Tag Archives: Evening News

Newburgh Again: First City Church To Use Electricity

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First City Church To Use Electricity

The Evening News
March 31, 1984

The First Presbyterian Church here was the first church in New York State to be illuminated by electricity.

“The inspection of the electric light in Newburgh by Thomas A. Edison and others, including prominent gentlemen from New York, Poughkeepsie, and Norfolk, Va.,” is detailed in account in the Daily Journal, dated April 25, 1884.

One of the sites inspected was the church at South and Grand Street, now Calvary Presbyterian Church.

The century-old report came to light as the Historical Society of Newburgh Bay and the Highlands and Central Hudson cosponsored the centennial of the first electricity in Newburgh.

The newspaper listed the visitors, a veritable who’s who of the business and financial leaders of the era. They arrived at 6 p. m., according to the report.

Understanding the electric station in Newburgh was a model one, they wanted a close look. The Poughkeepsie contingent was considering organization of a company there to adopt electric light.

After supper at the “United States Hotel” (later the Palatine), visitors walked to the Montgomery Street electric plant and then to the church.

The lights were turned on and they were praised by the visitors as very fine and brilliant. 

The century old account continues: “Mr. Edison remained at the electric building, to converse with Mr. T.C. Conant, the electrician in charge, and other gentlemen.

“Mr. Edison, the great inventor, is a gentleman of ordinary appearance. He dresses in plain black, and wears a square-crown black hat. He is an incessant smoker, and during the animated conversations that he had while here a fragrant Havana contributed toward making him at ease.

“He is a ready conversationalist and when in conversation his countenance is illuminated, and a glance at in convinces the ordinary observer that he is a man of great brain power.”

“That he understands the working of electricity thoroughly goes without saying. He was very highly pleased with his visit, and complimented the gentlemen attached to the station here for the thoroughness of their work. He did not suggest improvements in its conduct, as the requirements had been well met. Other gentlemen spoke very favorably of the workings of the electric light, of its great merit, and the complete manner in which it was controlled and managed.”

The unidentified reporter carefully listed details which remain interesting 100 years later. He concluded:

“The visitors returned to the United States Hotel after their tour of inspection, held a brief conversation among themselves and a few Newburgh gentlemen, with whom they were acquainted, and then took the $.10 boat for Fishkill, the two parties separating at that place, and returning to their respective destinations, New York and Poughkeepsie.”

The Rev. Carlos Lantis, current pastor of Calvary Presbyterian Church, researched the material and church secretary Betty Schoonmaker typed the information from a microfilmed copy to submit the material to the Evening News – helping to recall references of Newburgh and the historic edifice.

Newburgh Again: The North Plank Road Tavern- 1981

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Bypassed by bulldozers, tavern restored

The Evening News – Dec 1, 1981

NEW LEASE ON LIFE – The North Plank Road Tavern bas been around more than 100 years and may see another century. The owners, Thomas and Lucie Costa, have applied for the building to be listed on the National Historic Register. Photo by Jean Yanarella


TOWN OF NEWBURGH – The North Plank Tavern is alive and well after more than 100 years. With a couple of enthusiastic owners and a recent decision by the Department of Transportation to spare it, the building’s future seems secure.

The structure was the most ambitious acquisition of Thomas and Lucie Costa. Although they bought a restored five area buildings before this one, the North Plank Road purchase has become their home and business.

The owners are attempting to have the tavern listed on The National Historic Register.

Its alleged historic value is partly responsible, for the Department of Transportation’s decision to take six private homes across the street for a road-widening project and spare the bar.

The process of getting on the National Registry may end in 1982 with the North Plank Road building receiving the official designation.

The ponderous process started in 1980, involved a large amount of research by the owners, Thomas Costa and his wife, Lucie Provencher Costa. The youngest member of the Costa beverage family, Costa is the son of county Legislator Joseph Costa, who runs the soda plant of the same name.

Thomas Costa studied mathematics and education in college and his wife, a native of Montreal, studied civil engineering. They’ve combined forces to make use of what they call an opportunity unique to Newburgh.

Newburgh is one of the best places, they say, to find a beautiful, historic building at a very low price that can be turned into an exquisite, livable structure.

The first building the couple restored was on Grand Street. After facing the horrible state the structure was in, the Costa said the rest of the houses they acquired and refurbished were easy.

The Costas say restoring old buildings is a help to the community. They pointed out that the Farmworkers Legal Services was going to move to Poughkeepsie until t he group approached the couple and asked about renting a Liberty Street house. Getting a good deal from the couple convinced the agency to stay in Newburgh, the Costas say.

The couple hopes to turn the latest acquisition into a restaurant. The tavern now offers a selection of beer and folk-oriented music on weekends. With a new stove, they hope by next summer to offer food with a French flavor.

The move to a restaurant has taken them since 1979 when they bought the building. Financing for a restaurant was difficult to find, they explain. The Newburgh Savings Bank was willing to help them.

Financial help was not all the couple needed. An incredible amount of physical labor was done to get the structure into shape in1979.

Its claim to a place on the National Historic Register apparently begins in the 1850swhen the tavern was said to be a hotel and meeting place. During Prohibition the establishment became a speakeasy. Gambling was most likely part of the building’s appeal. It was also rumored to have a bordello operating out of some rooms.

Politicians and gangsters frequented the spot. Within its walls, alcohol was diluted and bottled with counterfeit labels.

The Costas have benefited from the fact that the previous owner, Anthony Nixon, never threw anything out. The results are displayed in the walls of the tavern, including hand-embroidered hankies on black felt and decades old business cards.

Newspapers, one proclaiming “Beer is back” (March 23, 1933) also decorate the walls. These were not saved as precious souvenirs, said Costa, but were used as padding under linoleum. The couple can tell by the dates on the newspapers when the work was done.

The ornate wooden bar back originally stood at the United States Hotel on Front Street. It is believed to be 150 years old. It was brought into the tavern around 1910.

All in all, the Costas say they have found a link with history, a home, and a livelihood, “Newburgh is working,” said Costa. “It’s been good to us.”

Newburgh Again: Hotel Marked Era Of Splendor in Newburgh

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By Ruth Valenti, Evening News Correspondent, as printed in The Evening News; April 3, 1987

   The Palatine Hotel at the corner of Grand and Third streets in Newburgh had its gala opening on July 6, 1893. It was hailed as the “queen of hotels” and had electric lights!
   The five story, red brick structure featured a porch crossing the width of the top floor, providing guests with a spectacular view of the Hudson River and the surrounding area.
   The proposal for a fine hotel was made by the Newburgh Board if Trade in 1892. Col. William Dickey pledged $1,000; $60,000 was the original projected cost and $80,000 in stock was solicited by the board. Some legal action was needed to get the funds and the eventual cost was $150,000. (It seems estimated costs are never the final figure!)
   The Palatine Hotel Co. was formed and the first trustees were J.M. Wentz, John Schoonmaker, Benjamin B. Odell Jr. (who later became governor of the state), Col. Dickey, W.H. Weston and E.T. Skidmore, president.
   Francis N. Bain was to supervise the Newburgh facility, while his brother, Horatio, remained in charge of the Nelson House in Poughkeepsie.
   At the gala opening hotel men came from far and wide, including the well-known Oscar Tschirky “Oscar of the Waldorf“!
   People came by horse and wagon, carriage, bicycle, and a few noisy automobiles, according to contemporary reports. There were only 300 automobiles in the U.S. in 1895, and hotel proprietors wisely said the Palatine would “cater to automobile motoring parties and tourists.”
   The 60-mile trip from the metropolitan area provided a fine outing and overnight stay at the new hotel. Even physicians recommended a visit to the Palatine where weary patients could rest and recuperate, and the American Automobile Association added its sanction to the splendid facility.
   There were 116 rooms and half could be turned into suites with bath. There was a cafe of Flemish Oak and one writer described “the huge old dining room, adorned by palms, with gleaming white tableclothes, sparkling glassware, lustrous silverware and a baby grand piano in one corner.”
   A brochure issued in the late 1930’s listed the tariff schedule: a single room with running water, bath adjacent – $2.25 to $2.50; double room with running water, bath adjacent, $3.50 to $4. For another 50 cents, occupants could have a private bath.
   Ample parking facilities and golf privileges on several courses were included and the Palatine Hotel was the site of weekly luncheon meetings of the Lions, Rotary and Kiwanis clubs.
   The rich and famous who visited the Palatine included New York Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, Gov. Alfred E. Smith and actress Lillian Russell. Theodore Roosevelt and Benjamin Odell met there to plan political strategy.
   Bain retired in 1920 and died in 1936. Carl Wilmsen, later his wife, and then Leo Dunn were successive managers of the elegant hotel. Levinson and Copans, realtors, bought the property in 1952 and leased it to Glenn M. Lovejoy and his mother, Viola.