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on an early committee and, in 1839 he and others sold the railroad company $10,000 worth of ties. He had accepted stock for payment, and had influenced others to do so as well.
As regards the Erie depot, which stood on the site of the present building, it seems no two stories agree on the details. Some say it was built in 1842 by Mr. Bailey as warehouse, with the idea of selling it to the railroad company. Some say it wasn't built until 1844. Most agree it was built 1843, but disagree as to who built it. Some say it was the railroad, others say it was the Middletown Association or Middletown citizens.
This is, more or less, a short account of the Erie's arrival here; the single most important event in Middletown's history. Middletown remained the terminus of the line until the road was opened to Otisville November 1, 1846. During this time, Middletown was an important stage coach center. The Erie was completed between Dunkirk, on Lake Erie, and Piermont in April 1851, although the event was not celebrated at that time. A tremendous celebration was planned, and held May 14 with trains from Piermont to Dunkirk, which was reached the 15th. President Millard Fillmore participated, as did Secretary of State Daniel Webster (who rode at least part of the way in a rocking chair on a flat car for a better view), William L. Marcy, Governor of New York, as well as ex-governors Hamilton Fish and William H. Seward. Commodore Perry was there, and more dignitaries, as historian Edward Hungerford noted, "than you could shake a stick at." Benjamin Loder was the President of the Erie. At that time, the Erie was the largest railroad in the world. Thanks to completion of the Erie, rail transport was proven to be practical, and would soon change the country's development by pushing it ahead to its destiny.
It was soon apparent that Piermont was not a satisfactory terminal, being nearly 90 minutes from New York City by ferry. Therefore, in 1852, the Erie connected at Suffern with a line which ran to Jersey City, opposite New York. Erie grew westward until Chicago was reached in 1880. That year finally saw conversion from 6' track gauge to standard, at a tremendous cost.
Meanwhile, back in Middletown, the population sought replacement of the old depot. By the early 1890's, editorial comments grew more and more frequent. Some examples: "the cheapest, most uncomfortable depot to be found in a city thru which the road passes," "a shanty," the "old brick barnacle," etc. When the 0 & W announced they would build an impressive new station here, the Middletown Daily Press commented, "This may shame the Brie into doing something for Middletown. Really, the old dilapidated, unsightly, vermin-infested structure on James Street is a disgrace to both Middletown and the Erie."
Finally, a committee from the Board of Trade consisting of John E. Iseman, W.B. Royce, S.R. Morgan, and J.W. Slauson met