Location: 34 First Street, Haverstraw
Owners: Andrea Caccuro and Nelson Diaz

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This site is a privately owned business. Book a room here: www.casahudsonny.com.

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Built as an elegant yet practical family home for S. C. Blauvelt and his family, this circa 1855 building is based on the style of the Italian Renaissance. The classical proportions of the interior and exterior express the clarity and logic exemplified in the architecture of many Italian villas. The symmetry; fluted columns; large, curved double doors; deep portico; elevated site with views; and carved corbels of its exterior façade all reflect the Italian style. Another feature of this style are the floor-to-ceiling windows, which the owners, Nelson Diaz and Andrea Caccuro, have restored.

 

Historically, Casa Hudson has been through many incarnations: it was the headquarters of the Knights of Columbus and then a preschool for many years. But the original owner was S. C. Blauvelt, a pharmacist and perfumer who owned the Blauvelt Drug Store on Haverstraw’s Main Street in 1855. In 1854, he was elected a trustee and first clerk of the newly established Village of Warren (later renamed Haverstraw).

 

The house has undergone a complete renovation in the past few years. Its shell is not wood but Haverstraw brick; the studs were hand-sawn; Tiffany tiles were used on an upstairs fireplace; and the windows are long and large to capture the river view and breezes. Nelson and Andrea worked with local laborers to strip paint on the front porch columns down to the bare wood, then coat them with layers of oil pastel. The outer front doors took a year to restore; the interior front doors were completed in 2015.

 

Imagine this: when the owners first saw the house, the entire interior was painted blue! Now all of the interior rooms have been gutted to the brick walls; the once boxed-in marble fireplaces and partially closed up windows have been reopened; and plywood flooring has been removed to expose marquetry inlaid floors.

 

The spectacular views from Casa Hudson showcase the Hudson River on one side and High Tor Mountain on the other. Nelson and Andrea have repurposed as many elements as possible in their restoration, including fireplaces and radiators.

 

Casa Hudson earned a Rockland County Executive’s Historic Preservation Award for Adaptive Reuse in 2015. The house now enjoys a new life as a successful bed and breakfast, allowing the owners to share the beautiful historic home with guests.