Barons of Broadway #24
Colonel Richard Vose, during his brief ownership of an estate called Vose Villa overlooking North Broadway, contributed to one of the legends that earned Upper Nyack its quirky nickname, Goosetown. He was reportedly seen driving his geese from Highmount Terrace to the Hudson River. The image of an aging, bearded man with a military bearing shepherding geese across North Broadway must have been unforgettable.
A Man of Many Talents
Richard Vose lived a remarkable life. Born an orphan, he grew into an inventor, soldier, businessman, and even mayor. He also demonstrated exceptional skill in home renovation. His residence, Vose Villa, perched above Broadway and overlooking the Hudson River at the height of the Gilded Age, was once described by The New York Times as “one of the most beautiful homes along the Lower Hudson,” owned by “one of the wealthiest and best-known residents of Nyack.”
Early Life
Richard Vose was born on September 2, 1830, in Whitesboro, Oneida County, New York. Orphaned at age 13, he became the sole provider for his two brothers and two sisters. By age 20, he lived in a New York City boarding house with his siblings, who ranged in age from 8 to 17.
At age 30, the 1860 census listed Vose as a clerk. He was married, had a 7-year-old son named Frank, and lived with his mother-in-law, Sarah Bullock, and two servants. His wife, Adelaide, bore three children before falling ill and passing away in 1881 at her parents’ home. Two years later, in 1883, Vose married Francis Josephine Norris, a widow.
Inventor and Business Leader
Vose began working at 15 as a clerk for Francis & Loutrell, a leading New York City stationer and printer. After a stint at another firm outside the city, he returned to New York in 1854 to work as a secretary for a mining company. Dissatisfied with the role, he took a position with the Metallic Car Spring Company, where he became an expert in manufacturing car springs for railroads, streetcars, and wagons.
Two examples of Vose car spring patents.
Over his career, Vose secured more than 60 patents, primarily for car springs. By 1868, he co-founded Vose, Dinsmore and Co., which operated in New York City. In 1876, he became president of the National Car Spring Company, where he developed a spring design widely adopted for city roads.
However, his career wasn’t without setbacks. In 1878, likely due to the financial crisis triggered by the Panic of 1873, Vose filed for bankruptcy. Despite this, he maintained his entrepreneurial spirit. After moving to Nyack in 1886, he leased Smithsonian Hall on lower Burd Street for manufacturing purposes, though records do not confirm whether production occurred.
A Distinguished Military Career
Vose joined the National Guard in 1856 as a private in the 7th Regiment, famously known as the “Silk Stockings” or “Blue Bloods” due to its elite membership. By 1861, at the outbreak of the Civil War, he was a lieutenant in the 22nd Regiment, which assisted retreating Union forces at the First Battle of Bull Run.
In 1872, Vose was elected colonel of the 71st Regiment, which carried a proud tradition from its Civil War contributions. He later orchestrated a Mission of Peace to New Orleans in 1881, fostering goodwill between the North and South during Mardi Gras festivities. However, personal losses and professional challenges followed. His first wife’s death in 1881 and a contentious resignation from the regiment in 1884, amid financial mismanagement allegations, marked a turbulent period in his life.
Vose Villa: A Masterpiece on the Hill
In 1888, Vose purchased a house owned by R. P. Eels on the old Sarvent farm near Highmount Avenue. The mansion, remodeled in the Second Empire style by builder William E. Blauvelt, featured a mansard roof, a 72-foot tower, a large porte cochere, and breathtaking views of the Hudson River.
The villa boasted modern amenities such as a furnace, gas lighting, and a burglar alarm system. Its interior included a mahogany-finished parlor, library, and dining room, while the grounds featured a landscaped yard with a U-shaped driveway leading to a barn.
Vose hosted grand gatherings at his home. In January 1890, a drama and music reception brought together prominent figures like Senator Clarence Lexow and other local elites. Guests enjoyed performances ranging from Rossini’s William Tell Overture to banjo duets and theatrical sketches. Vose himself entertained with Irish ballads and poetry recitations.
Family Drama and Community Impact
Vose’s daughter, Sarah Amelia (known as Amy), created a stir in 1892 when she secretly married Richard Crane, a Brooklyn clerk. Despite initial objections due to Crane’s modest means, Vose eventually gave his blessing.
Vose also left a lasting mark on Upper Nyack as its second mayor. Local lore suggests he contributed to the village’s nickname, Goosetown, by walking his geese to the Hudson River.
An active sportsman, Vose chaired the Nyack Rifle and Gun Club and spent summers fishing at the Thousand Islands estate of railroad magnate George Pullman, with whom he had business ties.
Final Years and Legacy
Colonel Richard Vose passed away on February 25, 1893, at age 62, leaving behind a legacy as Nyack’s first self-made millionaire. His body was interred at Arlington National Cemetery after temporary placement at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Today, Vose Villa remains on Highmount Terrace, though its original grandeur has faded. With the exception of the mansard roof, the double-bracketed mansard cornice, and the rounded tops to the mansard dormer windows, the second empire details are gone, along with the tower, porte cochere, windows, chimneys, porch, and roofed front stairway. Historian Win Perry, who grew up across from Vose Villa on Highmount Avenue, remembers seeing the owner in an old car pulling down the 72-foot tower.
Vose Villa is a relic of a bygone era today. Yet, like the man who once walked his geese to the river, its story endures as part of Nyack’s rich history.
Mike Hays lived in the Nyacks for 38-years. He worked for McGraw-Hill Education in New York City for many years. Hays serves as President of the Historical Society of the Nyacks, Vice-President of the Edward Hopper House Museum & Study Center, and Upper Nyack Historian. . Married to Bernie Richey, he enjoys cycling and winters in Florida. You can follow him on Instagram as UpperNyackMike.
Editor’s note: This article is sponsored by Sun River Health and Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty. Sun River Health is a network of 43 Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) providing primary, dental, pediatric, OB-GYN, and behavioral health care to over 245,000 patients annually. Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty is the lower Hudson Valley’s Leader in Luxury. Located in the charming Hudson River village of Nyack, approximately 22 miles from New York City. Our agents are passionate about listing and selling extraordinary properties in the Lower Hudson Valley, including Rockland and Orange Counties, New York.
