President’s Report
As fall approaches the Hudson Valley, Hudson River Heritage is engaged on many fronts. Let me tell you about a few of them.
A reception to honor and thank our membership was graciously hosted by long-time supporter Evie Chanler at Orlot, overlooking the Hudson River, on the afternoon of April 25th.
Then, on May 14th and 15th, Hudson River Heritage presented our first Annual Preservation Forum at the Stanford White-designed Astor Courts in Rhinebeck. Speakers and topics covered the preservation spectrum. After a warm welcome by Assemblyman Kevin Cahill on Thursday morning, Deirdre Glenn of Habitat for Humanity in Newburgh spoke movingly of the hard work she is leading there. Roberta Lane of the National Trust illuminated the clear link between preservation and sustainability. Professor William Rhoads, SUNY New Paltz, showcased 19th Century eclectic revivals in the Hudson Valley, and Kate Kerin, newly-appointed Landscape Curator at Olana, shared her research and vision for historic landscape restoration there. On Friday morning, Assemblyman Marc Molinaro offered his perspective and welcome. Stanford White’s great-grandson and fellow architect Sam White gave a talk about Box Hill in St. James, Long Island, the ever-evolving family home (and test case for many of White’s design ideas), and led a fascinating tour of Astor Courts in conjunction with owner and host Kathleen Hammer. NYS Deputy Commissioner for Historic Preservation J. Winthrop Aldritch spoke about the particular importance of historic preservation in tough economic times, Professor Nicholas Robinson, Esq., of Pace Law School addressed the importance of local leadership in land preservation and cultural heritage stewardship, and Jay DiLorenzo of the Preservation League gave a presentation on the economic benefits of and incentives for historic preservation. All of this was masterfully organized and orchestrated by out tireless Executive Director, Sunny Wirth, who also arranged the outstanding catering by Lola’s of Poughkeepsie. And, on top of all that, Tracie Rozhon and Wint Aldrich hosted a lovely evening reception at Rokebyon Friday evening, complete with a pianist, champagne, hors d’oeuvres and a photo-perfect sunset across the Hudson and Catskills.
Hudson River Heritage was a vocal and ultimately persuasive advocate before the Town of Rhinebeck Zoning Board for the preservation of the remarkable character of Rhinebeck’s River Road by rejecting an application by Ferncliff Nursing Home for two large, new, garish and wholly unnecessary signs at the entrance to their facility. And, on that same road, we have initiated plans for a stone wall restoration project, designed for students at Dutchess County BOCES working under the volunteer guidance of a master mason.
Hudson River Heritage has recommitted to monitoring and enforcement of the existing easements we hold in Rhinebeck and Hyde Park.
We are working with Red Hook’s St. Margaret’s Committee to secure the future of that historic structure, and to find a suitable community use as well as funds for its restoration.
As the lead organization of the recently-formed Community Coalition for Montgomery Place, Hudson River Heritage seeks to raise awareness of and participation in activities at the reopened site, considered by many to be the crown jewel of the Hudson Valley riverfront estates. The family and social history of the home connect Montgomery Place to the region and to American history in a unique way. The beauty of the house preserved on its site with its intact historic landscape, complete with a working farm, speaks to the generations of loving ownership, and to our responsibility to ensure its current owner, Historic Hudson Valley, does the right thing for the site, the community and the district.
On July 24th Hudson River Heritage hosted at historic Edgewater, the Barrytown home of Richard Jenrette, an early-evening benefit featuring the songs of Cole Porter, guided tours of the house, and of course, wine and hors d’oeuvres on the lawn at the river’s edge.
The annual Hudson River Country Seats Tour is scheduled as a one-day event this year, to be held on Saturday, October 16th, 2010. The theme is “Exemplars of Hudson Valley Architecture,” and we have lined up significant examples of the Federal, Gothic Revival, Greek Revival, Second Empire styles and more to showcase the evolving tastes and times of our National Historic Landmark District.
Board member David Byars is hard at work on a forthcoming publication of photos from the Dows Collection, highlighting fascinating pictures from that family’s life at Fox Hollow Farm. And finally, after months of work led by board member Frank Cutolo, we have just unveiled a new, up-to-date, more relevant and appealing website.
We can only do what we do with your interest and support. We want you to see the value in your membership, and to understand what Hudson River Heritage is doing to protect, preserve and advocate for the Hudson River National Historic Landmark District. Your participation is crucial, and we look forward to having you join us in our efforts.
Warm Regards,
Warren Temple Smith, R.A.
President, Hudson River Heritage
Country Seats Tour 2010 [Past]
Saturday, October 16, 2010, 9:00am to 5:00pm.
Tour 9 sites, including 5 private homes, an inn, a historic landscape and 2 churches.
Lunch on the grounds of historic Wilderstein.
The 2010 tour showcased exemplars of architectural styles within the Hudson River National Historic Landmark District. The self-driving tour wended its way through the towns and countryside of Rhinebeck and Red Hook, in Dutchess County, New York. Examples of the district’s distinctive architecture in this tour included early neo-classical Federal, early Greek Revival, Gothic Revival sites designed or influenced by the romantic architect Alexander Jackson Davis, Second Empire, Colonial Revival, and a modern Japanese-influenced design integrating the natural with the man-made in a striking natural setting.
