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land, and he became the first station agent.
Of the actual arrival of the Erie to Middletown, H.V. King wrote this: "The Rail-Road completed from Goshen to Middletown on friday [sic] Morning the 26th of May 1843. The first Locomotive arrived at 9 o’clock A.M. on Saturday amid the shouts of the multitude who thronged both sides of the way - the fireing [sic] of Cannon, and ringing of bells." Another report gives Mr. King's middle initial as a "P" rather than "V" which it could have been. This report also states the first train arrived on May 26, 1843, at 2:43 PM. The report quoted above, however, was taken directly from Mr. King's hand written notebook in possession of the Historical Society.
Further, the Independent Republican, published at Goshen, reported in their issue of Friday, June 2, 1843, that "The New York & Erie Railroad was opened on Saturday last (May 27) to Middletown." Regular service was to begin June 1, but apparently did not begin until June 16, or thereabouts.
The first schedule went as follows: For passengers, the ferry left New York City at 3:30 PM, met the railroad at Piermont, then arrived at Middletown at 9 PM. For return, the train would leave Middletown at 6 AM, arriving at New York City at 11 AM. A train carrying both passengers and freight left New York City at 6 AM, arriving here at 1 PM. This train would leave Middletown at 5:30 PM, arriving at New York City at midnight. A freight train would leave New York City at 6 AM and arrive here "the same day." A freight would leave Middletown at 1 PM, and arrive in New York City "the same night."
The Goshen Democrat of June 9, 1843, was "gratified" to report the road's opening to Middletown, praising the "enterprise and contributions" of its citizens. The paper went on to give a short history of the Middletown extension, noting that when "the Work was suspended in the spring of 1842, a very large amount of work had been done on the several divisions of the road, and on the Delaware Division, (which extends from Goshen to the mouth of the Callicoon Creek, on the Delaware, the work... was far advanced. During the last autumn (1842), the citizens of Middletown formed an Association for the purpose of raising the requisite means for completing that part of the road east to Goshen, a distance of about 7 miles. In this effort they were successful and the work has been carried on during the past winter, under direction of A.C. Morton, Chief Engineer, of the Delaware Division. It is now so far completed [June 9, 1843) that trains of cars have run over it, and will in a few days be open for business." The paper also noted "numerous and extensive depot buildings and warehouses are being erected."
Advertisements appeared for railroad freight lines, including one run by Stacy Beakes. Although his name did not appear as a known member of the Middletown Association, it is difficult to imagine that he was not among the members. Indeed, he had served