CONTACTS

Preservation League of New York State Jay DiLorenzo 518-462-5658

Hudson Area Association Library Board of Trustees Carole Osterink 518-822-1912

ALBANY, January 14, 2005 – The Preservation League of New York State has named The Hudson Area Library at 400 State Street in Hudson, Columbia County one of New York State’s Seven to Save, the nonprofit group’s annual list of the Empire State’s most threatened historic places.

Constructed as an almshouse, this imposing Federal style building has been used by the public and educational institutions almost continuously since its construction in 1818 of locally quarried Becraft Mountain limestone. The library building is an integral part of Hudson’s cultural history, and it is also a significant element in the city’s overall architectural design.

“Like other libraries across the state, the Hudson Area Library is facing the challenge of providing services with shrinking budgets and declining staff size,” said Tania Werbizky, director of Technical and Grant Programs for the Preservation League of New York State. “Many libraries are abandoning their historic locations for one-story, open-plan new construction to accommodate more computer terminals. Older, multi-story libraries present challenges in meeting modern technology, safety, and accessibility demands – and too many historic library buildings are facing abandonment.”

The hard work and leadership of Hudson’s elected and appointed officials, as well as concerned citizens, may keep the Hudson Area Library from meeting that same fate.

 “Thanks to Assemblyman Patrick Manning & Mayor Richard Scalera, who secured some $300,000 in unused HUD funds for the purchase, the Library will soon be transferred from Hudson City School District to Hudson Area Association Library Board of Trustees,” said Jay DiLorenzo, President of the Preservation League. “Today’s Seven to Save listing means that the Preservation League stands ready to assist with publicity, strategies for fundraising, and technical support for the Library Board. We’re looking forward to adding the Library to our list of success stories in the Hudson Valley.”

          According to Carole Osterink, Vice President of the Hudson Area Association Library Board of Trustees, “The League has already provided a great deal of support for the library’s efforts to acquire 400 State Street and rescue it from an uncertain future: attending public meetings, providing legal advice, and offering information about new state funding programs. This designation as one of New York’s Seven to Save will broaden awareness throughout the state of this rare and extraordinary surviving Federal building, and will enhance the respect for the building among the local community.”

In addition to the Hudson Area Library, the Seven to Save list for 2005 includes:

• The Herkimer County 1834 Jail, Herkimer County
• The Iron Block, Watertown, Jefferson County
• Todd Shipyards Graving Dock, Brooklyn, Kings County
• St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Harlem, New York County
• The Old Custom House, Niagara Falls, Niagara County
• The Guastavino Tile House, Bay Shore, Suffolk County.

A complete description of Seven to Save designees can be found on the League’s web site at www.preservenys.org .

Since 1999, publicity surrounding the Seven to Save designation has led to the stabilization of St. Joseph’s Church in Albany; the rehabilitation of the Oswego City Public Library, the adaptive re-use of the former Niagara Falls High School as a cultural and arts center, and prevented the demolition of the Conger Goodyear House on Long Island.

The Preservation League of New York State, founded in 1974, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the protection of New York’s diverse and rich heritage of historic buildings, districts and landscapes. From its headquarters in Albany, it provides a unified voice for historic preservation. By leading a statewide movement and sharing information and expertise, the Preservation League of New York State promotes historic preservation as a tool to revitalize the Empire State’s neighborhoods and communities.

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