A Legacy Carved Across The Landscape

Middletown made the most of its connection to Thomas MacDonough, a national hero!

In addition to MacDonough School, there are (and were) signs of his legacy throughout Middletown. For many years, the MacDonough House, at the northwest corner of Main and Court streets, was the leading entertainment venue for the city. It included an opera house and hotel. It was razed in 1828 to make way for Middletown Savings Bank, now Liberty Bank. One MacDonough Place is a senior facility on a street bearing his name. A River Road restaurant was popular for about 25 years that was called the Commodore MacDonough Inn.

Just outside Riverview Cemetery is a stone plaque, shown here, inscribed with a reminder of his legacy. Mayor Frederick Bielefield and his administration installed it about 1930. 

MacDonough was a national hero and many states claim a piece of him.

He is a native son of Delaware, where he was born. There is a McDonough, Georgia, a McDonough, New York, and a McDonough County, Illinois. (Did no one tell these people about the "a" he added to his name?) There was a stamp issued in 1937 with his likeness and a naval ship with his name.

Thomas MacDonough and his wife are buried in Riverview Cemetery.