Elmendorph Inn
Encyclopedia
The Elmendorph Inn, often spelled Elmendorf Inn, is the oldest building in the village of Red Hook
, New York
, United States. It is located at the north corner of North Broadway (US 9) and Cherry Street, a block north of the junction of Route 9 and NY 199
.
It was built in the mid-18th century as an inn to serve long-distance travelers on the Albany Post Road
. In the 1810s, it became the meeting place of the Red Hook Town Board for the next several decades. It has had a number of owners; the Elmendorphs are the earliest known ones. In the 1830s, it was expanded and renovated, eventually becoming just a residence. After a recent restoration
it has become a community center. In 1978 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
frame
clapboard
-sided
structure with a modified gambrel roof pierced by four brick chimneys. A lean-to addition is on the rear. It is located on the north corner of the intersection, just two buildings north of the Village Diner
.
Inside, the building has much of an interior added in the early 19th century, such as its wooden doors, lath and plaster
walls, chair rails and exposed ceiling beams. The central hallway has a curved wall to accommodate the staircase. There is evidence of the expansions that have taken place, such as bricked-over former fireplaces.
until 1894, after a fire had destroyed many older buildings, further complicating historical research. The mid–18th-century construction date has been established instead by close examination of its architecture and the contemporaneous leasing of many surrounding properties.
For most of the 18th century Red Hook was just the inn and a few houses, serving travelers on the Albany Post Road
(now Route 9), where it became a regular stop in 1785. It seems to have gone through several owners, and is first noted as Elmendorph's Inn on a 1797 map. By 1811 it was known as Loop's Hotel, after owner Jacob Loop, whose deed
for 12.5 acres (5.1 ha) is the first indication of ownership of the property.
The Red Hook Town Board met there for the first time in 1815, the first of many recorded meetings at the inn. The first Dutchess County Fair was held on the grounds. When Loop died in 1819, a George Ring bought the inn. He opened a store as well in 1820, but this effort failed so thoroughly that the entire property was sold at a sheriff's sale five years later. The buyer flipped
it the same day to Peter DeReimer, who himself sold it to a Jacobus Eckhart in 1827.
Sometimes during the 1830s, the inn was expanded in both the north and south directions to its present size. The original gambrel roof was covered over to create its present gable
d appearance. The interior was also refurbished in the Federal style; many of those improvements remain.
The next owner, David Wager, lived there for a while before buying the inn in 1835. Town Board meetings continued until 1842. Three years later Wager gave some of the land on the east end of the parcel to the local Methodist Episcopal Society for use as a cemetery. He sold the property to Augustus Martin, a state assemblyman
and town supervisor
, shortly before his death in 1854.
It was the Martin family who ended the building's commercial use and converted it to a two-family residence. Edward Martin, a descendant, later operated a school in the building that, at least during the 1890s, had kindergarten
classes. It remained in his family's hands until 1933. At that point the lot
was subdivided and sold, with only the inn's half-acre (2,000 m²) remaining. Heating and plumbing were added to the building during the 20th century.
In 1977 it had fallen into disrepair and was on the verge of being demolished. It was acquired by a group called Friends of Elmendorph, which renovated it to its present appearance over the next 12 years. A front porch that was on the building in 1978 when it was listed on the Register has since been removed, and shingled siding removed to reveal the original clapboard.
Red Hook (village), New York
Red Hook is a village in Dutchess County, New York, USA. The population was 1,961 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined Statistical Area...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United States. It is located at the north corner of North Broadway (US 9) and Cherry Street, a block north of the junction of Route 9 and NY 199
New York State Route 199
New York State Route 199 is a state highway located in the Hudson Valley of New York in the United States. It extends for from an interchange with U.S. Route 9W and US 209 north of Kingston to an intersection with US 44 and NY 22 southwest of Millerton...
.
It was built in the mid-18th century as an inn to serve long-distance travelers on the Albany Post Road
Albany Post Road
The Albany Post Road was a post road - a road used for mail delivery - in the U.S. state of New York. It connected the cities of New York and Albany along the east side of the Hudson River, a service now performed by US 9.The rough route was as follows:...
. In the 1810s, it became the meeting place of the Red Hook Town Board for the next several decades. It has had a number of owners; the Elmendorphs are the earliest known ones. In the 1830s, it was expanded and renovated, eventually becoming just a residence. After a recent restoration
Building restoration
Building restoration describes a particular treatment approach and philosophy within the field of architectural conservation. According the U.S...
it has become a community center. In 1978 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Building
The inn is a two-story, nine-bayBay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
frame
Framing (construction)
Framing, in construction known as light-frame construction, is a building technique based around structural members, usually called studs, which provide a stable frame to which interior and exterior wall coverings are attached, and covered by a roof comprising horizontal ceiling joists and sloping...
clapboard
Clapboard (architecture)
Clapboard, also known as bevel siding or lap siding or weather-board , is a board used typically for exterior horizontal siding that has one edge thicker than the other and where the board above laps over the one below...
-sided
Siding
Siding is the outer covering or cladding of a house meant to shed water and protect from the effects of weather. On a building that uses siding, it may act as a key element in the aesthetic beauty of the structure and directly influence its property value....
structure with a modified gambrel roof pierced by four brick chimneys. A lean-to addition is on the rear. It is located on the north corner of the intersection, just two buildings north of the Village Diner
Village Diner
The Village Diner, sometimes called the Halfway Diner or the Historic Village Diner, is located at 39 North Broadway a block north of NY 199 in Red Hook, New York, United States...
.
Inside, the building has much of an interior added in the early 19th century, such as its wooden doors, lath and plaster
Lath and plaster
Lath and plaster is a building process used mainly for interior walls in Canada and the United States until the late 1950s. After the 1950s, drywall began to replace the lath and plaster process in the United States. In the United Kingdom, lath and plaster was used for some interior partition...
walls, chair rails and exposed ceiling beams. The central hallway has a curved wall to accommodate the staircase. There is evidence of the expansions that have taken place, such as bricked-over former fireplaces.
History
Records of property ownership and improvements in 18th-century Red Hook are scant because most of the land in the village was leased from local landowner Henry Beekman. The village did not even incorporateMunicipal corporation
A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which...
until 1894, after a fire had destroyed many older buildings, further complicating historical research. The mid–18th-century construction date has been established instead by close examination of its architecture and the contemporaneous leasing of many surrounding properties.
For most of the 18th century Red Hook was just the inn and a few houses, serving travelers on the Albany Post Road
Albany Post Road
The Albany Post Road was a post road - a road used for mail delivery - in the U.S. state of New York. It connected the cities of New York and Albany along the east side of the Hudson River, a service now performed by US 9.The rough route was as follows:...
(now Route 9), where it became a regular stop in 1785. It seems to have gone through several owners, and is first noted as Elmendorph's Inn on a 1797 map. By 1811 it was known as Loop's Hotel, after owner Jacob Loop, whose deed
Deed
A deed is any legal instrument in writing which passes, or affirms or confirms something which passes, an interest, right, or property and that is signed, attested, delivered, and in some jurisdictions sealed...
for 12.5 acres (5.1 ha) is the first indication of ownership of the property.
The Red Hook Town Board met there for the first time in 1815, the first of many recorded meetings at the inn. The first Dutchess County Fair was held on the grounds. When Loop died in 1819, a George Ring bought the inn. He opened a store as well in 1820, but this effort failed so thoroughly that the entire property was sold at a sheriff's sale five years later. The buyer flipped
Flipping
Flipping is a term used primarily in the United States to describe purchasing a revenue-generating asset and quickly reselling it for profit...
it the same day to Peter DeReimer, who himself sold it to a Jacobus Eckhart in 1827.
Sometimes during the 1830s, the inn was expanded in both the north and south directions to its present size. The original gambrel roof was covered over to create its present gable
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
d appearance. The interior was also refurbished in the Federal style; many of those improvements remain.
The next owner, David Wager, lived there for a while before buying the inn in 1835. Town Board meetings continued until 1842. Three years later Wager gave some of the land on the east end of the parcel to the local Methodist Episcopal Society for use as a cemetery. He sold the property to Augustus Martin, a state assemblyman
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
and town supervisor
Town supervisor
Town Supervisor is an elective legislative position in New York towns. Supervisors sit on the town board, where they preside over town board meetings and vote on all matters with no more legal weight than that of any other board member .Towns may adopt local laws that allow them to provide for an...
, shortly before his death in 1854.
It was the Martin family who ended the building's commercial use and converted it to a two-family residence. Edward Martin, a descendant, later operated a school in the building that, at least during the 1890s, had kindergarten
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
classes. It remained in his family's hands until 1933. At that point the lot
Lot (real estate)
In real estate, a lot or plot is a tract or parcel of land owned or meant to be owned by some owner. A lot is essentially considered a parcel of real property in some countries or immovable property in other countries...
was subdivided and sold, with only the inn's half-acre (2,000 m²) remaining. Heating and plumbing were added to the building during the 20th century.
In 1977 it had fallen into disrepair and was on the verge of being demolished. It was acquired by a group called Friends of Elmendorph, which renovated it to its present appearance over the next 12 years. A front porch that was on the building in 1978 when it was listed on the Register has since been removed, and shingled siding removed to reveal the original clapboard.