Baldwin House

The birth home of the founder of Hudson’s library and historical society has a new look, and later in 2008 it should have new tenants.

The Baldwin House on the northeast corner of the Hudson green has been painted yellow. It has a new (but period-looking) roof, new windows and new green shutters. It has been leased to the Hudson Community Foundation for a nominal fee. The Burton D. Morgan Foundation negotiated to buy the old home in 1999. Caroline Baldwin Babcock, who started the Hudson Library & Historical Society, had been born there. Library trustees had purchased the home and in 1925 opened it for library purposes. They later had to erect a brick addition to the east on Aurora Street to accommodate the growing community need.

The Baldwin House, built in 1832, was on the market in 1999 because the Hudson Library & Historical Society was planning to move to a new development called First & Main. The Baldwin House seemed an appropriate place to relocate – even though it meant waiting until 2002 to move when the new library was built.

The library took longer than expected. When the Foundation’s worth grew after the death of Burton D. Morgan in 2003, the larger brick section of the library seemed more appropriate. The Burton D. Morgan Foundation ultimately was able to purchase both the brick building and the adjoining Baldwin House.

The two buildings were separated. The brick building was gutted and rebuilt for the Foundation’s use.

The exterior of the Baldwin House was restored to its 19th Century look. The Hudson Community Foundation, which has never had a permanent home, is finishing the interior for its own use and also plans to make part of the old home available to other community groups.