History of Rhinebeck

Rhinebeck Village Walking Tour
by Marilyn S. Hatch for the Rhinebeck Chamber of Commer

In 1979 the Village of Rhinebeck was recognized and placed on the National Register of Historic Places for its cohesiveness as a built environment as well as its state of preservation. Rhinebeck is rare because it has succeeded in preserving the delicate balance between its historic ambiance and a thriving economy to support its historic fabric.

As you tour through the village you will see a collection of varying architectural styles from late 18th through the early 20th century. Rhinebeck's charm, however, is not found only in the architectural detailing of its buildings, but in the supporting environment of the streetscapes, with large shade trees, blue stone walks, hitching posts, carriage stepping stones, well houses, period fences, barns, carriage houses, and, outhouses.

Two tours are included in this brochure beginning at or near the Chamber of Commerce information booth on Mill St. Each tour takes a leisurely one hour and a half hours. A one-day visitor might do Tour I in the A.M., lunch at a local restaurant, and proceed to Tour II in the afternoon.

TOUR I | TOUR II

TOUR I

Starting across from the Chamber of Commerce Information Center.

14 Mill St., 1939 Rhinebeck Post Office. WPA Project under Franklin D. Roosevelt, replicates the first home built in the area by Hendrick Kip. The interior exhibits tell the story and show artifacts of the original building. Murals, by local artist Olin Dows depict history of the Town of Rhinebeck.
Walking south on Mill St.
23 Mill St., c. 1800 Frost Law Office. Two story turn of the 19th century residential architecture with distinguishing features of a delicate molded cornice, half round decoration, 8/12 and 12/12 windows, paneled door and transom with lead tracery.
Turn left onto South St. (South St. was originally the Sapasco Trail running from the Hudson River to Connecticut. The north and south Post Rd. intersected it on the Rhinebeck "flatts" c. 1700.)
1 South St. 1808 Reformed Dutch Church. Early nineteenth century institutional architecture. All materials were donated for the construction of the church, the brick being donated by the more affluent members and placed on the S. and W. sides for public view. N. and E. sides constructed of field stone. Notable features, multi paned windows, arched doorways, bell tower with working clock capped with a polygonal cupola. First church built in Rhinebeck. Supported by the Livingston family a noted local and nationally historic family. Behind the church and along east side is a graveyard containing 43 American Revolutionary War Veterans.
2 South St. c. 1860 Gothic cottage know as the "Fifteen Gables House." One-and-a-half story building, asymmetrical in plan with semicircular arched windows and openings.
15 South St. 1880 Queen Anne Style. Substantial and highly decorative two-and -a-half story house with cross gables, elaborate porch and decorative facing gables.
48 South St., (corner of South & Parsonage Sts.) c. 1840 former parsonage of the Reformed Dutch Church. Substantial two story house with molded cornice and returns, decorative porch, and 6/6 paned windows.
South on Parsonage is the Landsman Kill which supplied multiple mills in the Town and village of Rhinebeck. On the north side of the Kill is the adaptively reused "Standard Time Laundry", whose owner refused to alter his business hours to daylight savings time.
Turn left & proceed north on Parsonage St. to E. Market St. (The Sapasco Trail originally jogged north then east again on what is now W. Market St. E. Market St was constructed in 1800 as a part of a toll road and joined the Trail again at the east end of the Village.)
110 E. Market St., (corner of E. Market & Parsonage Sts.) c. 1810 McCarty House. Stephen McCarty was an architect-builder of major importance to the early Rhinebeck area. His workmanship is noted in the Greek Revival porch on this Federal style building.
Turn right & proceed east on E. Market.
122 E. Market St. c. 1840 Scott School. Two-story Greek Revival house with temple front, built for Robert Scott, founder of the Baptist Church in Rhinebeck. He was headmaster of the school, where such people as the Vassars and the Colgates were taught.
Turning left onto Beech St. one block left onto Livingston St. (Livingston St. was laid out in the 1830's.)
77 Livingston St., 1773 Montgomery House/Chancellor Livingston DAR building. This building was originally located at 88 Montgomery St., moved in 1864. One time home of Gen. Richard Montgomery, commander of Northern Continental forces, who died Dec. 31, 1775 in the Battle of Quebec. Note historic marker.
Continue west on Livingston St. to the corner of Livingston & Mulberry.
23 Mulberry St., 1893 Two-and-a-half story Queen Anne Style house, built from the plans for "the ideal house" at the 1893 Columbian Exposition. Note decorative features of shingle designs, polygonal tower, decorative windows, and verandah.
48 Livingston St., c. 1895 two story three bay Queen Anne style residence. Decorative molded entrance door surround with sidelights, second floor has two projecting bays, hip roof, molded cornice and frieze.
46 Livingston St., 1875 J. O'Brien house. Three story Second Empire style house with Mansard roof, gable dormers, decorative overhang, and tower with iron cresting. Architect, Croft of Saratoga. House built as a wedding gift for the O'Briens.
Turn left onto Mulberry St. returning to E. Market St. turn left to second house east of Mulberry St.
97 E. Market St., c. 1795. This house was in place prior to the construction of E. Market St. in 1800. It is a one-and-a-half-story house with modest detailing. Once the residence of Peter Pultz, owner of the Pultz Tavern which was located directly across the street. (Note the historical marker in front of 104 E. Market St.)
Turn west.
87 E. Market St., c. 1845. This is a substantial two-story Greek Revival style house which retains its original details. Noted for its large pediment with molded cornice, the porch with its Corinthian columns and articulated pilasters, and entrance with sidelights, transom and paneled door.
85 E. Market St. c. 1868. One-and-a-half-story Methodist parish hall with unique Swiss style frieze decoration.
83 E. Market St., 1900. Rhinebeck United Methodist Church, good example of turn of the century ecclesiastical architecture. Built after the original church building was completely destroyed by fire. Note historical marker honoring the Rev. Freeborn Garrettson, one of the founders of Methodism in America.
88, 86, 84, and 82 E. Market St., c. 1860. A series of bracketed style cottages, each with a cross gable and decorative front porch, built by R. Decker. Note the pineapple topped hitching post in front of no.88; symbolizes welcome.
77 E. Market St., c. 1860. Substantial three-story house with mansard roof, decorative cornice and porch.
75 E. Market St., c. 1840. One of the best examples of classic Greek Revival houses in the village, built by local architect-builder Stephen McCarty.
55 E. Market St. c. 1795. This house was at this location prior to the construction of Market St. in 1800. Known at one time as the Schaad bakery. Early federal one-and-a half-story house with 12/12 windows.
51 E. Market St., c. 1850. Originally a livery stable with service to the Rhinecliff dock and train station. Also housed early telephone and telegraph office.
19 E. Market St., c. 1858 Judson Building. Three-story commercial brick building with highly decorative cast iron sills, lintels, and columns.
1. E. Market St., c. 1875. Two-story building of brick in the Italianate tradition, with heavy cornice and brackets. Once housed the Rhinebeck Gazette.
2 - 36 E. Market St., c. 1866/67. This series of brick commercial buildings with Italinate influences were built after the May 8, 1864 fire that destroyed the south side of Market St.
1 Beekman Sq., c.1766 Bogardus Tavern. Oldest continuously operated Inn in America. Brick and clapboard hotel with federal and 1920 Colonial Revival features. This Inn can boast of many prominent guests. Old documents and artifacts are exhibited throughout the hotel.

TOUR II

Starting at the corner of W. Market and Montgomery Sts., walking west on W. Market St.

20 & 22 W. Market St. c. 1858 Village Fire House. Bracketed style brick building that has been adaptively reused as a commercial building retaining its period architectural details.

54 W. Market St., c. 1865 Ambrose Wager house. Large three/four-story Second Empire style house designed by C.B. Croft of Saratoga. Property originally owned by Ambrose Wager, prominent citizen and lawyer in Rhinebeck.

57 W. Market St., c. 1793 Dr. Hans Kierstead, 1858 "Elmwood", 1867 Wells Estate. Originally a one-and-a-half-story Georgian style with later Italian Villa style additions.

Return to Montgomery St and walk north.

13 Montgomery St., c. 1840 Ambrose Wager law office / Temperance Hall / Women's Exchange. One room Greek revival style building with temple front and flush board siding. Note murals above door and show windows.

23 Montgomery St., c. 1890 Rhinebeck Savings Bank. Noted for its balustrade atop the roof, molded brick arches and stone capitals.

28 Montgomery St., c.1862 Starr Institute Building. Brick commercial structure of the Victorian Gothic style. Originally given as a library and community hall to the citizens of Rhinebeck by Mrs. Starr Miller, granddaughter of Col. Philip Schuyler, in memory of her husband.

37 Montgomery St., c, 1823 & 1890 Baptist Church. Founded in 1821 by Robert Scott, headmaster of Scott School in the village. The small Federal style chapel to the north was the original structure. The large shingle style addition to the south is of the Queen Anne style. Presently an adaptively reused commercial building.

44 Montgomery St., 1844 Delamater House. Magnificent board and batten Gothic Revival house by A.J. Davis . Built for Henry Delamater, banker and founder of the First National Bank of Rhinebeck. Has been adaptively reused.

47 Montgomery St., 1896 Episcopal Church of the Messiah. This stone structure is noted for its parapets, gargoyles, Gothic arched windows and doors, and Tiffany stained glass windows. Architect Stanford White.

67 Montgomery St., c. 1910 distinguished Colonial Revival style house with hip roof, arched dormer, classical recess with door at second story, wide arched windows, classical porch with decorative balustrade.

72 Montgomery St., c.1850. Substantial two-story bracketed style house, French doors, paneled entrance door with transom and sidelights, and decorative mid 19th century porch.

76 Montgomery St., c. 1858. Large two-and-a-half-story bracketed style house with Colonial Revival porch.

79 Montgomery St., c. 1850 "The Grove" A bracketed style house noted for its octagonal interior, three sided bays, cast iron balcony, classical porch, and double entrance door.

82 Montgomery St., c. 1830 Episcopal parsonage. This is a Greek Revival house with classical door surround, five sided rectangular bracketed style wings and octagonal porch columns.

88 Montgomery St., c. 1860. Excellent example of Colonial Survival which was frequently used in the Mid Hudson Valley. It is distinguished by its hip roof, twin chimneys, Palladian style window, door surround with sidelights and transom, and Corinthian porch columns. The Montgomery House at 77 Livingston St. was originally located on this site.

Turn back and return to Chestnut St., turning east. (Chestnut St. was added in the late 1860's)

17 Chestnut St., c.1870. Substantial two-story residence, with period detailing including elaborate front porch and stained glass.

19 Chestnut St., c. 1895 Schell house. Two-and-a-half-story elaborate Victorian house with Eastlake detailing intact. Noted for its shingle and cutwork decoration, period porch with Eastlake style spindles, and original period barn and carriage house.

21 Chestnut St., 1900. Excellent example of Colonial Revival style noted for projecting hip roof, central entrance with flanking sidelights, projecting rafters decorated to imitate modillion blocks, and porch with paired classical columns.

24 Chestnut St., c. 1865. Mid-nineteenth century brick structure two-story three bay gable end to the street. Noted for its simplicity in design throughout with plain stone sills segmental arch lentels, round center window in the gable end, and classical porch with paneled entrance door flanked with sidelights and fanlight.

31 Chestnut St., c. 1876 Esselstyn house. Two-story multi-bay structure with asymmetrical plan, elaborate modillion and dental cornice, decorative sills and pedimented lentels, and period porches with paired square columns.

Turn right onto Mulberry St.

27 Mulberry St., c. 1867. Sizable two-story bracketed style house with Georgian Survival influence seen in the hip roof with balustrade and symmetrical plan.

25 Mulberry St., c. 1880. Bracketed style house noted for its molded cornice, bracketed frieze with returns, twin arched windows, heavily molded cornices and bracketed porch.

Turn right onto Livingston St.

31 Livingston St., 1842 Third Lutheran Church. This building burned in 1909 and was rebuilt in the same Greek revival style and design. Noted for its rectangular plan, centrally placed spire, recessed entrance, and classical columns which were restored in 1997.

23 Livingston St. 1843 Lutheran Parsonage built by Lewis Marquardt. Purchased in 1901 by Thomas Thompson "for a home for the sick" A trust in Thompson's name continues to benefit Rhinebeck.