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president, Elisha P. Wheeler of Middletown, the vice-president. Subscriptions were raised and construction pushed forward in 1870. By November of that year, almost half the route was graded and ready for ties. The cost of the work was "considerably below" estimates made.
The directors of the railroad met at Holding's Hotel (18-24 East Main Street),. December 31, 1870, to discuss a proposal made by the Erie to lease the Middletown & Crawford under generous terms, as well as paying some money towards completing the road. While the offer had many advantages, there was much opposition to this proposal as it was understood the M & C would connect with the Midland, and people had purchased stock in the M&C because of this. A meeting of the road's stockholders was held in Empire Hall, January 11, 1871 ( Empire Hall was located in the Empire Block which stood where Woolworth's is today at 49 North Street). E. M. Madden presented the exact terms of the Erie's lease proposal, after which "a sharp discussion ensued." It was finally agreed to appoint a committee to further investigate the matter and to meet with Midland officials to "learn what terms can be had from them"
Following another stockholder's meeting on January 21st at Empire Hall, it was agreed to turn the matter over to the directors to decide. On the 28th, it was decided to connect with the Midland, accepting a lease from them rather than from the Erie. By early February, the road had been graded between the junction with the Midland and "a short distance" past Bullville. The junction with the Midland was later named Crawford Jct. and was located on the railroad mid-way between what is now 17M and 302. On February 11, 1871, the agreement to be operated by the Midland was ratified by the Board of Directors. The Midland would take possession of the M & C when it was completed, lease it for 99 years, and run "not less than two passenger trains each way daily." It was also agreed the NY & OM would lease the proposed extension to be built from Pine Bush to New Paltz.
By early April, all ties had been delivered, and on May 19th, eleven car loads of rails arrived via the Erie. Contractors D.C. Jackson & Co. began track laying from Crawford Jct. on June 14, 1871. At that time, grading was complete except for a 1/2 mile section in the vicinity of what is now Thompson Ridge. By June 27th, tracks had been laid to Circleville. Ballasting of the road began about this time using material from the "gravel deposits" encountered during construction of the roadbed. Track work was being supervised by Mr. Masten, a division engineer for the Midland. The tracks reached Bullville, July 1, 1871.
The first passenger car ran over the Middletown & Crawford Railroad August 7th. At that time, the annual stockholder's meeting was held in Bullville. The Midland placed a coach at the disposal of those from Middletown who wished to attend the meeting. The trip took 18 minutes: 7 from Middletown to the junction, and 11 minutes from there to Bullville. Tracklaying