The Story of Historic Kingston

The Story of Historic Kingston. Then and Now. , Built in 1899 on the site of a former lumberyard, this four-story, wood-frame Tudor Revival was first operated by Margaret Conklin from 1899 to 1917. It served as a boarding house for women, many of whom had come to Kingston to work in the garment industry., In 1918, George and Jane Holms purchased the building and then sold it in 1922 to Samuel and Alice Saulpaugh, who opened a restaurant and are credited with naming the establishment the Kirkland Hotel. They sold the businesses three years later to John and Mary Eagan who operated it until 1948. In 1950 Max and Ruth Brugmann purchased the property and in 1952, opened a restaurant, the Dutch Rathskeller, in the Kirkland's basement. The Brugmanns closed the hotel in 1968 and the restaurant and bar in 1972., With a stone and brick foundation, the building features a wood and brick wraparound porch and a tower with a rounded balcony. The exterior has wood siding on the first two floors an stucco on the third and attic stories. Decorative wood trim highlights the upper stories and gables of the building and windows feature a nine-over-one grid., The Dutch Rathskeller restaurant offered an old-world atmosphere, steins of beer, and European master chefs. Owner Max Brugmann previously had a restaurant named Herman's on Wall Street, which closed in 1948 when Schneider's Jewelers bought the building. The Rathskeller advertised "Banquets, parties, and catered affairs of up to 125 guests… elegantly served in our Senate Dining Room. All our public rooms, Senate Dining Room, Dutch Rathskeller, Grill Room, Keg Room, Gift Shop, are air-conditioned." The corset shop next door is still remembered today and had a similar Tudor-style design to the neighboring Kirkland. Its neon sign and that of the Rathskeller were made by the Modjeska Sign Studio., In 2001 RUPCO purchased the Kirkland and renovated it, reopening in 2008 with a restored wraparound porch, cupola, affordable housing units, and their executive offices., 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).