Newburgh 2009 Postcards: Postcard #36: Old Newburgh Library

Postcard #36: Old Newburgh Library

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.

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.