The Plumb-Bronson House, also known as the Dr. Oliver Bronson House and Stables, is a historic house on Worth Avenue (
United States Route 9
U.S. Route 9 (US 9) is a north–south United States highway in the states of Delaware, New Jersey, and New York in the Northeastern United States. It is one of only two U.S. Highways with a ferry connection (the Cape May–Lewes Ferry, betw ...
) in
Hudson, New York
Hudson is a city and the county seat of Columbia County, New York, United States. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 5,894. Located on the east side of the Hudson River and 120 miles from the Atlantic Ocean, it was named for the rive ...
. Built in 1811 and significantly altered in 1839 and 1849, it is an important early example of the
Hudson River Bracketed style by
Alexander Jackson Davis
Alexander Jackson Davis, or A. J. Davis (July 24, 1803 – January 14, 1892), was an American architect, known particularly for his association with the Gothic Revival style.
Education
Davis was born in New York City and studied at ...
. The house was declared a
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance. Only some 2,500 (~3%) of over 90,000 places listed ...
in 2003.
[William E. Krattinger (August, 2001) , National Park Service and ]
Description and history
The Plumb-Bronson House is located in southeastern Hudson, on the west side of Worth Avenue (US 9) just north of the town line. The estate consists of about of open grass and woodlands, with most of the buildings set well back from the road. A gated drive with a small gatehouse on the south side provides access to the property. In addition to the main house, there are three outbuildings set in a cluster around it.
The house was originally built for Samuel Plumb, who purchased the site in 1811. The construction of the house has been attributed to local builder Barnabas Waterman (1776-1839), but the identity of its architect, if there was one, remains unknown. Alterations and additions to the house were designed by architect
Alexander Jackson Davis
Alexander Jackson Davis, or A. J. Davis (July 24, 1803 – January 14, 1892), was an American architect, known particularly for his association with the Gothic Revival style.
Education
Davis was born in New York City and studied at ...
and constructed in 1839 and 1849 for Dr.
Oliver Bronson
Oliver Bronson (October 3, 1799 – June 21, 1875) was an American physician and educator who was "heir to a wealthy Connecticut financier, banker, and real estate speculator."
Early life
Bronson was born on October 3, 1799, at Breakneck in Middl ...
, who purchased the property in 1838. Davis' work converted the house into an early example of the
Hudson River Bracketed style, and his influence is also evident in the adjacent outbuildings.
Dr Bronson was the heir to an affluent banking family and was probably introduced to Davis by his brother in law,
Robert Donaldson Jr. The grounds may be an early example of the work of landscape architect
Andrew Jackson Downing
Andrew Jackson Downing (October 31, 1815 – July 28, 1852) was an American landscape designer, horticulturist, and writer, a prominent advocate of the Gothic Revival in the United States, and editor of ''The Horticulturist'' magazine (1846–5 ...
.
Bronson sold the house in 1853. In the twentieth century portions of the property became the site of a girls' school, now used as a prison.
2003 Press Release
/ref> The house and its immediate grounds are now leased by Historic Hudson, Inc., who have begun a restoration program.
In popular culture
The house was a setting of a shoot out scene in the 2012 film Bourne Legacy, where it is burned down.
References
External links
National Historic Landmarks Program - Dr. Oliver Bronson House and EstateDriving map of Davis structures in the Hudson Valley
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bronson, Oliver, House)
Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in New York (state)
National Historic Landmarks in New York (state)
Houses in Columbia County, New York
National Register of Historic Places in Columbia County, New York