Category: donotdisplay

MORTON/REINSDORF HOUSE (1860)

Built circa 1860 using the Second Empire style, this house was first occupied by William H. Morton (1805-1888) and family. William married Maria Wait (1808-1892), a native of Massachusetts, and they had thirteen children. Their growing family, which included six by 1850, and Wiliam’s success in the shipbuilding business most likely led them to their new home.

William’s parents emigrated from Nantucket to Hudson, where William was born. The following year they moved to Athens, where William prospered as a businessman. William served as a land agent for his uncle Isaac Northrup, who is considered the founder of the Village of Athens.

In 1828, at age 23, William began his life’s career as a successful businessman in the shipbuilding trade. Four years later, along with two other investors, he purchased property on the Athens riverfront, which included an active four-year-old dry dock and marine railway. During the next few years there were a number of changes in ownership and partners. By 1854 things stabilized, with William as one of the two principal owners. The firm of Morton & Edmonds prospered, and in 1872 was sold to Mathias Van Loon and Peter Magee.

On April 25, 1877, the New York-Catskill-Athens Steamboat Company Limited was organized by William and four other men. The company ran a number of boats, including the City of Catskill, which was launched May 29, 1880, and was recorded as one of the biggest and finest boats built on the upper Hudson.

During the Civil War, William served as postmaster at Athens. He also served twice as Athens Village clerk, and in 1846 served as town supervisor. His service to the community gained him the distinction of having the William H. Morton Steamer Company, a fire company in Athens, named after him. William and wife Maria were laid to rest in Athens Rural Cemetery, fittingly so, since during his lifetime the cemetery received much of its neatness and beauty from his care and skill.

As William was a prominent figure, it seems plausible that his important relative, Levi P. Morton, visited him in this house. Levi was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1879-1881), vice president of the United States (1889-1893), and the 31st governor of New York State (1895-96).

Ownership of the house passed from William and Maria to their son-in-law, Henry Van Loan. It remained in the hands of Morton descendants until 1961, when it was purchased by Walter and Lucille Reinsdorf. Beginning in 1969, restoration of the house by the Reinsdorf family was ongoing for a number of years.