Exchange Hotel

Submitted by Tamara Kincaide

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EXCHANGE HOTEL 1 W. JENNINGS ST NEWBURGH IN

The exchange hotel was built in 1841 by JOSEPH L. SPITZ on the
southwest corner of State & Jennings St. The original building consisted of the basement and first floor with walls that were seven inches thick and modeled on plans that were brought from Germany.
For nine years Mr. SPITZ remained the innkeeper but as the years went by he envisioned a new and more modern hotel on the riverfront handy to packet trade and in 1850 put his hotel on the market in order to finance his new venture.

ZAVAN HAZEN who had come to Newburgh in 1845 from his native Vermont looked the building over and decided that here indeed was what he had been looking for and in partnership with his young son in law HENRY CAPPELLO purchased the property from Mr. SPITZ in 1850.
During the next few years the town flourished with drummers, itinerant workers and cross country travelers crowding the already overtaxed hotel space and leaving Mr. HAZEN with little options but to enlarge.

In 1854 the third story and west wing were added to accommodate the overflow and the chair lined veranda was always full of men, making the ladies of Newburgh a bit wary of passing that way on a windy day for fear of exposing their ankles.

On the corner sidewalk the Tavern Bell was hung from a large post, It was rung morning, noon and night by HAZEN to call the traveler and inform the townsfolk it was mealtime.
In 1856 the exchange was sold to Mr. THORNBURG and Mr. WYMAN. In 1861 when the news of Fort Sumter reached Newburgh, military companies were formed, volunteers were organized and soon the hotel was turned into a hospital and armory .

On the 18th day of July 1862 several disloyal citizens crossed the river and informed ADAM R. JOHNSON and his band of marauders of the arms that were stored at the hospital and the ease with which they could be taken.

At noon while the citizens were at dinner JOHNSON and his men rowed across the river captured and pillaged the town. After the departure a feeling of outrage ran high and two suspected traitors H. H. CARNEY and ELLIOTT MEFFORD were attacked and killed by some of the citizens. Their bodies were hung upside down in the doorway of the hotel as a remainder to the people of what happens to traitors in wartime.

Years later the hotel became the J. W. FUQUAY STORE, In 1927 it was purchased by LOUIS & ADELE CHIVIAN and was operated as a department store.