David Crawford House facts for kids
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David Crawford House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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The house in 2022
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 189 Montgomery St., Newburgh, NY |
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| Built | 1830–31 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Part of | Montgomery-Grand-Liberty Streets Historic District (ID73001246) |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000899 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | September 27, 1972 |
| Designated CP | July 16, 1973 |
The David Crawford House is a special old house located at 189 Montgomery Street in Newburgh, New York. It was built a long time ago, between 1830 and 1831. Today, this historic house is a museum. It also serves as the main office for the Historical Society of Newburgh Bay and The Highlands. This society works to keep the history of the area alive.
Discovering the David Crawford House
The David Crawford House is a beautiful example of old American architecture. It mixes two styles: Greek Revival and Federal. These styles were popular when the house was built.
David Crawford, a successful businessman, built this mansion. He made his money by shipping goods on the Hudson River in the 1820s. He leased the land for the house in 1830.
David's family came from Ulster and moved to America in 1731. They first settled in Little Britain. Later, in 1806, David's father, Francis, moved the family to Newburgh. He saw that Newburgh was a great place for selling farm products.
David Crawford faced some health challenges when he was young. To get better, he took a job as a deputy sheriff in 1810. Riding horses often helped him become stronger.
When the War of 1812 started, David joined the army. He even formed his own group of volunteers. He became a captain in an artillery regiment. During his time in the army, he learned a lot about shipping. This made him interested in how much money could be made from trade by sea.
In 1822, David Crawford married Fanny C. Belknap. They had two daughters, Mary Elizabeth and Anna. David became involved in building a steamboat in 1825. This steamboat would carry goods from Newburgh to New York City. The steamer Baltimore started shipping from David Crawford's own dock in 1830.
The House's Unique Look
We don't know who the carpenter was who built the David Crawford House. But we do know it has many special details.
The doorways have fancy trim. You can see carved laurel designs above the doors. The main staircase is very grand. It stands on its own and has beautiful mahogany balusters. A fun detail on the staircase is the newel post. It's carved like a dolphin head! People think a furniture carver from New York City made it.
Many doors inside the house are made of pine. They are painted to look like real wood, which is called faux bois.
One of the most impressive parts of the house is its large triangular roof section, called a pediment. In the middle of this pediment is a special Palladian window. Four tall Ionic columns, about 40 feet high, support the pediment.
The Historical Society Saves the House
In 1953, the David Crawford House was going to be sold. Many people worried that a nearby funeral home would buy it. They feared the house would be torn down to make a parking lot.
But on September 28, 1953, the Historical Society of Newburgh Bay & The Highlands stepped in. They decided to buy the house themselves! Other groups, like the Ossoli Club, also helped raise money.
People donated old furniture to make the inside of the house look like it did in David Crawford's time. This included a fancy Duncan Phyfe sofa. Even a senator, Thomas C. Desmond, donated a special door knocker.
The David Crawford House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. This means it's recognized as an important historic site. The next year, it became part of the Montgomery-Grand-Liberty Streets Historic District.
Today, the house is the main office for the Historical Society. It's also a museum that opens to the public on Sundays and for special events. The museum has many old items. Some are about David Crawford's shipping business, like boat models. They even have a Gothic chimney that was saved from another old mansion.
In 2007, the historical society received money to fix up the house. They repaired the roof, chimneys, and outside walls. The house also got a fresh coat of paint.
