Newburgh 2009 Postcards: Postcard #12: Robinson Crypt

This is an original photograph (by Michael Gabor) of the Captain Henry Robinson Crypt in the Old Town Cemetery next to Calvary Presbyterian Church on Grand Street. It was taken shortly after it was restored by Gerry Sanchez and his crew at Polonia in 1999. It is said that the combination of structures used in the design of this crypt is unique in the world: a pyramid on top of a mastaba. As for Captain Robinson, he owned a farm on the land of what is now Washington Heights. Legend has it that he was the first to import goldfish to America from Asia. When his pond flooded on his farm, some of the goldfish ended up in the Hudson, which are now the carp in the river.

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.