Rhinebeck’s Iconic Brick Building
Across from Foster’s parking lot, and diagonal to the Beekman Arms, the iconic three-story brick building now known as Rhinebeck Mercantile has stood proudly for over one hundred and fifty years at One East Market Street in the heart of the Village of Rhinebeck.
From photographs to a Building Structure Inventory Form with a map, and not-to-be-missed invoice, receipt, and advertisement, the archives provide a variety of historical views.
Photograph: Hudson Valley Department Store; Rhinebeck Village Historic District; Building Structure Inventory Form; 1979; 02750.0394
Taken from West Market Street looking down East Market Street. Step back in time and view the structure’s prominence set against the smaller buildings on each side, the drug store and other businesses, the police car parked at the intersection, and period automobiles.
Hudson Valley Department Store; Visual Environment Committee Collection; Color Slide; 1972; 2022-01.15
Taken from nearly the same spot as the previous image, this earlier era does not include any automobiles, and the building housed a bicycle shop.
Harry Smillie & Co. Bicycle Store; Glass Plate Negative: Photographer: Robert Asher; 1890s-1920s; 1995-001.003.36
The photographer captured two sides of the building and businesses on each side. Note lettering on the building.
Harry Smillie & Co.; Photograph; Photographer: Marie Schaad; early 1900s; 1996-004.11
Note the mention of “Violet House Frames” in this eye-catching advertisement. Rhinebeck Gazette; December 29, 2006; HRVH Historical Newspapers
Historic One East Market Street and Harry Smillie & Co. come alive in RHS Archives!
See you in January 2026.
From the Archives,
Researcher Bonnie Wood
December 2025