Newburgh 2009 Postcards: Postcard #13: Newburgh Beacon Ferry

Postcard #13: Newburgh Beacon Ferry

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.

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.