History of Poughkeepsie, New York, USA

1854 - Poughkeepsie
Poughkeepsie, a handsome city, capital of Dutchess co., New York, on the E. bank of the Hudson river, and on the railroad of that name, 75 miles N. from New York, and 70 miles S. from Albany. l.at. 40° 41' N., Ion. 73° 55' W. It is situated on a plain, and regularly laid out, the principal street extending eastward from the river. It is the largest town between New York and Albany. It contains about 10 churches, belonging to the Dutch Reformed. Episcopalians, Baptists, Presbyterians, Methodists, Friends, Universalists, and Catholics ; a collegiate school. the Dutchess academy, and several seminaries for girls. Three or four newspapers are published here weekly. The collegiate school of this place is a large and costly building, situated on College hill. A number of steam boats and sailing vessels are owned here. Poughkeepsie has a variety of manufactories, the most important productions of which are cotton-goods, machinery, farming implements, carriages, iron ware, guns, carpets,... Read MORE...

1856 - COLLISION ON THE HUDSON RIVER R.R.
A terrible collision occurred on the Hudson River Railroad, about one and a half miles South of Poughkeepsie, on Wednesday the 9th, resulting in the death of three persons and severe injuries to many others.

The Albany Express train, which started on her south trip at 11 A.M. Wednesday, arrived at Poughkeepsie at 1 1/ 2, having been detained one hour. After leaving that station, when near old Troy, at a mile and a half from Poughkeepsie, she was stopped by a red flag, because of a broken rail some distance ahead. At this time the way passenger train from Poughkeepsie, which should have left at 2 1/ 4 but which was detained to 3 1/ 4, because of the detention of the former train, came on.

The conductor of the leading train saw the other approach, and at once jumped from the platform on which he was standing, and went towards her, waving the red signal, but too late, for she ran into the Express, smashing two cars and breaking up one of the two engines that were drawing her.

The... Read MORE...

1861 - A brewer named Matthew Vassar founded Vassar College in Poughkeepsie.

www.ereferencedesk.com/ resources/ state-facts/ new-york.html

1868 - Foreign Students
Poughkeepsie, the City of Schools, has over a thousand pupils from abroad.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
August 8, 1868

1870 - Tough Test
At Poughkeepsie, N.Y., dispatch states that at the examination at West Point Military Academy, concluded on the 28th, forty-eight out of the eighty-six failed, and would be sent home. It is said to have been the most rigid examination ever held.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
July 9, 1870

1870 - Wild Balloon Ride
A man named Bard, at Poughkeepsie, N.Y., on the 4th made his first balloon ascension, but lost control of the balloon, which descended rapidly. He escaped unhurt. The balloon again rose, and landed sixty miles away in Connecticut.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
July 16, 1870

1871 - Ice Boat Race
A race between ice-boats came off at Poughkeepsie, N.Y., on the 21st. The winner ran twelve miles in eleven minutes.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
March 4, 1871

1874 - SHOCKING FERRY-BOAT ACCIDENT.
A WAGON AND ITS OCCUPANTS BACKED OVERBOARD - A PROMISING YOUTH.
Special Dispatch to the New York Times.

Poughkeepsie, N. Y., March 29. - A terrible accident occurred on the ferry boat at this place this afternoon. MARTIN McCUE and his wife MARY, with her baby, eight months old, drove on board in a wagon; when the boat started the horse commenced backing, and did not stop till all went overboard. MRS. McCUE was undoubtedly struck by the horse, as she did not live three minutes, nor did her body sink; the babe was drowned, and its body has not yet been recovered. MR. McCUE was rescued with great difficulty. Upon examination three of his ribs were found broken, which, together with his other injuries, makes his recovery doubtful. The horse was drowned. But one witness on the Coroner's inquest, thus far, has testified that the guard-chain was up, and he was the boy whose duty it was to put it up. His deportment before the Coroner's jury was of a brazen character, and he was shamefully ... Read MORE...

1877 - Poughkeepsie
POPULATION, 25,000. - SQUARE ACRES, 22,140.

Poughkeepsie was formed as a town March 7th, 1788. March 27th, 1799, the village of Poughkeepsie was formed and March 28th, 1854, it became an incorporated city. The town borders upon the Hudson, and contains some fine farming lands. Its surface is mostly a rolling upland. Wappingers Creek, forming the east boundary, and the Fallkill, flowing through Poughkeepsie City, each furnish a considerable amount of water power. The soil is clayey in the west, and a sandy and gravelly loam in the remainiug parts. New Hamburgh, Manchester, Rochdale, and Locust Glen, are small villages. A portion of the incorporated village of Wappingers Falls lies in this town.

The name Poughkeepsie is from the Indian word Apo-keep, and signifies a safe harbor. The Fallkill was so named by the Dutch, because of the number of cascades or falls occurring in that stream. The Indians called it the Minnakee. The bluff north of the bay at the mouth of the Fall Kill was ... Read MORE...

1879 - The End of the Whistle
Locomotive whistling is to be superseded at Poughkeepsie, N.Y., by a bell worked by electricity which will be set up in the depot. When the train arrives within a mile of the station, the bell will ring until it gets to the depot. The danger signal is thus given, and the waste of steam is avoided, to say nothing of the racket.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
January 11, 1879

1879 - Ice Boating on the Hudson
At Poughkeepsie the ice boats are seen in perfection, made of different colored woods, with silver-plated shrouds and gorgeously gilded and painted names; and it is in the races of the Poughkeepsie and New Hamburg Clubs that they show their speed. A boat owned by a gentleman of New Hamburg made in a race a few years ago nine miles, the distance between the above named towns, in seven minutes and a fraction. Another owner further up the river made under most favorable circumstances, wind and ice being perfect and with a flying start, one mile in thirty-one seconds. This boat has since been beaten in a race by a New Hamburg boat. One more anecdote of the sailing powers of the ice boat. A gentleman standing on the platform of the depot at Fishkill said "good bye" to a friend in a train as it was leaving the station, ran down to this boat, jumped on board, set sail, and stood waiting to receive his friends on the arrival of the train at New Hamburg, ten miles above.

As to danger, the... Read MORE...

1888 - Bad Bet
On the 9th Steve Brodie jumped from the Poughkeepsie (N.Y.) bridge in to the Hudson river, two hundred and twelve feet, and received injuries from which he may die. The leap was made for a wager of $500.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
November 17, 1888

1895 - Poughkeepsie
Poughkeepsie, a handsome city, the capital of Dutchess co., N.Y., is on the E. bank of the Hudson River, 74 miles north of New York City, and 70 miles south of Albany. Lat. 41° 40' N.; lon. 73° 55' W. The site is a plateau or plain which is nearly 200 feet higher than the water and is enclosed on the E. side by high hills. The plan of the city is regular, and the streets cross one another at right angles. It is connected with New York and Albany by the Hudson River Railroad, and is a terminus of the Poughkeepsie & Eastern Railroad, which extends to Millerton,-47 miles. At this point is a bridge across the Hudson River, which is said to be the largest in America. It is operated by the Philadelphia, Reading & New England Railroad, which connects with the railroad systems on the W., and extends to Hartford, eastward 110 miles. There is also a steam ferry. Two miles N. of the city are the large and imposing buildings of the Hudson River State Hos £ for the Insane, erected at a cost of... Read MORE...

1906
Poughkeepsie, po-kip'se, a city, the capital of Dutchess co., N.Y., is on the E. bank of the Hudson River, 74 miles N. of New York city, on the New York Central and Hudson River and other railroads. The site is a plateau or plain which is nearly 200 feet above the level of the water and is enclosed on the E. side by high hills. The river is here crossed by a lofty cantilever railroad bridge, built in 1886-89, which is 200 ft. above high-water and measures 6780 ft. in length. Two miles N. of the city are the large and imposing buildings of the Hudson River State Hospital for the Insane. Poughkeepsie is distinguished for the number and excellence of its educational institutions. It is the seat of Vassar College (for women), which was founded in 1861 and liberally endowed by Matthew Vassar. It had in 1903-1904, 924 students. The college has laboratories of physics and chemistry, biology, mineralogy, etc., a museum of natural history, and an astronomical observatory (lat. 41° 41' 18" N.,... Read MORE...

1911 - TRAIN KILLS CHAUFFEUR.
Motor Failed and Car Stuck on Railway Crossing.

POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y., July 5 - When a West Shore Railroad train rolled into Hihgland{sic} Station tonight the top of an automobile was found on the pilt. Investigation showed that the train had struck an automobile at a crossing half a mile away and instantly killed a chaufefur{sic} named Frank Walters, aged 30, of New York.

Walter's motor had failed just as the car got on the crossing and it was not seen by the engineer, bystanders alleged.
The New York Times
New York, New York
July 6, 1911

1935 - Swift Fire Kills 5 in Poughkeepsie Building; 3 Boys Confess Setting It While Playing
POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y., May 3 — Five persons were trapped and burned to death this afternoon in a fire which destroyed a three-story building at 411 Main Street. Starting in a rear stairway from kerosene or gasoline ignited by children at play, the flames swept through the structure with such rapidity that the victims could not be reached by firemen and could not escape to the street.

The dead are C. Edward Seifts, 34; his wife, Mary Decker Seifts, about 30; their two children, Rosemary, 1, and Joanna, 3, and Shirley Elmore, 7, daughter of another tenant in the building.

The bodies were found on the third floor of the building in the apartment occupied by the Seifts family. Doctors said the five had
been overcome by smoke before they had a chance to escape from the burning rooms.

Seifts was not at home when the fire started, but reached there a
few minutes after the alarm had been turned in by a passer-by. He
ran into the building and attempted to aid his wife and children to ... Read MORE...

Here's a list of places to go and things to do in Poughkeepsie:
Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park: Start your visit with a stroll across the Walkway Over the Hudson, the longest elevated pedestrian bridge in the world. It offers breathtaking views of the Hudson River and the surrounding area. It's especially beautiful during the fall foliage season.

Vassar College: Explore the beautiful campus of Vassar College, known for its stunning architecture, art exhibitions, and cultural events. The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center on campus is home to an impressive collection of art.

Locust Grove Estate: Visit the historic Locust Grove Estate, the former home of Samuel Morse, the inventor of the Morse Code. The estate features beautiful gardens, hiking trails, and a museum showcasing Morse's life and work.

Culinary Institute of America: If you're a food enthusiast, don't miss the chance to dine at one of the restaurants at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA). You can enjoy gourmet meals prepared by future culinary... Read MORE...