Smoke may linger; Poughkeepsie official says ‘speculation … isn’t helpful’

The first dispatch came in at 4:56am this morning after drivers traveling on Route 9 noticed smoke and bright orange flames rising from one of the remaining buildings atop the site of the former Hudson River State Hospital in Poughkeepsie. When firefighters arrived on scene, they saw a “well-involved fire that had consumed multiple floors” of the Main Administration Building. As of 6:40am Monday, the bulk of the most recent fire at the former psychatric center had been knocked down, according to the Fairview Fire District.

Monday’s fire comes just days after the multi-day mutual aid fire that started on Wednesday, June 3 around 11:19am and destroyed several of the former psychiatric hospital’s buildings, including the administration building, a National Historic Landmark designed by Thomas S. Kirkbride, and the connected Avery Building/chapel, according to early reports. Four firefighters underwent medical evaluation for heat exposure during the fire, with two sent to area hospitals for further treatment. Following the fire, air quality levels recorded over two-miles away at the Adriance Memorial Library were slightly elevated, prompting those with respiratory issues to remain indoors.

No cause for either fire has been determined at this time, and the site perimeter has been reportedly secured by police following Wednesday’s fire, according to a press release. A joint investigation is currently being conducted by the Dutchess County Fire Investigation Bureau, the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department and the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control.

Following its closure in 2012, the former Hudson River State Hospital has been subject to several fires over the years, including an intentional arson attack in April of 2018 which damaged a wing of the Kirkbride building, and a fire from a lightning strike in May of 2007. The Fairview Fire District responded to 11 arson calls at the site between 2011 and 2019, according to previous reports.

“Understanding the fire’s cause will take a long time,” Town of Poughkeepsie Supervisor Rebecca Edwards said on Sunday. “Speculation, in the meantime, isn’t helpful. But the town will ensure that the investigation is thorough and careful.”

Edwards followed up by noting the “potentially inspiring future for the site,” as “sucessive developers have purchased and sought to renovate but have met big challenges. The commercial plaza with the ShopRite is now open but the longtime goal of building a walkable community with varied types of housing has not been fulfilled,” she added.

Hundreds of new housing units are currently authorized for the property, and the town recently secured a grant to build a new sewer line to “the historic central hilltop enabling revitalization,” Edwards said. And last Wednesday, on the night of the first fire, the town board unanimously passed an inclusionary zoning law requiring developers to set aside a certain number of rental units for affordable housing. “HRSH is one of the locations whose future the new law will shape,” Edwards added.

Following this morning’s fire, residents may still see smoke emanating from the buildings. Those sensitive to air pollutants or those with respiratory conditions should limit prolonged outdoor exposure near the site. Officials remind the public that the area is private property and trespassing is prohibited.

A trail marker dedicated to Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette (1757-1834), a French nobleman and major general under George Washington who helped save West Point from Benedict Arnold’s betrayal, will be unveiled on Route 9D in Garrison this week.

The marker will be installed at the site of the former Robinson House, which served as the headquarters of British Loyalist Benedict Arnold – and the place where Lafayette visited with George Washington in September of 1790 and discovered Arnold’s treason, moving troops around to weaken forces and planning to surrender West Point to the British. Washington and Lafayette took over the headquarters at the Robinson House and began refortifying West Point.

The historical marker will be unveiled with a ceremony on the Lafayette Trail, located at 832 Route 9D in Garrison, beginning at 2pm on June 13, 2026. 

Hudson Valley Shakespeare 2026 Season
June 10-September 18, 2026
Samuel H. Scripps Theater Center, 2015 Route 9, Garrison
Featuring William Shakespeare’s As You Like It, King Lear, and Boublil and Schӧnberg’s Les Misérables in the company’s brand new venue. Website

Music in the Parks
Wednesday, June 10, 2026 at 7pm
Cost of admission: Free
Mills Mansion, Staatsburg
Featuring The Band Everything Else. Continues June 17 with Thunder Ridge at Vanderbilt, June 24 with The Crew at Mills, July 1 starting at 5pm with That Guy Larry and 4 Guys in Disguise at Mills, July 8 with Southern Dutchess Concert Band at Vanderbilt, July 15 with Bosco and The Storm at Mills, July 22 with Matt Jordan at Vanderbilt, July 29 with Flirtin’ with Disaster at Mills, August 5 starting at 6:30pm with the Way Behind The Sun at Mills, and August 12 with the West Point Military Band at Vanderbilt. Rain location: Taconic Offices, 9 Old Post Road, Staatsburg. Updates will be posted on the Hyde Park Recreation Facebook page: Website

Local Waves
Wednesday, June 10, 2026 with doors at 7pm, show at 7:30pm
Cost of admission: Free
The Local, Saugerties
A free series curated by Mike Amari of Chosen Family in partnership with Wave Farm’s WGXC featuring Hudson Valley artists performing original music.

Exploring Eros through Consensual Conscious Touch
June 12-14, 2026
Menla Retreat Center, 375 Pantherkill Road, Phoenicia
Cost of admission: $1,150
Exploring Eros through Consensual Conscious Touch is an intimate, high-end retreat exploring desire, boundaries, pleasure, and connection through the Wheel of Consent, Erotic Blueprints, and the Five Elements of Tantric Touch. Held within a fully consensual, expertly guided container at Menla Retreat Center, this immersive weekend invites singles and couples into deeper embodied awareness, authentic connection, and the art of conscious touch. Website

Woodstock NY Pride
June 12-14, 2026 from 1 to 5pm
Cost of admission: Free
Tinker Street, Woodstock
Woodstock Pride is back with its third Pride, a necessary chapter in Woodstock’s rich history as a beacon of peace and love in the Hudson Valley. Website

Kingston Guards Vintage Baseball
Friday, June 12, 2026 at 5:30pm
Cost of admission: $5
Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, Rhinebeck
Continues July 10 and August 14. Biplane rides after the game. Website

Roast of Rhinebeck
Friday, June 12, 2026 with doors at 6pm, show at 7pm
Cost of admission: $35
Morton Memorial Library, 82 Kelly Street, Rhinecliff
Presented by Radio Free Rhinecliff.

A Light on the River: The Lighthouse Keepers of the Gilded Age
Friday, June 12, 2026 & Saturday June 13, 2026 at 7:30pm
Cost of admission: $28
Hudson River Maritime Museum, 50 Rondout Landing, Kingston
The position of Lighthouse Keeper is an antiquated job. It calls to mind loneliness, isolation, and in rare cases, even madness. But at this lecture and performance, you will learn what it was really like to be a lighthouse keeper. You’ll meet the Murdocks, a family that kept the Rondout Light for generations. Then, be transported to Kingston in 1884 as the Murdocks receive surprise visitors in the midst of preparing for a storm. This experience will include a short lecture as well as a full length play. Website

Chatham’s First Annual Kinderhook Street Tag Sale & Main Street Sidewalk Sale
Saturday, June 13, 2026 from 8am to 2pm
Cost of admission: Free
Kinderhook Street, Chatham
Shop the huge neighborhood tag sale on Kinderhook Street and the neighboring adjoining streets- over 30 sellers! See the website for map and more information. BONUS: The merchants on Main Street (right around the corner) are joining in and having a Main Street Sidewalk Sale on the same day. Walk over and grab lunch and shop the sidewalk sales! Rain Date is June 20. Website: Website

Early Voting for the Primary Election
Begins June 13 through June 21, 2026. Primary Election Day is June 23, 2026. Find your polling place: Link

Trailside's June Hike
Saturday, June 13, 2026 from 10am to noon
Cost of admission: Free
Lake Skannatati Parking Lot, Southfields
Part of Trailside Museums and Zoo's monthly hiking series. A relatively flat loop across multiple trails at Lake Skanatati. Total Hike Length: 3.15miles Estimated time: 2.5 hours This (3+Mile) loop will have us on three different trails. Participants will start on Long Path trail (blazed blue-green) switching to the Yellow Blazed Dunning trail and finally finishing off with the Red Blazed Arden Surebridge Trail. We will park at the Skanattati lake parking area. The trail is rocky with some short elevation gains. There are a few sections of the trail that routinely flood, social trails have developed that allow us to skirt these flooded sections but the possibility of wet and muddy conditions is high. We will pause and investigate some of the open pit mines next to the pine swamp. Website

Community Day
Saturday, June 13, 2026 from 11am to 3pm
Opus 40, Saugerties
Cost of admission: Free
50 years ago, on May 9, 1976, Harvey Fite was killed in a tragic accident. 50 years ago, work stopped on his extraordinary sculptural landscape. Commemorate his legacy with guided tours, crafts from local makers, music and share your stories of Opus 40 for an Oral History Project. WebsiteNote: This event was rescheduled from its original date due to the weather

Walkway Market
Saturday, June 13, 2026 from 11am to 4pm
Cost of admission: Free
Ulster Welcome Center Plaza, 87 Haviland Road, Highland
lively, open-air farmers market brings together a handpicked lineup of New York State makers, growers, and artisans in a setting you can't find anywhere else. Come ready to taste, shop, and discover everything from maple syrup, honey, jerky, pickles, and spices to soaps, flowers, pet treats, jewelry, handcrafted goods, and more. Vendors

Poughkeepsie Pride March and Festival
Saturday, June 13, 2026 at noon
Cost of admission: Free
Waryas Park, Poughkeepsie
This family friendly celebration of the LGBTQ+ community starts with a march down Main Street and ends with a lively festival in Waryas Park. With over 90 vendors including food vendors, local crafts and community organizations, its a fun day for everyone. Website

“Ikebana with Lin” Hands-on Workshop With Meei-Huey Lin
Sunday, June 14, 2026 from 1-3:30pm
Cost of admission: $75
Beatrix Farrand Garden at FDR National Historic Site, 4097 Albany Post Road, Hyde Park
In this hands-on class, Meei-Huey will begin with a brief introduction to Ikebana, the art of Japanese flower arranging. She will then demonstrate two different styles of arrangement, after which participants will receive step-by-step guidance in creating their own piece to take home. Class size limited. Register

Artists in the Garden - Artists Live Demonstrations in Beatrix Farrand Garden
Sunday, June 14, 2026 from 1 to 3:30pm
Cost of admission: Free
Beatrix Farrand Garden at FDR National Historic Site, 4097 Albany Post Road, Hyde Park
Beatrix Farrand Garden has initiated the Artists in the Garden project to focus on the connection between art and nature. Local artists will be set up throughout the walled and wild gardens, working at their easels or drawing boards, on Sunday, June 14, 11 to 3. Visitors can watch, chat with the artists, or try their own hand and get creative with their own art materials. The event is free and informal. Parking, restrooms, water, and a cafe are located at the adjacent Wallace Center. Website

Ulster Literary Fundraiser
Sunday, June 14, 2026 from 4-6pm
Cost of admission: $50
Bearsville (Address will be sent with ticket confirmation)
an intimate literary conversation featuring local mystery authors Alyson Gaylin, Carol Goodman, and Wendy Corsi Staub, moderated by James Conrad, co-owner of The Golden Notebook. The event will take place at the home of Kristin Wenger, and is limited to 40 guests. Tickets are $50 per person, with proceeds supporting ULA’s adult literacy programs in Ulster County. Tickets

FREE Brazilian Bossa Nova Concert: by Beatrix Farrand Garden
Sunday, June 14, 2026 from 6:30 to 7:30pm
Cost of admission: Free
Beatrix Farrand Garden at FDR National Historic Site, 4097 Albany Post Road, Hyde Park
Join us for an incredible early evening of Bossa Nova music at the beautiful Beatrix Farrand Garden at Bellefield, on the FDR National Historic Site. Please feel free to bring food & drink to enjoy during the show. This outdoor concert is free and will be a lively and memorable experience for music lovers of all ages. Website

Capture spring around the Hudson Valley and submit your (1) best photo to photos@hvny.info. Original photographs from 2026 only. Please limit any filters/retouching, and include your full name + location, if it’s a public place.