Live Your Dollhouse Dreams in This Petite Cold Spring Cottage, Yours for $499K

If you are drawn to the miniature rather than the massive, this pocket-sized cottage along the Hudson River has charms that might appeal.

The mid-19th century house on the market is located in the heart of downtown Cold Spring, N.Y., at 7 Market Street.

Located in Putnam County, the village is nestled along the shore of the Hudson and in the midst of the scenic Hudson Highlands. The first European settlers arrived in the early 18th century, and while the small town had a riverfront landing, it was industry that brought an economic boom in the 19th century.

The West Point Foundry, now a preserve, operated from 1817 to the early 20th century, bringing an influx of population and a need for houses, churches and local businesses. The arrival of the Hudson River Railroad in Cold Spring in the late 1840s further spurred development.

The town has managed to maintain much of the 19th century character from its boom days, despite downtown fires in 1862 and 1875. Cold Spring has both a local district and National Register Historic District with slightly different boundaries, but both incorporating the main commercial spine of the downtown and the early residential blocks on either side. There’s a Historic District Review Board that oversees proposed exterior changes and new construction within the district.

The little house on Market Street is an example of the modest frame structures that were scattered throughout the town in the 19th century. The Cold Spring National Register Historic District report identifies the house as circa 1850s while the listing dates it to 1860. It’s a simple side gabled house, three bays wide. Historic maps and 20th century photos show it with a rear, one-story shed addition.

By the 1970s, when a National Register survey form was filled out for the little cottage, it was covered in asbestos siding. When the house was up for sale in 2016 the siding was still in place and it was listed as an “as is” sale. The renovation by the new owners included removing the asbestos siding in favor of clapboard and replacing that rear shed with a two-story addition.

On the interior, the charm of the renovation comes through despite dimly lit listing photos. There’s a cottage vibe with reclaimed wood floors, exposed beams and white-painted, wood-clad walls.

Even with the expansion, the house is a petite two rooms deep. The front door opens directly into the living room and the kitchen beyond. The latter has a farmhouse sink, concrete counters, open shelves and a door leading to a wood deck. A half bath and a closet outfitted with a washer/dryer are also squeezed into the first floor.

Upstairs is small sitting area, open to the first floor below. Under the peaked roof is the master bedroom, which has glass doors separating it from the stair landing and a wall of windows. There’s also a second bedroom and a full bath with cast iron tub, shower and deep vintage-style sink.

There’s a fenced-in backyard, which is large enough to include the wood deck, a brick patio and planters that, according to the listing, were built from original framing lumber — perhaps from the shed.

Other upgrades to the house include a new propane heat and hot water system. The garage located immediately next to the house belongs to another property, and the listing doesn’t mention off-street parking.

The house is a short jaunt away from the walkable downtown full of shops and restaurants. Some of those are currently open for takeaway as Putnam County gradually reopens. One of those is independent bookstore Split Rock, owned by former Brooklynites, and open for online orders.

There are also nearby historic attractions like Boscobel and Russel Wright’s Manitoga. Both historic houses are temporarily closed but some of their walking trails are open. Just a short saunter down Market Street is The Chapel Restoration, an 1830s Greek Revival former chapel for foundry workers, now an event venue that hosted a concert series before the state closure.

The train station, with easy access to the city via MetroNorth, is just two blocks from the house.

The property sold for $190,000 in 2017. Now, post renovation, it’s priced at $499,000 and listed with Craig Roffman of Houlihan Lawrence’s Cold Spring Brokerage.

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