Published by the University Press of  New England in association with the Center for American Places and with the generous support of Futhermore, a program of the 
J. M. Kaplan Fund.

[312 pp. 230 illus. 7 x 10”]

Cloth, 1-58465-598-4. [$35.00]

   An elegant homage to the many deserted buildings along the Hudson River—and a  
   plea for their
survival


    Countless books have been published on the historical sites of the 
   Hudson River Valley. But these
books have focused over and over again 
   on the best-known, best-preserved places. Every bit as
valuable are 
   dozens of other historical sites that haven’t fared as well. Many of these 
   buildings
 
are listed on the National Register of Historical Places, and a 
   few are 
even National Historical Landmarks. But in spite of their 
   significance, 
these structures have been allowed to decay, and in some 
   cases, to 
disappear altogether.
 
   In an effort to raise awareness for their plight, Hudson Valley Ruins offers 
   the reader a long overdue glimpse at some of the region’s forgotten 
   cultural treasures. In addition to great river estates, the book profiles sites 
   more meaningful to everyday life in the Valley: Churches and hotels, 
   commercial and civic buildings, mills and train stations. Included are 
   works by some of the most important names in American architectural 
   history, such as Alexander Jackson Davis and Calvert Vaux. 

   Divided into 
four parts that correspond to the upper, middle, maritime, and   
   lower 
sections of the Hudson Valley, sites have been selected for their general 
   historical and architectural significance; their relationship to important 
   themes in the region’s history; their physical condition or “rustic”  
   character; and their ability to demonstrate a particular threat faced by 
   historical buildings in the region today. The Dutch Reformed Church at 
   Newburgh tells the story of the Valley’s oldest religious group; the Luckey 
   Platt department store in Poughkeepsie was for decades the “leading  
   Store of the Hudson Valley;” and the ruins of the West Point Foundry at 
   Cold Spring are all that remain of what was once one of the river’s most 
   important industries. Taken together, these places present a broad picture 
   of the region’s past that is relevant to its present and future.

More than 200 black-and-whte illustrations include historic photos, engravings, and plans, as well as the authors’ contemporary images. This array of art captures the rustic quality that makes these places so compelling. At once an extensive overview of the region’s historical built  environment and a plea for the survival of these dilapidated structures, Hudson Valley Ruins is a powerful chronicle of, and memorial to, change.


"The diversity of subject matter encompassed in these engaging, fluent annals and the way in which they appear somehow to distil and make accessible the complex history of man's presence on the shorelands of the Hudson River, is truly admirable. . . With the wide and energized readership that it deserves, this book should help ensure that many of these and other endangered structures abide with us, and enrich our lives for many years to come."
~
John Winthrop Aldrich, Advisor, Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area (Excerpted from the Foreword)

"This book will be of interest to all who have an interest in the Hudson River and region, industrial archaeology, architectural history and preservation, land use and regional planning, and economic and transportation history. The book is highly accurate, well reasoned and articulated, thoroughly researched and documented and will be useful for reference as well as general reading."
~
Arthur Adams, author, The Hudson Through the Years and The Hudson River Guidebook

"Hudson Valley Ruins is a thoroughly researched, well documented, and skillfully written account of vestiges of all sorts of architecture along the Hudson from New York to Albany. The authors guide us to often out-of-the-way locations to ponder the fate of structures built to vanished purposes. Together with and informative catalogue of historic sites, Hudson Valley Ruins thoughtfully reveals how derelict buildings recollect economic and cultural forces that shaped the history and landscape of America's most celebrated and beautiful river."
~
Francis R. Kowsky, SUNY Distinguished Professor, Buffalo State College 

"Ruins have always fascinated us with their power to open windows into vanished worlds. In this book, informative prose and evocative photographs show us that the crumbling remains of the Hudson Valley's past, from 18th-century farmhouses to 20th-century factories, can be just as interesting ­ and haunting ­ as those of ancient Egypt and Rome."
~
Richard Moe, President, National Trust for Historic Preservation 

“The most beautiful and historical of America's big waterways, the Hudson River has for almost four centuries reflected the political and economic development of an entire continent. Hudson Valley Ruins tells of the factories, railroad stations, quaint estates, department stores, brickyards and other historic structures near its banks that are now threatened by redevelopment and argues elegantly and persuasively that we need to save them. Bravo." ~ Kenneth T. Jackson, Jacques Barzun Professor of History, Columbia University

"Up and down the Hudson Valley region lie countless abandoned buildings, slowly rotting and decaying over time. These old factories, homes, schools, train stations, and more have long since been forgotten, or, if they haven't, are currently being remodeled or torn down. Hudson Valley Ruins brings these places back to life. Rinaldi, who has been published in Preservation magazine, and Yasinsac, a museum associate at Phillipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow, NY, divide their book into sections covering ten different counties along the Hudson River, extending from Albany down to New York City. For each site, the authors include a detailed history of the location and outline its current condition. The authors' text reveals the extensive history of New York; it also underlines the importance of these buildings and the authors' hopes for their restoration and preservation. A companion web site, www.hudsonvalleyruins.org, offers updates on the buildings' current conditions and includes more historical sites. Contemporary and historical pictures are included. Recommended for public libraries in the Hudson Valley region." ~ Erin J. Miller, Library Journal (Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information)

"In Hudson Valley Ruins: Forgotten Landmarks of an American Landscape, preservationists Thomas E. Rinaldi and Robert J. Yasinsac share their fascination with the dozens of once grand -- but now abandoned -- buildings and sites that dot the Hudson River landscape. Enhanced with hundreds of telling black and white photographs, the book describes the historical and architectural significance of the ruins, which range from majestic river estates to the former factories, while capturing the flavor of  a bygone era."  ~ Hudson Valley Magazine (September 2006) 

"An exciting new volume from the creators of www.hudsonvalleyruins.org, the book is one part travel guide (though no directions are provided) and one part encyclopedia of our region's greatest ruins - houses, factories, even a railroad car. In addition to color and black and white photographs, the author/photographers offer short histories of each ruin and a compelling discussion of the history and future of ruins in the Hudson Valley."   ~ The Hudson River Valley Review (Autumn 2006)

"Two ardent preservationists find beauty amid the ruins of manor houses, Dutch barns, foundries, railroad stations, and the Hop-O-Nose Knitting Mill. Meticulously researched and full of evocative photographs, this is a yearning ode to our vanishing architectural heritage." ~ Chronogram (December 2006)

"A deeply evocative book, by turns inspiring and bittersweet. So much has been lost or is on the verge of disappearing, but in pictures and text the authors document success stories, large and small, and challenge the reader to join the fight to preserve our regional history." ~ Drew Coffey, Inside/Out The Hudson Valley (November/December 2007)

ARTICLES & REVIEWS
The Register Star - May 25, 2008. "Historic Hudson to restore 19th century Plumb-Bronson House." By John Mason.
IA, The Journal of the Society for Industrial Archeology
- Volume 32, Number 1. 2006. Review by Elizabeth Norris.
The New York Times - October 7, 2007. "A story Told From the Ruins." By Kate Stone Lombardi.
The Troy Record - August 9, 2007. "Five Questions." By Shawn Charniga.
The Journal News
- March 26, 2007. "Authors on Mission to Protect Ruins." By Rob Ryser.
The Journal News - March 10, 2007. "Yonkers' Glenwood Power Station subject of photo exhibition." By Ernie Garcia.
Kingston Daily Freeman - December 14, 2006. "Beauty Amid the 'Ruins.'" By Bonnie Langston. 
Poughkeepsie Journal - December10, 2006. "Book builds up valley's 'ruins.' Structures' past glories covered." By Jessica Burke.
Irvington Insight - November 2006. "Hudson Valley Ruins: Former Student Puts a Lens on the Area's Architectural Treasures." Also, "Book Gives Life to Bannerman Castle: Art Teacher Thom Johnson Take His Passion to Print."
Magazine Antiques - October, 2006. "Ruins along the Hudson River." 
The Independent - October 20, 2006. "Surrounded by History." By Ann La Farge.
The Voice Ledger - October 13, 2006. "Arlington Grad Captures Treasures of Hudson Valley in New Book." By Weston Berg.
New York Newsday - October 11, 2006. "History vs. the Bulldozer." By John Habich.
Rivertowns Enterprise - September 8, 2006. "Authors Pay Homage to Forgotten History." By Colleen Michelle Jones. 

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HUDSON VALLEY RUINS
Forgotten Landmarks of an American Landscape
_____________

Thomas E. Rinaldi  ~  Robert J. Yasinsac