Orange County Traction Company (Signed by Benjamin B. Odell, Jr.)

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Historical Context

The Newburgh Street Railway Company obtained a franchise early in 1886 to build a surface road from a point near the western end of the city to Union Depot, and then another to extend the line from the corner of Water and Third Streets along Water Street to near the northerly line of the city. On December 23d, of the same year, the road was formally opened between West Newburgh and the Union Depot.

Later the road was extended to Orange Lake, and the name was changed to the Orange County Traction Company. In 1906 it was purchased by former New York Governor Benjamin B. Odell, and desirable improvements in equipment were made.

Orange Lake, a noted summer resort, was called by the early settlers Dutch Bennin Water, and later Machen's Pond, from Captain Machen, an engineer employed by Congress in 1777 in erecting fortifications in the Highlands and stretching the huge obstructing chain across the Hudson. It was also called Big Pond as distinct from Little Pond in New Windsor. Numerous cottages dotted its shores, and an amusement park was constructed under the management of the Orange County Traction Company. Extensive improvements were made in 1907, including the erection of a large theatre and other buildings.

The line was profitible for a number of years, but was closed for good in 1925.

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Benjamin B. Odell, Jr.

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Born in Newburgh, New York, in 1854, Odell's father, Benjamin B. Odell Sr., was a leading businessman who served twelve years as the city's mayor. Odell studied at Bethany College in West Virginia, and at the Columbia College of Columbia University; while he would have graduated in 1877, Odell dropped out of school in his junior year, returning to Newburgh to help in his father's business.

Odell worked his way up to head his father's ice business, starting as the driver of an ice delivery truck, earning $2 per day. Having become familiar with the people of the Newburgh area, Odell participated in the political affairs of his father, which would allow him to become involved in the politics of his home town, turning a bellwether city to one strongly Republican. He would go on to be appointed Ice Controller of New York during the First World War, and later president of both the Consolidated Gas, Electric Light, Heat, and Power Company of Newburgh and of the Central Hudson Steamboat Company. During his early days in politics, Odell ran unsuccessfully for Supervisor of New Windsor, as well as losing a bid after being drafted as a candidate for New York State Senate, in a Democratic district.

In 1894, Odell was elected as a Republican to the 54th United States Congress, serving New York's 17th congressional district, at that time encompassing Orange, Rockland, and Sullivan Counties. He ran for, and was reelected in 1896, but declined in 1898. He became one of the most powerful New York Republican operatives in of his time, serving for ten years as chairman of the Republican State Executive Committee, both before and after his two terms in Congress. In 1896, at the state convention called by Thomas C. Platt, Odell narrowly lost nomination for governor; having received an 11–5 vote in favor of his nomination, Platt was convinced overnight that Frank S. Black was the superior candidate, and Black was subsequently nominated for, and won the governorship in 1896.

In 1898, Odell was the first to suggest to Republican boss Thomas C. Platt that Theodore Roosevelt ought to be the Republican candidate for governor, which met Platt's protest. With Platt convinced that Roosevelt was a figure who would disturb state politics, Odell used his position as the Republicans' state chairman to convince Platt that Governor Black would lose reelection if nominated in 1898. Returning as a hero from the Spanish–American War, Roosevelt's campaign, under Odell's management, would win the governorship by a comfortable margin in 1898. In his biography, then former President Roosevelt would say Odell was one of three men most responsible for his candidacy being pressed on Platt.

In the state election of 1900, Thomas C. Platt wanted to 'rid himself' of Theodore Roosevelt from the governorship of New York. Devising a scheme to have Roosevelt nominated to replace the late Garret Hobart as vice president to President William McKinley, Platt placed Odell as nominee for governor in 1900. Odell would go on to handily defeat John B. Stanchfield in the general election to succeed Theodore Roosevelt as Governor of New York.

Taking office on January 1, 1901, Odell was the first New York governor of the twentieth century. As governor, Odell reduced the state tax, simplified governance of state insane asylums into the State Commission on Lunacy, and broke with allegiance to Thomas C. Platt, making independent decisions for his administration. In the state election of 1902, Odell won reelection to a second term, and Thomas Platt's control over Republican politics in the state waned.

In his second term as governor, Odell pressed for a referendum to enlarge the Erie Canal, which was approved. He opposed and vetoed 'special legislation' and 'personal bills' passed by the legislature, which were focused on individual interests.