Rondout - Past and Present

Editor's note: The following article was originally published in the Kingston (NY) Daily Freeman newspaper on September 29, 1958 and written by then City Historian Joseph F. Sullivan.. The language, spelling and grammar of the article reflects the time period when it was written.

Ulster County Atlas, 1875, page 70

The Delaware & Hudson Canal furnished much employment for residents of the Village of Rondout. Extending 108 miles from Honesdale, Pa., to Eddyville this was the main artery for the shipping of coal from the mines of Pennsylvania to tidewater at the Hudson River.
On this waterway hundreds of horse-drawn barges, averaging 130 tons capacity were engaged in the commerce. At the peak of its usefulness it was estimated that about two million tons of coal were carried yearly on these barges. The cargos were either unloaded upon the Island Dock where immense piles of coal were stored to be shipped later to customers along the river, or the boats themselves were towed to the destination and unloaded direct. The first shipment of coal arrived in Rondout from Honesdale, Pa., Dec. 5, 1828. The fleet consisted of 11 barges each carrying only 10 tons of coal. The last boat to make the trip before the abandonment of the canal was No.1 107 which arrived in Rondout Nov. 5, 1898. The captains of these vessels after arrival in Rondout found it necessary to purchase supplies of food and other necessities for the return trip. This trade was a great factor in building business in the area. The stabling of horses and mules used for motive power on the canal, during the unloading period, was an important aid to the village business. During the winter months many of these animals were put out to be boarded for the winter while others were used in the harvesting of natural ice on the Hudson River and the Rondout Creek.

Cement
Another industry which contributed greatly to the prosperity of Rondout especially the part known as Ponckhockie, was the Newark Lime & Cement Company. This company had opened quarries in that region but the rock was shipped to Newark to be processed. I 1850 a plant was established here and immense kilns erected, and mills, cooperages and storehouses built where the rock was burned, ground, barreled and stored ready for shipment. The company maintained boats for the transportation of the finished product. Cement also was loaded and shipped in sloops and in two, three and four masted sailing vessels some carrying as many as 2,500 barrels of cement each weighing 320 pounds.
With a general store where employees traded, a community soon built up around the cement plant and individual homes were constructed besides some houses erected by the company for key members of their working force. This industry furnished employment to as many as 500 men at the peak of its prosperity.
With the coming of Portland Cement the demand for Rosendale Cement as it was called, fell off and gradually the business declined until it was finally abandoned in 1901. Monuments of the company's vigor still remain in Ponckhockie where the concrete buildings erected by them such as the store, barn and the Ponckhockie Chapel, now a Congregational Church, are to be seen. This church was erected in 1870 by the company as a Sunday school for the children of that section of the city. The ruins of the old kiln still stand almost like forts reminding of a bygone age.

Boatbuilding
As the village grew and various products were being shipped to all parts of the country the need for boats increased. For that reason the boatbuilding was built up to supply the demand. Soon it was to become one of the main industries with yards dotting the creek front from Wilbur to Ponckhockie. At the peak of its prosperity this business furnished employment to as many as 1,000 men. To supply the vessels for the increasing water transportation here were built canal boats, barges, tugs and other boats of various kinds. During World Wars 1 and 2 the Hiltebrant Company of South Rondout and the Island Dock Shipbuilding Company were the principal builders of government vessels.
The heavy demand for boats of different kinds stimulated the formation of many companies in this field. The most notable of these builders who maintained yards were Conrad Hiltebrant, Dwyer Bros., John D. Schoonmaker, Jacob Rice, Feeney Company, Baisden, Donovan, D & H Canal Company and the Cornell Steamboat Company. With the quicker transportation furnished by the railroads this industry has declined until now there are but a few yards in operation. On these yards few wooden boats are being built, the trend being toward steel barges.

Google Images

Bluestone
The bluestone industry employed hundreds of men on yards along the creek at Wilbur and Ponckhockie. The stone quarried in nearby towns was hauled to Rondout and there processed and prepared for shipment to market. This stone was used extensively in building in New York City, for window sills and such trimmings'. Also for sidewalks and curbing. Among those who for years maintained yards here were the Booth and Sweeney families.

Hewitt Boice and later the Hudson River Bluestone Company had their yard at Ponckhockie where many men were employed in cutting, sawing and otherwise finishing the stone. This company maintained their own barges which were loaded at the waterfront and then towed to New York and other destinations. With the development of concrete in building and paving the use of bluestone gradually declined. New York City took many of the quarries for the Ashokan Reservoir and this dried up the source in many cases. This industry has practically disappeared in recent years.

Brick
Brick making added much to the prosperity of Rondout. Most of the yards were situated along the river front at Kingston Point and Steep Rocks. These yards were controlled by companies composed of members of the Cordts, Hutton, Terry, Staples and Dwyer families. They employed many men and still do so, although the methods of brickmaking have changed. Where the work was done by hand in the past, now the automatic drying and burning of brick has cut down the working force. These companies also maintain their own barges which required many men to operate.

Ice Harvesting
Harvesting of natural ice during the winter and the shipping of the same in the summer was a business which brought much money into the hands of workers. These ice houses stretched along the river and creek and were manned in a great measure by residents of Rondout. It was estimated that at its most prosperous period approximately $50,000 was paid out for ice harvesting in this area in a single season.
Most of this money found its way into the business channels of Rondout and this formed a most important part of the economy of this village during the winter months when water transportation was at a standstill, both on the canal and on the river. The coming of manufactured ice and electrical refrigeration put an end to this business.

Towing
With all the manufacturing enterprises going at full head the shipping of their products naturally assumed great proportions. To facilitate this shipping the Cornell Steamboat Company was organized in 1837 by Thomas Cornell and later continued by his son-in-law Samuel D. Coykendall and members of the latter's family.
Immense tows of barges carrying brick, bluestone, cement, coal, ice and all sorts of merchandise left the Rondout Creek daily for New York and Albany and other points along the river. It was estimated that at one time there were at least 70 boats engaged in the towing business by the company alone. About 500 men were necessary to man these boats each spring as the season opened. Famous among the old side-wheeler towboats were the Norwich, Austin, Oswego, McDonald. The tugboats included the Cordts, Hart, Washburn, Cornell, Perseverance and many other smaller vessels used for smaller tows and as helpers to the larger tugs.

This company maintained its own machine, boiler, carpenter and paint shops where all repairs were made. These shops have not been active for some time and only recently were sold to the Miron Lumber Company. It is expected that a woodworking plant will be established there. At the peak of the towing business about 250 men were employed in these shops, a valuable addition to the economic life of the community.

Cigar Factories
An industry which from a humble beginning grew to be one of our most important sources of employment for women was the cigar making business. In 1887 Powell, Smith & Co. with George J. Smith the leading figure in the local plant started at Broadway and Pine Grove Avenue and developed a reliable year-round industry. Later the American Cigar Company secured control of the plant.
At its most prosperous period about 1,500 persons were engaged at this one factory with an enormous payroll. Besides the larger factory there was the Van Slyke & Horton and Fitzpatrick & Draper plant employing many workers. These with similar individual shops made cigar making business one of the strongest assets in the business field. However, due to change of the smoking habits of the people these factories have in a great measure disappeared from the life of our city.

Shirt factories
Many shirt factories were established in the section near the West Shore Railroad which furnished employment for both men and women. Some of these still are actively engaged in this line and are an important part of the business life of the central portion of town. In addition to the shirt factories many small dress and other factories have been established both in the central section and in the lower portion of Rondout.

Electrol Plant
The plant now occupied by the Electrol Corporation has furnished employment for many men down through the years. Originally called the Peckham plant here was made at different times trolley car trucks, automobiles and machinery. During the time the Electrol Company has been located there they have maintained large working forces, at times working round-the-clock. This concern still is actively engaged in defense work.

Dr. Kennedy's Remedy
A business which provided considerable employment and brought fame to Rondout was the manufacturing, sale and shipment of Dr. David Kennedy's Favorite Remedy. This patent medicine was prepared at a plant on Ferry Street, the rear overlooking the Rondout Creek. From this point the product was shipped to all parts of the country. The founder, Dr. Kennedy, was a former mayor of Kingston. After the death of founder the business was continued by a company.

---

If you enjoyed this post and would like to support more history blog content, please make a donation to the Hudson River Maritime Museum or become a member today!​

Donate Now

Join Today