News and Event Updates from the Office of the Orange County Historian

First World War Centennial Comes to an End
As the end of the year approaches, we also mark the culmination of the four-year long centennial of the First World War, which began in 1914 and came to its conclusion in 1918. For this special centennial year, in addition to the Orange County Veterans Day ceremony held annually at the Veterans Cemetery in Goshen every September 29th, there were a variety of special events to honor the 40+ local men who died at the Battle of St. Quentin Canal.
Across the ocean at the Somme American Cemetery in Bony, France, located on the fields where the battle of St. Quentin Canal took place, a delegation of travelers from Orange County met with a group from New York City and participated in a memorial service for the members of the 107th New York Infantry Regiment, 995 of which were injured or killed on September 29, 1918. Flags and wreaths were laid out on the graves of the soldiers whose bodies had not returned home. Learn more about the 43 Orange County men who lost their lives on September 29, 1918 here. 
The centennial trip to honor the local men who died at St. Quentin Canal also included 10 days of travel in Belgium and France to visit war museums, battle sites, memorials and trenches of World War I. Flags were placed at the graves of local soldiers in Tyne Cot Cemetery and Flanders Field Cemetery and at the plaques listing those still missing in action.
On the east side of Orange County, the Newburgh Brewing Company launched a special beer in honor of fallen Newburgh soldier Pvt. Walter Allison, who was killed in action 100 years earlier. Pvt. Allison's football sweater made it's rounds to a variety of local events.  Learn more about the sweater that Pvt. Walter Allison carried to France here. 
Quassaick Chapter D.A.R. celebrated  125th anniversary at Washington's Headquarters
The Quassaick Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1893 at Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site in Newburgh. This fall they celebrated their 125th anniversary with a breakfast at the museum.  

 
Highlights from the history of the Quassaick Chapter of the D.A.R.
Highlights from the history of the Quassaick Chapter of the D.A.R. on Youtube
Bronze figure of remembrance: 
The legacy of the Orange Blossoms
GOSHEN  - During the Civil War, countless local regiments made up of patriotic volunteers wanted to do their part to make the United States whole again. One was 124th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, better known as the "Orange Blossoms," which officially mustered on Sept. 5, 1862, by Colonel August Van Horne Ellis. It was made up of Orange County residents with veterans of the 71st New York State Militia. The regiment took part in 43 engagements, including many famous battles, such as Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Appomattox Courthouse, and, of course, Gettysburg, where they squared off against the 1st Texas Volunteer Infantry. The Confederates named the 124th "The Red Stringed Devils" because of the red badges they wore on the battlefield. At the end of the war, the regiment was welcomed back as heroes.


Local Artist Goes Down with the Ship
Samuel Ward Stanton grew up in a family of Shipbuilders with his father operating Ward-Stanton Shipyard in Newburgh. Born in Newburgh, January 8, 1870 he went on to become a well-known artist of Steamships and a Historian of Steamshipping. He had later moved his family to Brooklyn.

In 1912 he was in Paris and Spain and wrote his wife Cornelia that he would be returning home on the "Unsinkable" Titanic as a second class passenger. His body was never re covered.

 

Read the full blog post written by Town of Newburgh Historian Joe Santacroce on newburghhistoryblog.com

 

Washington's Headquarters Seeks 2019 
Woman of History!
Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site is now accepting nominations for the 2019 Martha Washington Woman of History Award . Each year, Washington's Headquarters selects a recipient for this award, given to a woman who has distinguished herself in the field of Hudson Valley history. The honor is presented at the site's annual program, The General's Lady  held in March, during Women's History Month. The Woman of History  award acknowledges Martha Washington's important place in history as a devoted patriot in support of the American Revolution and the ensuing new nation.   Click here for guidelines and an application form. The deadline for applications is January 12th, 2019.

Orange County Historian | 101 Main Street Goshen, N.Y. 10924 |  845-360-6978 |  jyaun @orangecountygov.com
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