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Poughkeepsie

The Hudson River Steamboat Poughkeepsie; Later Known As The Westchester

December 13, 2022 by Guest Contributor Leave a Comment

Steamboat Poughkeepsie at dock (courtesy Richard V. Elliott Collection, Hudson River Maritime Museum)This essay was written for the Kingston Daily Freeman in the 1930s, transcribed by Hudson River Maritime Museum volunteer Adam Kaplan and reproduced here in a slightly edited form.

The tale of the steamboat Poughkeepsie is the story of a vessel that is still in service [in the 1930s] – although today the name Westchester has replaced Poughkeepsie and she is no longer a familiar figure on the Hudson River. [Read more…] about The Hudson River Steamboat Poughkeepsie; Later Known As The Westchester

Filed Under: History, Hudson Valley - Catskills, New York City Tagged With: Dutchess County, Hudson Highlands, Hudson River, Kingston, Long Island, New Jersey, New York City, New York Harbor, Newburgh, Poughkeepsie, Rondout, Rye, Steamboating, Transportation History, Ulster County, Westchester County

Rough And Tumble: A Short History of Eye Gouging

September 7, 2022 by John Warren 2 Comments

Retired NYPD officer Thomas Webster, dubbed the 'eye gouger,' attacks a DC police officer in a still from January 6th videoLast week Thomas Webster, a 20-year veteran of the NYPD, was sentenced to the stiffest sentence so far – 10 years – for his actions while attacking the U.S. Capitol on January 6th in an effort to keep Donald Trump in power. In the effort to identify the insurrectionists, Webster was given the name “eye-gouger” for his attempt to gouge the eyes of a Washington D.C. police officer.

It’s a long American tradition. Eye gouging, not insurrection. [Read more…] about Rough And Tumble: A Short History of Eye Gouging

Filed Under: Capital-Saratoga, History, New York City Tagged With: boxing, Crime and Justice, Cultural History, Lansingburgh, Medical History, New York City, Poughkeepsie, Social History, Vice, Virginia

The 1817 Hudson River Kidnapping Case: Details & Outcome

July 14, 2022 by David Fiske Leave a Comment

The recent New York Almanack post, “Kidnapped Into Slavery On The Hudson River” reprinted an early report of the crime by the New York Evening Post. The accused kidnappers were put on trial (and convicted).

This incident is one of the approximately 50 case studies included in my book Solomon Northup’s Kindred: The Kidnapping of Free Citizens before the Civil War (Praeger, 2016). The following is adapted from the account of the incident which appears there. [Read more…] about The 1817 Hudson River Kidnapping Case: Details & Outcome

Filed Under: History, New York City Tagged With: Albany, Black History, Crime and Justice, Hudson River, New York City, Poughkeepsie, Slavery

Kidnapped Into Slavery On The Hudson River

July 8, 2022 by Guest Contributor 2 Comments

Internal Slave Trade, Staunton, VirginiaEditor’s note: The following engraving and text were originally published in the New-York Evening Post in June, 1817. The language of the article reflects the time period when it was written.

KIDNAPPING — This most odious, and I might even say, worst of crimes, which has hitherto been principally confined to the southern states, has of late found its way among us. On Thursday last, information was lodged with the Manumission Society, that a gang of scoundrels were engaged in seducing, and decoying free men of color, on board a small schooner, called the Creole, then lying up the North River, a little distance above the state-prison [Sing-Sing], with the intention of transporting them abroad and selling them as slaves for life.

Assistance was procured from the police-office, the schooner boarded, and a search took place, when behold, on opening the hatches, 9 poor unfortunate sons of Africa, who were huddled together in her hold, half suffocated, leaped upon deck, and disclosed to their deliverers the scene of villainy which had been practiced upon them. [Read more…] about Kidnapped Into Slavery On The Hudson River

Filed Under: History, Hudson Valley - Catskills Tagged With: Black History, Crime and Justice, Hudson River, Maritime History, New York City, Poughkeepsie, Slavery

We Should Celebrate New York State’s Birthday on April 20th

March 3, 2022 by Bruce Dearstyne 1 Comment

Secretary of the 1777 Convention Robert Benson reading NYS's new constitution in KingstonNew Yorkers, and New York’s historical community in particular, should be gearing up to commemorate and promote New York State’s birthday on April 20th.

That was the date in 1777 when the Convention of Representatives of the State of New York, an ad hoc group elected the previous year to guide New York’s Revolutionary War efforts and develop its first constitution, completed its work. [Read more…] about We Should Celebrate New York State’s Birthday on April 20th

Filed Under: Capital-Saratoga, History, Hudson Valley - Catskills, New York City Tagged With: American Revolution, John Jay, Kingston, Legal History, NYS Constitution, Political History, Poughkeepsie

Modernist Misogyny & Lady Penrose of Poughkeepsie

June 29, 2021 by Jaap Harskamp 3 Comments

Vogue cover March 15 1927Elizabeth “Lee” Miller started her career in the fashion industry. Having been model and assistant to surrealist artist and photographer Emmanuel Radnitzky, better known as Man Ray, she had the drive and talent to pursue her own professional ambition. During the Second World War, she was one of five accredited female photo-journalists accompanying American troops.

In a turbulent life traumatic events in her youth and maturity took their toll and may have hampered the appreciation of her contribution. Full recognition of the artistic value of her work is long overdue. [Read more…] about Modernist Misogyny & Lady Penrose of Poughkeepsie

Filed Under: History, Hudson Valley - Catskills, New York City Tagged With: art, Art History, Cultural History, Fashion History, Manhattan, modernism, New York City, Photography, Poughkeepsie, womens history, World War Two

A Short Book On Prohibition in the Hudson Valley

April 3, 2021 by Editorial Staff 2 Comments

Prohibition in the Hudson Valley bookEleanor Charwat’s short book Prohibition in the Hudson Valley, Along the Bootleg Trail (self published, 2017) looks back at the prominent role the Hudson Valley played in bootlegging during the Prohibition Era.

Local producers, distributors and sellers of illegal liquor were overshadowed and sometimes terrorized by New York City gangsters like Dutch Schultz, Legs Diamond and Salvatore Maranzano who came to the Hudson Valley to make money and escape federal surveillance. [Read more…] about A Short Book On Prohibition in the Hudson Valley

Filed Under: Books, History, Hudson Valley - Catskills Tagged With: Books, Hudson Valley, Political History, Poughkeepsie, Prohibition

Poughkeepsie’s Equality Trail Highlights History

July 17, 2020 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Dutchess County Historical Society

Poughkeepsie’s Equality Trail, part of the Dutchess County Equality Trails, features 21 stops that can be visited in person or virtually.

Each stop on the Trail features a person or event that helped in the fight for racial equality in Dutchess County. [Read more…] about Poughkeepsie’s Equality Trail Highlights History

Filed Under: History, Hudson Valley - Catskills Tagged With: Abolition, Black History, Dutchess County, Dutchess County Historical Society, Political History, Poughkeepsie, Slavery

Wayward Bear Gets Stuck in City in Poughkeepsie

May 15, 2020 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

ECO Eyler DEC Bureau of Wildlife technician and City of Poughkeepsie Police Officer prepare to weigh juvenile bearAccording to a report issued by DEC, in the early morning hours of May 4th, a young male bear wandered into the city of Poughkeepsie near Mansion and North Hamilton streets. [Read more…] about Wayward Bear Gets Stuck in City in Poughkeepsie

Filed Under: Hudson Valley - Catskills, Nature Tagged With: black bears, DEC, ECOs, nature, Poughkeepsie, Wildlife

The Burned-Over District and Mexican Revolution

December 26, 2019 by Guest Contributor Leave a Comment

francisco-i-madero-bhimaWhen Halley’s comet, that star with the quetzal’s tail, flared across Mexican skies in 1910, it heralded not only the centennial of Independence, but a deeply transformative episode, the Revolution launched by Francisco I. Madero on November 20, what Javier Garciadiego calls “the true beginning of a process, the birth of the modern Mexican state.”

The great chorus of Mexican historians agree. And yet, almost unknown and curious as it may sound, a vital taproot of this revolution lies in the Burned-Over District of New York State. [Read more…] about The Burned-Over District and Mexican Revolution

Filed Under: Books, History Tagged With: Cultural History, Hispanic History, Military History, Poughkeepsie, Religious History

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