Lord and Burnham Building
Encyclopedia
The Lord & Burnham Building is located at the corner of Main and Astor Streets in Irvington
, New York
, United States
, right across from the village's train station
. It currently houses the village's public library
and some apartments.
The site, a prime industrial location due to its proximity to the New York Central Railroad
's Water Level Route, was first built on in 1870 when Lord's Horticultural Works
, a supplier of conservatories
and greenhouse
s, moved to Irvington from Syracuse
to be closer to its customers at the Hudson Valley
's many large estates. In 1881 its original building was destroyed by fire and the current one was built to replace it that same year.
The company eventually became Lord & Burnham
and grew into one of the village's major employers. It supplied the nearby Lyndhurst
estate and the New York Botanical Garden
, and expanded into making boiler
s and heater
s. In 1988 it left the village and abandoned the building.
Five years later, the village purchased the building and began working with the state, county and a private developer to restore it. It reopened in 1999, with the library moved into the first floor and the upper levels converted
into apartments. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
that same year.
Irvington, New York
Irvington, sometimes known as Irvington-on-Hudson, is an affluent suburban village in the town of Greenburgh in Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located on the eastern bank of the Hudson River, north of midtown Manhattan in New York City, and is served by a station stop on the...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, right across from the village's train station
Irvington (Metro-North station)
The Irvington Metro-North Railroad station serves residents of Irvington, New York via the Hudson Line. Trains leave for New York City every 25 to 35 minutes on weekdays...
. It currently houses the village's public library
Public library
A public library is a library that is accessible by the public and is generally funded from public sources and operated by civil servants. There are five fundamental characteristics shared by public libraries...
and some apartments.
The site, a prime industrial location due to its proximity to the New York Central Railroad
New York Central Railroad
The New York Central Railroad , known simply as the New York Central in its publicity, was a railroad operating in the Northeastern United States...
's Water Level Route, was first built on in 1870 when Lord's Horticultural Works
Lord & Burnham
Lord & Burnham was a noted American boiler and greenhouse manufacturers, and builders of major public conservatories in the United States....
, a supplier of conservatories
Conservatory (greenhouse)
A conservatory is a room having glass roof and walls, typically attached to a house on only one side, used as a greenhouse or a sunroom...
and greenhouse
Greenhouse
A greenhouse is a building in which plants are grown. These structures range in size from small sheds to very large buildings...
s, moved to Irvington from Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
to be closer to its customers at the Hudson Valley
Hudson Valley
The Hudson Valley comprises the valley of the Hudson River and its adjacent communities in New York State, United States, from northern Westchester County northward to the cities of Albany and Troy.-History:...
's many large estates. In 1881 its original building was destroyed by fire and the current one was built to replace it that same year.
The company eventually became Lord & Burnham
Lord & Burnham
Lord & Burnham was a noted American boiler and greenhouse manufacturers, and builders of major public conservatories in the United States....
and grew into one of the village's major employers. It supplied the nearby Lyndhurst
Lyndhurst (house)
Lyndhurst, also known as Jay Gould estate, is a Gothic Revival country house within its own park beside the Hudson River, located in Tarrytown, New York approximately one-half mile south of the Tappan Zee Bridge on US 9.-History:...
estate and the New York Botanical Garden
New York Botanical Garden
- See also :* Education in New York City* List of botanical gardens in the United States* List of museums and cultural institutions in New York City- External links :* official website** blog*...
, and expanded into making boiler
Boiler
A boiler is a closed vessel in which water or other fluid is heated. The heated or vaporized fluid exits the boiler for use in various processes or heating applications.-Materials:...
s and heater
Heater
A heater is an object that emits heat or causes another body to achieve a higher temperature. In a household or domestic setting, heaters are usually appliances whose purpose is to generate heating...
s. In 1988 it left the village and abandoned the building.
Five years later, the village purchased the building and began working with the state, county and a private developer to restore it. It reopened in 1999, with the library moved into the first floor and the upper levels converted
Adaptive reuse
Adaptive reuse refers to the process of reusing an old site or building for a purpose other than which it was built or designed for. Along with brownfield reclamation, adaptive reuse is seen by many as a key factor in land conservation and the reduction of urban sprawl...
into apartments. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
that same year.
External links
- Lord and Burnham Building, at Irvington Historical Society
- Irvington Public Library