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History of Orange County
Town of Newburgh
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As previously remarked, the Palatines who located the patent named the place Newburgh, after a place of the same name in Germany, where they came from.
Individuals who were here during the Revolution inform us the place was called Foxburgh, from the fact, that that animal was very numerous in the vicinity, and burrowed in the hills around it. But the name not being generally known, and limited in its application, soon died away and became forgotten with the extinction of the animal.
In May, 1783, some of the proprietors of the land, with other citizens, concluded that Newburgh would be preferable to New Windsor as a site for commercial purposes, laid out the present streets, and filled up the original outline of the plot from South street at the north to First street, which runs east and west, and south of the Presbyterian meeting house. This plot, embracing a large part of the present densely built position of the village, when surveyed and transferred to the map or chart made at the time, was called Washington, and is so named on the map, and in some of the early conveyances of village lots. We do not know the authors of this insidious attempt to change the name of the village, by such a public and durable monument, but as it ought, it most signally failed in accomplishing the object. There is not a person in the vicinity, nor village itself, unless of the legal profession, or in the practice of drawing or reading village deeds, who ever heard of the name or knows to what part of the plot it applied. We confess our ignorance until apprised of it by a legal friend, well acquainted with these old village matters. The place was never known by that name by the people of the county, and if it was it is now lost and forgotten, and is only found on the original map and in a few old deeds which still continue to retain the record of its birth and death. If this attempt had succeeded we would have had another instance like that perpetrated by Americus Vespucius on Columbus, the fraudulent bestowment of a new name. But we are gratified in saying, the citizens generally, from year to year, and from period to period, have most honorably and perseveringly maintained and preserved, and what too without any direct effort, the true and original name! and Newburgh remains to-day, in all the freshness and beauty of the German tongue.
The north part of the village on the hill, and the south, afterwards called Renwick’s dock, were settled first, and the former location was early known, as it is now, by the name of Old Town. The old glebe school house, which originally in accordance with it. We are bound to say, that during all such favorable periods, the citizens freely and nobly, exerted their ample means to transact the business of their customers with the greatest despatch and satisfaction. But there are tides in the affairs of men, and the construction of the Delaware and Hudson canal was one, and the magnitude and force of its surge diverted the great western trade in its vicinity into another direction and to other markets, and confined the business of Newburgh to narrower limits. This, though injurious, could have been endured as not absolutely mortal, had it not been succeeded by the more extensive and deeply felt effects of the building of the New York and Erie Rail Road, which made large and permanent inroads upon her property and business operations. Such were the deadening influences of the construction of this road, for a few years, that it prostrated the business of the place—houses were tenantless, men shut up their shops and removed to more favorable localities, and the whole trade of the mechanical arts stood still with the commerce of the village, or went down with it. The effect was blighting in the extreme, and the streets empty as if it were a continued Sabbath.— Newburgh, if true to her own interest, cannot only live and flourish without direct detriment to other places, but regain her former prosperity. True, the means by which it is to be accomphished are of a different character, and though somewhat new and unpractised here, still ensure the same unerring results. If the natural facilities growing out of her favorable geographical position are cut off and denied her, prudence and a wise forecast determine with a reliable judgment, that she must create those of a more artificial character, with means for which she is most amply provided. For several years she has relied too confidently on her natural position, her former extensive and profitable business, and her present facilities for doing it again; the while cherishing the thought, that trade with its train of blessings would in the long run return, as being best and most profitably done here. These hopes and expectations were vain and fallacious, and she must now rise from her lethargy and dreamy slumbers, shake off all these baseless expectations, and go to work like men determined to succeed, and make all things available to accomplish it. Let her vigorously persevere in the great business of manufactures so nobly begun, and one hundred to one, the road to prosperity and wealth is sure and broad before her. The deep, permanent and alarming injuries received by the works above referred to, and the building up of rival establishments all over the country, consequent thereon, compel Newburgh, as in a case of life and death,— unless some other relief be devised—to adopt the course here indicated. The strongest and surest arguments are drawn from facts, and the long practical experience of men in business; and looking over the manufacturing districts of the Union, where do you find more general prosperity and diffusion of wealth. A word to the wise is sufficient.