Newburgh 2009 Postcards: Postcard #10: Coldwell Lawnmower

This is an image from a 1904 advertisement for a Coldwell steam combined lawn mower and roller manufactured in Newburgh in the building now known as the Regal Bag building. Thomas Coldwell built the first lawnmower in America here in Newburgh about 1852. Ironically the same year that Andrew Jackson Downing, the first influential landscape designer, also from Newburgh, who made the lawn a popular component of the American landscape vernacular, died. Patented in 1897, the steam powered lawnmower was short-lived, having been replaced by the gasoline engine in the early years of the 20th century.

2009 Postcard Series

2009 was a special one in Newburgh's history. It was the 300th anniversary of the first European settlers, the Palatines, arriving on the land now known as the City of Newburgh. It was also the 400th anniversary of Henrik Hudson and Samuel de Champlain's voyages on the Hudson River and the 200th anniversary of the maiden voyage of the Fulton steamship on the Hudson River.

The Palatine Shop issued a new 5"x7" postcard each week in 2009 for a total of 52 in the series. The postcards all share a border that was on the cover of the softcover version of the official 1909 Hudson Fulton Celebration Program. The dates on this border refer to Hudson's initial voyage(1609), Fulton's steamship's premier voyage up the Hudson River (1807) and the Palatines settling in the land now comprising the City of Newburgh (1709). All the postcards are limited to 100 of each and include a certificate indicating the number of the edition with an embossed gold seal and a custom postage stamp of the logo designed by the Fullerton Crew at Newburgh Free Academy. The card and certificate are encased in a sturdy clear plastic pocket for display and protection. They are available exclusively at The Palatine Shop, 5 Grand Street in the City of Newburgh- next to Washington's Headquarters. The price is $5.00 each.