Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 150

Author: Howell, George Rogers, 1833-1899; Tenney, Jonathan, 1817-1888
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1452

USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations > Part 150

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Each of the contestants persistently claimed his right to act as Mayor. The case was taken to the Courts at last under a proposed compromise, by the terms of which Recorder W. S. Paddock was to act as Mayor pending the litigation. The case never came to trial. The Recorder served out the term of Perry and Quackenbush, each of whom received the full salary of Mayor. Mr. Perry was elected in April 13, 1858, by a vote of 4,699, to 4, 601 for Dr. Quackenbush, serving until April, 1860. Again he was elected for the two years from 1862-64. He held the office of Alderman and was two years a Member of Congress, and active and influential in banks and other public institutions.

He was born in Washington County, N. Y., December 25, 1799, and died in Albany, May 17, 1881. His biography appears at length in another part of this volume.

GEORGE H. THACHER, Mayor 1860-62, 1866- -68, 1870-74. Mr. Thacher was descended from the celebrated Rev. Thomas Thacher, the Puritan, and first pastor of the old South Congregational Church in Boston. On his mother's side he is grandson of the late Judge Hornell, of Hornells- ville, N. Y., where he was born June 4, 1818. His early life was one of penury and self-denial. In Albany, since 1848, his career has been one of business prosperity and public distinction. His biography appears in another part of this volume.

His election in 1872 was contested very hotly in the case of "The people ex rel. Edmund L. Jud- son vs. George H. Thacher." The trial resulted in a verdict for the defendants. An appeal to the Court of Appeals was taken, and resulted in an order for a new trial. Pending the new trial, Mr. Thacher resigned January 17, 1874, having served twenty months of his last term. During the litiga- tion concerning the Mayoralty, John G. Burch, President of the Board of Aldermen, acted as Mayor. Edmund L. Judson filled out the un- expired term of Thacher, and was elected for the full succeeding term.

CHARLES E. BLEECKER, Mayor 1868-70. Grace Strover, the wife of Mr. Bleecker, died August 28, 1868.

EDMUND L. JUDSON, Mayor 1874 to 1876, is a grandson of Nathaniel Judson, one of the New England immigrants who came from Connecticut to Albany in 1796, and son of Ichabod L. Judson, who kept a provision store herc many years, and

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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

was a prominent business man. Mr. Judson was born in this city, November 13, 1830, and suc- ceeded to the business of his father about thirty- five years ago. He is a member of the firm of Judson, Capron & Smith, dealers in flour and pro- visions, 359 and 361 Broadway. He was always a citizen well informed upon public affairs and actively interested in them, and yet not given to place-seeking. He was Alderman in 1862-66. His contest for the Mayor's office, to which he was no doubt elected in 1872, is mentioned under the sketch of Ex-Mayor Thacher. His influence, in a quiet way, is still a power in the Republican party and in civil affairs of the city.

A. BLEECKER BANKS, Mayor 1876-78 and 1884- 86, is a native of New York City. Since 1872 he has been a member of the law-publishing house of Banks Brothers, 475 Broadway-Mayor Banks residing at 327 State street, and his brother, David Banks, residing in New York City, in charge of the leading store. They are sons of David Banks, the founder of this ancient house, estab- lished in 1804. Mr. Banks represented Albany County in the Assembly in 1862, and in the State Senate in 1868-71. His last election as Mayor was by so small a majority over Dr. Swinburne, that many of his opponents doubted his legal elec- t'on, but no contest was made to unseat him. He is actively interested in several financial and business interests of the city, notably in the Albany

and Greenbush Bridge, and in the Albany and Greenbush Street Railway, of which corporations he is President.

MICHAEL N. NOLAN, Mayor 1878 to 1883, a native of Ireland. Mention of his resignation in June, 1883, is made in the sketch of Dr. Swinburne. He was a Member of the U. S. Congress in 1881 to 1883. After his resignation, Dr. W. H. Murray, President of the Common Council, was acting Mayor until Dr. Swinburne took the office. Mr. Nolan is President of the Beverwyck Brewing Co., 24 North Ferry street, of which the late Hon. Terence J. Quinn was a member. The firm is still called Quinn & Nolan, and is widely known for the production of lager. Mr. Nolan's sagacity and executive ability, either in business or in pub- lic affairs, is acknowledged by all who know him.

JOHN SWINBURNE, Mayor 1883-84. The biog- raphy of Dr. Swinburne is fully presented in an- other part of this volume. The contest for the office of Mayor at the Charter Election of 1882, was a very exciting one between Michael N. Nolan and John Swinburne. Nolan was declared elected by a small majority. Frauds were alleged and proved, and after a legal contest in the case, "The People ex rel. John Swinburne vs. Michael N. Nolan," Mr. Nolan resigned, after filling about fifteen months of the term, and Dr. Swinburne was seated in the chair June 25, 1883, and served the remainder of the term.

SOME VIEWS IN ALBANY ABOUT 1800.

STATE STREET, LOOKING EAST.

THE above cut represents a view of State street in 1805. We are supposed to be standing near the head of the street, in front of St. Peter's Church, and on the site of old Fort Frederick, a

strong, quadrangular fortification, with a bastion at each corner, which stood upon the high hill there. The altitude of its heavy stone walls was equal to that of the roof of St. Peter's at the present day. The

SOME VIEWS IN ALBANY ABOUT 1800.

667

above illustration gives a view, looking eastward, of the rough and irregular street, at the front of which is the old Dutch Church. The house on the left is that of Philip S. Van Rensselaer, a younger brother of the Patroon. The two houses next to Van Rensselaer's belonged to the Webster Brothers, and the frame building next to them was their office, and was familiarly known as Websters' corner. Next below Websters' is seen the Living- ston house and elm tree, and the Lydius house, occupying opposite corners. The house just below the Lydius corner is now occupied by the State Bank. Pearson, a tobacconist, and Dr. Dexter, a druggist, oc- cupied the next taller build- ings. Next east of Dexter's building was the Tontine Cof- fee House. Almost in front and at the steepest part of the street is seen one of the old well-curbs of the city, used be- fore the construction of water- works. The tall house seen over the angle of the old Dutch Church belonged to the Kanes, well-known merchants. The house on the right of the church, in range with the most distant lamp-post, be- longed to Dr. Mancius, and

the city post-office was kept there for some years.

In the portion of the street opposite to the Liv- ingston elm were two noble but dissimilar build- ings; one of them was erected by Herman Wendell in 1716, the other was built by John Stevenson in 1780. The former was in the ancient Dutch style.

The Stevenson House was in its day a wonder in archi- tecture, and in a style quite different from anything in Al- bany. It was purely English throughout, and was known as "the rich man's house." Both of these buildings were de- molished in 1841.

Coming up State street, on the south side was the spacious brick residence of George Mer- chant, over which six birds are seen. The peaks and chim- neys beneath the single bird are those of the old Geological Hall, which stood back of Merchant's house and occu- pied the site of the present Geological Hall. The build- ing with a projecting ridge for hoisting was carpenter's shop, and the last one seen on the right of the picture was the chair factory of Mr. McChesney.

THE WENDELL HOUSE.

THE STEVENSON HOUSE.

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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

NORTH PEARL AND STATE STREETS.

This cut exhibits the corners of North Pearl and State streets, looking up Pearl. The most conspicuous objects are the ancient building known as the Lydius House (6) with its terraced gable, and the adjoining mansion (7) of William Pitt Beers. The corner house was built about 1657 for the parsonage of the Dutch Church. All the materials were said to have been imported from Holland. Its interior was elaborate. The parti- tions were made of mahogany, and the exposed beams ornamented with carving.

On the opposite side of the street is seen the frame building (1) known as Websters' corner, pre- viously alluded to. The white house (2) next to

| it was the site of the residence of Peter Livingston, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independ- ence. The old elm tree, recently removed, was planted by Mr. Livingston. The large building with two gables (3) in front was known as the Van : Derheyden Palace. It was just below Maiden lane on the site now occupied by the Perry Build- ing.

A little beyond the Palace is seen the homestead of the Pruyen family, a Dutch house (4) with ter- raced gable fronting the street. Dr. Hunloke Woodruff, an eminent physician, owned the next (5) more modern residence on the corner of Maid- en Lane and Pearl street.

NORTH PEARL STREET, FROM MAIDEN LANE NORTHWARD.

669

SOME VIEW'S IN ALBANY ABOUT 1800.

The cut on preceding page is a continuation of Pearl street from Maiden lane northward. The Woodruff House (1) is first seen. The small build- ing (2) next to it was the Dr.'s office. At that time dentistry, as a distinct profession, was not practiced in Albany. Next to the doctor's office was a stately Dutch building (3), erected by Will- iam Eights somewhere after 1776. The frame building adjoining was long occupied by Dick Thompson, who was quite celebrated as a waiter. The next house with terraced gable (6) had a brick

front, and was occupied by David Groesbeck, in the immediate rear of which is seen the Second Presbyterian Church. It was last occupied by Mc- Caffrey & Holmes, bakers. It adjoined the Female Academy on the south. The tall building (7) was occupied by Dr. C. C. Yates. No. 8 was occu- pied by Cornelius Brown, some time baker, after- wards a cartman. The last building (9) was the famous Uranian Hall, erected by the Society of Mechanics, where the children of mechanics were educated.

NORTH PEARL STREET.

This is a continuation of the last view, a por- tion of North Pearl street. The first house (10) was for many years the house and store of Henry Bleecker. It was built prior to the Revolution by John Nicholas Bleecker. About 1800 it was oc- cupied by William McClellan, an eminent Scotch physician. On the site of buildings (8, 9 and 10) the present Female Academy stands, founded in 1814, and then known as Union School. In house II dwelt John B. Romeyn, D. D., of the Presby- terian Church. Next to Dr. Romeyn resided Peter Elmendorf, one of the leading lawyers of the city. Gerardus Lansing, brother-in-law of General Ten Broeck, resided in No. 13. Next to No. 13 was a house, which has been omitted, built and occupied by John Rutger Bleecker, a surveyor. Between dwelling 14 and the little school-house (15) was a play-ground for the boys. Looking over that inclosure and among the trees is seen the family mansion or homestead of the Bleeckers. The last house (16) was the residence of John An- drews, a well-known police constable, who was the terror of evil-doers eighty years ago. No 12 was the last of the old houses in this row, and was taken down about twenty-five years ago.

Our next view of North Pearl street is a continua- tion of the west side from Canal to Patroon street. The buildings possess little interest, except the church with two steeples, the edifice of the North Reformed Dutch Church, erected in 1798. With the exception of the church, all the other buildings have long since passed away. They were of wood, all painted red, and gave a very dull appearance to the street. On the left (1) is seen a portion of the Vandeberg Mansion. Adjoining it (2) was the shop of John Bantam, a blacksmith. The next building was occupied by an Irish schoolmaster named Crabbe. Back of these (4) is seen the tool- house of the church, and upon the distant emi- nence beyond, then known as Arbor Hill, is seen the country seat (5) of General Ten Broeck, of the Revolution, and three years Mayor of Albany. Arbor Hill is now occupied by Thomas W. Olcott. Next to the last of the small buildings in the direc- tion of the church was then occupied by Mc- Gourghey, a chocolate manufacturer, and in the last (7) the sexton of the church resided. Fox Creek formerly flowed across the street (now under it) where the fence is seen, adjoining 7, and so be- tween the trees. Opposite the church is seen a

670

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

LOSSING BARRITT

NORTH PEARL STREET.

small building, which was then occupied by Bock- ing, a famous cake baker. The two little figures in this picture represent a fashionably-dressed cou- ple in Albany in 1805. The lady has not yet

"found her waist," and the gentleman has his roundhead hat, narrow-skirted coat and huge white-topped boots, then just beginning to be worn.

.....

MARKET STREET.

This view represents that portion of Market street, east side, from State street to Maiden lane. The public market, which gave the name to the street, is seen in its center. Beginning on the left we have a view of the residence (1) of Paul Hoch- strasser, a wealthy German merchant. The next

(2) on the corner of Maiden lane was the house in which General Peter Gansevoort, one of the most active of the Revolutionary officers, was born. The larger house (3) was occupied by Hill, a glove and leather-breeches maker. In the upper part Fairman, the engraver, started business. The more

671

SOME VIEWS IN ALBANY ABOUT 1800.

stately brick mansion (4) was built and occupied by Thomas Hun, agent of the Patroon, and after- ward by his son, Abraham Hun. It was at one time occupied as a post-office. Next to it, and partly concealed by the market (5), was the store of Barent & John G. Bleecker. The terraced gable of Ford's carpet store is seen next beyond it, and looming above all is the grand mansion of David Fonda, a dry goods merchant. It occupied the

site of Ransom's iron-front store. Beyond the market was the auction store of John Jauncey, and rising above it (19) is seen a large brick building, the store and dwelling of the Kane Brothers, al- ready referred to. Back of these is seen the roof of a building, recently the site of the Exchange, now occupied by the Post-office Building. Next to Kane's was the apothecary store of Dr. Mancius, where the city post-office was kept.

LOLLING-CARAIT .

MARKET STREET, NOW BROADWAY.

This represents the appearance of Market street (now Broadway) in the year 1805. On the extreme left (1) we have a corner of the old Dutch Church, then a low yellow building, known as Robinson's Corner, where the Albany Museum building now stands. Next (3) was the brick dwelling-house and store of John Van Schaick, then an eminent merchant. In the two-story white frame building (4) David Waters sold groceries, and in the adja- cent brick building (5) lived David Newland, a Scotch settler. Albert Willett lived in the next brick building, and in the taller one adjoining was the Albany Bank. Its nearest neighbor was the

1 spacious brick dwelling of John Maley, one of the merchant princes of Albany. It was long known as the Mansion House Hotel. Abram R. Ten Eyck's book store was next to Maley's, and the smaller house, with a large chimney, belonged to Peter Douw, a merchant. His neighbor (11) was Barent G. Staats, also a merchant. In the small building lived Teunis Van Vechten, a wealthy burgher. The last house (13) was built of Holland brick. It was a double house. On the corner dwelt Richard Lush, and in an adjoining part of the building John Brinkerhoff had a hardware store.

MARKET STREET, NOW BROADWAY.

In house 14 John Meads resided for a while, and was succeeded by Lawson Aumsley in 1814 with a looking-glass store. The next house (15) belonged to Martin Beekman, and was occupied by Richard Dunn & Sons before they removed to Court street. House 16 was occupied by John Jacob Lansing. He died in 1808. The tall build-

ing adjoining (17) was the residence of Barent Bleecker, an extensive merchant at this day. It was painted yellow, and appeared very gay by side of its neighbor (18), a dull red house, built in the antique Dutch style, of Holland brick, and occu- pied by General John H. Wendell, a Revolutionary officer. Adjoining it was the law office of Stephen

672

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Lush. The grand house of Dr. Samuel Stringer (18) towers above all the edifices on this part of the street. It was demolished in 1856. Next to it was Dr. Stringer's office, separated by an alley from the large brick house (20) of Andrew Brown. Dudley Walsh occupied the house next to Brown, and on the corner of Steuben is seen the old brick house of Sanders Lansing, a celebrated cake-maker of that day. Opposite the cake-maker's shop was the fine old brick residence of Chancellor Lansing,

Mayor from 1786 to 1790. This completes a de- scription of this portion of Market street in olden times, then, as now, one of the principal business streets of the city.

OLD HOUSES AND LANDMARKS.

One of the most interesting features of Albany is its old houses, of which the most noteworthy are hereafter mentioned.

OLD STAATS HOUSE.

The Staats House, corner State and Pearl, is re- garded as the oldest edifice in the city. It is one of two which stood there when South Pearl was a lane, entered by a gate. When the street was widened, the upper house known as Lewis's Stevens was taken away. There formerly ran

across the front of these two houses, underneath the eaves, in iron letters, the words Anno Domini, and below, over the upper story, the figures, also in iron, 1667. When the upper house was taken away the word Anno was left on the house still standing, and is there yet.

LANSING (NOW PEMBERTON) HOUSE.

SOME VIEWS IN ALBANY ABOUT 1800.

673

The Pemberton House, corner Columbia and North Pearl Street, is another old building. When constructed; no two adjoining rooms were on the same level, the ceilings were not plastered, but the beams and sleepers were polished, and the jambs of the fire-place faced with porcelain, ornamented with Scripture scenes. In earlier days this house was occupied by the widow Visscher. It was especially distinguished as the lodging place for Indians when they came to Albany for the purpose of trading their furs, too often for rum and worth- less ornaments. Here many stirring scenes tran-

spired, when the Indians held their pow-wows, and became uproarious under the influence of strong drink. At such times the widow would use her broomstick freely. It was a potent scepter in her hands in restoring order, for the most stalwart Indian who had once felt its power, looked upon it with awe.

The Vanderheyden Palace stood on Pearl street, on what is now the site of the Perry building. The palace was built in 1725 by Johannes Beekman. The bricks were said to have been imported from Holland, and the house was one of the best spe-

VANDERHEYDEN PALACE.

cimens of Dutch architecture in the State. It was occupied by Mr. Beekman as his family resi- dence, until his death in 1756, after which his two daughters resided in it until a short time previous to the Revolution. In 1778 the mansion was pur- chased by Mr. Jacob Vanderheyden. The dimen- sions were 50 feet front by 20 feet in depth, having a hall and two rooms on a floor. The edifice was so antique that it arrested the antiquarian fancy of Washington Irving, and is described by him in the story of Dolph Heyliger, in " Bracebridge Hall," as the residence of Herr Antony Van- derheyden. It was demolished in 1833. The weather vane, a horse under great stress of speed, now glitters above the peaked turret of the portal at Sunnyside.

The Lydius House stood till 1852 on the north- east corner of State and Pearl. It was built ex- pressly for a parsonage. The bricks, tiles, iron, and wood-work were all imported from Holland. They came over with the church bell and pulpit in 1657. The partitions were mahogany, and the ex- posed beams ornamented with carvings in high re- lief representing the vine and fruit of the grape. To show the relief more perfectly, the beams were painted white. Balthazar Lydius was its only oc- cupant for many years. He was an eccentric old bachelor, and was the terror of all the boys. He was a tall, thin Dutchman, with a bullet head, fond

of his pipe and bottle, and gloried in celibacy until his life was in the "sere and yellow leaf." Then he gave a pint of gin for a squaw, and calling her his wife, lived with her as such until his death, in 1815.

The Van Rensselaer; Mansion, at the head of North Broadway, was erected in 1765. It is commonly known as the Patroon's, and until

The Patroon's Mansion.

lately was occupied by his descendants. The front door opens directly into a spacious hall, upon the walls of which is paper of most curious and elaborate design, put on when the house was built,

674

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

having been imported from Holland expressly for the purpose.

The Van Rensselaer Mansion in Greenbush stands nearly opposite the blast furnace, and is supposed to have been built by Johannes Van Rensselaer as early as 1663. It is of brick brought from Holland. An addition was built in 1740. The original building was used as a fort, and some of the port-holes are visible in the stone walls. In the addition are forty or fifty curious tiles, repre- senting Scripture scenes.

Schuyler Mansion.

Schuyler Mansion, head of Schuyler street, a lit- tle west of South Pearl, is of brick, with a closed oc- tagonal porch in front. It was built by Mrs. Schuy- ler while her husband, General Philip Schuyler, was in England, in 1760-61. The old family mansion, large and highly ornamented in the Dutch style, stood nearly upon the site of the present City Hall, and was taken down in 1800. In this latter man- sion General Schuyler and his family dispensed a princely hospitality for almost forty years. When General Burgoyne surrendered at Saratoga in 1777, he and other prisoners were sent forward to Albany, General Schuyler writing to his wife to give the English General the very best reception in her power.

"The British commander was well received, " writes the Marquis de Chastellux, "and lodged in the best apartment in the house. An excellent supper was served him, the honors of which were done with so much grace that he was affected even to tears, and said with a deep sigh: 'Indeed this is doing too much for a man who has ravaged their lands and burnt their dwellings.'"

In 1781 a plan was laid to capture General Schuyler and take him to Canada. A party of Tories, Canadians and Indians surrounded the house for several days, and at length forced an en- trance. The family collected in an upper room, forgetting to take with them an infant child sleep- ing in the nursery. The mother was flying back to the rescue when the General prevented her, but

the third daughter, afterwards the wife of the last of the Patroons, rushed downstairs, snatched her sister from the cradle and bore her off in safety. As she sprang up the stairs, an Indian hurled a tomahawk at her, which cut her dress a few inches from the infant's head, and struck the stair-rail at the lower turn, where the mark is still pointed out.

The assailants were frightened from their purpose and fled to Canada, carrying with them much of the General's plate, but not the General. In this house Lafayette, Count de Rochambeau, Baron Steuben, Aaron Burr, Benjamin Franklin, Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, and many other notable per- sonages were entertained. December 14, 1780, Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler were married in this house, and another notable wedding that took place here was that of Mrs. McIntosh, who owned the property, to ex-President Fillmore.

Robert Yates' House.

Robert Yates was one of the leading jurists and statesmen of his time. The above cut is a view of his residence on State street.

CHURCHYARDS AND CEMETERIES.

In the earliest days of our city the dead were buried near the places where they cast off their mortal coil, and turned to dust without any monu- mental mark of any kind. When lands began to be occupied at a later date by families, some spot was selected on the homestead and inclosed for burial of their dead. Sometimes a tomb was erected for this purpose.

Around the churches a home for the dead, "God's acre," was always reserved, called the churchyard. The first churchyard was set apart close by the first church erected, on what is now Church street, near old Fort Orange, in 1643. Thirteen years after, in 1656, another edifice was erected at the junction of State street and Broadway, around which the dead were buried for many years, until the third edifice was built, some forty years later, on Beaver street. Here a church stood for about a century and three quarters, long known as the Middle Dutch Church. Many changes were made in the structure to adapt it to growing demands, until recently it was taken down and the ground occupied by a building called the City Market. A new and admirable structure succeeds it at corner of Madison avenue and Swan street. Here about the Beaver street Church the city dead were laid away for over a century, numbering thousands. From 1722 to 1759, the records give a list of 1, 759 burials. Many were removed from the State street grounds,

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Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 150

Author: Howell, George Rogers, 1833-1899; Tenney, Jonathan, 1817-1888 Publication date: 1886 Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co. Number of Pages: 1452

Author: Howell, George Rogers, 1833-1899; Tenney, Jonathan, 1817-1888
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1452