Middletown Firsts

FIFTY YEARS COMMEMORATING THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY: MIDDLETOWN, NEW YORK AS A CITY PROGRAM History of Middletown Committees Pictures and Maps Old and New.

Middletown Firsts

First Land Grant - The Minisink Patent - 1704.

First Road - The Minisink Road - Prior to 1742.

First Town Organization - The Wall- kill Precinet - 1743. The precinct belonged in Ulster County. Re- duced in size, it became a part of Orange County in 1798.

First Settler - David Moore - Just-prior to 1756.

First Store - Abel Woodhull's - About 1780.

First Church - Congregational - 1785.

First Pastor - Rev. Charles Seeley - 1786-1796.

First Street - East Main Street - 1796. This was part of the Minisink Road which ran through the settlement.

First School - 1790. It stood on what is now the west side of South Street, near Franklin Square.

First Industries - Prior to 1792. Tannery, a hat factory (all work done...

North Street - 1938

Highland Avenue - 1938

Old Store, 87-89 North Street

Over 100 years old.

Orange County Home for Aged Women “Old Ladies’ Home" - Home from 1888. to 1938 - South Street - Formerly Methodist.

Wickham Homestend Wietham Avenue
Gothic Hall, North Street - Bullt 1852
[continued from previous page: ...by hand) and a blacksmith shop.]

First Building Lots - 1800. These were laid out in the vicinity of the church which stood on the present site of First Congregational Church. They lay vacant for five years. Then one of them was sold to Elisha and Jesse Corwin, who built a store there.

First Library - 1801.

First Appearance in Politics - 1804. Henry B. Wisner was elected super- visor.

First Hotel - Matthias Keene's - About 1804. West of Meeting House on West Main Street.

First Census Figures Available - 1807. Had forty-five inhabitants (nine families).

First Public Observance of Fourth of July - 1808.

First Turnpike - Minisink-Montgomery - 1809.

First Physician - Dr. David Hanford - 1810.

First Military Company - 1813. This was the Wallkill Republican Blues. Stacy Beakes, Captain. They served on the Canadian frontier in the War of 1812.

First School District Organized - 1813.

First Post Office - 1815. Near Denton’s Corner, now Franklin Square. Stacy Beakes was the first Post- master. Receipts first quarter in 1817 were 69 cents.

First Lodge - The Masons - 1817. Met in Mechaniestown.

First Fire Engine - 1821. It was a hand-pumper and was nicknamed “The Bread Tray.”

First Grist Mill - About 1830. South- west corner of Mill Street and Mon- hagen Avenue. Operated by water obtained through an open mill race from Monhagen Brook,

First Drug Store - Dr. Harvey Everett - 1834.

First Undertaker - Thomas Ogden and John Benedict - 1837.

First Brick Building - 1837. At what is now about 27 South Street.

First Bank - The Middletown Bank - 1839. First opened in a house at what is now 62 West Main Street. Later erected its own building at corner of North and Depot Streets. This became the Middletown Na- tional Bank at the close of the Civil War.

First Lawyer - Probably Wm. F. Sharpe, in the 1830's.

First Public Lectures - in Lyceum - 1841.

First Newspaper - The Middletown Courier - 1841. This was edited by A. A. Bensel.

First Secondary School - Wallkill Academy - 1841. Located on Academy. Stood on site of the present High School. There was then no public school and citizens formed a stock company to build and equip this school.

First Large Industry - Orange County Furnace - 1842. At North and Centre Streets.

First Railroad Train - Erie - 1843.

First Village President - Stacy Beakes - 1848.

First Firehouse - 1848. On part of Congregational Church site, West Main Street.

First Public Hall - Gothic Hall - 1852. Still standing at 54 North Street. First Visit of County Fair - 1852.

First Street Signs - 1853. These were placed at corner of North and Rob- erts Streets by Matthews & Hunt whose carpet bag factory stood on that corner.

First Policeman - 1856. Appointed after attempted murder and arson... [continued on next page]

New York State Armory

Clemson Japanese Garden


Highland View Residence of Mrs. George N,. Clemson

Fair Grounds - First Visit to Middletown 1952 Orange County Agricultural Society

Ontario Hose Co. - Built 1891

Phoenix Engine Co - Built 1859

Wallkill Engine Co. - Buillt 1892

[continued from previous page:] at Dusenberry's Jewelry store.

First Race Track - 1857. Bounded by what is now East Main Street and Grand and Prospect Avenues.

First Gas Company - 1859.

First Firemen’s Parade - 1859. Headed by Middletown Police who made their first appearance in new uniforms.

First Colored Church - M. E. Zion - 1861.

First Gas Street Lights - 1864.

First Celebration of St. Patrick’s Day in Middletown - 1864,

First Water Works - 1866.67. These were not built by private capital, like so many early water works, but were built and owned by the village.

First Baseball Team - 1866, Called the Wallkills. First recorded game was with the Delawares of Port Jervis at the Pleasure Grounds in Middletown, June 16, 1866. The visitors won, 33 to 30. First Daily Newspaper - The Middle- town Daily Mail - 1868. Isaac F. Guiwits, Editor.

First Memorial Day Observance - 1868.

First Numbered Buildings - 1869. ‘These were the buildings in the business district only.

First Bicycle - 1869. This was a high-wheeler or velocipede.

First Theatre - Bull's Opera House. Still standing on West Main Street, facing Canal Street. Constructed of brick block, it was up until that time the largest structure ever built in the village by an individual. It was opened March 23, 1871, with a lecture by P. T. Barnum.

First Building of State Hospital Completed - 1874,

First Women on Board of Education - 1880.

First Telephone - 1881.

First Y. M. C. A. Organized - 1882.

First Roller Skating Rink — Wright Lot - 1884.

First Old Ladies Home - 1884.

First Park - Blye Park, Benton and Sprague Avenues - 1886.

First Band Concerts - 1886.

First Board of Trade - 1887.

First Free Mail Delivery - 1887.

First Labor Day Observance - 1887.

First Fire Alarm System - 1887.

First Mayor - John E. Iseman - 1888,

First Building & Loan Association - Homestend - 1888.

First Electric Light Company - 1889.

First Salvation Army Established - 1890.

First Hospital Built - Thrall - 1892.

First Trolley - 1894.

First Brick Pavement - 1895.

First Football - Introduced at High School - 1896.

First Basketball - By 24th Separate Company Athletic Association - Hirst Automobue - 1900. Owned by Charles V. Predmore. It was a Locomobile, No. 2 Stanhope.

First Motorized Fire Equipment - 1909 - A truck bought by Monhag- en Hose Co. and taken over by the city when it proved satisfactory.

First Wireless Reception - 1914, See Middletown Times-Press of Dec. 13, 1914.

First Locally Owned Airplane - 1919. An Army Curtiss, purchased by Henry B. Wisner. Take-off was on the Johnson Farm, Genung Street. He was assisted by J. Allan Ball.

- First Bus Franchise - Middletown to Liberty - 1920.

First Radio Voice Reception - 1920.

First Radium Society - 1922.

First Organization of Historical Society of Middletown and Wallkill Precinct - 1923.

First Airplane Field - Owned by Richard D. Clemson - 1932.

PARADES

Draft Registration- - 1917

Armistice Day - 1918

N.R. A. - 1933