The Story of Historic Kingston

The Story of Historic Kingston. Then and Now. , The Clermont at 295-299 Wall Street was built in 1878, seen above circa 1888 when it was likely decorated for a visiting dignitary. Today it stands to your left on the corner of John and Wall Streets with its exterior beautifully restored to the original red brick and colorful geometric tiles trimmed in black. Most of its architectural details are intact, including a grand arched window centered in the mansard roof reflecting the French classical style of the mid-19th century, and ironwork across its top. The Knights of Phythias had a lodge on the top floor which featured painted murals on the ceiling. Oliver Brigham's Oyster Bay Restaurant occupied the basement, as seen at top., Bob Dylan played pool at Kaslich Billiards in the mid-1960s during the time he was living in Woodstock. Nick Kaslich's pool hall sign can be seen hanging from the third floor in the photograph at far right., The Eng brothers ran the Kingston Tea Garden from 1933 to 1955 on the east side of Wall Street. In 1955, one brother, Paul, opened his own restaurant on the second floor of the Clermont. In 1966, the original Kingston Tea Garden moved to the corner of Wall and John Streets. The same year, Paul moved out of the Clermont to a building on Broadway in Midtown, where Eng's remains today and continues to be popular for its buffet and nostalgic approach to Chinese American food, with an iconic neon sign., The Jennifer Shop, as the ghost sign above left reads, was a woman's clothing store. Dick and Louise Fredenberg opened the store in the early 1970s and named it after their daughter Jennifer., Excerpted from our 500-page book, The Story of Historic Kingston, featuring 950 images. The book is for sale online and at local shops, including this location. Information about all Blauweiss Media's books, films, exhibitions, presentations, walk, talks, and more can be found on our website (below).