As mentioned in last week’s column, RPI put out an RFP in early January to move the Gingerbread house, or demolish it. Local developer Sandy Horowitz and I sent the following proposal to RPI.

“Mt. Ida Gatehouse Restoration Project

A Community Service Project by Sandy Horowitz for the Citizens of Troy.

The Vail or Warren Gatehouse, known affectionately as “The Gingerbread House,” is one of Troy’s few remaining wooden historic reminders of the Victorian age. The design is attributed to Alexander Jackson Davis (1803-1892), noted architect for such classics as the Russell House in Middletown, Connecticut (1828-30), New York City’s Custom House (1833-42), and the Ohio State Capitol in Columbus (1838-61). This small Gothic Revival period wooden gatehouse has been attributed to either Honorable Henry Vail (1782-1853), a member of the U.S. Congress (1837-39) or Dr. Nathan B. Warren, both of Troy and prominent 19th century citizens. Both of their estates sat upon Mt. Ida during the 19th and into the 20th century, while the gatehouse and keeper guarded the entrance to one of the estates on Congress Street, near the present entrance to the park.

When Mt. Ida was purchased in 1903 and designed for a public park by civil engineer Garnet D. Baltimore, the first black graduate of RPI, and city engineer, the Gingerbread House was sold........

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