Collingwood Opera House and Office Building
Also known as: Bardavon
Why it's listed
Two linked buildings on Market Street in downtown Poughkeepsie make up this complex: a five-story brick office building from 1863 and, behind it, an opera house opened on February 1, 1869. James Collingwood, who had bought the site in 1860 and used the rear yard as a coal and lumber depot, built both, and the pair were jointly owned and shared a utilities system. James Post designed the opera house, which hosted lectures, vaudeville, minstrel shows and performers such as Lillian Russell, Edwin Booth and Sergei Rachmaninoff. In 1923 the interior was redesigned by local architect William Beardsley as a movie palace with elaborate plasterwork in Greek, Roman, Islamic and Venetian motifs. The office building keeps cast-iron lintels and cornice, pressed-tin ceilings and oak woodwork. After closing in 1975, the theatre was reopened by a non-profit group. The listing recognizes the complex as a coherent example of nineteenth-century commercial and entertainment building.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the two buildings form a small, coherent complex reflecting mid-nineteenth century Poughkeepsie's commercial and recreational life, with period craftsmanship in design and construction. The theatre served the city for decades as an entertainment and educational center that hosted prominent performers. Its 1923 movie-palace redesign is also counted as significant because it shows a shift in function and interior fashion.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 77000939, listed October 20, 1977. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 31--37 Market St., Poughkeepsie |
|---|---|
| County | Dutchess County |
| Listed | October 20, 1977 |
| Reference number | 77000939 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | James S. Post (architect of the theatre); William Beardsley (1923 remodeling); built by James Collingwood |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Performing Arts |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Theatre closed in 1975, then reopened by a non-profit organization for stage presentations and films; condition listed as good. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.70307, -73.92885 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 77000939.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4860094
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.