The Hudson River has lured people to New Baltimore for 200 years
New Baltimore’s position on the Hudson River enabled grist mills, ice houses and a shipyard to flourish there during the 1800s. The Hudson still draws people to the town today, but they’re homebuyers searching for riverfront views rather than millworkers and ice harvesters looking for work. There are few businesses and even less traffic in the community of 2,800 people today. It’s inhabited by many generational families, but its natural features and laid-back atmosphere manage to pull transplants from New York City, says JoAnne Adamo-Conway, owner of Heart Land Realty, who has sold several homes in the community. New Baltimore sits on the northern edge of New York’s Catskills region, putting it closer to the state capital of Albany but still within an hour's drive of the mountains.
Historic homes with views of the Hudson River, Catskill Mountains
New Baltimore is a good market for buyers interested in historic properties, Adamo-Conway says. Nineteenth-century Colonial Revivals overlook the Hudson from Main and Mill streets, with Queen Annes and saltbox homes on other streets in the center of town. One of the more unique houses in town is a converted 1870s church that Heart Land Realty helped sell several years ago. “We sold it to a couple. She was a weaver; they were both very artistic,” Adamo-Conway says. “They did an immense amount of work, with cherry staircases and everything.” Farther inland, farmhouses and custom homes sit on several acres of land, some facing the Catskill Mountains to the west. Homes start at $115,000, and houses with views of the river have recently sold for prices from $285,000 to $410,000. Large houses on several acres can fetch anywhere from $535,000 to $1.1 million.
There are flood zones along the riverbank, but houses are generally outside of the zones. New Baltimore and its homes are perched several feet above the river, providing some protection against fluctuating water levels.
Career pathways in the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Central School District
Children can attend Pieter B. Coeymans Elementary, graded a C-plus by Niche, and Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Middle, which gets a B-minus. B-plus-rated Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk High offers optional pathways for students who want to satisfy their graduation requirements while also preparing for college studies or a career. The pathways include Building Sciences, Human Services, Individual Arts Assessment and Business Administration and Entrepreneurship.
Quick access to the Hudson River, with mountains in driving distance
New Baltimore’s location between the river and the mountains enhances local recreation opportunities, Adamo-Conway says. “Year-round, there’s something to do around here.” Boaters can launch or store their vessels at Donovan’s Shady Harbor Marina, home to the Awenke Yacht Club. The marina rents out slips on a short-term and annual basis, and people can take a dip in the marina’s swimming pool or play on its bocce ball court after mooring their boats. Meanwhile, kayakers and canoers can launch into the river from Cornell Park, where anglers sometimes cast from the bank. A nonprofit called New Baltimore Conservancy looks after many of the community’s natural sites, maintaining hiking trails, cleaning up green spaces and even installing a bridge made from recycled milk jugs over Hannacroix Creek. The conservancy also puts on events, such as a snack-filled tour of historic homes called Taste of History. The terrain becomes more mountainous about 25 miles west of New Baltimore, where the Escarpment Trail leads nearly 4 miles uphill to the Windham High Peak Overlook, and skiers tear down Windham Mountain in the fall and winter.
Riverside dining in New Baltimore, but shops are in surrounding towns
The few nonresidential buildings in New Baltimore are sprinkled along New York state Route 144. At 1820 Hamlet House, the owner harvests raw honey and sells jars from the front porch, while a post office is down the road. On the next block, members of New Baltimore Reformed Church have gathered since the 1830s, when the church was the first house of worship built in New Baltimore. Patrons of Boathouse Grille can see the marina and the river from the seafood restaurant’s patio. For groceries and other shopping, locals head to one of the three surrounding towns: Ravena, Coxsackie or Greenville. Residents typically live within 15 minutes of at least one of the communities.
Connected to Albany by I-87
Interstate 87 passes through New Baltimore and runs through the Hudson River Valley. The interstate leads 15 miles north to Albany, the state capital and a hub for government, health care and manufacturing jobs. The city is also home to Albany Medical Center and Albany International Airport, where planes depart to more than 20 destinations.
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Alex Soderstrom
