The Names of Streets of Poughkeepsie

THE NAMES OF THE STREETS OF POUGHKEEPSIE

NOTE: The listing of the streets of Poughkeepsie in this issue of the Year Book is not complete. In many cases the Editor could find no reason for the name. In some instances several opinions have been offered but none could be verified. The Editor hopes that the readers of the Year Book will help in completing the listing of the streets and the origin of the names. Academy Street: Formerly Ragged Lane, Ludlow Street, Charles Street.

Changed to Academy Street when Poughkeepsie's first private school,

The Dutchess Academy, was established at the corner of Academy and

Cannon Streets in 1792. Adriance Avenue: Peter Adriance built one of the first houses on the street shortly after it was accepted as a City street. Albany Street: Originally designed as the road north to Albany. Arnold Blvd.: Named for Judge Charles W. H. Arnold, one of the developers of the section. Balding Avenue: Isaac Balding was the owner of the Northern Hotel in the area. Bancroft Road: Honoring Dr. William Bancroft Hill of Vassar College. Barnard Avenue: Honoring Joseph F. Barnard, Justice of the Supreme

Court. Bartlett Street: Honoring Charles Bartlett, Principal of College Hill School. Beekman Place: Part of the Tower development. Mr. A. E. Tower had iron mines in the Town of Beekman, Dutchess County. Bellevue Avenue: First known as Belle View Street, a beautiful view of the Hudson River. Bement Avenues Bement was a brother-in-law of John and William Lent, the men who developed the area. They honored their brother-in-law by naming a street for him. Boberick Road: The road was developed by Lois Rector and derives its name from members of her family, Bob and Rick. Bridge Streets: There has been a bridge over the Fallkill for many years. Brookside Avenue: The Fallkill flows along the thoroughfare. Buckingham Avenue: Samuel A. Buckingham was a prominent member of the City, closely associated with Matthew Vassar in many projects. Cannon Street: During the Revolutionary War cannon and other arms were at the present corner of Market and Cannon Streets. Catharine Street: Named for Catharine Livingston, wife of Gilbert Livingston. Charles Street: Early Poughkeepsie maps show that Charles W. Swift owned many acres of land in the area. When the street was made it was named in his honor. Cherry Streets: There were extensive cherry orchards on South Cherry

Street. Church Street: Site of the original Christ Episcopal Church at the corner of Church and Market Streets. Church Street originally ran from

Market Street east to the junction of Main Street.

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Circular Road: The street shape is an arc of a circle. Clark Street: A very trusted employee of Mr. A. E. Tower who developed the section was named Clark. Clinton Streets: Honoring the first Governor of New York State, George

Clinton. Clover Streets: At the time these streets were made it was popular to name streets after trees and flowers. College Avenue: The road that led from South Cherry Street to Vassar

College. Columbia Street: This was a popular name for streets throughout the eastern area. Conklin Street: Named for the Conklin family, prominent in Poughkeepsie's early days. Conies Avenue: Named for Jacob Conies, land developer, banker and a prominent resident of Poughkeepsie. Cottage Street: Cottage Hill School was located here. Crannell Street: Bartholomew Crannell, a lawyer and owner of a large amount of Poughkeepsie property, left Poughkeepsie in 1776 and after the Revolution moved to Canada. He was an early settler at presentday St. John's, New Brunswick. Crescent Road: It is crescent shaped. Daniels Court: Robert Daniels built many of the houses on this street. Davies Place: William A. Davies and his brother William L. Davies lived in this area. They were active in the establishing of the Church of the

Holy Comforter and the street on which the church is built was named for the two gentlemen. DeGarmo Place: Smith L. DeGarmo was a prominent merchant, the president of Luckey, Platt and Company. Delafield Street: John Delafield, a manufacturer of carpets, was an owner of a large tract of land in present First Ward, Poughkeepsie. Delano Street: Named for Jethro Delano who was a property owner in the area. Dongan Place: Honored Governor Dongan of New York. Dutchess Avenue: Honoring the Duchess of York. Dutcher Place: Honored John B. Dutcher, Member of the Assembly from

Poughkeepsie in 1861. Dwight Street: Professor Dwight was a prominent member of the faculty of Vassar College. Eastman Terrace: Harvey G. Eastman, Mayor of Poughkeepsie, was the

President of Eastman Business College. Elm Street: There were beautiful elm trees on the street and in the area. Emott Place: Honored James Emott, Poughkeepsie's first Mayor. Fallkill Avenue: Near the Fallkill. Fitchett Street: The street was named in honor of a Poughkeepsian by that name who lost his life during the First World War.

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Flannery Avenue: Named for Robert Joseph Flannery, one of the first

Poughkeepsie men to lose their lives in the Second World War. Forbus Street: John Forbus was a prominent member of the Community. Foster Street: David B. Foster, a prominent citizen, probably was the first dealer in coal in Poughkeepsie. Fountain Brook: A small stream flowed in a south-easterly direction from the junction of Main and Church Streets and emptied in Vassar Lake. Fountain Place: For a great many years a horse trough fed by water from the spring, the source of Fountain Brook, stood at the junction of

Main and Church Streets. Fox Street: Alcander Fox was one of the early land owners in the area.

Lots on present-day Fox Street were sold at public auction on September 1, 1894. Thirty five foot lots sold from $110 to $135. Fox Terrace: Named for the developer of a large parcel of land between

South Cherry Street and Lexington Avenue. He lived on Church

Street near May Street. It is believed May, Edgar and Gray Streets were named for those Associated with Mr. Fox in the development. Franklin Street: Honored Benjamin Franklin. Front Street: Originally called West Street, then Navigation Street, and finally Front Street because of its proximity to the Hudson River. Fulton Street: Named for Robert Fulton, the inventor of the steam boat. Garden Street: The street or lane led to Postmaster McKeean's garden which was located between present-day Mill and Mansion Streets. Garfield Place: Originally known as South Liberty Street, the name was changed to honor James A. Garfield, 18th President of the United

States. Gate Street: It was a lane which was entered through a large gate. Because of the unusually large size of the gate, the lane became known as Gate Street. Gifford Avenue: The street was named for Nathan Gifford, a prominent citizen. He was a pioneer in cutting dyewood in the area. Glenwood Avenue: Formerly Gregory Avenue named for Theodorus Gregory, a prominent member of the community in the middle 1800's. Grand Avenue: The street was wider and "grander" than most of the streets of Poughkeepsie. Grand Street: In early days of Poughkeepsie, Grand Street had a "grand view of the River and the hills beyond". Grant Street: Honored Ulysses S. Grant, the 20th President of the United

States. Grove Street: The hillside was noted for its fine stand of large trees. Grubb Street: John Grubb was a very prominent member of the community. Hamilton Street: Named for Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury.

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Hammersley Avenue: A part of the James Hooker property, the street was named Hamersley Avenue honoring Mr. Hooker's son-in-law John W.

Hamersley. The original and correct spelling of Hamersley is with one M. Hanscom Avenue: Joseph Hanscom was a developer of real estate. Harris Street: Named for Joseph Harris who was the owner of the property known as Union Landing. Harrison Street: Honored the 23rd President of the United States, Benjamin Harrison. Henderson Street: A Mr. Henderson was a valued employee of Mr. Tower at the Tower Furnace, and Mr. Tower honored him when the street was planned. High Street: This street crosses a relatively prominent hill with the land sloping downward to Mansion, Garden and North Hamilton Street and the Fallkill. Hoffman Street: The street lead to Hoffman's Landing on the Hudson

River. Martin Hoffman came to Poughkeepsie in 1755. The family had lived in Rhinebeck for many years. Holmes Street: Obadiah Holmes was the owner of a large tract of land in the present-day South Hamilton Street, Dwight Street, and Holmes

Street section of Poughkeepsie. Hooker Avenue: James Hooker, a prominent attorney, owned and developed much of the property of the Hooker Avenue, Hammersley

Avenue areas. Hooker Avenue was known as "Back Road to Fishkill", "Hudson Avenue" and the "Plank Road". Hudson Avenue: Named for Henry Hudson, the explorer. Jefferson Street: Honored Thomas Jefferson, 3rd President of the United

States. Jewett Avenue: Dr. Milo P. Jewett was the first President of Vassar

College. John Street: It originally was known as "John's Lane" because it led to the residence of a man whose first name was John. Kimball Road: Dr. Grace N. Kimball was a prominent physician of the

City. King Street: Andrew King was an owner of property in this section of the City. Kingston Avenue: Honored Walter W. Kingston, prominent builder and contractor. Mr. Kingston was one of the developers of the Ruppert

Park residential area of Poughkeepsie. LaFayette Place: Honored General LaFayette. Lansing Street: Named in honor of a prominent Poughkeepsian, Wallace

Lansing. Laurel Street: This section of Poughkeepsie was noted for its fine trees. Lawrence Road: First called Hingman Street, it was changed to honor

Clayton R. Lawrence, a Poughkeepsian who lost his life during the

First World War.

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Lent Street: The Lent families were owners of many acres of land in the present Fifth Ward. Liberty Street: A popular name for a street in most of the eastern cities. Lincoln Avenue: Old maps indicate this street was called Washington

Street, later Jefferson Street, and finally Lincoln Avenue. Linden Road: Linden trees grew in abundance. Livingston Street: Henry Livingston was the owner of a large amount of land in the southwestern section of present-day Poughkeepsie. Lown Court: Frank B. Lown was a very prominent attorney and banker in Poughkeepsie. Mack Road: Named for John E. Mack, Justice of the Supreme Court. Main Street: Originally called the Filkintown Road, Main Street commenced at Washington Street and ran, as it does today, eastward through the center of Poughkeepsie. Mansion Street: The name came to the street because it contained many houses of "high quality". Maple Street: As there are today, beautiful maple trees decorated the street. Marian Avenue: John B. Marian was a developer of this area. Market Street: A farmer's ma,rket was established in the early days of

Poughkeepsie at the present-day corner of Main and Markets Streets. Marshall Street: John Marshall was the owner of a residence and land in the vicinity of the present-day Post Office. Mill Street: There were many mills along the Fallkill, especially at the head of Mill Street at Clinton Square. Miller Road: Named for Harold Miller who started the development known as Cedar View Estates. Mitchell Avenue: Charles S. Mitchell, a prominent citizen, merchant and one of the developers of Ruppert Park. Monell Avenue: Robert Monell was a civil engineer who mapped the streets in growing Poughkeepsie. Montgomery Street: Honored General Richard Montgomery who was a resident of Dutchess County. Morgan Avenue: Mr. Morgan was a relative of the Lent family, the developers of the section. Morton Street: Levi P. Morton, Vice-President of the United States, 18891893, under President Benjamin Harrison, and Governor of New

York State, 1895-1896, was a resident of Dutchess County. Mt. Carmel Place: Formerly Cataract Square, the name was changed when

Mt. Carmel Church and School were built. Muldowney Circle: Named for a resident of Poughkeepsie who lost his life in the early days of World War II, Frank Muldowney. New Market Street: When authorized, it was designated as North Market

Street. Perhaps it is too new to assume its proper name. Noxon Street: Named for B. Da,vis Noxon who lived on the south side of Noxon Street near Market Street. He was a prominent attorney.

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Oak Crescent: The shape of the street, as well as the trees, gave the street its name. Oak Street: As many other streets in Poughkeepsie, the handsome trees were recognized and the streets named for them. Oakley Street: George P. Oakley was a mill owner and a man of many ventures in the early days of Poughkeepsie. Oakwood Blvd.: The oak trees. Palmer Avenue: Named for the Palmer family, owners of the land in the area. Park Place: Near Mansion Square Park. Parker Avenue: In former years, North Street. A prominent citizen,

George Parker, owned land and lived in the vicinity. Perry Street (north): Originally known as Long Row, then East Mansion Street and Bayeaux after a family who owned land in the vicinity, it finally became North Perry Street. Pershing Avenue: Formerly East Mansion Street, it was renamed to honor

General John Pershing. Phoenix Street: The Phoenix Horseshoe Works. Pine Street: The Pine family, Pine Hall. Platt Street: Howard Platt was a prominent Poughkeepsian, President of

Luckey Platt and Company. Reade Place: The street was formerly Lafayette Street and renamed Reade

Place for a family living in the area. Reservoir Place: The City Reservoir is nearby. Reynolds Avenue: Named for Thomas Reynolds who developed streets in this part of Poughkeepsie. Roosevelt Avenue: Honored Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the

United States. Rosalind Road: Named for Rosalind Hasbrouck, daughter of the developer of the section, Ross Hasbrouck. She was the granddaughter of

Frank Hasbrouck, prominent attorney and City Judge. Ruppert Road: Jacob Ruppert was the former owner of the Ruppert

Farms. Smith Street: Gerardus Smith was the owner of a mill at Clinton Square. South Avenue: The road to the south. Spoor Avenue: Named for Lloyd Spoor prominent in the development of the Ruppert Park section of the 8th Ward. Spruce Street: Many spruce trees were growing throughout the area of

Spruce Street. State Street: Most cities had a street named State. Talmadge Street: William H. Talmadge was the owner of real estate in the area. Taylor Avenue: Old maps of Poughkeepsie indicate this street was once called Prospect Street. Robert E. Taylor, attorney in Poughkeepsie, was honored by having the street named for him.

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Thompson Street: Judge Smith Thompson was a prominent attorney. Tulip Street: It is said that the residents of this street grew the finest tulips in the City. Underhill Avenue: E. A. Underhill developed and built in this section of the City. Union Street: The street was the direct road to George B. Evertsen's Union

Landing from Market Street. Vassar Street: The home of Matthew Vassar was situated on the east side of the street where the Vassar Home now stands. Verazzano Blvd.: Named for the explorer. Virginia Avenue: Virginia Field was the owner of land in this section of Poughkeepsie. Washington Street: Named to honor George Washington. Originally

Washington Street ended at Parker Avenue. Beyond that corner, the street was known as The Road to Hyde Park, Albany Post Road and

North Avenue. Water Streets (North & South): Near the Hudson River. West Winding: The street winds west from Loockerman Avenue. Whin field Street: The name of an early map maker and surveyor of

Poughkeepsie. Whitehouse Avenue: John 0. Whitehouse was a prominent manufacturer of shoes and lived on Hooker Avenue. The section known as Whitehouse Knolls was part of his farm. Wilbur Blvd.: Daniel W. Wilbur, a Mayor of Poughkeepsie, was one of the developers of this area. He also planned the development which includes Wilbur Court. William Street: In 1933 William H. Frank was Mayor of Poughkeepsie.

The residents of Jay Street petitioned for a change of name and suggested Frank Street. The Mayor did not approve of the idea, but finally agreed to using his given name William. Willow Bend: Large willow trees are found on this street. Wilmot Terrace: Named for Wilmot Shafer, the contractor who developed the section from Linden Avenue to Thornwood Drive. Wilson Blvd.: Probably named honoring Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States. Winnikee Avenue: At one time called Hudson Avenue. The Winnikee

Mills were supplied with power from the Fallkill. Records indicate the Fallkill was called Winnikee by the Indians. Wood Lane: James Wood owned a drug store at the corner of Main

Street and Wood Lane. The narrow street was once called Slee's Alley, then Mechanic Street. Worrall Avnue: The Worrall family was a prominent Poughkeepsie family. George Worrall was a well known attorney. Zimmer Avenue: Nicholas Zimmer was the owner of property along the

Fallkill east of Garden Street.