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 38
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With this sketch of the America Hose Company we complete our history of one of the oldest and most efficient fire depart- ments in the country, on the rolls of which have stood the names of many prominent men-governors, legislators, philosophers, and statesmen-and which have been written, in never-fading characters, on the scroll of fame and honor.
CHAPTER XXVI.
Additional Manufactories Omitted under their Appropriate Heads-Shoemaker's Almanac-Thomas Chalkley's Narrative of Travel-Blazing Star Hotel-Bull's Hcad Hotel-Indian King and Indian Queen Hotels-Trenton Directories-Veto of Mayor Hamilton-Indigent Widows' and Single Women's Home.
T N 1852, the frame machine shop, on the west bank of the water power, was erected by Charles T. Allaire, and in the same year Peter Obert built his large two story blacksmith shop, north of it.
In 1849, Messrs. Fisher & Norris built a factory for the manu- facture of their superior cast iron anvils, on the water power, north of the Phoenix Iron Works; and in 1851, the same firm erected the building immediately opposite, for a machine shop ; but visitors being positively forbidden admission thereto, I have never even had a look into these manufactories. I am satisfied, however, of the superiority of the Trenton anvils, and of the new mode of the manufacture of them, from the fact that they are in the daily receipt of orders from all parts of the United States, besides Great Britain and the European continent.
The Orleans Mill was built by James M. Redmond, in the year 1841. It is a very extensive building, and was intended for the manufacture of carriages ; but, finding that work of that kind would be too heavy for the building, it was converted into a cotton mill, and occupied by General Godwin, of Paterson ; it was subsequently occupied by Bela Badger and Mr. Brady, of Philadelphia, for the manufacture of cotton fabrics.
In 1848, it was purchased by James Bruere, and shortly after his purchase it was burned.
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HISTORY OF TRENTON.
In 1852, Mathias Keeler fitted it up as a violin manufactory, under the name of the Cremonia Mills.
The mill north of the Phoenix Iron Works was fitted up for a paper mill, and occupied by Jesper Harding until 1850, when he moved into the mill on the Assanpink, associating with him H. H. Bottom, under the firm name of H. H. Bottom & Co. It was afterwards used as a paper mill by Messrs. T. Kelly & Co.
In the year 1842, Sutton & Crooks built the foundry after- wards occupied by Vancleve & McKean, and the latter gentle- men purchased the works, and made very extensive additions thereto. They employed about two hundred workmen, and made some of the largest kind of castings, which were sent to dif- ferent parts of the United States. They have also manufactured some of the largest of locomotive engines, and they built the works on the Sandtown road, in the third ward, for the purpose of entering largely into the manufacture of locomotive engines. In the latter mill they had a front of about four hundred feet, and employed about five hundred men. During the war it was used for the manufacture of ordinance, and some very heavy cannons were furnished from this establishment.
Messrs. Grice & Long, of Philadelphia, erected works in the rear of it for the manufacture of cars of various descriptions, sending their manufactures to different parts of the world. The cars made by them are acknowledged to have no superiors.
In 1845, Peter Cooper, of New York, built the large rolling mill immediately adjoining the print works on the south.
This mill has since that time been very extensively engaged in the manufacture of railroad and other iron.
It employs about nine hundred hands, and daily consumes, when in full blast, sixty tons of coal. This gentleman has also very extensive iron works at Easton, Pennsylvania, where, own- ing an iron mine, and having two blast furnaces, he manufactures his own pig iron.
The mill is now carried on by Messrs. Cooper, Hewitt & Co. It was considerably enlarged in 1856, for the purpose of enter- ing more extensively into the business.
South of Cooper, Hewitt & Co's mill is the Saxony Mill, built in 1846, by Andrew Allinson, as a cotton mill, but after-
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HISTORY OF TRENTON.
wards converted into a mill for the manufacture of shirts and drawers. It was occupied for a number of years by Samuel H. Wheeler, and was at one time used as a shirt manufactory by a Mr. Hubbard, of Philadelphia, afterwards by James Brooks, and now by Isaac Weatherby.
I have been thus particular in describing the mills above- named, only because they are located on the water power, and merely to show to what a great extent the above works have been beneficial to our city and its interests.
In 1848, the wire mill, located in the third ward, was built by a stock company, but not realizing their expectations in it, they abandoned it; it was then stopped for two years, till it came. into possession of Peter Cooper, since which time it has been in: constant operation.
In 1849, John A. Roebling erected in the township of Ham- ilton, immediately across the canal, a mill for the manufacture of wire rope and chain cable, which business has been carried. on very extensively.
He built across the Niagara· river a heavy wire suspension bridge, over which rails are laid for the passage of cars. This was pronounced by Professor Stevenson (who erected the tubular- suspension bridge across the Menai straits), an impossibility, yet our townsman so far succeeded in accomplishing his object, as to ensure entire success. He also erected several large bridges, and at the time of his death was building the suspension bridge across the East river, New York.
In 1849, Bottom, Tiffany & Co. erected their large iron foundry and machine shop on the Assanpink, west of the canal. They here made some of the largest of castings, among which were iron fronts for houses, in which line they did quite an ex- tensive business for the short time in which they were in opera- tion. They were in constant receipt of orders from all the large cities for their superior iron fronts for houses, as well as other heavy castings.
In the rear of this, in 1852, Rossell & Co. erected a mill for the manufacture of anvils ; and they obtained a premium, for- their manufacture at the world's fair held at New York in 1853. The number of anvils turned out daily was twelve.
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HISTORY OF TRENTON.
In 1848, Louis Chevrier commenced the manufacture of spring mattresses and beds, on Mill Hill, but in 1850 he moved his manufactory to Willow street.
In the year 1788, Abraham Shoemaker published an almanac called the New Jersey and Pennsylvania Almanac. The pub- lishers were Sherman, Mershon & Thomas, opposite the Indian Queen tavern, in the building which stood on the same site as the store now occupied by James C. Manning.
The almanac was published regularly for several years.
In the one published in 1800 is an advertisement that Samuel Paxson, apothecary and dry goods dealer, opposite the Eagle tavern,* Warren street, has constantly on hand, drugs and medi- cines, dry goods and stationery.
Thomas Chalkley, a preacher of the Society of Friends, trav- eled extensively through this country, preaching wherever he went. He published a narrative of his travels from 1685 to 1735. His book has been kindly loaned me by Dr. C. C. Abbot, of this city. From his narrative, it would appear that this section was known in the year 1725 as the Falls of the Delaware. He says: " About the 20th of the eighth month (August), I went for Long Island, being drawn in true love to make a general visit to Friends there. . . . On the fifth day of the week, Thomas Mas- ters and I set out from Frankfort, and in the evening we got to a Friend's house near the Falls of Delaware. ... From the Falls of Delaware, we traveled next day to Piscataway," etc.
In 1736, he says he " visited the meetings of Friends at Bris- tol, Burlington, Trenton and Borden's Town."
In 1737, he also speaks about going with Isaac Brown, his son- in-law, and several Friends, to Trenton.
The Blazing Star hotel was located on the corner of Warren and State streets, where the Mechanics Bank now stands. It was kept by James Witt, in 1785. It was afterwards kept by Jacob Bergen, and called the French Arms hotel.
The Bull's Head was located where the Mansion House now
* This tavern was a frame building, formerly occupied by Judge Trent, of Philadelphia, as his summer residence, and stood where the Third Presby- terian Church now stands.
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HISTORY OF TRENTON.
stands, in State street. It was at one time kept by a man by the name of Atkinson. It was afterwards kept by Charles Green, and called the Farmers' Inn.
The Indian King hotel was located on the spot where Benja- min Disbrow's iron building now stands, and was kept by Wil- liam Yard.
The Indian Queen hotel was the one now called the United States, in Warren street. At the time it was kept by Edmund Burke, a Fourth of July dinner was held there, for which Joseph Yard, Sr., furnished forty-eight pounds of rock-fish, caught by himself in the Delaware river that morning.
The first directory of the city of Trenton was published in 1854, by Jesse M. Clark, Randolph H. Moore, and John O. Raum. It contained the names and locations of all the streets and alleys in existence in the city at that time, numbering eighty-seven, a short history of the city, from whom its name was derived, the first settlements by Friends, the original act of incorporation, the situation of the city at the head of tide water on the Delaware river, its latitude and longitude, a description of the Delaware bridge, the Assanpink creek, and the battle of Trenton. It also contained the boundaries of the city at that time, the boundaries of the several wards, five in number, the state, county, and city officers, churches and their pastors, the hotels, offices, offices in the state house, city hall, public build- ings, halls, &c., practicing physicians, dentists, fire department, banks, loan associations, Temperance Hall Association, Trenton Library Association, Trenton Water Power Company, Trenton Water Works, Trenton Gas Light Company, Widows' and Single Women's Home, officers of Lunatic Asylum, Delaware Bridge Company, and a general directory of the names, residences, and occupations of the inhabitants. It contained one hundred and thirty-six pages, including advertisements, three thousand eight hundred and twenty-one names of inhabitants, one hundred and forty-three of whom were colored persons, who occupied a. separate portion of the work from the white residents.
The next directory was published in 1857, by William H. Boyd, of New York. It contained two hundred and seventy- eight pages, and four thousand four hundred and thirty-eight
2 P
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HISTORY OF TRENTON.
names, a business directory, about fifty pages of the history of Trenton, furnished by the compiler of this work, together with state, county, and city matters.
The third directory was published in 1859, by William H. Boyd, and contained two hundred fifty-five pages, and five thousand three hundred and twelve names, and a business direc- tory of Burlington and Mercer counties, together with state, county, and city officers.
The fourth directory was published in 1865, by J. H. Lant, of Albany, New York. It contained one hundred and eighty pages, and the names of four thousand seven hundred and seventy-four inhabitants.
The fifth directory was published in 1869, by William F. Cros- ley, of this city. It contained two hundred and fifty-nine pages, and the names of six thousand one hundred and thirty-eight inhabitants, a business and street directory, state, county, and city officers, a history of the public schools, together with the different institutions of our city.
The sixth directory was published in 1870, by Messrs. Webb Brothers & Company, of Providence, Rhode Island. It con- tained three hundred and thirty-one pages, and six thousand five hundred and eighty-six names, a street directory containing one hundred and thirty streets, a Trenton business directory, and a business directory outside of Trenton, national, state, county, and city officers, time of holding courts, banks, fire department, various incorporated companies, insurance companies, churches, secret societies, newspapers and magazines, &c., &c.
In the first directory, published in 1854, the name of Jones appears nineteen times, and that of Smith forty-nine times, while in the directory of 1870, the name of Jones appears seven- teen times, while that of Smith appears eighty-six times, showing a decrease in the former name and a large increase in the latter in sixteen years.
In 1848, when Samuel R. Hamilton was mayor, the common council passed an ordinance to raise by tax four thousand dollars. The mayor vetoed the bill, and gave as his reason for so doing that the amount was excessive. The amount now raised annually is about one hundred and eighty thousand dollars.
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HISTORY OF TRENTON.
The Indigent Widows' and Single Women's Home Society was organized in 1854. The first managers were Mrs. John Hall, Mrs. Edward I. Grant, Mrs. Thomas J. Stryker, Mrs. Charles J. Ihrie, Mrs. Jonathan S. Fish, Mrs. Louisa Krewson, Mrs. David Clark, Mrs. John R. Dill, Mrs. William White, Mrs. Lewis Parker, Mrs. Samuel R. Hamilton, Miss Mary Armstrong, Mrs. William A. Benjamin, Miss Mary Johnston, Mrs. Samuel D. Ingham, Mrs. Helen T. Paul, Mrs. Edith E. Hewlings, Mrs. James S. Sterling, Mrs. Joshua Jones, Mrs. Samuel Evans, Mrs. Henry W. Green, Mrs. Lewis Perrine, Mrs. Lucy Pitman, and Miss Juliet Phillips.
The society was incorported by act of the legislature, February 19th, 1855, for the humane and charitable purpose of relieving, assisting, and supporting widows and single women in a state of indigence.
The subscription and payment of three dollars annually con- stitutes membership, and the payment of thirty dollars confers a life membership.
The present officers are Mrs. Lewis Parker, first directress ; Miss Mary M. Armstrong, second directress; Mrs. Caleb S. Green, treasurer ; Miss Mary F. Johnston, secretary.
John A. Roebling bequeathed to the home the sum of thirty thousand dollars, the interest of which is applied towards its maintenance.
From the very able report of Henry D. Rogers, state geolo- gist, made to the legislature February 12th, 1836, we copy the following relating to our city, which will be of general interest :
" The very extensive belt of stratified primary rocks, which follows a line nearly parallel with the Atlantic coast, forming the western limit of the tide in the rivers of Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania, crosses the Delaware at Trenton, after having been regularly and gradually contracting in width from Georgia to this point, where it soon entirely vanishes.
" Where it crosses the Delaware, this bed of gneiss is about three and a half miles broad; narrowing in its course to the north-northeast, it almost disappears at the six-mile-post on the Delaware and Raritan Canal.
1
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HISTORY OF TRENTON.
" The triangular area which it forms has the valley of the Assanpink very nearly for its southestern boundary.
" The mineralogical character of the rock is extremely well marked. It is most usually a triple mixture of quartz, feldspar, and hornblende, or, in place of this, frequently mica.
" In the valley of the Assanpink, it is often a greenish sand and gravel, derived from the quartz and hornblende, and is there rather sterile.
" The varieties of this rock at Trenton are those of the gneiss formation of the Schuylkill.
" A little north of Trenton, and near its border, there is a quartzose variety of the rock containing a little mica, sufficient to divide it into the laminated form; but the mass of the rock is a close-grained, stratified mixture of feldspar and quartz, al- most a petro-silex in aspect.
" This land consists, in places, of an intimate mixture of quartzose and feldspathic matter fused together ; splitting into rather well-formed large slate, and having a smooth surface, it furnished a very good flagstone for the walks and steps in Tren- ton."
FINIS.
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