New Hamburg, New York facts for kids
New Hamburg is a small community, also called a hamlet, located right along the Hudson River in Dutchess County, New York. It's found in the southern part of the town of Poughkeepsie.
Contents
New Hamburg's Past
Early Days and River Trade
Records from 1770 show that New Hamburg had shipping areas known as "Hood Landing." People who worked on the river called the rocky spot where the Hudson met Wappinger Creek "High Point." A bit further south, another area was called "Low Point" (Chelsea).
Lime Burning Industry
Making lime became an important business in New Hamburg. A map from 1797 shows a lime kiln, which is a special oven used to make lime. By 1800, Ephraim DuBois lived at High Point. In 1837, he sold his land, including a lime quarry and kiln, to Adolph Brower.
Brower sold lime to local iron makers, farmers, and builders. He even shipped it by boat to places as far away as New Jersey. Around 1844, Brower built his own house where DuBois's house used to be. Today, the New Hamburg Yacht Club is near where the "Old Lime Dock" once stood. The riverfront near the lime kilns was a popular swimming spot called the "Sandy Bottom Shore." When the railroad was built in the 1840s, extra stones were thrown onto this sandy beach.
Drake's Bridge and Lumber Business
In 1808, John Drake Jr. built a bridge over Wappingers Creek. Later, in 1879, an iron swing-bridge was built in its place, but people still called it "Drake's Bridge."
By 1810, John Drake had moved to New Hamburg. He owned docks, a store, and 30 acres of land at High Point, which was then known as "Wappingers Landing." In the early 1820s, the lumber business grew bigger than lime production.
Charles Millard, who owned a lumber business, moved to the Landing in 1824 and opened a lumber yard. Since most lumber was shipped by water, his son, Walter, started building and shipping boats. Walter and his partner, Uriah Mills, built a barge called the Lexington for carrying goods. They also built a steamer called the Splendid for both goods and passengers. New Hamburg became a busy port where ships were loaded and unloaded. Goods were then taken to Poughkeepsie and Wappingers Falls by road. Walter Millard became the postmaster in 1837.
Railroad Arrival and Challenges
In 1848, work began on the Hudson River Railroad. This railroad aimed to connect the Albany area to New York City. During 1848 and 1849, a sickness called cholera spread among the railroad workers. Many workers became ill, and some died, which slowed down construction.
Workers built an 800-foot (240 m) tunnel through a hillside north of town. This work helped Main Street grow into a busy shopping area. The river steamer Mary Powell used to stop in New Hamburg every morning on its way to New York City and in the afternoon on its way back.
Around 1860, William Shay ran a rag business. He would travel up Wappingers Creek to mills in Wappingers Falls to get rags and cotton waste. These materials were then shipped from New Hamburg. On May 3, 1877, a big fire destroyed seven buildings in the hamlet.
Train Accident and Estates
The New Hamburg Yacht Club started in 1869 as a club for ice boats. In February 1871, a serious train accident happened on the railroad drawbridge over Wappinger Creek. A train traveling north crashed into an oil tank train car heading south. The trains exploded, throwing people and parts into the water. Sadly, 22 people were confirmed to have died, and many more were missing.
The area around New Hamburg was also home to several large country estates. One belonged to New York City lawyer Francis Robert Rives, located on Rives Avenue. Another belonged to J. Fisher Sheefe.
In 1925, a religious group called the Augustinian Friars bought the Untermeyer estate on Wheeler Hill. They used it as a training center. This property was sold in 1980 and is now a town park. In 1929, the Children's Aid Society of New York ran a farm school in New Hamburg. This school taught older boys farm work before they were placed in paid jobs on farms.
New Hamburg Today
Geography and Location
New Hamburg is in the Eastern Standard time zone. Its elevation is 69 feet above sea level.
Local Services
The New Hamburg station is a stop on the Metro-North Railroad's Hudson Line. This train line connects New Hamburg to other towns and New York City.
The New Hamburg Fire Department helps keep the community safe. They respond to fires and provide emergency medical services for all of New Hamburg.
New Hamburg Park, located on Main Street, is managed by the Town of Poughkeepsie Recreation Department. The park has tennis courts, a playground, a baseball field, and part of the Wappinger Greenway Trail. It is next to the Reese Audubon Sanctuary, a nature area.
