Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 155

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 155

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In September, 1833, a petition, signed by many citizens, was sent to the Common Council, asking them to abolish the Lancaster School, and to erect new buildings in the several districts. At

696

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

this time there were 6, 277 children in the city of school age, of which number 3,578 had been taught by thirty-four teachers.

A new impulse was given to the cause of public education in 1838 by the erection of eight new school buildings. The unwise and narrow policy of exacting school rates still prevailed throughout the State, and proved a serious impediment to the advance of general education. The children of those who were too poor to pay tuition were called charity scholars, and this degrading distinction prevented many from attending the schools. The right of free education was not recognized till 1862, when the odious system of school rates, through the influence of Victor M. Rice, was abol- ished.

The location and character of the school build- ings erected in 1838 were as follows: School No. 1, 310 South Pearl, three-stories, cost $13,000, 312 seats; School No. 3, 7 Van Tromp street, three-stories, cost $13,000, 200 seats, sold in 1882; School No 4, 55 Union street, three-stories, cost $11,000, 206 seats, sold in 1882; School No. 5, 172 North Pearl street, three-stories, cost $13,000, 296 seats, sold in 1882, when a new building, sub- sequently referred to, was erected on the same street, now known as No. 5; School No. 7, 56 Canal street, three-stories, cost $11,000, 300 seats; School No. 8, 157 Madison avenue, three-stories, cost $17,000, 338 seats; rebuilt in 1880, with eight rooms, 448 seats, cost $25,000; School No. 9, corner South Ferry and Dallius streets, three-sto- ries, cost $12,000, 210 seats; School No. 10, 182 Washington avenue, three-stories, 31 2 seats; School No. 18, formerly No. 6 Madison avenue, corner of Western avenue, originally one-story, cost $7,000; another added in 1870. The change in the number of this school was caused by the pas- sage of a law by the Legislature defining the city limits for school purposes to be east of Perry street. This school then passed out of the juris- diction of the Board of Education and came under the control of the Trustees west of Perry street, when the school on Second street (Arbor Hill), in 1849, took the number which originally belonged to No. 18.

In 1838, $119,000 were expended on school buildings, while, with the school building erected in 1832, accommodation was furnished to 2,783 pupils. But at this time there were at least 7,000 children of school age in the city, a greater part of whom attended private or select schools. The Public Schools remained in the same condition in regard to capacity from 1838 to 1849, when the school 105 Second avenue, now known as No. 6, was erected.

In 1844, a law was passed creating the Board of Education. Their powers were more restricted, but otherwise similar to those now performed by the Board of Public Instruction. The members of this Board were elected by the people, and was something of an improvement upon the old system of Commissioners and Trustees.

In 1854, School No. 24, formerly No. 11, 417 Madison avenue, was erected. It was enlarged in

1868, and, on completion of the Grammar School adjoining, the number was changed, the Grammar School taking the old number, and No. 24 given to the old building. It has 576 seats. In 1856, School No. 12, corner of Washington avenue and Robin street, was erected, at a cost of $50,000, 786 seats. At this time, when there were but thir- teen Public Schools, there were seventy private schools, besides the academies. During the school year ending May 1, 1856, 6,813 pupils were regis- tered as attending the Public Schools, about double the number for which there were proper accommo- dations; 5, 292 attended private or select schools, and 602 attended incorporated schools.

In the report of the Board of Education for 1857, it was declared that the capacity of the Public Schools was inadequate, and in the following few years a great deal was done in the way of building. School No. 16, known as 201 Hudson avenue, the Wilberforce School for colored children, was opened with acommodation for 143 pupils. In 1874, it ceased to exist as a distinct colored school, the colored children being received in all the schools. It was sold in 1883. The several school buildings erected in 1832 and 1838, from No. 1 to 10 in- clusive, except No. 6, were overhauled by putting on another story or adding buildings for recitation- rooms, in the years 1856-58.

In 1858, the Common Council purchased the old State Arsenal, corner of Broadway and Lawrence street, for $10, 800, erected in 1799, and remodeled it into a building suitable for school purposes for 594 pupils, at a cost of $73,000. It is known as School No. 13.

School No. 14, 70 Trinity place, at a cost of $41,000, was built in 1860, being three-stories high, and now capable of accommodating 928 pupils. It was not opened until 1861, and was the last school building erected under the super- vision of the old Board of Education. In 1861, there were 154 schools with a registered attendance of 8,395 pupils, almost double the real seating capacity of the schools. Ninety-three teachers were employed.

By an Act of the Legislature in 1866, the Board of Education became known as the Board of Public Instruction. When the new Board took posses- sion of the City Schools under the new Act of 1866, the number of schools or capacity had in- creased from 1861, but the number of teachers had increased to 100. The estimated value of school property was estimated at $187,000, and the annual expense of maintaining the schools was about $69,000. At this time (1866) there were two academies in the city, 71 parochial and other incorporated schools.

The establishment of the High School, the natural outgrowth of the public school system, had a corresponding beneficial effect upon the common schools, and from 1868, it can be truly said the Public Schools of Albany began a rapid growth, and soon became adequate to the educational in- terests of the city. A night school was first opened December 2, 1867, in School No. 6 (Arbor Hill), and has been continued in other schools with vary-

697

SCHOOLS AND OTHER LITERARY INSTITUTIONS.

ing success at different times. At present the city does not support a night school.

School No. 15, corner of Herkimer and Frank- lin streets, was erected in 1871, at a cost of $92,000. It was the first school-house of modern construction built on the "single school plan." Here nineteen teachers are employed, with room for 928 scholars.

School, formerly known as No. 19, located at West Albany, came within the jurisdiction in 1870. It accommodated 130 pupils. It was abandoned in 1876, and in 1877 the School, 54 Canal street (No. 19) was erected, to take its place, at a cost of $5,000, and consists of four rooms, with seating capacity for 225 scholars.

Old School No. 17, corner of Second avenue and Steuben street, was erected in 1856, and was built by the town of Bethlehem. It came under the jurisdiction of the Board by enlargement of the city bounds in 1870. In 1878 it was enlarged by re- building, and now accommodates 448 scholars.

The School, formerly in Tivoli Hollow, known as No. 21, was erected by the town of Water- vliet. It was a small affair, and came within the city limits in 1870. It was abandoned in 1875, when School No. 21, 658 Clinton avenue, was erected, at a cost of $31,000, to take its place. It has nine rooms and accommodates 764 scholars.

School No. 20, formerly on Mohawk street, was erected in 1872. It was sold in 1880, when the present building, corner North Pearl and Second streets, was erected in its stead, at a cost of about $22,000. It is two-stories brick, nine rooms, and accommodates 666 pupils.

School No. 23, 140 Second avenue, was pur- chased from the Trustees of the Fourth Presbyterian Church in 1871, and was known as Second Street Mission. It was opened in 1872, is one story, with seats for 184 pupils.

School No. 22, Second street, west of Lexington avenue, was erected in 1877 at a cost of $31,000. It is two stories, with seats for 504 pupils.

School No. 25, on Morton street, between Hawk and Swan streets, was erected in 1878. It is two stories, brick, eight rooms and contains 448 seats.

School No. 11 (referred to in connection with School No. 24), 409 Madison avenue, was erected at a cost of $56, 250, in 1873, and was first used June 4th of that year. It is three stories, and seats 560 pupils.

In 1882, school buildings Nos. 3 and 5 were sold, when the Tabernacle Baptist Church, North Pearl street, was purchased and converted into a school building in 1883, known as No. 5, 206 North Pearl street, at a cost of about $35,000. It con- tains accommodation for 598 pupils.

The twenty-four schools (1885) have a seating capacity for 12,391 pupils, the net registration 13,720, and an average daily attendance of 9, 740. There are 234 teachers employed, excluding the High School, compared with 59 in 1857, and 100 in 1867. At the latter date the average was about 88 registered scholars per teacher. At present it is about 58.

HIGH SCHOOL.

The new Board of Public Instruction was con- fronted with grave educational problems to solve. The inadequacy of the schools was clearly manifest, yet the opposition of the public to enlarge the school facilities by the expenditure of any large money, at a period of financial uncertainty con- sequent upon the close of the war, and already suffering under heavy taxation, was particularly strong.

The want of a higher department where more advanced studies could be pursued by the grad- uates of the common schools was almost a neces- sity. The more liberal of the citizens favored the idea of building a Free Academy to meet this want. A majority of the Board were also in favor of the project, and December 17, 1866, submitted a draft of a bill to the Legislature to establish a Free Academy. It met the opposition not only of a large body of citizens, but of the Common Coun- cil. The latter body went so far as to pass a resolu- tion instructing the Legislature not to pass the bill proposed. The Board of Public Instruction, thus far, had labored under the impression that it re- quired the passage of a law to authorize the con- struction of the institution; but a careful examina- tion of the law of 1866, under which the Board was organized, revealed the fact that the Board was clothed with ample authority to authorize the build- ing of an Academy, and that further legislation was unnecessary. Accordingly the Board leased Van Vechten Hall on State street. Here the Normal School was held until 184-, when the Lady's street building was erected. A select school had been held in it for a number of years. The Free Acad- emy as it was then called, was opened September 1868, with Professor John E. Bradley as principal, and 141 pupils. Besides the principal, the follow- ing teachers were employed: Charles W. Cole, Samuel B. Howe, Mary Morgan and Rebecca I. Hindman. A short time after, Mr. Howe re- signed, to accept the Superintendency of Public Schools in Schenectady, and Charles A. Horne was chosen in his place. Soon the capacity of Van Vechten Hall proved too small, and other rooms connected with the premises were procured. The rooms over Harris' livery stables, fronting on Maiden lane, were fitted up in 1870; those in the second story, formerly part of Watson's carpet store, were hired in 1873.

The success and rapid growth of the Free Acad- emy, in attendance and proficiency of instruction, even under the disadvantages of inadequate quar- ters, proved the best argument for the existence of such an institution.

The Free Academy was placed under the visita- tion of the Regents of the University by an Act of the Legislature, in 1873, at which time its name was changed to the Albany High School. Of the money appropriated by the Regents according to number of Academic Scholars-that is those hold- ing Regents' preliminary certificates-since January, 1874, to January 1885, $29,568.48 have been re- ceived by the institution. In 1874 there were 130

698

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Academic Scholars in the High School, and in 1885, 527.

The High School was held in Van Vechten Hall until 1876, when the present commodious struc- ture was erected. It is in the style of architecture known as the domestic Gothic, and stands 87 feet front on Eagle street, 135 feet 4 inches on Steuben, 120 feet on Columbia, and 92 feet and 7 inches wide on the rear. It comprises sub-cellar, base- ment and three stories above the basement. The

superstructure is of Philadelphia pressed bricks, with light stone trimmings, interspersed with courses of black stone and white bricks, pre- senting an outward appearance singularly attract- ive and pleasing to the eye. Fortunate in its location, beautiful in appearance, and complete in all its appointments, it is one of the most perfect of its kind in the State. It was designed by the Albany Architects, Ogden & Wright, and cost about $140,000. The High School is still

ALBANY HIGH SCHOOL.

under the direction of John E. Bradley, its princi- pal, a discreet manager and an able instructor. He is assisted by eight male instructors and twelve female teachers. In 1885, there were 608 scholars. The language studies pursued consist of Latin, Greek, German, French and English. The other branches are mathematics, chemistry, physics, drawing, vocal music, rhetoric and elocution, and the various English branches.

John Edwin Bradley, Principal of Albany High School, was born in Lee, Mass., August 8, 1839. He was educated in Lee, Mass., High School, and Williams College, from which institution he grad- nated in 1865. After leaving college he was Prin- cipal of the Pittsfield High School until 1868, when he came in charge of the Albany Free Academy. The remarkable success of this school has been in great measure due to his excellent management. Mr. Bradley received the degree of Ph. D. at the Con- vocation of Regents in 1879. In 1878 he was appointed Commissioner to the Paris Exposition on the educational exhibits, upon which he made an able report. Dr. Bradley has been very prom- inent in all public educational interests of the city. He married, in 1870, Martha Jeannette Gould, eldest daughter of William Gould, the law book publisher. His energy, executive ability, and magnetism have made him a teacher widely known and respected.

FINANCES .- The average yearly expense for pub- lic schools in Albany from 1844 to 1853 was over $14,000 ; in 1854, $27,000; in 1857, $47,000 ; 1858, $61,000 ; 1860, $49,000; 1867, $69,000 ; 1872, $196,000 ; 1875, $319,000. The total in- come of the Board for the year ending August 31, 1885, was $314,954, of which $170,750 was raised by tax, $91,494 08 was carried over from the pre- ceding year, and $47, 394. 76 was received from the State. The total expenditures were $219, 923. 37, of which $149, 225.69 was for teachers' salaries. The cost of yearly tuition per pupil, based on total expenditure and registered number, is $16.02.

The estimated value of school property in 1858 was $117,000; in 1871, $362,000; in 1885, $766,000. The salaries of teachers range from $1, 800 to $350 The Principal of the High School receives $3, 200 ; the Superintendent of School, $2, 500. The net cost of pupils in the High School, based on registered number for 1885, was $33.52.

The Public Schools are divided into primary and grammar grades, ten being of the primary and twelve of the grammar grade. The Board of Pub- lic Instruction is composed of twelve members. Four members go out of office each year. Their successors are chosen at the annual election-two Democrats and two Republicans. The Board has entire charge of the Public Schools, fixes the grades of study, appoints teachers, builds, maintains and regulates school-houses, etc. No salary is attached

PRINTERS AND PRINTING.

699

to the office. The rooms of the Board are in the High School Building, where meetings are held on the first and third Monday evenings in each month, except August. The Board chooses its own Presi- dent. The Secretary of the Board acts as Superin- tendent of Schools.

Table showing number of schools and registered number of scholars for the following years.

No. Registered

Year.

Schools. Number.

1845

4,320

1846

5,025

1847

5,053

1848

5,009

1849

5,830

1850

6,798

1851

6,744

1852

6,679

1853

6,302

1854.

6,079

1855

6,036

1856.

6,813

1857

6,529

1858.

7,760

1859

7,832

1860

8,395

1861.

9, 1 82

1862.

9,614

1863

9,507

1864.

8,917

1865

8,850

1866.

8,924

1867

8,880

1868

9,414

9,665

1870

1 6

9,933

1871

10,939

1872.

12,060

1873.

12,327

1874.

12,460

1875

13,773

1876.

13,941

1878.

14,024

1879

14,632

1880.

14,049

1881

13,976

1882.

13,984

1883

13,914

1884

13,708

1885

13,720

Table showing the registered number of students in High School since its establishment.

Year.

Total.

1868-69

141

1869-70.

209

1870-71.

279

1871-72.

314

1872-73

328

1873-74.

362

Year.

Total.

1874-75.

429

1875-76

494

1876-77

532

1877-78

580

1878-79 581

1879-80

595

1880-81.

583

1881-82.

584

1882-83

591

1883-84.

607

1884-85

608

Members of the Board of Public Instruction since its organization in 1866: John O. Cole, George W. Carpenter, Michael Delehanty, Charles P. Easton, Paul F. Cooper, John G. Treadwell, Charles Van Benthuysen, Stewart McKissick, James L. Babcock, Bradford R. Wood, Jacob S. Mosher, William C. McHarg, Howard Townsend, Portis L. F. Reynolds, Joseph Lewi, Robert H. Waterman, Warren S. Kelly, William L. Learned, Barent B. Sanders, Daniel V. O'Leary, William L. Learned, John Tracy, Daniel L. Babcock, Arthur C. Quinn, Alfred Edwards, Thomas Hayes, Addison A. Keyes, John McKenna, Charles Senrick, George B. Hoyt, James J. Franklin, James H. White, John V. Lan- sing, Samuel Templeton, Joseph P. Morrow, John Kautz, Peter J. Flinn, Isaac Edwards, Timothy D. Keleher, James Morris, William Morgan, Daniel Casey, Henry P. Lipman, Charles A. Robertson, John H. Lynch, John A. McCall, Jr., Linzee T. Morrill, Andrew S. Draper, Douw H. Fonda, Her- man Bendell, Alden Chester, Charles E. Jones, James M. Ruso, Henry T. Sanford, Robert D. Williams, Edward J. Graham, Oren E. Wilson, Edward A. Durant, Jr., Peter A. Stephens, Francis B. Delehanty, Robert G. Scherer, John Neil, Jr., Edward Phillips.

Officers of the Board of Public Instruction since its organization in 1866-

Presidents: John O. Cole, George W. Carpenter, Charles P. Easton, Addison A. Keyes, Charles P. Easton, Herman Bendell, Alden Chester, George B. Hoyt, Peter J. Flinn.

Secretaries and Superintendents of Schools: Henry B. Haswell, John O. Cole, Charles W. Cole.

Superintendents of Buildings: John G. Tread- well, Alexander Sayles, Hugh J. McDonnald.

Number of Graduates of the High School : 1871, 27; 1872, 43; 1873, 46; 1874, 47; 1875, 49; 1876, 65; 1877, 58; 1878, 69; 1879, 76; 1880, 84; 1881, 73; 1882, 79; 1883, 76; 1884, 68; 1885, 86.

PRINTERS AND PRINTING.

T THE first printing-office in Albany was estab- lished by Alexander and James Robertson, who came from New York for that purpose, in 1771. From the best information that can be gathered, Albany was the second place in the State of New York into which the art of printing was introduced. Their office is said to have been in Barrack, now

Chapel street. The first work of importance done by this firm was the publication of the Albany Gazette, the first newspaper published in this city. The only other work of which we have any knowl- edge is a copy of the city ordinances, bearing date 1773, now in the City Chamberlain's office. They remained in Albany until 1776, when they

1877.

14,412

1869

700

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

joined the Royalists in New York. On the evacua tion of that city by the British, they took refuge, with many others, at Port Roseway, Nova Scotia, where Alexander died in 1784, aged forty-two. James died in London in 1802.

In 1782, Solomon Balantine and Charles R. Webster established a printing-office in Albany. Their printing materials consisted of as many types, as Balantine often said, as a squaw could carry in her bag. In the Philadelphia library is a copy of a pamphlet by the Rev. Thomas Clarke, of Cambridge, in Washington County, en- titled "Plain Reasons: being a Dissuasive from the Use of Watts' Version of the Psalms in the Worship of God," printed by this firm in 1783, and, perhaps, the oldest pamphlet ever issued from the Albany press. In 1783, Mr. Webster dissolved his con- nection with Balantine, and removed to New York. Balantine left soon after, when Webster returned and again established a printing-office in Albany. In 1784, he printed the first number of what came to be the well-known Webster Almanac, still annually published by Joel Munsell's Sons. About the same time the New England Primer was reprinted in Al- bany. At this time his printing-office, which was de- stroyed by fire in 1793, stood on Middle lane, a nar- row alley connecting State street and Maiden lane. A short time after he erected a building on the old Elm-tree Corner, where he conducted his business until his death in 1832. Here bookselling, printing, and binding was carried on. For a number of years his brother, George, was associated with him. This firm was dissolved in 1821 by the death of George Webster, when E. W. and George Skinner became associated with Mr. Webster under the firm name of Webster & Skinners, which continued until Mr. Webster's death.

New York State has been for many years the most liberal patron of the printer. At the pres- ent time many thousands of dollars are annually expended by the State for its public printing, and, with few exceptions, this work has been done by Albany printers. In the early days of the State government, the position of State print- er was not such a lucrative position as at present. In 1791 he was allowed a salary of $250. In 1788 the Journal of the Assembly was contained in 143 pages; and in 1796 the whole amount paid for State printing was $832.40, a sum less than is now expended by the Board of Supervisors of the counties of the State for county printing.

The first State printers after the Legislature was removed to Albany were S. & J. Louden, of New York; but the work was done by Thomas McMurray in Barrack street, Albany.

In 1795 there were but seven printing-offices west and north of Albany. About 1793 John Barbour and Solomon Southwick formed a part- nership in the printing business in Albany. They were chiefly known as the proprietors of the Albany Register. In 1793 they printed Poor Richard Re- vised, being the Farmer's Diary, or Barbour and Southwick's Albany Almanack. In 1808 Barbour died,' aged fifty years. He was printer to the State, and a man highly respected for his moral and

social worth. The establishment was continued by Mr. Southwick. He was at one time State printer.

John McDonald conducted a printing-office in Albany some time previous to 1796. In the latter year, his office in State street, first house below the corner of Pearl, on the south side, was burned. He commenced business again in Middle lane, now James street.

In 1798, Joseph Fry and Henry C. Southwick were engaged in the printing business in a building on the corner of Dean street and Mark lane, now Exchange street. In 1799, Mr. Fry left the printing business, and is now chiefly known as the com- piler of the first Albany Directory, published by Webster & Skinner in 1813. Packard & Conant advertised a new book store and bindery at 41 State street.

In 1806, the celebrated establishment of E. & E. Hosford was opened at 72 State street. They did a large printing and publishing business for that day. In 1810 they removed to 100 State street. They issued a volume of sermons by Timothy Clowes, Rector of St. Peter's Church, in 1817, en- titled " December Sermons." They became lax un- der prosperity, and having met with heavy losses in printing an edition of Hume and Smollett's History of England, followed by other reverses, the con- cern was sold by the sheriff in 1827.

In connection with this article, it may not be out of place to state that as early as 1807, John Rodgers was engaged in making printing presses in Albany. In an advertisement which appeared in a newspaper of that day, he states that he is prepared to make all the "newest fashioned and most approved printing presses " at his shop in Chapel street. How long or to what extent this business was carried on we were unable to learn. A. Romeyn, an Albany printer, in 1808, advertised that he had invented a new method of locking up forms with screws. He also made a model of a printing press which he claimed possessed superior- ity over the presses then in use.

In 1807, Van Benthuysen & Wood established a printing-office in Albany in connection with a literary paper called The Guardian. This was the germ of what is now one of the largest printing establishments in Albany.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 155

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