Experience the 2020 Virtual Candlelight Tour

NEWBURGH – The Historical Society of Newburgh Bay and the Highlands is pleased to announce the “Virtual Candlelight Tour” which is available on the Historical Society’s web-page. The “Virtual Tour,” which will run through New Year’s Day, will feature stories and photos of past tours featuring the historic Captain David Crawford House decorated in traditional 19th century splendor. There will be photos of past homes on the tour, examples of past booklets, tutorials on how to make some of the unique Crawford House holiday decorations, and holiday photos of Newburgh from days gone by. In addition, Mary McTamaney, the City of Newburgh Historian, has written some wonderful pieces about holiday celebrations in the city and about the history of the Crawford House. The late Newburgh artist Don Herron often created wonderful drawings of many of the houses on the tour, and they will be shown on the site as well. There are photos of some of the guests going through the Crawford House—you might find yourself! —and photos of several of the volunteers who helped decorate the house and made the tour the Newburgh tradition it has become.

We are sorry that the actual Candlelight Tour cannot be held this year due to the coronavirus as we feel the tour is one of the best events in the Newburgh calendar. It has brought so many people together to share in the wonderful diverse historic homes and properties that have served Newburgh through the years. But we hope that you will take the time to visit our “Virtual Tour” and will help keep the spirit of the Candlelight Tour alive!

We also hope that you might take the opportunity to help the Historical Society with a financial donation. The Candlelight Tour has been the major fundraising event for the Society, and our needs to maintain the upkeep on the Crawford House continue. We have worked hard to keep this beautiful historic house museum functional and available despite the pandemic, but without the income from the tour and our other public events, we are feeling a financial crunch. We are hoping you might contribute by donating whatever you can—perhaps what you might have spent on the actual tour.