USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > Bayonne > First history of Bayonne, New Jersey > Part 4
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*From the first Directory and Manual of Bayonne, published 1879-80 by the Bayonne Printing Company.
62
HISTORY OF
TOWNSHIP GOVERNMENT.
The first elected Committeemen of the Township of Bayonne held their first meeting for the transaction of business April 13, 1861, at the house of H. B. Beaty, in Centreville .* Present- Hartman Vreeland, Ebenezer G. Ferris, William L. Beaumont, De Witt C. Morris, Peter Vreeland, Hiram Van Buskirk, Clerk. Hartman Vreeland was elected chairman, and William Beaumont Treasurer ; there being, at the election, a tie vote for Committee- man between Jacob A. Van Horn and De Witt C. Morris, Mr. Van Horn declined serving and De Witt C. Morris was appointed as a member of the Committee by a unanimous vote of the Board .**
At the time of Bayonne being erected into a township, it was composed of Saltersville *** (now the Third Ward), Centreville, Bergen Point and Constable's Hook. About this time, there were only three stores in this entire section. One was kept by Michael Mullaney at Saltersville. Another was in Centerville, and kept by Hansan Carragan. Robert A. Ansart was proprietor of the third, located at Bergen Point. Later, G. D. L. Zabriski opened a country store on the old Plank Road opposite the La Tourette House stables. These stores kept a supply of every- thing from a wooden button up, including hardware, tinware, dry goods, boots, shoes, clothing and tobacco. Apple jack was sold at twenty-five cents a bottle. A post-office was in most of these stores, and the folks would congregate to get their mail and gossip about the oyster war. A two-horse express carried the mail to and from New York each day.
A bucket company was the only means of fire protection.
On First Street there stood an edifice, originally designed for
*Named so for reason of its being in a central location.
** First Directory and Manual of Bayonne.
*** Saltersville was named after David Salter, who lived at and erected a number of houses in Pamrapo.
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BAYONNE.
a lecture hall and during many years serving as a school house. This was the first school in Bergen Point. It was east of the residence of Sheriff Garretson. The Bergen Point Lyceum met at this hall for several seasons. This was an institution organized to promote mutual instruction among the members, the ordinary exercises consisting of debates and lectures. Straw rides, sleigh- ing parties, corn husking parties and singing classes occupied the time of the younger set. These elements were centralized at the La Tourette House, especially during the summer.
Bayonne was indeed a farmer's paradise; flourishing farms here and there; men and boys working in the fields; cows in the pastures, feeding ; fields of waving corn, with a bay on either side ; birds singing merrily in the woods ; the occasional bark of a dog; the neigh of a horse; the crow of a rooster; the rattle of milk cans; a "Gee-up" and "Ho"-these were the things that confronted one when traveling along the old Plank Road in days of yore. Bergen Point was "the town," and the section north of Fourteenth Street, which was two-thirds woods, was the "coun- try," in which there were scattered a few houses.
At this period school was also held in the old frame building which stands in the rear of Hudson Engine House on Avenue D. The teacher received $400 per year. In 1855, Brooks, father of Police Inspector Brooks of New York, was the teacher. John E. Andrus (now Mayor of Yonkers) taught this school a few years later. Another school stood at Avenue E and Grand and Centre Streets. At the close of 1861 the township could boast of three district schools, three teachers and 596 pupils.
Fish's Lane, in Pamrapo, received its name from Captain Robert Fish, who lived there. His house is still standing. He built the tower on it to get out of reach of the mosquitoes.
64
HISTORY OF
CHAPTER X.
1860-1866.
Civil War-Close Light Guards-Excitement During War-First Port Johnson Coal Dock.
Rumors of war with the South, at this period, were freely discussed among the inhabitants. War was the topic everywhere. It was talked about in the meeting-house, in the store, by the fire- side at home, and in the fields. Farming was neglected.
In the spring of 1861, the great Civil War broke out. Mid- dle-aged men and youths hastened to enlist, while the old men and boys remained at home to work the farm.
The local military company, called the Close Light Guards,* was merged into Company E of the Second New Jersey, in April, to serve for three months. This company drilled at the Mansion House, then located on Grand Street, Pamrapo. In August, 1862, most of them re-enlisted for nine months' service in Com- pany C, Twenty-first New Jersey. They were sent to Washing- ton. Others enlisted in New York and Jersey City.
During the war, the post-office was beseiged with anxious inhabitants for letters from their loved ones guarding the Capitol and on the fighting border. New York newspapers, such as the "Tribune," "Herald" and "Post," were bought and read with eagerness. Food products went up. Milk was sold at thirty cents per quart, yeast as high as twenty cents, and tea at $1.50.
*Named after J. B. Close, a local resident.
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BAYONNE.
A military company wearing the French uniform, called the Duryea Zouaves, camped for nearly a year on the property now used as a picnic grove on the Newark Bay shore in Pamrapo. This company was not composed of local men. They were a rough lot, and always in mischief. The inhabitants were not sorry at their departure.
At last the long years of war passed by, and the sur- vivors returned home. There was great rejoicing, except for those who had lost their dear ones. The little township had done its first important duty, and that was in serving its country.
The first coal dock at Port Johnston (on the Kill) was com- pleted and in operation in July, 1866. This place became one of the principal coal depots in the country. It was named in honor of the President of the C. R. R. of N. J. at that time.
66
HISTORY OF
CHAPTER XI.
1866-1872.
Incorporated as a City-Charter Submitted to the People-Newspaper Extracts-First City Officials-Last Meeting of Township Committee Men- Organization of City Government-Important Ordinances-Assessed Valu- ation of Property in 1869-Public Improvements-First Police Chief- First Annual Tax Assessment-Organization of Fire Department-First Sewer Main.
The steady growth of population in the Township of Bayonne, which in 1865 numbered 1,700, was thought by the majority to warrant a charter for a city government. Accordingly, a few years later, after a little effort on the part of certain individuals, "An act to incorporate the city of Bayonne" was passed by the Legislature, and approved March 10, 1869.
The city was divided into three wards, and power was vested in the Mayor and Council to increase the number of wards. The charter provided for the election of a Mayor and Recorder as city officials, and for the election in each ward, as ward officers, of two Councilmen, a Constable, Pound-Keeper, Commissioner of Ap- peals, Tax Assessor,* and three Inspectors of Election ; also a
*It might be of interest to note here the taxable property in 1868: Lands valued by the acre. $2,021,000
Houses and lots valued at. 604,750
Personal property 284,425
$2,910,175
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BAYONNE.
School Trustee in each ward. By the charter, the school trustees of the several wards were constituted and called a Board of Education .*
On Friday, March 19, 1869, the new charter of the city was submitted to the people, and was ratified by a vote of 225 to 34.
NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
The following item appeared in the New York "Times," Saturday, March 20, 1869 :--
"The charter for the city of Bayonne was ratified yesterday by a popular vote,-225 having voted for it, to 34 against. The new city consists of the neck of land known as Bergen Point, and embraces a population of 4,000 souls. The charter provides for the election of a Mayor and Aldermen every two years. The city is divided into three wards, and will have four or five special Con- stables."
In the Jersey City "Evening Journal" of Monday, March 29, 1869, this paragraph is found :-
"The new city stands so appalled at the sudden greatness thrust upon it-a stake with plentiful condiments, spring birds, springing frogs and in one word, sprung rum, that movements for the corporative officers are very slow."
Apparently, from old newspaper accounts, chicken thieving was practised very frequently. In the "Evening Journal" (Jer- sey City) of March 4, 1869, there appears :-
"Chicken thieves are still numerous in this neighborhood. Two darkies were found at this game, night before last, one of whom had his coattail shot off. 'Nigger Bill' swears he don't like fowl any more-give him soft clams."
On March 12, in the same paper, the author finds :-
"A police is wanted to protect the inhabitants from chicken
*First Directory and Manual of Bayonne.
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HISTORY OF
thieving, which is principally laid to the account of the darkies infecting what is called the 'negro settlement.'"
Horse racing was a chief sport. The Plank Road was the scene of many a lively contest. In the Jersey City "Evening Journal" of Monday, March 29, 1869, is found this :-
"Racing,-this sport, so gratifying to the sporters but terrify- ing to youngsters, was lively on the Plank road yesterday. Several accidents occurred which did not result in any material damage. Why not take the back road?"
The following is an item which also appeared about this time in the "Hudson County Times" :-
"A milkman in Hudson City has adopted a new and some- what novel method of giving his customers fresh milk. He drives his cows from door to door and allows each to milk the required amount and then water and chalk to suit their taste."
CITY GOVERNMENT.
The first election under the original city charter was held Tuesday, April 13, 1869. The following were elected :- Mayor. Henry Meigs, Jr., on the Citizens' Ticket .*
Recorder. William D. Myers. Councilmen. President, Jacob R. Schuyler. First Ward. Rufus Story, William L. Beaumont. Second Ward. Jacob R. Schuyler, Charles C. Hough. Third Ward. John Combs, Joseph Elsworth.
*A copy of Mayor Meigs' speech of acceptance, dated April 26, 1869, is among the collections of the New Jersey Historical Society.
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BAYONNE.
City Officers. City Clerk, Francis I. Smith. City Treasurer, Samuel T. Brown. Collector of Revenue, John H. Carragan.
Street Commissioner, Hiram Van Buskirk.
City Surveyor, Emmet Smith. City Attorney, William H. Johnston. City Council, Leon Abbett.
Overseer of Poor, Edward Perry. Board of Education. President, Frederick G. Payn.
Secretary, William D. Myers. First Ward. Frederick G. Payn, David C. Halsted,
Charles Davis. Second Ward. John Van Buskirk, Jr., Nathan Bartlett, Cornelius H. Vreeland. Third Ward. William D. Myers, Joshua S. Jones, John W. Russell.
The last meeting of the Board of Committeemen for the township was held April 26, 1869. The minutes of this meeting closed thus :-
"The Board at half past eight o'clock adjourned, sine die, harmony and good will prevailing. (Signed) E. C. Bramhall, Chairman; F. I. Smith, Township Clerk."
On April 26, 1869 (then beginning of the Councilmanic term according to the charter), the Mayor and Councilmen-elect assem- bled at Carragan's Hall (called Council Hall), at Avenue D and what was then Twenty-seventh Street (now Twenty-second), for
70
HISTORY OF
the purpose of organizing in compliance with the charter, and a thorough organization was effected.
COUNCIL HALL,
THE FIRST CITY HALL AND LATER THE PUBLIC LIBRARY .*
In June, the following ordinance was passed :- "An Ordinance
"To fix the Salaries of Officers, for the year ending the first Mon- day of May, 1870.
"The Mayor and Council of the City of Bayonne do ordain as follows :
"Sec. I. There shall be paid to the several officers named in this section, the following annual salaries, to be paid in quarterly installments, to wit :
"To the Recorder for the first, being the present year, the sum of three hundred dollars; for the second year, the sum of four hundred dollars; for the third year the sum of five hundred dollars.
*This building was originally built by George Carragen & Co., gro- cers, in 1867, and occupied by them until 1873. The Free Public Library entered it in 1892.
7r
BAYONNE.
"To the City Clerk the sum of eight hundred dollars.
"To the Collector of Revenue, the sum of six hundred dollars.
"To the Treasurer, the sum of six hundred dollars.
"To the Corporation Attorney, the sum of two hundred dollars.
"Sec. 2. To the Judges of Election of the several Wards, the sum of six dollars each, for their services as rendered at each election.
"To the Ward Clerks of the several Wards, the sum of seven and one-half dollars each, for their services as rendered at each election.
"To the Assessor of the First Ward, the sum of one hundred and twenty-five dollars.
"To the Assessor of the Second Ward, the sum of one hun- dred and twenty-five dollars.
"To the Assessor of the Third Ward, the sum of one hun- dred and twenty-five dollars.
"To the Commissioner of Appeals in cases of taxation, the sum of five dollars for each day employed.
"To the Board of Commissioners of Assessments shall be paid the sum of ten dollars for each assessment to be assessed upon the property included in each assessment for which the services are rendered.
"Passed June II, 1869.
"Approved June 15, 1869.
"Attest: F. I. Smith, "Clerk. Henry Meigs, Mayor."
By an ordinance passed June 22, 1869, the first Board of Health was created in the city.
About this time it was deemed necessary to have police to patrol the city. An ordinance was passed therefor, on August 31,
72
HISTORY OF
BIRD'S EYE V
BAYONNE.
73
NNE IN 1875.
Courtesy of Bayonne Times.
E
74
HISTORY OF
1869, to establish and regulate a Police Department. A few months later, George B. Whitney was appointed Chief of Police. Michael Connolley and C. Van Horn were appointed patrolmen by Mayor Meigs at the same time. This, then, was the organiza- tion of the police force. The population had now grown to 3,834.
The first annual tax assessment (exclusive of poll tax) under city charter for the year ending May 4, 1870, was fixed by or- dinance passed in September, 1869, and amounted to $31,620. It was composed of the following :- Payment of interest, $4,935; payment of salaries, $3,335; printing, $1,000; public schools, $8,000 ; street repairs, $5,000 ; support of poor, $500; Map and Grade Commission, $5,000; day and night police, $2,100; city prison and lockup, $500 ; election purposes, $150; public health, $100; contingent expenses, $1,000.
On December 14, 1869, the Council removed and first met to transact public business in the City Hall room (Hendrickson's building) on Avenue D, corner of Maple Avenue (now Thirty-first Street), and they continued to hold their meetings at that place for the next five years.
The first Bayonne newspaper was the "Bayonne Herald and Greenville Register," which was first issued December 25, 1869, as a weekly, with Roswell Graves as editor .*
In the winter of 1869-70, Public School No. 2, on Avenue D, between Twenty-fifth and Twenty-sixth Streets, was erected at a cost of $12,000. No. 5 School at Constable's Hook was also erected about this time, and was opened for use in 1870.
In August, 1870, the "Hudson County Times," weekly, was established and published at Bergen Point by the Times Printing Company of Jersey City .**
*Now published at Bergen Point as a weekly democratic paper. Owned and edited by Col. H. C. Page.
** Now published by the Bayonne Printing and Publishing Company (J. T. R. Proctor, Editor) at Avenue D and Thirty-first Street, as a daily republican paper, called the. Bayonne "Daily Times."
75
BAYONNE.
In November, 1870, an ordinance was passed "to Establish, Regulate and Control a Fire Department." The first fire com- pany was organized in Pamrapo, with a membership of about thirty-five, and was called Truck I. "Hope Hose" Company No. 2 (named after Col. Hope, of N. J. C. R. R.) was organized soon after. This company occupied the former frame school building which stood on the site of "Hudson" Company's present building. It is now in the rear and used as a stable. About the same time, the "Kid Glove" Chemical Engine Company, No. I, was organ- ized, and had their quarters in Schuyler Hall, Bergen Point. The Fire Department in 1870, therefore, had three apparatus, with a total of about one hundred and twenty men, and was volunteer. Fire alarms were sounded by the church bells. Steel locomotive tires, cut and hung by chains, were also struck with sledge ham- mers ; one being near the Thirty-third Street station, another at "Hudson" Company's present building, and another in Pamrapo.
The first sewer main was known as the Cottage Street sewer, and was built in 1870-1871.
No. 4 School, on Fifth Street, was erected shortly after No. 2, at a cost of $16,000, and was opened in September, 1871. The old frame school house on Dodge Street was then converted into an engine house. Shortly after this School No. 3 was erected in Pamrapo on Centre Street, at a cost of about $17,000. One thou- sand children attended the public schools at this time.
From the time the city was surveyed and laid out, in 1869, public improvements progressed very rapidly. Streets and ave- nues were opened and graded, including the two principal thor- oughfares, Avenues D and C :* sidewalks were flagged and curbed ; crosswalks were laid ; sewers constructed, and gas pipes put through.
*An ordinance was passed December 7, 1869, "to open, regulate and grade Avenue D from Cottage Street to the Morris Canal." On June 21, 1870, an ordinance was passed "to open, regulate and grade Avenue C from North Avenue to the Morris Canal."
76
HISTORY OF
COST OF LIVING IN 1871.
Four, wheat, per barrel. $10.75
Tea, Oolong, per pound. .70
Beef, roasting, per pound. .19
Lard, per pound. .15
Potatoes, per bushel.
1.02
Milk, per quart.
.08
Eggs, per dozen.
Coal, per ton. .30
9.25
Pine wood, per cord
7.00
Cotton flannel, per yard.
.271/2
Men's heavy boots, per pair.
4.00
77
BAYONNE.
CHAPTER XII.
1872-1879.
Revised Charter-First Street Gas Lamps-School Improvements- First Fire Chief-Fourth Ward Created-Newspaper Extracts.
On March 22, 1872, a revised charter was approved, which provided that all the powers and authority vested in the so-called Map and Grade Commissioners, upon the expiration of their term of office, should then and thereafter be vested in the Mayor and Council. The Commissioners continued in office until May I, 1873, when their term of office expired .* Their duties then de- volved upon the Board of Councilmen, since which time the Board have had the direction and control of the public improvements in the city.
On February 29, 1872, the first street gas lamp for public use was lighted (ordinance passed December 12, 1871), and in Octo- ber following a number of the streets in the First Ward were lighted with gas, by contract.
According to the annual report of Police Chief Whitney for 1872, the total number of arrests were two hundred and twenty- five, and the number of places selling liquor in the city limits was forty-six.
During this year the "long dock" had been filled in.
An additional ward was created on March II, 1873 ; thereby the city was divided into four wards. The number of Council- men and other ward officers was proportionately increased.
*Total expenditures amounted to $24,252.14.
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HISTORY OF
In the winter of 1873-74, the first night school was opened in School No. 4. About this time the city purchased Carragan's building for $10,500, which was reconstructed on the same site where the city government had been inaugurated in April, 1869. On June 30, 1874, the Mayor and Council first met in this, the new City Hall.
For the year 1875, the aggregate sum of $90,675.78 was to be assessed and collected. This included $19,720 for supporting and maintaining public schools ; $4,000 for street repairs, etc .; $9,984 for salaries of city officials ; and $21,500.78 for lighting streets.
In the spring of 1876, No. I School, which was being built on Fifth Street between Avenue C and Newman Avenue, was opened for use (cost about $20,000). Five spacious brick buildings for public school purposes had so far been erected in the several wards, under the direction and supervision of the Board of Educa- tion, and a system of instruction was established which placed the schools of the city on a par with the best public schools of the State.
About June 1, 1877, the Standard Oil Company erected an oil refinery on Constable's Hook. This was the beginning of their present enormous plant at that place.
The first chief engineer of the Fire Department was ap- pointed in the same year. This was E. Berry.
At this time it was thought advisable to revise and alter the division into wards, and to increase the number of wards. An ordinance was passed in August, 1877, to create a new ward, notwithstanding the objection of Mayor Meigs. This ordinance was to take effect March 10, 1878. However, on January 22, 1878, this ordinance was repealed.
Extracts from local newspapers during this epoch :-
"Chestnuts should be very cheap this year-there is an abun- dance of them."
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BAYONNE.
"Boatmen on the canal are hurrying up their trips in an- ticipation of an early close of navigation."
"Farmers are busily engaged in husking corn. The crop is very large, which fact causes the farmers to smile amazingly."
"Bovine Express.
"An enterprising citizen passed our office* on Wednesday morning, driving a yoke of oxen attached to a large wagon loaded with various articles of merchandise, on his way to New York. We afterward saw the same team on its way up Centre Street, New York, followed by a company of boys who manifested great curiosity at the unusual spectacle. Bovines have been brought into quite general use, owing to the prevailing epidemic among the horses."-"Hudson County Times," November 1, 1872.
*Avenue D, near Cottage street.
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HISTORY OF
CHAPTER XIII.
ยท 1879-1883.
Lane Elected Mayor-General Description-City Finances-Fifth Ward Erected-Contract for City Water-Avenue D Macadamized.
In 1879 Stephen K. Lane was elected Mayor on Citizens' ticket, to succeed Henry Meigs.
A glance at the city in 1879. Police Headquarters and City Prison occupied the basement of the former Public Library, then the City Hall. The Fourth Ward police station occupied the old No. 4 School on Dodge Street. The number of churches was eleven. The Fire Department had a total membership of one hundred and eighty-five, with five companies, besides the Kill von Kull hand engine at Bayonneport (property of the C. T. Reynolds Company), manned by the' employees of the color works. The Bayonne and Greenville Gas Light Company advertised gas at $3.00 per 1,000 feet. Oliver's express boasted of the "largest and best truck in the city."
The post-offices within the boundary of the city were located at Bergen Point, Bayonne, Pamrapo and Van Buskirk's (Con- stable's Hook). The first named was on Sixteenth Street (now Eighth), opposite the Central Railroad depot; C. T. Munn was postmaster. The second was on Avenue E, corner of Bayonne Avenue (now Thirty-third Street), with J. Murphy, Jr., as post- master. The third was the Saltersville post-office of years past ; M. Mullaney, postmaster. The fourth was on Constable's Hook. G. Christians was postmaster here.
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BAYONNE.
In this year Bayonne was divided into four wards, with five public and three private schools. The Police Department con- sisted of one chief and eight patrolmen. Two weekly news- papers, the "Herald" and "Times," supplied the local news. The C. R. R. of N. J. had four depots, and trains ran frequently. Real estate was booming, and there was a remarkable increase of stores for the next ten years. Extensive coal docks had been built on the Kills. Ten large manufacturing concerns were located at Constable's Hook, and gave employment to hundreds of men.
From the financial statement made by the Mayor to the State Comptroller on October 1, 1879, the following is included :-
Obligations contracted ; $17,200 war bonds, $228,000 funded assessments, $219,000 improvements, $165,000 tax bonds (ten years), $106,500 city bonds (twenty years) ; total amount of funded debt, $735,700. Amount of floating debt, $76,758.22; sinking fund, $27,000 ; real property, $5,250,500 ; personal prop- erty, $153,000. Total rate of tax for city purposes, $1.47 per $100.
Some annual expenses ; School, $14,550; salaries, $8,555; Police Department, $7,400; repairs to roads, $3,000; lighting streets, $8,925.
For the sanitary survey and inspection of Bayonne in April, 1880, by Messrs. Brush and Eddy, they report in part :- "Highest elevation above sea level is 67 feet. The lowest, one foot. Aver- age level is 30 feet. Character of the surface soil is sandy and loamy, with occasional cropping of trap rock. Water supply is by means of wells and cisterns. There are forty-three miles of unpaved streets and one mile paved (that macadam). There are four and one-half miles of sewers. Dwelling houses number about 1,200, mostly frame. There are about three hundred tene- ment houses."
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