Paddock Arcade
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The Paddock Arcade, located in Watertown, New York, is the oldest continuously operating covered mall in the United States. Although there are older arcades, the Paddock has seen uninterrupted use since it opened in 1850. The arcade is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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[edit] Location and Architecture
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.
[edit] 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.
In the 1920s, a large section of the Paddock Building was demolished to make way for new construction. Around this time, the arcade received a translucent, steel-and-wire-glass dropped ceiling between its second and third stories, which still allowed light to filter in from its glass roof.
[edit] Today
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. In 2007, It was announced that the arcade would be host to Watertown's popular farmers market for it's extended fall season.
