Goshen

An 1811 Hudson River Sloop Mystery

March 23, 2026 by Guest Contributor Leave a Comment

The following articles about a crime on a Hudson River sloop in 1811 were found and transcribed by Hudson River Maritime Museum Contributing Scholar George A. Thompson. They have been lightly edited and annotated by John Warren.

On Saturday afternoon last, a short time before Capt. Griswold sailed from New-York for this village [Newburgh], nine thousand six hundred dollars (almost $250k today), in bills, was given him directed to the Bank of Newburgh, and by him put into his trunk in his state room; as soon as the vessel was got under way, the captain discovered the money had been stolen. [Read more…] about An 1811 Hudson River Sloop Mystery

A Revolutionary War Terrorist in New York

August 31, 2025 by Rebecca Rector 1 Comment

During the American Revolution the Ramapo Valley in southern New York was a hotbed of controversy as tensions rose between the Enlightenment inspired Patriots fighting for freedom from English rule and those conservatives who remained loyal to the Crown.

Although acts of violence were committed by both sides, one person clearly stands out – Claudius Smith (1736-1779), the notorious Loyalist guerilla leader. [Read more…] about A Revolutionary War Terrorist in New York

The Minisink Battlefield Death of Dr. Benjamin Tusten in 1779

May 25, 2025 by John Conway Leave a Comment

He was born in Southold, Long Island on December 11, 1743, and moved with his family to the banks of the Otterkill near Goshen just three years later. His father, a Colonel in the New York State Militia and a judge, wanted him to be farmer, but as he grew older it became apparent he was destined for other things, and he was sent off to study Latin and Greek and mathematics, eventually deciding on a career in medicine. [Read more…] about The Minisink Battlefield Death of Dr. Benjamin Tusten in 1779

Forest Rangers Recover Bodies, Make Rescues, Fight Upstate Wildfire

March 20, 2024 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers respond to search and rescue incidents throughout New York State. Working with other state agencies, local emergency response organizations and volunteer search and rescue groups, Forest Rangers locate and extract lost, injured or distressed people and engage in policing on New York State Lands.

What follows is a report, prepared by DEC, of recent missions carried out by Forest Rangers. [Read more…] about Forest Rangers Recover Bodies, Make Rescues, Fight Upstate Wildfire

Greater Hudson Heritage Network 2023 Excellence Awards Announced

September 30, 2023 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Greater Hudson Heritage Network’s Awards for Excellence program seeks to recognize and commend exceptional efforts among the Network’s members. Awards are made to projects that exemplify creativity and professional vision resulting in a contribution to the preservation and interpretation of the historic scene, material culture, and diversity of the region. [Read more…] about Greater Hudson Heritage Network 2023 Excellence Awards Announced

Anna Elizabeth Dickinson: ‘America’s Civil War Joan of Arc’

September 21, 2023 by Helen Allen Nerska 1 Comment

On a cold, snowy January evening in 1874, Anna Elizabeth Dickinson became one of the first women of national prominence to speak on women’s suffrage in Clinton County, NY. Those gathering to hear her at the Palmer Hall, located upstairs at 60 Margaret Street in downtown Plattsburgh, were described as the most intellectual and cultivated in the community.

The crowd that night would have known her reputation. [Read more…] about Anna Elizabeth Dickinson: ‘America’s Civil War Joan of Arc’

Crimes Against Butter: The Oleomargarine Controversy

April 12, 2022 by Milton Sernett 9 Comments

The butter trade was once so important to dairy farmers in Orange County, NY that the bank in Goshen, the county seat, printed its currency on yellow paper. Popularly known as “butter money,” this currency symbolized how significant the trade in butter was to dairy farmers in dairy regions across the state prior to the introduction of refrigerated railroad cars to ship raw milk, first using blocks of ice and then mechanical cooling.

The original shipment of milk from Orange County to New York City is believed to have taken place in the spring of 1842 via the New York & Erie Railroad. Prior to this raw milk could be transported only short distances by farm wagon.

Butter, however, could be transported to markets many miles from the farm or factory where it was produced. As symbolized by “butter money,” blocks of butter were once as good as gold. [Read more…] about Crimes Against Butter: The Oleomargarine Controversy

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