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other rail lines. E. H. Mott termed this notion a "childish theory." It is estimated total cost of the 6's track gauge decision cost the Erie, all things considered, about $25,000,000. Later, in 1845, while the railhead was still at Middletown, T.S. Brown, Chief Engineer at the time, and A.S. Diven of the Board of Directors, advocated changing to standard gauge before the line went any further. Mr. Diven's proposal was defeated.
Work started again in the spring of 1839. Plans included building a stretch to run 10 miles from Piermont, the eastern terminus. In July, 1839, contracts were let for building from the aforementioned point to Goshen, a distance of 35 miles.
At the same time, proposals were received from grading the seven mile distance between Goshen and Middletown. Work progressed quite rapidly from the spring of 1840 so that by June 17, 1841, rails reached Ramapo. The first passenger train over the Erie ran June 30, 1841 from Piermont to Ramapo. On September 23, 1841, the road was opened to Goshen. Goshen celebrated, and, no doubt, Middletown residents looked forward to that not-far-distant day when the tracks would be laid and a locomotive enter the hamlet for the first time.
Unfortunately, their wait would be longer than anticipated, for by November, 1841, the company was, again, in financial difficulty. Contractors kept up their work "after a fashion." When it became quite clear the rails would not be extended to this place for some time, the Middletown Association was organized. The group consisted of about 30 to 40 people, although most of their names have been forgotten. Organizers included Samuel Denton, Thomas King, and William Robinson; members included Hezekiah Watkins, Joseph Davis, David Hanford, Robert H. Houston, and Isreal O. Beattie. The Association made an agreement with the Erie that the Association would pay for the road to be completed between Goshen and Middletown on condition that the Erie would operate the line and reimburse the lenders. The Erie repaid the loan in 1846.
As may be seen by looking at a map, the Erie's route through town was somewhat circuitous. According to the memoirs of Gilbert Hulse, this was due to the efforts, if they might be called that, of John Bailey who owned certain properties in Middletown. It seems that Silas Seymour, a civil engineer for the railroad, happened to be Mr. Bailey's son-in-law: "It was of interest to Mr. Bailey to have the depot located upon his land on
the site of the present James Street depot, and in order to do this, it was necessary to circle the village rather than cross by the way of the Mill Pond (which ran along a portion of Monhagen Avenue between the upper West Main Street crossing near where Monhagen goes down the hill to Fulton Street) and the present Hillside Cemetery (there being no cemetery there at that time.) The location by the cemetery would have been more desirable and less expensive than as located, saving distance and the crossing of streets." Needless to say, the depot was built on Mr. Bailey's