Poughkeepsie’s intersection at Main Street of Garden Street to the north, and Liberty Street to the south, appears to have been an interesting and rich area. John Bolding, the self-emancipated enslaved man who was kidnapped by federal authorities and returned to the south, only to obtain his freedom through the collective action of Poughkeepsie residents, worked as a tailor on Liberty Street. Garden Street was one of the several locations of the world class daguerrist Samuel L. Walker. The 1870 fire that consumed several buildings at the north east corner of Main and Garden Streets became the location of Poughkeepsie’s only remaining cast iron building. Here we share a few images of the streets in the 19th century from DCHS Collections. ~ Bill Jeffway
Main at Garden & Liberty Streets
