Bygone Hudson Valley

Some early views of the hamlet of Ardonia in the Town of Plattekill. The first image is the E.F. Seymour General Store and Post Office as seen in 1892. The store was built in 1881 by George F. Seymour, and stood just east of the present day Ardonia Market. Ennis F. Seymour purchased the store in 1882 and expanded it the following year to include a blacksmith shop, farm machinery sales and a stagecoach that ran between Ardonia and Poughkeepsie. The next two postcard images, c. 1911 and c. 1915, show additional views of the store, along with the “public square.” (There are a number of early postcards with the handwritten “Ardenia” spelling). The store burned during the early 1900s, and there is a private home on the site today.

The next set of images show what is now the Ardonia Market. This building was originally the Presbyterian Church in Highland, located near today’s Chapel Hill Road. It was moved to Ardonia in 1863, and served as a public meeting hall and the Town Clerk’s Office. (The previously mentioned general store, with a sign reading “Ardonia Post Office” can be seen next door on the left.) The Modena Literary Society held its meetings in the hall, and featured important speakers of the day, including Congressman and 1872 presidential candidate Horace Greeley. Later the building served as a general store and gasoline station operated by the Imperato family. Since the 1950s, it has been the Ardonia Market, as seen in the c. 1955 postcard.

The final image is of the Fairlawn Store, post office and gas station, c. 1945, owned by Oliver Byrnes. This building later became Laser’s store and post office. The former store still stands and is currently being renovated.