General Editorial Review
Stephen King & Co., Coal Dealers. This firm, consists of Stephen King and Jas. A. P. Ramsdell which was established in 1873, and is one of the oldest coal yards in the city, having been established by Thos. Powell, who was the first person to introduce anthracite coal into Newburgh. In 1857 Mr. Homer Ramsdell succeeded to the business and conducted the same for about five years, after which the yard was unoccupied until 1868, when Stephen King opened the same again and conducted it until 1870 when the firm of Stephen King, Homer Ramsdell & Co. was formed and continued until 1873 when the present firm was formed. They deal in coal wholesale and retail, have three yards, one located on Front Street, opposite the Erie RR. Depot; one at foot of Washington Street for supplying steamboats; and another on Dickson Street near Chadwick Bros. Bleachery. This firm does the leading coal business in Newburgh aside from that transacted by the Pennsylvania Coal Company.
Baldwin House, J. C. Flemming Manager. In Hotels, as in so many other things, the United States leads the world. Indeed if there is any one thing in which we may feel a National pride, and justly so, it is in our Hotels. The traveler in Europe beholds palaces, temples, churches and cathedrals, and is filled with awe, wonder, and admiration at these triumphs of architectural skill, yet upon his return to the United States, and enjoying the luxurious comforts of our hotels, he feels that he would n exchange for all the comfortless grandeur the old world contains. Here he finds a welcome, cosy rooms, luxurious furniture, and appointments, and all the conveniences for supplying the Creature comforts. A delicious “home feeling” steals over him and his soul expands in a hearty benison upon the designer of our hotels. Everyone concedes that a large part of the pleasure we experience is at the table- not the multiplication table, but that where generous viands tempt that part we habitually term the “inner man,” hence as pleasure is the aim of mankind, one readily perceives what a work of benevolence a really good landlord performs. With these ideas in mind we can do the public no better service than to point out a gaol hotel one where the cuisine is always in order, where the beef steak does not remind one of a session of a board of aldermen, but where everything which we eat, in cookery parlance, is “well dished up.” Such a house is the Baldwin House, located on the block bounded by Farrington, Third, Johnston and Dubois streets. Finely situated, overlooking the city and bay of Newburgh, and commanding a fine mountain view; from the house and grounds, twenty miles of the Hudson River can be seen, from West Point to New Hamburgh. The house is new, having been built in 1876, and contains seventy-two rooms, all elegantly furnished, and attached to the hotel are large stables. It is convenient to railroad and steamboat, being only eight minutes walk from Hudson River or Erie Depot, and the same from steamboat landing, and three minutes from Court House. A free bus connects with all trains and boats. Fine opportunities for boating, sailing, and fishing are afforded on the river. The grounds are spacious, supplying shaded walks and fine croquet lawns with three hundred feet of piazzas to the house. The house is supplied with all modern improvements and conveniences. Transient rates two dollars per day. Special rates by week or month.
The house is under the management of Mr. John C. Flemming, whose reputation as “mine host” needs no indorsement from us. No one who has ever come in contact with him in his official capacity hut is pleased at the prospect of a second meeting. The ladies' department is under the personal supervision of Mrs. Flemming, which assures the wants of her guests will be attended to properly.
Altogether the Baldwin House is a credit to the city of Newburgh and the guests visiting here are ofttimes induced to call to mind the poet's words:
“Whoe'er has traveled life's dull round,
No matter what his fate has been,
May sigh to think how oft he's found
His warmest welcome at an Inn.”
J. Baldwin, Real Estate, Insurance, Railway and Steamship Ticket Agent. The above named gentleman came to Newburgh from New York city in 1865 and opened a Real Estate office at 34 Second street, where he remained for five years, when he removed to 27 Second street, and in Oct. 1877 he purchased and removed to the present office which he occupies on the northwest corner of Smith and Second sts. opposite the Savings Bank, one of the finest business locations in Newburgh. Mr. Baldwin was admitted to the Bar in 1867, in the same class with Judges Brown and Hirschberg, and has since practiced law in connection with his other business. He has at various times added to his business until at present it embraces, Law, Real Estate & Loan, Insurance, Railway and Steamship Ticket Agencies, and he will sell you Steamship Tickets to or from Europe, Railway Tickets to any point in the West; buy or sell Real Estate. Loan Money, rent dwellings, all or in part, collect rents and bills, insure property against loss by fire, buy or sell railway or other securities, sell drafts or bills of exchange to any part of Europe, and advise and counsel at law, and is also a Notary Public, having been the same for ten years. By strict attention to business Mr. Baldwin has made the same a success and won many warm friends, his object in business being to render satisfaction to patrons. He transacts his business upon a small margin, thus saving a percentage to his customers. To any of our readers who may have occasion to transact any business in his line we say give him a call, as we are assured they will receive prompt and gentlemanly attention, and be dealt with fairly.
Joseph Van Cleft, Hardware, Agricultural Implements, etc. The business at present conducted by Mr. Van Cleft was established in 1863, by Hardenburgh & Van Cleft, Mr. Van Cleft purchasing shortly thereafter the entire interest and has since continued the same, adding thereto from time to time until he has the largest Agricultural Implement trade in the county. When the business was first started it was located at 99 Water Street, but as his trade increased, his accommodations there were too limited, and he removed to his present place 102 Water Street in June, 1876. There is connected with the store on Water St. a large building opening on Front St. used for storage and as salesrooms for wagons and heavy farm machinery. Some of the most important articles of his trade we mention: Walter A. Woods Mowers and Reapers, Minard Harder's Horse Power Threshers and Cleaners, Milburn Farm Wagons of Toledo, Cortland Platform Spring and Top Wagons, Buffalo Scale Company's Hay, Platform and Counter Scales, Cumming's Feed Cutters, Ithaca Wheel Horse Rakes with Grain and Plaster Sower Attachment, Revolving Rakes, Plows and Harrows of the most improved make and from reliable manufacturers, fully warranted. In short, all kinds of Farm Machinery and Agricuitural Implements, Builders' Hardware, Mechanics' Tools, Dairy Fixtures, Wood and Willow ware, etc. Mr. Van Cleft has built up a mammoth trade, not only in Orange County, but through Duchess, and Ulster Counties as well, and wherever his goods are sold, will be found pleased and satisfied patrons. He requires no indorsement from us, as hardly a business man is better or more favorably known than Joseph Van Cleft.
John R. Wiltsie & Son. The name of John R. Wiltsie is one that has been known among the business men of Newburgh for nearly half a century. Mr. Wiltsie established business in 1843, first being engaged in the saddle and harness trade, which he conducted until 1S62, when he opened an insurance agency, and broker's and banking office. This he continued alone until 1867 when his son, Arthur V. Wiltsie, was taken into partnership, and the firm of John R. Wiltsie & Son was formed. They are at present transacting an extensive banking and broker business, dealing in United States bonds, Town, City and County bonds, railroad bonds, bank stock and investment securities of every description; dealing also in real estate ; selling and renting the same. Their banking exchange business is connected with leading houses of New York and other American cities, extending to all the leading commercial cities of Great Britain and the Continent. They are agents for the White Star, Inman, Cunard, Anchor, National, State, and Ham-burgh lines of steamers, thus affording extra facilities to the traveling public, as they give choice of several lines, avoiding all vexatious delays. Their insurance agency embraces Fire, Marine, Life and Accident Insurance, which they are prepared to effect at current rates. Their extensive patronage, being the largest of any private firm in the city, enables them to offer many extra advantages for investments, while their long established reputation is a guarantee to all dealing with them, and comments thereupon from us would appear superfluous.