On the agenda: Poughkeepsie Common Council Meeting — Flock camera (Oct 6)

Official Minutes of the Common Council Meeting of October 6, 2026

The City of Poughkeepsie
New York
Common Council Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, October 6, 2026

6:30 PM

Common Council Chambers

Welcome to the regularly scheduled Meeting of the City of Poughkeepsie
Common Council the date is October 6, 2026, and the time is 6:30pm
I.
ROLL CALL
9 Present, 0 Absent ()
II.

REVIEW OF MINUTES
1.

Common Council Public Hearing of September 15, 2026 - Correcting City
Park List

2.

Common Council Meeting Minutes of September 15, 2026

A motion to accept the minutes was made by 7th Ward Councilmember Patterson Thompson
and was seconded by 2nd Ward Councilmember Menist

Ill.

READING OF ITEMS by the City Chamberlain of any resolutions not listed
on the printed agenda

IV.

PRESENTATIONS OF PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS:

A motion to defer item 3 to Corporation Counsel was made by 3rd Ward Councilmember Brown and
was seconded by 6th Ward Councilmember Grant

1.

FROM IT DEPARTMENT, a presentation regarding See Click Fix

2.

FROM PARKS & RECREATION, a presentation to the Unity Basketball
League

3.

FROM JAMES MCPADDEN, a 30-Day Notice of Adult Use Retail
Dispensary License Application.

Official Minutes of the Common Council Meeting of October 6, 2026
V.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:

Three (3) minutes per person up to 45 minutes of public comment on any agenda and
non-agenda item.
Olive Avery- Main Street
Billy K. - North Arterial
PJ Bent
Avril - S. Hamilton St
Matt Dodson - Hammersley Ave
Shirley Dahlgren - Linden Ct -Visibility Brigade
Kaitlyn O'Dell- Poughkeepsie
Kane Bowers - Ward 1 Resident
Jasmaine Clay- Talmadge St
Mickey X- Cannon St
Laurie Sandow - S. Grand Ave*
Suprina Troche- Delafield St
Kay Kay
Diamond Mirna
Lynette Cunningham
Doug Nobiletti - Main St
*Submitted written comments
VI.

NEW & UNFINISHED BUSINESS & ANNOUNCEMENTS:

VII.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES AND BOARDS:

A motion to move Resolution R-26-59 and Resolution R-26-60 to the Action Agenda was made by
3rd Ward Councilmember Brown and 7th Ward Councilmember Patterson Thompson.

VIII.

CONSENT AGENDA: MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS:
1.

R-26-59, Resolution Introducing a Local Law to Override the Tax Levy Limit
Established in General Municipal Law § 3-C and Setting a Public Hearing
MOVED TO ACTION AGENDA

2.

R-26-60, Resolution Of The City Of Poughkeepsie, Setting a Public Hearing
Regarding the Proposed Nomination of 37 Carroll Street Including the
Carriage House Thereon (Accessory to 85 South Hamilton Street, Which
was Listed as a Landmark in 2016) as a Local Historic Landmark
MOVED TO ACTION AGENDA

Official Minutes of the Common Council Meeting of October 6, 2026
3.

R-26-61, Resolution Appointing Nicholas Kalogris and Janet Ellsworth to
the Waterfront Advisory Committee

RESOLUTION
(R-26-61)
INTRODUCED BY CHAIRMAN WILSON; COUNCILMEMBERS SHOOK,
PATTERSON THOMPSON, HENRY, BROWN, JAMES, GRANT AND ATONNA
WHEREAS, there currently exists vacancies on the Waterfront Advisory Committee which the
Common Council is desirous of filling; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with the Section 18 Yi-5(b) the Common Council shall appoint three
members to the Waterfront Advisory Committee and shall further appoint the committee chair;
and
WHEREAS, the Common Council has solicited members of the community who are interested
in serving on such board, and has interviewed those who have submitted their names; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the City of Poughkeepsie and its citizens that the
Waterfront Advisory Board should have a full complement of members in order to properly
conduct the business required of the Board;
NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Common Council of the City of Poughkeepsie hereby appoints
the following individuals to the Waterfront Advisory Committee for a two (2) year term:
NICHOLAS KALOGRIS
JANET ELLSWORTH

4.

R-26-62, Resolution in Support of Assembly Bill A 10568: An Act to Amend
the Public Health Law, in Relation to Establishing the Consolidated Lead­
Contaminated Water Supply Line Replacement Program; To Amend the
State Finance Law, in Relation to Establishing the Consolidated Lead­
Contaminated Water Supply Line Replacement Fund; To Repeal Certain
Provisions of the Public Health Law Relating Thereto; And Making an
Appropriation Thereforth

Official Minutes of the Common Council Meeting of October 6, 2026
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF ASSEMBLY BILL A10568
AN ACT TO AMEND THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, IN RELATION TO ESTABLISHING THE
CONSOLIDATED LEAD-CONTAMINATED
WATER SUPPLY LINE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM; TO AMEND THE STATE FINANCE LAW, IN
RELATION TO ESTABLISHING
THE CONSOLIDATED LEAD-CONTAMINATED WATER SUPPLY LINE REPLACEMENT FUND; TO
REPEAL CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW RELATING THERETO; AND
MAKING AN APPROPRIATION THEREFORE
(R-26-62)
SPONSOR: CHAIRMAN WILSON; COUNCILMEMBER SHOOK, PATTERSON THOMPSON, HENRY,
BROWN, JAMES, GRANT AND ATONNA

and

WHEREAS, lead in drinking water poses a serious threat to the health and safety of children;

WHEREAS, there is no safe level of lead in drinking water, with even low levels of exposure
associated with learning disabilities, impaired speech and hearing, and diminished IQ; and
WHEREAS, lead service lines, connecting public water mains to a building's internal plumbing, are
the primary cause of lead in drinking water; and
WHEREAS, the removal and replacement of lead service lines is essential to reduce childhood lead
exposure and protect drinking water from contamination; and
WHEREAS, Assembly Member Jonathan Jacobson has introduced Assembly Bill
A.10568 which will restructure the Lead Service Line Replacement Program as the Consolidated
Lead-Line Elimination and Replacement (CLEAR) Program and create a non-competitive
reimbursement funding program to reimburse municipalities up to
$10,000 per lead line replaced;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Common Council of the City of Poughkeepsie,
New York calls on the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign Assembly Bill
A.10568 the Consolidated Lead-Line Elimination and Replacement (CLEAR) Program; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that no later than 10 days after passage of this Resolution, the City
Chamberlain shall transmit a copy of this resolution to Assembly Member Jonathan Jacobson as
confirn1ation of the City of Poughkeepsie's public support for Assembly Bill A.10568, the
Consolidated Lead-Line Elimination and Replacement (CLEAR) Program; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that no later than 20 days after passage of this Resolution, the City
Chamberlain shall transmit copies of this resolution to Governor Kathy Hochul, Speaker of the New
York State Assembly Carl Heastie, New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins,
and State Senator Robert Rolison, encouraging and requesting that they support Assembly Bill
A.10568, the Consolidated Lead-Line Elin1ination and Replacement (CLEAR) Program.

Official Minutes of the Common Council Meeting of October 6, 2026
A motion to Approve Consent Agenda was made by 3rd Ward Council Member
Brown and seconded by 7th Ward Council Member Patterson Thompson.
Approve Consent Agenda R-26-61 and R-26-62- VOICE VOTE

Yes/Aye: 1st Ward Council Member Henry, 2nd Ward Councilmember Menist, 3rd Ward
Council Member Brown, 5th Ward Council Member James, 6th Ward Council
Member Grant, 7th Ward Council Member Patterson Thompson, 4th Ward
Council Member Shook, Council Member At-Large Wilson, 8th Ward
Councilmember Atonna

No/Nay:

None

Abstain:

None

Absent:
Result:

Passed

IX.

CONSENT AGENDA: ORDINANCES AND LOCAL LAWS:

X.

ACTION AGENDA: MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS:
1.

R-26-59, Resolution Introducing a Local Law to Override the Tax Levy Limit
Established in General Municipal Law § 3-C and Setting a Public Hearing
RESOLUTION
(R-26-59)

RESOLUTION INTRODUCING A LOCAL LAW TO OVERRIDE THE TAX LEVY LIMIT
ESTABLISHED IN GENERAL MUNICIPAL LAW§ 3-c INTRODUCED BY
COUNCILMEMBERS PATTERSON THOMPSON, SHOOK, HENRY AND BROWN:
BE IT RESOLVED that an introductory Local Law entitled, "A LOCAL LAW TO OVERRIDE
THE TAX LEVY LIMIT ESTABLISHED IN GENERAL MUNICIPAL LAW§ 3-c" be and
hereby is introduced before the Common Council of the City of Poughkeepsie in the County of
Dutchess and State of New York; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of the aforesaid proposed local law are laid upon the
desk of each member of the Council; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council shall hold a public hearing on said proposed local
law to receive comment from the public on Tuesday, October 20, 2026 at 6:00pm in the Common
Council Chambers, Third Floor, City Hall, 62 Civic Center Plaza, Poughkeepsie, New York;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk publish or cause to be published a public notice in
the official newspaper of the City of Poughkeepsie of said public hearing at least five (5) days prior
thereto.

LOCAL LAW NO. ___ OF 2026
A LOCAL LAW TO OVERRIDE THE TAX LEVY LIMIT ESTABLISHED IN
GENERAL MUNICIPAL LAW § 3-c
INTRODUCED BY COUNCILMEMBER _______________
BE IT ENACTED, by the Common Council of the City of Poughkeepsie of the County
of Dutchess as follows:
Section 1.

LEGISLATIVE INTENT

It is potentially necessary to override the limit on the amount of real property taxes that may be
levied by the City of Poughkeepsie, County of Dutchess pursuant to General Municipal Law § 3c, and to allow the City of Poughkeepsie, County of Dutchess to adopt a budget for the 2027 fiscal
year that requires a real property tax levy in excess of the “tax levy limit” as defined by General
Municipal Law § 3-c.
Section 2.

AUTHORITY

This local law is adopted pursuant to subdivision 5 of General Municipal Law §3-c, which
expressly authorizes the City Council to override the tax levy limit by the adoption of a local law
approved by the Common Council.
Section 3. TAX LEVY LIMIT OVERRIDE
The City of Poughkeepsie Common Council is hereby authorized to override the Tax Levy
Limit established pursuant to N.Y. General Municipal Law §3-c, for Fiscal Year 2027, and to adopt
a budget for Fiscal Year 2027 that requires a real property tax levy in excess of the amount
otherwise prescribed in N.Y. General Municipal Law §3-c.
Section 4.

SEVERABILITY

If any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section or part of this Local Law or the application
thereof to any person, individual, corporation, firm, partnership, entity or circumstance shall be
adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unconstitutional, such order or
judgment shall not affect, impair, effect or invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall be confined
in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section or part of this law or in its
application to the person, individual, corporation, firm, partnership, entity or circumstance directly
involved in the controversy in which such order or judgment shall be rendered.
Section 5.

EFFECTIVE DATE

This local law shall take effect immediately upon filing with the Secretary of State.
SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER ___________________________________________.

Official Minutes of the Common Council Meeting of October 6, 2026
A motion to Approve Resolution R-26-59 was made by 6th Ward Council
Member Grant and seconded by 7th Ward Council Member Patterson
Thompson.
R-26-59- VOICE VOTE

Yes/Aye:

1st Ward Council Member Henry, 2nd Ward Councilmember Menist, 3rd Ward
Council Member Brown, 5th Ward Council Member James, 6th Ward Council Member
Grant, 7th Ward Council Member Patterson Thompson, 4th Ward Council Member
Shook, Council Member At-Large Wilson, 8th Ward Councilmember Atonna

No/Nay:

None

Abstain:

None

Absent:
Result:

Passed

2. R-26-60, Resolution Of The City Of Poughkeepsie, Setting a Public
Hearing Regarding the Proposed Nomination of 37 Carroll Street Including
the Carriage House Thereon (Accessory to 85 South Hamilton Street, Which
was Listed as a Landmark in 2016) as a Local Historic Landmark
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF POUGHKEEPSIE, SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING
REGARDING THE PROPOSED NOMINATION OF 37 CARROLL STREET INCLUDING
THE CARRIAGE HOUSE THEREON (ACCESSORY TO 85 SOUTH HAMILTON STREET,
WHICH WAS LISTED AS A LANDMARK IN 2016) AS A LOCAL HISTORIC LANDMARK
(R-26-60)
INTRODUCED BY COUNCILMEMBERS PATTERSON THOMPSON, SHOOK, HENRY,
MENIST AND BROWN
WHEREAS, Evan Menist, Councilmember, has applied to secure the designation of 37 Carroll
Street, including the Carriage House thereon, as a local historic landmark; and
WHEREAS, the City of Poughkeepsie Historic District and Landmarks Preservation Commission
(hereinafter "HDLPC") held a public hearing on September 10, 2026 regarding the nomination of 37
Carroll Street, including the Carriage House thereon, as a local historic landmark; and
WHEREAS, the HDLPC voted in favor of the proposed nomination and approved the application
on September 10, 2026; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 19-5.21(3)(g) of the City of Poughkeepsie Zoning Code, the
HDLPC's approved application was forwarded to the Common Council for consideration; and
WHEREAS, the Common Council is required to hold a public hearing prior to the designation of
any historic landmark; and
NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Chamberlain be, and he hereby is authorized and directed to
publish a Notice of Public Hearing to be held October 20, 2026 at 5:45 p.m. concerning the
designation of 37 Carroll St, Including the Carriage House theron, as a local historic landmark.

Official Minutes of the Common Council Meeting of October 6, 2026

A motion to Approve was made by 3rd Ward Council Member Brown and
seconded by 8th Ward Councilmember Atonna.
Resolution R-26-60- VOICE VOTE

Yes/Aye:

1st Ward Council Member Henry, 2nd Ward Councilmember Menist, 3rd Ward Council
Member Brown, 5th Ward Council Member James, 6th Ward Council Member Grant,
7th Ward Council Member Patterson Thompson, 4th Ward Council Member Shook,
Council Member At-Large Wilson, 8th Ward Councilmember Atonna

No/Nay:

None

Abstain:

None

Absent:
Result:

Passed

CITY OF POUGHKEEPSIE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
HISTORIC DISTRICT & LANDMARKS PRESERVATION COMMISSION
NOMINATION FOR DESIGNATION
RECORD OF ACTION
37 CARROLL STREET
Nomination for Designation as a Local Landmark
Applicant: Evan Menist; Owner: Gary Maeir
Grid #6161-29-096846; Zoning District: RNC; File #2026-045
MEETING OF A UGUST 13, 2026
In accordance with the provisions of Section 19-5.21(3)(d) of the Zoning Code, the HDLPC
finds that the application does warrant consideration for designation as a local historic district,
landmark or landmark site, and therefore sets a public hearing for the next available meeting of
the HDLPC (September 10, 2026), and directs staff to:
1) Prepare the public hearing materials;
2) Send notice of the application to the owner of the property by regular mail, describing the
property and/or proposed landmark under consideration for designation and announcing a
public hearing by the HDLPC to consider the designation.
3) Inform the Building Inspector that no building permits shall be issued until the HLDPC
has made its decision.
Motion: JOHN �A-�T'L-E. '511)�c
Second: t l..-l 7 A-,_ L-lVotes:
Nays
Abstentions
Ayes

L

MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 10, 2026
The HDLPC finds that this application does meet the criteria for designation as a local historic
district, landmark or landmark site, and recommends approval of the application to the Common
Council in accordance with the provisions of Section 19-5.21(3)(g) of the Zoning Code.

ro )'--l �
Motion: _Jo H 't--1 BA; t2-fL.c s
-/
Second: €. L..I s A L--1
Votes:
Nays
Abstentions
Ayes

2

/

CITY OF POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK
BUILDING DEPARTMENT
(845) 451-4007
(845) 451-4006 (FAX)
HISTORIC DISTRICT & LANDMARKS NOMINATION FORM
LOCATION (For District nominations, attach list of all properties)
Street and Number:
85 S. Hamilton Street and 37 Carroll Street
NAME OF PROPERTY
Historic Name (if any):
Corlies-Brinckerhoff-Rutherford Mansion and Carriage Barn
Other Names (if any):-------------------CLASSIFICATION
Ownership of Property
xD Private
Owner: Gary Maier
83 S. Hamilton
Poughkeepsie
NY 12601
D Public

FUNCTION OR USE
Historic Functions or Uses:
Private Home and School of Dance

Category of Property
xD Building(s)
(House and
Carriage Barn)
D District
D Site
D Structure
D Object

Current Functions or Uses: Vacant

NAME OF ARCHITECT (if known): _Arnout Cannon (for 1893
remodel)-----------------ATTACHMENTS
NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION: Describe the historic and current conditions of the
property on one or more continuation sheets, and attach the sheets to the application.
MAPS: Please attach a map of the subject property or properties.
PHOTOGRAPHS: Please attach photographs of the property or properties.
Nomination Form Page 2
Statement of Significance: Mark "X" in all of the applicable boxes below for the criteria
qualifying the property for local register listing.
DXProperty is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the
broad patterns of our history.
DXProperty is associated with the lives of person significant in our past.
DXProperty embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of
construction or represents the work of a master, or possesses high artistic values, or
represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components lack
individual distinction.
D Property has yielded, or is likely to yield, information important in prehistory or
history.
DXProperty is listed, or is eligible for listing, on the State and/or National Registers of
Historic Places.
Narrative Statement of Significance: Explain the significance of the property, in tenns
of the boxes checked above, on one or more continuation sheets, and attach the sheet(s) to
the application.
Bibliography: Cite any books, articles or other sources used in preparing this form on one
or more continuation sheets, and attach the sheet(s) to the application.

Form Prepared by:
Name/Title: Evan Menist, Councilmember Ward 2
Organization:City Council----------------------Street: -------------------City/State/Zip:--- -------------------Telephone:
Date:

July 17,2026___

_
_______

Statement of Significance: Corlies-Brinckerhoff-Rutherford Property
In 2016, the Corlies-Brinckerhoff-Rutherford mansion and carriage barn were nominated
to the Local Register of Historic Places by owner Barbara Rutherford Kutschbach. The
Significance Statement for the property was prepared by Design Historian, Holly
Wahlberg. The Poughkeepsie Common Council unanimously designated the property
on July 5, 2016.
At the time of the designation, the Rutherford family had owned this mansion and
carriage barn for 3 generations (grandmother Agnes Swords, mother Marion Swords
Rutherford and finally, daughter Barbara Rutherford Kutschbach who died in 2025).
From 1862 to 2025, only three families have owned this property whose land extends
from S. Hamilton Street west to Carroll Street. The carriage barn is located behind the
mansion. The mansion faces S. Hamilton Street.
The highlighted areas in the attached 2016 significance statement show:
1. Maps of the property with boundary lines that include both the mansion and its
carriage barn.
2. Photos documenting both the mansion and the carriage barn.
3. Text describing the carriage barn and its importance as well as the importance of
the mansion.
4. Application cover sheets indicating that both the mansion and carriage barn are
being nominated.
The property was listed on the National Register in 1980 as including both the mansion
and carriage barn. The National Register listing for this property uses the same
boundary lines as the 2016 Local Register nomination. The National Register
nomination refers to the property as “85 S. Hamilton Street” as did the 2016 Local
Register nomination. The National Register nomination also calls out the significance of
the property’s “large period barn” at the rear of “85 S. Hamilton Street.”
Historic properties are sometimes composed of more than one mailing address or tax
lot number assigned for governmental administrative purposes. This application is
submitted to memorialize the following:
• that the portion of the landmark containing the carriage barn bears the street
address of 37 Carroll Street.
• that the portion of the landmark containing the mansion bears the street address
of 85 S. Hamilton Street.
Parcels bearing the addresses of 37 Carroll Street and 85 S. Hamilton Street contain
historic resources of significance for protection under the Local Landmark Ordinance.
Please see attached 2016 Significance Statement for an explanation of the significance
of the property.

Local Register Nomination
85 S. Hamilton Street, Poughkeepsie (House and Carriage Barn)
Prepared by: Holly Wahlberg © 2016
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE:
Property is associated with lives of people significant in our past; is associated with events that have made a
significant contribution to broad patterns of our history; embodies distinctive characteristics of a type and represents the work of a master
85 S. Hamilton Street represents one of Poughkeepsie’s earliest examples of suburban architecture in the Civil
War era and the subsequent shift in architectural taste toward the new Queen Anne style in the 1880s and 1890s.
The alterations of 1893 are the work of one of Poughkeepsie’s leading architects, Arnout Cannon. The house
is also associated with three families who have had a major impact on Poughkeepsie’s physical and cultural
development: the Corlies family who created Poughkeepsie’s first southside neighborhoods and later developed
much of Poughkeepsie’s east side; the Brinckerhoff family who dominated Poughkeepsie’s ferry and shipping
industries from the late 19th century well into the 20th century; and the Rutherford family whose commitment
to ballet, dance and music in Poughkeepsie has continued uninterrupted since 1898.This property also contains
a large intact carriage barn with gambrel roof and cupola that is one of only a handful of similar barns to survive
in Poughkeepsie.
85 S. Hamilton Street, long regarded as one of the finest mansions in Poughkeepsie, was built circa 1862 as the
home of real estate developer George Corlies (1804-1892). Corlies was born in New York City to a prosperous
Quaker family whose fortune originated in dry goods, auctioneering and banking.1 At age 30, Corlies retired
from business - wealthy, but in fragile health. Looking for a country retreat and possibly fondly remembering
his childhood days at a Dutchess County Quaker boarding school, Corlies selected Poughkeepsie as his new
home in 1834.2
But the life of a retired country squire
did not seem to suit George Corlies as he
quickly began a real estate venture to subdivide and develop the Bronson French
farm on the southern outskirts of the village. Although these plans were stymied
by the economic Panic of 1837, Corlies
did not forget Poughkeepsie and returned
13 years later in 1850 to resume his plans
for a new residential development on
Poughkeepsie’s southern boundary.3
Corlies began this new neighborhood on
the west side of Garfield Place, building
the first home there (his own home at
S. Hamilton Street Row (87, 85, 83, 81 S. Hamilton Street)
#28) in 1851 and selling additional building
lots to his Quaker friends. Other members of the Corlies family soon followed George Corlies to Poughkeepsie,
purchasing land to develop the country estates of Maple Grove, Cedarcliff and Edgehill along Poughkeepsie’s
South Road (today’s Route 9).
In the early 1860s, Corlies moved beyond Garfield Place – continuing to develop homes on land to the east
along a rocky promontory known informally as “cherry hill” for the wild cherry trees growing there. The com-

munity watched with what was described as a “feeling next to wonder” at the
way Corlies transformed this rock ledge into a “mansion row” of gracious
Italianate villas and Second Empire style homes.4 Just as he had on Garfield
Place, Corlies personally led the way to this new neighborhood by moving
himself and his family into homes on S. Hamilton Street. Of the four houses
built in a row along the west side of the street, Corlies selected #85 (built in
1861-62) as his own residence.
In addition to neighborhood planning, Corlies was also noted for his avid
interest in landscape design - planting hundreds of shade trees as part of his
projects.5 He also played a significant part in the design of the new Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery, especially the layout of the carriage road leading to
the magnificent “Lookout” at the top of Mine Point. (Corlies later told the
story of Matthew Vassar’s desire to erect a monument to Henry Hudson somewhere along the Hudson River. Corlies suggested to Vassar that the cemetery’s
Lookout on the top of Mine Point would be a fine location for the monument.
After visiting the spot,Vassar published an article in
the Poughkeepsie papers describing this idea. When
Corlies met up with Vassar a week later, Vassar told
him, “Not one person in the City of Poughkeepsie
has referred to my monument. I have decided to build
a College for Women, where they can learn what is
useful, practical and sensible.”)6
In 1883, George Corlies sold 85 S. Hamilton to
prominent steamship entrepreneur John H. Brinckerhoff (1827-1901). When Brinckerhoff purchased
this home for himself and his 89-year-old mother,
he was a wealthy widower well into late middle age
and at the height of his career as the dominant force
in Poughkeepsie’s transportation industry. At the time
of his death in 1901, Brinckerhoff
owned considerable wharf frontage
on both sides of the river along with
the Poughkeepsie-Highland ferry
service, the celebrated passenger
steamer, the Mary Powell and several other steamships carrying both
passengers and freight between
New York, Newburgh, Poughkeepsie, and Kingston.7
Perhaps it was Brinckerhoff’s close
connection with beautiful 19th
century steamships that inspired
local architect Arnout Cannon’s
1893 renovation of 85 S. Hamilton
with details that seem to echo the
spindles of a steamship’s paddle
wheel, the multiple tiers and rail-

John H. Brinckerhoff

(Above) Brinckerhoff’s steamship, the Mary Powell;
(Below) 85 S. Hamilton Street

ings of a ship’s promenade decks, and a tower that
suggested a pilothouse or captain’s bridge. These
features have earned 85 S. Hamilton the local nickname “ferryboat house.” In 1893, the Poughkeepsie
Daily Eagle called Cannon’s richly embellished
wraparound porch design “the very finest veranda in
town.”8
Brinckerhoff reportedly enjoyed boasting that his
house was on the highest point in Poughkeepsie
except for College Hill and joked that he was glad
College Hill was higher, “otherwise he wouldn’t
have any water.” 9 His hilltop home with its commanding five story tower (reduced to three stories
by a later owner) gave Captain Brinckerhoff views of
the Hudson River and the ability to keep a watchful

Carriage Barn at 85 S. Hamilton, Carroll St. (west) facade; this barn
replaced an older stable on the same site

eye on his shipping interests.
Brinckerhoff’s personal life was as flamboyant as his
distinctive home. His fondness for fast ladies and fast
horses kept Poughkeepsie entertained and sometimes
scandalized, particularly during the racy court proceedings of his bitter divorce in 1886 after only ten months
of marriage to a woman 40 years his junior.10

(Above) The Crum home at 47 Carroll St. as it looks today;
(Below) Marion Rutherford in 1988 celebrating her 83rd birthday

As an avid horseman, Brinckerhoff built a new carriage
barn on the grounds of 85 S. Hamilton in 1895.11 The
porte cochere on the house’s north side retains the special steps designed to assist passengers alighting from
their carriages.
In 1901, Brinckerhoff died following a carriage accident while
trying out his newest horse on
the Hyde Park Road (today’s
Route 9 North). At his side was
his beloved young ward and
housekeeper, Miss Ida Crum who
survived the accident. Brinckerhoff left 85 S. Hamilton to Ida
Crum who lived there until her
death in 1933. 13 Miss Crum’s
family was related to Brinckerhoff’s deceased first wife, Angeline Terpening. (Ida Crum called
Brinckerhoff “Uncle”and was the
sister of the husband of Brinckerhoff’s niece, Grace Terpening
Crum). The men of the Crum
family assisted Brinckerhoff in

his business operations. 14 The Crum residence nearby
at 47 Carroll Street, next door to Brinckerhoff’s carriage
barn, completed the closely knit connection between these
two families. The Crums continued to operate the Poughkeepsie-Highland ferry service until 1941, when they were
finally driven out of business by the dominance of the
Mid-Hudson bridge. 15
As Brinckerhoff’s ward was living out her final years
alone in the Brinckerhoff mansion, a pair of young newlyweds named George and Marion Rutherford drove by one
day in 1926, and promised themselves that one day, they
would own the magnificent 85 S. Hamilton Street. That
year, the 21-year-old ballerina and Broadway understudy,
Marion Swords of St. Louis had married musician
George Rutherford II of Poughkeepsie – and together
they would continue the Rutherford family’s School of
Dance, then already in its 28th year of providing dance
and music instruction to city residents.16

1873 and 1880 maps showing 85 S. Hamilton

Fourteen years into their marriage, the couple’s newlywed dream actually did come true. In 1940, George
and Marion Rutherford purchased 85 S. Hamilton
Street as their family home. Their studio of dance
would be conducted in the mansion’s drawing room
and south parlor from that point on.

Marion Rutherford once explained to
a local reporter the importance dance
studios traditionally held in community life: “Years ago when a family
moved to a new city, one of the first
things they did was find a dance studio. They recognized the importance
of preparing the younger generation
to enter society. My husband knew
how to train young ladies. He taught
them manners, poise and how to sit
down.” 17
The year 2015 marks the Rutherford
family’s 75th year at 85 S. Hamilton
where two generations of the Rutherfords have raised their families and brought the joy of dance to hundreds
each year.
c. 1905 photo of 85 S. Hamilton showing earlier tower design and rooftop balustrade

The Rutherfords have proudly retained the original exterior appearance of 85 S. Hamilton St., along with

many of the opulent interior fittings installed by the Corlies and
Brinckerhoff families - including
chandeliers, sconces, embossed wall
paper, gilded floor to ceiling mirrors,
portieres, elaborate plaster ornament,
and marble mantles.
Maps from1873 and 1880 show that
85 S. Hamilton had a larger and
more cube-like footprint than the
other Corlies houses next door (#’s
83 and 87) which were designed in
the Second Empire style. 85 S. Hamilton seems to have been conceived
as a larger and grander Italianate
style home with a mansard roofed
tower, a deep and elaborate bracketed cornice and a 3rd floor winWilderstein; resdesigned in the Queen Anne style in 1888 by Poughkeepsie
dow frieze (instead of a third floor
architect Arnout Cannon
mansard roofed attic). The 1880 map
shows a porch running along only part of the front facade south of the front door.
In 1893, newspaper reporters announced that Brinckerhoff’s architect, Arnout Cannon of Poughkeepsie was
conducting “extensive improvements” on the house at a cost of $10,000.18 We know for certain from press accounts that the porch was redesigned, although
it seems possible that Cannon may have also
heightened the central tower for better river
views and added the elegant porte cochere for
this client who was so closely connected with
both the Hudson and carriage driving.
We do know that at some point prior to 1940,
the roof balustrade, one element of porch trim
and part of the tower were removed (see photo
published in 1905 showing these features still in
place).19 The tower was dropped from five to four
stories sometime before the 1913 Sanborn Fire
Insurance Map was drawn. When the Rutherfords
purchased the house in 1940, the Crum family
told them the tower had been lowered because it
“rocked” in the wind. Some or all of the original
roof balustrade is currently stored in the carriage
barn.
Earlier newspaper references prior to 1893 reveal that Brinckerhoff also had extensive work
Poughkeepsie Architect Arnout Cannon (inset);
and his home at 144 Franklin Street as it looks today
done to the house when he purchased it in 1883
for what was considered the bargain price of
$16,000.20 Whether this work was done on the interior, the exterior or both is unknown. For the 1893 remodelling, Brinckerhoff may have selected Poughkeepsie architect Arnout Cannon (1839-1898) because of Cannon’s

extensive work for one of Brinckerhoff’s colleagues, the Newburgh steamship baron, Homer Ramsdell. In 1890,
Cannon had produced designs for Ramsdell’s country house in the suburbs of Newburgh and for a Ramsdell
owned hotel near the Beacon wharf. 21
Five years before undertaking work on 85 S. Hamilton, Cannon’s large scale 1888 remodeling of Wilderstein in
Rhinebeck (where he transformed the Suckley family’s restrained Italianate villa into a fashionable Queen Anne
mansion with elaborate porte cochere) was a project that had already proved Cannon’s ability to update the Italianate style with new and fashionable architectural changes befitting a man such as Brinckerhoff who was at the
peak of his wealth and status.22
Cannon may have also known Brinckerhoff as a friend and neighbor, since up until 1888, the Cannon family’s
personal residence was at 144 Franklin Street, less than two blocks from 85 S. Hamilton Street.23

On August 15, 1940, the contents of the Brinckerhoff mansion were sold at
public auction on the lawn of 85 S. Hamilton, seven years after the death of
Brinckerhoff’s heir, Miss Ida Crum. George and Marion Rutherford were
able to purchase Brinckerhoff’s massive mahogany Renaissance Revival dining room suite which is still used daily by George and Marion Rutherford’s
daughter, Barbara, the current owner of 85 S. Hamilton.

Notes:
Scoville, Joseph Alfred. The Old Merchants of New York City (1864) 115.
Platt, Edmund. History of Poughkeepsie (1905) 275.
3
Ibid., George Corlies Obituary: May 28, 1892 Poughkeepsie Daily Eagle
4
“George Corlies” December 20, 1891 Poughkeepsie Sunday Courier
5
“George Corlies Dead” June 4, 1892 Poughkeepsie News-Telegraph
6
Bruce, Wallace. The Hudson. New York: Bryant Literary Union, 1901. 155.
7
Commemorative Biographical Record of Dutchess County. Chicago: J.H. Beers, 1897, 848.
8
July 29, 1893 Poughkeepsie Daily Eagle
9
“85 S. Hamilton Street” August 10, 1947 Poughkeepsie Sunday New Yorker
10
Poughkeepsie Sunday Courier: June 27, 1886; August 8, 1886; October 3, 1886; December 12, 1886; January 23, 1887; April 24, 1887.
11
“Handsome New Barn” November 21, 1895 Poughkeepsie Daily Eagle
12
“Captain Brinckerhoff Injured” December 1, 1901 Poughkeepsie Daily Eagle
13
“Ida Crum Dies” November 20, 1933 Poughkeepsie Daily Eagle; “Obituary Samuel A. Crum April 19, 1936
Poughkeepsie Sunday Courier; “Brinckerhoff Trial” August 1, 1886, March 14, 1886, May 29, 1887 Daily
Eagle
14
Ibid.
15
December 18, 1941 Poughkeepsie New Yorker
16
“Many Happy Returns, Mrs. R.” June 12, 1988 Poughkeepsie Journal
17
Hughes, Larry. “Mrs. R. Was Matriarch of Dance” September 16, 2003 Poughkeepsie Journal
18
March 19, 1893 Poughkeepsie Sunday Courier; March 20, 1893 Poughkeepsie Daily Eagle
19
“85 S. Hamilton St.” August 10, 1947 Poughkeepsie Sunday New Yorker
20
“Fitting Up” October 10, 1883 Poughkeepsie Daily Eagle; Deeds Liber 214, 498: Jacob Corlies to John H.
Brinckerhoff
21
February 15, 1890 Poughkeepsie News-Telegraph; April 20, 1890 Poughkeepsie News-Press
22
Philip, Cynthia Owen. Wilderstein and the Suckleys. Rhinebeck: Wilderstein Preservation, 2001. 21-24
23
“Cannon to Sell House on Franklin” January 28, 1888 Poughkeepsie News-Telegraph
1
2

Sources:
Map of the City of Poughkeepsie. E.B. Hyde and Company, New York (1880).
Map of Poughkeepsie, NY, (1873) Drawn by H.H. Bailey. Albany, NY. Library of Congress Collection.
“Will of John H. Brinckerhoff” December 8, 1901 Poughkeepsie Sunday Courier.
“Captain Brinckerhoff Injured” December 1, 1901 Courier; November 28, 1901 Daily Eagle; December 2, 1901
Daily Eagle.
“Obituary Ida M. Crum” November 20, 1933 Poughkeepsie Daily Eagle.
“Captain Brinckerhoff Dies” December 7, 1901 Poughkeepsie News-Telegraph; December 3, 1901 Poughkeepsie Daily Eagle.
“Not Yet Divorced” July 29, 1886 Poughkeepsie News-Press.
“Obituary George E. Rutherford II” December 1, 1981 Poughkeepsie Journal.
“Captain Brinckerhoff’s Will” July 28, 1902 Daily Eagle; December 21, 1901 News-Telegraph; December 2,
1901 Daily Eagle.
Philip, Cynthia Owen. Wilderstein and the Suckleys. Rhinebeck: Wilderstein Preservation, 2001.
Platt, Edmund. History of Poughkeepsie, 1905. (George Corlies: 275-276, John Brinckerhoff: 272-275, 231.
Gillon, Edmund V. Jr. and Clay Lancaster. Victorian Houses: A Treasury of Lesser Known Examples. New York:
Dover Press, 1973, viii, plate 48.
“Obituary Marion S. Rutherford” August 26, 2003 Poughkeepsie Journal.
Hughes, Larry. “Mrs. R. Was Matriarch of Dance” September 16, 2003 Poughkeepsie Journal.

“George Corlies Dead” June 14, 1892 Poughkeepsie News-Telegraph; May 28, 1892 Daily Eagle.
“George Corlies” December 20, 1891 Poughkeepsie Sunday Courier.
“George Corlies” May 27, 1892 Poughkeepsie Evening Enterprise.
Bruce, Wallace. The Hudson. New York: Bryant Literary Union, 1901.
Scoville, Joseph A. The Old Merchants of New York City. Carleton, 1864.
“New Hotel to be Erected at Fishkill Landing” February 15, 1890 News-Telegraph; February 17, 1890 Daily
Eagle.
“Cannon Prepares Plans for Ramsdell” April 20, 1890 News-Press.
“Cannon to Sell House on Franklin St.” January 28, 1888 News-Telegraph.
“Obituary Samuel A. Crum” April 19, 1936 Poughkeepsie New Yorker.
“Handsome New Barn” November 21, 1895 Daily Eagle.
“Plans for Extensive Improvements” March 20, 1893 Daily Eagle.
“Crum Closing Ferry” December 18, 1941 Poughkeepsie New Yorker.
“Fitting Up” October 10, 1883 Daily Eagle.
“John H. Brinckerhoff” Commemorative Biographical Record of Dutchess County, 1897.
“Repairs Finished” July 29, 1893 Daily Eagle.
“Captain Brinckerhoff has Spent $10,000” June 8, 1893 Daily Eagle.
“85 S. Hamilton - Old House Series” August 10, 1947 Poughkeepsie New Yorker.
“Many Happy Returns, Mrs. Rutherford” June 12, 1988 Poughkeepsie Journal.
“Brinckerhoff Divorce” June 27, 1886 Courier; August 8, 1886 Courier; August 1, 1886 Courier; October 2,
1886 Courier; December 12, 1886 Courier; January 23, 1887 Courier; April 24, 1887 Courier.
Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps - 1895 and 1913.
“Important Auction” August 13, 1940 Poughkeepsie New Yorker.

Drawing from: Victorian Houses: A Treasury of Lesser Known Examples, 1973 by Edmund Gillon and Clay Lancaster

South and East Facades

East (front) facade

East and North facades

Porte Cochere on the north facade and carriage barn beyond

Front porch steps, arched double front doors, spindlework porch trim, full length parlor windows

Second and third floor balustrades, cornice brackets, 3rd floor window frieze - on front (east) facade

November 21, 1895 Daily Eagle
“Handsome New Barn”
One of the handsomest new barns ever built in this vicinity has just
been completed by Capt. J.H. Brinckerhoff, in connection with his
elegant residence on South Hamilton Street. It is forty by fifty feet,
and every part of it is finished off in a manner that would do credit
to a great many houses. Two large box stalls, with a number of
single ones, form part of the general floor. They are ornamented by
a very handsome railing, which shows off nicely. The wood work
and ceiling is of Georgia pine, oiled. There is a room for harness,
with glass front, and also numerous other rooms, all provided with
the latest improvements. The captain always does things up in a
creditable manner.

1968 ad for the Rutherford School of Dance

Sanborn Fire Insurance Map, 1895

Sanborn Fire Insurance Map, 1913 (showing tower dropped from five stories to
four stories and the replacement of previous stable with new carriage barn - the
barn is referred to by 1913 as an “auto house”)

VIII.
HISTORIC AND NATURAL DISTRICTS
INVENTORY FORM
DIVISION FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION
NEW YORK STATE PARKS AND RECREATION
ALBANY, NEW YORK (518) 474-0479

FOR OFFICE USE ONLY
UNIQUE SITE Nb. Oz;\ #40· OOvl Dll
QUAD. __________
SERIES __________
NEG. NO. _________

YOUR NAME: Town] ey McE] hi ney Sharp

DATE: August

YOUR ADDRESS: Box 274,

TELEPHONE: 914- 331-8944

Hurley, N.Y.

10, 1980

ORGANIZATION (if any): Historic Architecture & Decorative Arts

Consultants
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I. NAME OF DISTRICT:

South Hamilton Street Row

2. COUNTY: Dutchess

TOWNf:i::ix) Poughkeepsie VILLAGE:------

The four houses in this row are all clapboarded
and date from 1871 or 1872. Varying from two-story Second
Empire residences to three-and-a-half-story Italian Villa­
and Victorian Residential-style dwellings, each is sited on
a large grassy lot, with many.treeso Distinctive architec­
tural features include slate mansard roofs, bracketed and
Eastlake-style porches, towers, an arcaded logia, balconies,
a porte coch�re, and a large period barn (at the rear of
No. 85.) These .houses clearly represent the upper-middle
class suburbs of the 1870s.

3. DESCRIPTION:

Starting at the southwest corner of South Hamilton and Bar­
clav Streets, the row's boundary runs west along Barclay (cont.)
4. SIGNIFICANCE:
South Hamilton Street, named for Alexander Hamilton, is charac­
terized by residential buildings for almost its entire length,
starting at Cannon Street south to Livingston,Street. The
South Hamitlon Street Row is the first block, moving away from
the Central Business District, with set-back structures, large
suburban lawns, and many trees. From a perusal of city direc­
tories, it appears that George earlies developed this row as
private speculation. It has been suggested that Nos. 83, 85,
87, and 89 (latter now completely altered) were originally sim­
ilar Second Empire residences. The houses at 83 and 87 retain
their initial appearance, while 85 was transformed in the
1880s into an elaborate Victorian Residential-style dwelling (cont.)
5. MAP:

-

r

Platt, History of Poughkeepsie, 1905; City Directories:
1871-1872 to 1872-1873; Mapss 1867, 1874, 1876, c. 1880, 1887,
1895; Opdycke, Guide, 1977.

6. SOURCES:

7. THREATS TO AREA:
BY ZONING 0

BY ROADS 0

BY DETERIORATION 0

BY DEVELOPERS
OTHER

0

None

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

Although local residents are
proud and protective of their block, they fear encroachments
from marginal neighborhoods nearby. At the same time, this
row is within a two-block proximity of the National Register­
eligible Academy and Dwight - Hooker Avenue Historic Dis­
tricts, which should bolster the resident�· efforts to main­
tain their properties appeal and integrity.

8. LOCAL ATTITUDES TOWARD THE AREA:

See photographs numbered SH-1 and SH-2 in the accompany­
ing envelope.

9. PHOTOS:

CITY OF POUGHKEEPSIE, DUTCHESS COUNTY, NEW YORK

DISTRICT/ROW # VIII., continued South Hamilton Street

3.

4.

DESCRIPTION, CONTINUED

to the western property line of No. 81. It then follows the
rear lot lines of Nos. 81, 83, 85, and 87, in an irregular
way to the southern line of No. 87, runs east to South Hamil­
ton Street, and along the western curb of the street to the
place of beginning. (See #51 MAP for detailed boundary lines.)
UTMs 18/589350/4616450. Approximate acreage is three.

SIGNIFICANCE, CONTINUED

by Captain John H. Brinckerhoff, owner of the Poughkeepsie
Transportation Company and the famous steamer "Mary Powell."
With its distinctive architectural details, No. 85 is unique
in the City of Poughkeepsie and with the best example of the
Italian Villa Style, No. 79 South Hamilton Street, makes an
important statement about elevated taste and wealth in Pough­
keepsie during the late-19th century. The two intact and
distinguished Second Empire houses provide an interesting con­
trast and indicate different preferences for residential
styles in Poughkeepsie in the 1870s.

SOUTH HAMILTON STREET ROW, POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y.
BLDG. #

STREET & NUMBER

DATE

ARCHITECTURAL & HISTORICAL DATA

OWNER & ADDRESS

s. Hamilton St.
194.

81

c.1872

Italianate Villa-style house; clap­
boarded; two to three stories plus
mansard roof; projecting tower at
center front with two story arch em­
bracing large second story window
and paneled, double entry doors; 4/4
windows are single or paired; at right
is wing with arcaded logia and small
tower.

Abstel Realty
155 Franklin

195.

83

c.1871

Clapboarded, Second Empire-style resi­
dence; two stories plus mansard roof;
dormers with arched pediments; paneled
& bracketed cornice; 2/2 windows with
molded lintels; bracketed porch; wing
at back.

Robert W. Jaegen
same

196.

85

C

.1871

Two and a half to three story, clap­
boarded house; deeply projecting
cornice with brackets; wide frieze
with windows; second and third story
central tower with balcony; arched 1/1
windows; ornate wrap-around porch with
porte cochere in the Eastlake Style;
arched entryway with large, double
doors.

Marion s. Ruther­
ford
same

197,

87

c.1871

Clapboarded, Second Empire-style house;
two stories and a mansard roof; dormers
with arched pediments; paneled & bracketed cornice; 2/2 windows with molded
lintels; bracketed porch; wing at rear;
3 sided bay; double door entry.

Everett K. Heedii
Jr.
same

'

I

j

Historic Resources of the City of Poughkeepsie
Dutchess County, New York
VIII
s. Hamilton Street Row-Historic District
11 = 50'
1
Tax Map #6161.29 series Scale:
Approx. 3 acres
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Historic Resour s
of the City of Poughk
Dutchess County,ceNe
eepsie
w
S. Hamilton Street R York
Tax Map #6161.29 se ow-Historic District VIII
ries Scale: I" = 50'
Approx. 3 acres
,
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Quadrangle, New York
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Scale: I:24,00
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/461645

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.,
THE CITY OF POUGHKEEPSIE
NEWYORK

BUILDING PLANNING & ZONING
62 CIVIC CENTER PLAZA, 2ND FLOOR
POUGHKEEPSIE, NY 12601
Phone: (845) 451-4007 Fax: (845) 451-4006

Gary E. Beck, Jr.
Building Inspector

HISTORIC DISTRICT & LANDMARKS PRESERVATION COMMISSION
NOMINATION FOR DESIGNATION
LOCATION
Address:

85 S Hamilton Street

APPLICANT
Name:

J�t£t'lc Mher-koJ

Holly Wahlberg. Design Historian
J

OWNER
Address:

85 S. Hamilton Street

Refer nomination to the Common Council

Motion:----"'-------/
Second:
"-'---

-- ----Nays

fr--;y
a-+s
k�
Ji=

Signature of Chairman
Date:

Set for Public Hearing Yes [�No [ ]

6�

Motion:
Second:
Votes: __
Ayes

V-_ ji/[C>,('f1'._ l

Jl.
Nays

0

Abstentions

4-/z

Signature o Chairman
Date:
0/i b

THE CITY OF POUGHKEEPSIE
NEW YORK

BUILDING PLANNING & ZONING
62 CIVIC CENTER PLAZA, 2ND FLOOR
POUGHKEEPSIE, NY 12601
Phone: (845) 451-4007 Fax: (845) 451-4006

Gary E. Beck, Jr.
Building Inspector

HISTORIC DISTRICT & LANDMARKS NOMINATION FORM
LOCATION (For District nominations, attach list of all properties)
Address:

KS" sf /fq rvi/'jc, S+
VJ

Grid#------------------NAME OF PROPERTY
Historic Name (if any):____________________
Other Names (if any):-------------

-----­
-

CLASSIFICATION
Ownership of Property
� Private
D Public
tt,,er{:, ytj
Owner: J?c._.,-b,,"'"Q..
Address: 10 S,. -Ha.""',·)� S.J....
City:
�/Jo�, f:dY
State/Zip:
I '2...fo o I

I<'-'-

Category of Property
G .
R13uilding_(&--th,-u S'e.. +- o.,rr
D District
D Site
D Structure
D Object

FUNCTION OR USE

1 "'-�

APR

Historic Functions or Uses:
]}1vo...k �""'-e... ovicl <;"°�oo I o.f. T)o..V\c.. e....

e.. 7::>
uci.rA--

7 20/6

Current Functions or Uses:

s VY\ e._.
0..

NAME OF ORIGINAL ARCHITECT (if known): ffrM1.>:f- C..nno,,.-,

{fo..,.- IH .3 re..v"Y\o de))

ATTACHMENTS
NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION: Describe the historic and current conditions of the property on one
or more continuation sheets, and attach the sheets to the application.
MAPS: Please attach a map of the subject property or properties.
PHOTOGRAPHS: Please attach photographs of the property or properties.

,

..

Statement of Significance: Mark "X" in the applicable box(es) below for the criteria qualifying
the individual property for local register listing.

� The property possesses special character or historic or aesthetic interest or value as part of
the cultural, political, economic or social history of the locality, region, state or nation; or
)il' The property is identified with historic personages; or
.I& The property embodies the distinguishing characteristics of an architectural style; or

1if The property is the work of a designer whose work has significantly influenced an age; or
D Because of unique location or singular physical characteristic, represents an established and
familiar visual feature of the neighborhood.
Statement of Significance: Mark "X" in the box(es) below acknowledging the existence of the
two criteria qualifying a group ofproperties as a historic district.

D The group contains properties which meet one or more of the criteria for designation of a
landmark; and
D By reason of possessing such qualities, it constitutes a distinct section of the City.
Narrative Statement of Significance: Explain the significance of the property, in terms of the
boxes checked above, on one or more continuation sheets. Attach the sheet(s) to the
application.
Bibliography: Cite any books, articles or other sources used in preparing this form on one or
more continuation sheets. Attach the sheet(s) to the application.

Form Prepared by:
Name/Title:

./foll� W•� l(W°') ',
I

Organization:
3-c:; G,..rF,-eJ).J

Street:

p, s,," J-1,s.J,,-,, •� Ian l,..w,.lf-� �b'.::;:°':
r _J
\'-.U-.1"\V'"� °I

? {<Ac. e__

City/State/Zip:

?o1h�s1·�, (\.f-(

Telephone:

1?1.f 'i - '-{)l/ - 'J'-f.:;�

Date:

HDLPC CERTIFICATION

I

(z.G,o I

7>/ 11 // '2-0 I �

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The HDLPC hereby certifies that this application �es Et �ees AOt meet \pe criteria for
designation as a local historic �, landmark or lamilmark 3ite. The HDLPC �oes g Elees flet
recommends that the Common Council approve the application, in accordance with the
provisions of Section 19-4.5(3) of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Poughkeepsie, New York.

�1

Motion:
Second:_ { �-Votes:
_{)_

D

Signature of Chairman

r

Local Register Nomination
85 S. Hamilton Street, Poughkeepsie (House and Carriage Barn)
Prepared by: Holly Wahlberg © 2016
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE:
Property is associated with lives ofpeople significant in our past; is associated with events that have made a
significant contribution to broad patterns of our history; embodies distinctive characteristics ofa type and rep­
resents the work ofa master
85 S. Hamilton Street represents one ofPoughkeepsie's earliest examples ofsuburban architecture in the Civil
War era and the subsequent shift in architectural taste toward the new Queen Anne style in the 1880s and 1890s.
The alterations of 1893 are the work ofone ofPoughkeepsie's leading architects, Arnout Cannon. The house
is also associated with three families who have had a major impact on Poughkeepsie's physical and cultural
development: the Corlies family who created Poughkeepsie's first southside neighborhoods and later developed
much ofPoughkeepsie's east side; the Brinckerhoff family who dominated Poughkeepsie's ferry and shipping
industries from the late 19th century well into the 20th century; and the Rutherford family whose commitment
to ballet, dance and music in Poughkeepsie has continued uninterrupted since 1898.This property also contains
a large intact carriage barn with gambrel roofand cupola that is one ofonly a handful ofsimilar barns to survive
in Poughkeepsie.
85 S. Hamilton Street, long regarded as one ofthe finest mansions in Poughkeepsie, was built circa 1862 as the
home ofreal estate developer George Corlies (1804-1892). Corlies was born in New York City to a prosperous
Quaker family whose fortune originated in dry goods, auctioneering and banking. 1 At age 30, Corlies retired
from business - wealthy, but in fragile health. Looking for a country retreat and possibly fondly remembering
his childhood days at a Dutchess County Quaker boarding school, Corlies selected Poughkeepsie as his new
home in 1834.2
But the life ofa retired country squire
did not seem to suit George Corlies as he
quickly began a real estate venture to sub­
divide and develop the Bronson French
farm on the southern outskirts ofthe vil­
lage. Although these plans were stymied
by the economic Panic of1837, Corlies
did not forget Poughkeepsie and returned
13 years later in 1850 to resume his plans
for a new residential development on
Poughkeepsie's southern boundary. 3
Corlies began this new neighborhood on
the west side ofGarfield Place, building
the first home there (his own home at
S. Hamilton Street Row (87, 85, 83, 81 S. Hamilton Street)
#28) in 1851 and selling additional building
lots to his Quaker friends. Other members ofthe Corlies family soon followed George Corlies to Poughkeepsie,
purchasing land to develop the country estates ofMaple Grove, Cedarcliff and Edgehill along Poughkeepsie's
South Road (today's Route 9).
In the early 1860s, Corlies moved beyond Garfield Place - continuing to develop homes on land to the east
along a rocky promontory known informally as "cherry hill" for the wild cherry trees growing there. The com-

munity watched with what was described as a "feeling next to wonder" at the
way Corlies transformed this rock ledge into a "mansion row" of gracious
Italianate villas and Second Empire style homes. 4 Just as he had on Garfield
Place, Corlies personally led the way to this new neighborhood by moving
himself and his family into homes on S. Hamilton Street. Of the four houses
built in a row along the west side of the street, Corlies selected #85 (built in
1861-62) as his own residence.
In addition to neighborhood planning, Corlies was also noted for his avid
interest in landscape design - planting hundreds of shade trees as part of his
projects. 5 He also played a significant part in the design of the new Pough­
keepsie Rural Cemetery, especially the layout of the carriage road leading to
the magnificent "Lookout" at the top of Mine Point. (Corlies later told the
story of Matthew Vassar's desire to erect a monument to Henry Hudson some­
where along the Hudson River. Corlies suggested to Vassar that the cemetery's
Lookout on the top of Mine Point would be a fine location for the monument.
After visiting the spot,Vassar published an article in
the Poughkeepsie papers describing this idea. W hen
Corlies met up with Vassar a week later, Vassar told
him, "Not one person in the City of Poughkeepsie
has referred to my monument. I have decided to build
a College for Women, where they can learn what is
useful, practical and sensible.")6
\
In 1883, George Corlies sold 85 S. Hamilton to
prominent steamship entrepreneur John H. Brinck­
erhoff (1827-1901). When Brinckerhoff purchased
this home for himself and his 89-year-old mother,
he was a wealthy widower well into late middle age
and at the height of his career as the dominant force
in Poughkeepsie's transportation industry. At the time
of his death in 1901, Brinckerhoff
owned considerable wharf frontage
on both sides of the river along with
the Poughkeepsie-Highland ferry
service, the celebrated passenger
steamer, the Mary Powell and sev­
eral other steamships carrying both
passengers and freight between
New York, Newburgh, Poughkeep­
sie, and Kingston. 7
Perhaps it was Brinckerhoff's close
connection with beautiful 19th
century steamships that inspired
local architect Amout Cannon's
1893 renovation of 85 S . Hamilton
with details that seem to echo the
spindles of a steamship's paddle
wheel, the multiple tiers and rail-

John H. Brinckerhoff

(Above) Brinckerhoff's steamship, the Mary Powell;
(Below) 85 S. Hamilton Street

ings of a ship's promenade decks, and a tower that
suggested a pilothouse or captain's bridge. These
features have earned 85 S. Hamilton the local nick­
name "ferryboat house." In 1893, the Poughkeepsie
Daily Eagle called Cannon's richly embellished
wraparound porch design "the very finest veranda in
town."8
Brinckerhoff reportedly enjoyed boasting that his
house was on the highest point in Poughkeepsie
except for College Hill and joked that he was glad
College Hill was higher, "otherwise he wouldn't
have any water." 9 His hilltop home with its com­
manding five story tower (reduced to three stories
by a later owner) gave Captain Brinckerhoff views of
the Hudson River and the ability to keep a watchful

Carriage Barn at 85 S. Hamilton, Carroll St. (west) facade; this barn
replaced an older stable on the same site

eye on his shipping interests.
Brinckerhoff's personal life was as flamboyant as his
distinctive home. His fondness for fast ladies and fast
horses kept Poughkeepsie entertained and sometimes
scandalized, particularly during the racy court proceed­
ings of his bitter divorce in 1886 after only ten months
of marriage to a woman 40 years his junior. 10

(Above) The Crum home at 47 Carroll St. as it looks today;
(Below) Marion Rutherford in 1988 celebrating her 83rd birthday

As an avid horseman, Brinckerhoff built a new carriage
barn on the grounds of 85 S. Hamilton in 1895. 11 The
porte cochere on the house's north side retains the spe­
cial steps designed to assist passengers alighting from
their carriages.

-Friends., ��udents off.er graceful bow

to Poughkeepsi�'s first lady of dance

In 1901, Brinckerhoff died fol­
lowing a carriage accident while
trying out his newest horse on
the Hyde Park Road (today's
Route 9 North). At his side was
his beloved young ward and
housekeeper, Miss Ida Crum who
survived the accident. Brincker­
hoff left 85 S. Hamilton to Ida
Crum who lived there until her
death in 1933. 13 Miss Crum's
family was related to Brincker­
hoff's deceased first wife, Ange­
line Terpening. (Ida Crum called
Brinckerhoff "Uncle"and was the
sister of the husband of Brinck­
erhoff's niece, Grace Terpening
Crum). The men of the Crum
family assisted Brinckerhoff in

his business operations. 14 The Crum residence nearby
at 4 7 Carroll Street, next door to Brinckerhoff's carriage
barn, completed the closely knit connection between these
two families. The Crums continued to operate the Pough­
keepsie-Highland ferry service until 1941, when they were
finally driven out of business by the dominance of the
Mid-Hudson bridge. 15
As Brinckerhoff's ward was living out her final years
alone in the Brinckerhoff mansion, a pair of young newly­
weds named George and Marion Rutherford drove by one
day in 1926, and promised themselves that one day, they
would own the magnificent 85 S. Hamilton Street. That
year, the 21-year-old ballerina and Broadway understudy,
Marion Swords of St. Louis had married musician
George Rutherford II of Poughkeepsie - and together
they would continue the Rutherford family's School of
Dance, then already in its 28th year of providing dance
and music instruction to city residents. 16

1873 and 1880 maps showing 85 S. Hamilton

Fourteen years into their marriage, the couple's new­
lywed dream actually did come true. In 1940, George
and Marion Rutherford purchased 85 S. Hamilton
Street as their family home. Their studio of dance
would be conducted in the mansion's drawing room
and south parlor from that point on.

Marion Rutherford once explained to
a local reporter the importance dance
studios traditionally held in commu­
nity life: "Years ago when a family
moved to a new city, one of the first
things they did was find a dance stu­
dio. They recognized the importance
of preparing the younger generation
to enter society. My husband knew
how to train young ladies. He taught
them manners, poise and how to sit
down." 17
The year 2015 marks the Rutherford
family's 75th year at 85 S. Hamilton
where two generations of the Rutherfords have raised their families and brought the joy of dance to hundreds
each year.
c. 1905 photo of 85 S. Hamilton showing earlier tower design and rooftop balustrade

The Rutherfords have proudly retained the original exterior appearance of 85 S. Hamilton St., along with

many of the opulent interior fit­
tings installed by the Corlies and
Brinckerhoff families - including
chandeliers, sconces, embossed wall
paper, gilded floor to ceiling mirrors,
portieres, elaborate plaster ornament,
and marble mantles.

+

Maps froml873 and 1880 show that
85 S. Hamilton had a larger and
more cube-like footprint than the
other Corlies houses next door (#'s
83 and 87) which were designed in
the Second Empire style. 85 S. Ham­
ilton seems to have been conceived
as a larger and grander Italianate
style home with a mansard roofed
tower, a deep and elaborate brack­
eted cornice and a 3rd floor win­
Wilderstein; resdesigned in the Queen Anne style in 1888 by Poughkeepsie
dow frieze (instead of a third floor
architect Amout Cannon
mansard roofed attic). The 1880 map
shows a porch running along only part of the front facade south of the front door.
In 1893, newspaper reporters announced that Brinckerhoff's architect, Arnout Cannon of Poughkeepsie was
conducting "extensive improvements" on the house at a cost of $10,000. 18 We know for certain from press ac­
counts that the porch was redesigned, although
it seems possible that Cannon may have also
heightened the central tower for better river
views and added the elegant porte cochere for
this client who was so closely connected with
both the Hudson and carriage driving.
We do know that at some point prior to 1940,
the roof balustrade, one element of porch trim
and part of the tower were removed (see photo
published in 1905 showing these features still in
place). 19 The tower was dropped from five to four
stories sometime before the 1913 Sanborn Fire
Insurance Map was drawn. W hen the Rutherfords
purchased the house in 1940, the Crum family
told them the tower had been lowered because it
"rocked" in the wind. Some or all of the original
roof balustrade is currently stored in the carriage
barn.
Earlier newspaper references prior to 1893 reveal that Brinckerhoff also had extensive work
Poughkeepsie Architect Amout Cannon (inset);
and his home at 144 Franklin Street as it looks today
done to the house when he purchased it in 1883
for what was considered the bargain price of
20
$16,000. Whether this work was done on the interior, the exterior or both is unknown. For the 1893 remodel­
ling, Brinckerhoff may have selected Poughkeepsie architectArnout Cannon (1839-1898) because of Cannon's

extensive work for one ofBrinckerhoff's colleagues, the Newburgh steamship baron, Homer Ramsdell. In 1890,
Cannon had produced designs for Ramsdell's country house in the suburbs ofNewburgh and for a Ramsdell
owned hotel near the Beacon wharf. 21
Five years before undertaking work on 85 S. Hamilton, Cannon's large scale 1888 remodeling ofWilderstein in
Rhinebeck (where he transformed the Suckley family's restrained Italianate villa into a fashionable Queen Anne
mansion with elaborate porte cochere) was a project that had already proved Cannon's ability to update the Itali­
anate style with new and fashionable architectural changes befitting a man such as Brinckerhoff who was at the
peak of his wealth and status. 22
Cannon may have also known Brinckerhoff as a friend and neighbor, since up until 1888, the Cannon family's
personal residence was at 144 Franklin Street, less than two blocks from 85 S. Hamilton Street. 23

Of bllh elul turnltun, OU palnUap, puo, tic.· Rarint IDld the
p1operty N 8oUtb llamlltM et.. Poupktepll,I, M, Y., IPU1 NU • &be·
pnmJaN

TNUIIDIY, lUIUIT II. IT 1:11 l, I,

On August 15, 1940, the contents of the Brinckerhoff mansion were sold at
public auction on the lawn of 85 S. Hamilton, seven years after the death of
Brinckerhoff's heir, Miss Ida Crum. George and Marion Rutherford were
able to purchase Brinckerhoff's massive mahogany Renaissance Revival din­
ing room suite which is still used daily by George and Marion Rutherford's
daughter, Barbara, the current owner of 85 S. Hamilton.

Notes:

Scoville,Joseph Alfred. The Old Merchants ofNew York City (1864) 115.
Platt,Edmund. History of Poughkeepsie (1905) 275.
3
Ibid.,George Corlies Obituary: May 28,1892 Poughkeepsie Daily Eagle
4
"George Corlies" December 20,1891 Poughkeepsie Sunday Courier
5
"George Corlies Dead" June 4,1892 Poughkeepsie News-Telegraph
6
Bruce,Wallace. T he Hudson. New York: Bryant Literary Union,1901. 155.
7
Commemorative Biographical Record ofDutchess County. Chicago: J.H. Beers,1897,848.
8
July 29,1893 Poughkeepsie Daily Eagle
9
"85 S. Hamilton Street" August 10,1947 Poughkeepsie Sunday New Yorker
10
Poughkeepsie Sunday Courier: June 27, 1886;August 8,1886; October 3, 1886; December 12,1886; Janu­
ary 23, 1887; April 24,1887.
11
"Handsome New Barn" November 21,1895 Poughkeepsie Daily Eagle
12
"Captain Brinckerhoff Injured" December 1,1901 Poughkeepsie Daily Eagle
13
"Ida Crum Dies" November 20,1933 Poughkeepsie Daily Eagle; "Obituary Samuel A. Crum April 19,1936
Poughkeepsie Sunday Courier; "Brinckerhoff Trial" August 1, 1886,March 14,1886,May 29, 1887 Daily
Eagle
14
Ibid.
15
December 18,1941 Poughkeepsie New Yorker
16
"Many Happy Returns,Mrs. R." June 12,1988 Poughkeepsie Journal
17
Hughes,Larry. "Mrs. R. Was Matriarch of Dance" September 16,2003 Poughkeepsie Journal
18
March 19,1893 Poughkeepsie Sunday Courier; March 20,1893 Poughkeepsie Daily Eagle
19
"85 S. Hamilton St." August 10,1947 Poughkeepsie Sunday New Yorker
20
"Fitting Up" October 10,1883 Poughkeepsie Daily Eagle; Deeds Liber 214,498: Jacob Corlies to John H.
Brinckerhoff
21
February 15,1890 Poughkeepsie News-Telegraph; April 20,1890 Poughkeepsie News-Press
22
Philip,Cynthia Owen. Wilderstein and the Suckleys. Rhinebeck: Wilderstein Preservation,2001. 21-24
23
"Cannon to Sell House on Franklin" January 28,1888 Poughkeepsie News-Telegraph
1

2

Sources:

Map of the City of Poughkeepsie. E.B. Hyde and Company,New York (1880).
Map of Poughkeepsie,NY,(1873) Drawn by H.H. Bailey. Albany,NY. Library of Congress Collection.
"Will of John H. Brinckerhoff' December 8,1901 Poughkeepsie Sunday Courier.
"Captain Brinckerhoff Injured" December 1,1901 Courier; November 28,1901 Daily Eagle; December 2,1901
Daily Eagle.
"Obituary Ida M. Crum" November 20,1933 Poughkeepsie Daily Eagle.
"Captain Brinckerhoff Dies" December 7,1901 Poughkeepsie News-Telegraph; December 3,1901 Poughkeep­
sie Daily Eagle.
"Not Yet Divorced" July 29,1886 Poughkeepsie News-Press.
"Obituary George E. Rutherford II" December 1,1981 Poughkeepsie Journal.
"Captain Brinckerhoff's Will" July 28, 1902 Daily Eagle; December 21,1901 News-Telegraph; December 2,
1901 Daily Eagle.
Philip, Cynthia Owen. Wilderstein and the Suckleys. Rhinebeck: Wilderstein Preservation,2001.
Platt,Edmund. History of Poughkeepsie, 1905. (George Corlies: 275-276,John Brinckerhoff: 272-275,231.
Gillon,Edmund V. Jr. and Clay Lancaster. Victorian Houses: A Treasury ofLesser Known Examples. New York:
Dover Press,1973,viii,plate 48.
"Obituary Marion S. Rutherford" August 26,2003 Poughkeepsie Journal.
Hughes,Larry. "Mrs. R. Was Matriarch of Dance" September 16,2003 Poughkeepsie Journal.

"George Corlies Dead" June 14, 1892 Poughkeepsie News-Telegraph; May 28, 1892 Daily Eagle.
"George Corlies" December 20, 1891 Poughkeepsie Sunday Courier.
"George Corlies" May 27, 1892 Poughkeepsie Evening Enterprise.
Bruce, Wallace. The Hudson. New York: Bryant Literary Union, 1901.
Scoville, Joseph A. The Old Merchants ofNew York City. Carleton, 1864.
"New Hotel to be Erected at Fishkill Landing" February 15, 1890 News-Telegraph; February 17, 1890 Daily
Eagle.
"Cannon Prepares Plans for Ramsdell" April 20, 1890 News-Press.
"Cannon to Sell House on Franklin St." January 28, 1888 News-Telegraph.
"Obituary Samuel A. Crum" April 19, 1936 Poughkeepsie New Yorker.
"Handsome New Barn" November 21, 1895 Daily Eagle.
"Plans for Extensive Improvements" March 20, 1893 Daily Eagle.
"Crum Closing Ferry" December 18, 1941 Poughkeepsie New Yorker.
"Fitting Up" October 10, 1883 Daily Eagle.
"John H. Brinckerhoff' Commemorative Biographical Record ofDutchess County, 1897.
"Repairs Finished" July 29, 1893 Daily Eagle.
"Captain Brinckerhoff has Spent $10,000" June 8, 1893 Daily Eagle.
"85 S. Hamilton - Old House Series" August 10, 1947 Poughkeepsie New Yorker.
"Many Happy Returns, Mrs. Rutherford" June 12, 1988 Poughkeepsie Journal.
"Brinckerhoff Divorce" June 27, 1886 Courier; August 8, 1886 Courier; August 1, 1886 Courier; October 2,
1886 Courier; December 12, 1886 Courier; January 23, 1887 Courier; April 24, 1887 Courier.
Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps - 1895 and 1913.
"Important Auction" August 13, 1940 Poughkeepsie New Yorker.

Drawing from: Victorian Houses: A Treasury ofLesser Known Examples, 1973 by Edmund Gillon and Clay Lancaster

South and East Facades

East (front) facade

East and North facades

Porte Cochere on the north facade and carriage barn beyond

Front porch steps, arched double front doors, spindlework porch trim, full length parlor windows

Second and third floor balustrades, cornice brackets, 3rd floor window frieze - on front (east) facade

··--·--

FUXDS();\j:B �EW. BA�t�; · . ' .-·
�....-aC tb<> h1Lµd,01u,-tt 11C1y; linras C!Tc.r
lmllt In Lhh< ..-lelully .JiM J11st b,itlu •�·
11l1·Ml i.1· e�1·L .I. I�· . 'Drlne�<"r0oa, In.
rurni,'t·t!Hll ll'ilb .lil!J l'll'!,"Ulll n.tiJcuce 'OU
Suuth ·ll,uailwu Stn-<,t. -· It !is. ri;tty 1,1
uc1.,··1�-t. u.ml c�<.·t;· pnrt nt It lo.Jlnloh,'11
oir· ,, "munuer :tlmt.1-:,;uw· <I<> c<'Ctlit·1011 =•rrt WII.DY h.ou..,... 'l'wo, Ltll,"U .•�o:c
HtAIJ� 111th. n 'µumb,•r ,,,t. •iui;fo !)DI'S,
!or111 11.irf oC 1!11, i:u11�ra.l. Uoor•.. 'l'bcy nru
orru1wi,nk.•,l h):·.: H'r)' h.u.ud>loQlo i-.1!1.lua;,
whii:li �hri11·s o.lf ak'C.'1�.- T� 1ri.>o&'work
IU!d '"'llius is of GL'Ol1;ii1 11111,•, oilc�.
Tbcri, Id '' ro<WI '(ol- btll>Hl118� 11·JU. i;la,;,i
trout. ruul 111.:so 11unh:t'D11�
o,ther roowij,
0
, nil j,rovid,�I w,t.4 llja lut1',it lanJlrO>'l'amibl.
Tfu, cll!lwln nlwayg J<>L.,. tbillgs up-iu
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.

Dance Classes
Childn'11
F.,p,·1·1 /11.1·tr11ctiu11 - . ,.,..fl.HIii/ S11rr111111di11,:s

Classical Ra/let
ll1•,:i,i1lt'rs ·- A dt•un_retl - Profession11I

..

November 21, 1895 Daily Eagle
"Handsome New Barn"
One of the handsomest new barns ever built in this vicinity has just
been completed by Capt. J.H. Brinckerhoff, in connection with his
elegant residence on South Hamilton Street. It is forty by fifty feet,
and every part of it is finished off in a manner that would do credit
to a great many houses. Two large box stalls, with a number of
single ones, fonn part of the general floor. They are ornamented by
a very handsome railing, which shows off nicely. The wood work
and ceiling is of Georgia pine, oiled. There is a room for harness,
with glass front, and also numerous other rooms, all provided with
the latest improvements. The captain always does things up in a
creditable manner.

New Classes Forming
Pre-Schuol-Kinderdance-Pre-80/111/

--Enroll Now
A II cftt.,·s,•1· 0./)1'11 'U.Pc't'k 11/ ,\',•pt. 9

Ruther.ford School
Pl11111r '71-lJ90

,\',i .\'11. l/11111ilt1111 .\'t,,·,·t

I

1968 ad for the Rutherford School of Dance

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Sanborn Fire Insurance Map, 1913 (showing tower dropped from five stories to
four stories and the replacement of previous stable with new carriage barn - the
barn is referred to by 1913 as an "auto house")

Official Minutes of the Common Council Meeting of October 6, 2026
XI.

ACTION AGENDA: ORDINANCES AND LOCAL LAWS:
1.

First Read: 0-26-10, Ordinance Amending §13-269of Chapter 13 of The
City Of Poughkeepsie Code Of Ordinances Entitled "Motor Vehicles And
Traffic" Handicapped parking areas designated: Dutchess Avenue (South
side}, the parking space closest to the intersection with North Water Street.
ORDINANCE AMENDING §13-269
OF CHAPTER 13 OF THE CITY OF POUGHKEEPSIE
CODE OF ORDINANCES ENTITLED "MOTOR VEIDCLES AND TRAFFIC"

INTRODUCED BY COUNCILMEMBER HENRY:
BE IT ORDAINED, by the Common Council of the City of Poughkeepsie, as follows:
SECTION 1: §13-269 is hereby amended by the following modification:
Section 13-269 Handicapped parking areas designated.
Upon the erection of signs giving due notice thereof, the following areas shall be designated as
part of the Handicapped parking areas.

Dutchess Avenue (South side), the parking space closest to the intersection with
North Water Street.
SECTION 2: This Ordinance shall take effect immediately.
ADDITIONS denoted by Underlining and Bold
A motion to pass the First Read of 0-26-10 was made by 7th Ward Councilmember Patterson
Thompson and was seconded by 1st Ward Councilmember Henry.

2.

First Read: 0-26-11, Ordinance Adding New Section §13-196.3 "Two­
Hour Parking, Twenty-Four Hours Per Day" Of Chapter 13 Of The City Of
Poughkeepsie Code Of Ordinances Entitled "Motor Vehicles And Traffic"
Two-Hour Parking, Twenty-Four Hours Per Day: Dutchess Avenue (South
side) beginning at its intersection with North Water Street, for a distance of
twelve total parking spaces.

Official Minutes of the Common Council Meeting of October 6, 2026
ORDINANCE ADDING NEW SECTION §13-196.3 "TWO-HOUR PARKING,
TWENTY-FOUR HOURS PER DAY" OF CHAPTER 13 OF THE CITY OF
POUGHKEEPSIE CODE OF ORDINANCES ENTITLED "MOTOR VEHICLES
AND TRAFFIC"
(0-26-11)
INTRODUCED BY COUNCILMEMBER HENRY:
BE IT ORDAINED, by the Common Council of the City of Poughkeepsie, as follows:
SECTION 1: A new §13-196.3 is hereby added to the City Code of Ordinances as
follows:
Section 13-196.3 - Two-Hour Parking, Twenty-Four Hours Per Day

Upon the erection of signs giving due notice thereof, the following areas shall be
designated as two-hour parking spots, twenty-four hours per day.
Dutchess Avenue {South side) beginning at its intersection with North Water
Street, for a distance of twelve total parking spaces.
SECTION 2: This Ordinance shall take effect immediately.
ADDITIONS denoted by Underlining and Bold
A motion to pass the First Read of O-26-11 was made by 3rd Ward
Councilmember Brown and was seconded by 7th Ward Councilmember Patterson
Thompson.

3.

First Read: 0-26-12, Ordinance Amending §14-5 "Loitering" of Chapter 13
of the City of Poughkeepsie Code of Ordinances

ORDINANCE AMENDING §14-5 "LOITERING"
OF CHAPTER 13 OF THE CITY OF POUGHKEEPSIE
CODE OF ORDINANCES
(0-26-12)
INTRODUCED BY CHAIRMAN WILSON; COUNCILMEMBER SHOOK, PATTERSON
THOMPSON, HENRY, BROWN AND JAMES

Official Minutes of the Common Council Meeting of October 6, 2026

BE IT ORDAINED, by the Common Council of the City of Poughkeepsie, as follows:
SECTION 1: Existing §14-5 is hereby deleted and replaced with the following
14-5 Loitering
A. Legislative Intent: By Ordinance adopted 2-21-1995, the City of Poughkeepsie
Common Council found that the City of Poughkeepsie had identified a significant
trade in controlled substances and marijuana on the streets of the City of
Poughkeepsie with the resulting increase in crimes related to such street trade.
The purpose of the original loitering ordinance was to add to the crime-fighting
abilities of the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department by
prohibiting loitering for specific illegal purposes of possessing or using controlled
substances.
Since that time, the Common Council has identified loitering for certain other
illegal activity that is equally harmful to the general health, welfare and quality of
life of the citizens of the City of Poughkeepsie. In addition to loitering for
controlled substances, loitering for the purpose of conducting the following
activities all interfere with the public interest in seeing the City of Poughkeepsie
have a thriving quality of life selling illegal drugs, possessing or selling illegal
weapons, trespassing, violating Chapter 13 ½ (Noise), violating Section 14-19
(Consumption of Alcoholic beverages in public places and possession of open
containers of alcoholic beverages in public places), illegal gambling, illegal
harassment, violating Section 14-45 (Graffiti Prohibited), obstructing pedestrian
or vehicular traffic, and violating Section 14-20 (“Public urination; penalties for
offenses).
B. Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
Any substance listed in Schedule I, II, III, IV or V of Section 3306 of the Public Health
Law other than marijuana.
MOTOR VEHICLE
1. Every vehicle operated or driven upon a public highway which is
propelled by any power other than muscular power, except:
a. Electrically-driven mobility-assistance devices operated or driven by
a person with a disability.
b. Vehicles which run only upon rails or tracks.
c. Snowmobiles as defined in Article 47 of the New York State Vehicle
and Traffic Law.
2. The term "motor vehicle" shall exclude fire and police vehicles.
Amended 10/2/26

Official Minutes of the Common Council Meeting of October 6, 2026

PUBLIC PLACE
A place to which the public or a substantial group of persons has access, and includes
but is not limited to any street, highway, sidewalk, bridge, alley or alleyway, plaza,
park, parking lot or transportation facility, school, place of amusement or playground
or the doorways and entranceways to any building which fronts on any of the
aforesaid places or a motor vehicle in or on any such place and hallways, lobbies and
other portions of apartment houses and hotels not constituting rooms or apartments
designed for actual residence.

C. It shall be unlawful for any person to loiter or remain in any public place for the
specific illegal purpose of any of the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Selling, using or possessing controlled substances;
Possessing or selling illegal weapons;
Trespassing;
Violating Chapter 13 ½ “Noise”;
Violating Section 14-19 (Consumption of Alcoholic beverages in public
places and possession of open containers of alcoholic beverages in public
places);
6. Illegal Gambling;
7. Illegal harassment;
8. Violating Section 14-45 “Graffiti Prohibited”;
9. Obstructing pedestrian or vehicular traffic; or
10. Violating Section 14-20 “Public urination”;
D. Enforcement Guidelines:
1. Probable cause. Probable cause to charge or arrest any person for a violation
of this article shall arise when the law enforcement officer personally has
observed or is presented with video evidence of some definable impermissible
or illegal act as set forth hereinabove.
2. Failure to explain presence. The failure of any person to offer an explanation
of his or her purpose in being at a particular place shall not, in and of itself,
constitute a violation of this article.
3. The provisions of this section can be enforced by the City of Poughkeepsie
Police Department and any other police officer or peace officer or other person
who can lawfully make an arrest.
E. Penalties for Offenses
Any person violating any of the provisions of this article as defined herein shall
be guilty of a violation and, upon conviction thereof, shall be liable for a fine not
Amended 10/2/26

Official Minutes of the Common Council Meeting of October 6, 2026

to exceed $250 or imprisonment not exceeding 15 days, or to both such fine and
imprisonment.
F. Severability
If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part of this article shall be adjudged
by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable,
such judgement shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder thereof but
shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, section or
part thereof directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment shall
have been rendered.
SECTION 2: This Ordinance shall take effect immediately.
SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER _____________________________________:

ADDITIONS denoted by Underlining and Bold

A motion to Approve was made by 3rd Ward Council Member Brown and seconded by 1st Ward
Councilmember Henry.

Official Minutes of the Common Council Meeting of October 6, 2026

XII. MAYOR'S COMMENTS:
I do ask council members who want to know more about the no-loitering law to speak with
our police department. You can also bring them in to speak with the council if you want to
discuss it further. It would be great if we could have a presentation on that. You can talk to
the chair about it because of the issues happening on Main Street.
It has gotten totally out of hand. The residents’ comments at the council meeting were only
a small percentage of the emails and phone calls I’m receiving. I spend time on Main Street.
The Second Ward and the Sixth Ward are having a big problem at this point, almost similar
to what we were having on Rose Street. Now it’s next to the Kennedy lot, except there
aren’t encampments. The Cranell Street lot is a big problem. The police have been working
hard in that lot.
Unfortunately, we say this is a county problem, but it’s being pushed into the city. A lot of
municipalities are dropping individuals here in the city of Poughkeepsie. We’re watching it.
I sit in the Cranell Street lot and some of the other lots, including Liberty lot, for hours at a
time with the police, watching what’s happening. I also talk with individuals.
I’m going to tell you, a lot of these people I do not know. We meet every month with outreach
teams that go out on the streets to talk with individuals. You can’t make a person get help.
That’s not how it works. You talk with them and give them resources. A lot of times they’ll
say, “F you,” walk away, and still continue doing the same thing.
Back in the day, like Jamar was mentioning, during the crack epidemic in the ’90s, we weren’t
seeing all of that. When it came to those who were roaming the streets, they could be arrested.
During the time they were there, the police and the court system would work with them. A lot
of times, they would go into drug treatment programs and other programs, but that does not
happen now.
There are individuals who sit in court. A mental health court navigator sits in the city court,
and there are also individuals from the LEAD team, the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion
team. When individuals receive a violation and go into the court system, we don’t want them
to have criminal backgrounds, because when they finally get to the point where they can get
the help they need, we don’t want another barrier that brings them right back onto the street.
These individuals sit down with people going through court because of these violations. When
they eventually appear in court, they work with them and connect them with other programs as
an alternative to incarceration. That has been happening for a couple of years now—maybe
three years. I keep remembering when LEAD came to our area; it was about three years ago.
Our beat team has also been out there.

Official Minutes of the Common Council Meeting of October 6, 2026

There are a lot of resources here in the city of Poughkeepsie. As I said, we meet every month to
discuss how outreach will work on our streets. But we’re dealing with a different dynamic at this
point. For those who are complaining about this, I ask you to walk up Main Street after five o’clock.
For those who are out there, think about the visitors and the people who live there, having
conversations with one or two people. That’s not sufficient. I’m talking about individuals who live
there and are dealing with situations. I’m getting emails from county employees who are going to the
parking deck and are upset and afraid because individuals are approaching them in the parking lot. Not
everyone is friendly, as you might say. Talk to the owner of Brasserie and see what he’s going through
as well.
Again, I’m not just there one or two times. This is my hometown, and I walk those streets. We should
have a lot more people here complaining about this, but they see what the council is trying to do. I’m
just saying it’s not a solution that’s going to solve everything, but it is a tool being used to help
address the situation and help people find a path to services. There is a strategic game plan for this.
We're not just saying, "let's get people out and incarcerate them." That's not happening whatsoever.
To be honest with you, some people say, “You don’t know what’s going on out there.” Well, I have
three family members who are out there. They’ve been out there for decades, and one person has now
just gotten help. I’m out there talking to figure out what’s going on. A lot is happening out there, and
our kids should not have to walk through the streets and see what they see.
I understand that individuals are going through challenges. They didn’t wake up and say, “I want to
start taking drugs.” There are things that lead them into that situation. As I said, there are different
services to assist them, but we have to find a pathway to get them there. Right now, they’re not
voluntarily going into services. People say what we should not do and what we cannot do, but I’m not
hearing any other solutions besides what we’re already doing—and it’s not working.
There was also a comment that people are not able to put out clothing and distribute things in the city.
That’s not correct. People have to get a permit. You can’t just set up a table and start distributing things
without us knowing who’s doing it or what’s going on. We’ve had some really sick individuals out
there, and they could be distributing something that could cause harm. There are certain things that have
to be followed.
People are coming from everywhere and setting up in our city. I’ve seen the drastic change over the
years, and I’ve never seen it like this. The situation is so complex that even mayors across the country
are having this problem. The no-loitering law the council was reviewing also came from Albany.
Albany was having this problem, and that was one of the laws they amended and passed.
This council was looking at how to tailor and amend the law for the city of Poughkeepsie. I commend
you for trying to find a way to address this situation. It’s not just about the people who are out there.
There are people standing out there when the police come. They’ve been there for six or seven hours.
The police don’t see them drinking because the bottle is now on the ground. They don’t see them
gambling. As the police ride up, people say, "What are you talking about?" They tell the police, "You
cannot say anything to me. Leave me alone. F you. Go on about your business. I'm not committing a
crime. I'm just standing here."

Official Minutes of the Common Council Meeting of October 6, 2026
They stand there until two, three, or four o’clock in the morning, being loud, and then all of a sudden
they’re quiet. There is no way to address that. There are many different tools the city is trying to come up
with and use to improve the quality of life for people who live there every day. They also have kids living
on Main Street who cannot sleep and are tired by the time they go home because of everything happening
outside.
If you can find another, better solution, please come forward, and we’ll work on it. But right now, people
come forward and say what we cannot do, without finding a solution to help. I’ll tell you about the Flock
cameras. They’ve been in our city for a while. Back in the day, when there were shooting on my street,
drive-by shooters were coming through. I live on Lent Street. The houses are full of bullet holes because
a particular house was being targeted. Those cars were going back and forth through there.
Once we found out what was happening in Newburgh, where they had Flock cameras and ShotSpotter,
we implemented those here in the city of Poughkeepsie. The drive-by shootings went down because
people realized they were getting caught. I no longer have to walk outside my house and worry about a
bullet coming by, or find a neighbor’s car with a bullet hole bigger than a golf ball.
It’s very aggravating when you come in and tell us what we cannot do, but don’t understand what we’ve
been through in our neighborhoods. We’ve been dealing with this for years, before you even thought
about advocating for anything. Listen to our concerns. Listen to our kids, who have to walk through the
streets and deal with what they see. If I took these individuals and placed them in your front yard, please
tell me how you would respond.
Collectively, we need to find a way to address everyone’s concerns. It’s not just about what you think or
what we think. We need to come up with a solution that works for all of us. That’s all we ask. But that’s
not what happens here sometimes. People come and point their finger, and as soon as you do what they
say, they move on while we’re still dealing with the problem. We’re trying to find a way to come
together and find a solution. That’s all we’re asking.
What I don’t like is the disrespect of saying, “You don’t know what you’re talking about.” I think we do
know what we’re talking about. We’ve been here a very long time. We’ve seen what this city has gone
through, through its ups and downs. Regardless of people just moving here, let’s work on this together.
All we ask is that you work with us and understand that our concerns are legitimate, just like yours.
Another thing came up about Flock cameras catching people going through stop signs or red lights.
That’s not what they’re used for. I sat down and watched that system for days when we first brought it
in. If that were the case, that would be great—we’d stop speeding and wouldn’t have to go through the
state to get speed cameras and red-light cameras. But that’s not what the Flock cameras are used for.
They do not take pictures of individuals, and they do not record sound. I’ve watched how they work.
Council members can sit down and watch them too. I understand the concerns people have about how
the information is shared, because it is shared between municipalities. That’s how they catch a car that
committed a crime here and then crossed the bridge to Lloyd or went to the town of Poughkeepsie.
Whether the federal government is using it is something we’re being told is not happening, although
people say it is.

Official Minutes of the Common Council Meeting of October 6, 2026

Meanwhile, our city is looking at alternatives. I’m not going to expose this city and make it vulnerable
because of what we’ve been through. We’re looking at it and taking everyone’s concerns into account.
They’re legitimate concerns, but at the same we have to figure out how to keep the city safe. We're
talking with other municipalities to figure out what to do, because what you’re seeing in the paper and the
comments people are making are not the same as what I’m seeing in a room with these individuals. I
don’t really know who’s doing what at this point. All I know is that I have to make sure the city stays
safe, because I know what it looked like before.
I’m willing to work with the council and the community. But when people come in and demand what we
should do without offering another solution for keeping the city safe, I’m sorry, I can’t do it. I had to
make sure I put that on record so people would understand that part.
The budget is coming out October 15, and our finance team and department heads have been working
really hard on it. We’ve been meeting continuously, trying to find other revenue sources and ways to
reduce expenses. It is a very challenging budget, and when it comes out on the 15th, we’re going to
continue working with the council and our finance department.
The Finance Committee is going to have a very important role because we’ll have to keep working on the
budget until it’s time to approve it. As I said, it’s challenging. We’re constantly receiving information
about things happening at the state and federal levels that are affecting us drastically. I’m looking forward
to having those conversations and holding as many public hearings as we need so people understand what
we’re going through and we can be transparent. It will be a real working budget, and that means we need
all hands on deck. I’m looking forward to working with you all on that.
One last thing: I want to extend our condolences to one of our former council members and a DPW
employee, Mr. John Murphy. His family lost their child last week. I want to extend our condolences to
the family and keep them in our prayers.
Thank you, Chair. That's it.

XIII. CHAIRMAN'S COMMENTS AND PRESENTATIONS:
I want to thank everybody who came out to share their comments.
I also want to reiterate what the mayor was saying: you have to remember that there are two sides to the
community. Just as many people come to the meetings and speak against the loitering law, some people
say we’re not listening. We still have to listen to business owners and other people who live in the area
and feel the exact opposite. As a council, we have to balance that and recognize that it’s not one-sided.

Official Minutes of the Common Council Meeting of October 6, 2026

For clarity, one thing that was mentioned about Flock: I’m not in favor of Flock, either. But it was stated
numerous times, even from the dais, that there was no evidence. The police chief and the captain came
and told us that the Flock cameras were one of the reasons they solved some of the homicides that
happened here in Poughkeepsie. They did not say they had other means; they said this was one of the
reasons they stopped and solved several homicides and other crimes and shootings in Poughkeepsie.
The police have offered direct evidence, which we did not hear about. And, like I said, I’m not in support
of Flock. We also did not hear about all the other places where Flock has been hacked, or about data
sharing and other issues. Flock has been in Poughkeepsie for four years, and we did not hear any reports
of Poughkeepsie’s system being used improperly.
We have to be careful about continuing to characterize the issue by bringing national events into the city
of Poughkeepsie and creating a sense of fear that may not be warranted here. Yes, it might be happening
in other places, but our police department has not reported that happening here.
The loitering law also clearly says, as Councilman Menist mentioned, that it’s not for standing around. It’s
for people who are committing crimes. If you’ve ever been pulled over by the police for one thing, and
there are multiple issues—for example, something hanging from your window—they may add those to the
tickets so the case can stick.
We need an answer to help the people who live in the city of Poughkeepsie, because whether people want
to admit it or not, people have left. I’ve witnessed it myself, especially on Cannon Street, where people
from the church came and spoke about the unhoused people—whatever characterization people want to
use for the individuals out there. They are defecating. That is not acceptable. It is not acceptable for
students and children to walk by and see people defecating, having sex, or using drugs. This is happening
in front of the church and businesses.
Business owners have reached out to me, just as many residents have, and shown me videos of people
sneaking behind their buildings and doing that kind of thing. They’re doing the right thing: putting up
fences and cameras and finding different ways to address it. We do have to respond and help them, too.
This is not an end-all solution or a magic pill. But some of the things we’re doing make it inconvenient to
do this in other places. I’ve been to multiple conferences in different cities, and this is not just a city of
Poughkeepsie problem. One thing other places do that might make it seem as though there are no
unhoused people is move them somewhere else.
I’ve been to Mobile, Alabama; Montgomery, Alabama; New Orleans; California; and Jacksonville,
Florida. Everywhere I’ve been on the East Coast or West Coast within the last year or so, they’ve had the
same issue. The difference is that in cities where people say they don’t see anyone unhoused, we start

Official Minutes of the Common Council Meeting of October 6, 2026

driving around and they show us the area where those people are. It’s the same thing here in the city of
Poughkeepsie. Some people agree with it, and some people don’t. With issues like this, you’re never going
to get 100 percent agreement, but we have to make changes for the people who actually live and work in
the areas where these people are. They’re not thriving; they’re just hanging out.
They’re not all unhoused people. Some may be mentally ill or using drugs, and drug dealers or people
trying to sell drugs to them are there as well. It is an issue, and it is not neighborly. The neighbors are the
people who live there. Some individuals are not friendly, either. I’ve witnessed people coming right up to
cars at UpStream Cafe and the Academy, including cars belonging to people who just want to shop here in
the city. That is an issue we have to stop, and it is increasing day by day because people feel there’s
nothing that can be done. We do have to do something about it.
The Flock camera contract is not even up for renewal yet, and we’re not discussing when it needs to be
renewed. But we hear what people are saying, and the administration is looking at it. It’s not fair to say
that the city jumps at every concern. We hear people, and we have to hear both sides of the story, both
sides of the aisle, and make rational decisions in the best interest of the entire city of Poughkeepsie, not
just one group.
The city of Poughkeepsie can be defined by the individuals who choose what they want to define as the
city. Some people define the city by the area where they live. Some people live on the south side of
Poughkeepsie and define the city as the south side. Others live on the north side and define the city by
what they see there.
This is the third year of this issue. Flock and the things happening with Flock did not just start. Flock had
the same system in place and the same access from ICE before, and it was being used then. It has now
become a popular issue, so everybody wants to attack the city of Poughkeepsie council and government
and demand an immediate change. That wasn’t being said in the other years, when Flock had been around
doing the same things it’s doing now, as far as I know.
Our police chief, captain, and police officers—people who are paid to do this work and know what these
tools can do to help solve crimes—said this is a tool that helps them solve crimes. If it weren’t a useful
tool, they would say they didn’t need it. Whether it’s Flock or something else, we need tools because
people are committing crimes. People are driving by, shooting, and doing things that didn’t always happen
in the past but are now happening at an alarming rate. People are doing these things in broad daylight. On
any given day, you can walk down Main Street and see what’s happening. If anybody says that’s okay
because these people have nowhere to go, I don’t understand how that is fair to the children, the
businesses, or the people who live in that area. They shouldn’t have to be subjected to it while others
aren’t.
That’s just my opinion. I think people really need to be mindful of what they say about the city.
On a positive note, every Friday is Pink Out Friday. This is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and I want to
make sure people are aware. Women should also make sure they’re getting their annual checkups.

Official Minutes of the Common Council Meeting of October 6, 2026

That's just my opinion. I think people really need to be mindful of what they say about the city.
On a somewhat positive note, every Friday is "Pink Out Friday". This is Breast Cancer Awareness
Month,
and I want to make sure people are aware. Women should also make sure they're getting their
annual checkups.

XIV. ADJOURNMENT:

At 9:10 pm, a motion to adjourn the meeting was made by 6th Ward Councilmember Grant and
seconded by 8th ​Ward Councilmember Atonna.
Dated: October 14, 2026
I hereby certify that this true and correct copy of the Minutes of the Common Council Meeting held on
Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna M. DeLuca
Deputy City Chamberlain