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.
