"Downtown" Rhinecliff, c1920
Shown as J. O’Brien’s [grocer] on the 1867 Beers map, by 1900 it became Ostrom and Cornwell’s general store. Over the years, I’ve seen shops come and go in this beautiful old structure. Often the storefront is empty. It is occupied today (2021) with a new high-end mini grocery store. I wish them success. The white-ish building at the top of the hill is the old Union Hotel (now a private residence). The other brick building you see is the post office (with the brick firehouse next to it).
I’ve never seen a record of anything in the space between the store and post office. According to the 1913 Sandborn Fire map, the post office was also once a store, and there were even two more across each street – and plenty of saloons. (Note: red/pink denotes brick bldgs.) The area between O’Brien’s and the PO appears to be filled with livery stables. Undoubtedly, all these stores and the stables were key parts of the commercial business activity surrounding the train stop and ferry/steamship landing.
Below is an excerpt from the 1867 Beers Map of downtown Rhinecliff. Shown are O’Brien’s, the Dyer Store, the Union Hotel, and a convenient saloon right off the “Steam Boat Landing” and Ferry dock. (The saloon is Hoffmann’s. See also 1895 map further below and see page 234 of Sari Tietjen’s book Rhinebeck, Portrait of a Town, for a picture of it.)
Rhinecliff Hotel, built 1855, card undated, c1900
Hotel Rhinecliff, 1979 photo from National Register of HP
A very classy sign with the 7up adverts on it.
Hotel Rhinecliff, undated, possibly late 1800s
Poor quality image from the now defunct business old facebook page. I tried cleaning it up, but this is best I could get it. I was in Rhinecliff recently, this unique old structure is shutdown with a “for-lease” sign on it. Looks like they sold all their parking spots to the train station.
1909 postmarked Morton Library
You know the architectural design is good when a structure dedicated in 1908 looks like it was built yesterday. A gift from Levi Morton to the community in memory of his daughter, Lena.
First Rhinecliff Train Station, c1910 card
Excerpt from 1895 Sanborn map (in LOC, 1886 map similar) showing platform location. Map also shows the old Hoffmann Hotel.
Viaduct built in 1913 (road from ferry terminal)
The plane over the river was superimposed, other cards show a steamboat. Trees (and the guardrail) make it difficult to get a shot showing a similar view.
Undated, c1920
Right at the intersection of Morton and Mill St.
Undated, c1920
Coming in from Rhinebeck to Rhinecliff, where Charles St. and Orchard Dr. begin.
Catholic Church built 1865, card c1900
Gothic revival style church built in 1864 to attend to the (mainly) Irish in the area building the railroad. It appears it is still active.
Methodist Church built 1859, card c1900s
I believe this is now a private residence.
Episcopal Church also built 1859, card c1900s
This church stood at the corner of Grinnell and Williams St. It is unclear when it burned down.
