USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > Albany bi-centennial. Historical memoirs > Part 4
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Tablet No. 8-Old St. Mary's.
Bronze tablet, 16x22 inches, inserted in wall of present edifice of that name on Pine street. Inscription :
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" Site of Old St. Mary's-Built A. D. 1797. The First Catholic Parish Church in Albany and second in the State. The entrance directly under this Tablet.
"A Second Building on this Same Spot, Facing on Chapel Street, was the Original Cathedral of this Diocese."
Tablet No. 9-First Presbyterian Church.
Bronze tablet, 16x22 inches, inserted in the wall of build- ing north-east corner of Grand and Hudson streets. In- scribed thereon :
" Site of the First Presbyterian Church-Built 1763- Removed 1796."
Tablet No. 10-Schuyler Mansion.
Bronze tablet, 16x22 inches, inserted in front of wall inclosing grounds on Catherine street. It informs the be- holder that there stood :
" The Schuyler Mansion-Erected by General Brad- street, 1762. Washington, Franklin, Gates, De Rocham- beau, Lafayette, and most of the great men of that time were entertained here. Gen's Burgoyne and Reidesel as guests-though Prisoners of War 1777. Alexander Hamil- ton and Elizabeth Schuyler Married here in 1780."
Tablet No. 11-Fort Frederick.
Located head of State street, in sidewalk, near the curb on lower edge of Capitol Park-Bronze tablet, 11X23 inches, set in granite block similar to No. 7. Inscription : " Facing the River on an Eminence in this Broad street opposite St. Peter's Church Stood Fort Frederick. Built about 1676-Removed 1789. Gallows Hill to the South- Fort Burial Ground to the North."
Tablet No. 12-Philip Livingston.
Bronze tablet, 16x22 inches, inserted in Tweddle build- ing over Sautter's apothecary store. Inscription :
" Upon this Site Philip Livingston, One of the signers of the Declaration of Independence was Born 1716."
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Tablet No. 13-Anneke Janse Bogardus.
Bronze tablet, 16x22 inches, placed on front door pier of State Street side Farmers and Mechanics' Bank. Inscrip- tion :
" Upon this Corner stood the House Occupied by, and wherein died, Anneke Janse Bogardus, 1663, The Former Owner of Trinity Church property, New York."
Tablet No. 14-The Old Lansing House.
Bronze tablet, 11X23, inserted in a granite block, similar to No. 7, in walk in front of the present house at Pearl and Columbia streets. Inscription :
" Built 1710-Known for 68 years as the Pemberton Corner-a Trading House outside of the Stockade."
Tablet No. 15-Oldest Building in Albany.
Located in south-east corner of State and North Pearl streets-Bronze tablet, 16x 22 inches, inserted in Pearl street wall of Staats' house. Inscription :
" The Oldest Building in Albany-Built 1667. Birth- place of Gen. Philip Schuyler And Elizabeth Schuyler, wife of Alexander Hamilton-Adjoining on the West was the Famous ' Lewis Tavern.' South Pearl street was formerly Washington Street and was but twelve feet wide, having a Gate at this place."
Tablet No. 16-Old Elm Tree Corner.
Located on north-west corner of State and North Pearl streets-Bronze tablet, 11x23 inches, in a granite block, similar to No. 7, placed near curb. Inscription :
" Old Elm Tree corner-so named from a Tree Planted here by Philip Livingston about 1735-Removed 1877, Also the site upon which were Published Webster's famous Reading and Spelling Book and Almanac and the first Albany Newspaper, The Albany Gazette, 1771."
Tablet No. 17-Vanderheyden Palace.
Bronze tablet, 16x22 inches, inserted in front of wall of Perry building. Inscription :
" Site of Vanderheyden Palace. Erected 1725. De- molished to make space for the First Baptist Church, 1833."
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Tablet No. 18-Lydius Corner.
On north-east corner of State and North Pearl streets- Bronze tablet, 16x22 inches, inserted in Pearl street wall. Inscription :
" Upon this Site Stood the First Brick Building said to have been Erected in North America. Of Material Im- ported from Holland for the Rev. Gideon Schaet's Par- sonage."
Tablet No. 19-Washington's Visit.
Bronze tablet, 16x22 inches, inserted in Beaver street wall of building north-west corner of Beaver and Green streets. Inscription :
" Site of Hugh Denniston's Tavern. The First Stone House in Albany, Where Gen. Washington was Presented with the Freedom of the City in 1782 and 1783. It was removed During the Year of the First Cholera, 1832."
Tablet No. 20-First Theatre.
Bronze tablet, 16x22 inches, placed in the front wall of the original building, the present Green Street Theatre. Inscription :
" First Theatre Erected in Albany Upon this Spot, 1811. First Theatrical Representation Given (place not known) by British Officers Quartered in Albany, 1760, During the French war. The First Professionals Played at the Old Hospital, Present Site of Lutheran Church, Corner of Pine and Lodge Streets, 1769."
Tablet No. 21-First English Schoolmaster.
Located on the High School building-Bronze tablet, 16x 22 inches, in face of front wall :
" The Governor's License Granted Unto John Shutte for Teaching of the English Tongue at Albany : Whereas, The Teaching of the English Tongue is necessary in this Government, I have therefore thought fitt to give Lycence to John Shutte to be the English Schoolmaster at Albany. And upon Condition that the said John Shutte shall not demand more Wages from Each Scholar than is custom- arily given by the Dutch to their Dutch Schoolmasters. ]
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have further granted to the said John Shutte that hee shall bee the only English Schoolmaster at Albany. Given under my hand at Fort James in New York the 12th day of October, 1665.
RICHARD NICOLLS, Governor."
Tablet No. 22-Foxen Kill.
Bronze tablet, 16x 22 inches, in southern wall of building north-west corner of Canal and North Pearl streets. In- scription :
" Foxen Kill-Ancient Water Course flowing in Early Times to the River-Now Arched Over. This is Canal, Formerly Fox Street."
Tablet No. 23-Beaver Kill.
Bronze tablet, 11X 23 inches, set in granite block in side- walk, near curb, similar to No. 7, corner of South Pearl and Arch streets. Inscription :
" Beaver Kill-Ancient Water Course flowing to the River now Arched Over. Buttermilk Falls in the Ravine to the West."
Tablet No. 24-City Gate where News of Burning of Schenectady was Received.
Bronze tablet, 24x32 inches, in face of north wall of American Express building, at Broadway and Steuben streets Inscription :
" Near this Spot, a little to the East, Stood the North- East Gate of the City-Here it was that Simon Schermer- horn, at five o'clock in the Morning, 'die Sabbithi,' Feb- ruary 9, 1690-Himself Shot in the Thigh and His Horse wounded-After a Hard Ride in the Intense Cold and Deep Snow, By the Way of Niskayuna, Arrived with just Enough Strength to Awaken the Guard at the Gate and Alarm the People of Albany with the News that Schenec- tady was Burning and the Inhabitants Being Murdered- Simon's Son, Together with His Three Negroes, was Killed on that Fatal Night by the French and Indians. Simon went to New York soon after and Died There, 1696. To the North was the 'Old Colonie' and the Road to the Canadas-Through this Gate in their Departure for the
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North Passed the Many Detachments of Troops Rendez- voused Here at Albany. The Remains of Lord Howe were Brought Back this Way and Burgoyne Returned a Prisoner."
Tablet No. 25-Manor House, Albany.
Bronze tablet, 11X23 inches, set in granite, same as No. 7, near the present business office of the Van Rensselaers, west side Troy road, or Broadway, at that point. Inscrip- tion :
" Opposite Van Rensselaer Manor House. Erected, 1765. Residence of the Patroons. This Spot is the Site of the First Manor House."
Tablet No. 26-Johannes Van Rensselaer.
In bronze, 7 x 16 inches, set in the wall of the original mansion on the Greenbush banks. Inscription :
" This Manor House, Built by Johannes Van Rensselaer, 1642."
Tablet No. 27-Joel Munsell.
Bronze tablet, 16x22 inches, set in old gable building, Nos. 58 and 60 State street. Inscription :
" In gratitude to Joel Munsell, printer, of Albany, who, a native of Massachusetts, did more than all other men to preserve the Ancient Records of his adopted city. Born 1808-Died 1880. This is the spot where he begun his earliest work."
Tablet No. 28-North-West Gate.
Bronze tablet, 9x 13 inches, set in building occupied by Johnston & Reilly, North Pearl street. Inscription :
" Here Stood the Northwest Gate of the city. On this Spot De Witt Clinton, the Projector of the Great Erie Canal, Died February 11, 1828."
Tablet No. 29-The North-East Gate.
Bronze tablet, 11 X23 inches, in a granite block, similar to No. 7, in the walk, near the curb, in front of Van Ben- thuysen's Printing and Publishing House on Broadway. Inscription :
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" On the northeast corner of Broadway, then Court street, and Hudson, then Spanish street, stood the Second City Hall, Erected 1705, in which the Famous Congress of 1754 Met and Prepared a Union of the Several Colonies for Mutual Defense and Security. The Southeast Gate of the City stood in Front, to the south of the City Hall. To the north of this Spot a Bridge crossed the Rutten Kill, and on this Ground was the house where lived Peter Schuyler, the first and for sixteen successive years Mayor of this City."
Tablet No. 30-First Methodist Church.
Bronze tablet, 16x22 inches, placed in wall of building south-east corner of North Pearl and Orange streets. In- scription :
" On this southeast corner of Orange and North Pearl Streets, was Erected the first Methodist Church 1792."
Tablet No. 31-Academy Park.
Bronze tablet, 11X 23 inches, inserted in granite block, similar to No. 7, placed in Academy Park. Inscription :
" On this Ground the Constitution of the United States was Ratified in 1788. In 1856 the Dedicatory Ceremonies of the Dudley Observatory and in 1864 the Great Army Relief Bazaar were held Here."
Tablet No. 32-Washington Avenue.
Bronze tablet, 7x 16 inches, placed on corner of Capitol building. Inscription :
" Washington Avenue, formerly King, then Lion Street."
Tablet No. 33-Hamilton Street.
Bronze tablet, 7x16 inches, corner building at Hamil- ton and Pearl streets. Inscription :
" Hamilton Street formerly Kilbey Lane."
Tablet No. 34-Dean Street.
Bronze tablet, 7x15 inches, in Government building cor- ner State and Dean streets. Inscription :
" Dean Street, formerly Dock Street."
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Tablet No. 35-State Street.
Bronze tablet, 7x 16 inches, on old Museum corner. In- scription :
" State Street, formerly Yonkers, or Gentlemen's Street."
Tablet No. 36-James Street.
Bronze tablet, 7x 16 inches, on Mechanics and Farmers' Bank. Inscription :
" James Street, formerly Middle Lane."
Tablet No. 37-Eagle Street.
Bronze tablet, 7x 16 inches, on corner building State and Eagle streets. Inscription :
" Eagle Street, formerly Duke Street."
Tablet No. 38-Exchange Street.
Bronze tablet, 7x16 inches, north side of Government building. Inscription :
" Exchange Street, formerly Mark Lane."
Tablet No. 39-Norton Street.
Bronze tablet, 7x 16 inches, north side of Beaver block. Inscription :
" Norton Street, formerly Store Lane."
Tablet No. 40-Franklin Street.
Bronze tablet, 7x 16 inches, corner Franklin and Madi- son avenue. Inscription :
" Franklin Street, formerly Frelinghuysen Street."
Tablet No. 41-Clinton Avenue.
Bronze tablet, 7x16 inches, corner North Pearl street. Inscription :
" Clinton Avenue, formerly Patroon Street-North of this Street was the ' Old Colonie.' "
Tablet No. 42-Monroe Street.
Bronze tablet, 7x 16 inches, south side of Dutch Re- formed Church. Inscription :
" Monroe Street, formerly Van Schaick Street."
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Mr. McClure, from the Special Committee on Re- ligious Services, offered the following propositions, which were adopted :
"First. That in each church in the city on Sun- day, July 18, there be made acknowledgements of God's mercy in the past, of our imperfections and sins, and prayers for future blessings.
"Second. That each denomination arrange for such Union Memorial service of that denomination and at such time as it deems best.
"Third. That the Mayor and Common Council be invited to these Union Memorial services." It was the opinion of the meeting that the Mayor and Common Council might, in addition to the Union Memorial service of each denomination, semi-offici- ally designate St. Mary's or the Cathedral in the morning, the First Reformed in the afternoon and St. Peters in the evening, as the churches where the municipality would be officially represented at the services.
Friday, July 23, 1886, was eliminated from the programme, and the Trades' Parade was transferred to Monday, the 19th of July.
June 17, 1886. The Chairman announced receipt of the following letter of acknowledgment :
THE HAGUE, Holland, May 21, 1886.
HONORABLE A. BLEECKER BANKS, MAYOR:
DEAR SIR-With many thanksgivings for the invitation to participate in the festivities, which the city of Albany intends to celebrate for the occasion of its two hundredth anniversary, we are obliged to express you our regret of being prevented to assist at the festival on the 22d July next. Nevertheless, it may be permitted to us, to congrat-
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ulate you heartily in the name of the Common Council and the inhabitants of The Hague, with the happy occurrence, and to speak out the wishes for your continually flourishing city and its magistrates.
THE BURGOMASTER.
The appointment of and acceptance, by the Right Rev. William Croswell Doane, Bishop of Albany, as Chaplain of Bi-centennial Day, was reported and accepted.
June 24, 1886. The Committee on Bi-centennial Flag presented a copy of the design together with the following explanatory report :
FLOAT IT ON THE OUTER WALLS.
Accurate description and cut of the Bi-centennial flag :
A heraldic representation of the political and dy- nastic history of Albany for two hundred and seventy- nine years.
The Bi-centennial flag represents, heraldically, in combination, the political and dynastic history of Albany for two hundred and seventy-nine years.
There are six flags shown. The first is the na- tional ensign of the United Provinces of the Nether- lands as the same was adopted in 1582, at the sug- gestion of William, the first prince of Nassau. It consisted of orange, white and blue, arranged in three equal horizontal stripes.
Henry Hudson was an English mariner in the ser- vice of the Dutch East India Company, and floated its flag when, in 1609, he visited the site now known as Albany. It was the flag of the Netherlands, with
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the letters A. O. C. in the centre of the white stripe, the letters standing for the words "Algeemene Oost Indies Compagnie," " The General East India Com- pany ;" and that, presumably, was Albany's flag until 1622, when the government of the colony fell into the hands of the " Gooctroyeerde West Indies Com- pagnie," "The Privileged West India Company," whose flag was the national ensign, with the letters G. W. C. in a monogram on the white stripe in the place and stead of the letters A. O. C.
After the death of William (1650), a red stripe was substituted for the orange stripe in the national colors of the Netherlands. So in the Bi-centennial standard the two flags of yellow, white, and red, white and blue represent the period of the Dutch supremacy, 1609-1664.
As all the flags that have waived over Albany could not have been practically shown in combina- tion, it was thought advisable to give the preference to the national ensigns. So the flags of the Nether- lands, proper, was used, and not those of the Dutch India companies.
The Patroons had a flag, but no research or in- quiry among the Van Rensselaers of to-day could give its details.
The white flag in the first quarter is the municipal flag, a white field with the coat of arms of the city emblazoned. The arms were copied from the earli- est known drawing, one made on a city map, bearing date 1790, by Simeon De Witt, a brave revolution- ary officer of Washington's staff, and were evidently adopted some time between 1785 and 1790.
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The flag in the second quarter is the British jack, as it then appeared, and represents the period of the English ascendency from 1664 to 1776.
It is commonly called the Union Jack, from James I (Jacques). The national ensign of England was the banner of St. George, a red cross on a white field, and that of Scotland was the banner of St. Andrew, a silver St. Andrew's cross in a blue field. On the union of the two crowns, James I issued a proclamation that "all subjects of this isle and the kingdom of Great Britain should bear in the main top the red cross, commonly called St. George's cross, and the white cross, commonly called St. An- drew's cross, joined together according to the forms made by our own heralds."
The banner of St. Patrick, a soltaire gules on a field argent, was not added until after the union in 1801. The third quarter contains the jack of the colonial flag, known as the flag of New England in America.
It is the red cross of St. George, with a globe, showing a piece cut out, representing a new hemi- sphere discovered. The flag was blue. The colonial flag was adopted some time subsequent to 1688, when James II, formerly the Duke of York, annexed to the government of the New England colonies, the Provinces of New York and East and West New Jer- sey, with the territories thereto belonging, when all for a time were known as New England in America. This flag is sometimes represented with a pine tree in the place of the globe.
The fourth quarter proper, in order of time and in
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heraldry, is the jack of the Stars and Stripes, a white star for each State, in a blue field, representing a new constellation found.
Thus, we have in Albany's Bi-centennial standard of 1886, the flags of the Dutch Netherlands binding together the city, the British, colonial and union periods.
All the flags are not represented. There were others of special design used by the colony for lim- ited periods, rare, curious and interesting, but not properly within the scope and design of the Bi- centennial standard. It was neither practicable nor within the funds of the committee to add special and local colors of no political significance, and thus only the national flags were used.
The flags are printed on a very fine quality of cambric, in fast colors.
The staff is hickory, with a carved spear-head on the end.
It was not deemed practicable to print them on silk. The silk manufacturers would not bother with it, and, as a matter of fact, it was extremely difficult to get them printed on anything. The expense of a silk flag was entirely beyond the finances of the com- mittee, and, when completed, they would not be of much service for outside decoration, for the wind would tear a silk flag, the sun would make it fade, and the rain would cause the colors to run.
The committee has wisely determined to place these flags within the reach of all. It has placed the nominal figure of two dollars each on them, so that no person could consider himself too poor to add
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his mite to the funds now being raised by the Citi- zens' Committee to defray the expenses of the com- ing celebrations.
The citizen that floats on his outer walls the ban- ner of the Bi-centennial will bear witness to the world that he is public spirited, liberal, full of love for his native town, and a contributor in money to the suc- cess of the celebration of the two hundredth anni- versary of the granting of the charter to the city of Albany.
Resolutions were adopted requesting the Schuy- ler family to loan to the Bi-centennial Commission the original portrait in oil of Peter Schuyler, the first Mayor of the city of Albany; and for the pur- chase of two gold medals, to be presented, one to the orator and one to the poet of the Bi-centennial exercises.
The following communication was read :
THE HAGUE, Holland, June 15, 1886.
HON. A. BLEECKER BANKS, MAYOR :
SIR-It is with much pleasure that we beg to inform you by these presents that Dr. T. Bloom Coster, M. D., one of the most distinguished citizens and physicians of our town, intends to pay a visit to Albany, at the jubilee of that city on the 22d of July next. Having requested him to be the interpreter of the sincere wishes the Hague and her Magis- trate entertain for the prosperity and welfare of your flour- ishing and thriving city, we have the honor of introducing Dr. Bloom Coster to you in that quality, and recommend him to your kind reception.
We are, sir, your most sincere servants,
THE BURGOMASTER.
THE TOWN CLERK.
Also acknowledgment and acceptance of the com-
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mittee's invitation of the Hon. Robert A. Maxwell, State Superintendent of Insurance.
STATE OF NEW YORK INSURANCE DEPARTMENT, ALBANY, N. Y., June 24, 1886.
Hon. A. BLEECKER BANKS,
Ex-Mayor and Chairman of the Citizens' Bi-centen- nial Committee :
DEAR SIR-I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your kind invitation to participate with the Governor, Lieutenant-Governor and State officers in the celebration, on the 22d of July next, of the two hundredth anniversary of the granting of the charter of the city of Albany by Governor Thomas Dongan, and take great pleasure in accepting the same.
Very respectfully yours, R. A. MAXWELL.
Also from L. W. Winchester, Colonel of the Veteran Corps of the Seventh Regiment, National Guards, S. N. Y., New York city, acknowledging the receipt of the invitation to participate in the celebration. Also the following :
THE HOLLAND SOCIETY OF NEW YORK, NEW YORK, June 22, 1886. 5 Mr. JAMES H. MANNING,
Cor. Secy. Albany Bi-centennial Committee :
MY DEAR SIR-At a meeting of the Holland Society of New York, held June 15, 1886, it was resolved that this society will accept the invitation so cordially extended to us in your favor of June 14. Judge Hooper C. Van Vorst, address, County Court House, New York, and Abraham Van Santvoord, 55 Broadway, New York, were appointed a special committee to represent us, with as many of the members as may be able to attend your celebration.
Yours cordially, GEORGE W. VAN SICLEN, Secretary.
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The Committee on Medals presented the design that had been adopted. The scene represents Gov- ernor Dongan seated at his desk with Livingston at his right and Schuyler at his left, and is founded on the statement of the initial pages of our city records that Livingston and Schuyler went to New York for the city charter. Livingston was the son of a Scotch minister and was then about thirty years of age. He is represented in Puritanical dress. Schuyler is at- tired in military costume. Dongan's hat and sword hang on the wall near the old-fashioned clock. The seal of the city and the inscription "In memory of the two hundredth anniversary of the city of Albany, N. Y., 1886," are represented on the other side. They recommended that the medals be put on sale, the white metal for twenty-five cents and the bronze for one dollar each.
July 1, 1886. The following order of exercises was adopted for opening the celebration :
ORDER OF EXERCISES.
In ye matter of ye solemn Proclamation, ye free- dom of ye citty to ye Inhabitants of divers parts who shall or may assemble at ye Ancient gates of ye citty of Albany, on Monday, ye nineteenth day of July, 1886, to make rejoicing with ye Inhabitants of ye sd citty for ye celebration of ye 200th anniversary of ye Charter, it hath been determined :
First. That ye sd publication be done at nine o'clock of ye morning on ye said nineteenth day of July, with all due ceremonial by ye Mayor, Alder- men and Commonalty of ye citty of Albany.
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Second. Yt ye sd Ceremonial shall be conducted according to ye established usage of this Antient citty as doth appear in ye official Records of ye same.
Third. Search being mayde in ye minutes of ye Affayres of ye sd Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of ye citty of Albany showeth, yt on ye 13th day of January, 1689 (O. S.), proclamation was made against divers seditious persons claiming authority fromm one Captain Jacob Leisler, of N. York, (un- lawfully usurping ye govt. of their Ma'ties William and Mary) in the which proceeding it doth appear in ye said minutes, as follows :
The Mayor with ye Recorder and Aldermen, and ye Justices, and ye Common Council, marched from their Majesties Fort (The Marshall going before with a White Rod) accompanied with diverse of ye Ancient Citizens with a guarde of Fifty Inhabitants in arms. The Mayor as ye king's Leift, together with ye Recorder, Alderman Shaik and Captain Marte Gerritse, Justice of ye Peace, as soon as they came within ye Citty Gates, went with their Swords Pointed : Then followed ye other Aldermen, and Justices and Common Council, and Sundry Citizens, and then the Guards, and in this posture with Drumms Beateing, came to ye plain before ye Church, where the Bell Rung thrice. Then ye Mayor made a speech to ye Citizens, which flokd together, showing the Reasons why he came there in such manner. Then ye Protest was read there in English and Dutch. This being done they all went in ye same Posture through ye Principle Streets of ye Citty, and So up to ye Fort, where ye Guards were dismissed and thanked by ye Mayor, ye Present Commander of ye Fort for ye Service they had done their Majesties King William and Queen Mary that day, and ye Protest sent by ye Mar- shall to be affixed at ye Porch ye Church.
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