Forgotten memories of Hudson, N.Y.

05/19/2026

Circa, 1940's: 6 Power Avenue

Constructed in the 1800s, this two-story timber frame structure was situated on 1.5 acres of land and sat on a concrete foundation. The home featured a steeply pitched, shingled gabled roof, tightly sealed, horizontal clapboard siding, large, double-hung windows and shutters for temperature control and a single brick chimney, centered at the peak of the roofline. When constructed, the home sat on the Hudson Riverfront and remained so until around 1850, when the construction of the Hudson River Railroad line would cut it off. This building was once home to David and Anna Hoyt.

A young David B. Hoyt would meet the beautiful Anna M. Madison and fall in love. David would ask for Anna's hand in marriage and they pair would move into the house at 6 Power Ave. Here, David and Anna would build a vibrant life, raising their seven children, daughters Bertha A. (born November 11, 1930) Doris and Ann and sons, Lonnie R. (born December 18, 1938) Charles B., Donald and David within its walls. While David Sr. was at work, Anna acted as the heartbeat of the home, spending her days hanging laundry on the line or managing other chores, like disposing of trash in the burn barrel or readying meals for the family.You could often find the Hoyt children filling the surrounding woods with sounds of play and laughter.

Though they had little in the way of modern comforts, David and Anna instilled a sense of deep richness within their family, making 6 Power Avenue a cherished home. The Hoyts and others who lived in the neighborhood, including the Kogelmans, W**ds, Klucerists, Hafners, Gaschels, Hardys, Lagitchs, Resslers, Lippmans, Felix and Karolena Macher, Joanne Macher, Adella Rouse, Dorris and Joe Madison, and John Hayes, lived a simple, independent life in Simpsonville. Named after original landowner Joel T. Simpson, the homes here were never connected to Hudson’s sewer system. Instead, the community relied largely on water pumps for cold water and utilized outhouses.

There were no street lights, the road was dirt and there was an abundance of wildlife, including bald eagles, ospreys, and various species of waterfowl. As the children grew, they would forge their own paths. Lonnie would serve in the Army from 1956 to 1958, marry Jennie Snow, and have three children, Ricky J., Lonnie Jr. and Robert. Lonnie would later own and operate the Once Around Antique shop in Greenport. Bertha, who worked at the Mushroom Factory and later KAZ Inc., married Charles Henry W**d and raised six children, Charles D., Dennis W., Donald E., Fay, Ann Marie and Marion L.. Charles would marry Beverly Joan C**n, who also grew up in Simpsonville, and together they raised two sons, Chuck and Ron.

The community's origins date back to the early 19th century when it was known as "Simpson's Landing." The 98 acres, stretched from Power Ave & Bay Road (S. 3rd St.), to Gifford Wood Works (present day Hudson Avenue). After Mr. Simpsons death, the property was purchased by a Miss Ensign and Miss Stackapole. The Community remained occupied by a few residents until the late 1970's. The homes were later photographed and documented by the Historic American Buildings Survey before demolition began. As the last buildings came down, Power Ave Industrial Park was going up. Today, the only reminder of this community is a concrete staircase connecting Power Avenue with South Third Street, in front of what was once the Hoyt's home.

05/05/2026

First Reformed Church Fire

The Church was constructed in 1836 on the South side of Warren Streets 400 block. 71 years ago, on Mother’s Day, May 5, 1955, a fire would break out and the church would be reduced to rubble. following the tragedy, the Warren Theater would open their doors to the congregation for church services. An identical building was later built at 52 Green St and is still in use today.

Clip from Ingrid Wheeler film

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03/23/2026

Circa, 1960's: 60 South Front Street

Constructed in the early 1900s, this single story, industrial-style, timber frame structure has a long, rectangular footprint consisting of 4,224 square feet. The building has a low-pitched gable roof covered in corrugated metal, wood siding and several large, barn-style doors along its front for freight access to the now forgotten rail spur. Along the rear side are many more doors for easy truck loading and unloading. The interior has a beamed ceiling and solid white oak floors. This 0.74 acres property was once home to the Stockport Lumber Company Incorporated.

Frank Jacob Meltz was born on December 20, 1906 to Joseph (born 1864) and F***y (Kaly) Meltz (born 1870) in Ohio. Frank had 16 siblings including Ernest (born 1897), Florianna Catherine (born 1891), Joseph (born 1895), Stafia (born 1899), Rubert (born 1900), Mary (born 1907), Lorina (born 1910), Emil Walter (born October 3, 1913) and eight others. His parents, Joseph and F***y, immigrated from Gottchee, a german speaking enclave in Austria, now part of Slovenia, to Ohio between 1900-1905. The family would move to Saline, Arkansas by 1910 and then New York by 1913. It was here that Frank would meet a young Adeline May Haun.

Adeline was born February 2, 1911 in Hillsdale, New York to Mr. Wallace D (born 1866) and Alice (Bruise) Haun (born 1873). She had one brother, Frederick (born 1908). Adeline would be married to Frank on November 1, 1930 and together they would have six children, Frank J. (born 1931), Audrey Louise (born 1932), Walter David (born 1935) , Donald J. (born August 23, 1936), Joel W. (born 1939) and Robert J. (born 1949). Frank Meltz Sr., along with Joseph Anthony Fabiano would also purchase the Healy Brothers dairy farm in the 1960s to construct the 80,000 Square foot shopping center known today as, Fairview Plaza.

The Meltz family started out in the lumber business in 1946, when proprietor Emil Walter Meltz opened a yard in the Philmont area. Frank Meltz Sr. would shortly after purchase the building at 299 County Road 25 in Stockport and open, the Stockport Lumber Company. The phone number was originally 8-1840, later changing to TA 8-1849. It wasn't until the late 1950s that Frank would open the Hudson location on South Front Street with phone number 183-R4. On Thursday, February 20 of 1958, Stockport Lumber Company would file as a corporation and become Stockport Lumber Company Incorporated.

Stockport Lumber carried a complete line of building materials, including native lumber, roll roofing, shingles, Portland cement, brick, flue lining, sewer tile, Kopper's corrugated and V type siding and roofing, Homasote 440 and even De Voe and Pittsburgh Paints. They would even offer delivery and could later be reached at phone numbers 8-3100 then TA 8-8431 and lastly 518-828-9431. The Hudson Crew included owner Frank Meltz Sr. and sons Frank Meltz Jr. (aka Sonny) and Joel Meltz, Gifford Arthur Proper Sr. (born October 10, 1928), Clarence Flouton, Pete Myers, Henry (Shorty) Dupont, and book keeper, John Froud.

The Company would later purchase the Dunn Warehouse, located on the corner of Broad and Water Streets, for extra space for the South Front Street location. The warehouse was originally constructed in 1850 as the Hudson and Boston Railroad shop. The Company was also very involved in the community and even raced stockcar #202 at the Mellenville and Greenport Speedways. Stockport Lumber even sponsored kids such as Vester Frazier in the annual soap box derbies. Sadly in the 1980s, Stockport Lumber Company Incorporated would cease operation, but, although no longer operating at 60 South Front Street, the Meltz family is still in the lumber business, operating today as Ghent Wood Products.

02/23/2026

Circa, 1956: 13 Warren Street

Constructed in the 1800s, this two and a half story, brick and mortar structure sat on a concrete foundation, complete with a full cellar. The upper floor featured two double-hung windows with multi-pane sashes overlooking Warren, and a cornice on the roofline. The ground floor entrance had a solid wood door with a center glass panel and beautiful wood molding. The ground floor itself operated as a storefront for much of its life and had a large, plate glass display window to let in the natural light. The shop exterior was surrounded by ornate woodwork, while the interior had classic pendant lighting, plaster walls and hardwood flooring. The storefront was once home to City Bakery.

Michael Bucholsky was born in Hudson on May 19, 1915. It was here he would spend his life, having grown up at 216 Mill Street. Michael was a baker from birth and by the age of 16, he was working as a bakers helper. Michael would later meet a young Helen Konyar, also a Hudson native, and the two would soon marry. Helen was only two months older than Michael, born March 8, 1915. She was the daughter of Martin and Zuzana (Banik) Konyar. Together, Michael and Helen would have two children, son Michael J. (born June 18, 1943) and daughter Martha. Michael would also go on to open his bakery at 13 Warren Street, named City Bakery.

City Bakery made all sorts of pastries and desserts including a variety of pies, cakes, danishes, glazed and jelly doughnuts, sugar buns, crumb buns, soft baked cookies, breads and their delicious, well known rye bread. Michael made all his goods from scratch, to either be baked in the large, stone oven, heated with a roaring fire in its rear or fried in oil, like the mouthwatering doughnuts. Mr. Bucholsky even made specialty pies for the St. Charles Hotel restaurant for many years. Every morning, the smell of Bucholsky's fresh baked goods would fill the streets, the bakery doors would open, and the customers would flock in. Sunday was the busiest, as families would stop in after church.

Throughout the years, numerous locals worked at City Bakery, such as Mickey Torchia, who would work for Mr. Bucholsky after school, helping with different tasks in 1955. From 1956-1961, Joseph Formichelli helped make, fry, glaze and fill the doughnuts. He also did the washing of pans and would wash the floors twice a week. After Joe left for college, Leonard Cordato would take over these duties, as well as helping make the pies for St. Charles Hotel. Leonard worked at the bakery from 1961-1964. Mrs. Harriet (Cordato) Kane (born November 9, 1942) was also a dedicated employee of City Bakery, loving her job and the Bucholsky family. Locals Charlie Davi and Fuzzy Shallow also worked here, coming in Saturday nights to help prepare for the busy Sunday mornings.

After a lifetime of baking for the community, doing what he loved, Mr. Bucholsky would close the shop for good. The building was unfortunately razed in the 1970s as part of the Urban Renewal Projects, which only decimated entire communities and displaced countless families. In place of the homes and businesses on the odd side of Warren Streets 10s block, a strip mall was built, though it never opened. Today, all the remains of the once beloved bakery are memories and a few old photos. Berkshire Farm Center now occupies the failed shopping mall.

01/30/2026

Ed Begley outside the Eagle Drug Store, located at 608 Warren Street, 1959. Also seen in the clip is Morris Furniture Company, the Fiddle Shop and Sears appliance store.

Clip from film "Odds Against Tomorrow"

01/23/2026

Circa, 1969: 557 Warren Street

Constructed in 1880, this 6,000 square foot structure sits on a stone, pier foundation with a partial cellar. The building's facade consists of brick and mortar while the interior is post and beam construction. The upper floor living areas have beautiful hardwood floors, multiple double-hung, double glazed, plate glass windows for plenty of natural lighting and an asphalt roof. The ground floor has a spacious storefront with floor to ceiling display windows and was once home to Kingman Hardware Company.

Reuben Irving Kingman was born on May 12, 1875 in North Chatham N.Y.. He was one of nine children to Oliver Paul (born 1839) and Cornelia (Casper) Kingman (born 1844). There were five boys, Milo (born 1867), William (born 1870), Samuel E. (born 1872), Thomas James (born 1879) and Edgar Oliver (born 1880) and three girls, Lizzie (born 1864), Annie Rowe (born 1866) and Abbie "Abbidee" DeWitt (born 1877). Reuben received his education at North Chatham, Nassau Academy and in 1897, he would graduate from Albany Business College. Reuben would then marry Miss Caroline Bonneson (born 1881).

Following his graduation, he went to work for his uncle, Refine L. Rossman, in his hardware store. Reuben would be employed under his uncle, until his death in 1899, and would end up purchasing the business in 1902, having managed it for the estate in the interim. Reuben would change the name of the business to Kingman's Hardware Company. His brother, Edgar, would partner with him for a while before opening his own Kingman's store in Amenia N.Y.. At Kingman's, they sold stoves, ranges, furnaces, general hardware , cutlery, food choppers, carving sets, tinware, roofing, churns, wooden ware, dairy supplies, gasoline engines and everything in-between. One product Kingman's was known for was the Columbia Chilled Plow, a lightweight, heavy-duty farm plow, manufactured at the Copake Iron Works

Their phone number was 377-W and they even repaired all kinds of furnaces and stoves. In the back of the store were two separate shops were the repairs took place. Kingman's had the lowest prices for better stock, filled orders promptly and even offered delivery. Reuben lived above the storefront and was also a member of the Hudson Rotary Club, Masonic fraternity, Knights of Pythias, Modern Woodmen and the Witch Arms Club. He regularly attended the First Baptist Church in Philmont and, for a number of years, maintained a camp on the Kinderhook lake, until he sold his lease in 1930. A few short years later, in the early 1940s, he would also sell his hardware business and retire.

The new owners would keep the name Kingman's Hardware Company and operate the business into the 1970s, selling things from door hinges to lawnmowers to the local community. For a time, George W. Hickey was president of the Hardware Company. Daniel P. Shaughnasey even recalls his parents purchasing a mower and snowblower at Kingman's. Sadly, the business would eventually close and the building was sold off to Dr. John Van Ness. Dr. Van Ness was an Oral Surgeon and had the storefront fitted for a dental surgery office, moving here from his upstairs office at 611 Warren Street. Today, the building houses Bridge House Vintage and ida's Eye llc, both antique shops.

01/20/2026

Harry Belafonte and Ed Sullivan in Public Square on the set of "Odds Against Tomorrow". Seen in the background is the Community Theater and A&P Market.

This clip aired on The Ed Sullivan Show, October 18, 1959.

01/19/2026

Circa, 1950's: 13 Chapel Street

Constructed in the 1800's, this over, 3,500 square foot, two and a half story building sits on a brick and mortar foundation, with a full cellar. The brick structure features a third floor attic with bedrooms on the second floor and kitchen and living area on the first. The home had a gable roof with a corbelled brick cornice, multiple double-hung windows, a large brick chimney and a secondary small covered porch on its West side. The property also had a small backyard and for many years was home to the First family.

Chapel Street once ran between Columbia and State streets, from Second Street to Front Street and continued west of Front. Ms. Eva Ziemba was born on December 24, 1891 in Poland and was the daughter of John Ziemba & Magode Tinca. She would later immigrate to the United States where, in the early 1900s, she would meet a young Frank Fitsth and fall in love. Frank was born to Mike Fierst & Mary Klimek in the late 1800s. Frank and Eva were married September 28, 1910, would change their names to Frank and Eva Fierst and start their family.

Together, Frank and Eva would have three sons, Joseph Frank (born July 3, 1911), Bernard Frank (born July 26, 1916) and Walter Charles (born January 17, 1919), and three daughters, Helen, Sophie (born March 2, 1915) and Marie. They would purchase the building at 13 Chapel Street in 1924, move the family in and make it a home. Outside, the one-way street became a second home to the First children and their cousins, Herbert C. Meicht and Clarence Meicht, who lived at 38 Chapel. Walter and his cousins also enjoyed swimming and diving off of homemade diving platforms at Shantytown, just a short walk from their home. Walter even learned the doggy paddle down at the shacks.

Walter, Herb and Clarence, and Edward J. Ziemba (born 1913), would actually build a fishing shack here in the 1930s, named The Mae West. In his later years, Walter would marry Ellen Marie Keil (born 1924) and have four children William C (born 1946), Barbara (born 1948), Jeffrey, and Donald "Moe". He would also become Contractor, Accountant, and Former president of Keil Contracting Corp. His mother, Eva, would live in the home at 13 Chapel for fifty years before she was uprooted by Urban Renewal. Ironically, Walter was in charge of demolishing his childhood home as Keil Contracting was under contract by the City for the demolition of Chapel Street.

In 1974, all of Chapel Street would be obliterated, along with many other Hudson neighborhoods that once defined the area. All the street’s buildings, sidewalks, pavement, and curbing was completely removed and countless families displaced. Regrading of the site was done in preparation for future development and the housing developments went up shortly after. The destruction was done to make way for the Terrace Apartments, Schuyler Court and the Highrise. Despite what you may be told at City Hall, Chapel Street did exist, and it was home to so many, now only in memory.

01/12/2026

Shantytown, 2012

Shantytown was a collection of 17 shacks, used from the late 1800s until 2012, when the City of Hudson evicted the remaining inhabitants at gunpoint. Shantytown was not only a group of fishing and hunting shacks, but a neighborhood, built and maintained by local families. Hundreds of people possessed the shacks throughout their history and the activities that took place here included netting shad and trout, angling, hunting duck, trapping muskrat, recreational swimming and even the operation of Fish Markets.

My Great Uncle, Leo Bower remembers when his father, Phillip, had a few shacks here. He and his father would go fishing for Shad, throwing most of the fish they netted back, but the remainder would be prepared into a storied Hudson delicacy. They would descale and fillet the fish, then soak them in clay crocks filled with molasses, sugar and salt. The following day, they cooked the flavored flesh in an old metal Coca-Cola machine Phillip had converted into a smoker. He would sell the fillets out of his shanty for a dollar a pop, the sweet smell of the delicacy wafting through Shantytown and up through the city. All but four shacks have since been demolished by the city.

Clip from Lance Wheeler film

01/12/2026

Circa, 1935: 502-504 Warren Street

Constructed in the 1800s, this over 12,000 square foot, two and a half story building sits on a stone and concrete foundation, situated on the corner of Fifth & Warren Street. The ground floor features two separate storefronts, each with large plate glass windows for plenty of natural lighting, tin ceilings with pendant lights and hardwood flooring. The upper floor has two separate apartments with large bay windows, also featuring hardwood floors. Through the years, this building has seen many of Hudson's residents and businesses.

From as early as 1888, the storefront at 502 Warren Street was operated as the "C. J. Sheldon Fancy Store", named after its proprietor C.J. Sheldon. While operating his store in 1888, Mr. Sheldon resided at 12 North Fifth Street. The following year, he would move to the building at 10 North Fifth Street. By 1894, The storefront would become the "Robert Elting Restaurant and Café and Bottler of sodas and mineral water". Their phone number was 132-D. Just one year later, in 1901, the name would change and be known as the "Palace Café", where Mr. Bernard Eliff was bartender.

By 1925, the storefront was operating as "Central Cab of Hudson Incorporated", with the telephone number, 666. Mr. Bartlett McGraw was president of this company, Frederick McGraw was secretary and Benjamin Goldstein was treasurer. By 1935, the storefront was operating at the "New York Power and Light Corporation", a major upstate utility and part of the larger Niagara Hudson System. They focused on delivering electricity and reported strong earnings, like its $3 million net income in 1935. Mike's sub shop & Neba roast beef would operate in the storefront in the early 1970s. In the 1980s, the storefront housed a Beauty Shop. From at least 1924, a Mr. Emerson Barlow resided in the apartment at 502.

In 1890, Mr. Dennis Eliff, who was employed as a tailor at 11 South Fifth Street, resided in the apartment at 504 Warren. By 1897, a Chester Bain was listed at the 504 residence and by 1910 till at least 1913, Mr. Rowland Clowe was living here. By the year 1919, a Mrs. Birdella Hollenbeck would move into the apartment at 504, but by 1922, she would move out and Vincent Barrows would move in. From as early as 1888, the storefront at 504 Warren Street was operated as the "Robert Elting Saloon and Bottler of sodas and mineral water" before moving next door to 502 Warren Street in 1894. Elting had a second location at 264 Warren Street. Mr. Edward Conrow was employed as a bottler at the 504 location.

In 1888, Mr. Elting's residence was at 277 Union Street, moving to 517 Union Street by 1891. Mr. Elting was also the chief engineer for the Hudson Fire Department. In 1894, the storefront at 504 would become a boot and shoe shop, owned by a Mr. Phillip C**ney. By 1927, the 504 storefront was operating as "Roeder's Pie Factory", owned by Albert Roeder. Their phone number was 678-M and they were known for baking all kinds of homemade pies. Sometime after that, the storefront operated as "Columbia Kitchen and Remodeling Incorporated", until 1976 when it would then become "Sign of the Corgi", an imported high fashion shop.

Around 1980, 504 Warren became home to a branch of Thomson McKinnon Securities, a fairly prestigious Stock Brokerage. Robert Pirrone was the branch manager here, and after a serious fraud was uncovered, committed by corporation executives against the retirement accounts of the brokers, the firm would rapidly decline. Around 1990, the branches were acquired by Prudential Bache. Prudential was looking to consolidate to save money and wanted to shut down the Hudson firm and send its brokers to Albany, but Robert Pirrone bought the office from the firm and he formed an independent Broker-Dealership. The brokers stayed with him, forming Pirrone & Company, which operated until about 2010, when Robert would retire. Roberts Christmas window displays have also won a few Winter Walk awards. Today, the storefront at 502 houses antique store, The Modern Exchange and Upstate Rug Supply. The storefront at 504 is home to shoe store, Intentionally Blank.