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31. The Acton Civil House
13 Church
c.1840 and expanded c.1865
This
unique Gothic Revival residence featured multiple steeply pitched
rooflines, veranda with river view, central tower and belvedere.
One of the Landing most significant residences was the seasonal home
of businessman and philanthropist Acton Civill (1804-1889). In 1820,
to help support his family, Acton began working on sloops as a cook
and eventually settled in New York City, where he opened a ship's
chandlery (A chandlery is a retail shop or warehouse that
specializes in supplies, gear, and equipment for boats and ships.)
Throughout his life Civill had returned to Coeymans often. At about
the time of his retirement he constructed a Picturesque style,
cross-plan cottage located on a high promenade of land at the
eastern end of Church Street. Civill had acquired the property in
1846. The home known as Prospect Place and later Mount Pleasant. One
of the Landing's most significant architectural landmarks was
damaged by fire in 2015 and demolished in 2017.
Acton Civill: Merchant, Philanthropist, and Visionary
Acton Civill (1804-1889) was a successful New York City merchant,
investor, and landowner whose name became forever linked to the
history of Coeymans. Although his business interests were centered
in New York City, Civill developed a strong connection to the Hudson
River community after establishing a summer residence in Coeymans
during the mid-nineteenth century.
Recognizing the educational opportunities available in larger
cities, Civill envisioned bringing advanced learning and technical
training to rural Albany County. In 1873, he funded the construction
of the Acton Civill Polytechnic Institute at a cost of approximately
$100,000 an extraordinary investment for the period. His goal was to
create an institution where young men could study engineering,
science, and practical trades that would prepare them for careers in
the rapidly industrializing Hudson Valley.
The grand brick building he commissioned reflected both his ambition
and his generosity. Designed in the fashionable Second Empire style,
it was intended to be one of the most impressive educational
buildings in the region. Unfortunately, financial difficulties
prevented the institute from ever opening, and Civill's dream of a
polytechnic school for Coeymans was never fully realized.
Despite this setback, Civill's gift was not in vain. The building
eventually became the Coeymans School, serving generations of local
students and becoming one of the community's most recognizable
landmarks. Through this unexpected transformation, Acton Civill's
investment continued to benefit the people of Coeymans for more than
a century.
When Acton Civill died in 1889 at the age of eighty-four, he left
behind a legacy of philanthropy and civic-mindedness. Today, the
former institute now preserved as Civill Senior Apartments stands as
a lasting monument to his vision, generosity, and belief in the
power of education to strengthen communities.
