Joseph Hudson House (Nelson Avenue-Fort Hill Historic District)

The Nelson Avenue-Fort Hill Historic District is a large residential neighborhood located just north of the Peekskill Downtown Historic District in northwestern Westchester County, New York. Among the 195 contributing buildings in the Nelson Avenue-Fort Hill Historic District is the Joseph Hudson House. Located at 305 Nelson Ave, the house was constructed ca.1870 for Joseph Hudson, who achieved notoriety due to his brief but memorable association with President Abraham Lincoln. When Abraham Lincoln’s train stopped in Peekskill in 1861 and was visited by a crowd of over 1000 people, Hudson was in charge of Lincoln’s car and the platform. Hudson also served as Peekskill’s Postmaster General from 1869 through 1881. Hudson lived at 305 Nelson Avenue after previously residing on Paulding Street. He also owned the home at 300 Nelson Avenue. The Nelson Avenue-Fort Hill Historic District, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.

Joseph Hudson, the first owner of 305 Nelson Avenue in Peekskill’s Nelson Avenue-Fort Hill Historic District, was born in 1837 on Long Island, New York. He ran away from home at age 12 and became a railroad man, securing positions first with the Long Island Railroad and later with the Hudson River Railroad. It was this association with the local railroads that would result in Hudson’s claim to fame. In 1861, on February 19th, when Abraham Lincoln stopped in Peekskill on his way to Washington for his first inauguration, Lincoln addressed a large gathering of over a thousand Peekskill people, who had met to do him honor. It was Joseph Hudson who was in charge of the platform of Lincoln’s special train. Lincoln visited Peekskill due to the support and friendship of Congressman William Nelson. Hudson also served as the postmaster for Peekskill from 1869 through 1881.

Prior to residing at his home on Nelson Avenue, Hudson previously lived on Paulding Street. At one point, he owned the entire 300 block of Nelson Avenue, where he constructed another house. 

The Joseph Hudson House at 305 Nelson Avenue is a two story, three bay Gothic Revival building. It has a cross-gable roof with asphalt shingles, as well as a side entrance and a full front porch. The house possesses a large, two story, gabled addition with an overhanging second story. It has been converted into a multi-unit dwelling. Its outbuilding is noncontributing to the historic district.

The Nelson Avenue-Fort Hill Historic District, which includes the Joseph Hudson House, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.

1. Czarnecki, Anthony J. “Mr. Lincoln’s Visit to Peekskill: The Sesquicentennial of an Inaugural Journey.” The Westchester Historian. Vol. 87, No. 1, Winter 2011
2. Naylor, Colin T. “Abe Was a Loser—Here.” The Westchester Historian. Vol.81, No. 4, Fall 2005
3. “Nelson Avenue-Fort Hill Historic District #06000335.” National Register of Historic Places. United States Department of the Interior/National Park Service. 2006. https://catalog.archives.gov/id/75323119 
4. Smith, Chester A. Peekskill, A Friendly Town: Its Historic Sites and Shrines: A Pictorial History of the City From 1654-1952. Peekskill, NY: The Highland Press. 1952.
5. “The Joseph Hudson House.” Historic Resource Inventory Form. New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation. 2004.