Heritage Awards Highlight Historic Properties in New Rochelle

New Rochelle recognized six historic properties Tuesday during the presentation of the fifth annual Heritage Awards.

According to organizers, the criteria for consideration included residences and public or quasi-public structures that are older than 50 years and which are significant to the city's history, residences that have been restored or modified for adaptive reuse and homes of nationally prominent individuals.

The six award winners are:

• 50 Poplar Pl.
• Liebman's Building, 510 Main St.
• Former Fire Headquarters, 12 Church St.
• Holy Family Church, 83 Clove Rd.
• The Oaks Estate, 590 Davenport Ave.
• Former Fire Station No. 6, 1530 North Ave.

Mayor Noam Bramson said the awards help to raise public awareness about the city's history.

"We are delighted once again to recognize several properties whose distinctive charm, architectural significance or exceptional design contributes greatly to the character and identity of New Rochelle," he said.

City Historian Barbara Davis described the Oaks Estate, which sits on Davenport Neck, as a "magnificent estate" that was one of several in the area in the 1800s. It currently houses the New Dawn Foundation, a community-based healing center and charitable foundation.

Liebman's Building, 510 Main St., "evokes a wonderful sense of time, place and pride," Davis said. It was built in 1875 in an Italianate-style with ornamentation below the eaves and curved molding over the windows.

The Former Fire Headquarters, 12 Church St., now houses the French-speaking Baptist Church. It was built in 1901, two years after the city was incorporated, Davis said.

The Former Fire Station No. 6, at 1530 North Ave., was also built circa 1901, with funds provided by the Iselin family, who owned extensive farm land in the northern part of New Rochelle. Davis said the wood frame building was replaced at some point by stucco, and the abandoned station was completely rebuilt in 1979, maintaining its architectural and historical integrity.

The colonial revival home at 50 Poplar Place was built circa 1902. It was chosen as an exemplary restoration. Davis said when the current owner bought the house in 1988, they replaced some of the windows, but were careful to preserve at least half of the original windows. They repainted the house in 2008 using historically correct colors in collaboration with a historic house paint analyst. The interior renovations were also carefully executed, she said.

Construction of Holy Family Church, 83 Clove Rd., began in 1915. It was designed by John Hubert McGuire, who lived in the Beechmont section of New Rochelle. Davis said he was known for his designs of Catholic churches. A rectory was added in 1932, and in 2004, the stained glass windows were restored by Rohlf's Stained and Leaded Glass Co. in Mount Vernon.