An 1867 House Tour

Back in September 2010, Gossips reprinted an 1867 article from the Hudson Evening Register entitled "Private Residences." As it turns out, that article, which focused on the "also worthy of attention" houses in Hudson in 1867, was a sequel to this article, sent to me by Ray Clapper, which inventoried what the author considered to be the best and most elegant houses in Hudson and was published in the Hudson Evening Register on March 28, 1867. Gossips will reproduce this article, with modern-day photographs of the houses, in three parts. 

Private Residences.
Whatever may be said in regard to there being so few first-class houses to rent in this city, no one can deny that there are a large number of elegant private residences. In almost every street in the city can be seen houses which in style and for comfort will compare favorably with any other city. For a number of years the lower part of Warren street was the favorite spot for residences, and now one of the most elegant and complete mansions in our city, is located on the block between 2d and 3d streets, namely, the house of R. W. Evans, Esq.

Home of Robert W. Evans in 1867: 247 Warren Street

As Warren street came to be more and more required for business purposes, other locations were sought for and the blocks in Allen street, between 3d and 4th streets, became the favorite. On this block may now be found the residences of a number of our wealthy citizens, who have all the benefits of the city, with many of the advantages of the country.

We know of no place that can show more stylish and comfortable looking residences than are the houses of Casper P. Collier, Esq., Jacob R. Leroy, Esq., Joel T. Simpson, Esq., Rev. Edwin Holmes, Hon. John C. Newkirk, John French, Esq., and Hon. Josiah W. Fairfield. There are several other houses in this block of a little more ancient build, but they will compare favorably with the others. They are the residences of Joshua T. Waterman, John Tibbets and R. C. Mitchell.

Mr. Tibbetts' garden is the most beautiful in the city and receives general admiration.

The 1867 Hudson city directory gives Casper P. Collier's address as 187 Allen Street. In the 1889 directory, after the house numbers on east-west streets were changed, the address of Casper P. Collier, Esq., is given as 363 Allen Street. It was this house, which stood at the eastern end of the 300 block of Allen Street, where the courthouse parking lot is now. The photograph is from the Walker Evans Archive at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

In 1867, Jacob R. Leroy, Esq., lived at 181 Allen Street. He does not appear in the 1889 directory, but it can inferred that the address of his house changed to 357 Allen Street, and this was it.

Joel T. Simpson lived at 175 Allen Street in 1867. He no longer appears in the 1889 directory, but it can be inferred that 175 Allen Street became 345 Allen Street.

In 1867, Rev. Edwin Holmes lived at 155 Allen Street. Although he, too, is absent from the 1889 directory, it can be inferred that this Gothic Revival house, at 335 Allen Street, was his.

In the 1867 city directory, the address for Hon. John C. Newkirk is given as 149 Allen Street; in the 1889 directory, it is 331 Allen Street--this house.

The 1867 city directory indicates that John French, Esq., lived at 147 Allen Street. Although French does not appear in the 1889 directory, we know that at one time he owned the house at 325 Allen Street.

Hon. Josiah W. Fairfield lived at the corner of West Court and Allen streets, in this house.

The addresses of Joshua Waterman and John Tibbett are given as 136 and 134 respectively in the 1867 city directory. In 1889, Waterman's address is given as 320 Allen Street. Tibbetts lived in the house at the left in this picture (318 Allen Street), with the large side yard for his much admired garden; Waterman lived in the house at the right (320 Allen Street).

In the 1867 directory, R. C. Mitchell's address is given as 135 Allen; in 1889, his address is given as 317 Allen Street. We don't know what Mitchell's house looked like. By 1905, the house, considered "of ancient build" already in 1867, had been demolished, and a new house, designed by Marcus Reynolds for a young man named Morgan Jones, was under construction. The house is now the Inn at Hudson.