Issue 40 Clear Sailing on the Hudson River April 2007 The year was 1966. American Hudson. Since then, the conducts scientific studies. folk singer and musician, Pete members of Clearwater have The staff of Clearwater is Seeger, had just shifted his been working to revive and dedicated to the Hudson’s environmental efforts from protect the Hudson River. restoration in conducting Civil Rights and Vietnam Until recently, the Hudson research and informing the War rallies to more local is- was the number one cleanup public about its various sues of the Hudson River. At site of the environmental threats, as well as what the the time, the river was pol- Superfund, a federal pro- community of the Hudson luted with raw sewage and gram charged with the allo- River Valley can do to aid toxic chemicals dumped by cation of funds to clean haz- the river that provides them businesses and factories. It ardous waste in the environ- with historical wealth. became so polluted from this ment. Now, the Hudson Recent events for Clearwa- open disposal of toxic waste ter and the staff was the that it was uninhabitable by launch of Clearwater for the its native species. spring season, celebrated To raise awareness from the April 7th at Lynch’s Marina people of the Hudson River in Poughkeepsie. Coming Valley, Seeger and other en- soon is the Clearwater Festi- vironmental activists helped val on June 16th and 17th. to erect the sloop known as This event hosts over 15,000 Clearwater. The idea was to people a year and has been build a vessel that replicated a held for over three decades. classic mid-19th century Hud- Musicians, speakers, ven- son River sloop in order to dors, environmental exhibi- entice the public to the river tionists, displays, and grass- and to witness firsthand the roots activist booths are pre- pollution and how to help Clearwater.org sented to educate those that preserve it in the future. In attend, as well as to raise 1969, over 2,000 people sup- River has shed itself of the funds for the restoration of ported the launch of Clearwa- polluted reputation and is both Clearwater and the ver Valley National Heritage Area ter in South Bristol, Maine. becoming more habitable for Hudson River. For more in- formation, contact the Clear- Seeger continued to raise natural life and human us- water office in Poughkeep- awareness about the increas- age. sie, NY at (845) 454-7673 or ing damage to the Hudson Today, Clearwater still sails visit their website. River and was a key member from Albany to as far as in drafting the Clean Water New Jersey to raise aware- RJ Langlois Act of 1972, which stated that ness about the Hudson River. no longer could any toxic The sloop even holds educa- substances be disposed in the tional sessions as well as Special points of interest: Inside this issue: • Coverage of the anniversary of Washing- Meet the Historian 2 ton’s arrival to Newburg in page 4 Featured Historic Town 2 • Meet more of HRVI’s current interns on Featured Historic Site 3 page 4 YOUR GATEWAY TO THE HUDSON RIVER VALLEY Featured Website 3 Patriot’s Weekend 2007 4 Meet the Interns 4 The Academic Arm of the Hudson Ri Contact Us 5 Hudson River Valley Institute Meet the Historian — When I ask people how they feel about explored is the Beekman Furnace built by the community since moving to Beek- their jobs, most usually reply with a long Clove Spring Iron Works in 1873, and the man from Brooklyn in 1976. Sharing his pause or the overly enthusiastic, “Eh.” When I nearby Dalton Farm’s Roosevelt House in lifetime interest in history with others, asked Thom User about his job as the Beek- Poughquag, recreated by the Friends of Mr. Usher joined the Beekman and man Town Historian, he said: “I enjoy it very Beekman History to look more like FDR’s Dutchess County Historical Societies, much. It’s something I love.” office when he was in residence. Mr. the Dutchess County Municipal Histori- Usher’s most recent project is the renova- ans, and the Dutchess and New York By the end of our phone conversation, I tion of the Grist Mill at the junction of State Genealogy Associations. After his was not only convinced that Mr. Usher was Poughquag and Beekman off the Old Upper retirement from IBM, he became the passionate about the history of Beekman, but Road. Mr. Usher hopes that this can one day president of the Beekman Historical also that I should visit the wealth of historical house a town museum and tourist and visi- Society from 2003-2004 until accepting sites that Beekman has to offer. tor center. the position as the Town Historian. Thanks to efforts from Mr. Usher and Mr. Usher also oversees the Town of Mr. Usher recently self-published others dedicated to promoting and preserving Beekman history website, maintaining the two books chronicling Beekman’s his- Beekman history, I can explore the Town Hall, online newsletter, and compiling data to tory: “The History of Beekman” (2003) constructed just prior to America’s entrance flesh out the town’s history. He is commit- and “The Spirit of Beekman” (2005). into World War II, and the last W.P.A project ted to documenting the oral history of Beek- For more information, Thom Usher can that Franklin D. Roosevelt funded. I can ar- man and is working on collecting recordings be contacted at 845-724-5364 or at beek- range for a tour of the Old Upper Road, an of speeches made from the Town Hall dur- [email protected]. Indian path used to transfer goods and military ing events such as the 200th Anniversary of supplies from Fishkill to Hartford during the Amanda Hurlburt the town (1988). Though he is relatively Revolutionary War, which has changed little new to the historian post (he was appointed in route over the past 225 years. Also to be in 2004), he has been an active member of Featured Historic Town — Middletown Originally part of the Town of Oswego Midland Railroad. He achieved his goal of the property until his death in 1947, Wallkill (established in 1772), Middle- of a united railroad system in 1873, when he when he willed it to the hospital. The town became an autonomous village in drove the final stake at the Westfield flats in hospital sold the grounds to facilitate the 1848. Though an 1872 charter, this ru- Oswego. Wheeler also contributed to the build- development of Orange County Commu- ral community established its police ing of Middletown’s Grace Episcopal Church nity College in 1950. Today, the Webb department in which eight chief officers and served as president of the city’s Board of Horton House is known as Morrison patrolled the newly created wards. By Education. He later became the director of the Hall, serving as a place for educational, 1888, Middletown evolved into a city, Middletown and Crawford Railroad and was administrative and maintenance purposes augmenting the size of its law enforce- appointed a trustee of The Middletown State and is on the United States National ment and relocating the station to City Homeopathic Hospital. Register of Historic Places. Hall on James Street. Since 1972, it has In the heart of Middletown stands the been in it present location at the U.S. Middletown Paramount Theatre. Its Postal Office. To protect the force from doors first opened on Tuesday, June 10th partisan politics, a Middletown Police 1927 featuring the film The Big Pond. Commission was instituted in the early Unfortunately, the theatre closed in 1978 1940s and today the five-member Com- following failures of numerous operators mission serves as an advisory role. to draw business. The Arts Council of In 1866, Elisha Pearl Wheeler Orange County purchased the building in envisioned a railroad that linked the 1981 and restored the theatre, reopening Great Lake lines of Oswego and Erie Epodunk.com it in September 1985. In April 2002 it with those of northern New Jersey and One of the most famous Middletown was put on the National Register of His- of New York Harbor. Middletown then homes is the Webb Horton House constructed by toric Places. Mayor Joseph De Stefano functioned as a major stopping point Frank J. Lindsey from 1902-1906, a well re- received credit for his vision of restoring before the rail line turned due west to- spected oil and textile magnate who had also the seventy-two year old Paramount to wards Oswego. The following year he established the Webb Memorial Hospital and the its former days. served as a trustee member of the Mid- Webb Horton Presbyterian Church. The last Paul Contarino dletown, Unionville and Water Gap Horton to live in the house was Eugene Horton, Railroad and was affiliated with a Wall- who had bequeathed the estate to a cousin and kill commission for the New York and employee, John Morrison. Morrison maintained ISSUE 40 Page 2 Featured Historic Site — Storm King Art Center As industrial and residential con- The Storm King Art Center was founded Ricky and Barbara Hepworth, among struction encroaches on forested in 1960 by Ralph E. Ogden and H. Peter many others, have finally found their fields and woodlands, the Storm Stern. Inspired by the outdoor art display match. The Hudson Highlands couch King Art Center in Mountainville, of sculpture artist David Smith, the mu- dramatic modern structures in 500 New York celebrates postwar Ameri- seum bought thirteen of Smith’s sculp- acres of preserved landscape.