We spent the afternoon today in the city of Newburgh, NY., population 28,856. It is a city with a rich and vibrant past that fell on hard times and is now reimagining itself. This is a theme we have seen repeated in our travels throughout the U.S.
We saw many historic boarded up buildings and also much evidence of restoration. My eves dropping husband overheard four conversations about real estate in the coffee shop where we had lunch. The prices are definitely a deal for folks moving up from the city.
The area was settled by Lenape for thousands of years. Germans settled here in 1709. Now the largest population is Latin from Puerto Rico, Peru, Cuba and Mexico. There is also a large Black population.
Some interesting things about Newburgh:
General George Washington made Newburgh headquarters for the Continental Army during the American Revolution.
A local photographer decided to do a portrait of a city on the side of a building very similar to Robyn Wishna’s We Are Ithaca installation.
The Recovery Management Corporation, an addiction recovery service had a really apt saying on their door, which we can all take to heart. “The future rests in our hands, rebuilding this community, restoring its structure while bringing hope and purpose to our lives.”
Perspectives on the Road 
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