Newburgh 2009 Postcards

Postcard #52: Palatine Hotel Lobby

2010-01-15T22:09:00.000-08:00

This photograph comes from the collection of the Historical Society. It depicts the magnificent lobby of the Palatine Hotel circa 1910. Note the encaustic tile floors, the large walk in safe behind the desk with the stuffed owl on top, the curved stained glass window behind the safe, the ornate woodwork on the staircase and desk, the gas cigar lighter coming down off the desk lamp and the spittoon on the floor just in front of the staircase. There's also a display case next to the desk filled with cigar boxes. Although Newburgh had financial troubles and Urban Renewal was all the rage- at least for the government- it's hard to imagine how anyone could come to the conclusion that such a building was better off destroyed than given another chance.
Below is an image from the restaurant in the hotel.

Postcard #51: Walsh's Dam

2010-01-15T21:57:00.000-08:00

This is an image from a vintage postcard depicting Walsh's Dam on Quassaick Creek circa 1905. The waterway, that runs on the southernmost border of the City of Newburgh, was used extensively to power several of the city's early industries including a bleachery, mills- such as Walsh's Mills- and a candle factory. The only remnants of that industry are ruins that nature has since taken back, several dams and small bridges. About fifteen years ago there was a movement to make the shores of Quassaick Creek a park with trails and historic markers. Although efforts are still being made, the Town of New Windsor has steadfastly refused to cooperate in such a mutually beneficial venture. The public accesses to the creek are limited as most of the convenient accesses are through private property.

Postcard #50: Libby Lyon and the Five Bricks

2010-01-08T19:53:00.001-08:00

Soon after New York State designated Newburgh's Historic District in 1973, Libby Lyon appeared on the scene. Urban "Renewal" was still on the rampage of razing more of Newburgh's architectural treasures. She stepped in, purchased the first five surviving brick houses on Montgomery Street north of South Street- nicknamed "the 5 bricks"- for $1,000 each, and effectively stopped the bulldozers in their tracks. With that action, the modern preservation movement of Newburgh was born. Ms. Lyon died in 2000. Ironically she was known more for her social work with the homeless in New York City than the beginning of what some might consider the "gentrification" movement in Newburgh. Although there have been many heroes of preservation in Newburgh since, Libby Lyon was the matriarch.

Postcard #49: Old Post Office

2009-12-23T17:30:00.001-08:00

The old post office was located at Second and Montgomery Streets. It was abandoned in the 1930's when the new post office was built on Liberty Street in the mid-1930's and was razed during "urban renewal" in the early 1970's. It was designed by Frederick Clark Withers.

Postcard #48: Tower of Victory

2009-12-23T17:29:00.001-08:00

Photograph of the Tower of Victory at Washington's Headquarters from the collection of the Historical Society of Newburgh. This view was from 1907 not long after it was completed in 1890 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Washington's stay and the events surrounding it. Note the houses in the background on Washington Street that are no longer there. The rooftop lookout was removed after it was damaged by a windstorm in 1953. It may soon be rebuilt thanks to a matching grant that has recently been awarded.

Two years after this photo was taken, there was a statue of General Anthony Wayne, donated by Sculptor Henry Kirke Brown, placed near the tower. It had not been bronzed and fell apart by 1910.

Postcard #47: Dayline Docked at Newburgh

2009-12-23T17:22:00.001-08:00

Newburgh was a destination for the Dayline as well as a terminal. The dock for the Dayline was just north of the bus terminal- which was next to the ferry building. "Newburgh is a popular stopping point for one day excursions of the Hudson River steamers. It is impossible for the boats to accommodate all the people ready to take the opportunity of an enjoyable sail on a hot summer day. To view the splendid scenery, fanned by a refreshing breeze, while the band plays lively airs, is indeed a rare treat and delightful outing."

Postcard #46: Christmas Tree on Broadway

2009-12-11T21:18:00.000-08:00

The Christmas tree on lower Broadway has been a tradition for years. The planning, the search for the tree and the decorating are all coordinated by Regina Angelo and carried out by the city's Department of Public Works. This photo was taken right after the December 2008 snowstorm.

Postcard #45: Lawson Hose Junior Hook and Ladder Company

2009-12-08T06:35:00.000-08:00

From 1897 program for the 100th Anniversary of the Newburgh Fire Department: "...the Lawson's Junior are to-day a part and parcel of the Newburgh Fire Department. They have a home, apparatus, uniforms- all provided by one who has lover for the fireman at heart. James Chadwick, of Chadwick Brothers, well-to-do manufacturers, who is president of Lawson Hose Company, with a view to having a school for young firemen, has erected a fired house on his private grounds on Grand Street, purchased a truck, and with his son William as president and Master Ralph Weston as foreman, has caused an organization of boys from 14 to 18 years of age to be formed. The apparatus appear in line to-day drawn by a pony, and the Juniors are as happy as are their elders. A few years ago, as mere striplings, on parade day they were out as an independent company with a miniature fire patrol wagon drawn by goats, the observed of all. It undoubtedly would be a fine manner of doing so if every city had a James Chadwick to assist the boys in their endeavor."

Postcard #44: United States Hotel

2009-11-29T18:19:00.000-08:00

The United States Hotel was located on Front Street between Second and Carpenter Streets facing the river. The back of the hotel faced the train trestle. It was the largest hotel on the riverfront and the closest to both the ferry and train stations.

Postcard #43: Oldest Houses in 1897

2009-11-29T17:53:00.000-08:00

This image is taken from the program for the 100th Anniversary of the Newburgh Fire Department in 1897. Even though none of these buildings- and most of the streets they stood on- exist any longer, it's notable that even in 1897 Newburgh had a sense of caring about its history especially through its buildings. The preservation movement didn't take hold nationally until the 1970's, while Newburgh always exhibited a sense of the importance of preservation starting in 1850 with Washington's Headquarters.

Postcard #42: Newburgh Wheelmen at the Balm of Gilead Tree

2009-11-13T21:06:00.000-08:00

This is a 1897 photo of the Newburgh Wheelmen at one of their favorite destinations, the Balm of Gilead tree, now known as the Balmville Tree. Their headquarters, at 49 Grand Street, was built in 1896 and designed by Frank Estabrook in the Richardsonian style.

Postcard #41: Fasoldt Town Clock

2009-11-07T04:59:00.001-08:00

The City of Newburgh purchased this clock in 1872. It was designed, built and installed by Charles Fasoldt an ingenious clockmaker from Albany, NY. Every clock he built was unique. The Newburgh clock ran until it was damaged by a storm in the 1950's but it is the only one of Fasoldt's clocks that exists in its original location as it was originally installed. The National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors restored the clock from 1996 until 1998. It must be wound weekly in three steps, taking about 20 minutes.

Interior of clock face. The only original clock face remaining is on the left.

Postcard #40: South Street

2009-10-06T10:28:00.000-07:00

This is a view of South Street looking west towards Liberty Street from a postcard circa 1910. At the time South Street ended at Dubois Street. The view is from approximately where the former Temple Beth Jacob stands. The view is very similar today. All the buildings pictured still exist.

Postcard #39: NY Governor Benjamin B. Odell Jr's Residence

2009-09-25T20:40:00.000-07:00

This was Benjamin B. Odell Jr's residence on Liberty Street just south of South Street. He was Governor of New York State from 1901-1904. He was born and died in Newburgh. He assisted his father, a venerate politician, in his ice business, Muchattoes Lake Ice Company for years. He managed Theodore Roosevelt's successful campaign for New York Governor in 1898 and as a result was nominated as the Republican candidate for New York State Governor in 1900. The former residence is now the Glenn E. Hines Memorial Boys & Girls Club.

Postcard #38: The Palatines

2009-09-18T19:25:00.001-07:00

This image is from the Pageant of Newburgh that took place in 1915 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the incorporation of the City of Newburgh. The enactors are dressed like the Palatines, the original European settlers of Newburgh, and are all citizens of the City. This weekend some citizens of our City have volunteered to re-enact some of the characters buried at the Old Town and St. George's Cemeteries, so it's somewhat of a tradition that our rich history has been appreciated long before us. The photograph was taken by F.A.Peck, a productive photographer who took many community photographs.

Postcard #37: U.J. & S.P. Alsdorf

2009-09-12T20:32:00.001-07:00

Simon P. and Ulysses J. Alsdorf were third generation residents of Newburgh. The family first settled here when they were released from their New Paltz area slaveowners, the Alsdorfs, in 1827. The family was purported to have been on the way to New York City but they decided to make their home in Newburgh. Simon and Ulysses' father, Dubois, was sent to NYC to study music by his father, George. Dubois built a business teaching music and his sons continued in his footsteps. The sons built Alsdorf Hall at 91 Liberty Street in 1915 where they gave classes and hosted recitals and rooftop balls. The building is now an apartment complex but the arch at its entrance continues to mark this historic site.

Postcard #36: Old Newburgh Library

2009-09-05T05:50:00.000-07:00

This building on Grand Street was built in 1876 for the Newburgh Free Library. It still stands. The library system in Newburgh was formed originally in 1836 by the Newburgh Library Association of which 20 year old Andrew Jackson Downing was its president. Its first location was at 29 Water Street. The library moved to its present location in 1976 when it built a new, much larger building less than a block away. It shares space with the Newburgh Enlarged City School District.

Postcard #35: Academy of Music

2009-08-28T20:49:00.000-07:00

The Academy of Music was located at the corner of Broadway and Grand Street. It was built in 1877. Many famous musicians and acts performed there- many stayed as guests at the Palatine Hotel. The film Birth of a Nation played there in 1915. In February, 1956 a fire engulfed the building, in which one firefighter lost his life, and it was rased soon afterwards.

Postcard #34: American Legion Memorial Building

2009-08-21T20:08:00.001-07:00

The American Legion Memorial Building was built in 1938 by Judson P. Galloway Post 152. It remained in use by the Legion until the 1990's. It presently houses the Newburgh Performing Arts Academy and is owned by Orange County Community College.

Postcard #33: Baldwin House

2009-08-15T06:29:00.001-07:00

The Baldwin House was located on the square bounded by Johnston, Farrington, Third and
Dubois streets, and elevated and prominent, about 300 feet above the river. A spacious promenade upon the roof and piazzas (500 feet of piazzas) was one of the attractions of the house. The view from these and from the tower was unsurpassed in this or the old world, overlooking the beautiful city of Newburgh, Cornwall, West Point, Fishkill -Landing, Matteawan, New Hamburgh, Newburgh Bay and the Hudson river from West Point to New Hamburgh (20
miles), the Fishkill range of mountains, Shenandoah Mountains, Storm King (1750 feet above tide water), Snake Hill, Berkshire Hills (distant 60 miles), and the Schunemunk Mountains, together with some fifty other mountains.

Postcard #32: Carmelita Leads the Field

2009-08-07T20:25:00.000-07:00

The Middle Atlantic Speed Skating Championships were held in Delano-Hitch Park on January 2, 1943. This is a photo from the 440 Senior Women’s Event in which Carmelita Landry of Fitchburg, Massachusetts won that event and the 220 and 800 also for a clean sweep as leading scorer among the women for the day. She ended up losing the title to Virginia Jahn of Cresskill, New Jersey in a skate off after both were tied at the conclusion of the regular events. There was a Newburgh winner that day, Tommy Stanton for the juvenile crown. About 8,000 watched the day’s program.

Newburgh was home to the first American champion skater, Charles June, who was the recognized speed champion 1838 and for many years after. Because of his renown, Newburgh became the headquarters of American speed skating. Newburgh is also the birthplace of the Donoghue family, Tim Donoghue and his two sons, Tim and Joseph F. Donoghue, each in his day the fastest skater in the world, Joseph Donoghue winning every event at the international championship meeting at Amsterdam in 1891.

Postcard #31: Hull's Villa: Mount Saint Mary's College

2009-07-31T20:20:00.000-07:00

This is a view of Hull's Villa at Mount Saint Mary College from Grand Street just below the college. This building was renamed Rozenhof by its second resident, S.R. VanDuzer. He enlarged the villa to its current size. The property was sold to the Dominican Sisters in 1914 and through the years expanded into the co-ed liberal arts college it is today. An image of the cupola on the house is used as the logo for the college.

Postcard #30: Newburgh Yacht Club

2009-07-24T20:41:00.001-07:00

Organized in 1885 as The Newburgh Canoe and Boating Association, originally located at the foot of Fourth Street. It was so inaccessible that the members were referred to as the "Dock Rats". They adopted the moniker and even put it on their flag. (see below) It was moved to its present location in 1905 on the Leroy Estate, now known as Park Place. The original building at the present site, as depicted on the postcard image, was designed by Frank E. Estabrook. That building was rased in the early 1970's and replaced with the one that's there now. The second story has been used as a restaurant presently run by Pamela's on the Hudson.

Postcard #29: Crooks Restaurant

2009-07-17T21:07:00.000-07:00

This restaurant/cafeteria was located at the corner of Chambers Street and Broadway. The business started at the turn of the 20th century as a bakery, confectionery and ice cream concern that sold wholesale and retail. This image is circa 1920. The building still stands, vacant.

2009 Postcard #28: Newburgh Light, Heat and Power Co.

2009-07-10T21:48:00.000-07:00

The Newburgh Light, Heat and Power Company was built in 1900 right next to Edison's power plant on Montgomery Street. The company was formed when Newburgh Gas Company and Consolidated Gas, Electric, Light, Heat and Power Company, merged- the official founding of Central Hudson. This company installed equipment to decorate the main streets, the principal wharves and public and private buildings with lights for the 1909 celebrations. Note the Dutch Reformed Church directly behind its smokestack and the Palatine Hotel on the left.

2009 Postcard #27: Bartlett View From Newburg

2009-07-07T05:22:00.000-07:00

This print was illustrated by the prolific illustrator, William Henry Bartlett (1828-1854). The engraving is by R.Wallis circa 1840. It was included in the 1856 book "History of the United States of North America".

WE'RE HALFWAY THERE!

2009-06-30T22:25:00.000-07:00

Only 26 more cards to go. Come in and check out our display of the cards we've introduced so far. It's been fun. We expect to surprise and satisfy all you City of Newburgh admirers and collectors with more rare and unique images. The cards are selling quickly as the number of collectors increases each week. From what we can tell, these are the only collectibles of this type in the entire state for the Quadricentennial.

Next Tuesday, July 7th, is the last day that the special Quad cancellation is available at the Newburgh Post Office on Liberty Street at the window. They'll cancel any item with current first class postage of 44¢. Our collectible postcards are a perfect complement to the cancellation. We also have a limited number of the custom stamps available at the shop for $1.20 each.

2009 Postcard #26: Clinton Square/Clinton Statue

2009-06-26T21:10:00.000-07:00

Unveiled on October 6, 1896, at its original location at Colden Street and Water Street, this statue of George Clinton now stands at the corner of Third Street and Fullerton Avenue in the Colonial Terraces section of Newburgh. George Clinton was the first elected governor of New York State and Vice President of the United States under both Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. A duplicate of this statue is in the Capitol in Washington, DC.

2009 Postcard #25: Newburgh City Club

2009-06-19T21:35:00.000-07:00

The Newburgh City Club is located at Grand Street and Second Street. Presently it is a shell, having been gutted by a suspicious fire in the the early 1980's preceding an investigation involving a group that was raising money to restore the Dutch Reformed Church and was using the City Club building for offices. The building was designed by Andrew Jackson Downing and Calvert Vaux and built in the 1850's originally as a residence for Dr. William Culbert. In 1906 it became the City Club. This is an image from just after that period. Note the period car on the left and the street lamp on the upper right.

2009 Postcard #24: St. Luke's Hospital

2009-06-14T06:54:00.000-07:00

This building was originally built in 1837. It was designed by Thornton Macness Niven as the Theological Seminary of the Associate Reformed Synod of New York. It became Siglar's Preparatory School and was purchased and enlarged in 1908 by St. Luke's Hospital which continues to utilize this building as part of its facilities.

2009 Postcard #23: Quadricentennial 2009

2009-06-05T21:23:00.000-07:00

To coincide with Flotilla Day, June 7, 2009, we've introduced a card that updates the 1909 program cover to include Newburgh's 300th and also Samuel deChamplain.

In conjunction with this card and Flotilla Day, we've designed and arranged for a special postal cancellation, available on Monday, June 8, 2009 at the Liberty Street City of Newburgh Post Office. The design includes the Half Moon logo designed by The Fullerton Crew at NFA. It will be available from 9:00am until 1:00pm. Almost anything that can hold the ink of the cancellation and includes current first class postage of 44¢ can be presented to the Post Office for this special cancellation. This is a great opportunity to get any of our postcards with the custom postage stamps cancelled on that day to make them even more collectible. All our cards introduced after May 11 (#20 and up) have the current 44¢ postage included with them. We have a limited supply of our custom Quad 44¢ postage stamps available separately for purchase at the shop for $1.20 a piece. The cancellation will be available at the Post Office for 30 days by request.

Postcard #22: West Shore Railroad Station

2009-05-30T05:37:00.000-07:00

Built in 1914, this station was designed by the same firm that designed Grand Central in NYC, Warren & Wetmore. It has been out of service since urban renewal in the 1970's. Recently it was purchased by a firm that is actively restoring the building after years of neglect and several fires.

2009 Postcard #21: Imperial '400' Motel

2009-05-23T05:50:00.000-07:00

This remains the one and only motel within city limits, built in the early 1960's, it sits where a diner formerly stood. It is right next to St. Patrick's Cemetery. On the postcard from which this image came, it boasted "Heated swimming pool, color tv, direct dial phones, central heating, air conditioned rooms. Some water beds and steam baths". In 2010, when Mayor Nick Valentine proposed holding the terrorist trials in Newburgh, fellow Councilwoman Regina Angelo stated that this is one of the venues that would benefit from holding the trials at the new courthouse.

Postcard #20: Liberty School No. 6

2009-05-15T20:40:00.001-07:00

This image is from a postcard circa 1910. This building is still standing but abandoned and is located on the corner of Liberty Street and Renwick Street at the edge of Washington Heights. It was designed by renowned architect, Frank E. Estabrook. It was built in 1892 for an estimated price of $30,000, the same price for which price it was sold by the city in 2007 to a developer for possible housing. However, if something is not done very shortly, the city will lose yet another landmark building to neglect.

Postcard #19: Old Newburgh Courthouse

2009-05-05T17:12:00.001-07:00

Image is from a vintage postcard circa 1915. This courthouse still stands on Grand Street across the street from the Newburgh Free Library. It was designed by Thornton M. Niven. It stands as a reminder of the controversy of forming another county besides Ulster and Orange. The first proposal was for a Jackson County, the second, Newburgh County. They both failed but the compromise was that Newburgh become part of Orange County and that courts be built in both Newburgh and Goshen- which would remain the Orange County seat. Goshen built an identical courthouse. The Newburgh legislators proposed that the building be built in the center of the lot- as opposed to the corner- "to have the grounds laid out and forever remain open as a public square". The grounds were landscaped by a young Andrew Jackson Downing. It currently houses several municipal and private offices, including the Newburgh Heritage Center.

Postcard #18: American (Dutch) Reformed Church and Parsonage

2009-05-02T04:10:00.000-07:00

Designed by Alexander Jackson Davis in 1835, it is one of the most impressive surviving examples of his work. The church was operational until 1967. It survived Urban Renewal, but fell into disrepair. The parsonage was rased- the offices of the Board of Education are now where it stood. In 2005 the church was named one of the "100 Most Endangered Sites" in the world by World Monuments Fund. The restoration effort is being spearheaded by the Newburgh Preservation Association.

Postcard #17: R.L.Case House, Calvert Vaux

2009-04-24T05:46:00.000-07:00

This is an image of the house that Calvert Vaux designed for R.L.Case, designated as Design No. 8, A Small Country House With Kitchen Wing, in his 1857 edition of Villages and Cottages. The house was built and still stands at the corner of Grand Street and Broad Street.

Postcard #16: Highland Gardens Library, Andrew Jackson Downing

2009-04-24T05:38:00.001-07:00

This is an image of the library in Highland Gardens, the estate of Andrew Jackson Downing, that was located on upper Grand Street. It comes from an original edition of his "Rural Essays", a compilation of his writings in The Horticulturist- a monthly gardening publication he edited until his death in July of 1852.

From the writings of author Kevin Baker...
"Late one night a guest in the library saw to his amazement a bookshelf swing open on noiseless hinges revealing a secret chamber where Downing labored into the night, under the white plaster busts of his heroes Dante and Milton and Petrarch and Franklin and Linnaeus and Scott staring down at him as he edited the Horticulturist, and wrote his books on landscaping and architecture, and fruit and botany. "

Postcard #15: Downing Park, Frederick Law Olmsted

2009-04-17T20:00:00.000-07:00

This image is from a postcard circa 1906 of a view of the landscape at Downing Park. The park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, the last project they ever worked on together. They both agreed to work on the park only if Newburgh agreed to name it in honor their mentor, Andrew Jackson Downing. Mr. Olmsted is known as the father of landscape architecture in the United States and shared many of the egalitarian values that Mr. Downing evoked in his landscaping plans.

Postcard #14: Calvary Church, Frederick Clarke Withers

2009-04-17T19:38:00.000-07:00

The Calvary Presbyterian Church (photograph by Michael Gabor) designed by Frederick Clarke Withers. He was invited to the United States from England by Andrew Jackson Downing to join Downing and Vaux's growing design practice in Newburgh. Withers designed several houses but was known for his many churches rooted in the Greek Revival tradition. He was so intimately involved in the design and building of this church that he picked out the stones himself based on the way the sun hit the structure.

Postcard #13: Newburgh Beacon Ferry

2009-04-10T19:31:00.000-07:00

Image from a lantern slide pre-1900. Ferry boat: Fishkill on Hudson. Built in Newburgh, this particular ferry boat began service on May 25, 1884. It was sold in 1915 to another ferry line. The ferry service between Newburgh and Fishkill on Hudson/Beacon lasted for 220 years from 1743 until 1963, when the first span of the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge opened. It was one of the longest running ferries in the history of the United States.

Postcard #12: Robinson Crypt

2009-04-03T22:40:00.000-07:00

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.

Postcard #11: Calvary Church and Parsonage on Liberty Street

2009-03-28T05:31:00.000-07:00

The Calvary Church on Liberty Street with the parsonage. The parsonage is still standing on the corner of Farrington Street, a park surrounds it on the land where the church formerly stood.

Postcard #10: Coldwell Lawnmower

2009-03-20T20:19:00.000-07:00

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.

Postcard #9: Hessian Boot

2009-03-14T06:22:00.000-07:00

This is a reproduction of a stereoview circa 1890 that depicts a Hessian boot and spur from a soldier in the Revolutionary War. The boot is in the collection of Washington's Headquarters. It is 13 1/2 inches long, 4 3/4 inches wide, 5 1/2 pounds weight. According to a NYTimes article from 1895, it "is an attraction above all others. It was worn by one of the Riesdesel's Dragoons. These dragoons were fully togged out for calvary service, but not a horse had they so that the unfortunate fellows were in constant agony from the forced marches they were compelled to make."

Postcard #8: Frontenac Car

2009-03-06T20:10:00.000-08:00

This is from an original image we purchased from someone whose family was originally from Newburgh. The photo was taken about 1907. The car is a Frontenac, a car built in Newburgh by Abendroth & Root Manufacturing Company from 1906-1913. The factory building still stands and still houses several commercial concerns at the northern end of North Montgomery Street next to the underpass that goes to the Yacht Club. There is one in existence that our historians have found. Arrangements are currently being negotiated to have the car back in Newburgh for display.

Postcard #7: YMCA and Masonic Temple

2009-02-28T06:11:00.000-08:00

The YMCA building on Grand Street was the largest Y in the United States when it was built in 1917. Both of these buildings are no longer used by the organizations that built them.

Postcard #6: View from the Veranda of the Palatine Hotel

2009-02-20T20:14:00.000-08:00

This is the view from veranda of the Palatine Hotel that was located on Grand Street directly across the street from the old courthouse. It was named for the original European settlers in Newburgh, the Palatines, who were from a region on the Rhine River in Germany. A fine view from the luxury hotel that competed with the Plaza in New York City. Unfortunately it was rased during "urban renewal". On the far right is something that still survives and has been lovingly restored and maintained in recent years, the only surviving Charles Fasoldt clock in it's original location.

Postcard #5: Washington's Headquarters 1830 by Raphael Hoyle

2009-02-13T20:15:00.001-08:00

This image is a detail of the Hudson River School painter Raphael Hoyle's Washington's Headquarters 1830. It is in the collection of the Historical Society of Newburgh Bay and the Hudson Highlands and displayed in the Crawford House. Of all the images of this historic site, this one is not very widely reproduced. The Headquarters hosts a multitude of events to celebrate Washington's birthday every year.

Postcard #4: The Polly in Downing Park

2009-02-06T20:05:00.001-08:00

The Polly pond in Downing Park used to be a popular destination all year round, but was especially a treat in the winter when it froze. This is a scene from the 1950's era.

Postcard #3: The Old Ferry Building

2009-01-30T20:11:00.000-08:00

This a view looking down Second Street towards the river at the old ferry building. Note the steel beam at the top in the middle- it's coming off the trestle railroad. The buildings were built right up to the trestle- some even over and around it. From this angle it looks like a scene from some quaint European town.

Postcard #2: The Landing of Henrik Hudson, 1609

2009-01-23T20:08:00.000-08:00

This image is reproduced from a 1909 folding postcard depicting the historical anniversaries celebrated that year. It is a glorified scene, depicted here by Frank J. Boyer, of Henrik Hudson's third voyage in 1609, landing on the shores of the river named after him. The image is based on an original painting by Robert W. Weir (or Edgar Mayhew Bacon's 1902 engraving based on the same painting). Hudson, although English, was flying the Dutch flag as it was the country which financed his voyages.

Postcard #1: 1909 Postcard

2009-01-10T19:46:00.000-08:00

The first postcard in our series is a reproduction of a postcard from the Hudson Fulton Celebration of 1909. It was illustrated by Clarence K.Chatterton who also illustrated the cover of the softcover edition of the 1909 celebration. Mr. Chatterton's office was approximately where the second story of the present library is on the Montgomery Street side. One can still get an idea of his view from this vantage point.

The uniqueness of this image is the occurence of the derigible and the hot air balloon in the same illustration. Newburgh Bay was the center of 1909 celebration as all the ships participating in the event on the river converged from the north and the south right here in our bay.