Newburgh Architects
Andrew Jackson Downing (1815-1852) was a pioneering American landscape designer, horticulturist, and writer who played a pivotal role in shaping American architecture and landscaping during the 19th century. Andrew Jackson Downing was born in Newburgh on October 31, 1815 to Samuel Downing, a wheelwright located at Broad and Liberty Streets, and Eunice Bridge. , He is best known for his promotion of the "Picturesque" style of landscaping, which emphasized the harmonious integration of buildings and natural scenery. Downing is credited with popularizing the front porch, which he saw as the link between house and nature. Downing authored several influential books, including "A Treatise on the Theory and Practice of Landscape Gardening" and "Cottage Residences," which popularized his ideas on landscape design and architectural aesthetics. Tragically, Downing's life was cut short. In July 28, 1852, Downing boarded the steamboat Henry Clay with his family for a trip to New York City. While racing the rival steamboat Armenia, a fire broke out in the Henry Clay's engine room. The fire spread, resulting in one of the worst steamboat disasters on the Hudson. Downing, former NYC mayor Stephen Allen, Nathaniel Hawthorne's sister Maria and around 70 others perished. Downing's influence extended beyond his brief life, as his ideas and designs left a lasting imprint on the American landscape and on his followers and contemporaries, such as: Frederick Law Olmstead, Calvert Vaux, Alexander Jackson Davis, and Frederick Clarke Withers. Downing's influence is strongly reflected in the Olmsted and Vaux design for Central Park. Downing Park was designed by Frederick Law Olmstead and Calvert Vaux, the designers of New York City's Central Park. The two men agreed to give their design to Newburgh if the city would name the new park after their mentor, A.J. Downing.
See this resource guide on Andrew Jackson Downing and his legacy
Frederick Clarke Withers (1828-1901) was a distinguished American architect known for his significant contributions to the Gothic Revival and High Victorian Gothic architectural styles and renowned for his ecclesiastical architecture including Calvary Presbytarian Church in Newburgh Born in England, he emigrated to the United States in the mid-19th century and began working in the offices of Andrew Jackson Downing. After Downing's death Withers began work as an assistant and later partner to Calvert Vaux. Clarke Wither also had a significant influence on the architectural landscape of Newburgh, New York. His innovative use of High Victorian Gothic elements, characterized by intricate stonework, pointed arches, and steeply pitched roofs, can be seen in several churches, residences, and public buildings throughout Newburgh, the Hudson Valley, and the greater region. Today, Frederick Clarke Withers' Hudson Valley standing homes, churches and other buildings remain cherished examples of his architectural prowess and are valued as historical treasures that contribute to the region's rich architectural heritage.
See The Local Architecture of Frederick Clarke Withers from the Poughkeepsie Public Library District
Calvert Vaux (1824 – 1895) Vaux was born in England and studied architecture in London. Andrew Jackson Downing was impressed by a London gallery exhibition of Vaux's work as a draftsman and had Vaux came to America to work as an assistant in his burgeoning landscape gardening practice. Vaux work while under Olmsted's employ mainly focused on designing "rural" house plans. In 1857, Vaux published Villas and Cottages, an extremely influential work on American architecture which popularized the Victorian Gothic style. Vaux worked with Olmsted for two years before Olmsted's untimely demise in a steamboat accident.. After Olmsted's death Vaux carried on his mentor's architectural practice, working with another English architect, Frederick Clarke Withers. In 1856 Vaux left Newburgh for New York City where he joined the National Academy of Design and the Century Club and 7 was a founding member of the American Institute of Architects. In 1857, Vaux recruited landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, to help with the Greensward plan, which became New York City's Central Park. After Central Park and Olmsted went on to co-design a number of New York City's principal parks Morningside and Riverside Parks, Prospect Park in Brooklyn, as well as South Park in Chicago, and the Metropolitan and Natural History Museums in New York City. In 1872, Vaux and Olmsted dissolved their partnership of seven years, though they would go on to collaborate on special projects, including Downing Park. 1889 Vaux and Olmsted delivered the plans for Downing Park, which was given to the city on condition it be named after their mentor, Andrew Jackson Downing. It was the last collaboration between Vaux and Olmsted.
Alexander Jackson Davis (1803– 1892) Jackson Davis was born in New York City, then raised and educated in Utica, and Auburn, NY. Davis studied design in New York City at the American Academy of the Fine Arts, the New York Association of Artists, and the Antique School of the National Academy of Design. Jackson Davis went on to become one of the greatest American architects of the mid-nineteenth century. In 1835 Jackson Davis designed the Dutch Reformed Church in Newburgh. It is his only surviving church in that style and is considered to be his latest building still standing that largely reflects his original vision. The Church was last used in 1967 and in 1970 the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Gallery of Art- Alexander Jackson Davis
Thornton MacNess Niven (1806—1895) Niven was a regionally prominent architect born in Newburgh. Before working as an architect Niven operated a stone-yard and worked primarily as a stonecutter and mason, and received national acclaim for his work as a stonecutter. Niven did the stonework for the Dutch Reformed Church Niven helped popularize the Greek Revival style in Newburgh. Niven designed the Orange County Court House in Newburgh, the Orange County Courthouse in Goshen, as well as the William Hasbrouck House and the Niven house.
Frank Estabrook (1860 - 1918) was a regionally renowned architect from Newburgh, NY whose specialty was designing public buildings and schools. Estabrook graduated from NFA and studied architecture at Boston Polytechnic school Boston, before coming back to Newburgh 1891 and opening an office on Third Street.
Villas and cottages. A series of designs prepared for execution in the United States
This monograph published by Vaux includes 39 architectural designs from his collaborations with Andrew Jackson Downing and Frederick Clarke Withers for suburban and rural villas, houses, and cottages in Newburgh, New Windsor, Poughkeepsie, and other locations in the Hudson River Valley.