The Newburgh News, Anniversary Edition, Tuesday, July 7, 1959
(This article recalls the Newburgh 1909 celebrations 50 years later.)

by Eugenia Boisseau

As the Hudson-Champlain and 250th anniversary of Newburgh celebration opens, for many of the City's residents' memories of the Ter-Centenary pageant 50 years ago will awaken.

Few have forgotten the spectacle of the peacetime fleet followed by ocean-going vessels and river boats totaling half a hundred, as it steamed through the Highlands into Newburgh Bay.The din of welcome, as cannon at Washington's Headquarters boomed, church bells clanged and sirens from 100 craft in the river shrieked, still rings in their ears.

Recalling the Celebration

IN MEMORY they see again day-long parades as nearly 100,000 Newburghers and visitors from neighboring states and counties jostled each other in the main thoroughfares.

Some of the men and women celebrating the City's 250th Anniversary will remember as the highpoint of their childhood, the Living Flag. For they were among the 500 costumed boys and girls arranged on bleachers in front of City Hall, swaying their bodies to show the waving of the flag, singing patriotic anthems at the top of their young voices.

Those not privileged to witness the Hudson-Fulton Ter-Centenary celebration will discover it still exists in exciting detail in the Newburgh Daily News editions of Sept. 25 through Oct. 4, 1909.

So grand in scope was the program, and so enthusiastic was the response of the residents to the citywide cooperative effort, that the years have not dimmed its luster. And, as was predicted in that day, never yet has it been equaled in Newburgh's history of patriotic pageantry.

The river-long observance was arranged to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Henry Hudson's voyage down the river which took his name and the 100th anniversary of Robert Fulton's invention of the steamboat.

"Newburgh's part in the Hudson-Fulton celebration was quite as prominent as that of New York [City]," stated an official report to the New York State Legislature of 1910 by the Hudson-Fulton Celebration Commission.

The program opened Saturday, Sept. 25 with a Naval parade in New York Harbor featuring scale-model replicas of Hudson's Half Moon and Fulton's Clermont. The historic vessels were then towed up the river by tugs to be displayed at principal cities. They were to arrive in Cornwall the morning of Oct. 1, and in Newburgh at noon of that day.

The Half Moon and Clermont

THE HALF MOON was a masterpiece of historical reproduction. Built with funds raised by the citizens of Holland, it was presented by the Netherlands Committee to the Hudson-Fulton Commission. To deliver the ship intact, it was brought to New York on the deck of the Socadyck of the Holland-American Line in 12 days. The original Half Moon required 59 days to cross the Atlantic. It was captained by Lieutenant Lam of the Royal Dutch Navy and a crew of Netherlands Navymen, costumed as 17th Century mariners.

At the rail and on the bowsprit flew the orange, black and red flag of Amsterdam unfurled from the foremast. The state flag of the Providence of Holland, gold, emblazoned with a red lion, flew from the main mast. On the deck of the three-masted schooner were two small and two larger cannon, just as in the explorer's day. The interior, containing captain's and crew's quarters and a galley, was as perfectly reproduced as the part exposed to the public.

The Clermont, also designed in detail to resemble its original, was manned by U.S. Navy men wearing the sailor's garb of the early 1800's. Its costumed passengers took the parts of Robert Fulton and his friends.

Preparations in Newburgh

As the two vessels progressed toward Newburgh, preparations there were proceeding at a feverish pace.

• Mayor Benjamin McClung called upon citizens to clean and decorate their residential and business buildings. He also advised that they keep their houses locked.
• To assure protection, Marshal Emanuel Perrott organized a force of 150 police officers. It included additional officers on foot and 15 mounted policed from New York City.
• 65 Newburgh residents were recruited as special police to assist with directing traffic. The City jail was emptied and its prisoners taken to the county jail, making room for any criminals or riotous celebrants.
• The Newburgh Light, Heat and Power Co. for several weeks had been installing equipment to decorate the main streets, the principal wharves and public and private buildings with lights.
• In the Driving Park on Robinson Avenue at Washington Street, electrical construction was estimated to have cost $2,000. A tent was put there to accommodate dining tables for 5, 000 soldiers, sailors and marines. The racetrack was converted into a stage for vaudeville shows to be viewed from the grandstand holding 600 persons.
• James A. Mogourty built a 130-foot long bar for serving refreshments.
• The two principal hostels, Dell House on the northwest corner of Front and Second Streets and the United States Hotel, "just across the way," doubled their accommodations. Usually each was able to house about 100 persons.
• Their staffs were enlarged, with the United States Hotel hiring an additional 20 waiters, three chefs, five bellboys, two housekeepers, three chambermaids, three dishwashers, four kitchenmen, two clerks, three boys to serve refreshments, one carver and two night porters.

The first religious note of the celebration was sounded at Temple Beth Jacob on South Street that Saturday, Sept. 25. Rabbi Henry Klein Ph.D., delivered a sermon entitled "The Hudson-Fulton Celebration and the Day of Atonement Ideals."

Sunday, Sept. 26, pastors in churches throughout the City marked the occasion, stressing Newburgh's religious heritage. The Rev. Jeremiah Searle D.D. headed the Religious Observance Committee. The Rev. J. W. F. Carlisle acted as secretary.

"Westend Captures Carnival Honors" was the banner line over the Newburgh Daily News of Monday, Sept. 27. More than 60,000 votes had been cast in the contest sponsored by the News. Harry Haon had been elected king "with more than 30,000 votes to spare."

A photograph showed the lovely Miss Ida Kastner fashionably swathed in a high-necked, long-sleeved and floor-length, full-skirted frock. She wore a hat twice the circumference of her wasp waist. In the same issue, the "daring dance of Salome" was advertised as one of the attractions of the Driving Park which opened that day.

Entertainment

Entertainment, continuing there throughout the week, included aerial acts, Moore's Minstrels from New Orleans, boxing and wrestling matches and Wild West shows.

The U.S. Military Academy at West Point that Wednesday, Sept. 29, was the scene of one of the most distinguished gatherings of the river-long event. A total of 480 guests arrived by special trains on the West Shore Railway and by yachts, accompanied by officials of the Hudson-Fulton Commission. Among them were a grand admiral from Germany, a rear admiral of the British Navy, and admiral from France and a vice admiral from Italy. Following luncheon in Memorial Hall, there was a formal review of six companies - nearly 200 cadets - on the parade grounds.

In Newburgh that afternoon the equestrian statue of Gen. Anthony Wayne, which still stands on the east lawn of Washington's Headquarters, was dedicated. 1500 persons attended the ceremonies with the sculptor, Henry K. Bush-Brown of Balmville, giving an address. The presiding officer was Mayor McClung. Howard Thornton, President of Washington's Headquarters Board of Trustees, formally accepted the statue. Music was provided by Alsdorf's Orchestra. The Rev. Alfred J. Wilson, pastor of the Unitarian Church of Our Father, delivered the invocation, and the Rev. John Huske, rector of St. George's Episcopal Church, gave the benediction.

That evening Old Home Week services were held in the Associate Reformed Church with attendance of 50 of the estimated 1,000 former residents visiting the City. Every day the Newburgh News printed lists of guests at the celebrations. Dr. Searle, pastor of Calvary Presbyterian Church 36 years, opened the service. The principal address was given by the Rev. J. R. Thompson D.D., a native of Newburgh and pastor of the Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church 54 years.

Mayor McClung welcomed visitors. The invocation was given by Rev. Seymour Purdy, pastor of the church. Miss Jennie M. Nolde was the organist and a quartet sang under the direction of George Bates. Collins Orchestra, or Collins Band, as it was sometimes called, played for the occasion. According to accounts in The News, Collins and his musicians performed every day during the celebration at some notable function.

A nearly full moon rose that night, silvering the river dotted with excursion boats and pleasure craft. But abruptly the moon paled into insignificance as Newburgh was flooded with illumination from "thousands of incandescent lamps."

Evening Concerts & Lights

The Philharmonic Band from Bridgeport, Conn., seated on a grandstand at the Courthouse on Grand Street, swelled to a crescendo of musical tribute. Arbors of electrical light bulbs bloomed over the main wharves and Broadway. City Hall, the Court House, the State Armory and several commercial buildings were festooned with lights.

On the bluff of Washington's Headquarters the newly-dedicated statue and General Washington's one-time residence were brilliantly illuminated.

Points of light piercing the sky marked the steeples of the City's six largest churches. They were St. Patrick's on Grand Street; St. John's Methodist Episcopal, Broadway; First Presbyterian, Grand and South Streets; Union Church, First and Montgomery Streets, and Trinity Methodist Episcopal, Liberty and Third Streets.

Farmers, who had brought fresh milk, vegetables and fruits to market in their wagons that morning, stayed to view the spectacle.

Everyone turned out to see the City "lighted as if by the noon-day sun" to hear the concert at the Court House, and eat clam chowder, frankfurters and candy purchased from refreshments booths located all over the City.

Beating of frying pans, snapping of tin "crickets" and throwing confetti into the hair of pretty girls were popular sports of the young people.

That evening the Hudson-Fulton Club sponsored a dance at Columbus Hall. 175 couples danced at Dewey Hall that night and dancing continued nightly for the remainder of the week at both halls.

Firemen's Memorial

Since it was the eve of Firemen's Day, members of the volunteer fire companies began arriving from all along the river southward to Tarrytown and northward to Glens Falls, and from Connecticut to New Jersey. The engine houses of the 36 local companies held open house to accommodate their guests.

The dedication of a bronze monument memorializing Newburgh's volunteer firemen was scheduled to take place at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 30. But as time pressed for completing preparations, there was some doubt as to whether the ceremony would take place. It was finally agreed to hold it in the yard of D. C. Miller at Broadway and Concord. (The monument was later transported to Downing Park on Dubois Street where it still stands.)

Representatives of local and visiting companies were in attendance as Collins Band played and two little boys, Felix Kramp and John A. Keefe, Jr., son of Newburgh Fire Company's Chief Engineer, unveiled the statue.

Participants included Sen. John B. Rose, L.C. Smith, Mayor McClung, the Rev. George W. Grinton and the Rev. B. F. Warren. The ceremony was arranged by the Ladies Auxiliary of the Newburgh's Firemen's Assn., who were the donors of the monument.

Parades

The first great parade of the week took place that afternoon as 50 brilliantly uniformed companies, including 36 from Newburgh, each accompanied by its own band or fife and drum corps, marched along a 6 ¼ mile route.

500 children met at Grand Street School and marched down that street to Broadway, where they took their places to form the Living Flag.

A police escort, commanded by Marshal Perrot, cleared the way for the parade led off by carriages flying the colors of the celebration, orange, white and light blue. In the carriages rode former Gov. Benjamin B. Odell Jr., Mayor McClung, Chief Engineer John A. Keefe, City Clerk Daniel J. Coutant, City Councilmen and other officials of Newburgh, former chief engineers of the Fire Department and visiting dignitaries.

Immediately after the parade the board of judges adjourned to the assessor's room in City Hall to decide which company made the finest showing. The Newburgh firemen, as hosts, were not competing. Tompkins Hose Co. of Fishkill, by unanimous decision, was awarded the $50 in gold. The judges were Capt. James F. Sheehan, John Eagan, H. Dudley Buck, William R. Perkins, John Miller, Augustus Denton, Neil Harrison, Almet S. Moffat and Thomas McCarthy.

Other Special Events

Other activities of the day were the opening of a new museum at Washington's Headquarters and the installation of five tablets marking sites of historical interest. The latter program was sponsored by the Newburgh Historical Committee headed by James N. Dickey.

The Ellis Women's Relief Corps held receptions in large tents on the lawn of Hasbrouck House.

The Quassaick Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Newburgh Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution entertained out-of-town members of their organizations. The DAR and Ossoli Club held receptions Thursday, Friday and Saturday at a clubhouse at 206 Grand Street.

Thursday night the firemen's festivities were given at their height. A banquet was given in Institution Hall. Firemen swung their ladies and the local belles at a dance in Dewey Hall.175 Newburghers and guests were served refreshments in the carriage house of Ringgold Hose Co. where a beefsteak dinner followed. City Treasurer Henry M. Leonard, President of Ringgold, was toastmaster. Atty. Peter Cantline, also a member of Ringgold, and James Scott Jr., President of Goshen's Cataract Co., were among the speakers.

Although many made merry late into the night, none wanted to miss the climax of the celebration the next day.

Hudson Fulton Day - Friday, October 1, 1909

Renwick Street was lined with farm wagons, carriages and automobiles, as the curious gathered to watch the landing at Renwick Street dock of soldiers, sailors, marines and men from Revenue Cutters. Windows of the houses along the river and rooftops provided vantage points from which to view the Naval parade.

First to arrive was the U.S. Castline, called the "parent ship" of the submarines because they lacked anchors, and thus had to be secured to the big vessel with grappling irons.

Then eight torpedo boats came gliding into the bay. They were the Worden, Blakely, Shubrick, Stockton, Stringham, Porter, Dupont and Biddle.

Four submarines - the Viper, Cuttlefish, Plunger and Tarantula - slipped along side of the Castline.

Revenue cutters taking part were the Seminole, Gloucester, Tarpon, Michigan, Guide, Mermaid, Whirlpool, Scout and Grayling.

U.S. armored cruisers, weighing 4,000 tons each, were the Salem and the Birmingham. They escorted the Utrecht, a ship of the Royal Netherlands Navy, flying the Netherlands tri-color.

Bringing up the rear were six squadrons of steam boats which plied inland waters, in addition to steam yachts, ambulance boats, sailing craft, ferryboats, tugs and small motor boats.

Admiral Robert E. [Peary] with his crew of 19 men aboard The Roosevelt, the ship in which he had penetrated the Arctic, was cheered loudly.

AS THE HALF MOON and the Clermont appeared at a little past noon, all the vessels in the bay joined the City in an ovation with sirens, bells, rifle and cannon salutes and band music.

National Guardsmen

Since dawn companies of the National Guard had been arriving by train and boat. They were met by men from the local companies, escorted to the Armory, where rifles were stacked, and taken to the Half Moon Hotel for breakfast and luncheon. Troop B of cavalry from Albany tied their sleek, black steeds in the Driving Park. Approximately 4,000 men made up the lists of National Guards.

The Half Moon Hotel, where many of the guardsmen were lodged that night, was improvised for the occasion in the old St. Luke's Hospital building on Liberty Street just north of Broadway.

Ceremonies & Parade

Ceremonies were held at Ramsdell Pier at the foot of Fourth Street, for the transfer of the Half Moon and the Clermont from officials of the Lower Hudson Commission to those of the Upper Hudson Commission.

Gov. Charles E. Hughes and his party from the New York State Legislature were seated on a reviewing stand at the American Reformed Church to watch the parade.

Other visiting officials, including foreign diplomats and governors of neighboring states, were escorted to reviewing stands on the Court House grounds.

A path through the crowded streets was cleared by a platoon of mounted police and the parade marshal, Brig. Gen. George Moore Smith, with his staff, stepped out smartly to start the parade.

Following Troop B of the National Guard of New York was the Mertz-Reed Band of Portchester. A corps of marines from the ship, Utrecht, wearing the blue uniforms and white hats of the Netherlands, occupied a place of honor, followed by a detachment of the U.S. Navy.

Bands from the U.S. cruisers marched ahead of their officers and crews followed by men from the revenue cutters, torpedo boats and submarines. Collins Band of Newburgh and the Young Men's Christian Association Drum Corps of Newburgh preceded the 20 companies of National Guards.

Never had the City seen such a display of military might as soldiers, sailors and marines marched shouldering their rifles which bristled with bayonettes. At intervals the horse-drawn caissons, mounted with weapons of war, rumbled through the streets.

The parade wound down Broadway to Colden Street, to Water Street, to LeRoy Place, south on Grand Street and back to Broadway. It turned north on Liberty Street to South Street, down Lander Street and north on Broadway to Robinson Avenue.

As a troop of sailors swung by the Living Flag at City Hall, the youngsters broke into a popular ditty, "Well, If You Want to Steal a Kiss, Why Don't You?"

Their rifles and canteens bumped and bobbed as the sailors were shaken with laughter. Even the young lieutenant, who marched sedately at the head of the ranks, was hard put to maintain his dignity.

So well-arranged was the program that an untiring variety of military airs and patriotic anthems delighted the spectators.

Evening Entertainment

In the big tent in the Driving Park, a shore dinner catered by Houlder Hodgkins, was served to the soldiers and sailors. The food, excepting for the steamed clams and roasted corn prepared in an open hearth in the park, had been cooked in the Half Moon Hotel.

Entertainment for the other official guests of the City was furnished at the Newburgh City Club for the men and at Quassaick Hall for the ladies. Chinese lanterns strung on wires secured to the trees lighted the small tables which dotted the lawn at Quassaick Hall.

That evening a banquet was tendered the officials at Dewey Hall with Senator Rose acting as Chairman. It was served early so that everyone could witness the pyrotechnic display which took place on both sides of the river, and king and queen's coronation.

Ensconced in automobiles decorated with the royal insignia, Miss Kastner and Harry Haon were escorted by their entourage, in gaily decorated automobiles to City Hall.

King and Queen

Queen Ida wore a gown of white satin and net overlace with spangles and a red velvet cape trimmed with ermine. King Harry was garbed in the royal Dutch costume of the 17th Century with a ruff after the manner of Henry Hudson.

The ladies in waiting were Mrs. Joseph J. Dreyer and Miss Alice Shaw, gowned in white satin with green satin trim; Miss Charlotte Dearnally and Miss Nellie Hanf wearing pink satin.Pages to the queen were Miss Elsie Kastner, Miss Ann Shedlock, Miss Helen Terwilliger and Miss Marion Haon.The king's courtiers included James M. H. Wallace, Roy Ward, William Brundage and James Wynne. In the court-of-honor were Miss Dora Woedle, Miss Elsie Paffendorf, Miss Bessie O'Rourke, Miss Florence Schaeffer, Miss Della Basso, Miss Mary Biggie and Miss Isabelle Weisberg.

In front of City Hall the crowd of costumed merrymakers cheered Their Majesties as Mayor McClung performed the coronation ceremony. King Harry gave a brief speech of acceptance and Queen Ida officially opened the carnival. The king and queen reigned at an official ball and parties and dances were held throughout the City.

Saturday Regatta

Next morning, after the fleet departed for a celebration in Poughkeepsie, a program of aquatic sports began.

Fifty-seven yachts took part in the races for large craft. Seventeen motor boats, brought from as far west as Ohio, participated in that classification's contests. The course was set from a point below Fishkill Ferry down the Hudson River to Cold Spring and back.

Trophies won that day were valued at $1,400. They had been made to order of the Hudson-Fulton Celebration Commission by Tiffany & Co., New York City.

Impatient Diplomats

An occurrence reported in the Newburgh Daily News, is humorous in retrospect. But it nearly created an international incident at the time. Later, the foreign diplomats involved vehemently denied any knowledge of the occurrence, in statements published by the New York City press.

The News account stated represented of five nations were attempting a hurried exit from Newburgh, where they claimed to have been slighted by official ceremonies and pushed around by the crowd.

They were identified as L. A. Coromilas, envoy extraordinaire and minister plenipotentiary from Greece; H. Kroupensky, charge d'affairs ad interim from Russia; M. Lefevere-Ponlais, charge d'affairs ad interim of the French Republic; and Don Animbal Cruz, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary from Chile.

Brought to a standstill by ropes erected to control parade traffic, the chauffeur ran into the barrier. Police Officer Nugent ordered him to halt. A spirited argument in six languages ensued. Officer Nugent courteously suggested that the dignitaries leave their vehicle, duck under the ropes, and proceed on foot. The visitors loudly refused. The City's stalwart may have been out-shouted but he remained firm and the dignitaries were obliged to wait their turn in the traffic snarl.

Acknowledgements

Although thousands of citizens helped make the Hudson-Fulton Ter-Centenary a success in Newburgh, only a list of the officials remains to give credit.

Members of the Hudson-Fulton General Committee for Newburgh were: Mayor McClung; Francis N. Bain, treasurer; W. Johnston McKay, secretary; John F. Tucker, assistant secretary; Benjamin B. Odell Jr., M. H. Hirschberg, H. K. Bush-Brown, Henry Kohl, Frederick W. Wilson, Arthur A. McLean and Brig. Gen. George Moore Smith.

Presiding officers of committees were:

• Samuel V. Schoonmaker - Ways and Means
• William F. Cassedy - Invitations
• H. Scott Corwin - Transportation
• Cornelius L. Waring - Law and Legislation
• George R. Brewster - Concessions
• Dr. Henry Wilson - Featuring
• W. H. Hilton Street - Decorations
• Thomas F. Gunning - Badges
• General Smith - Naval and Military Parade
• John H. Quinlan - Music
• W.H. Kelly - Old Home [welcome return residents]
• C.H. Baumes - Historical, Civic and Patriotic Societies
• Dr. Searle - Religious Ceremonies
• William J. Kohl - Municipal Entertainment
• John A. Keefe - Firemen's Parade
• Senator Rose - Banquet
• John Aspinwall - Monuments
• J. N. Dickey - Historical
• W. Cook Belknap - Illuminations
• James S. Taylor - Hospitality
• Dr. C.E. Townsend - Public Health & Safety
• Mayor McClung - Reception

Officers of the Ladies Committee and chairmen of the sub-committees were: Mrs. Benjamin McClung, president; Miss Constance Dickey, secretary; Mrs. W. F. Cassedy.

• Miss Clara Odell - Ways and Means
• Mrs. B. B. Odell Jr. - Invitations
• Dr. Mary E. Dunning - Public Health & Safety
• Mrs. James S. Taylor - Hospitality
• Mrs. W. H. Durgin - Featuring
• Mrs. W. George Hastings - Badges
• Mrs. John W. Matthews - Reviewing Stand
• Mrs. W. Stanton Gleason - Historical
• Mrs. W. H. Snyder - Civic
• Mrs. Robert S. Gatter - Patriotic
• Mrs. Graham Witschief - Churches and Schools
• Miss Ella L. Shafer - Children's Festival
• Mrs. Joseph Stroock - Music
• Mrs. H. K. Bush-Brown - Historical Pageant

Not the least of the contributors to the celebration's smooth operation and happy outcome was the City's police force. Lawlessness was kept to a minimum.

On Saturday morning, Oct. 2, the count of City jail prisoners was 15 men and the cases involved petty crimes.

One inmate was "a full-blooded Indian," Tall Lone Fox, employed as a rider in the Wild West show at the Driving Park. He pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct resulting from over-imbibing in firewater.