The Geography of Somewhere: Notable New Paltz Architecture

Last week, the notice came for the annual local history art show co-sponsored by the Elting Library and the Historic Preservation Commission.   If I am going to submit a painting about history or life in New Paltz, I can only have one subject:  Schulte houses.  You can click on the image to see a larger image of “Schulte House.”

If you’ve been around New Paltz for a while, you’ve probably noticed these brick cottages and wondered how they got here.  Two brothers, John and Hank Schulte, built them.  They did the carpentry, stone work and masonry.  For many of these houses, Matthew A. Fairweather was the electrician.  And for some of them, yours truly helped his dad wire them.

Working on a Schulte job site was a transformative experience.  Besides being absolute master builders, they set high standards.  For example, at the end of the day everyone was expected to clean up their work, including thoroughly sweeping the floor.  (Remember, this was a construction site.)  This meant you started work each day in a place cleaner than many occupied dwellings.  They felt that was a requirement for doing high-quality work.  It left a profound impression on my 10-year-old self.  At that time, the heroic figures in my life included Mickey Mantle, Davy Crockett and John & Hank Schulte.

Today, each one of their houses stands as a testament to the pursuit of perfection for its own sake and embodies the quiet, sustained rewards that can result from such devotion.  I swear I learn something each time I walk by a Schulte house.  They are one of New Paltz’s real treasures.  Make sure to pay your respects the next time you pass one by.