From the mid-1800s to the early 1900s, downtown Ossining was one of the most important merchant and shipping towns on the Hudson River, supplying Westchester County and New York City with produce and manufactured goods. Its historic buildings reflect the village’s commercial development and prosperity during that period. A major turning point came with the fire of 1872, which destroyed most of the wood buildings between Main, Spring, and Brandreth Streets and led to the construction of late Victorian brick buildings such as the Barlow Block, the Leander Building at 141-145 Main Street, and the Olive Opera House on Central Avenue, which still survive. Other notable buildings, including the Kipps Building at Spring and Main, the Foshay Brothers building across Spring Street, and the Ossining Hotel where the current post office stands, were demolished in the 1970s as part of urban renewal plans. Much of the south side of Main and Church from State Street to North Highland, and most of Spring Street to St. Paul’s Street, once resembled what is now seen on the Crescent. In 1885, residents and visitors came by horse and buggy to shop among milliners, shoemakers, lawyers, doctors, general stores, dry goods stores, furniture and rug stores, restaurants, and hotels for household necessities from pots and pans to socks and candles.