This building, which clearly bears the words “US Post Office, Ossining, NY” is, of course, no longer a Post Office. The left part of the building is a hairdresser, and the right part a doctor’s office.

As the Great Depression set in and construction slowed, one more public building completed the Downtown Historic District. The post office had outgrown its space at the Barlow Block again and needed to move. As part of the national relief programs, many new post offices were built. Arthur Ware contributed a restrained Classical Revival one-story brick building on South Highland, between the Cynthard Building and the Presbyterian Church, on the site of what had been the last remaining house on the west side of Main in the district. It was completed in 1933, the newest contributing property in the district.

As the 20th century became the 21st. The post office moved out of this building for a newer facility on the south side of Main Street, in the space cleared three decades earlier by urban renewal opposite the western extent of the district. Its former building (this one) was converted to retail use.

Taken with a Sony RX10 IV
 

I recently came across this building in Archville, NY. It’s an odd-looking building. What’s that tower like structure sticking out on top? At first glance it looks like someone’s garage, but as you look closely you see the words “Archville Fire Department”

Well, I say I came across it, but I was actually looking for it. I volunteer at the Briarcliff Manor-Scarborough Historical Society (BMSHS) and I’m preparing a piece on the history of the Archville and Scarborough Fire Departments. The text has been entirely prepared by a long-time member of the various (and sometimes confusing) Briarcliff Manor Fire Departments, and I was looking for some photographs to illustrate it. This is, indeed the original Archville Fire Station.

The website of the Archville Fire Department has this to say about its history:

The volunteer Archville Fire Department serves the hamlet and surrounding area, from the Hudson River to Pocantico Lake and from the edge of Briarcliff Manor to the edge of Sleepy Hollow.

Archville was named after an arched bridge over what is now U.S. Route 9. It carried the Old Croton Aqueduct over the highway. In 1924, the bridge was deemed to be a traffic hazard and it was demolished. In November 1998, long after the aqueduct was shut down, the bridge was replaced as a crossing for aqueduct walkers, bikers, and equestrians over the particularly dangerous section of the highway.

The Archville Fire Company was chartered in 1909. Its initial equipment consisted of thirty 3½ gallon galvanized buckets, and later a 50-gallon horse-drawn pumper purchased from the Valhalla Fire Department.

Archville Fire Department has three chief’s cars, two fire engines, and a horse drawn hand pumper from 1890, which serves as a department antique

Engine 236 / 2010
Engine 235 / 1992
Chief’s car 2631
1st Asst Chief’s car 2632
2nd Asst Chief’s car 2633

Hubert W. Mannerly was the first chief when the company chartered in 1909. Its first headquarters was a shed on the corner of Union Street and Albany Post Road (current Route 9).

The old Fire Station above is tucked away down a side street. You could easily miss it if you weren’t looking for it.

The new Fire Station (see below) is quite visible from a major road (Route 9). It’s right next to the Guadalajara Restaurant.

When the piece for the BMSHS is finished I’ll update this post with a link to it.

Taken with a Sony RX10 IV.