History on the Hudson

IMG_0907DSC_9923IMG_0882DSC_9944 IMG_0900Cornwall on Hudson is a quaint riverfront village about 55 miles north of Manhattan lined with cafes, art galleries and eclectic restaurants. A new listing in this artistic town is the circa 1855 Braden Carriage Home originally owned by Lieutenant Charles Braden, a West Point graduate who served under General George Custer and later headed the Braden School, a preparatory academy for aspiring West Point cadets in Cornwall. Built by Mead and Taft using post and beam construction, the dramatic, all-brick residence experienced a year-long restoration process that was completed in 2014.

Current homeowners Brian Strenge and his wife, Teresa Pellegrini, directed the project with a keen focus on the 19th century architectural features. “We repurposed doors, hardware, as well as fixtures whenever possible,” Strenge says. “We attempted to maintain and mirror the arches over all windows and doors in the brick patterns. We restored as much of the splatted maple flooring as possible, and reused the milking station from the first-floor stalls as the kitchen peninsula. We exposed, restored, and ensured the integrity of the original post and beam structure. Where we had to add new posts, we had them created here in Cornwall at Doug Spaulding Mills.” In fact, such great care was taken to keep the agrarian elements intact that metal rings used to tie up livestock are still seen in the interior’s exposed brick walls.

DSC_9936The restoration created a loft-like, 16-room structure arranged with five bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and a two-car garage. Highlights of the open floor plan include soaring ceilings, fully-equipped guest quarters and an art studio space.

Located in New York State’s scenic Hudson Valley region, this home is near many of Cornwall’s attractions, Strenge notes. “We walk to Storm King Mountain from our home and hike all day,” he shares. “We walk to the river, which is a 15-minute walk, if that, and we can walk to the convenience store for milk and ice cream at almost any time. The walkability of the village offers proximity to several restaurants and the best coffee shop, 2 Alices, plus easy access to Amtrak and Metro North train lines, Stewart International Airport, West Point and Woodbury Commons outlet stores.”

Lush surroundings give a distinct country vibe to this in-town dwelling. A private deck adjoining the kitchen takes in distant mountain views, while the grounds are characterized by mature specimen and holly trees, evergreens, established perennial gardens, a courtyard, and brick, bluestone and cobblestone accents. Additionally, one of the town’s oldest Sycamore trees still stands tall from its days as a landmark for sailing ships.

Photography Courtesy of Jackie Ross.

To see full listing, please click here.

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