Alan Crawford

I used tangential lighting to highlight the chiseled number of the mile marker I recently wrote about and without a doubt, it is a “5”. I originally was leaning towards it being a “2”, but natural sunlight is a fantastic aid in highlighting the inscriptions on grave markers and this is how I made the final decision. As some of you may know, using a mirror to highlight the inscription is the another great tool out there.

So we’re now reasonably sure where it was on the Cochecton Turnpike, and that it would be at the 5 Mile point. Starting at City of Newburgh line, this would place it approximately in the area of the intersection of Route 17K with Stone Castle Road. So, how does this match up with the other remaining stone markers?
I went over to the Newburgh History Blog (thanks, Joe) which is a great resource for period maps as well as other historic subjects for our Town. Looking at the 1793 Sackett map of Newburgh, the area is rather large for Newburgh, but one of the boundaries appears to have been along what we now know as the Quassaick Creek.

I’m still digging for a map from about 1800, or before, better yet, at the time the Cochecton Newburgh Turnpike was built to better ascertain exactly where they would begin placing the markers. Remember, the Town of Newburgh and the City of Newburgh split in 1865. This is when the current Town Line was established at approximately the Quassaick Creek on State Route 17K, and which I’m using as a starting point.

In the meantime, I thought some of you would like to know where the current mile markers are and their condition, so I took a road trip.


1. At 2.0 miles from the current City/Town line, at 130 Route 17K, is a marker, but the inscription is unreadable.

2. At 3.0 miles from the current City/Town line, by Toyota on Route 17K, is what has been called the 2.0 Mile Marker. The inscription is unreadable, but it has been spray painted to read 2.0 miles.

3. At 4.0 miles from the current City/Town line, there is no marker. This location is approximately 200 feet east of the intersection of Route 17K and Route 300.

4. At 5.0 miles from the current City/Town of Newburgh line, there is no marker. This location is approximately 200 feet west of the intersection with Stone Castle Road.

5. At 6.0 miles from the current City/Town line there is no marker. This location is at approximately at 628 Route 17K.

6. At 7.0 miles from the current City/Town line, approximately 250 ft. west of the Brick House, is a marker. The inscription is unreadable, but it has been painted 9.0 miles.

7. At 8.0 miles from the current City/Town line, at 979 Route 17K is a marker. The inscription is unreadable.

I continued driving all the way into Montgomery and discovered no other markers. Once we can determine the exact original starting point for these markers, we’ll be able to accurately identify them. I guess I have some more research to do.