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and the first mayor of the city of Middletown.
The hamlet had first celebrated the 4th of July back in 1808; 80 years later, they celebrated incorporation along with Independence Day. The celebration was held at Academy Avenue Park, with fireworks in the evening.
Not to neglect other events of 1888; there was the terrific blizzard which began March 11th. Trains couldn't run, the roa weren't passable, and tunnels had to be dug at the Square. There were no deaths in Middletown. In late 1888, the Orange County Home for Aged Women on South Street (now Southwinds) was opened through the efforts of Dr. Julia E. Bradner.
Early in 1889, a franchise was awarded to a Middletown group to build and operate an electric Company. A power plant was built at the upper West Main Street railroad crossing (now the Municipal Building, 164 West Main Street) and the lights tested November 1, 1889.
Thrall Hospital on Grove Street opened in May, 1892. This had been organized by Dr. Julia E. Bradner. Born in Scotchtown, August 31, 1844, she was the daughter of Dr. Ira S. and Sarah Houston Bradner. She graduated from Women's Medical Hospital, New York City, in 1878 practicing in Middletown. Bradner lived in a house on Orchard Street, across from Thrall Library where the Boy Scout building is today. Julia Bradner died June 26, 1928. She lives on in the Southwinds home, and in Horton Hospital, which assimilated Thrall Hospital.
The Armory, on Highland Avenue at Wickham, opened November 18, 1892. The trolley began running in may, 1893. X-rays were first used here June 9, 1896 by Harry C. Ogden, a pharmacist, photographer, and pioneer in the use of X-rays. Mr. Ogden took the cover photo and others used in this book. Thrall Library opened January 4, 1901 (not July 4th, as cited in Williams). The first library here had been established 1801. City Hall on James Street opened in early 1912. In 1928, Franklin B. Williams' well-known history of Middletown was published.
Erie Day was celebrated here in 1943, marking 100 years of service. The first locomotive, probably used in the line's construction, probably arrived May 26, 1843, with a regular train arriving here May 27 th. In any event, May 26, 1943, was the day of the celebration. Later, in 1951, the Erie celebrated its 100th anniversary of completion.
One of the big stories of the 1950's was Urban Renewal. Implementation of an Urban Renewal (UR) Program was discussed by the Common Council in 1955. The council voted an expenditure of $4,500 to hire planning engineers to determine if the city would qualify for funding for such a program. Edwin S. Voorhis & Son was hired April 9, 1956. Their subsequent survey and application for