are gable-front/side hall with Greek Revival detailing primarily focused on the door surrounds and corner pilasters. One of the moat distinguished of this group is at 17 Church Street, which had its origin in an early 19th century structure built by Moses White. White, who was the first village postmaster, the village assessor (1816), president of the village for nine terms, and creator of the 1839 map of the village, had as his residence the building at 139 Main Street, but used the small cape-like structure at 17 Church Street as a store. White's son-in-law, who was a local stone mason, purchased 17 Church Street and added the Greek Revival main block c. 1840, at which time the original early 19th century structure became a rear wing. The building at 24 Church Street (now a private residence) was the original parsonage for the Methodist Church next door. Throughout the first half of the 19th century, water-powered industries flourished on the Battenkill and the Whipple-Mowry influence remained strong. However, in 1851 the Whipple-Mowry cotton mill met its demise. The water power and mill from this once highly profitable business were purchased by Jesse Palmer who continued to operate a flax mill on the site. This seemed to mark the advent of a new wave of entrepreneurs setting up shop along the Battenkill. A native village resident, A. A. Moor, who was admitted to the bar in 1846, returned to the village and established the Battenkill Knitting Factory in Mill Hollow in 1861. This business became the Pleasant Vale Mills in 1862 and operated until 1920, employing 50 workers and producing 1,000 yards per day. Moor, whose home was at 12 Church Street (c. 1865), also established the People's Bank of Washington County in 1861 and was its president until it closed in 1873. A linen thread mill, which spun locally grown flax, was started up by William Weaver in 1868. Although this business failed, it was replaced by the Dunbarton Mills, which spun linen thread and twine until the 1940's. A men's linen underwear factory was begun in 1880 and continued its operation until 1900. The first paper mill, on the Battenkill was begun by Angell and Ballou in 1863; it was soon producing a ton of wrapping paper per day, Morton Angell, one of the owners, lived at 157 Main Street. (c. 1840), a side hall/front gable Greek Revival residence with corner pilasters. Statistics from 1860 show the Eddy Plow Works was producing five hundred tone of machinery, the shoe factory one hundred tons, two cotton mills two hundred tons, two flax mills one hundred tons and the carriage manufactories one hundred tons. Other businesses in the community at the time were 15 stores, one plaster mill, two cotton mills, one stone cutter and two cabinet/furniture makers. Local businesses shipped their products by wagon and Champlain Canal to Troy, New York and points beyond until 1870 when the Greenwich and Johnsonville Railway was established. This railroad continued to serve the industries and people of the area until the 1930's when motor vehicles became numerous and the importance of railways began to decline.[10] Prior to the railroad, a stagecoach company serviced the village. The stage ran from Whitehall to Troy and changed horses at the Cornell Livery Stable located at 79-1/2 Main Street (c. 1870), now a highly modified non-contributing building). In 1900 the Hudson Valley Electric Company extended its trolley service to Greenwich, providing transport to many areas outside Greenwich and bringing in visitors from the capitol district to Dionondahowa Park (an amusement park near Middle Falls). Throughout the 19th century fire claimed many of the early commercial buildings along Main Street, the last of which occurred in (1868). When rebuilt, the buildings were primarily of brick and reflected the current trends in commercial architecture. As a result, the majority of the buildings within the commercial core reflect a later date in history than the businesses that were actually housed in them. For example, William Cozzens (whose residence was at 156 Main Street) began his long career as a hardware merchant in a building on the site of the present brick building at 89 Main Street. The original wooden building burned in the fire of 1866 and was replaced by the brick one that same year. The hardware business that he began continued in the new building until the 1970's. This building retains a high level of integrity and provides an excellent example of Italianate commercial architecture including round-arched windows, decorative window hoods and heavily bracketed, ornate cornice. The Hill Block at 108-112 Main Street was built in 1869 to replace the original wooden structure, lost to the 1868 fire. The new building was an elaborate Italianate commercial block, three stories high with 13 bays and a number of first-floor storefronts. This was one of the most prominent commercial buildings along Main Street until a fire in 1951 resulted in the loss of its highly ornate third story. Even without the ornate third story, the building (although now more modest) still contributes to the historic ambience of the district. Another business of long-standing in the village, but housed in a later building, is the bank at 132 Main Street. Originally the Washington County Bank, which was founded in 1838 by Leroy Mowry and Henry Holmes, it was first located in a wing of Holmes' home at 18 Church Street and later relocated to a building at 132 Main Street. That building was replaced in 1866 with the present one story gable-fronted brick building which, to this day, still houses a bank (different ownership). This building was remodelled during the early 20th century to reflect a strong Neo-Classical influence giving it an air of distinction and setting it apart from the primarily Italianate-inspired commercial architecture surrounding it. The dominant building stock within the district's commercial core is closely spaced, two and three story brick buildings with first-floor storefronts and decorative detailing consistent with late-19th/early-20th century trends. The most notable and/or representative of the various Victorian period styles represented in the commercial core are: -- Nos. 83-85 (c. 1870/built by and still owned by the Collamer family), 89 (1866), and 95-99 (c. 1870) Main Street and 5 Washington Square (c. 1860) have all retained a high level of their historic architectural integrity and provide excellent examples of Italianate-inspired commercial architecture. -- Nos. 86-88 (c. 1896)[11] , 101 (c. 1890), 103 (c. 1897), 109 (c. 1902), and 124 (1892/Wilmarth Building)[12] Main Street also have retained a high level of their historic architectural integrity and provide excellent examples of typical late-Victorian period eclectic commercial architecture. Despite alterations to its first-floor storefront, the building at 86-88 Main Street is especially notable for the decorative pressed-tinwork on its facade. The Wilmarth Building at 124 Main Street is also noteworthy for its decorative brickwork including corbelling and pilasters as well as the one-story projecting bays on the second floor. Between 1865 and 1882, four new churches (Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, and Episcopal) were built in the village, all of which are within the district boundaries. Three of the churches (Baptist, Presbyterian and Methodist) replaced earlier churches. -- The Bottskill Baptist Church at 26-30 Church Street was built in 1865 to replace a 1795 frame church on the same site[13]. It is an imposing brick structure which embodies an eclectic blend of Gothic Revival and Romanesque Revival elements. Distinctive features are its decorative corbeling, round arch windows and doors, rose window and prominent side tower with steeple. Behind the church is a historic cemetery containing the graves of at least two Revolutionary War soldiers; next door to the church at 32 Church Street (1880) is the parsonage, an elaborate Victorian Eclectic frame residence. -- The United Church of Greenwich at 37 Salem Street, built 1874[14], replaced an earlier church on the same site built by the Dutch Reformed congregation in 1810[15]. The 1874 Church is a vary distinguished High Victorian Gothic Revival brick building with elaborate detailing. Distinctive features of the building include pointed arched windows and doors with decorative contrasting hoods, decorative corbeled cornices; and a rose window set into a large painted arched surround which, along with a row of pointed arched ribbon windows below it and the side tower with its steeple, dominates the front facade. -- The Methodist Church at 18-1/2 Church Street, built in 1866 on a site purchased from William Holmes, also replaced an earlier church which stood on another site at 22 Church Street. The original church was moved off its site to Hill Street (outside of district boundaries) and is currently used by the Catholic church as a hall. In its place a parsonage for the Methodist Church was built in 1873 which replaced the original parsonage at 24 Church Street (1843), which is now a private residence and an excellent example of very modest Greek Revival-inspired vernacular residential architecture in the community. The modest gable-fronted frame building at 22 Church Street which replaced the original parsonage in 1873, is still the parsonage for the Methodist Church. The architectural detailing of the Methodist church is very similar to that of the Bottskill Baptist Church at 26-30 Church Street, built in 1868. Both are eclectic blends of Gothic Revival and Romanesque Revival; however, the Methodist Church has pointed-arched doors and windows and a large rose window with a band of pointed-arched windows below set into a pointed arched surround, similar to that of the United Church of Greenwich (1874) at 37 Salem Street. -- Of the new churches built during this period, the Episcopal Church at 147 Main Street is the most modest. Despite the recent vinyl siding treatment that the church has received, it is highly intact and provides an excellent example of a vernacular interpretation of Gothic Revival architecture. Dominant features of this building are its large rose window, pointed-arched windows and doors, and a very ornate side tower. The rectory for the Episcopal Church is at 145 Main Street. Built as a residence in 1816 by Joseph Boies, an early Greenwich lawyer, this highly intact and distinguished Federal brick building was purchased by the Episcopal church between 1880-90 to serve as a, rectory to the new church (now rented out by the church as a private residence). A strong and regular growth pattern continued in the village throughout the second half of the 19th century. More than half of the residences within the district date to the second half of the 19th century (in 1892 alone, records show that forty new residences were built). Most of the residential construction during the latter part of the 19th century and into the early 20th century occurred at the north end of Main Street (between Church Street and Mowry Avenue) and on Cottage Street. A variety of styles, typical of the period, are represented, including excellent highly intact examples of Italianate, Queen Anne, Gothic Revival and Colonial Revival residential architecture as well as a variety of vernacular interpretations of each of these popular styles. Largely intact examples of Italianate and Italianate-inspired residential architecture are located at 140 [c. 1880), 141 (c. 1878), 156 (c. 1865), 166 (1875), and 168 (c. 1870) Main Street; 19 (c. 1860), and 20 Church Street and 39 Salem Street (1871). Although these buildings are of various sizes and shapes, they all share a common feature typically associated with the Italianate style -- wide overhanging eaves supported by heavy brackets. Of this group, Nos. 156 Main Street and 19 Church Street are more distinctively Italianate. The residence at 156 Main Street features a cupola and elongated windows with window hoods, while the residence at 19 Church Street,[16] (home of Islay Gill, author of The Greenwich Community of 1850) features round arched windows and doors and paired entry doors. The buildings at 168 Main Street (c. 1870), 20 Church Street (c. 1850), and 39 Salem Street (1871) represent largely intact examples of the more vernacular Italianate-inspired genre. All are gable-fronted clapboard-sided and modest in scale. The residence at 20 Church Street[17] is notable for its round-arched windows (paired and single), its first-floor projecting bays with bands of round-arched windows and typical single bay front entry porch with Italianate detailing. The building at 39 Salem Street is also noteworthy for its historic associations. It was home of the one of the early fire companies in Greenwich, The Union Hook and Ladder Company (also known as the Sylvia Hook and Ladder Company[18]). Three residences within the district nicely reflect the Victorian Gothic influence: Nos. 9 (c. 1866) and 23 (c. 1875) Cottage Street, and 3 Gray Avenue (c. 1870), all of which retain a high level or their historic architectural integrity. The building at 3 Gray Avenue embodies characteristics of the East Lake style while the buildings at 9 and 23 Cottage Street lean more towards the Gothic Revival influence. The residences at 32 Church Street (1880), 144 Main Street (1880) and 48 Salem Street (1887) are highly intact examples of Eclectic Victorian period architecture which embodies characteristics of a variety of styles. Nos. 32 Church Street and 144 Main Street were both built by carpenters/architects Whipple and Almy and reflect strong Queen Anne and Italianate influences. Late 19th century residential architecture within the district is represented by a large number of Queen Anne-inspired vernacular buildings (eg. Nos. 5 Cottage Street, 38 and 76 Salem Street) as well as a few high style Queen Anne buildings (eg., Nos. 42 and 161 Main Street). Two residences which closely resemble one another and may have been built by the same carpenter are those at 20 Cottage Street[19] (c.1887) and 52 Salem Street (c. 1887). Both have cross gables with distinctive jerkin head roofs and wrap around porches. New construction within the district dropped off at the turn of the century; however, there are a few notable examples of early 20th century architecture interspersed throughout the district. The two most prestigious residences from this period are located at 8 and 16 Church Street. Built in 1907, both residences are high-style Colonial Revival of similar size and detailing. The building at 8 Church Street was designed by the architect M. T. Reynolds of Albany, New York, and built by L. Richards of Greenwich, New York. More modest examples of 20th century residential architecture are at 3 Cottage Street, a very intact 1911 Bungalow; and at 169 Main Street(1900) and 65 Salem Street, both highly intact examples of Colonial Revival-inspired residential architecture. Three more village parks/greens were deeded to the village in the early 20th century. Monument Park is a small triangular park in the heart of the district at the corner of Salem Street and Washington Square. It is dedicated to those native townspeople who fought in the Civil War. In the center of the park stands an obelisk topped with a statue of a soldier in Union uniform; on it is a bronze plaque with the 102 names of those who served from Greenwich. Memorial Park, the largest of the six parks, located at the northern boundary of the district at Corliss and Main Streets, is dedicated to the soldiers of World War I. In the center of the park is a flag pole surrounded by twelve rectangular granite stones inscribed with the names of the soldiers from Greenwich who lost their lives during the war. Prospect Park, the smallest of the six parks located at the eastern boundary of the district at Prospect and Salem Streets, was donated to the village by three families whose properties (all contributing buildings in the district) surrounded the park area: The Weavers at 1 Prospect Street; Melinda Reynolds at 78 Salem Street; and Grant and Mazie Tefft at 76 Salem Street. Grant Tefft was the editor of the Journal Press and author of the two-volume Thee Story of Union Village). Styles of architecture within the Greenwich Village District span a period of development from 1768 to 1934 and much of the district survives with little or no alteration. Included within the district boundary are notable examples of Colonial, Romantic Victorian and Eclectic styles. As one walks through the Greenwich Village Historic District it is not hard to imagine other times. The arrangement, landscaping and setting have been little altered. Although the buildings have changed hands many times, much of their integrity has been maintained by each owner. The use of some buildings has changed from residential to commercial but in each instance the integrity of the building has been honored. At the corner of Salem and Church Streets one should pause to view the panoramic display of valley and falls of the Battenkill, the river which adds beauty to the district and which provided so much to the development of Whipple City to Union Village to Greenwich Village over a span of nearly two hundred years. End Notes
[ † ] Garofaline, N. Y. State Department of Historic Preservation, Village of Greenwich Historic District, Washington County New York, 1995, nomination document, National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places, Washington, D.C. Street Names: Main Street |
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