Louw-Bogardus Ruin & Frog Alley Park
Standing just outside the northeast corner of the 1658 Stockade District, the stone ruins of the Louw-Bogardus house afford a fine example of early limestone vernacular architecture. It is believed that the original section on the right-hand side was built between 1665-1670. The house was heavily damaged by a fire in the 1960s.
During Urban Renewal, the site was threatened with demolition. In July 1974, the Friends of Historic Kingston met with the Landmarks Commission, members of the Common Council and the Ulster Garden Club, and decided to preserve the building as a ruin along with the adjacent property, turning it into a small public park. In 1975, the Friends purchased the property from the Urban Renewal Agency for $1,200.
Through the efforts of the Friends of Historic Kingston, and with funding from local donors and New York State, the Louw-Bogardus ruin has now been fully stabilized and can be explored by the public!
The site is surrounded by a quarter-acre of greenery – known colloquially as Frog Alley Park – and has played host to the Kingston Scarecrow Festival since 2021. We hope that you will visit the site the next time you are uptown.
