USA > New Jersey > Mercer County > Trenton > History of the city of Trenton, New Jersey : embracing a period of nearly two hundred years, commencing in 1676, the first settlement of the town, and extending up to the present time, with official records of the population, extent of the town at different periods, its manufactories, church history, and fire department > Part 20
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Mr. Jay started his "Daily Sentinel " May 7th, 1870.
Jacob R. Freese purchased the paper October 3d, 1870, and removed it from the corner of State street and Sterling's alley to his own building, No. 25 West State street, when he associated with him as editor, Theodore W. Freese.
During the war, paper rose in price to such a degree that the penny papers were obliged to double their price, and the "True American " suspended entirely for a few months, after which its publication was resumed by the same publishers, and still continues.
Mr. John Briest, an enterprising young man, and a practical printer, conceived the idea of starting a penny paper, and on the 5th of August, 1867, he issued the "Emporium " from the office on the corner of Warren and Hanover streets. Mr. Briest, not being in possession of much of this world's goods, com- menced his paper in a very humble way. It was quite a small sheet, being what might aptly be called a "seven-by-nine." He introduced as a novel feature in this city, publishing daily the names of arrivals at the hotels. The paper, in consequence of its novelty and cheapness, took with the mass of the people, and its stability was at once established.
Mr. Briest associated with him as business manager Mr. John B. Faussett, to whose financial ability he attributes, in a great measure, his eminent success.
Mr. Briest assures me that his daily circulation is over two thousand, being the largest of any paper published in the city. He continues its publication at the office from which the first number was issued.
The publication of "Beecher's Illustrated Magazine," was begun in January, 1870, by Mr. J. A. Beecher, of this city, and has from that time to this continued to improve in appearance and literary excellence. It began with thirty-two pages per
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month, was increased in July following to forty-eight pages, and in January, 1871, it appeared as an illustrated magazine, at one dollar per year. Its matter is all original contributions upon subjects of a practical character, and the ability displayed in the several departments has attracted the attention of the press at home and abroad, and given it a place among the best literary magazines of the day. The "State Gazette" said of the March number, 1871, "This is, without doubt, the best number of Beecher's that has yet been issued, and this magazine is begin- ning to attract a great deal of attention in the literary world, and is taking a good position among the higher class of maga- zine publications. There are two articles in this number which would do credit to any magazine in America. We mean the biography of the late eminent engineer and bridge builder, John A. Roebling, and the article under the department of popular science, by Dr. James B. Coleman, entitled 'Can the Human Leg and Foot be Improved ?' The biography of Mr. Roebling is by far the best that has appeared anywhere. It is written in . a clear and pleasant, yet plain and unostentatious style, does justice to the high character and grand achievements of the sub- ject, and relates in an accurate and not tedious manner, all the incidents of his honorable and eventful career. The article by Dr. Coleman is a thoughtful and interesting one, that will do much to popularize that branch of studies and investigation. We trust that Dr. Coleman will have these fugitive pieces published in book form. They would be a valuable contribution to the literature of the day."
In the year 1781, a number of the most prominent and enter- prising citizens of Trenton formed themselves into a company, for the purpose of promoting the cause of education in our city. This was organized as a stock company, and a fund contributed to ensure the success of the institution. Its interests were com- mitted to a board of trustees, to be elected annually from the stockholders.
The operations of the academy have never been suspended, except for one or two short periods, from its foundation to the present time.
The Trenton Academy was established February 10th, 1781,
T*
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by articles of agreement among sundry inhabitants of the town and vicinity, who associated themselves, " sensible of the great importance of education to the well-being of individuals, and the good order of government, and of its peculiar use in early life, and judging the present means of it in this place inade- quate, and being met, agreed to purchase a lot, erect a com- modious building thereon, and form a permanent school, under proper regulations."
The following were the names of the members of the associa- tion : Joseph Higbee, David Brearley, Joseph Milnor, Rensel- laer Williams, James Paxton, Stacy Potts, Isaac Smith, Isaac Collins, William Tucker, James Ewing, Conrad Kotts, Stephen Lowrey, Abram Hunt, Moore Furman, R. Neil, M. How, Jacob Benjamin, W. C. Houston, John Neilson, Francis Will.
Mr. James Burnside was appointed the first teacher.
On the 2d of March, 1782, the visiting committee reported, " that the teacher appears to be attentive to his duty, the school is in decent order, and an uncommon degree of emulation for improvement seems to prevail among the scholars; that good attention is paid to spelling, reading, and writing, and that Jacob Benjamin, Charles Higbee, William Pearson, Wilson Hunt, John Clunn, John Trent, Hill Runyon, John Hunt, Rensellaer Williams, Noah Davis, Samuel Dickinson, Rebecca Collins, Elizabeth Williams, and Elizabeth Crolius are learning arithmetic."
On the 16th of March, 1782, the visiting committee reported, " that John Kotts and Joseph Jenkins are added to the arithme- ticians since the last visiting day."
On the 2d of December, 1783, Hon. David Brearley, Moore Furman, Esqs., Messrs. Stacy Potts, Isaac Collins, and Conrad Kotts were elected trustees; Hon. David Brearley, William Churchill Houston, and James Ewing, Esqs., visitors of the grammar school; and Rensselaer Williams, Esq., Stacy Potts, and Conrad Kotts, visitors of the English school for the ensu- ing year.
On Wednesday, the 3d, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, came on the quarterly examination of the grammar school at the academy. His excellency the governor, many of the members
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of the honorable the council and general assembly, the trustees. of the institution, and a number of respectable citizens of the town and vicinity, were present. The students acquitted them- selves to the great satisfaction of those present.
In the afternoon, a crowded and polite audience was enter- tained with exhibitions in public speaking. The improvement of the students in this and the other branches of education taught here gave the most flattering presages of the success of the institution, and the highest pleasure to the lovers of science and the useful arts.
On March Ist, 1785, the following names were found among the subscribers to the fund : S. W. Stockton, Nathan Beakes, William Smith, John Singer, Samuel Hankison, John Rossell, and Benjamin Pitfield.
On Thursday, June 30th, 1785, the examination in the gram- mar-school of the academy was held. The Honorable Philemon Dickinson, vice president of the state, the Honorable Isaac Smith, second justice of the Supreme Court, Colonel Cox, James Mott, Esq., state treasurer, James Ewing, Esq., auditor of accounts, the Rev. Mr. Hunter, the trustees of the institution, and a number of respectable citizens of the town and vicinity were present, who expressed their approbation of the perform- ances of the students.
In the evening the scholars exhibited a specimen of their improvement in the art of speaking, in the presence of a polite and crowded audience, who appeared to be agreeably entertained.
The friends and proprietors of this academy are endeavoring to establish a fund for the tuition of poor children, and in this laudable undertaking they have met with considerable encourage- ment, by the liberal contributions of a number of the inhabi- tants of this place and elsewhere, and hope to receive further aid from the generous and benevolent, wherever they may reside.
The academy was incorporated November 10th, 1785, by the name of the " Trustees of the Trenton Academy."
On the 20th of June, 1787, the Rev. James F. Armstrong was appointed to superintend the academy by attending the several schools occasionally, disposing the scholars into classes, direct- ing the number of classes, the particular studies of each class,
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attending to the government and order, observing how the several teachers conducted themselves, advising the manner of teaching, and presiding over public examinations.
Mr. Armstrong resigned this appointment on the 17th of January, 1791-and as he, during part of the time in which he acted as superintendent, gave his services freely and without any prospect of salary or reward, the trustees granted him the privi- lege of sending two of his children to any schools of the academy, free of tuition fees.
On the 15th of February, 1794, an act was passed authorizing the academy to raise money by way of lottery.
In 1847, owing to the necessity of more extended accommo- dations, the edifice was rebuilt, and many important improve- ments made in the internal arrangements, with a view to promote the comfort of the pupils and the convenience of the instructors. In the meantime the original fund had so far accumulated by careful investment, that the trustees (in order to place the advantages of the institution within the reach of all who might wish to enjoy them), thought proper to reduce the terms of admission to the students, and to supply the deficiency to the academy from the interest of the fund.
The principal of the academy, October Ist, 1870, was Mr. Geerge R. Grosvenor. The trustees are Thomas J. Stryker, G. A. Perdicaris, Barker Gummere, Philemon Dickinson, and John S. Chambers.
The institution is flourishing and has an invested fund of two hundred shares of the Joint Companies, besides their lot and building, and is out of debt.
Besides the institution above mentioned, Trenton has some excellent public schools, as well as some of the best subscription schools in the state.
From the report of the school superintendent of the city of Trenton, Dr. C. Shepherd, for the year 1870, we find there were in the city six thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine children between the ages of five and eighteen years, and about one-third of this number attended the public schools. The average attend- ance was one thousand seven hundred and thirty-six during the
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year. There are eight male and twenty-nine female teachers, all of whom are in every way competent.
At the present time there appears to be a difficulty in regard to room ; more applications are made for the benefit of the public schools than they can find room to accommodate, and the super- intendent has made strenuous exertions to find some additional school room.
In the year 1851, Dr. Charles Skelton, late school superin- tendent, presented the academy in the first ward with a well- selected library of two hundred volumes of choice works.
The public schools here are entirely free to all, the amount of money appropriated for that purpose, for the year 1870 being twenty-five thousand one hundred and sixty-six dollars and thirty-three cents. Of the school fund, two thousand three hundred and sixty-six dollars and thirty-three cents was received from the state, and the amount raised by taxation in the city was twenty-two thousand eight hundred dollars.
Besides the public schools, there are a number of boarding and day-schools in our city, in some of which the higher branches appertaining to an English education are taught ; and in others are taught the languages, as well as music and drawing.
In the year 1750, there was a library established in Trenton. This was the first one of which we have any knowledge. The rules and regulations by which it was governed we are entirely ignorant of, as there are no public records in existence at the present time, that I am aware of. The only knowledge of its existence is the fact above enumerated, obtained from Smith's History of New Jersey.
The Apprentices' Library was established in the year 1821. At the first annual meeting of the Apprentices' Library Com- pany of Trenton and its vicinity, held at the house of Joseph M. Bispham (Trenton House), on the evening of the 20th of April, 1822, Charles Ewing, president, and Zachariah Rossell, secretary, the following gentlemen were elected officers for the ensuing year, viz., Charles Ewing, president ; Samuel L. Southard, vice president ; Zachariah Rossell, secretary ; George Watson, treasurer ; Samuel Evans, librarian ; James J. Wilson, Rev.
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Abiel Carter, Rev. William Boswell, Thomas Gordon, Daniel Coleman, Charles Burroughs, and William S. Stockton, managers.
The following report was received from the board of managers for that year, which was read, accepted, and ordered to be entered on the minutes and published :
To the Apprentices' Library Company of Trenton and its vicinity :
The board of managers of said company respectfully report- that, immediately after their appointment, they entered upon the execution of the duties assigned them, with the hope and expec- tation of speedily putting the institution in full operation ; but, notwithstanding their earnest desire and consequent endeavors so to do, various circumstances concurred to produce delays, as unavoidable as they were unforeseen, and it was not until toward the close of the past year that they found themselves in readi- ness to open the library.
That, on the evening of the 31st of December, at the request of the board, and agreeably to public notice, Charles Ewing, Esq., president of the society, delivered, in the Presbyterian meeting-house, to a numerous and attentive audience, an appro- priate and eloquent address on the utility and importance of this and similar institutions.
That, on the evening of the Ist of January, the library was for the first time opened, when thirty-five volumes were taken out by apprentices and other young persons.
That, from a report of the librarian to your board, it appears that the number of volumes taken out each week, since the opening of the library, has been, on an average, about seventy- five, ninety-three being the highest number in any one week, and fifty-five the lowest.
From the same report, it appears that the whole amount of fines incurred, for the detention of books beyond the time allowed in the by-laws, is but one dollar and seven cents, of which all but fifteen cents have been paid; that all the books borrowed (except two taken out two weeks ago, and those taken out on Saturday evening last, all of which will be returned, probably, this evening), have been returned, and all in good order.
These facts are highly honorable to our youth, and encouraging
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to this society. They prove that they properly estimate our motives, and set a just value on this institution, while they are a pledge to us that our continued and increased exertions to place useful knowledge within their reach will not be in vain.
Let it be further observed, to their credit, that the library, from which they draw seventy-five volumes weekly, contains no novels, romances, or plays, which are so apt to captivate juvenile imaginations, but is composed of works of more sterling value and lasting usefulness-on religion, morality, and science, his- tory, biography, travels, voyages, &c. It may be also remarked, that the collection from which this choice is made consisted at first of but two hundred and fifty volumes, and now contains two hundred and sixty-seven ; of course, it could not tempt the taste by any great variety, nor long furnish the attraction of novelty.
As respects the funds of the society, the board have only to report that, agreeably to a statement of the treasurer, the original subscriptions amounted to one hundred and forty-six dollars, of which he has received but one hundred and twenty dollars, leaving twenty-six dollars unpaid ; that of the one hundred and twenty dollars received by the treasurer, one hundred and seven dollars have been paid out on orders of the chairman of this board, for books, book-case, &c., leaving a balance of twelve dollars and forty-five cents in his hands.
Some copies of an excellent little treatise, lately republished in Philadelphia, entitled, " A Present for an Apprentice," have been ordered, but are not paid for, and no part of the librarian's salary of twenty-five dollars a year has yet been discharged.
Should the balance due on original subscriptions, and the annual installment of one dollar from each member, be promptly paid, as they ought, and as we. trust will be, it will not only enable the board to discharge all arrearages, but to make such additions to the library as are essential to its prosperity and use- fulness.
The board also indulge the hope that many who have hitherto withheld their aid, from a doubt of the utility of the institution, or a fear that it could not be supported, will now, when such doubts and fears can no longer be reasonably entertained, come
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forward, and, by becoming members of the company, and com- plying with the terms of admission, or by donations of money or books, contribute to enlarge the library and extend its use- fulness.
On the whole, the board offer their cordial congratulations to the society on the experiment made and the prospect presented, and earnestly hope that none who have lent their aid to so good a work will become weary of well doing.
By order of the board.
JAMES J. WILSON, Chairman.
THOMAS GORDON, Cl'k.
The books belonging to the Apprentices' Library were for many years in the possession of the late librarian, Samuel Evans, who had them in charge at the time the society ceased opera- tions, but have since come into the possession of the Young Men's Christian Association, where they are accessible to all who choose to avail themselves of them.
At the head of this library association we find such men as the Hon. Samuel L. Southard, afterwards, for a number of years, United States senator, and, at the death of President Harrison, acting vice president of the United States ; Hon. Charles Ewing, Chief Justice of New Jersey, who fell a victim to the cholera, in 1832 ; General Zachariah Rossell, for many years clerk of the Supreme Court of New Jersey, which position he filled until his death ; General James J. Wilson, editor of the "True American," and postmaster of Trenton. In fact, all the officers of that insti- tution have been prominent men in the community, having held responsible offices.
In July, 1838, the Trenton Institute was formed ; but it was not until the 4th of September of the same year that the associa- tion was formally instituted, at which time the following officers were chosen : George Woodruff, Esq., president ; Rev. John W. Yeomans, Stacy G. Potts, Esq., and Seth Lukens, vice presidents ; James Wilson, Esq., Dr. Francis A. Ewing, Charles Parker, Rev. Samuel Starr, and Andrew Allinson, executive committee ; Timothy Abbott, Jr., secretary ; John Mershon, treasurer ; Charles C. Yard, Dr. James B. Coleman, Dr. John L. Taylor,
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Joseph Witherup, and Benjamin S. Disbrow were elected curators. They met on Tuesday evening of each week.
Professor Henry, of the College of New Jersey, (now presi- dent of the Smithsonian Institute), delivered the first lecture before the Trenton Institute, on Tuesday evening, the 24th of August, 1838. The institute continued in successful operation until the 24th of March, 1844, when it ceased operations. The place of meeting was in the large saloon of the City Hall.
They were in possession of a complete set of philosophical apparatus, and, after they had disbanded, these were presented to the Trenton Academy.
In 1842, Charles Moore, Dr. James B. Coleman, Benjamin S. Disbrow, and Henry M. Lewis established the Mechanics' Institute. They met every Saturday evening, in the upper saloon of the City Hall. Lectures on the arts and sciences formed the topics there discussed. This was intended for the benefit of apprentices ; hence the lectures were free to all.
In 1845, the Irving Institute was formed. Its officers were Lewis R. Justice, president ; Christopher S. Hoagland, secretary ; Charles C. Burroughs, treasurer ; Lewis R. Justice, C. S. Hoag- land, Charles C. Burroughs, and Joseph Corlies, managers.
This institute was only continued for a short time. Its meet- ings were held weekly, at the City Hall, during part of the winters of 1845 and 1846.
The Trenton Lyceum was next formed, with Edward W. Scudder as president.
In 1852, the Trenton Library was thrown open to the public. Its officers were Hon. Samuel D. Ingham, president ; Alfred S. Livingston, secretary ; Timothy Abbott, Charles Hewitt, James T. Sherman, Gregory A. Perdicaris, A. S. Livingston, and Barker Gummere, directors ; Jonathan F. Cheesman, treasurer and librarian.
It was in successful operation several years, and had upon its shelves some of the choicest productions of the literary world.
When the library was first opened, in 1852, they rented the corner store in Temperance Hall, and continued there until ยท Charles Scott finished his building in Greene street, near State
U
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street, in 1853, when they removed into the second story of that building.
The following report was presented by the board of directors, in 1855 :
" The number of stockholders to the Trenton Library Associa- tion is seventy-nine; of annual subscribers, fifty-one; and the annual revenue from these sources is two hundred and twenty dollars and fifty cents. The number of volumes now in the library, as nearly as can be ascertained, is one thousand six hun- dred and six.
"On the 26th of December last, the library was much injured by a fire, which broke out in the library room. The number of books actually destroyed was not great, and did not (together with those which, though not destroyed, were not thought of sufficient intrinsic value to be worth rebinding), exceed one hundred and twenty; but one thousand one hundred and seventy were so damaged, either by fire or water, that it was necessary to rebind them. When the fire occurred, many of the books needed rebinding, and, therefore, although the expense of repair- ing so many volumes will amount to about four hundred and fifty dollars, the association are by no means losers to that amount. For, as the majority of its books will now be put in strong and substantial binding, the library will be, in that respect, in a much better condition than it was before the fire occurred.
"The operations of the library association for the last year may be succinctly stated. At the commencement of the year it was in debt about one hundred and fifty dollars. This debt has been paid, together with all the current expenses ; one hundred and thirty new works have been obtained ; an insurance of one thousand dollars on the books, for five years, has been effected in the Bucks County Contributionship ; our outstanding debts are about sixty dollars, besides the debt for repairing the books injured by the fire ; there is a balance in the treasurer's hands of fifty-three dollars and sixty-three cents, and twenty-three dollars are due from stockholders, and will, it is believed, be soon collected. This result has been effected by the current receipts, aided by the voluntary contributions of a few gentlemen.
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"The annual income of the association is now about two hun- dred and twenty dollars. Its expenses will reach about one hundred and seventy-five dollars, without including the salary of the librarian (one hundred dollars), which one of the directors has undertaken to raise by voluntary contributions.
"The library is to be kept open daily, from ten o'clock till one in the mornings, and from three till five in the afternoons, and on every Monday evening from seven o'clock till nine. It is thus rendered accessible at all reasonable times, and furnishes a resort which is always open to those who desire intellectual entertainment or instruction. Such a place is a valuable addi- tion to the privileges of our citizens, and it is to be hoped that they will learn to make use of and prize it.
"There are many useful books in the library, and it is to be regretted that the most useful are the least read. If the com- munity choose to sustain this institution, enlarge its resources, and avail themselves of the instruction already contained in its sixteen hundred volumes, it will be both creditable and profitable to them to do so.
" The present directors had, with the aid of some liberal gen- tlemen, succeeded in paying off the old debts and providing means for adding to the library when the fire of December last occurred. It will now be necessary for the association to pay for rebinding the books injured by the fire, and also for buying new books. This may be easily done if the community will take a proper interest in the prosperity of the library, and it is believed that the same public spirit which has raised the institu- tion will sustain it and carry it on successfully.
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