USA > New York > Orange County > The history of Orange County, New York > Part 32
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When the second war with England came, Newburghi was paying nearly one-fourth of the taxes of the county. Again she was prominent in zeal for the national cause. A convention was held in which it was resolved to resist "the attacks of domestic enemies and the insolent aggres- sions of foreign powers." Local military companies were ordered on duty at Staten Island, and later Newburgh was made temporarily the rendezvous for grenadiers, light infantry and riflemen of the 34th Bri- gade. Its citizens celebrated Perry's victory on Lake Erie with enthusiasm. The embargo act detained Newburgh vessels, among others, in foreign ports, and Newburgh merchantmen were captured and confined in Dart- mour prison.
Colden's first dock was built in 1730. Isaac Belknap sailed a sloop from Newburgh before the Revolution which made trips to the West Indies. . William Harding, Richard Buckingham and Lewis Clark also sailed sloops
Arthur Young.
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CITY OF NEWBURGH.
before the war, and later conveyed troops on them for the Revolutionists. As early as 1798 there were four lines of sloops from Newburgh.
In the 'thirties Newburgh's river and land trade was very large. The streets were frequently blocked for hours with farmers' loaded wagons. The completion of the Erie canal diverted the most of this trade, and later the Delaware and Hudson canal cut off another source of wealth. Then the construction of the Erie Railroad from Goshen to Piermont. and its subsequent extension in other directions, finished the okl trans- portation business of Newburgh, and it has taken many years to bring about the present prosperity, with railroads extending from many direc- tions, large and varied manufactures, superior public institutions and other conditions to correspond.
AFTER INCORPORATION.
The village of Newburgh was incorporated March 25. 1800, by an Act of the Legislature, and in May seven trustees, three assessors, three fire wardens, a collector and a treasurer, were elected. John Ander- son was chosen president of the board of trustees. In 1801, the New- burgh and Colchester turnpike was incorporated, with a capital of $125.000. "Both measures," says Ruttenber. "were largely instrumental in influencing the prosperity of the village." The latter, by opening a new route of travel westward, brought a trade which in the main had previously reached the Hudson by way of New Windsor, as up to that time nearly all the wagon roads led to this place. The turnpike so re- versed conditions, by giving to the western part of Orange County and Sullivan County a better and shorter route of travel, that Newburgh came up and New Windsor went down, and the merchants of the latter place moved their stocks of goods to Newburgh. Other turnpikes fol- lowed, and the village grew rapidly. From the close of the Revolutionary War to 1825 its population increased 1.100 in each decade, and its com- merce was proportionately extended. Connecting turnpikes stretched to Canandaigua Lake, and were traversed by lines of stages, and a steamer on Cayuga Lake facilitated travel. Subsequently connections with Buf- falo permitted a trip of sixty-five hours between that place and New York, and this was advertised as "the shortest and most expeditious route from the Hudson River to the western country."
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THE COUNTY OF ORANGE.
INTERESTING PUBLIC EVENTS.
The city of Newburgh was incorporated in 1865. Of its patriotic celebrations two were of surpassing enthusiasm and interest. These were the Centennial celebration of 1876 and the Centennial celebrating the close of the Revolutionary War, of October 18, 1883. In the former there was a great nocturnal parade, and the noise and commotion were unprece- dented in Newburgh from cannon firing, engine whistling. fireworks, band playing, songs and shouts. At Washington's headquarters the procession paused awhile and sang, "My Country 'tis of Thee."
The celebration of 1883 was less noisy, but more imposing. The me- morial monument or "Tower of Victory," at Washington's headquarters. had been completed at a cost of $67,000, and the event was of national and State as well as local significance. Congress had appropriated $25,000, the State Legislature $15,000, the Common Council of Newburgh $7,500, and the citizens of Newburgh had subscribed $5,000. Many thousands of people came from far and near on railroads, steamboats and wagons. The river front was lined with steamers. The procession of the military. firemen, and societies was three miles long, and included quite forty brass bands and a score of drum corps. It was hicaded by a company of New York City police, and within it rode Peter Ward, mayor of Newburgh : Joel T. Headley, president of the Washington Headquarters Commis- sion : Thomas Bayard, president of the day ; William M. Evarts, orator. and William Bruce, poet. The inscription on the monument gives the sufficient reason for the parade and accompanying ceremonies :
"This monument was erected under the authority of the Congress of the United States and the State of New York, in commemoration of the disbandment under proclamation of the Continental Congress of October 18, 1783, of the armies by whose patriotic and military virtue our national independence and sovereignty were established."
Another noteworthy celebration was the unveiling of the statute of General George Clinton, October 6, 1896. The exercises consisted of a military and civic parade. The presentation address was delivered by Rev. William K. Hall, D.D. and Mayor Odell, in behalf of the city, made the address of acceptance. The statue stands in Clinton Gore, at the junc- tion of Water and Colden Streets. It shows General Clinton resting on his sword, which he holds in his right hand. It was modeled by the late
George T. Barnes.
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CITY OF NEWBURGHI.
eminent sculptor, Henry K. Brown, and his nephew, Mr. Bush-Brown, had the statue cast and the pedestal carved. The cost to the people of Newburgh was only $3.000, raised by subscriptions undertaken by the local Historical Society, and finished by Mayor Odell. Upon the granite pedestal is this inscription :
GEORGE CLINTON
Member of Continental Congress, 1775-1777. Brigadier-General Continental Army, 1777. Governor of the State of New York. 1777-1795. 1801-1804. Vice-President of the United States, 1804-1812. Cara Patria Carioc Libertas.
The Newburgh Municipal Centennial was fittingly observed May 9. 1900. The parade, in which about twenty-eight hundred persons took part, marched through the city's principal thoroughfares, after which the people assembled at Washington's Headquarters, and Mayor Wilson called the gathering to order. The Rev. W. K. Hall. D.D., eloquently reviewed the events of a century in this village and city. Benediction was pronounced by Rev. Father Salley.
Another event of unusual interest was the visit of Lafayette, in 1824. to Newburgh, the place of his headquarters in the Revolution. He was given a great reception. Francis Crawford, president of the village. presented him to the corporation in a brief address, and he was afterwards received with Masonic honors by Hiram Lodge, F. & A. M., where he replied eloquently to an address by Rev. Dr. John Brown. He was ban- queted at the Crawford Hotel. with about 100 citizens at the table.
Newburgh's growth has been steady and healthy in recent years, in consequence of civic enterprise and better knowledge of the advantages and attractions of her location. Her compact buildings, mostly of brick, her charming suburbs, with fine country seats, the good and delightful roads extending into the country for carriage drives and automobiles, her excellent harbor and easy access to the Metropolis by rail and steamer. her good schools and churches and her busy manufactories, are entice- ments which are drawing many new residents. Apart from its popula- tion it is the centre of trade for many thousands of people.
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THE COUNTY OF ORANGE.
MANUFACTURES.
The following is a partial list of leading industries :
Newburgh Bleachery, bleachers and finishers of fine cotton fabrics; Sweet, Orr & Co., overalls and workingmen's garments; Coldwell Lawn Mower Co .; Coldwell-Wilcox Co., iron founders and machinists ; T. S. Marvel & Co., iron shipbuilding and engineering works ; Newburgh Steam Boiler Works; Fabrikoid Company, imitation leathers; Newburgh Ice Machine and Engine Co .; Newburgh Lumber Co .; Newburgh Planing Mill Co .; Belknap & McCann, soap; Lackey Manufacturing Co., lace cur- tains ; Harrison & Gore Silk Co .; Hudson River Woolen Mills; Staples & Hanford, wire goods; Newburgh Reed Co., reed chairs; Stroock Plush Co .; Stroock Felt Co .; Little Falls Paper Co .; Granite City Soap Co .; Newburgh Steam Mills, cotton goods; John Turl's Sons, iron works ; Cleveland & Whitehill, overalls; Ferry, Weber & Co., hats; Abendroth & Root, spiral pipe, etc., automobiles ; Muchattoes Lake Ice Co .; Higgin- son Manufacturing Co., cement ; Newburgh Light, Heat & Power Co .; Pennsylvania Coal Co.
Of the industries which have been listed, some should be more fully no- ticed. The Newburgh Ice Machine and Engine Company was known at the time of its establishment, in 1824, as the Newburgh Steam Engine Works. The present company was organized in 1890 with a capital of $500,000 to manufacture Whitehill-Corliss engines and ice-making and refrigerating machines. Extensive shops were completed that year, to which additions have recently been made. Mr. Edgar Penney is vice- president and general manager.
The Muchattoes Lake Ice Company's business was started in the winter of 1859-1860 by James R. Dickson, and was bought in 1863 by Benjamin B. Odell, when he organized the company named. The officers are : B. B. Odell, president : B. B. Odell, Jr., secretary and treasurer ; H. B. Odell, superintendent.
Sweet, Orr & Co. are the pioneers and most extensive manufacturers in the country of overalls and other workingmen's garments. In 1876 their weekly product was about a thousand dozen pairs at their Wap- pinger's Falls factory, where they kept 250 employees busy. Seeking in- creased quarters they started another factory in Newburgh in 1880. The factory has a frontage of 150 feet on Broadway and 275 feet on Concord
July Fast 1
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CITY OF NEWBURGH,
street. In 1882 they opened a factory in Chicago, and in 1900 another at Joliet, Ill. Sixty traveling salesmen cover the entire United States with their product. Mr. Clayton E. Sweet, head of this concern, resides in Newburgh.
To Captain Thomas S. Marvel is due the success of the immense ship- yard of the T. S. Marvel Shipbuilding Company. Soon after the failure of Ward, Stanton & Co., Captain Marvel, who had been their superinten- (lent, began business on his own account. The shipyard has been en- larged from time to time, and building after building erected for their business. Over 200 men are employed in the building and repairing of iron and wooden steamboats and other water craft. Among their notable products are the steamers Homer Ramsdell, Hendrick Hudson, numerous ferryboats, and fireboats for the New York Fire De- partment.
The Higginson Manufacturing Company have a very extensive plant for the production of plaster, gypsum, etc., with steamers and barges to transport it to New York and other points. The business was begun by William R. Brown in 1868. Mr. Henry C. Higginson has been proprietor of the plant for many years.
The Newburgh Bleachery is owned and managed by Joseph Chadwick & Sons. It is one of the largest and best equipped manufactories of its kind. The Chadwicks in 1871 purchased the present site, and combined with it a factory which they owned in Rutherford, N. J., concentrating their whole business in the Newburgh establishment. They employ about 300 hands in bleaching and finishing various kinds of cotton goods.
The Fabrikoid Company's industry was moved to Newburgh in 1902. The plant covers about fifteen acres, and consists of twenty-eight build- ings. The product is chiefly an imitation leather and the manufactory has a capacity of over 6,000 yards a day. Mr. John Aspinwall is president, and Mr. George H. May, secretary and treasurer.
Coldwell Lawn Mower Company, manufacturers of hand, horse and motor lawn mowers, is the largest concern in the world devoted exclu- sively to the production of these machines. The firm is composed of William H. Coldwell, president and general manager: E. C. Ross. treasurer : H. T. Coldwell, assistant treasurer, and A. W. Mapes, sec- retary. Mr. Thomas Coldwell, the parent of this industry, organized the company in 1891, and the plant was built on the most modern principles.
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THE COUNTY OF ORANGE.
Their annual output, shipped to all parts of the globe, exceeds one hun- dred thousand mowers, which is over one-fifth of the entire production in the country.
H. Powell Ramsdell, of Newburgh, is the proprietor of the Arlington Paper Mill at Salisbury's Mills, eight miles southwest of the city on Murderer's Creek and the Newburgh branch of the Erie. The mill is the principal industrial clement of the hamlet. It is picturesquely situated on the edge of a rocky gorge. The oldest part of the mill was built about 1840, by Isaac K. Oakley. It forms but a small part of the present plant. the main building of which is 480 feet long and from one to three stories high, with capacity for the employment of 150 hands, and the production of over 24,000 pounds of paper daily. It is a progressive institution an l up to date in its machinery and other equipment. There are several de- tached buildings in addition to a connected series of brick and stone build- ings, and twenty or more cottages for the families of the employees. The Arlington Mill manufactures the best grades of book paper and French folios, white and colored. These go to the great publishing houses of New York and other American cities, and some of them to Englan 1 and1 even to Australia.
EXTENSIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS.
Washington Heights, formerly the homestead of Captain Henry Robin- son-a tract of nearly 100 acres in the southern part of the city-was made a valuable addition to the resident portion of the city by its purchase from the heirs, division into streets and lots and their improvements started twenty years ago. The part of the platean east of Lander street, about forty acres, was purchased by Henry T. McConn, and he arranged with Colonel Charles H. Weygant for its development. The macadam streets are broad and straight, the houses must set twelve feet back from the side- walk, which is lined with shade trees. A little later, in October, 1887, William D. and Joseph M. Dickey purchased the part of the Robinson farm west of Lander street, forty-two acres, and there inaugurated similar improvements. Many lots have been sold and houses erected on both plots.
The Newburgh Street Railway Company obtained a franchise early in 1886 to build a surface road from a point near the western end of the city to the Union depot, and then another to extend the line from the
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CITY OF NEWBURGH.
corner of Water and Third streets along Water street to near the north- erly line of the city. On December 23d, of the same year, the road was for- mally opened between West Newburgh and the Union depot. Later the road was extended to Orange Lake, and the name was changed to the Orange County Traction Company. In 1906 it was purchased by Ex- Governor Odell, and desirable improvements in equipment were made.
On recommendation of Mayor Odell, in his annual message of 1887. the people voted $30,000 for the purchase of additional lands to the former Smith estate, owned by the city, to be improved and laid out into the beautiful and sightly Downing Park, in honor of Andrew J. Downing.
Of buildings for public use the Newburgh Academy of Music is con- spicuous. It was projected in 1886 by J. P. Andrews and E. S. Turner. and the construction was commenced in the spring of 1887. It has a frontage on Broadway of 85 feet and a depth of 140 feet. The audi- torium is 80 feet long by 45 feet deep, 40 feet high, and will seat 1,300 people. The stage is 80 by 35 feet, and there are 12 dressing rooms, 2 balconies and 4 boxes. In all its appointments it is thoroughly modern.
Of school buildings two deserve particular notice. The Free Academy was erected in 1885-1886. and cost $67,000. The material is brick with stone trimmings. It is 112 by 68 feet, and three stories high, with base- ment. It has an assembly room 88 by 64 feet, which will seat 700 persons, and 12 class rooms cach 311/2 by 23 feet. There are 21 rooms in all. Without and within it is a good specimen of school architecture. Another is the Grammar School building, erected in 1891 at a cost of $30,000. This is 74 by 76 feet, with eight class rooms 28 by 23 feet cach, an'l cach containing desks for 40 pupils. The assembly room is in the third story.
Another noteworthy building is that of the Y. M. C. A., constructe l in 1882-1883. and costing $24,000. It is 31 by 77 feet, three stories high. and has a seating capacity in its assembly room for 300 persons.
In 1896-1897 a handsome Government builling was erected, Congress having appropriated $100,000 for this purpose, and this has since been the home of the post-office, the business of which has already almost out- grown it.
The water with which Newburgh is supplied is drawn from Washing- ton Lake, three and a third miles from the Hudson an 1 276 feet above it. The lake is fed by internal springs anl an artificial channel with Silver stream. Chemical analysis has shown that this water is so pure
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THE COUNTY OF ORANGE.
that it needs no filtering, and it is agreeably palatable, without any min- eral flavors. It has been healthy Newburgh's drinking water for more than fifty years. The lake's area is about 140 acres, and it has a storage capacity of 300,000,000 gallons. Newburgh is now so thoroughily piped that the water is universally accessible to its citizens, and is an invaluable protection against fire as well as promoter of cleanliness, health and hap- piness.
PROTECTION AND EDUCATION.
Newburgh has been remarkably free from crime, which is in part due to the character of its citizens and in part to its uniformly excellent police force, which now consists of one marshal, two sergeants, two rounds- men and fifteen patrolmen.
The Volunteer Fire Department of Newburgh is one of the oldest in the State. and also one of the most efficient. Therefore there have been few very damaging fires, and the insurance rates are low. From its organization, over a hundred years ago, until now, it has had on its records of membership some of the leading business and professional men in the community, and they have promptly responded to the call for ser- vice when their service was required.
The department was started, by authority of an act of Legislature, in the spring of 1797. This was three years before the village was in- corporated, and the five trustees which the act required to be elected an- nually for controlling managers were the first form of government in the village. Their power was transferred to the village trustees by the incor- porating act. There were at first a suction engine and a bucket brigade to keep it supplied with water. In 1805 a company of "bagmen" was formed. whose duty it was to take charge of goods. The first engine house was erected about the same time, and a record of the two engine companies of 1806 furnishes the following names :
No. I .- William I. Smith, Enoch E. Tilton, Walter Burling, Henry Tudor, Ward M. Gazlay, Gilbert N. Clement, Minard Harris, John Cars- kaden. Caleb Sutton. George E. Hulse, John Coleman, John Hoagland. William Adee, Andrew Preston, Nicholas Wright, John Forsyth, Walter Case.
No. 2 .- John Harris, Jonathan Fisk, John Anderson, Jr .. Leonard Car- penter, Selah Reeve, James Hamilton, Samuel I. Gregory, William
John Dales.
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CITY OF NEWBURGH.
Gardiner, Nathaniel Burling, Solomon Sleight, Jonathan Carter, Hiram Weller, Samuel Wright. Hugh Spier. Thomas Powell, Cornelius De Witt, Joseph Hoffman, Cadwallader Roe, Daniel Niven, Jr., Benoni H Howell, Sylvanus Jessup, Joseph Reeve, John Richardson.
The interesting history of the department from its interesting begin- nings cannot be followed here. Coming down to the present time its heads consist of a chief engineer and two assistant engineers, the fore- man and assistant foreman of the various companies, and the trustees of the Fire Department fund. The mines of the companies are: High- land Steamer Co. No. 3. Washington Steamer Co. No. 4. Brewster Hook and Ladder Co. No. 1. Ringgold Hose Co. No. I. Columbian Hose (o). No. 2. C. M. Leonard Steamer Co. No. 2. Chapman Steamer Co. No. 1, Lawson Hose Co. No. 5. Washington Heights Chemical Engine Co. No. 3.
The city is divided into five fire districts, and thirty-two alarm boxes connect with the engine houses.
Newburgh is essentially progressive and modern in its e lucational system. now made free. from the primary to the end of the academic course. Its Board of Education consists of nine members. It has seven public school buildings and one public library building. Other officers be- sides the board, are its president, vice-president, cleik. who is also. superintendent, librarian, counsel and attendance officer. There are also three Glebe trustees and three Glebe auditors. The courses of study are similar to those in other city schools, and the graduate from the Free Academy may be prepared to enter one of the leading colleges. while the Manual Training School is a physical safeguard as well as a means for harmonious muscular development. For reading helps apart from text-books the good library of nearly 35,000 volumes is an opening into general literature.
The reason for the Globe trustees and auditors referred to dates back to ancient conditions which have been memioned. The act to amend the charter of the Glebe passed by the Legislature in 1803, directed that $200 should be paid annually to the trustees of the academy, and that the remainder of the money from the Glebe income should be paid to the other schools on the Glebe lands, as the inhabitants should direct. It was applied to the juvenile school which was established in the old Lutheran church in 1800. the last teacher of which was John L. Lvon, who taught from 1843 to 1845, when the school was removed to the academy. In
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THE COUNTY OF ORANGE.
1849. after the Clinton street school building was erected and became officially known as the Glebe school, it received the revenues of the Glebe above the sum required by law to be paid to the academy. The High school was incorporated in 1829, and opened the next year. The number of pupils registered in this 1851-1852 was 348, and the number in the Glebe school about 120. During the first year of the new order of things, provided for in the act of 1852, the number of pupils was doubled.
Besides the present public schools there are several parish and private schools, the former being under the care of the Roman Catholic Church. Of these St. Mary's Academy, founded in 1883, has become very promi- nent and useful.
The library, with its 35,000 volumes, is free to the people of New- burgh, and the building includes a teachers' reading room supplied with books adapted to the professional needs of the teachers, and may also be used by citizens and strangers for study and literary work. The library was started in 1852, and is among the oldest of the free circulating libraries. Previous to 1850 there were but four in the State, ten in the New England States, six besides these in the United States, and none in Great Britain, and but one of the libraries then organized has as many books or as large a circulation as the Newburgh library. In September, 1852, the Board of Education resolved that all the school libraries in the village should be consolidated and placed together in the academy room, then ready to receive them, and William N. Reid, first principal of the academy under the new system, was appointed librarian. There were 924 volumes from the high school, 737 from the Glebe and 418 from the academy. In 1862 the books of the Mechanics' Library Association were transferred to the Board of Education, which added 2,801 volumes to the library. Other donations and the purchases have brought the library to its present valuable condition in the number and quality of its books. The fine building which now contains them was completed in 1877
CHURCHES.
Of Newburgh's churches the oldest is the First Presbyterian, whose legal existence began a few months after the close of the Revolutionary War, although its informal existence had started a score of years before, and been kept up in an irregular and feeble way. The formal organiza-
Thomas Coldwell.
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CITY OF NEWBURGH.
tion as a Presbyterian society under the laws of the State took place July 12, 1884, with these trustees: Adolph Degrove, Daniel Hudson, Thomas Palmer, Joseph Coleman, Isaac Belknap. The first stated supply was Rev. John Close, who served from 1785 to 1796. His successor was Rev. Isaac Lewis, who continued until 1800 and was followed by Rev. John Freeman, and Mr. Freeman by Rev. Eleazer Burnet. Then came the long and very successful pastorate of Rev. John Johnston, which lasted from July 5, 1807, until his death, August 23, 1855. Nearly a thousand members were added to the church roll during his ministry.
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