Gifts for your favority Santa 1965

December 1965

Schoonmaker's

Gifts for your

favorite Santa 

Open Every Night Till 9 Thru Dec. 23rd

Luigi's Christmas Cheer

December 1978

Here's to an old-fashioned holiday, sharing good times and good cheer, with lots of friends and loved ones.

Luigi's Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge
Since 1939

Happy Holiday Season
from
Frank Barossi & Staff

362 Broadway
Newburgh
581-3103

A Dividend of Good Will

December 1978

Merry Christmas

Savings and Loan Association of Newburgh

 

 
We're issuing a dividend of good will and good cheer along with our special thanks for all your continued confidence and loyalty 

800 Broadway

565-4000

47 Grand Street

561-5400

Newburgh Is A Christmas Wonderland!!

December 1965

Newburgh is a Christmas Wonderland...

Glittering with the Bright Lights of the Mid-Hudson Valley's Leading Stores.

SANTA SOLUTIONS invariably are found in the BROADWAY SHOPPING AREA

For the shopping trip of a life-time shop the Mid-Hudson Valley's most famous, traditional, Christmas Shopping Area... Broadway! See for yourself why every day thousands of shoppers from every point in the Valley come to this exciting shopping area.

New York Furniture Company

The New York Furniture Company (circa 1912)

The HOME of
Artistic Furniture, Beautiful Rugs
Good Crockery, Dependable Stoves

The New York Furniture Co.
Cor. Broadway and Grand Street
Newburgh     -     -     -     -      New York
P. S.—Cash or Credit. Many Side Lines
 

Alex Goldberg: 30 Years In Newburgh

30 YEARS IN NEWBURGH

1912 brings the 30th anniversary of the foundation of our business in Newburgh.

30 years—It doesn’t seem so long.

30 years of earnest endeavor to build up and grow through honest merchandising. And we, like Topsy, “have growed”. As the- years rolled by, three generations of Orange and Ulster County citizens—fathers, sons and grandsons have been added to our list of well pleased and satisfied customers.

It's a long list—If your name isn't there we’d be pleased to have it.

An honest dollar’s worth of merchandise for your dollar; new styles as fast as the designers turn them out; every garment backed by our absolute guarantee of your satisfaction.

That is our everyday slogan and it’s good any day.

Everything that men and boys wear anywhere excepting shoes.

Boys’ suits $3.50 and up.
Men’s suits $12.00 and up.
Fur coats $16.00 and up.

 

ALEX. GOLDBERG
OF NEWBURGH

Youngs & Co. Garage

Young's & Co.

Repairing Our Specialty

circa 1912

 

Grand Street

Newbrugh, N.Y.

Newburgh Again: First City Church To Use Electricity

First City Church To Use Electricity

The Evening News
March 31, 1984

The First Presbyterian Church here was the first church in New York State to be illuminated by electricity.

“The inspection of the electric light in Newburgh by Thomas A. Edison and others, including prominent gentlemen from New York, Poughkeepsie, and Norfolk, Va.,” is detailed in account in the Daily Journal, dated April 25, 1884.

One of the sites inspected was the church at South and Grand Street, now Calvary Presbyterian Church.

The century-old report came to light as the Historical Society of Newburgh Bay and the Highlands and Central Hudson cosponsored the centennial of the first electricity in Newburgh.

The newspaper listed the visitors, a veritable who’s who of the business and financial leaders of the era. They arrived at 6 p. m., according to the report.

Understanding the electric station in Newburgh was a model one, they wanted a close look. The Poughkeepsie contingent was considering organization of a company there to adopt electric light.

After supper at the “United States Hotel” (later the Palatine), visitors walked to the Montgomery Street electric plant and then to the church.

The lights were turned on and they were praised by the visitors as very fine and brilliant. 

The century old account continues: “Mr. Edison remained at the electric building, to converse with Mr. T.C. Conant, the electrician in charge, and other gentlemen.

“Mr. Edison, the great inventor, is a gentleman of ordinary appearance. He dresses in plain black, and wears a square-crown black hat. He is an incessant smoker, and during the animated conversations that he had while here a fragrant Havana contributed toward making him at ease.

“He is a ready conversationalist and when in conversation his countenance is illuminated, and a glance at in convinces the ordinary observer that he is a man of great brain power.”

“That he understands the working of electricity thoroughly goes without saying. He was very highly pleased with his visit, and complimented the gentlemen attached to the station here for the thoroughness of their work. He did not suggest improvements in its conduct, as the requirements had been well met. Other gentlemen spoke very favorably of the workings of the electric light, of its great merit, and the complete manner in which it was controlled and managed.”

The unidentified reporter carefully listed details which remain interesting 100 years later. He concluded:

“The visitors returned to the United States Hotel after their tour of inspection, held a brief conversation among themselves and a few Newburgh gentlemen, with whom they were acquainted, and then took the $.10 boat for Fishkill, the two parties separating at that place, and returning to their respective destinations, New York and Poughkeepsie.”

The Rev. Carlos Lantis, current pastor of Calvary Presbyterian Church, researched the material and church secretary Betty Schoonmaker typed the information from a microfilmed copy to submit the material to the Evening News – helping to recall references of Newburgh and the historic edifice.

Newburgh Again: The North Plank Road Tavern- 1981

Bypassed by bulldozers, tavern restored

The Evening News - Dec 1, 1981

NEW LEASE ON LIFE - The North Plank Road Tavern bas been around more than 100 years and may see another century. The owners, Thomas and Lucie Costa, have applied for the building to be listed on the National Historic Register. Photo by Jean Yanarella

TOWN OF NEWBURGH – The North Plank Tavern is alive and well after more than 100 years. With a couple of enthusiastic owners and a recent decision by the Department of Transportation to spare it, the building’s future seems secure.

The structure was the most ambitious acquisition of Thomas and Lucie Costa. Although they bought a restored five area buildings before this one, the North Plank Road purchase has become their home and business.

The owners are attempting to have the tavern listed on The National Historic Register.

Its alleged historic value is partly responsible, for the Department of Transportation’s decision to take six private homes across the street for a road-widening project and spare the bar.

The process of getting on the National Registry may end in 1982 with the North Plank Road building receiving the official designation.

The ponderous process started in 1980, involved a large amount of research by the owners, Thomas Costa and his wife, Lucie Provencher Costa. The youngest member of the Costa beverage family, Costa is the son of county Legislator Joseph Costa, who runs the soda plant of the same name.

Thomas Costa studied mathematics and education in college and his wife, a native of Montreal, studied civil engineering. They’ve combined forces to make use of what they call an opportunity unique to Newburgh.

Newburgh is one of the best places, they say, to find a beautiful, historic building at a very low price that can be turned into an exquisite, livable structure.

The first building the couple restored was on Grand Street. After facing the horrible state the structure was in, the Costa said the rest of the houses they acquired and refurbished were easy.

The Costas say restoring old buildings is a help to the community. They pointed out that the Farmworkers Legal Services was going to move to Poughkeepsie until t he group approached the couple and asked about renting a Liberty Street house. Getting a good deal from the couple convinced the agency to stay in Newburgh, the Costas say.

The couple hopes to turn the latest acquisition into a restaurant. The tavern now offers a selection of beer and folk-oriented music on weekends. With a new stove, they hope by next summer to offer food with a French flavor.

The move to a restaurant has taken them since 1979 when they bought the building. Financing for a restaurant was difficult to find, they explain. The Newburgh Savings Bank was willing to help them.

Financial help was not all the couple needed. An incredible amount of physical labor was done to get the structure into shape in1979.

Its claim to a place on the National Historic Register apparently begins in the 1850swhen the tavern was said to be a hotel and meeting place. During Prohibition the establishment became a speakeasy. Gambling was most likely part of the building’s appeal. It was also rumored to have a bordello operating out of some rooms.

Politicians and gangsters frequented the spot. Within its walls, alcohol was diluted and bottled with counterfeit labels.

The Costas have benefited from the fact that the previous owner, Anthony Nixon, never threw anything out. The results are displayed in the walls of the tavern, including hand-embroidered hankies on black felt and decades old business cards.

Newspapers, one proclaiming "Beer is back" (March 23, 1933) also decorate the walls. These were not saved as precious souvenirs, said Costa, but were used as padding under linoleum. The couple can tell by the dates on the newspapers when the work was done.

The ornate wooden bar back originally stood at the United States Hotel on Front Street. It is believed to be 150 years old. It was brought into the tavern around 1910.

All in all, the Costas say they have found a link with history, a home, and a livelihood, "Newburgh is working,” said Costa. "It’s been good to us."

Newburgh Again: Joseph Sculley's Hotel

Illustrated and Descriptive Newburgh (1906):

 

SCULLEY'S.

 

 -136 Broadway, Newburgh. Local and Long Distance Telephone. Joseph F. Sculley, proprietor. Mr. Sculley has made his name one that is well and favorably known during the fifteen years that he has been established here in his business. He keeps a lunch-counter that can't be beat and that it is appreciated need only to be seen to prove that, for it is always comfortably full. The fine pool-parlor that forms another department of the business contains a and some pool table and is well patronized. The stock of wine, liquor, etc., is a large one and to be properly appreciated must be tested. An especial attraction in this cafe is Ballanatine's Celebrated Beers, which are always on draught. A choice line of fine cigars is kept in stock for the patrons who appreciate "the weed." One genial clerk is employed.

Newburgh Again: Andy Glynn's Saloon

Illustrated and Descriptive Newburgh (1906):

ANDY GLYNN.

142 Broadway, Newburgh.

Wines and Liquors, Fine Cigars. When you find a man who has a nickname and who puts it on his cards, shorn of dignity, you may always be sure that behind it stands one of the jolliest and best-natured fellows in the Universe. Mr. Andy Glynn is no exception to the rule and his genial personality has brought many patrons to his saloon. Mr. Glynn employs four men to attend to his patrons' wants.

Newburgh Again: Granite City Soap Co.

Illustrated and Descriptive Newburgh (1906):

GRANITE CITY SOAP CO.

Proprietors of the old Oakley Soap Plant. This Company was organized in Fall River, Mass., in 1888, under Maine laws, as a Co-operative Soap Manufacturing Company, and acquired the present property in 1891 for manufacturing a general line of laundry soaps, under advertised and private brands, as well as soap Powder, Chip Soap, etc. The officers of the company are: A. J. Lovell, Boston, Mass., President ; H. W. Durgin, Newburgh, N. Y., Treasurer and General Manager; R. A. Atwood, Boston, Mass., Secretary.

Newburgh Again: The Clinton Hotel

Illustrated and Descriptive Newburgh (1906):

THE CLINTON HOTEL

Hugh McGuigan, proprietor, No. 102 and 104 Washington street. The Clinton Hotel, effeciently managed, thoroughly equipped for entertaining guests, and conveniently located is one of the most popular hotels in the city of Newburgh. The house has been established here for about 20 years and since the present manager took charge, h is geniality and solicitous care of the guests of the house have built up for him a fine custom. The house is conducted on the American plan, has a nicely equipped and popular bar, and the rates are from $1.00 to $2.00. It has 32 well lighted and heated and nicely furnished rooms; the dining room has a seating capacity of one hundred and the cuisine is all that could be desired.

Newburgh Again: Howard & Company

Illustrated and Descriptive Newburgh (1906):

HOWARD & COMPANY

Wholesale Grocers and Coffee Roasters. Strictly up-to-date in every particular is the large grocery emporium of Howard & Company, of which the proprietors are, Messrs. G. E. Howard, H. M. Kennedy and J. C. Cubit. It was established here in 1894, by its present owners, who are representative business men of long experience in the grocery business. Their building is an immense one, covering one entire square block, opposite the Ferry House and fronting on Carpenter, Front and Ferry streets. It has four large stories and a basement, presenting in all about 38,000 square feet of floor space. The shipping facilities are perfect, as an Erie Railroad switch connects the building with the main lines. The large and increasing trade of the concern is derived mainly from the city and the country included within a radius of fifty miles from the city, this territory, being covered by five traveling men. They make specialties of canned goods, Easter Lily, and Snow Ball brands being the leaders.

Newburgh Again: Schoonmaker & Son

Illustrated and Descriptive Newburgh (1906):

 

JOHN SCHOONMAKER & SONS

JOHN SCHOONMAKER & SONS IS UNDOUBTEDLY THE BEST PLACE TO BUY DRY GOODS

According to the best obtainable information there is no other stock of Dry Goods so large in any retail store between New York and Albany. As a buying and selling organization this store ranks with the best. Probably no store in a city of the size of Newburgh in the United States sends its buyers to the New York market so often. John Schoonmaker and Son average about two buyers a day in the New York market for every business day in the year.

Newburgh Again: Jansen's Open at New Site

Newburgh-Beacon News
September 21, 1959

TRADING POST - Boy Scout trading  post, specializing in scout clothing and equipment, is part of the newly renovated Jansen's store at 390 Broadway. That's salesman Burton Polhamus is behind the counter.

The newly expanded E. W. Jansen Inc. men's clothing store is open for business at 390 Broadway in Newburgh.

About 1,000 square feet has been added to the store's floor space, according to Maynard Davidson, company president. The expansion, in addition to providing more room for the firm's enlarged line of men's clothing and accessories, provides space for new sportswear department and a Boy Scout trading post.

The Jansen company has been at 388 Broadway since 1955. Its new quarters put its entrance one door away from the old address.

The clothing outfit began in 1920 as "The Four", with a store on Water Street. Mr. Davidson, an employee since 1925, became president at the time of the Broadway move in 1955.

Salesmen are John Kerwick, Burton Polhamus, Bertram Stocks and Frank Gardner.

Newburgh Again: The Newburgh Daily News Building

 

Illustrated and Descriptive Newburgh (1906):

ONE OF THE SIGHTS OF THE CITY.-Among the possessions of which Newburgh boasts and to which Newburghers point with pride is the extensive and modernly equipped plant of The Newburgh Daily News, housed in its own handsome building at 40-42 Grand street. The building and equipment represent an investment exceeding $100,000. Like the paper itself, which is one of the most widely circulated, ably edited, typographically, artistic and largest issued outside of the first and second class cities, The News Building in appointment, extent and perfection of equipment is unusual in a city of Newburgh's size, being unequalled by any newspaper establishment outside of the half dozen leading cities of the state. The News Building is one of the show places of Newburgh, one of the "Sights of the town" to which visitors are invariably introduced. And a visit is well worth the while. The most advanced ideas in newspaper making and the conduct of allied trades are exemplified in the marvelous mechanical contrivances employed in the various departments throughout the establishment. From the big new Goss Stereotype Perfecting press, with capacity of 300 complete papers a minute (the only machine of the kind in this section of the State) on the ground floor, to the almost human linotype machines, on which the newspaper is "set," on the top floor, the visitor will find something novel to attract and hold his attention at every step. An idea of the extent to which the paper circulates may be gained from the fact that nearly a ton of white print paper is consumed every issue.

Newburgh Again: The Post Office

Illustrated and Descriptive Newburgh (1906): 

 

The Post Office is one of the most important in the state; its total receipts for the year 1902 were $65,480. 92; for 1903 they were $65,949.29; for 1904, $67,659.45; for 1905, $73,232.79, and the receipts for the last five months of 1906 were $32,273.20, and for the same five months of 1905 they were $28,247.84 showing an increase for this year thus far of $4,025.36. The total receipts for this year will in all probability exceed $80,000.00. The building cost with the site, $100,000.

Newburgh Again: Society Exotic As A Survival of a Quaint Past

The Newburgh Daily News - Sep 22, 1915

History by Mr. Hilton
One of the party had picked up a printed leaflet bearing the caption “secretary Report”. It was dated 1887 and signed by William H. Hilton. Mr. Hilton, reviewing the history of the Newburgh Horse Thief Detecting Society, had written as follows:

“The Newburgh Horse Thief Detecting Society was organized at the court house, in the City of Newburgh, August 17, 1861. The following officials were at the time elected: President, Mr. Sands Belknap; vice-president, Mr. Eli Hasbrouck; secretary, Mr. Thomas George; Treasurer, Doctor James Low. The membership fee was two dollars. No annual dues were collected until 1866. At a meeting called by the President, August 5, 1865. At the hotel of Jacob O. Terwilliger, at New Mills, it was resolved, that on and after January 1st, 1866, each member pay an annual due of one dollar in advance; and at the same meeting it was resolved, that a fine of fifty cents be imposed on each officer and twenty-five cents on each member for failure to attend the annual meetings of the society.

When the society was organized, riders were appointed semi-annually. At the August meeting, in 1865, this article of the by-laws was amended so as to read “annually” instead of semi-annually”. At the annual meeting held in the court house, Jan. 15, 1867, the resolution imposing a fine of fifty cents on officers and twenty-five cents on members, was rescinded. At the annual meeting held at the Orange Hotel, Jan. 22, 1874, the 8th article of the by-laws was amended so as to read: “The membership fee to be five dollars instead of two as heretofore”.

A special meeting was held at the Orange Hotel on the 7th day of February, 1874, for the purpose of re-organizing the society under the State act of 1862, as amended by the Act of 1870, a committee composed of the following gentlemen: Mr. Wm. R. Brown, Mr. A. S. Cassedy, and Mr. F. F. Corwin, was appointed to draft a constitution and by-laws to be reported and acted upon at a meeting held at the Orange Hotel, Feb 24th, 1874. At this last meeting, the constitution and by-laws were adopted and the society was called “The Newburgh and New Windsor Horse-Thief Detecting Society”. Three trustees from the town of Newburgh were appointed: Mr. B. K. Johnston for one year; Mr. John L. Aderton for two years, and Mr. C. Gilbert Fowler for one year. Three trustees were also appointed from the Town of New Windsor: Mr. Aymar Van Beuren for one year; Mr. John Appleton for two years, and Mr. Wm. W. Patten for three years. Three trustees were also appointed from the City of Newburgh: Mr. James R. Dickson for two years, and Mr. G. W. Peters and Mr. Daniel A. Weed each for three years. As their terms of office expired they were each unanimously re-elected, except Mr. Wm. Patten, who declined in favor of Maj. Thos. Morton, and all trustees who were elected as above stated still hold the office, save those who have been removed from our midst by death.


Its Early Officers
“At a special meeting at the United States Hotel, Feb. 24, 1879, Mr. Daniel Barnes was elected to fill the vacancy caused by the death of C. G. Fowler, and at the annual meeting, Jan. 10, 1881, held in the Common Council rooms, Dr. P. M. Barclay was elected to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. James R. Dickson, and today we are called upon to fill another vacancy, death having claimed another member, Major Thomas Morton. I think it fitting to say here none had the interest of the society more at heart than did Major Morton. For the last 13 years, ever since I have been treasurer, Major Morton never missed a meeting without writing me to say he could not be with us, and always wished me to let him know what had been done……

“The first meeting of the trustees was held in the Orange Hotel, Feb. 28, 1874, and they have held one annual meeting ever since and several special meetings……

“The first president, Mr. Sands Belknap, was elected Aug 17, 1861, and re-elected Sept. 27, 1862 and Sept. 26, 1863. He declined re-election again, and Mr. Hasbrouk succeeded him. Mr. Hasbrouck was re-relected Jan. 16, 1869. Then our present president, Mr. Beverly K. Johnston, The Old Reliable, was elected president, and not withstanding he has frequently expressed the wish to step down and make room, as he says, for someone else, for almost a score of years he has been unanimously chosen to preside over our meetings; and, more than that, he has not in all these years been absent from an annual nor special meeting, save once, when he was subpoenaed as a witness in a suit at Cooperstown, Otsego County. I think you must all agree with me when I call him Old Reliable, as you see nothing but the strong arm of the law has been able to keep him from his place at our meetings and I trust he may be long spared to come in and go out with us as president……


Total of Members 365
Concluding his resume, Mr. Hilton said:
“Since the organization of the society we had a total membership of 365. Of this number 143 have been removed by death; 55 have ceased to be members for various reasons, such as removal from the city; and 42 have been stricken from the roll for reasons unknown to me.

“We have collected from membership fees, fines and dues, $2,929; from interest on money in bank, $1,475.33 –making a total of $4,404.3. We have paid out $2,220.11, and have on hand $2,184.22. All the facts and figures I have given you are as I find them y carefully going over the records of the society for the past twenty-five years. The society having been organized twenty-five years lat August, and as this meeting is about our quarter-centenial, I have prepared a few statistics from which I trust some one may derive information, which, if they do I shall consider myself repaid for gathering them.



Thieves Run Down
“As the name indicates, the Newburgh and New Windsor Horse Thief Detecting Society was organized to protect owners of horses against theft. At that time there were many fine horses in Orange County, may fine sires were bred and thefts were frequent, even of animals of only ordinary value. The only means of communication was the telegraph, but this was imperfectly developed. Railroads were few and police protection in adequate. Whenever a horse was stolen the members bent every effort on corralling the thieves. A large reward was offered, riders spread the alarm and the hunt was pressed with every resource. The result of this was that very fact of man’s membership in the society had a salutary effect in deterring the unscrupulous from attempting to make away with his horses.

Nevertheless, the society was called upon frequently to carry out the purpose for which it existed. The records show many instances of thefts, the capture of the culprit and a conviction. There is one remarkable reference of the stealing of two horses from Daniel Barnes’ stable in Middle Hope. This was in 1898. The thieves set the buildings on fire and escaped. The fire destroyed the barns with much live stock. Eventually the responsible persons were brought to justice. There were two of them, James Plew and Walter Wells. In 1913 Plew was electrocuted in Connecticut for murder.

Aside from the enforcement of law and order, the horse Thief Detecting Society was a social organization, too. The annual dinners were elaborate affairs “Bev” Johnston who was long president, a prominent figure through-out Orange County, established the custom of giving an annual dinner at his inn in Coldenham. “Bev.” Johnston’s dinners always attracted a great throng, including relatives, friends, and enemies of the members.

Modern methods of communication and transportation have reduced the function of the society to a minimum. It is hard now to steal horses and get away with it. The last member to have live stock stolen was Samuel D. Stewart, who lost a pair of mules in 1910. With no rewards to pay every now and then, the society finds itself able to pay substantial dividends. There is about $2,500 in the treasury, which is invested. Aside from this its existence is perfunctory.

William H. Hilton joined the society in June, 1867. He was made secretary in 1874 and five years later treasurer. The duties of both offices were combined. The length of Mr. Hilton’s service as an officer is remarkable. It is an odd coincidence that his successor, David W. Jagger of this city is cousin of Major David Jagger of Orange Lake, who was prominent in the organization from its infancy till his death. Aymar Van Beuren, a trustee at present, is the only living charter member of the society.

Newburgh Horse Thief Detecting Society 2012 Update:

The NHTDS was once a vigilante justice group in the community -- today it's a social club that meets at a historic tavern in Newburgh. Everyone is welcome to come by to hang out. If you would like to be a member, receive a pin and membership card -- then send a tax-deductable donation of $50.00 to the Historical Society of Newburgh Bay & the Highlands, 189 Montgomery Street, Newburgh, NY 12550.

Meetings held on the last Friday of each month at the North Plank Tavern. The first meeting will be on July 27, 2012, because we are waiting for the tavern to reopen after the restoration work that's being done now.
President, Jeremiah V. Ventry-McGee
Vice-President, Zachary Costa

Pictures from the Historical Society of Newburgh Bay & The Highlands

Alex Goldberg: Outfitter to men and boys

Illustrated and Descriptive Newburgh (1906):

ALEX. GOLDBERG.

Outfitter to men and boys, 83-85 Water street. 

Mr. Goldberg came to Newburgh from Poughkeepsie in 1881, so that this year of 1906 marks his quarto-centennial year in Newburgh. His is the largest and best equipped outfitting store in this section of the state, and is located on Newburgh's busiest block, between Third and Fourth streets. Occupying three floors, with a modern electric elevator making easy of access every part of the building, his constantly increasing business shows that the people of Newburgh appreciate his modern business methods and square dealing. He is a merchant who believes in the efficiency of the show-window and the show-counter as silent salesmen, and the interior of his store bears evidence of this in the many feet of glass show-cases, and the tasty decorations of the same. Mr. Goldberg caters particularly to the wants of the youngsters, and the entre second floor of his building is given up to clothing, hats and furnishings for boys and children. The stock carried is very large, and includes every article of wearing apparel that man or boy can possibly wish, with one exception-shoes. This modern store is a good example of 25 years of steady growth and progress, and really mirrors the growth and progress of the city, and the surrounding towns and villages.

Newburgh Again: Newburgh City Club (Culbert House)

Newburgh City Club (Culbert House)
Newburgh, NY

  
As described by the Calvert Vaux Preservation Alliance: The Newburgh City Club, originally the Culbert House, was designed by Vaux and A.J. Downing in 1851 - 52 during their all too brief working relationship. The house was designed for a prominent Newburgh doctor, William A.M. Culbert (design #22 entitled "Suburban House With Curved Roof" in Vaux's book, Villas and Cottages), and was expanded after the Newburgh City Club acquired it in 1904. The building was restored in 1975 - 76 only to have its interior gutted by a suspicious fire in 1981. The City Club still sits today in front of the south end of the Newburgh Free Library. The exquisite concave roof is completely gone, as are the majority of the building's exterior design elements, yet its basic structure appears to be sound and restorable. It is part of CVPA's mission to see that this contributing building to Newburgh's Montgomery - Grand - Liberty Streets Historic District is fully restored and an adaptive reuse found that will benefit the Newburgh community and its struggling economy. 

 From Villas and Cottages:
PICTURESQUE SQUARE HOUSE.

This house, which now belongs to a gentleman residing in Newburgh, was planned for another party in the first instance, and was partly executed with the idea that it was to be very simply and economically finished. It was commenced without any intention of constructing the dormer-windows, the projecting hoods, or the covered balcony over the lower bay, all of which, as may be seen on reference to the sketch, help materially to give individuality and completeness to the design. The main outline of the plan is a simple parallelogram, without any break in the walls, and the study may, therefore, be interesting to those who like a generally picturesque effect in a house, but who wish to avoid irregularities in the internal arrange

ment, or uneconomical projections in carrying up the brick-work. During the progress of the work the building changed hands, and came into the possession of its second owner, Mr. D. Moore, and in accordance with his instructions the design was improved in many important points. The additions already referred to were made, another bay-window was introduced, the roof to the veranda, also, was curved, and finished with a balustrade.

The plan may be thus described: An inclosed wooden porch, shown to a larger scale at page 72, leads into the principal hall, which is paved with red, black, and buff encaustic tiles in a simple but effective star pattern. This hall communicates with the library, which is a handsomely-finished room, containing two book-cases recessed in the walls on one side, and a third arranged between the windows on the other side. The architrave mouldings of the doors, windows, and book-cases being boldly relieved, and so arranged that they may group together in several different combinations. The drawing-room extends the whole length of the house. The southern part was originally proposed for a bedroom, but when the property came into Mr. Moore's possession it was connected with the parlor by an ornamental wooden arch, without folding doors. From this drawing-room the windows open on to a wide, spacious veranda, commanding an extensive view of the Hudson. In the staircase hall is a garden entrance, and a door to a small private room or office. The dining-room is in the basement, but the ground falls off so rapidly that the side of the room which looks out on to the ornamental garden, and the river beyond, is entirely out of ground, and communicates with a brick piazza supporting the veranda above. It has not, however, been thought necessary to give a separate plan of this floor, which contains kitchen and other offices, cellar, vaults, and furnace-room. Conveniently situated underneath the pavement of side-entrance is an outhouse and necessary, approached from the basement through a vinecovered veranda passage, and arranged on a similar plan to that already described in the opening chapter, and in the description of Mr. "Warren's house. Mr. Moore's house was, however, the first in which this plan was tried, and it was while endeavoring to overcome the difficulties suggested by his needs that the idea occurred to me. The filling up and grading about the house was thus made more satisfactory, and the outbuildings were entirely concealed from view, which could not, in any reasonable time, have been done by trees or evergreens on account of the continuous fall in the ground, which made it necessary that the principal rooms and veranda should look down on to the lawns and garden ground surrounding the house.

The chamber plan will be found to contain four bedrooms, with a linen-room, bath-room, and watercloset, all easy of access, but planned with a special regard to privacy. An open and airy stairway to the attic leads into a roomy, well-lighted upper hall, communicating with four large bedrooms and a storeroom. Above this again is a well-ventilated garret four or five feet high, that affords convenient stowage for trunks, and furnishes a complete shield from the heat and cold. The attic rooms in this house are as convenient, and almost as agreeable, as the principal bedchambers below them ; and as they naturally command a more extensive view than can be obtained from the rest of the house, they have this one great advantage over the other rooms. A reference to the plan of roofs will show how, by the arrangement of the flat on the top, the whole composition is simply treated, so as to offer as little resting-place as possible.

Newburgh Again: General Anthony Wayne statue at Washington's Headquarters

Henry Kirke Bush-Brown

  Henry Kirke Bush-Brown (1857–1935) was a distinguished sculptor raised in Newburgh (and the adopted nephew of renowned sculptor Henry Kirke Brown, another Newburgh resident). 

  

For the Hudson-Fulton celebration in 1909, he created an equestrian statue of General Anthony Wayne, an American Revolution general, which was dedicated in a grand fashion. 

 

 Eugenia Boisseau recalls the Newburgh 1909 celebrations 50 years later by saying:

 “In Newburgh that afternoon the equestrian statue of Gen. Anthony Wayne, which still stands on the east lawn of Washington's Headquarters, was dedicated. 1500 persons attended the ceremonies with the sculptor, Henry K. Bush-Brown of Balmville, giving an address. The presiding officer was Mayor McClung. Howard Thornton, President of Washington's Headquarters Board of Trustees, formally accepted the statue. Music was provided by Alsdorf's Orchestra. The Rev. Alfred J. Wilson, pastor of the Unitarian Church of Our Father, delivered the invocation, and the Rev. John Huske, rector of St. George's Episcopal Church, gave the benediction.”

Although Eugenia Boisseau’s recount states the was still standing on the east lawn in 1959, A. J. Schenkman states in his book, Washington's Headquarters in Newburgh, “that the statue was never bronzed, so by 1910, the sculpture deteriorated due to exposure to the elements without protection.”

Newburgh Ferry Franchise Long Served As A Pattern

The New York Times
Published: March 23, 1930

IN a recent address Governor Roosevelt called attention to the Newburgh ferry, one of the most historically colorful ferries in America, the original franchise of which Governor cited as "an example which has been followed all the way down to within the last few years." A search of the records discloses that the first ferry franchise at Newburgh was granted to Alexander Colden in 1743, as a result of his petition to the Governor of the Province for the right to operate such & service between Newburgh and Fishkill.

In Colden's petition are found set forth the two principles, adequate services and nominal cost, which made the franchise an example to be commented upon nearly two centuries later. Colden promised to "provide boats and persons constantly to attend." His charges were carefully detailed. For every "man and a horse" there will be a fare of 2 shillings and 6 pence; "but if three or more were together, for each man and horse, 2 shillings"; "for every calf or hog, 4 shillings”; "for every full barrel, 1 shilling"; "for every empty barrel, 4 pence," and "for every pail of butter, 3 shillings." Competition, historical papers indicate, tended to reduce Colden’s original rates, nominal as the rates of the first franchise may have seemed at the time. Near the end of the eighteenth century the Bogardus-Anderson ferry advertisement quoted a fare of "2 shillings for a horse and a man"; "a phaeton and pair, 12 shillings"; "a ton of iron, 8 shillings," and "a hogshead of rum, 5 shillings."

Colonel Jonathan Hasbrouck, another pioneer ferry owner, built the first dock in Newburgh in 1731, a few miles south of the Hasbrouck property, which later became Washington’s headquarters. Fishkill, particularly, was a post of great importance in the Revolutionary campaigns of 1777 and 1778. A few hours before the British· sailed up the Hudson to burn Fishkill, two sloops, lying at the Hasbrouck dock, were dispatched to bring troops for reinforcing General Gates, thus escaping destruction. During the war years the Newburgh ferry was operated by the government.

The Colden ferry, after changing hands a. number of times, was bought by Thomas Powell, who, in 1850, passed it on to his daughter, Mrs. Frances E. L. Ramsdell, in whose family ownership of the ferry system has remained