Curious Constructions
From CURIOUS CONSTRUCTIONS, ©2017 Michael Hearst. Illustrations by Matt Johnstone.
Used with Permission from Chronicle Books, LLC.
Visit www.ChronicleBooks.com.
What are your favorite curious constructions in New York State? We were excited to stumble on this fun illustration of our Seven to Save-listed Hudson-Athens Lighthouse from the book Curious Constructions: A Peculiar Portfolio of Fifty Fascinating Structures. We think it looks just as good here as it does in real life.
This inspired us to think about some of our own favorite curious constructions. Here are just a few plucked from our past Seven to Save lists.
First, a little bit about the construction of this fascinating structure: Midstream between the cities of Hudson and Athens is a large mud flat that is completely submerged at high tide. Many ships found themselves unexpectedly stranded on the Middle Ground Flats, prompting Congress to appropriate $35,000 in 1872 for construction of a lighthouse to help ships avoid the obstacle. Construction began in early 1873. Pilings were driven fifty feet into the riverbed and then capped by a granite pier. In order to protect the foundation from winter and spring ice floes, the north end of the base was shaped like the prow of a ship. A two-story, Second Empire-style brick structure, complete with mansard roof, was built atop the granite foundation. Henry D. Best lit the beacon for the first time on November 14 , 1874. The facility served as a manned lighthouse until the 1950s, at which time the lighthouse was automated. Emil Brunner was the last civilian lightkeeper, holding that role from 1930-1949. Today, the Lighthouse still serves as an aid to navigation, guiding ships safely around the Middle Ground Flats.
Inside the structure you’ll find a keepers room, kitchen, dining room, four bedrooms, lantern room, and a fog bell. No bathroom, though. Back when people still lived there they relied on an outhouse suspended over the Hudson River.
If you are interested in seeing the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse up close, there’s a tour for that!
Lehigh Valley Railroad Roundhouse and Related Structures | Manchester, Ontario County
Listed in 2018-2019
A view inside the Roundhouse
The Manchester Roundhouse was once an integral piece of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, a railroad that stretched from New York City through New Jersey and Pennsylvania and into the Southern Tier, Finger Lakes, and Niagara Regions of Upstate New York. This semicircular structure was built in 1916, and in its heyday it was one of the largest and most bustling freight transfer centers in New York State. It is almost 450 feet across, with 30 service bays and a massive turntable in the center.
As industry evolves, historic industrial buildings are often abandoned. The Lehigh Valley Roundhouse has been vacant for over thirty years. Many of its related structures have been destroyed or lost. The site itself is also a brownfield, contaminated with petroleum and industrial waste after years of service. This presents usage challenges and environmental concerns for new owners of the structure that must be considered when crafting a rehabilitation plan. Recently, the town of Manchester acquired the property and wants to make this site safe for future use to boost both business and tourism.
Enlarged Erie Canal Schoharie Aqueduct | Fort Hunter, Montgomery County
Listed in 2018-2019
The Schoharie Aqueduct is located at Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site. Construction of the aqueduct began in 1839 and it was placed into service in 1845, with additional alterations in 1855 and 1873. A National Historic Landmark and part of the New York State Barge Canal Historic District, the Schoharie Aqueduct carried the enlarged Erie Canal over the Schoharie Creek.
The aqueduct originally consisted of 14 stone arches, but currently only 6 remain. After years of deterioration, investment is finally being made to preserve this important historic site. Craig Williams, president of the Canal Society of New York State's board of directors, recently gave us an update on the current plans for the site. There’s hope that work can finally begin in earnest to preserve the site properly.
For the time being, you can still admire the aqueduct during a visit to Schoharie Crossing, or get a better view from a kayak and paddle your way over.
Smallpox Hospital | Roosevelt Island, New York County
Listed in 2012-2013
An up close view of the hospital exterior
James Renwick designed the Smallpox Hospital on Roosevelt Island, which was completed in 1854. In 1976, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission referred to the Hospital as a “great Gothic ruin.”
A portion of the northernmost wall collapsed in 2007, serving as a wake-up call for immediate and necessary stabilization, a project championed by a colleague organization of the Preservation League, The New York Landmarks Conservancy.
The Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms State Park is just south of the hospital building. If you ever find yourself on Roosevelt Island, you can still see the hospital ruins. The interior is inaccessible, but you can see a glimpse inside thanks to untapped new york.
An aerial view of Roosevelt Island, showing the hospital with Four Freedoms Park at the southern tip
Fort Montgomery | Rouses Point, Clinton County
Listed in 2009
An aerial view of Fort Montgomery, showing the structure covered with vegetation
Situated on the border between the U.S. and Canada, Island Point is where Lake Champlain enters the Richelieu River. The island was first fortified in 1816, to protect against attacks from Canada. This fort was never completed and was abandoned when it was discovered that the site lay on the Canadian side of the border. After the border was redrawn in 1842, there was renewed interested in locating a strategic military fort on the site and construction on Fort Montgomery began in 1844. Work continued on the site through the Civil War. The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Atlas Obscura recently featured Fort Montgomery, which sadly has not seen any development or stabilization efforts since it was first listed by us in 2009.
The Former Glenwood Power Plant | Yonkers, Westchester County
Listed in 2008
A view of the power station from the Hudson
The Yonkers Power Station, built as part of the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad in 1906, stands as a monument to early 20th-century engineering and the New York Central electrification that led to the suburban growth of Westchester County. The architects of the Yonkers Power Station, Charles Reed and Allen Stem, also designed Grand Central Terminal with Warren and Wetmore. Another Reed and Stem Power Station at Port Morris on the Harlem River Rail line was demolished in the mid-20th century. The New York Central System, once known as “The Greatest Highway in the World,” reached up to Montreal and Ottawa and as far west as St. Louis. The electrification of this railway made it one of only two mainline railroads (the other was the Long Island Railroad) known to have used third-rail electrification.
As waterfront power plants affiliated with early 20th-century rail electrification grow scarce, the need for respectful reuse plans for the abandoned Yonkers Power Station (also known as the Glenwood Power Station) increases. An icon on the Hudson River waterfront, the Yonkers Power Station is an inspiring remnant of our industrial and transportation heritage. There are redevelopment plans in the work for this site, and we are hopeful that a historically sensitive renovation can bring this site back to active use.
The High Line | 34th Street to Gansevoort Street Manhattan, New York County
Listed in 2001
The High Line was built in the 1930s as an elevated steel railway structure for freight trains to safely bring goods into congested Manhattan. Until the High Line was constructed, freight trains ran perilously down the middle of Tenth Avenue, or “Death Avenue” as the treacherous stretch of road was dubbed due to the number of fatal accidents caused by the mix of rail traffic, vehicles, and pedestrians. As trucking gained popularity, the High Line was abandoned; its last train made a delivery in 1980. Today, the 1.45-mile line stands above Manhattan’s West Side, from 34th Street, along the edge of the Hudson River, through the West Chelsea neighborhood and into the heart of the Meat Packing District. The High Line is a remarkable piece of transportation-related infrastructure; unique to its period of construction and evocative of the transportation and manufacturing history of the West Side.
The High Line is perhaps one of the most well known preservation success stories in recent years, and its success has inspired similar projects in cities across the country. Its restoration brought much-needed parkland to Manhattan, connected three vibrant communities, and created an engaging outdoor gallery through its public art program.
Olana | Greenport, Columbia County
Listed in 1999
In 1999, the viewshed at Olana was under threat of inappropriate industrial development, which would have resulted in a loss of the visual and architectural integrity of this important historic site.
Olana is the 1870-1889 Moorish Italianate villa of Hudson River School painter Frederic E. Church. Many of Church’s famous landscape paintings were inspired by the quintessential views from his 250-acre estate — views that would have been marred by the unavoidable impact from the proposed power plant. Thankfully, this Seven to Save can be marked as “Saved.” The viewshed remains intact and Olana continues to be one of our favorite places to visit in the Hudson Valley. The grounds are free and open to the public 8:00 a.m. to sunset everyday. It’s a great option for a socially distant outdoor excursion.