History of Duchess county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 85

Author: Smith, James H. (James Hadden); Cale, Hume H; Roscoe, William E
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 868

USA > New York > Dutchess County > History of Duchess county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 85

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Feb. 21, 1867, the Council adopted an amend- ment to the city charter authorizing the creation of a board of water commissioners and the use of the Fallkill for the purpose of supplying the city with water; but though the Legislature passed an act April 12, 1867, "to provide for a supply of water in the city of Poughkeepsie and sewers therein," it failed of immediate results.

That act authorized the raising of $200,000, sub- ject to the approval of the people at an election. April 9, 1870, it was so amended as to authorize the Common Council to raise by loan from time to time, as required by the board of water com- missioners, consisting of Stephen M. Buckingham, Edward Storm, Edward L. Beadle, Abraham Wright, Edgar M. Van Kleeck and James H. Weeks, a sum not exceeding $200,000, by the creation of a public fund or stock, to be called the "Water stock of the City of Poughkeepsie," to bear inter- est at seven per cent. per annum. The commis- sioners are authorized to acquire the right by agree- ment or approval "to alter the course of, to straighten, widen or contract, to wall in, fill in, control, improve and regulate the Fallkill creek, and the ponds thereon, and the use of water there- from, and to pass ordinances relating thereto ;" "and to remove all or any of the dams and ponds thereon, and to fill said ponds or creek, or a por- tion of the same if deemed necessary by them, within the territorial limits of said city." April 19, 1872, the charter was again amended to empower the council to increase the loan to $350,000 ; and Stephen W. Fullerton and Enoch Carter, of New- burgh, and George Hufcut, of Dover Plains, were "appointed commissioners to determine and assess the benefits conferred upon the owner or owners of lands bordering upon Fallkill creek, or the ponds formed by the same in the city of Poughkeepsie, by reason of the taking down or removal of the

dams upon said creek, * " or any one of * them ;" " or by reason of the improvement, altera- tion, or walling in of said creek or ponds * * * or for leaving the beds and sides of said creek or ponds, now overflowed, free and clear from the waters" thereof.

The first board of officers of the water commission- ers were : Edward L. Beadle, President ; Charles B. Herrick, Secretary and Treasurer ; J. B. G. Rand, Chief Engineer ; Theodore W. Davis, Resident Engineer; James P. Kirkwood, Consulting En- gineer.

The commissioners considered the comparative feasibility of using the waters from the Fallkill and Crum Elbow Creek, the Hudson and Wappingers Creek ; and came to the unanimous conclu- sion " that the waters of the Hudson is the best, and the river system the cheapest and most reliable." Experience has demonstrated the wisdom of that conclusion, at least with respect to the last consideration.

The estimated cost of the Fallkill plan was $710,000 ; of the Wappinger plan, $550,000; of the River plan, $200,000, with the interest of an additional $ 100,000 to do the pumping.

The commissioners located the pumping and filtering works on the river, two miles above the city on the Swain estate, and the distributing res- ervoir on College Hill. The work of construction was commenced in 1870, and completed during that and the following year.

Fire Department of Poughkeepsie .- It would be interesting to review the history of the department from the incorporation of the village, to note the varying apparatus-first the conventional leather bucket, next the hand engine, at first without a suction pipe, and the present steam engine and hydrant-and the different organizations which have used them in battling with the devouring ele- ment, some of which have a memorable history, but we have not the space at our command, and, unfortunately, the records do not admit of it.

From the Poughkeepsie Weekly Eagle of March 18, 1871, we glean the names and occupations of the men who composed Poughkeepsie's first fire company, as follows : Joseph Powell, Captain, silversmith, Richard Harris, tailor, John Nelson, carpet weaver, John Armstrong, carpenter, William Smith, grocer, Wm. R. Barnes and Moses Yelverton, blacksmiths, John Fields, dry goods, Christopher Markle, butcher, Joseph Mason, tobacconist, John E. Pells, tailor, Casper Hillequist, cabinet maker, James Tallmadge, Jr., lawyer, William Kidney,

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HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.

tailor, John Hobson, hatter, Matthew Colwell, cabinet maker, John Swartwout, shoemaker, Abe Thompson, Benjamin Howland, grocer, Thomas Carman, saddle and harness maker, Abiah S. Storm, silversmith, Chester Parsons, bookbinder, Joseph Nelson, grocer, Benj. Banker and Elijah Morgan, silversmiths. The apparatus of the de- partment in 1806, says the same authority, con- sisted of one engine, six hooks and ladders, one trough, one speaking trumpet, four lengths of hose, eight bags and one rope.

The department in 1880 comprised one chief and two assistant engineers, 128 members of en- gine companies, 130 members of hose companies, 41 members of hook and ladder company, and 17 fire wardens, making a total of 819; who are divided into three engine, three hose and one hook and ladder companies, and a board of fire wardens. The equipment consists of one first-class rotary steam-engine with hose and tender; one recipro- cating steam-engine, with hose and fuel tender com- bined, one second-class hand engine, three hose carriages, one hook and ladder truck, and one two- wheel hose cart for extra service, all in good order, and 7,290 feet of hose, 4,000 feet of which is good, 2,400 feet, ordinary, and 890 feet, poor.

The department officers are: William Kaess, Chief Engineer ; Arthur L. Todd, First Assistant Engineer : George G. Williamson, Second Assistant Engineer.

FRATERNITIES.

Poughkeepsie Lodge No. 21, I. O. O. F., was organized in 1838, and has a present membership of 225. Regular meetings are held each Tuesday evening at Nos. 10 and 12 Liberty street. It is an incorporated society and has a fund of about $7,000, which is largely drawn on for the relief of sick members, widows, and the education of or- phans.

Germania Singing Society was organized in 1850, with the following charter members: A. Kühn, L. Bantle, P. Meinecke, P. Kiesleer, Charles Peters, L. Schlosser, C. Rausch, L. Hasselberg, A. Ulrich, P. Zimmer, F. Grinling, Otto Rohr and Joseph Bauer. It has a present membership of 102. Musical conductors : Charles Grube, M. Umlauf, C. Peters, Fred. Reichardt, A. Kühn, T. Gehrig, L. Lehman. The society meets every Thursday evening at Germania Hall, Nos. 149 and 151 Main street, for training in vocal and instrumental music ; and was awarded the first prizes for musi- cal culture at the festivals in Utica, in 1874, in

Albany, in 1880, and in Kingston, in 1881. It was incorporated April 27, 187 1.

The St. Peter's Catholic Total Abstinence and Benefit Society was founded Nov. 1, 1866, and in- corporated with thirty-two charter members April 5, 1871. The charter names Peter Shields, Mi- chael J. Corcoran and Edward Downey as trustees. Michael J. Corcoran was the first President, and Patrick Kerr the first Vice-President. The society has 110 members, and about $400 in bank. It meets every Sunday evening at 8 o'clock, in the basement of St. Peters' church.

Hamilton Post, G. A. R., named from Capt. Hamilton, the grandson of Alexander Hamilton and son of Judge Philip Hamilton, was organized March 23, 1867, with the following members : A. B. Smith,C. H. Andrus, George Parker, H. M. Carter, Wm. Platts, W. Harris Johnson, Robert K. Tuthill, Derrick Brown, A. A. Boutell, Charles B. Morris, George E. Bissell and Henry F. Bissell. The present number of members is about 125. The Post meets every Wednesday night at the rooms of Battery D, 218 Union street. It is the owner of a plot of ground in the Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery, large enough for thirty-nine graves, which is designed for those of the members who request burial there. It was purchased in 1879, and is managed by a board of trustees. The Post disburses a very respectable amount annu- ally in the way of charities to the widows and or- phans of deceased comrades and to meritorious comrades.

Siloam Encampment, No. 36, I. O.O. F., was or- ganized August 21, 1867, with the following char- ter members: J. D. Neal, P. S. Rowland, P. G. Beneway, S. Scofield and E. O. Caldwall, who were also the first officers. The present number of members is ninety-five. Regular meetings are held the first and third Thursdays of each month.

Excelsior Rebekah Degree Lodge No. 7, I. O. O. F. was organized April 13, 1870, with ninety- seven charter members, twelve of whom have died, and only ten of whom are numbered with the present forty members, who meet the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. The first offi- cers were : Samuel Mott, N. G .; Mrs. Mary A. Rowland, V. G .; Mrs. Mary E. Mott, Rec. Sec .; Mrs. Mary A. VanSiclen, Treasurer ; Mrs. Kate A. Cornell, Fin. Sec.

Rising Star Lodge, No. 52, was organized Nov. 23, 1870. The charter members, the first ten of whom were also the first officers, were: F. E. Stickle, John Stone, G. W. Lane, C. Potter, W.

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CITY OF POUGHKEEPSIE.

Broas, A. Schæffer, N. Winters, Jr., J. Peterkin, D. Lentz, John Bauman, A. Fitchett, Theo. Clark, T. Eckhardt and J. M. Dorland. The present membership is sixty-seven. Regular meetings are held every Thursday evening in Pythian Hall, 333 Main street.

Fallkill Lodge, No. 297, I. O. O. F., was insti- tuted Dec. 1, 1871, with thirty-three charter mem- bers. The first officers were : Stephen Scofield, N. G. ; Lawrence W. Dutcher, V. G. ; Augustus VanSiclen, Rec. Sec. ; John H. Caldwell, Per. Sec .; George W. Bayer, Treasurer. The lodge has initiated one hundred and ninety-eight mem- bers and admitted eleven by card. It has a pres- ent membership of one hundred and forty-two. Since its institution it has paid for charitable pur- poses $3,000. Regular meetings are held every Friday evening in Odd Fellows' Hall, Johnson Building, Nos. 331, 333 and 335 Main street.

Poughkeepsie Lodge, No. 266, F. & A. M., was organized May 12, 1852. The charter members were : Abram M. Sweet, John Broas, Samuel Chichester, George Gausman, John E. Eisel, Elias G. Hopkins, George Kent, Isaac F. Russell and Andrew Geutner. The first officers were : A. M. Sweet, Master; John Broas, S. W .; S. Chichester, J. W .; John E. Eisel, Treasurer; Isaac F. Rus- sell, Secretary. The lodge has one hundred and seventy-three members and meets in Masonic Hall, Nos. 9, 11, 13 and 15 Market street, the first and third Mondays of every month, except July and August.

Dutchess Temple of Honor, No. 7, was instituted July 18, 1872, with twenty-eight members. The first officers were: W. H. VanBenschoten, W. C. T .; Robt. S. Mckean, W. V. T. ; Walter Farring- ton, W. R .; Jabez Pierce, W. A. S .; Thomas F. Gurney, W. F. S .; Hiram Van Benschoten, W. T .; J. O. Lake, W. U .; Wm. F. Voce, W. D. U .; J. J. Rosekrans, W. G .; Edgar Thorn, W. S. The membership has reached as high as one hundred and thirty-five; but at present is forty-four. The temple meets on Tuesday evenings at 7:30 o'clock, in Wright's Building, 361 Main street.

The Social Turnverein of the City of Pough- keepsie was incorporated April 18, 1874.

Poughkeepsie Lodge, No. 572, K. of H., was or- ganized April 6, 1877, with twenty-eight charter members. The first officers were: Dr. O. M. Shedd, P. D .; Frank W. George, D .; J. H. Mar- shall, V. D. ; W. H. Young, H. D .; James Smith, R .; John P. A. Vail, F. R .; C. E. Patterson, F. The lodge numbers thirty-three, and meets the

second and fourth Mondays of each month. The lodge has had fifty-eight members, and has lost two by death and twenty-three by withdrawals and suspensions. Dr. O. M. Shedd was Grand Direct- or of the Grand Lodge from April, 1879, to April 1881, being unanimously elected each term. Un- der his administration the order increased from ninety to one hundred and eighty lodges, and from 3,191 to over 10,000 members.

Dutchess Lodge, No. 1128, K. of H., was organ- ized June 26, 1878, with twenty-nine members, the present number. The first officers were : S. Jacobs, P. D .; P. Melhado, D .; S. Goldstone, V. D .; S. Beck, A. D .; C. Joseph, Repr .; J. Jacobs, F. R .; J. H. Luce, Treas. ; H. Trickett, Chaplain ; C. H. Little, Guide ; P. Sanford, Guard; J. Leonhart, Sentinel. Meetings are held the second and fourth Thursdays of each month in the Harris building, on the corner of Main and Liberty streets.

Faithful Lodge, No. 101, Knights and Ladies of Honor was organized Dec. 11, 1878, with thirty- two members. The first officers were : Dr. O. M. Shedd, P. P. ; Gerhard Betz, P .; J. A. Smith, V. P. The membership has decreased to twenty-six by withdrawals and suspensions. The lodge meets the first and third Wednesdays of each month in Waight's Hall, 361 Main street.

Azro Goff Lodge, No. 12, International Order of Good Templars, was instituted June 23, 1879, with fifteen members, and has increased at the present time to sixty-eight. The first principal officers were : Albert H. Marsh, W. C. T .; Doria S. Tomb, W. V. T .; A. Van Nostrand, W. R. S .; H. C. Stearns, W. A. R. S. ; Annie Ferguson, W. F. S. ; Wm. Ferguson, T. ; Susan A. Stearns, Chap- lain. The lodge meets each Tuesday evening at 236 Union street. It is under the jurisdiction of the " Right Worthy Grand Lodge of the World," the branch of the order which separated from the American organization when that body recognized the constitution of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, which excludes the colored man from the Order.

Hudson River Lodge, No. 251, was organized August 12, 1879, and has sixty-one members. The first officers were : S. R. Rupley, M. W. ; H. Cole- man, P. M. W. ; Henry Van Kleeck, Foreman ; I). C. Whiteman, Overseer ; J. H. Luce, Receiver ; M. B. Osborne, Recorder ; A. B. Stockholm, Financier. The lodge meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month.

Temple Legion, No. 5, S. K. of A. O. U. W., was organized Nov. 24, 1879, with seventeen mem- bers, the present number being nineteen. The first

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HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.

officers were: E. P. Bogardus, S. C .; H. Van Kleeck, V. C .; D. C. Whiteman, L. C .; M. B. Osborne, R .; H. Coleman, J. C. : A. Candee, R. T. Meetings are held the second Wednesday of each month at 311 Main street.

Dutchess County Division, No. S. S. of T., was instituted May 22, 18So, with twenty-five members. The first officers were : Walter H. Van Benschoten, W. P .; Albert G. Williams, W. A. : George T. Smith, F. S. ; Wm. Moore, Treas. The member- ship has increased to 105. Meetings are held every Wednesday evening at 226 Union street.

The Woman's Christian Temperance Union of the City of Poughkeepsie was incorporated June 7, ISSo, "to promote the cause of total abstinence from all intoxicating liqnors as a beverage, and the suppression of the liquor traffic, by such means as shall from time to time be deemed wise and expe- dient." The incorporators and first managers were: Adele D. B. Webb, Sarah M. Tuthill, Mary E. Bennett, Mary G. Underhill, Sarah E. Seaman, Mary C. Gurney, Rebecca A. Thurston, Frances E. Ostrander, Harriet Platt, Elsie A. Brooks, Ruth C. Flagler and Mary H. Bedell.

Poughkeepsie Council, No. 9. Chosen Friends, was instituted May 31. ISSI, with forty members, the present number. The first and present officers are: Dr. O. M. Shedd, C. C .: S. K. Darrow. V. C .; Peter G. Beneway, P. C. C .: D. M. Myers, Jr., Recorder: G. P. Robertson, Financier ; J. H. Mar- shall, Treasurer ; Jennie M. Daniels, Prelate; Ves- pasian Briggs, Marshal ; Henry Wood, Warden; Charles Dongan, Guard : Fred. G. Keller, Sentry ; Wm. Moore, E. Blankenhorn and Dr. E. A. Rich- ards, trustees. The council meets the first and third Fridays in each month at 311 Main street.

INCORPORATED COMPANIES.

The Poughkeepsie Gas Light Co. was organized January 27. 1851, with a capital of $70.000, which was increased in 186o to $$4,000. The works, which are located on Bayeux street, were erected and gas supplied in that year. The first officers were Henry D. Varick, President ; and Samuel B. Johnston, Secretary and Treasurer. Mr. Varick held the office of President till his death, which occurred June IS, 1877. He was succeeded by Edgar M. Van Kleeck, the present incumbent. LeGrand Dodge succeeded Mr. Johnston as Sec- retary and Treasurer in July, 1864, and still holds the office. Elvy Deyo was the first superintend- ent and held that position several years. His suc- cessor was John Cartwright, who was succeeded by

Jolin Tracy, the present Superintendent, who took charge of the works May 15, 1878.

The Citizens' Gas Co. of Poughkeepsie was or- ganized Dec. 30, 1874, with a capital of $250,000, in shares of $25 each. The incorporators were Charles T. Raynolds, H. P. Allen, A. L. Allen, Wm. H. Webb, Wm. J. Valentine, R. J. Dean and James Cambell, and these with the addition of Wm. G. Ackerman and Jacob Horton were the original stockholders. The directors named in the articles of association are : Wm. H. Webb, Charles T. Raynolds, Augustus L. Allen, Wm. J. Valentine, James Cambell, Horatio P. Allen and Robert J. Dean.

The directors met March 26th, 1875, and elected Charles T. Raynolds, President ; Augustus L. Allen, Vice-President and Superintendent ; Wm. J. Valentine, Treasurer ; and George W. Harris, Secretary and Engineer. There has been no change in officers, and only one in directors, Wil- lard H. Crosby having been elected April 4, 1878, in place of James Cambell, who went to California in the fall of 1877.

The City Railroad Co. of Poughkeepsie is the successor of the Poughkeepsie Railroad Co., which was chartered in 1866, but failed to perfect its or- ganization, and was re-chartered May 6, 1869. The directors named in the charter were : Harvey G. Eastman, Aaron Innis, Oliver H. Booth, Alfred B. Smith, Homer A. Nelson, Isaac W. White, Pomeroy P. Dickinson, Robert Frost. John I. Platt, Edward Storm, Mark D. Wilber, John P. H. Tall- man and George H. Beattys. The road was con- structed through Main street from the Hudson River Railroad depot to Vassar College, a dis- tance of three miles, with a branch line through Smith street to the depot of the Poughkeepsie, Hartford & Boston Railroad, making the total length of tract laid four miles.

Jan. 25, 1871, the company executed and de- livered to George Innis, as trustee of the first mort- gage bondholders, a mortgage on its railroad prop- erty and franchises, and Dec. 28, 1874, executed and delivered a conveyance of all its property sub- sequently acquired as further security for said mortgage. March 7, 1876, the Supreme Court de- creed that the mortgage should be foreclosed and the property sold at public auction by John P. H. Tallman. The sale was made Dec. 11, 1876, for $40.000.

The City Railroad Company of Poughkeepsie was organized Oct. 20, 1877. with a capital of $$5,co0, of which $79,519. 17 has been paid in. The first

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CITY OF POUGHKEEPSIE.

directors under the new organization were : Ed- ward Storm, Aaron Innis, Isaac W. White, Mat- thew Vassar, Jr., Alfred B. Smith, H. A. Nelson, Andrew King, Hudson Taylor, John I. Platt, Geo. B. Adriance, Richard Kenworthy, John McLean and John P. H. Tallman, all of Poughkeepsie ; and the first officers : Aaron Innis, President ; John I. Platt, Treasurer ; A. B. Smith, Secretary. There has been no change in the officers. Mark H. Hitchcock is the Superintendent.

HOTELS AND TAVERNS.

Early in the century Poughkeepsie was well sup- plied with taverns, there being five on Market St., and as many, if not more, on Main St. On the former there was one just north of the Episcopal church ; another on the corner of Cannon street, where the Farmers' and Manufacturers' bank now stands ; a third in the old building which was torn down to make way for the Collingwood building ; the Forbus tavern, (afterwards the Forbus House, and now the Nelson House,) opposite; and Mr. Hatch's tavern in the court house. On Main street there was a tavern at the river ; a couple between Bridge and Perry streets, in that portion of the village known as Blakesleyville ; another on the north-east corner of Washington street ; another in close proximity to it ; the Poughkeepsie tavern, now the Poughkeepsie Hotel ; the Eastern tavern, on the site of the present Morgan House; and another opposite Crannell street, in the building till recently occupied as a hide and leather depot by W. C. Southwick. In addition to these was the Northern tavern, now the Northern Hotel, on the corner of Mill and Washington streets. These were all patronized, principally by farmers, who coming long distances to market, were obliged to remain over night. Nearly all have long since been swept away in the march of improvement, and what few remain have been so enlarged and improved as to be no longer recognizable by their old-time patrons .* Another famous hostelry in its day was the old Von Beck House, whose site is now occupied by the residence and out-buildings of the widow of the late Hon. H. G. Eastman. It was a quaintly constructed building, the front por- tion having been built with brick, said to have been imported for the purpose from Holland. The rear portion and ends were constructed of stone. It was erected in 1741, by a Swede named Von Beck, who kept it as a tavern for a number of years. It was afterwards occupied for the same

purpose by a man named Knox, under whose man- agement it acquired a wide and favorable reputa- tion. Another old tavern, located on the corner of Main and Market streets, was kept in 1806 by Ebenezer Baldwin. The " Farmers' Hotel " at the same time was kept by Amaziah Blakeslee. At present Poughkeepsie contains something like a dozen hotels, but the principal ones are three in num- ber-the Nelson House, the Poughkeepsie Hotel and the Morgan House.

The Nelson House was built in 1875-'6, by a Mrs. Taylor, and was formally opened by Peter Foland, as proprietor, May 19, 1876. He was succeeded in the proprietorship April 1, 1880, by Capt. A. P. Black. It occupies the site of the old Forbus House, which was pulled down for the pur- pose of erecting the present structure.

The Poughkeepsie Hotel was the successor of the old Van Kleeck House, which was the first tavern in Poughkeepsie, and was kept as such for nearly a century. It was built in 1797 by a company and mortgaged to Matthew and Jacob Van Benschoten, who acquired the property by foreclosure. About the first, if not the first landlord, was Garwood Cunningham, father of the well remembered cashier, Walter Cunningham. He kept it for several years, and as early as 1806. He was succeeded by Mr. Bennett, grandfather of George Lent, about 1817. Peter T. B. Myers, a Mr. Budd and Leonard B. Van Kleeck next kept it in succession. Alanson Simpson, Col. Hatch and John Rutzer were subse- quent landlords, whose successful management contributed to the popularity of this hotel, which "was known all over the United States and in Europe," and has given entertainment to " some of the first men of the Nation."* The hotel was par- tially destroyed by fire April 14, 1877, during the proprietorship of Isaac N. Seaman. March 16, 1878, the property was sold at auction in two par- cels, the first, the hotel with a frontage of sixty- seven feet extending back 135 feet, to John Hackett, who bid for Richard P. Morgan, Mrs. Rutzer's son-in-law, for $12,175, and the residue to Patrick Ryan, for $6,850. Mr. Morgan repaired and improved the hotel, which was again opened June 10, 1878. It was kept for a little inore than a year previous to his death by Milton Bain, who died Jan. 6, 1881. The present proprietor is H. N. Bain. It is located directly opposite the court house on Main street.

The Morgan House was built in 1852-'3, by Theodorus Gregory, who came to Poughkeepsie

* The Sunday Courier, March 16, 1873.

* Poughkeepsie Weekly Eagle, April 14, 1877.

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HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.

from Sand Lake, Rensselaer County, in 1831, and leased of Judge Smith Thompson, for ten years, the property on the corner of Main and Catharine streets, the latter of which was opened by Mr. Gregory to Mill street in 1831. On the property was a tenement house, then occupied by Dr.

EASTMAN NATIONAL BUSINESS COLLEGE

FOLL

OFFICE ENTRANCE

STUDENT'S ENTRANCE

[(EASTMAN NATIONAL BUSINESS COLLEGE.)

Cooper, father of Dr. John R. Cooper, of this city, in which Mr. Gregory opened a tavern, which he kept until 1836, when he sold the lease and furni- ture to George H. Perry, who soon after sold the furniture to Peter Ostrander. In the winter of 1842, Mr. Gregory again acquired the property, at the solicitation of his friends, for the purpose of keeping a temperance house, purchasing the furni- ture of Mr. Ostrander, and the real property from the heirs of Judge Thompson, paying for the latter $8,200. Jan. 16, 1843, the first temperance house in Poughkeepsie was opened in that building, and

it is the only one which succeeded here on that principle, except the Northern Hotel, which is now conducted as a temperance house. In 1831, the house was known as the Eastern Hotel. In 1853, when the present structure was completed, the name was changed to the Gregory House. Mr. Gregory kept the house until April 1, 1866, when he sold it to George Morgan, who soon after gave it its present name. There have been many changes in proprietor- ship since 1866. It is now owned by the First National Bank of Poughkeepsie, and has been kept since the spring of 1880, by Messrs. Ney & Co.

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History of Duchess county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 85

Author: Smith, James H. (James Hadden); Cale, Hume H; Roscoe, William E Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason & Co. Number of Pages: 868

Author: Smith, James H. (James Hadden); Cale, Hume H; Roscoe, William E
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 868