Revision history [back]

1788 - Town of Fishkill incorporated.
1814 - Village d Matteawan founded.
1851 - Hudson River Railroad completed from New York to Albany.
1857 - Fishkill Savings Institute, Fishkill Village, chartered February 25
1863 - The First National Bank of Fishkill Landing (now the Fishkill National Bank) commenced buines August 10.
1864 - Meeting of citizens, February 24, to consider merger of Fishkill Landing and Matteawan. (Merger was actually effected May 15, 1913.)
- Village of Fishkill Landing incorporated March 17.
- Burglars attempted to blow safe of First National Bank.
1895 - Five patients escaped from Matteawan State Hospital April 10.
- Reformed Church parsonage at Glenham burned April 12.
- First internment in Fairview Cemetery May 8.
- Initial trip on the trolley to Fishkill Village made in the evening of June 12.
- The Colonial Inn at Fishkill Village formally opened July 3.
- Samuel K. Phillips elected County Judge November 5.
1896 - The Green Fuel Economizer erected first buildings on present site.
1902 - Highland Hospital, Verplanck Avenue, occupied 5/1. Enlarged in 1925.
- Incline Railway to top of Mt. Beacon opened 5/30. Carried 60,000 passengers first year.
1909 - St. John's parochial school opened.
1913 - Villages of Fishkill Landing and Matteawan merged to form the City of Beacon 5/15.
1916 - Beacon High School, Fishkill Avenue, opened for first classes.
1922 - Beacon Savings and Loan Association incorporated.
1924 - Castle Point Veterans Administration Hospital opened 9/15.
1928 - South Avenue School rebuilt following major fire.
1929 - Howland Library became "free" public library 1/2.
- Beacon Hebrew Alliance Synagogue and center dedicated.
1930 - Last trolley to Fishkill 3/18, and last run in Beacon 4/30. Removal of overhead wires commenced.
1931 - St. Joachim's parochial school demolished and new school built.
1932 - Beacon Crest Hotel, atop Mt. Beacon, burned.
1935 - Mechanics Savings Bank and Matteawan Savings Bank merged under name of Beacon Saving Bank 4/10.
1937 - St. Lawrence Seminary opened.
- Large addition built on Beacon High School.
1944 - Cornerstone of First Presbyterian Church laid, to replace edifice destroyed by fire 2/17/43.
1945 - Springfield Baptist Church established in November.
1953 - James V. Forrestal school opened.
1954 - Vacated Spring Street school destroyed in spectacular blaze August 26.
1956 - Main and branch offices of Beacon Savings Bank consolidated into new building at 364 Main Street, on 4/10.
- Newburgh-Beacon ferry purchased by State of New York.
1957 - New Glenham School occupied in January.
1958 - Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corp. organized.
1959 - Chelsea & Brockway school districts consolidated with Beacon to form City School District of the City of Beacon 7/1.
- WBNR took to the airwaves 5:30 A. M. 12/19.
1960 - Highland Hospital, Delavan Avenue, opened 3/5.
- Assembly of God church, Delavan & Fishkill Avenues, dedicated 4/24.
1963 - Cornerstone laid for new Rombout school 6/17.
- Bridge opened to Newburgh. Ferry discontinued 11/3.

The chronology below is from a pamphlet to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the First National Bank of Fishkill Landing in 1963 and was graciously shared to me by Royal "Dewey" Bogardus.

1788 - Town of Fishkill incorporated.
1814 - Village d Matteawan founded.
1851 - Hudson River Railroad completed from New York to Albany.
1857 - Fishkill Savings Institute, Fishkill Village, chartered February 25
1863 - The First National Bank of Fishkill Landing (now the Fishkill National Bank) commenced buines August 10.
1864 - Meeting of citizens, February 24, to consider merger of Fishkill Landing and Matteawan. (Merger was actually effected May 15, 1913.)
- Village of Fishkill Landing incorporated March 17.
- Burglars attempted to blow safe of First National Bank.
1895 - Five patients escaped from Matteawan State Hospital April 10.
- Reformed Church parsonage at Glenham burned April 12.
- First internment in Fairview Cemetery May 8.
- Initial trip on the trolley to Fishkill Village made in the evening of June 12.
- The Colonial Inn at Fishkill Village formally opened July 3.
- Samuel K. Phillips elected County Judge November 5.
1896 - The Green Fuel Economizer erected first buildings on present site.
1902 - Highland Hospital, Verplanck Avenue, occupied 5/1. Enlarged in 1925.
- Incline Railway to top of Mt. Beacon opened 5/30. Carried 60,000 passengers first year.
1909 - St. John's parochial school opened.
1913 - Villages of Fishkill Landing and Matteawan merged to form the City of Beacon 5/15.
1916 - Beacon High School, Fishkill Avenue, opened for first classes.
1922 - Beacon Savings and Loan Association incorporated.
1924 - Castle Point Veterans Administration Hospital opened 9/15.
1928 - South Avenue School rebuilt following major fire.
1929 - Howland Library became "free" public library 1/2.
- Beacon Hebrew Alliance Synagogue and center dedicated.
1930 - Last trolley to Fishkill 3/18, and last run in Beacon 4/30. Removal of overhead wires commenced.
1931 - St. Joachim's parochial school demolished and new school built.
1932 - Beacon Crest Hotel, atop Mt. Beacon, burned.
1935 - Mechanics Savings Bank and Matteawan Savings Bank merged under name of Beacon Saving Bank 4/10.
1937 - St. Lawrence Seminary opened.
- Large addition built on Beacon High School.
1944 - Cornerstone of First Presbyterian Church laid, to replace edifice destroyed by fire 2/17/43.
1945 - Springfield Baptist Church established in November.
1953 - James V. Forrestal school opened.
1954 - Vacated Spring Street school destroyed in spectacular blaze August 26.
1956 - Main and branch offices of Beacon Savings Bank consolidated into new building at 364 Main Street, on 4/10.
- Newburgh-Beacon ferry purchased by State of New York.
1957 - New Glenham School occupied in January.
1958 - Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corp. organized.
1959 - Chelsea & Brockway school districts consolidated with Beacon to form City School District of the City of Beacon 7/1.
- WBNR took to the airwaves 5:30 A. M. 12/19.
1960 - Highland Hospital, Delavan Avenue, opened 3/5.
- Assembly of God church, Delavan & Fishkill Avenues, dedicated 4/24.
1963 - Cornerstone laid for new Rombout school 6/17.
- Bridge opened to Newburgh. Ferry discontinued 11/3.