History, Natural History & the Arts
The New York State Board for Historic Preservation has recommended adding 11 properties to the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
The nominations include a twentieth-century piano player factory in Syracuse, a rare nineteenth-century stone general store in Millville, a historic cemetery in the Town of East Hampton and a historic district in Lansingburgh. [Read more…] about 11 Nominations for State and National Registers of Historic Places
Preservation Long Island has announced the United for Libraries Literary Landmark designation for one of its historic properties, Joseph Lloyd Manor, an 18th century manor house in Lloyd Harbor, and a site of Black enslavement.
The designation honors Jupiter Hammon (1711– ca. 1806), one of the earliest published African American writers who composed his most well-known works while enslaved at the manor. [Read more…] about Joseph Lloyd Manor to Receive Literary Landmark Designation
Troy has many iconic buildings, each unique for either an architectural, functional or historic reason. The city’s building stock is one of the reasons Troy has become a favorite Capital District destination.
Walking the city’s streets is a visual treat. Within the space of blocks one can see more than 200 years of architecture and history. [Read more…] about The Rice Building: A Celebrated Troy Landmark
An often overlooked and forgotten New York City landmark, Castle Clinton welcomed many of the city’s residents into its walls as a place of innovation, entertainment, and new beginnings.
The circular sandstone fort which currently stands in Battery Park, was built to improve harbor fortifications in 1811. The Southwest Battery, as it was known, never fired a shot. [Read more…] about Castle Clinton: New York’s Almost Forgotten Landmark
Myths pervade most aspects of life and they can be very persistent. Whether it’s “we only use 10% of our brain” or “George Washington had wooden teeth” these myths can be relatively harmless – or they can really get in the way of true understanding and action.
Historic preservation has its own set of myths. Some originate from a grain of truth, many are outright wrong, and still others require a more nuanced understanding. [Read more…] about Preservation Myths: Government Money
Myths pervade most aspects of life and they can be very persistent. Whether it’s “we only use 10% of our brain” or “George Washington had wooden teeth” these myths can be relatively harmless – or they can really get in the way of true understanding and action.
Historic preservation has its own set of myths. Some originate from a grain of truth, many are outright wrong, and still others require a more nuanced understanding. [Read more…] about Busting Historic Preservation Myths
The Historic Districts Council of the City of New York was formed in 1970 by the Municipal Art Society as a committee of volunteers from the city’s nascent and potential historic districts. Since then, the HDC has carved out a niche and fulfilled a much-needed citywide advocacy role.
[Read more…] about History of the Historic Districts Council Program
On Monday, March 12th, the City Council Subcommittee on Landmarks, Public Siting and Maritime Uses voted to reject the designation of two individual landmarks on City Island in The Bronx, the Samuel H. and Mary T. Booth House and the Stafford “Osborn” House.
The reason given by Subcommittee Chair Adrienne Adams and referenced by other committee members was the Council practice of ceding control of land-use decisions to the local councilmember, in this instance CM Mark Gjonaj. CM Gjonaj was reported to oppose the landmark designations of these two private houses because their owners were reported to object to the designations. It’s important to note that neither the Councilmember nor the owners appeared at the public hearings although CM Gjonaj was reported to have submitted a statement for the record. CM Gjonaj had previously voted against affirming a landmark designation in Bushwick, Brooklyn which had local Councilmember support but whose owner opposed the designation. [Read more…] about City Island Landmarks Rejected by NYC City Council
On Tuesday, November 28th, 2017, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) designated two houses on City Island in the Bronx as individual landmarks: the Samuel H. and Mary T. Booth House on 30 Centre Street and the Captain John H. Stafford House on 95 Pell Street.
The Booth House, built between 1887 and 1893, is a fine example of the Stick style, which was popular in the late 19th century in suburban and rural cities. The Stafford House, a remarkably intact Sears “mail-order” house built in 1930, reflects the pattern of suburban-style residential development that occurred citywide during the early 20th century and represents an important period of technological and social innovation in the history of American housing. [Read more…] about Two Houses on City Island Designated Historic
The new book Historic Landmarks of Old New York (Museyon Guides, 2017) looks at Manhattan’s historic landmarks through photographs by Alfred Stieglitz, Berenice Abbott, Alfred Eisenstaedt and others; quotes by celebrities, from George Washington to Lenny Bruce; and informative anecdotes, including the last public execution in Washington Square, the ghost of Aaron Burr’s lost daughter, Alva Vanderbilt’s costume ball, The Beatles’ “Ed Sullivan Show” appearance and more. [Read more…] about New Book: Historic Landmarks of Old New York