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The subscription committee reported $43,000 had already been subscribed in Minisink, and there was "no doubt ... that the necessary sum could easily be raised." It was further reported landowners were generally willing to give land to build the road.
A committee of 15 -- five from each Minisink, Wawayanda and Wallkill -- was appointed to prepare Articles of Association, nominate Directors, and collect subscriptions. The Town of Wallkill representatives were Hiland H. Hunt, Elisha P. Wheeler, James N. Pronk, William Evans, and Levi Starr, all from Middletown.
At Gothic Hall, March 7th, this committee reported subscriptions of $90,000, submitted Articles of Association, and named a board consisting of 13 directors. This included D.B. Irwin along with Messrs. Hunt, Wheeler, Pronk, Evans, and Starr, all six from Middletown. The cominittee's report was unanimously accepted. The company was to be organized as the "Middletown, Unionville and Water Gap Railroad Company" whose purpose was to build a line from the Erie at Middletown, through Unionville, to the New Jersey State line. Capital was set at $300,000, divided into shares of $50 each.
The MU & WG RR was incorporated May 26, 1866, when the directors met to elect officers. Elisha P. Wheeler was elected president; Asa Smith of Wantage, vice-president; James N. Pronk, Secretary and Land Agent; William Evans, Treasurer; and Dr. M.T. Hayne of Unionville, Assistant Treasurer. It was reported about $105,000 had been thus far subscribed. A subscription Committee and right-of-way committee were also appointed.
That evening, at a town meeting held at Gothic Hall to benefit the Midland, Mr. Pronk was called upon to speak on the MU & WG. He did so, speaking of the favorable grades, that contracts for construction would soon be let, and noted the MU & WG was, "on the direct route of the Midland road via Middletown."
Meeting September 7th, the directors examined several construction proposals, but reached no conclusions. It was agreed further stock subscriptions were needed before a decision on the construction proposals could be made. In the meantime, it was reported the right-of-way was being secured on "somewhat reasonable terms (with] most of the land owners... ceding the [land] freely."
Sufficient stock having been subscribed, ground was broken at Unionville October 8, 1866. Middletown residents made the trip by carriage, although it was noted they could soon journey to Unionville in the comfort of a railway coach. There was the ceremonial shoveling of dirt, with speeches by Elisha P. Wheeler, Grinnell Burt, and others. The shovel used at the ceremony was presented to Mr. Wheeler by the railroad's board of directors, and survives at the Historical Society. Actual construction began in Middletown.