My hometown of Irvington-on-Hudson was developed in the late 19th century as an estate district for wealthy New Yorkers. A railroad constructed in 1849 allowed the Goulds and the Astors to pop off to the country for a weekend and be back in the office on Monday morning. These captains of industry built homes, gatehouses, and carriage barns in an elegant style known as Second Empire that had been developed in France. Typical features of Second Empire architecture include a mansard roof surrounded by an ornate projecting cornice.
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