1925 New York State Grain Elevator at Oswego

Hudson Valley Demolition Alert

As the Hudson Valley region undergoes its most massive physical transformation since Urban Renewal, we are losing historic sites at an alarming pace. Call it suburbanization, sprawl, whatever you like. We are losing the places that gave the Hudson Valley its identity in the first place. 

Know of an historic building scheduled for demolition? 
Email yasinsac@hudsonvalleyruins.org, with a name, location, description of building and scheduled date of demolition. Please keep photos relatively small - 400 pixels wide is fine. We will add new sites as notified.

DEMO ALERTS     2021  ·    2019  ·   2018  ·   2017  ·   2016  ·   2015  ·   2014  ·   2013  ·   2012  ·   2011  ·   2010  ·   2009  ·   2008  ·   2007  ·   2006  ·   2005  ·  2004-Part II  ·   2004 Part I  
HOME   ·   HUDSON VALLEY RUINS


January 2, 2022

Balmville School 

Newburgh, NY

~Demolished December 22, 2021~

On December 22, 2021, the c. 1897 Balmville School on Route 9W was demolished by the Newburgh Board of Education. The building appeared to be in good condition when we photographed it in 2003. The school district ceased to use or maintain the building and did not entertain offers by concerned citizens to acquire and preserve the school building. The property appears destined to become a parking lot for the adjacent, in-use, Balmville Elementary School.

Link to this entry: http://www.hudsonvalleyruins.org/alert/2021.html#balmville

Rockland Drive-In Theatre 

Monsey, NY

~Demolished December, 2021~

The Rockland Drive-In Theatre screen was torn down in early December. A 5-1/2 story office building is planned to take the place of the 1,800-car capacity drive-in theater, which opened in 1955 and closed in 1987. Rockland Drive-In was one of two Rockland County screens still standing in 2006 when it appeared in the Hudson Valley Ruins book. The Nyack Drive-In screen in Blauvelt came down in the early 2010s.

Source article:
"Monsey's longtime drive-in movie screen is gone. See what will be taking its place." By Steve Lieberman. Rockland/Westchester Journal News. December 9 2021. 

Link to this entry: http://www.hudsonvalleyruins.org/alert/2021.html#rockland

Bennett School for Girls

Millbrook, NY

Demolition work began on the abandoned buildings of the Bennett School campus in Millbrook. Several buildings have been completely demolished already. Halcyon Hall, the centerpiece of the campus, remains standing as of December 2021, but likely sometime in January will come down in a giant pile of timber, stone, and slate. The 20 million dollar project will turn the Bennett school property into a village park.

Source article:
"Work proceeds to create park at site of former college in Millbrook." By Mid-Hudson News. October 1, 2021..

Link to this entry: http://www.hudsonvalleyruins.org/alert/2021.html#bennett

Hudson Cement Company 

Kingston, NY

~Demolished Summer, 2021~

Sometime in summer 2021, Scenic Hudson quietly demolished the Hudson Cement Company silos as part of their plan to turn a 520-acre former industrial site into a park to be called Hudson Cliffs Park.  It was exciting to think that the 300-foot tall cylinders would become the focal point of the new park, repurposed and reclaimed from industrial artifact to cultural monument, in line with the industrial chic reclamation of the Hutton Brickyards just to south, and in the spirit of the exciting and imaginative reinvention that is occurring at the even more colossal Silo City location in Buffalo, New York. Curiously, only the Albany Times Union reported on the demise of the silos. However, the Times Union article emphasized more the graffiti at the site than the silos themselves. 

Source article:
"Deciding fate of graffiti art at new Hudson Cliffs State Park." By Carol Reif, Tap Into Somers. April 16, 2021.
 
Link to this entry: http://www.hudsonvalleyruins.org/alert/2021.html#hudcement

St. Joseph's Church, 
Rectory and School 

Croton Falls, NY

~Demolished April, 2021~

ISt. Joseph's CHurch, School, and rectory weer demolished in April 2021. In 2018, St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church sold this property to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The church, by then, built a larger house of worship in Goldens Bridge with room for 800 worshippers – the increased capacity meant that fewer services could be held, in comparison with the number of masses at the 200-person capacity Croton Falls church. The MTA will create a 450-space permit-only commuter parking lot at the site of the old church, right at a time when office workers have not yet returned to Manhattan in anywhere near pre-pandemic numbers

Source article:
"Community Remembers St. Joseph's." By Carol Reif, Tap Into Somers. April 16, 2021.
 
Link to this entry: http://www.hudsonvalleyruins.org/alert/2021.html#crotonfalls

Hyde Park Motor Company 

Hyde Park, NY

~Demolished December, 2020~

The Hyde Park Motor Company building, undoubtedly was one of the earliest automobile showrooms built in the Hudson Valley, was demolished this winter. Situated at the southeast corner of the main four-corners intersection in Hyde Park, the old car dealership seemed to be a perfect candidate for adaptive reuse – a restaurant or cafe perhaps. It was demolished instead, and the corner was still a vacant lot in late 2021.

Source article:
"Demolition of the Old Hyde Park Motors." Minuteman Press video on Facebook. March 3, 2021.
 
Link to this entry: http://www.hudsonvalleyruins.org/alert/2021.html#hydepark


February 24, 2021

Farrand House 

Greenport, NY

~Demolished February 23, 2021~

The Farrand house in Greenport (just outside of Hudson, NY) was demolished yesterday February 23. Photograph by David Sacco whose grandparents operated the Hotel Glendale out of the house in the late 1930s. Thanks to our friend Paul Barrett for the alert. Paul advocated for the preservation of the Farrand house and thoroughly researched its history. He believes that the house was probably made by joining two houses built in the mid-1800s and that it attained its Gothic revival appearance in the 1860s or later. After its short stint as a hotel, the house was converted to apartments in the 1940s. The last tenants were moved out in 2009 in anticipation of redevelopment of the site. An Aldi's supermarket and shopping center is proposed for the Farrand House site and adjoining property. A Gothic revival cottage behind the existing McDonald's will also be demolished. The Gothic revival trim on the house was not even salvaged.

Source articles:
"Historian describes historic home likely to disappear." By Jeanette Wolfberg. The Columbia Paper, May 7, 2019.
"Just Beyond Our Borders." Carole Osterink. Gossips of Rivertown, February 28, 2018.

Link to this entry: http://www.hudsonvalleyruins.org/alert/2021.html#farrand

Porter's Store

Ancram, NY

~Demolished Summer 2020~


Two historic buildings in the center of Ancram (Columbia County) demolished in summer 2020, including Porter's Store. As written in our book Hudson Valley Ruins: "Built in the 1840's, this building originally housed a hotel and general store. Later its upper floors were converted to apartments. The Ancram Post Office occupied the building until 1995. It has stood vacant since then." These photographs are from our last visit, February 20, 2017. Porter's Store was demolished about June 2020. The other building that was demolished was the 19th-century Stiehle House, which was damaged after an intoxicated driver drove into the house which stood right up against the shoulder of Route 82.

Source articles:
"Ancram logs its rickety structures." By Diane Valden. The Columbia Paper, June 25, 2020.
"Ancram’s Stiehle House comes tumbling down." By Diane Valden. The Columbia Paper, August 9, 2020.

Link to this entry: http://www.hudsonvalleyruins.org/alert/2021.html#porters


 


Hudson Valley Ruins
                              E-mail Rob Yasinsac                               Email Tom Rinaldi


PAST ALERTS:
Hudson Valley Demolition Alert 2021
    Porter's Store, Ancram; Farrand House, Greenport (Hudson); Hyde Park Motor
    Company, Hyde Park; St. Joseph's Church, Rectory, and School, Croton Falls;
    Hudson Cement Company, Kingston; Bennett School for Girls, Millbrook; 
    Rockland Drive-In Theatre, Monsey; Balmville School, Newburgh. 

Balmville School, Newburgh
Demolished December 2021.
Hudson Valley Demolition Alert 2019
    Collier Motor Car Company, Ellenville; Rose Hill, Mount Kisco.

Rose Hill, Mount Kisco.
Demolished June 2019.
Hudson Valley Demolition Alert 2018
    St. John the Evangelist Church, Stockport; Rockland State Hospital, Orangeburg;
    Memorial Field, Mount Vernon; Cleveland Building, Poughkeepsie; 
    AME Zion Church, Newburgh; Lombardo's Restaurant, Albany; 
    Farmerette's Dormitory, Camp Young, Marlborough; Farrand House, Greenport; 
    St. Joseph's Church, Rectory and School, Croton Falls; Wildcliff, New Rochelle.


Wildcliff, New Rochelle.
Burned December 2018.

Hudson Valley Demolition Alert 2017
    Taconic Motel, Zino Nursery, Yorktown; Bridge Diner, Coeymans; 
    Mother Cabrini School, Esopus; Hudson River Knitting Mill, Hudson. 


Bridge Diner, Coeymans, NY.
Demolished Late 2016


Hudson Valley Demolition Alert 2016
   "The Barracks"/Mohegan Lake Boys School, Lake Mohegan; Harmon Railroad 
   Shop, Croton-on-Hudson; Nathaniel Booth House, Kingston; Village Hall, 
   Grandview; Hudson River State Hospital, Poughkeepsie; 
   Matteawan Manufacturing Company, Beacon, Brandreth Pill Factory, Ossining.


Matteawan Company, Beacon, NY.
Demolished April 2016


Hudson Valley Demolition Alert 2015
   Letchworth Village, Thiells; The Croft, Ossining; Orange County Government 
   Center, Goshen; Abram Lent House, Orangetown; Hudson River State Hospital, 
   Poughkeepsie; Middletown State Hospital, Middletown; Julia L. Butterfield 
   Memorial Hospital, Cold Spring; Nepera Chemical, Harriman.  

 
Abram Lent House, Orangetown, NY
Demolished April 2015

Hudson Valley Demolition Alert 2014
   Abram Lent House, Orangetown; Blue Store, Livingston; Oulagisket, Garrison;
   Halcyon Hall; Millbrook; Fort orange Paper Company, Castleton-on-Hudson;
   St. James Chapel, Garrison; Yonkers Teutonia, Yonkers.


Blue Store, Livingston, NY
Burned March 2014


Hudson Valley Demolition Alert 2013
   St. Patrick's Church, Watervliet; Starlite Theater, Latham; Bridge Plaza Neon    
   Signs, Tarrytown; Jackson House, Fishkill; Horton Sphere, Poughkeepsie; Second 
   Reformed Church, Philmont; Paul Clark House & Tavern, Albany; Yonkers 
   Teutonia, Yonkers; Curry Chevrolet Neon Signs, Scarsdale; Upper Station, Hudson.

 


Jackson House, Fishkill, NY
Demolished
December 2013

Hudson Valley Demolition Alert 2012
   Bella Vista / Elk's Club, Ossining; Brandreth Pill factory, Ossining; Lebanon 
   Springs Union Free School, New Lebanon; 19 Livingston Avenue, Dobbs Ferry;    
   19th-century  brick mansion, Verplanck; Middle Hope Drive-In Theater, Middle 
   Hope; New York  Central-Putnam Division Railroad Station, Millwood; Rock Hill 
   Lodge / Holland Sporting Club, Mohegan Lake; Kospa Farmhouse, East 
   Greenbush; Matteawan Manufacturing Company, Beacon; Nelson House Hotel, 
   Poughkeepsie; Fresh Air  Home, Tomkins Cove; Knapp House, Yorktown; 
   Nathan's Hot Dogs, Yonkers; Teaberry Port, West Nyack; Public School 6, 
   Yonkers; Clovelea, Saugerties.


Lebanon Springs Union Free School
New Lebanon, NY
Demolished February 2012

Hudson Valley Demolition Alert 2011
   Brick Tavern, Claverack; Dutchess County Alms House, Poughkeepsie;
   Rensselaer and Saratoga Railroad Shop, Green Island; Memorial Field, Mount    
   Vernon; Malloy's Pharmacy, Stony Point; Texaco Research Laboratory, Beacon;
   Strang-Melbourne House, Yorktown; New York Central-Putnam Railroad Station, 
   Millwood; Meads Mountain House, Woodstock; Tioronda Hat Works, Beacon; 
   


Rensselaer and Saratoga Railroad Shop, Green Island, NY
Burned March 2011

Hudson Valley Demolition Alert 2010
   Tuxedo Electric Light Co. Power Station, Tuxedo; 12-14 North Astor Street, 
   Irvington; Bannerman's Island Arsenal, Fishkill; Anaconda Wire and Cable 
   Company, Hasting-on-Hudson; Hudson River Knitting Mill, Hudson; 
   Hamlet of Newton Hook, Stuyvesant; Hudson River State Hospital, Pougheepsie; 
   Historic Village Hall, Tarrytown; Dutton Lumberyard, Poughkeepsie; 
   Malloy's Pharmacy, Stony Point; Halcyon Hall, Millbrook; Freeman House, 
   Port Ewen; John Green House, Nyack; Teaberry Port, West Nyack; St. Peter's    
   Elementary School, Kingston; Public Bath Number 4, Yonkers.


Historic Village Hall
Tarrytown, NY
Demolished December 2010

Hudson Valley Demolition Alert 2009
   Stauffer chemical factory, Dobbs Ferry; Memorial Field, Mount Vernon; Hotel 
   Wellington, Albany; Carvel Ice Cream Bakery, Hartsdale; James Thompson Mill,
   Valley Falls; 284 Main Street, Poughkeepsie; Heritage Park Stadium, Colonie; 
   Proctor's Theater, Troy.


Carvel Ice Cream Bakery
Hartsdale, NY
Demolished April 2009

Hudson Valley Demolition Alert 2008
   Centennial Hose Company firehouse, Peekskill; Warburton Avenue Block, 
   Yonkers; Masonic Lodge, Yonkers; Fort Slocum/David's Island, New Rochelle; 
   Kedem Winery, Milton; The Lancaster, Hastings-on-Hudson; Storms Tavern, 
   Valley Cottage; Powell and Minnock Brickyard, Coeymans;  Rensselaer Iron 
   Works, Troy; Vineyard Avenue Fire Station, Yonkers; Yonkers Health Center, 
   Yonkers; Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, Poughkeepsie; Carvel Ice Cream 
   Bakery, Hartsdale; Lovett Generating Station, Tomkins Cove.


Powell and Minnock kiln sheds 
Coeymans, NY. 
Demolished Winter 2007-2008.

Hudson Valley Demolition Alert 2007
   Red Apple Rest, Tuxedo; Browning-Green Mansion, Tarrytown; Erie Railroad 
   Station, Harriman; Chester Hide and Skin, Chester; Woodlands Lake Restaurant, 
   Irvington; Lafayette Paper Company, New Windsor; Hudson River State Hospital,
   Poughkeepsie; 67 North Broadway, Yonkers; Goodhue Memorial Hall (Hackley 
   School), Tarrytown; Carvel Ice Cream Bakery, Hartsdale; Annie's Snack Shack,
   Stony Point, Dennings Point Brick Works, Beacon; Terwilliger's Grist Mill,
   Saugerties; Theall-McCollum (Croton Magnetic) Mine, Brewster; Putnam and 
   Mellor Engine and Hose Companies, Port Chester; Halcyon Hall update, 
   Millbrook.


Annie's Snack Shack, 
Stony Point, NY
Demolished October 2007

Hudson Valley Demolition Alert 2006
   Stokes-Greene Mansion, Cortlandt; Habirshaw Wire Company, Yonkers; New
   York Rubber factory, Beacon; County Asphalt plant, Tarrytown; Waterfront 
   industrial buildings, Ossining; Storms Tavern, Valley Cottage; Henry Gourdine's
   fishing shed, Ossining; Grandview School, Catskill; first Carvel Ice Cream stand,
   Hartsdale; Continental Army Encampment and Supply Depot, Fishkill; Tioronda
   Bridge, Beacon; North Highlands Methodist Episcopal Church, Philisptown.


Henry Gourdine's Fishing Shed,
Ossining, NY
Demolished May 2006

Hudson Valley Demolition Alert 2005
    Tioronda Bridge, Beacon; Vineyard Avenue Fire Station #2, Yonkers; Public 
    School 6, Yonkers; Sedgwick Machine, Poughkeepsie; Yonkers Power Station,    
    Yonkers; Rockland Drive-In Theatre, Monsey; Halcyon Hall, Millbrook; 
    Farmhouse, Tarrytown; Nelson House, Poughkeepsie.


Hudson Valley Demolition Alert July - December, 2004
    Forst Meat Packing, Kingston; Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research,
   Yonkers; Trolley Barn, Kingston; Kimlin Cider Mill, Poughkeepsie; Fort  
   Homestead, Poughkeepsie

Hudson Valley Demolition Alert February - June, 2004
    Tappan Zee Playhouse, Nyack; Hutton Brickyard, Kingston; Smith-Robinson
    House, Ossining; Anaconda Wire and Cable, Hastings-on-Hudson; Garner
    Bleachery, Wappingers Falls; Elks Club (Carpenter Mansion), Ossining; 
    Campbell House, Mount Pleasant; Grandview School, Catskill.


New York Rubber Factory, 
Beacon, NY
Burned August 2005


This page and all photographs copyright © 2021 by Robert J. Yasinsac and Thomas E. Rinaldi.  
Reproduction of text and/or photographs without permission of the authors is prohibited.