Newburgh Then and Now


Family Memory Services has put together a brilliant video of “Newburgh then and now.” It really helps one grasp what the past hundred years have done to the city, whether it be destruction or survival. And it certainly makes you appreciate all of the buildings that have been able to stand the test of time, and the work any of us can do to make them continue to last for the next 100+ years.

Family Memory Services specializes in restoring old photos. Their Facebook Fanpage has examples of their work, many of them restored Newburgh photos! Enjoy.

Then and Now Collage

7 Comment

  • I really enjoyed this “then and now” presentation. As a railroad enthusiast, I have to point out that the pictures of the railroad stations of Newburgh are incorrectly labeled as being the “Lake Erie & Western R.R. Depot.” They’re not. That railroad, exclusive to the mid-west, is often confused with the New York, Lake Erie & Western, which did serve Newburgh (the line that comes in south of the Washington Heights neighborhood). The stations in the pictures, however, are on what was originally the New York, West Shore & Buffalo Railroad, which was later taken over by the New York Central. The cartouche in the pediment of the existing station building shows the “NYC” of the New York Central. The history of the “West Shore” is interesting. Interests of the Pennsylvania Railroad backed its construction to cut into the New York Central’s lucrative New York to Albany trade. In retaliation, the New York Central began to construct a line to Philadelphia, home base of the Pennsylvania. In an agreement between the two rivals, then titans of American industry, the West Shore became a part of the New York Central and the line to Philadelphia was abandoned. Some of the tunnels constructed were eventually used for the Pennsylvania Turnpike. At Cornwall, the West Shore had a spur that cut over to Middletown to connect with what became the New York, Ontario & Western. When it became part of the New York Central, that portion was sold to the O&W. One station at Mechanicsville along that line (abandoned in the late 1950s) survives (once the Rusty Nail Restaurant). If features the Germanic clipped gable also seen in the original Newburgh West Shore station and other West Shore stations. Hope this gets corrected.

    • Hi,

      First off I want to thank Newburgh Restoration for posting my video and information. I have been following NR for some time now.

      With regard to “the railroad stations of Newburgh are incorrectly labeled as being the “Lake Erie & Western R.R. Depot.” several emailed me in other posts to report the errs of my ways and I will correct it. It’s too bad that both YouTube and FaceBook amongst other sites don’t allow you to re-upload a video without losing all the current comments and information and always treat new versions as new videos.

      I do appreciate the information and correction. I received more comments about the RR Depot then anything else which proves that there is still a big interest in the incredible history of this city and I as well as others want to get it right. I also have “Sharpiro” Spelled incorrectly. This will be corrected also.

      Thank you all for taking the time to view the video and I hope you will stop by and check out the other work and “Like” my facebook page.

      Joe Santacroce
      Family Memory Services
      http://www.familymemoryservices.com
      http://www.facebook.com/familymemoryservices

    • Thank you for this wonderful video. I’ve been looking at pictures from the old Newburgh book and then comparing them to what I found on google, but this is WAY easier and more fun:)

      I was wondering about the railroad depot as well, as I know nothing about the old railroads and hadn’t heard that name before. In that Newburgh and Her Institutions book, the depot is labeled the New York, Lake Erie and Western Railroad Depot, so I looked for other pics using those keywords. This one picture I found was interesting to me because of the sign on the side of the depot directing people to the West Shore Depot that was apparently above this one. Well, that’s what I’m guessing anyway.
      http://www.20thcenturyhobbies.com/trainnut/ELmainpage/ERIE_Un-1.jpg
      My question is, would Newburgh have had two different railroads with separate depots so close together back then, as this would seem to suggest? I guess the city’s population at that time probably would have supported more than one depot?

  • That was great, really enjoyed it.

  • I LOVED this!!! 🙂

  • THank to you for everything in Newburgh, New York. My mom inherited the house was my grandmother ‘s, which in turn was bought by my great grandfather so many years ago. You could say that the house has been through about four generations. Our locally owned convenience store, became abandoned when I was a child. We Lived across the street, she moved to Virginia(my aunt). Great Aunt that livde next to her still maintains ownership of the property but lives elsewhere My uncles maintain ownership of the property. We still maintain ownership of the property on Johnston Street. THIS WAY OF the beautification the city of Newburgn is great . Is there a way we can get BACK TO THAT. We need help!

  • Thank you for everything you are doing in Newburgh, New York. My mom inherited the house was my grandmother ‘s, which iwas bought by my great grandfather so many years ago. You could say that the house has been through about four generations. Our locally owned convenience store, became abandoned when I was a child. We still maintain ownership of the property on Johnston Street. THIS beautification the city of Newburgh is great . Is there a way we can get it back to how it was when I was a child? We need help!