Over the long Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, my wife and I had the pleasure of staying here.
We had stumbled upon it online while planning a last-minute roadtrip from NYC, and having never been to this area before, didn't quite know what to expect. We couldn't have been more pleasantly surprised.
Situated on a street of 19th century gilded age mansions overlooking the Hudson River, the Goldsmith Denniston House is an immaculately restored home dating from 1820, when Newburgh was on the rise as a prominent Hudson River port. Originally built for the family of a wealthy lawyer, the interior is beautifully appointed and true to the building's Federal style of architecture. Stepping inside is truly like stepping back in time. We were warmly greeted by the House's proprietor, Nancy, who invited us to use any of the rooms on the ground floor including the spacious and bright living room with its antique piano and the warm library stocked full with books. Much of the house's charm lies in its faithful upkeep of the past- from the hand-pulled dumbwaiter to the marvelous bay windows in the living room, which,were added as "modern improvements" in the 1870's. There is much literature in the house documenting its story and its amazing restoration, and the proprietors are a wealth of knowledge about the home and the area. It's a history buff's dream.
There are four bedrooms to choose from and each is equally beautiful and unique in its own way. One of the many delights of staying here was finding little antiques in our room- old eyeglasses, a bottle of bath oil that seemed a century old- even the hand-towels were from a bygone era. Our bed was amazingly comfortable and the temperature of the room was perfect. And despite its age, the house is immaculately neat and clean, and the temperature very comfortable. We felt very much at home.
Breakfast was another great experience- delicious eggs, banana bread, coffee, juices, and fruit served on Federal era dining ware- again, it was like stepping back in time.
As city-dwellers, we found Newburgh to be quite sleepy. There is not too much going on and people turn in very early. However, this is not necessarily a negative, as it only heightens one's sense of visiting the past, and makes for a serenely quiet retreat only an hour or so north of NYC. Also, there is much to take in in the surrounding area, only minutes away- such as the Dia modern art museum across the river, and many wineries and high-quality microbreweries.
There was nothing negative I could note about our experience at the Denniston House and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a unique, relaxing, and historical experience within an easy drive of New York City.