Port Jervis Tour Preview

1

Port Jervis Station

Port Jervis station is the terminus on Metro-North's Port Jervis line, a New York City commuter line operated by New Jersey Transit.

2

Erie Turntable

The Erie Turntable was built in 1854 and was used by the railroad until the 1980's. It was restored to operating condition in 1996. The roundhouse, which surrounded the turntable was destroyed by arson in the 1980's. Check out one of the largest operating turntables in the country, as well as some of the old train cars on the adjacent track. There is an information board on the east side of the turntable with more information.

3

Delaware and Hudson Canal Trail

Cross the parking lot for the dog park and the Delaware and Hudson Canal trailhead. As soon as you reach the top of the hill on the paved path, you will be standing on the old Delaware and Hudson Canal, which connected Honesdale, Pennsylvania and Kingston, New York. The trail continues as a grass path to West Main Street and then crosses the street, where it continues another mile as a narrow paved path. Turn right up the hill on an unmarked gravel path to West Main Street and then turn right on West Main Street. This is part of the Delaware and Hudson Canal on-road section in Port Jervis (look for the red and white D&H trail markers on telephone poles) and a connector trail between Lyric's Lullaby Trail and the D&H Canal Trail (visit the Outdoor Club of Port Jervis' website for a map) or stop by the kiosk on the east end of the Dog Yard/trailhead parking lot.

4

Site of the Mountain House School

Note the old stone wall along the north side of West Main Street. This small city property at the corner of Park Avenue and West Main Street is the site of the old Mountain House School, which backed up to the base of Mount William. Park Avenue was built after the school was demolished, as part of a WPA project. The four-story Mountain House School once operated as a hotel. Author Stephen Crane, who wrote the Red Badge of Courage, attended school here and his sister, Agnes, who was also an author, taught here. Stephen began going to school here in January of 1880, but left just weeks later in February, when his father, Jonathan Townley Crane, passed away and his family had to leave the parsonage in Port Jervis. After spending the rest of the winter and spring living nearby in New Jersey, Stephen returned with his mother to Port Jervis to live with his brother, William, at 21 Brooklyn Street. Stephen Crane continued school at the Mountain House School until 1883, when he and his mother moved to Asbury Park, New Jersey. Stephen Crane would later live with William at his house on East Main Street. It is believed Stephen Crane was inspired to write the Red Badge of Courage after hearing stories from veterans in Port Jervis. Crane also wrote a number of short stories, Whilomville Stories, which are based on Port Jervis.

5

Orange Square

Orange Square Veterans Memorial Park is a war memorial and the central square in the Uptown neighborhood of Port Jervis, at Pike and Broome Streets.

6

Marsh Hall

Marsh Hall is named for Donald Stuart Marsh, the former Director of Arts of the First Presbyterian Church and the founder and director of the Presby Players, the oldest community theater in Orange County. The brick chapel built in 1889 is home to the Presby Players performances. For information on upcoming performances, visit the Presby Playersfacebook page.

7

61 Sussex Street

Port Jervis has many beautiful old homes throughout the city. Walking or driving around, you will notice many Victorian homes. Across from Marsh Hall, note 61 Sussex Street. This is an example of a Queen Anne style house. Although less elaborate than other turetted Queen Anne houses in the city, notice the irregular roof with front facing gable, the fishscale shingles and the decorative trim of this house. Further along the walk on Main Street you will see some more elaborate Queen Anne style houses, as many of Port Jervis' wealthier citizens lived on this section of Main Street.

8

Farnum House

Walking to the end of Ulster Place across Main Street, you will see the Samuel B. Farnum House in Farnum Park. This 1850 Italinate style house, was home to the superintendent of the Delaware and Hudson Canal. The building housed the original Port Jervis Free Library, now housed in the Carnegie Library building on Pike Street. It has recently been host to a haunted house event for Halloween and will soon be renovated for use as a community center.

9

William Crane House

The Crane house was the house of lawyer, William Crane, the brother of author Stephen Crane, from 1890-1901. Stephen visited his brother here from 1891 to 1896.

10

Art Studio on Main

This beautiful Greek Revival next door to the Crane House is the home and studio of artist, Julia Healy. Visit her website to see works by the artist.

11

Site of Old Main Street School and Main Street Academy

This was the site of the Old Main Street School and the Main Street Academy. The older, Old Main Street School, stood in front of the Main Street Academy, closer to Main Street. Neither building remains today, but the fenced-off triangular area next to the church marks the spot where the buildings stood. Stephen Crane attended school at the Old Main Street School from September 1878 until January of 1880, when he began going to the Mountain House School, where his sister Agnes taught.

12

Deerpark Reformed Church

Deerpark Reformed Church was built in 1868, the fourth building to serve the congregation. The first two churches were in front of the Maghackamack Cemetery (at the corner of East Main and Jersey Streets). This was the first church established in Port Jervis.

13

26 Elizabeth Street

The building at 26 Elizabeth Street is one of the many example of Second Empire houses in the city. Note the dormer windows and the mansard roof, typical of this style. A more elaborate example of Second Empire architecture is the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home at 154 East Main Street.

14

Silk Mill Condos

The Silk Mill Condos at the corner of Church Street and Barcelow Street were originally opened in 1917 as the Katterman & Mitchell silk mill. The company was started in Paterson, New Jersey by Fred Mitchell and Fred Katterman. Port Jervis has been home to numerous manufacturers throughout its history including bottling plants, cigar factories, a silver plate factory, a saw factory and five silk mills. At this silk mill, dresses, ties and other clothing were made. In 1986, the old K&M silk mill was converted into condominiums.

15

Church Street School Bell

Although the 1900 schoolhouse has since been demolished, the bell from the school is displayed in a private yard next to Church Street Park. Councilman Stan Siegel, along with Friends of Recreation helped a "Save the Field" campaign to purchase the property where the schoolhouse stood, for recreational use. Today, a playground at Church Street Park, is situated on that property.

16

Grace Episcopal Church

The beautiful stone church on the corner of Seward and East Main Street was built in 1891.

17

Main Street Ball Grounds

This baseball field next to the Port Jervis Middle School, has been home to baseball games in the city since the 1850's. Several 19th-century teams played their home games here, including the Delaware Base Ball Club and the Port Jervis Red Stockings. The Red Stockings were a black baseball team, which played both black and white clubs from the region in the late 19th-century. Their pitcher and left fielder, who also served as the secretary for the team, Robert Broadhead, would later play for the New York Gorhams in 1890. The Gorhams were a very successful club, who were members of the very short-lived National Colored Base Ball League, the first Negro League, in 1887. The Delawares played local teams, as well as university teams and even National League teams, such as the Philadelphia Athletics and the Louisville Grays. The Delawares saw a number of their players end up playing in the majors, including Mike "King" Kelly, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame and Fred E. Nyce, who is buried at Laurel Grove Cemetery in Port Jervis.

19

Erie Caboose

This caboose, built in 1941, is most likely an old Pennsylvania Railroad caboose repainted with the Erie logo. It is still an interesting site in a parking lot on this stretch of Jersey Avenue.

20

Erie Depot

The historic Queen Anne style Erie Depot was built in 1892 by Grattan & Jennings. It served as a passenger station for the line until 1974. The depot housed a railroad museum until 2002. The museum is now located on Pike Street. Visit the museum, run by the Tri-States Railway Preservation Society. For more information, visit their website.