down street

[Barnhart]

For those interested in speech habits of the Hudson Valley folk, I was at
the Dutchess Community College Library this evening.  The lady (retired)
with whom I was chatting made a remark about "downstreet Rhinebeck," which
is just north of Poughkeepsie across the Hudson from Kingston and New
Paltz.  When I pressed her on this she was uncertain whether she learned
while growing up in Rhinebeck or while attending school in Columbia County
near Albany.  Most of the references in the dialect dictionaries say
"northeastern NY."  This is the second individual local to the lower
Hudson Valley whom I have heard use this.  The other was a lady (about
55-60) who lived in Cold Spring, N.Y., about an hour north of New York
City on the commuter train.  I suspect that this expression was probably
much more widespread throughout the Hudson Valley.  I wonder if it has
Dutch roots.

Regards,
David

barnhart at highlands.com