Welcome to
Newburgh, Indiana
Welcome to
Historic Newburgh
Where Tradition Meets Contemporary
Settlement and Town 1803-1850
In spring 1803, thirteen years before Indiana entered the Union as the
19th state, John and Susanna Sprinkle moved their family from Kentucky
to what became Newburgh.
In 1807 General Washington Johnston, a land speculator from Vincennes,
entered a claim to buy the land on credit from the U. S. Government
at a cost of $2.00 per acre for 205.50 acres, for a total of $411. Once
Johnston made final payment on April 2, 1811, he assigned his interest to
John Sprinkle; Sprinkle received a land patent signed by James Madison
on April 20, 1812.
In August 1818, John Sprinkle, a blacksmith, platted a town of 12 blocks
with 102 lots and named this town Sprinklesburgh. It was the first town
in Warrick County and was immediately west of today’s Monroe Street in
downtown Newburgh. In 1820, Samuel Short bought 82 of the 102 lots.
Locals referred to the town as Mount Prospect.
Then, in 1829, an early merchant, Abner Luce, platted a new 28-lot town
east of present State Street and called his town Newburg. It was the same
year a post office was established as Newburgh. In 1841, by act of the
Indiana State Legislature, the two towns, Sprinklesburgh/Mount Prospect
and Newburg united as Newburgh. However, confusion on the correct
spelling of the town’s name remained. Residents used both spellings.
The U. S. Post Office changed the spelling to Newburg in 1893 before
returning permanently to Newburgh in 1924.
By 1850 the town boasted 526 residents. Its frontier appearance
disappeared with construction of buildings like the Exchange Hotel, the
commercial Phelps block, and several fine, brick houses. All of these
buildings exist today.
Phelps Block
as it appeared
in the 1800’s
Phelps Block
as it appears
today
The Exchange Hotel built in
1841 by Joseph Spitz.
It was used as a hospital
during Civil War.
A Prosperous Shipping Center 1850-1870
Between 1850 and 1870 Newburgh’s population almost tripled. Situated
high above the floodplain where steamboats could easily dock, a line of
riverfront warehouses rose along both sides of Water Street.
State Street looking south
toward Water Street
John S. Hopkins
landing in Newburgh
Ryan Hampton Tobacco Co.,
located on the southside of
Water Street, west of the
Riverfront Park.
At this time, the most important local commodity was coal. The first coal
shaft—the Phelps bank—was sunk east of town in 1850. Within a few
years, large quantities of Newburgh coal were shipped on the coal-hungry
steamboats.
A building boom in Newburgh resulted; many of the elegant houses
remaining today reflect this early success. The first incorporated town in
the county, Newburgh grew to include stores, factories, and five churches.
Moreover, Newburgh was home to the first newspaper in Warrick County.
The Delaney Academy, a respected educational institution, flourished
from 1842 to 1867.
Delaney Academy Educational Institution
Post-Civil War
Newburgh contained over 30 stores and shops, 4 flouring mills, 2 saw
mills, a brewery, a tannery, a brickyard, and small factories producing
plows to shoes. The economy was beginning to flourish.
Newburgh Languishes 1870-1950
“The star of Newburgh is fast sinking to darkness and obscurity, and
is already below the horizon of progress and public enterprise”—so
concluded an 1885 Warrick County history. When railroads replaced
steamboats as the key to progress in the late 19th century, Newburgh
failed to acquire a major line. The citizens experienced great anticipation
and expectation in 1871 when work began on a line from Newburgh
through the rich mineral country of Indiana to Chicago. However,
problems arose, construction stopped, and the railroad failed.
Consequently, Newburgh settled for
the interurban or traction connection
with the Evansville Suburban and
Newburgh Railroad in 1889 and
the Evansville and Ohio Valley Line
in 1907. The E & OV continued to
Rockport and Grandview. Both these
lines provided passenger and freight
services as well as coal shipments
to the Evansville market. By 1940, because most Newburgh mines had
ceased production, both interurban lines were abandoned. Continued
Commercial activities included tobacco warehouses and a cannery.
Quaint Town Preserved 1950—
The Newburgh area underwent tremendous growth in the last half of the
20th century. Both the ALCOA (Aluminum Company of America) plant,
which began production east of town in 1960, and the eastward growth
of Evansville contributed to this growth.
Many attractive residential areas grew around the town. Although Ohio
Township became one of the fastest growing townships in Indiana, the
town of Newburgh maintained its quaint charm.
Despite suffering floods, tornadoes, and several damaging fires, the town
retained its historic appearance—with a few additions. Newburgh High
School graduated its last class in 1959 as the new Castle High School
opened north of town. A new elementary school was built on the old
school site.
The Old Lock and Dam was built in
the 1920’s. At that time a number of
other lock and dam facilities around the
country were built. The existing lock’s
construction began in June 1966 and
was placed into operation in 1969. Dam
construction began June 1970; pool
raised to final level January 1975 and
the actual dam was completed in 1975.
Today, we have the Newburgh Lock and
Dam Park which includes the Newburgh
boat launch, the Lock and Dam Building,
the Lock Master Cottages and the
green space around that area. All was
a donation to our community from the
Corp. of Engineers. A new lock and dam
opened in 1975 on the site of Cypress
Beach.
Current Lock & Dam Building
In 2006 the town leaders moved the
town hall from the old Cumberland
Presbyterian Church to the upper level
of the riverfront Newburgh Library.
The old church was restored by the
town and renamed Preservation Hall
which is the present location of the
Newburgh Museum.
Current Town Hall & Library
Many of Newburgh’s residents are commuters to businesses and industry
in Evansville and surrounding areas.
Newburgh’s Historic Preservation District
Today Newburgh’s
Historic Preservation
District on the Ohio
River, with the scenic
Rivertown Trail,
provides residents
and visitors with
specialty services,
cool shops, and
unique dining
opportunities in a
serene picturesque
setting.
Music and Entertainment through the years
Newburgh has had a rich history of being a gathering place that often
included music. It has for many years been “Destination Newburgh.”
Corneal B. McCormick built the two-story brick home at 224 State Street
in 1869. Athough he owned a grocery business, like many musicians, he
spent his “spare time” pursuing his
love of music.
Not only did he construct violins,
but he organized an orchestra of
young people who met in his store
and played the popular songs of the
day. Some of his music and one of his
violins can be seen on display at the
Museum.
The property at 700 State Street
was purchased in 1860 by John M.
Kuebler. He was from Alsace Lorraine,
France and was the son of a grape
grower and farmer.
In 1875, he built the house that
stands there now and began to
develop gardens, a greenhouse, a
700 State Street
vineyard, and a winery. There were
summer houses for guests and a grandstand for band concerts. They even
had a baseball diamond, a race track and amphitheater.
Kuebler Garden Greenhouses
During the early 1900s, Cypress Beach
was the summer retreat and party
place for many Warrick County
residents and tourists from Evansville.
The park covered the area known
today as the New Lock and Dam and
Overlook Park.
Backyard at Kuebler Gardens
Cypress Beach Campground
There was a bathing house and a boat
dock and tents available for rent.
Cypress Beach became the location
for employee picnics, family reunions,
civic group and church gatherings.
There were boat races, a ball park and
even a Ferris wheel.
Cypress Beach
The late 1800’s and early 19th century brought the Show Boat to town,
bringing a wide range of entertainment to Newburgh. In 1917, the
Princess Theatre was built at the height of the silent movie era. By the
end of the 1920s it had been converted to the new “talkie” format. In
1956 the theatre closed to movies but for many years was home to a local
repertory theatre group.
Cotton
Blossom
Show Boat
“Stovepipe” Johnson’s Raid on Newburgh –
July 18, 1862
The Confederate Congress passed the Partisan
Ranger Act in April, 1862, authorizing the formation
of the partisan ranger units. Adam Johnson
was ordered by John C. Breckinridge to recruit
men, gather horses and supplies from one of
these partisan units, and conduct operations in
western Kentucky. Born and raised in Henderson,
and working 6 years as a surveyor and fighting
Comanche in Texas, had prepared Johnson for guerilla fighting – especially
in an area where he was familiar with both land and folk.
About noon, on a rainy July 18th, 1863, Adam R. Johnson, and 2 of his
30 man Confederate partisan unit, “The Breckinridge Guards”, used a
rowboat and a ferry to cross the Ohio River from Kentucky to Newburgh,
Indiana. Landing on the waterfront, they entered the unlocked,
unguarded, open doors of a riverside warehouse.
Owned by Indiana Home Guard Captain, Union Bethel, it was located on
the SW corner of State and Water streets. The weapons provided for the
militia he commanded were stored there – 200 rifles, 75 sabers, and 130
pistols with holster.
The warehouse was bolted and secured by the 2 men with Johnson. Then
single-handed and with a shotgun, Johnson entered the Exchange Hotel,
bluffed 80 convalescing Union soldiers into surrendering their rifles, and
afterward paroled them.
Meanwhile, the other raiders landed at the foot of Sycamore Street,
and quickly spread through and secured the streets for several blocks,
including the 2 hospitals, (housed in the Exchange Hotel and the Frame
House), the Bethel warehouse and the riverfront below it.
A recreation of the dummy cannon used in the attack on Newburgh
Johnson, threatening to “shell the town to the ground,” and pointing
out artillery positioned in sight across the river, convinced the Home
Guard commander to order the militia not to enter town. These were
“Quaker guns” – dummy cannon – made from blackened logs and pieces
of stovepipe mounted on sets of wagon wheels. And so, the Confederate
leader was christened “Stovepipe” Johnson.
Johnson’s men looted homes and stores, while joking and drinking with
the townsfolk on the street and in the bars. A wagon team hauled the
supplies to the river, where the waiting ferry boats and flatboats were
loaded. After crossing the river, Johnson and 3 men headed for the
mouth of the Green River to stall 2 Union steam boats coming upriver
from Evansville. With requisitioned supplies, most of the raiders headed
to a private ferry upriver on the Green River while others headed towards
Slaughtersville, Kentucky. Besides the arms taken from the warehouse
and hotel, the raiders acquired much-needed ammunition, sugar, coffee,
blankets, medicine, a milk cow, horses, and some wagons to haul off the
loot once they got to the Kentucky side.
The entire action lasted only a few hours, with not a shot fired nor a
soul lost. After the raiders left, some of the townsfolk killed 2 Newburgh
residents who were thought to have aided the Confederates. A few other
locals were arrested by Union authorities, and indicted for conspiracy
and/or treason.
The Newburgh Raid was a significant boost for Union recruiting in
Indiana. Several thousand more Indiana volunteers joined the army in the
following days and weeks.
The total surprise and the bloodless success was, without a doubt, a
shock to many Hoosier leaders. The Home Guard and the Union troops
had been caught unprepared, without sentries or security of any kind.
Myrtle ridge
cemetery
Myrtle Ridge Cemetery, located at
Sharon Road and Hwy 261, is the
oldest cemetery in Newburgh. It
was formally laid out in1846 and is
the final resting place for
8 Civil War Soldiers. Many of the
gravestones are flat to the ground
or missing, but is still an interesting
walk through history.
For Further Reading of Newburgh History
•Mulesky, Raymond, Jr., Thunder from a Clear Sky: Stovepipe Johnson’s
Confederate Raid on Newburgh, Indiana. Lincoln, Neb.: iUniverse Star,
2006.
•Davis, William J., ed., The Partisan Rangers of the Confederate States
Army: Memoirs of General Adam R. Johnson. Austin, Tex.: State House
Press, 1995. Reprint of the original edition published by Geo. G. Fetter
Company, Louisville, 1904
•William Burleigh, editor, A Bicentennial Look at Newburgh Indiana,
Newburgh Public Library, Newburgh, Indiana, 1976.
•Historic Newburgh, Inc., Newburgh, Indiana: Celebrating 200 years
1803-2003, M.T. Publishing Company, Inc., Evansville, Indiana 2003
Sources
•Terrell, W. H. H., Indiana in the War of the Rebellion: Report of the
Adjutant General. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Bureau, 1960. Reprint
of volume one of the eight-volume original report, 1869. See especially
pages 181 to 189.
•Historical Markers Erected by Women’s Club of Newburgh, Indiana
1975-1996
•Newburgh Museum Foundation
•Photo credits to Town of Newburgh, Ohio Township Library, Historic
Newburgh, Inc. and Newburgh Museum
Newburgh Museum
In 1965, the building was
sold by the Presbyterian
Church for $14,000 to the
Town of Newburgh for a
Town Hall and Museum.
Eventually, the building
was used for most of the
municipal offices including
the Police Department and
the Newburgh branch of
the Emergency Medical
Service of Warrick County.
Newburgh Museum
In 2006, this stately building was transformed into Preservation Hall
with a first class reception or meeting space upstairs and our Newburgh
Museum downstairs.
Several times a year, the central display changes and has been for
example, Pictures of Newburgh’s Past, Textiles, The Mystery Quilt, 1920
Era Kitchen, Early Newburgh Weddings, Victorian Toy Shop, Cypress
Beach, Santa’s office at the North Pole and the Princess Theatre.
One of the permanent displays is the first piano in Newburgh, a
Chickering square baby grand donated by the Conway family. Other
permanent exhibits include the coal industry, Marcia Yockey, the railroads,
Newburgh High School and the long gone “colored” school. There is a
recreation of a late 1800’s parlor and an exhibit heralding our relationship
with the river.
The museum is located at the corner of West Main and State Street and is
open Friday and Saturday 11-3 or by special appointment call (812) 8535045.
Photos Capturing the history of Newburgh
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Historic
Downtown
Newburgh
Where
Tradition
Meets
Contemporary