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 23
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The original firm of the Trenton Etruria Pottery was William Bloor, Joseph Ott, and Thomas Booth, and was known by the firm name of Bloor, Ott & Booth. This copartnership was formed in May, 1863-ground was broken the same month, and the first goods were turned out in November of the same year.
Mr. Bloor was the practical member of the firm, he having
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had considerable experience for some years previous, in the firm of Taylor, Speeler & Bloor, but more recently in East Liver- pool, Ohio, where he had been interested in the manufacture of porcelain, but was unsuccessful, the opportunity for opening its manufacture being ill-timed, in consequence of insufficient capi- tal and inexperience, assisted by a total stagnation of business, about the time of the commencement of our late war of the rebellion.
The firm commenced to manufacture two kinds of white ware, called C. C., or cream-colored, and W. G., or white granite, and the manufacture of these two varieties is still continued.
The firm of Bloor, Ott & Booth existed only one year, when Mr. Booth retired, having sold his interest to Garret 'S. Bur- roughs, since deceased.
Mr. Burroughs remained in the firm a little over a year, when, in consequence of ill health, he sold his interest to John H. Brewer, the firm then being, as it is at present, Bloor, Ott & Brewer.
In 1863, Mr. Charles Coxon commenced the Clinton Street Pottery, with a capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars. Soon after, he associated with him Mr. J. F. Thompson, the firm name then being Coxon & Thompson. They manufactured white granite and cream-colored ware, and the business was conducted by them until the death of Coxon, July 10th, 1868. Soon after, the firm closed, Mr. J. F. Thompson disposing of his interest to Messrs. James E. Darrah and Moses M. Bateman.
The capital stock at the present time is about sixty thousand dollars.
Since this time the business has been conducted under the firm name of Coxon & Co., the close of the year 1870 showing a decline in profits in the business, and the need of protection by our government of this branch of industry.
Richard Millington and John Astbury commenced business in copartnership with William Young & Sons, as manufacturers of door furniture, in the year 1853, and continued as partners for the term of six years, but, in 1860, they dissolved partnership, and then built the present Carroll Street Pottery, for the manu- facture of porcelain and white iron-stone china, and after a
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short time commenced the manufacture of white granite and queensware, which is in use throughout the country. These gentlemen claim to be the first manufacturers of white ware in Trenton. The works now consist of four kilns and workshops to carry on the manufacture of white granite and queensware, which is unequaled.
The East Trenton Porcelain Company was incorporated Feb- ruary, 1864, with a capital stock of one hundred thousand dollars.
The directors are Imlah Moore, president ; Fred. Dellicker, secretary and treasurer ; Robert L. Hutchinson, Joseph H. Moore, and George Trimble.
Ground was broken for the erection of their buildings June Ist, 1864, and they commenced manufacturing ware in July, 1866. The ware manufactured by them is of the white variety.
There are four kilns, and four buildings two stories high, one hundred feet long by fifty feet deep, two kiln-sheds, forty by one hundred feet, and one story high, with an extension fifty- eight feet wide by one hundred and twenty-eight feet long. The mill room is one story high, with cellar.
There are clay sheds, fret-kiln room and slip-kilns, one story high, about forty by sixty feet, three of which have brick parti- tions between, and all are under one roof.
The packing room is built of brick, thirty-two by sixty feet.
There is also a half basin belonging to the company, extend- ing from the canal along each side of the pottery buildings.
Twelve brick tenement-houses, three stories high, with three rooms on each floor, and cellars under the whole, are also con- nected with the works, and are occupied by the workmen and their families ; these, with a barn eighteen feet high, forty by fifty feet, built of brick and used as a stable for horses and for storage, with a frame wagon shed adjoining, fifty by twenty- two feet, make quite a respectable village.
These buildings cost about one hundred and thirty-five thou- sand dollars.
A lot one hundred feet square is appropriated for a water basin, which is sixty feet square and five feet deep, with a supply pipe running nearly west one hundred feet, to a spring. This spring is capable of throwing water twenty feet high.
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The capital stock subscribed and paid in is eighty-two thou- sand dollars, and the capacity of the works is about two hundred thousand dollars per year.
They have the largest packing-house in Trenton, with cellar for hogsheads, and also a cellar under the northwest building for the storage of prepared clay.
Theophile Frey, of Zuric, Switzerland, was the first to intro- . duce the art of decorating with gold and colors in Trenton.
He was also the first person who introduced decorating C. C. and granite in this country. He first settled in Bennington, Vermont, and in 1859 came to Trenton.
At that time the only potteries here were those of William Young, Speeler & Taylor, and Rhodes & Yates, at the latter of which he introduced the art. He continued in the business until about 1865, when he relinquished it. There are now in Trenton about twenty persons engaged in that business.
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CHAPTER XV.
New Jersey State Prison-First Opening in 1798-Its Builder ---- The Guard-house, or Sentry Box-Two Men Shot in an Attempt to Escape-One Killed, the other Badly Wounded -- Enlargement ·of Old Prison-Inscription on Old Prison- Commencement and Completion of New Prison-New Jersey Arsenal-New Jersey Lunatic Asylum.
P REVIOUS to the year 1793, there was no place expressly appropriated for the confinement of offenders against the state.
Those who were under sentence were disposed of in the same manner as those who were awaiting their trial. Hence, the con -- victed were confined in the same jail with those who were only accused. Each county used its jail as a place of confinement, .. both before and after sentence, for all persons arrested as viola- tors against the laws and peace of the state.
In order to separate those awaiting trial from such as had already received sentence, the legislature determined upon building one common jail, to receive convicts from all parts of. the state, and this they denominated the State Prison. In the year 1795, this building was erected a few rods south of the present State Prison.
Its builder was Jonathan Doane. The prison consisted of a main building about eighty feet front by two hundred feet deep, .. built of gray sandstone, and, with its wall, covered about three acres of ground.
The wall was built of the same material as the main building,.
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and, starting from either corner on the north and south of the main building, completely surrounded it.
This wall was about twenty feet high, mounted with a wooden roller, the entire length, in which were driven sharp iron spikes, for the prevention of the escape of prisoners by scaling the walls.
In the centre of the wall, and on the top, immediately oppo- site the main building, was erected the guard-house, so ar- ranged as to overlook the entire premises.
In this house a man was constantly kept, whose duty it was to act as sentry, and throughout the whole day to travel this east- ern wall, from north to south, to prevent the escape of the inmates.
Previous to 1834, solitary confinement was unknown in the New Jersey Penitentiary.
All the prisoners there confined worked together, in a large frame workshop. They ate their meals together, and even at night, when they retired to rest, they were placed three and four in a cell.
Under these circumstances, it was necessary that a guard should be stationed in a position where he could overlook all their actions. And in order to be ready for any sudden emer- gency, he kept constantly at hand, in his little building on the wall, a formidable display of firearms, heavily charged with the means of destruction. The object of all this was to be amply provided with the means of defence, in case of a precon- certed revolt of those confined within.
One Sunday afternoon in midsummer, a revolt of this kind did occur, which, but for the vigilance of the sentinel, would have proved a serious affair. But the prisoners were foiled in the attempt.
They had it arranged that one of their number should scale the wall and dispatch the guard, and at the same time gain pos- session of the sentry box, those below to keep up an incessant volley of stones and missiles, to prevent the guard from making his appearance to stay their proceedings.
Notwithstanding their well-concocted plan, the guard, regard- less of his own safety, placed a musket close by the side of the wall and fired upon the convict, just as he was reaching up to
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take hold of the top of the wall, in order to gain possession of the sentry box. His shot took effect, killing the prisoner instantly, and wounding another very badly in the leg. This timely action saved the lives of many, for had they been able to carry out their plans, they intended to unlock the doors and liberate all confined in the institution, and it is probable that a great number would have been killed or wounded.
This revolt happened in 1832, after the enlargement of the old prison.
In 1820, the south wing was built.
A short time before their attempt at escape was made, they set fire to the long row of frame buildings used as workshops, burn- ing them to the ground, expecting, no doubt, in this way to gain their liberty. But, as soon as the fire was discovered, the prisoners were securely confined in their rooms.
The number of convicts increasing with the rapid growth of the state, it was determined that something must be done for the comfort as well as the security of the prisoners. Hence they determined to build a new prison, and abolish the old one.
The following inscription is on the front of the old prison :
LABOUR. SILENCE, PENITENCE.
THE PENITENTIARY HOUSE.
ERECTED BY LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY,
RICHARD HOWELL, GOVERNOR, IN THE XXII YEAR OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE, MDCCXI.
That those who are Feared for their Crimes, May Learn to Fear the Laws and be Useful. HIC LABOUR, HOC OPUS.
The plan of solitary confinement having been adopted in some of the states, and having been found to answer a good purpose, it was determined to adopt it in our own. Conse- quently, the legislature making an appropriation for this pur- pose, the building was commenced in 1832, and completed in 1836. It is built of red sandstone, from the Ewing quarries.
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Its architecture is Egyptian, with four columns upon the front of the main building.
Its front is on the east, facing a handsome park, interspersed with evergreens, affording a delightful shade to the building, as well as imparting life to the gloomy walls of the prison.
The prison consists of a main building, where the family of the keeper resides, and in which the offices of his assistants are located, and to this several wings have been added, from time to time, as required.
The north wing of the prison was built in 1834, and the south and centre wings in 1835 and 1848, respectively. The north and south wings contain the cells where convicts are confined, and the centre is the culinary and laundry department.
The buildings are so arranged as to admit at any time, when the necessity of the case demands it, of two additional wings, making five in all, and in 1870 another wing was added.
These buildings are surrounded by stone walls, twenty feet high and three feet thick, which enclose an area of four acres. Upon these walls are six stone towers or abutments, twenty- eight feet high. Four of them are upon the eastern wall or front of the building, and two upon either corner, in the rear.
The prison is warmed by tubes of hot water, passing through the cells. In the coldest weather the cells can thus be warmed to a temperature of sixty-five degrees. They are ventilated by apertures in the exterior walls, and also by a flue from each cell to the top of the roof.
The air is pure, the outlet pipes perfectly ventilating the building. These pipes are cleaned by water, about fifteen thousand gallons being daily used for that purpose.
The convicts are employed principally in making shoes, chairs, and in weaving. The provisions and clothing of the prisoners are, in all respects, suitable to their wants, and their general health is good.
The testimony of every succeeding year is accumulating in favor of this system of punishment. The prisoner condemned to solitary confinement, at hard labor, has leisure to reflect upon the folly and wickedness which has consigned him to the walls of a dungeon, and to resolve upon a new course of action
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after his release. He is withdrawn from the contamination of guilty associations, and can hardly fail to deplore the errors by which he has been reduced to so pitiable a condition.
Both as a means of punishment and reformation to criminals, the committee believe that the present system is admirably adapted to fulfill the wishes of its friends and advocates. There is now attached to the prison a library of two thousand three 'hundred volumes, for the use of the convicts. The books are well selected, and the prisoners avail themselves of the privilege of reading them with great alacrity.
Their minds are thus engaged and exercised, and they are prevented from falling into that besotted and stupid condition, which sometimes results from solitary confinement.
The first keeper of the prison was a Mr. Crooks. Henry Bel- lerjeau was his successor. Francis Labaw succeeded Bellerjeau, and was keeper for a considerable length of time.
The keepers were for a long time appointed by the board of inspectors. Ephriam Ryno, being a member of the board, suc- ceeded in getting the appointment by having a majority of the board in his favor, and this, with his own vote, bestowed the ap- pointment of keeper upon himself. He held it for one year only, when Thomas Perrine was appointed.
In 1835, and before the completion of the new prison, Joseph A. Yard was appointed keeper. He removed the prisoners into the new building in 1836. In 1845, Jacob B. Gaddis was appointed, with Abram R. Harris, clerk, Dr. James B. Coleman, physician, and Mary E. Frazer, matron. For many years pre- vious to this, Charles Sutterly had been clerk.
I have stated previously, that Joseph A. Yard was appointed keeper in 1835, and that Jacob B. Gaddis succeeded Yard. Gaddis was removed, and Yard was again appointed. Yard was removed, and John Voorhees appointed, who only held the office one year, when Jacob B. Gaddis was again appointed, and continued in office till 1851, when Mr. Vanderveer was appointed.
New Jersey State Arsenal .- When the old prison became empty by the removal of the inmates into the new building, it was determined to convert the old edifice into a repository for
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HISTORY OF TRENTON.
the state arms. They had previous to that time been kept in an upper room in the old State House.
, Samuel R. Hamilton, then quartermaster-general, appointed Captain Daniel Baker, of the city of Trenton, to take charge of the building and property belonging to the state kept there. He " occupied that position until his death.
There are in the arsenal two cannon captured at Yorktown, on the 19th of October, 1781, and another taken at the battle of Trenton. The building is not very well adapted for the keep- ing of fire-arms ; being built of stone, its walls are constantly damp, and it requires the utmost vigilance to prevent the arnis being so much injured from the dampness and rust as to render them entirely unfit for service.
New Jersey Lunatic Asylum .- Doctor Lyndon A. Smith, of Newark, was the first one who directed the attention of the pub- lic to the necessity of providing a suitable asylum for the wants and treatment of the insane in our state, in an address before the State Medical Society, in 1837. In 1839, a joint resolution passed the legislature, authorizing Governor Pennington to appoint commissioners to collect information in regard to the number and condition of the insane in the state, and if an asylum was deemed necessary, to ascertain the best locality for the same, the cost of its erection, &c.
This commission consisted of Drs. Lyndon A. Smith, of New- ark ; Lewis Condict, of Morristown ; A. F. Taylor, of New Bruns- wick; Charles G. McChesney, of Trenton ; and Lucius Q. C. Elmer, Esq., of Cumberland county. They were all physicians, except the latter gentleman, who was lately a judge of the Supreme Court. After having performed the duty assigned them, they reported the result of their observations to the legislature, at their session in 1840-41.
By their report, it appeared that there were at that time over four hundred insane persons in the state, many of whom were suffering for want of proper treatment.
At the next session of the legislature the subject was referred to a joint committee, who reported in favor of an appropriation for the erection of an asylum, and here the matter was dropped.
In 1844, Miss Dorotha L. Dix, of Massachusetts, visited the
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various receptacles for the insane poor of the state, and, in a memorial to the legislature in 1845, urgently commended to that body the subject of providing an asylum for their care and cure. Moved by the disinterested efforts and appeal of this distinguished and philanthropic lady, the legislature appointed a joint committee, which reported in favor of prompt action. The same year, commissioners were appointed to select a suitable site, and an appropriation made of ten thousand dollars to pay for the same, and twenty-five thousand dollars toward the erection of the building. These commissioners were Daniel Haines, Thomas Arrowsmith, John S. Condict, Joseph Saunders, and Maurice Beasley.
The commissioners, after visiting various localities, deter- mined on the one upon which the building now stands, about two and a half miles northwest of the city of Trenton, on the Belvidere Delaware Railroad, and near the Delaware river.
The tract of land on which the building is erected originally consisted of one hundred and eleven acres of excellent land for farming and gardening purposes. The landscape view is one of great beauty and attraction, combining the diversified land scenery of the valley of the Delaware, with a view of the river for two and a half miles, to the city of Trenton.
During the summer of 1845, Eli F. Cooley, Calvin Howell, and Samuel Rush were appointed commissioners by Governor Stratton to contract for and superintend the erection of the building ; and after visiting various institutions for the insane in other states, and examining many plans, adopted the draft of design by Dr. T. S. Kirkbride, of the Pennsylvania Hospital for the Insane, from which a working plan was subsequently made by John Notman, of Philadelphia, the architect of the building. The building was erected by William Phillips and Joseph Whit- aker, of Trenton.
The asylum occupies a central position on the most elevated point of land belonging to it, and is directly in front of a beau- tiful grove of timber, thirty acres in extent, through which passes a winding carriage road, from the main highway to the house.
The grounds on the eastern front of the building are arranged
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with walks, planted with trees, flowering and evergreen shrubs, etc., according to a tasteful design by the late A. J. Downing, landscape gardener. 1
The building is constructed of reddish sandstone, (from the Ewing quarries,) laid in rouble and broken-range work, and pointed, with hammer-dressed stone for base, the roof being cov- ered with slate, except the dome, which is of tin.
The building was originally four hundred and eighty feet long, since which time two wings have been added, on the east and west ends of the main building, respectively, thereby consider- ably enlarging the same.
These wings were built by William Phillips, of this city, one of the original builders of the asylum. They are intended for the more noisy patients, that they may be as remote as possible from those who are convalescent.
The building is lighted throughout by gas made from oil, and manufactured on the premises.
The fixtures connected with the manufacture of gas are situ- ated in the grove, two hundred and fifty feet from the rear or the centre building. There are three hundred burners in the old building, of the bat-wing form. The average consumption of gas per night is about four hundred cubic feet.
The house is supplied with water from a spring on the pre- mises. It is raised by two forcing pumps, one being driven by the surplus water of the spring, the other by steam power, and are capable of raising three thousand gallons per hour. The con- sumption of this essential article in the building ranges from six to nine thousand gallons per day, which, in fuel and labor, is. attended by an expense of about three hundred and sixty dol- lars per annum, or the interest on six thousand dollars.
The government of the asylum is vested in a board of ten managers, originally appointed by the legislature, but whose appointment in the future are to be made by the Supreme Court. Their term of service continues five years, and is to be performed gratuitously. They have the appointment of the superintendent and treasurer of the institution, and upon the nomination of the former, the assistant physicians, steward, and.
Z
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matron, and, with the approval of the governor of the state, determines the annual salaries and allowance of the officers.
Up to the year 1849, the appropriations of money by the state for the purposes of the institution, amounted to one hundred and fifty-three thousand eight hundred and sixty-one dollars and ninety cents, which sum includes the original cost of the farm, the erection of the building, the various fixtures heretofore de- scribed, the furniture, stock for farm, grading and improving grounds, making fences, &c.
Its present board of managers are Hon. Alexander Wurts, Flemington, president ; Thomas J. Striker, Trenton, secretary ; Rev. S. M. Hamill, D. D., Lawrenceville; Hon. George F. Fort, New Egypt ; G. S. Cannon, Bordentown ; Hon. Henry K. Kennedy, Bloomsbury ; Hon. Moses Bigelow, Newark ; James B. Coleman, M. D., Trenton ; C. S. Green, Esq., Tren- ton ; William Elmer, M. D., Bridgeton.
Horace A. Buttolph is superintendent and physician ; Joseph Draper, M. D., assistant physician; John W. Ward, M. D., second assistant physician ; Caleb Sager, steward ; Miss Mary Tabor, matron ; Jasper S. Scudder, treasurer.
The asylum was opened on the 15th of May, 1848, and there has been received from that time up to the year 1870, three thousand seven hundred and forty-six patients. The number of patients in the asylum up to November 30th, 1869, was five hun- dred and sixty-seven. Received during the year two hundred and forty-seven, making the whole number under treatment dur- ing that period, eight hundred and fourteen. During the year, sixty-eight were discharged recovered, forty-three improved, forty-four died, and one escaped, leaving six hundred and forty- eight patients in the asylum on the 30th day of November, 1870, being eighty-one more than at the close of the previous year.
The receipts from all sources during the year, including a balance of two thousand two hundred and forty-seven dollars and seventy-eight cents remaining on the 30th of November, 1869, amounted to one hundred and sixty-two thousand two · hundred and seventy dollars and ninety-seven cents.
The payments for the same period were one hundred and fifty- seven thousand and twenty-nine dollars and sixteen cents, leav-
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ing a balance in the hands of the treasurer of five thousand two hundred and forty-one dollars and eighty-one cents-twenty- eight thousand four hundred and thirty-seven dollars of which were received from private patients; one hundred and three thousand and ninety-five dollars and ninety cents from the seve- ral counties, for the pauper and indigent insane ; twenty-five thousand one hundred and twenty-nine dollars and forty-two cents from the state treasury, for the same class of patients ; and three thousand three hundred and sixty dollars and twenty-seven cents for convict patients.
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CHAPTER XVI.
Miscellaneous-First Post-Office in Trenton, where located and by whom kept-Each subsequent Postmaster under the Different Administrations to the Present Time-Quartering of Troops at Trenton, in 1755, by King George II .- Charter of Bridge Across the Delaware-To whom Granted-Erection of Bridge -Floods in the Delaware-Destruction of Bridges on the Same-Trenton Water Works-Charter, to whom Granted- Charter Transferred to the City-Officers Appointed by the City-Banking Institutions-Trenton Bank-State Bank-Me- chanics and Manufacturers Bank-America Bank-Trenton Saving Fund-Lodges, Masonic and Odd Fellows.
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