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CA
Gc 974.702 B86f 1705597
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
= ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01147 9083
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https://archive.org/details/memorialofcityco00farg_0
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0
O
MEMORIAL
OF THE
CITY AND COUNTY HALL
OPENING CEREMONIES,
De 974.702. 386-A BUFFALO, N. Y.
EDITED AND PUBLISHED BY F. F. FARGO.
BUFFALO, N. Y .: THE COURIER COMPANY, PRINTERS. 1876.
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Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1876, by FRANCIS F. FARGO, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
ยท
1705597
TO
JAMES M. SMITH,
PHILIP BECKER,
JAMES ADAMS,
ALLEN POTTER,
JOHN NICE,
GEORGE S. WARDWELL,
DENNIS BOWEN,
GEORGE W. HAYWARD,
ALBERT P. LANING,
JASPER B. YOUNGS,
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE
CITY AND COUNTY HALL,
BUFFALO, N. Y.,
THROUGH WHOSE GOOD JUDGMENT, PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE, AND ECONOMICAL MANAGEMENT, AS WELL AS BY WHOSE UNTIRING EFFORT AND UNSELFISH DEVOTION TO THE PUBLIC INTEREST, THE PEOPLE-AS IS CONFI- DENTLY BELIEVED-HAVE SECURED A BUILDING AT LESS COST THAN HAS BEEN EXPENDED FOR ANY SIMILAR STRUCTURE IN THIS COUNTRY, THIS WORK IS MOST RESPECT- FULLY INSCRIBED BY
THE PUBLISHER. The Justwhen
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V
PREFATORY.
USAGE has sanctioned the well established custom of commemo- rating important events, whether occurring in the life of individuals, or the history of nations. The completion of the City and County Hall of Buffalo, is no ordinary occurrence for the people of Erie County. The object of this volume is to present to the public a compilation, arranged in convenient form, for reference and preser- vation, of such facts and papers as were developed on the occasion of the completion of the building. They consist of an elaborate description of the Hall, a history of its construction, an authentic account of the ceremonies observed in its formal opening and the valuable and highly interesting historical papers which were suggested and prepared in connection with its dedication and oc- cupancy, by distinguished citizens, and old residents of Buffalo. The work also contains an impressive sermon by Rev. Dr. Heacock, especially addressed to the legal profession. An appendix is added, containing the civil list of the City of Buffalo, and the County of Erie, from their organization to the present time, together with other historical and statistical data of great value and interest to all who are concerned in the local affairs of the City and County. A beautiful and truthful engraving of the Hall, covering two pages, adds largely to the value of the work, and the diagrams of the several stories convey a correct knowledge of the internal arrange- ment of the structure.
Trusting that these pages will, in some measure, subserve the purpose of their design, in placing within the reach of every resident of the City and County, a record of an important local event in this the Nation's Centennial Year, they are submitted to the judgment of the public. F. F. F.
BUFFALO, April, 1876.
CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTORY :
Historical Sketch of Western New York and Founding of Buffalo, . 7 CITY AND COUNTY HALL :
Its Inception-The Commissioners-Estimated cost-The Architect-Pro- gress of the work-Contracts for materials-Plan of the Hall-Diagram s of the several floors-Laying the corner stone-Oration of Judge Clinton -Description of the stone-The contents of the box deposited-The stat- ues-The tower clock-The total cost, 9
FROM THE OLD BUILDINGS TO THE NEW HALL :
Action of the Council-Judge Clinton's proposition-Proceedings of Bar Meetings-Historical Papers of Hon. George R. Babcock and Judges Sheldon and Smith-Speech of Judge Clinton, 40
ADIEU TO THE OLD COURT HOUSE :
Opening of the New Hall-Further action of the Bar-Final abandon- ment of the Old Court House-Formal occupation of the New Hall- Addresses of Hon. Sherman S. Rogers, Hon. E. C. Sprague, Hon. A. P. Nichols, and others, 64
THE COMMON COUNCIL :
Formal Dedication of the New Council Chamber-Invocation of Dr. Lord -Address of Mayor Becker-Response of President Bemis-Address of Judge Clinton-Speeches of Aldermen Simons, Lothridge, Ferris, and Ambrose, 72
RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES :
Sermon to Lawyers by Rev. Dr. Heacock-Early Reminiscences of the Old Court House-Recollections of Distinguished members of the Bar- The great Buffalo Bank suit-Lessons drawn from the theme, . . . 86 BANQUET OF THE BAR :
Social reunion of the Bar at the Tifft House-Two hundred lawyers around the festive board-A flow of wine, wit and soul, and a fund of reminiscence and anecdote-Speeches of Messrs. Sprague, Lord, Clinton, Saunders, Putnam, Babcock, Cutting, Wadsworth, Marvin, Lewis, Box, and others-Letters and telegrams, . 91
A CLERICAL BANQUET :
The County Clerk and his employees celebrate their entrance to the New Office-Meeting in the Old Office-Another meeting in the New one-A Banquet at the Ocean House-Addresses, speeches, toasts, &c., &c., . 132
APPENDIX :
Civil list of the city of Buffalo from 1816 to 1876-History of the Superior Court-Civil list of Erie county from 1808 to 1876-Alphabetical list of the Erie County Bar, &c., &c., . 139
INTRODUCTORY.
ONE hundred years ago, Western New York was an unbroken wilderness. Dense forests grew, and ferocious wild beasts roamed unmolested, where now are cultivated fields, thriving towns and populous cities. The busy streets, broad avenues, and beautiful parkways of to-day, were then but rugged Indian trails, leading from the wigwams to the hunting-grounds, and fishing resorts of the red man.
In 1772, one hundred and four years ago, the Provincial Assembly of New York, organized the county of Tryon, which embraced all that portion of the State lying west of the city and county of Albany. In 1784, the name of the county was changed by legislative enact- ment, from Tryon to Montgomery, but the boundaries remained unaltered. Five years thereafter, or in 1789, Montgomery county was divided, by creating the county of Ontario, which embraced all that portion of the State lying west of Syracuse. Thirteen years later, or in 1802, the county of Genesee was organized, embracing all, or nearly all, the territory of the State west of Genesee river. Another subdivision was made in 1808, when Niagara county was formed and became the most westerly county of the State.
In 1821, the southern portion of Niagara county was set off and organized as Erie county, with boundaries substantially as they exist at present. Although Erie county had no legal existence until 1821, yet, practically, its history reaches back to 1808, at which time Niagara county was created, with the village of Buffalo, as the county seat. As a matter of course, official documents and records affecting that portion of Niagara, embraced in the new county of Erie, were left and still remain in the Buffalo office.
An association known as The Holland Land Company, being the owners of a large portion of the territory of Western New York, took the first step in 1801, towards founding a town on the present site of Buffalo, in causing a survey to be made, and a plat to be prepared, and gave to the proposed settlement the name of New
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Amsterdam. Canandaigua and Batavia were the two principal settlements in Western New York at that time. Rochester was unknown-even the " blazed trail" through the forest from Can- andaigua to Batavia did not take the Flour City in its course.
About this time an unusual inclination to "Go West" was de- veloped in New England. The tide of emigration spread over the State, and Western New York was ultimately occupied by the sturdy yeomanry from the Atlantic seaboard whose decendants now constitute the intelligent population of a greater portion of the Empire State. Buffalo gained its full share of the new comers from eastern settlements, and grew apace. At the breaking out of the war of 1812, its population was about 1,500.
Its prosperity was somewhat impeded by an untimely visit from the British soldiery in December, 1813, who crossed the Niagara river at Black Rock, and destroyed the entire town by fire, with the exception of two dwellings. This check to the growth of the place was only temporary. The village was soon rebuilt, its dimensions enlarged, and its stability and future prosperity fully assured. The raid and fire brands of the British reduced its population to less than 1,000, but it soon retrieved its losses, and in 1820, numbered over 2,000. In 1825, it counted over 5,000 residents, and, in 1830, it boasted of nearly 8,000.
In 1813, New Amsterdam was incorporated by act of the legis- lature as the " Village of Buffaloe." The trustees named in the act, neglecting to organize, the law became void, and a new act was passed for a similar purpose the following year. The same fate attended this second effort to incorporate the village, and a third act was passed in 1816, from which period dates the corporate existence of the "Queen City of the Lakes."
In 1832, the place had grown to that importance which justified further promotion, and it was incorporated as a city, with a mayor, common council, and other necessary city offices. The charter has frequently been amended to meet the demands of increasing popu- lation and growing wealth, which have signally marked the his- tory of the city. Its population has increased since its first incor- poration as follows : 1832, 10,000 ; 1835, 15,000; 1840, 18,000; 1845, 30,000 ; 1850, 42,000; 1855, 74,000; 1860, 81,000; 1865, 94,000; 1870, 118,000; 1875, 140,000; and in 1876, probably 150,000. The same ratio of increase until the close of the. present century, or until 1901, the centennial of the founding of Buffalo, will give the city a population of more than 500,000.
THE
CITY AND COUNTY HALL.
A DETAILED STATEMENT OF ITS INCEPTION, CONSTRUCTION AND COST, WITH A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE STRUCTURE.
ITS INCEPTION.
IT cannot be truthfully said that, hitherto, the city of Buffalo has been extravagant in its public buildings. With a population of more than one hundred thousand, and a wealth equal to that of most any city of its size, it has for several years continued in the occupancy of indifferent structures, until a suitable building-one commensurate not .only with the present wants of the people, but for many years in the future-could be provided. The question of erecting such an edifice had often been discussed, and various plans had been submitted to attain the object, yet nothing positive was accomplished in the matter until the year 1870, when the project took definite shape by the introduction in the Common Council, on the twenty-first day of November, by Alderman John Pierce, of the following resolution :
" Resolved, That the Mayor, Comptroller, City Clerk, Gibson T. Williams, Esq., and James M. Smith, Esq., be and are hereby ap- pointed a committee to take into consideration the project of build- ing a new City Hall, and the expediency of including in the esti- mates for the next year the sum of fifty thousand dollars, enabling the city to commence the erection of the City Hall."
This resolution, on the motion of A'ld. Evans, was referred to the Committee on Finance. On the twelfth of December, 1870, the Finance Committee reported in favor of its adoption, and it was adopted without division.
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At a meeting of the Common Council, held on the twenty-fourth of December, 1870, the Finance Committee submitted a report, signed by all the members thereof, recommending the construction of a building to accommodate city and county officers, and recom- mending legislative action authorizing the appointment of a com- mission to procure a site, and construct such building. This report was also adopted by the Council without division.
THE COMMISSION.
On the twenty-first of April, 1871, the Legislature passed an act entitled " An act in relation to the location and erection of public buildings for the use of Erie county and the city of Buffalo." Messrs. James M. Smith, Dennis Bowen, Albert P. Laning, Jasper B. Youngs, and Allen Potter, were appointed by the governor a Board of Commissioners to select a site for, and erect such build- ings, and on the twenty-second of May, 1871, the commissioners reported to the Common Council that they had selected Franklin square, bounded by Franklin, Eagle, Delaware and Church streets, as the site. On September 18, 1871, the Council adopted an ordi- nance setting apart the square named. In May, 1872, the follow- ing gentlemen were added to the Commission, in pursuance of an act of the Legislature, viz .: James Adams, Philip Becker, John Nice, and George S. Wardwell.
On the ninth of May, 1873, Mr. James M. Smith, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners, sent in his resignation as a member thereof, and Mr. George S. Wardwell was elected chairman in his stead, Mr. Geo. W. Hayward being elected commissioner in place of Mr. Smith.
At a meeting of the Common Council, held October 16, 1871, the Board of Commissioners, in compliance with a resolution previously passed by the Common Council, submitted a communication esti- mating the cost of the proposed public buildings at $772,000.
On the twenty-second of October, 1873, the commissioners sent a communication to the Council, giving the "original estimate" in detail, the amount footing up $799,734. To this was added an "amended estimate," as follows :
Additional for granite in place of local stone $222,500
Additional for granite setting. 26,000
Additional for hard wood floors in place of white pine 5,000
Additional for wainscoting of black walnut in place of pine base 14,000
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Additional for veneered doors in place of solid .
$10,000
Additional for hard wood casings in place of pine. 45,000
Additional for washbasins in rooms. 5,000
Additional for heating
25,000
Additional for finishing hard wood throughout. 10,000
Additional for anchors. 5,000
Additional for laying and additional cost of brick. 25,000
Additional for principal iron stair-case
3,000
Additional for gas fixtures.
5,000
Additional for Superintendent's salary
7,000
Total
$407,500
This would make the total cost, as finally agreed upon, $1,207,234. On the twelfth of April, 1875, the legislature passed an act amend- ing " An act in relation to the location and erection of public buildings for the use of Erie county and the city of Buffalo," by which it was provided that one-half the expense incurred in erect- ing said Hall, and completing and furnishing the same ready for use, should be borne and paid by the city of Buffalo, and the other half by the county of Erie, and all expenses to be incurred after the erection and completion thereof, for repairing, warming, lighting, and care thereof, should be borne and paid by the city and county in the same proportions.
This act also provided that the whole amount to be expended by the commissioners should not exceed one million four hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Also, that the commissioners should com- plete all the duties assigned them within six years from the time of their first meeting.
THE ARCHITECT.
The Board of Commissioners met on the second of May, 1871, and organized by electing James M. Smith, Esq., chairman. On the nineteenth of June Mr. Bowen moved that a committee of two be appointed to prepare and report plans, and procure the services of a capable architect to assist them. Messrs. Bowen and Laning were appointed such committee.
On the twenty-fifth of April, 1872, it was reported that Mr. A. J. Warner, of Rochester, had been selected as architect, that his plan had been accepted, and a contract entered into with him, which contract had been signed by all the commissioners. By the terms of the contract Mr. Warner was to receive $24,000 for furnishing the plans, specifications, working-drawings, &c.
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MISCELLANEOUS.
From a report made by the Building Commission, the following general information is gleaned :
JULY 18, 1871 .- The chairman was authorized to enter into a contract with S. H. Fields, for his services as Superintendent of the City and County Hall, at a salary not exceeding $2,500 per annum. Notices were also directed to be published requesting samples of stone to be furnished by the first of September, and inviting tenders for stone for the foundation walls.
Proposals for foundation stone were received from Lewis F. Allen and Nicholas Uebelhoer. The proposition of Mr. Uebelhoer was accepted at $6.50 per cord, delivered.
A proposition was received from the Akron Cement Company, to furnish cement at $1.00 per barrel, which was accepted.
AUGUST 17th .- The chairman was authorized to contract with Mr. J. Gallagher to excavate and remove the earth for the basement and foundation walls, at a sum not exceeding twenty-seven cents per cubic yard.
OCTOBER 7th .- On motion of Mr. Laning, the superintendent was authorized to contract for the quick lime for this season at ninety cents per barrel. This contract price was afterwards reduced to 88 cents.
OCTOBER 18th .- On motion of Mr. Bowen, the chairman was authorized to advertise for proposals for furnishing stone to be used in the construction of the building.
NOVEMBER 17th .- The following propositions for stone accom- panied with samples were received:
Clough Stone Company, North Amherst, Ohio, one dollar per cubic foot, unwrought.
Worthington & Son, Amherst stone, ninety-five cents per cubic foot, unwrought.
Conieff & Dee, Onondaga gray marble, one dollar per cubic foot, unwrought; wrought, one dollar and fifty cents ; wrought and set in wall at one dollar and seventy-three cents; wrought and set in wall in gross for $250,000. They would also furnish the Oswego brown stone, wrought and set in the walls in gross for $225,000.
Lyman Baker, Berea Stone Company, Ohio; Berea stone, wrought and set in wall in gross for $278,000.
Bodwell Granite Company, Hallowell, Maine ; unwrought granite, $3.25 per cubic foot ; wrought and set in wall, $3.65; unwrought, in gross, $149,500; wrought, in gross, $422,500; wrought and set in the wall, in gross, $474,500.
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M. H. St. John and George Mark, Clark's Island granite, wrought, $3.10 per cubic foot; unwrought, $1.00 per cubic foot; unwrought, in gross, $130,000; wrought, in gross, $403,000.
DECEMBER 19, 1871 .- On motion of Mr. Bowen, the chairman was authorized to contract with J. S. & F. H. Youngs for quick lime, at eighty-seven and one-half cents per barrel. Also that the exterior of the City and County Hall be constructed of granite.
On motion of Mr. Laning, the chairman, Mr. Bowen, and the architect were appointed a committee to contract with Messrs. Mark and St. John, to furnish and deliver granite from their quarry at Clark' Island, cut in accordance with the plans and specifications, under the direction of the architect, upon the basis of 130,000 cubic feet for $360,000, the price to be increased or diminished in propor- tion to the quantity required. The chairman and Mr. Bowen were also authorized to contract with Brush Bros. for all the brick re- quired, on such terms as to quantity and price as they might deem expedient.
MARCH 27, 1872 .- The chairman reported that a contract had been executed with Brush Bros. for all the brick required-2,000,000 to be delivered at six dollars per thousand, and the balance at the market price at the time of delivery, but the price not to exceed at any time $7.25 per thousand.
On motion of Mr. Bowen, the chairman was authorized to con- tract for the iron columns at a price not exceeding seven cents per pound.
APRIL 25, 1872 .- The chairman also reported that"he had exe- cuted a contract with Dunbar & Howell for the iron columns- those in the basement to be delivered at six cents per pound, and those in the upper stories at six and one-half cents per pound.
OCTOBER 11, 1872 .- Mr. Cooley S. Chapin was appointed super- intendent in place of S. H. Fields, and Addison P. Mason, clerk, in place of Frederick Masten.
OCTOBER 21st .- On motion of Mr. Adams, a committee consisting of the chairman, and Messrs. Wardwell and Bowen was appointed to procure models of the statues to be placed on the tower.
DECEMBER 31, 1872 .- The chairman reported that a contract had been executed with Mr. Berger, of New York, to furnish the models for the statues.
On motion of Mr. Bowen, the chairman and Messrs. Becker and Youngs were appointed a committee with authority to purchase or contract for the purchase of the lumber required in the construction of the Hall, and provide a place for storing it, and cause it to be insured.
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MARCH 12, 1873 .- The chairman reported that a contract had been executed with Scatcherd & Belton to furnish the lumber required in the erection of the building.
On motion of Mr. Bowen, a committee consisting of the chairman and Messrs. Wardwell and Laning was appointed, with authority to contract for the construction of the statues to be placed on the tower. An estimate of the cost of constructing these statues was invited from Messrs. Batterson & Co., of Hartford, Conn. The price fixed by them for executing them was $22,000. The commit- tee executed a contract with Messrs. Mark & St. John, the contract- ors, for furnishing the granite of the building
APRIL 8, 1873 .- Mr. Adams offered a resolution that the plan of the City and County Hall be so modified and changed that the ex- terior surface of the stone above the first story, which, according to the plan heretofore adopted should have a rock-finish, shall be dressed in the style known as six-steel-cut work, provided the con- tractors for furnishing such stone shall assent to such change, and contract to furnish such stone in the last-mentioned style, at a rate and price not to exceed two dollars per square foot on the surface, for the additional cutting of the stones to be caused by such change, and exclusive of openings. The resolution was adopted, and the chairman was authorized to execute a contract with Mark & St. John in accordance therewith.
SEPTEMBER 2, 1873 .- On motion of Mr. Bowen, a resolution was adopted directing that the frames of the roof be constructed of the best kind of pine timber, and that the chairman and superintendent be authorized to purchase such timber at the best rate procurable.
The chairman and Messrs. Adams and Bowen were appointed a committee to examine into and report upon the best manner of heating and ventilating the building.
DECEMBER 19th .- The chairman and Messrs. Bowen and Hay- ward were appointed a committee to procure estimates of the cost of doors, sash and stairs.
The following is a summary of the prices paid for materials:
Brick, $6@7 per thousand.
Cement, $1.00 per barrel.
Excavating foundation. 27 cents per cubic yard.
Foundation stone, $6.50 per cord.
Granite prepared for setting, $2.77 per cubic foot.
Granite, dressed surface for all above first story, and not included in former contract, $2.00 per sup. foot, exclusive of openings.
Iron beams. 5 to 72 cents per pound.
Iron columns, 6 to 62 cents per pound.
Lumber, basswood plank, $18.00 to $20.00 per thousand feet. Roof timber, Norway pine, $23.00 per thousand feet.
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Flooring, Georgia pine, $45.00 per thousand feet. Black walnut lumber, $66.25 per thousand feet. Quick lime, 872 cents per barrel. Sand and gravel, $1.50 per yard.
Ground was first broken for the foundation of the building on the twenty-first of August, 1871.
THE GENERAL PLAN
is in the form of a double Roman cross, with the bases adjoining, and extending longitudinally north and south; the body of the cross covering a space of 114 x 255 feet ; the arms and heads having each 20 feet projection and 52 feet front. The building thus has a total length of 295 feet, and a total width of 158 feet. The princi- pal facade is on Franklin street, and in the center of the same is the clock and bell-tower, projecting 12 feet from the main building. The tower is 40 feet square at the base, and rises to a height of 268 feet. In the center of the Delaware street front is also a projection of 5 feet in depth and 45 feet in length.
THE EXTERIOR.
The first or principal story is finished with rock-face or pointed work, with heavy chamfers and tooled margins, and heavy project- ing water-table. The second and third stories are finished with pilasters between the openings, with molded or carved capitals, re- ceiving the arches and lintels of the windows. The jambs of all the windows have deep reveals, with heavy imposts and mullions. The pilasters between the windows in the second and third stories. in the pavilions at each end of the building, extend the full height of both stories. At each external angle of the pavilions there is a turret six feet square, with a pointed curved roof.
The cornice of the building is finished with plain modillions, and surmounted with a parapet 74 feet above the ground. The roofs are steep, covered with slate, and rise to a height of 105 feet from the ground. There is a turret, eight feet square, at each of the four corners of the large central tower, extending to a height of 166 feet from the ground, and surmounted with a pedestal. Upon these turrets stand the statues.
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