Paddock Arcade

The Paddock Arcade is a 19th-century shopping mall located in Watertown, New York. Built in 1850, it is the second oldest covered shopping mall in the United States. Since it has seen uninterrupted use since it opened in 1850, it carries the distinction of being the country's oldest, continuously operating covered shopping mall.[2]:3–5 The Paddock Arcade was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.[1]

Paddock Arcade
Paddock Arcade
LocationWashington St. between Arsenal and Store Sts., Watertown, New York
Coordinates43°58′25″N 75°54′40.5″W
Arealess than one acre
Built1850
ArchitectOtis Wheelock
Architectural styleGothic Revival
NRHP reference No.76001224[1]
Added to NRHPJune 15, 1976

Location and architecture
The Paddock Arcade 1909, its original Gothic Revival interior featured a large, pointed arched window seen in this photo.

At No. 1 Public Square, the arcade remains the benchmark structure in Watertown's historic downtown district. The structure runs perpendicular to the adjoining Paddock Building. The arcade was built in the Gothic style, topped with a glass roof that allowed daylight to filter through. The Paddock Building contains a 19th-century Italianate facade.[2]

History

The arcade was built by Watertown native Loveland Paddock and designed by architect Otis Wheelock. It was based on similar arcades built during that era in the United States and Europe. Shops occupied the bottom floor, while the upper floors were used for office space.[2]

In about 1916, a large section of the Paddock Building was demolished to make way for the six-story Woolworth Building. In the 1920s, arcade owners put forth a major redesign of the arcade, eschewing its original Gothic interior with a more modern design, which included the installation of the current translucent, steel-and-wire-glass dropped ceiling between its second and third stories. This ceiling still allowed light to filter in from the arcade's glass roof.[2]

Today
The Paddock Building (second from right)

The arcade still functions as a shopping and business center in Watertown's downtown district. In recent years, structural and aesthetic improvements, coupled with new businesses are helping to guarantee the arcade's future. The arcade is the current (2013) home to Johnny D's Casual Dining, Paddock Club Tavern, Steve Weed Productions, The Village Peddler bicycle shop, Paddock Antiques, Europe Cakes, Satyana Yoga, Beauty Bar, Vito Gourmet, Bova Photography.[3] In 2007, it was announced that the arcade would be host to Watertown's popular farmers' market for its extended fall season.

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. "Cultural Resource Information System (CRIS)". New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Archived from the original (Searchable database) on 2015-07-01. Retrieved 2015-11-01. Note: This includes Junia Fitch and Cornelia E. Brooke (October 1975). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Paddock Arcade" (PDF). Retrieved 2015-11-01. and Accompanying photographs
  3. Malls and Stores.info
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