Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 156

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 156

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In 1813, Jesse Buel, printer, commenced the publication of the Albany Argus, which is still con- tinued. In connection with this paper a great amount of printing, such as books, pamphlets, etc., has long been done. It has one of the best stocked job offices in the city.

Moses Pratt, Jr., had a printing-office in Albany, at 162 Lion street, now Washington avenue. He was an eccentric character. He died in 1845.

Pratt & Doubleday conducted a printing-office at the corner of Lion street and Academy square in 1813. Doubleday afterwards went to Auburn and was a Member of Congress from that district.

In 1814, George J. Loomis, a book-binder, lo- cated at No. 9 Washington street, where he con- ducted a stereotyping and printing business. The following year the firm of George J. Loomis & Co.

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PRINTERS AND PRINTING.

was formed. Their office was located on the cor- ner of State and Lodge streets.

For some years the firm of George Churchill and Daniel McGlashan was engaged in the printing business in Albany; but in 1815 it was dissolved, and the firm of Churchill & Abbey was established with an office at 95 State street. In 1815, Abbey retired, and at the time of the rebellion in Canada enlisted in the cause and was captured and hung. Churchill went to Illinois and was a Member of Congress from that State.

The oldest printing firm in Albany is that of Van Benthuysen & Sons. It has been chiefly con- ducted by members of the same family since 1807, when Obadiah R. Van Benthuysen & Wood es- tablished a printing-office at No. 19 Court street. The grandfather of Obadiah, Paulus Martense Van Benthuysen, is supposed to have come to Al- bany from the town of Benthuysen prior to 1666. He had three sons. The eldest was Baltus. He had a son named James Parker, who married Lydia Daley in the City of New York, 1707. He had nine children. His eldest son, James Parker, Jr., married Sarah Cooper, February 6, 1741. The result of this marriage was nine children, the youngest of whom was Obadiah Romney, who was born in 1789, and the one referred to in this sketch.

O. R. Van Benthuysen continued in partnership with Wood but a short time, and, in 1808, opened a separate office in Liberty street, rear of present 376 Broadway. In 1813, Robert Packard became associated with him, under the firm name of Pack- ard & Van Benthuysen. At this time the aggregate value of all printing materials of this firm, including two hand presses, amounted to only $2, 290. 86. Prior to 1827-28, the office was located on the northwest corner of Beaver and Green streets, when it was removed to the present location on Broadway. In 1839 the firm of Charles Van Ben- thuysen & Co. was established, composed of O. R. Van Benthuysen and his son, Charles. In 1848, Charles Van Benthuysen was the sole member of the firm. He continued as such until 1866, when Charles H. and Frank, sons of Charles Van Ben- thuysen, became members of the firm. Since then it has been known by the firm name of Charles Van Benthuysen & Sons, although the father died a few years ago. Besides carrying on a large printing and binding business, this firm makes its own paper, type and ink, and has a stereotype and elec- trotype foundry; all of which it now carries on, with the exception of the paper mill, which was sold in 1881. For about eighteen years preceding 1840, it did all the Legislative printing and binding, under Crosswell, who was State printer at that time.

This printing-house, in 1828, was the first in the United States to employ steam to run printing presses. All grades of printing, electrotyping and binding are done by this firm, now employing a force of one hundred and eighty men. Their pres- ent location is 403 to 409 Broadway and 53 and 55 Dean street, where fifteen rooms, averaging 25 x 60 feet, are required. A branch office is located at 64 College street.

From 1820 to 1850, considerable of the printing in Albany was done by the newspaper offices, most of which had job offices connected with them. Henry D. Stone, Edward Henly, H. H. Van Dyck, Thurlow Weed, George Dawson, Edwin Croswell, Hugh J. Hastings, A. B. Case, John Weed, all prac- tical printers, may be mentioned at this period as connected with printing outside of journalism.

In 1831 the well-known printing-office of Joel Munsell was established at 78 State street. An ac- count of Mr. Munsell's work as a printer and pub- lisher will be found in another part of this History. Since his death the business has been conducted by his sons, Frank and Charles Munsell. At this office a general line of printing, electrotyping, and binding is conducted. Special attention is given to works of genealogy, biography and history.

No printing firm in this State is better known than Weed, Parsons & Co. It was founded, in 1843, by James B. Weed, a son of the late Thurlow Weed, and John D. Parsons, both practical print- ers, the latter of whom is still an active member of the firm. Their first office was located in the sec- ond and third stories of No. 73 State street, over the clothing store of Grange Sard, their whole out- fit costing less than $1,000, and consisting of two Washington presses, a Gilmore card press, type, etc. For two years they continued at this loca- tion, and by untiring business energy established a lucrative business. May 1, 1845, they moved their office to No. 75 State street, third story, over the store now occupied by Joseph J. Price as a grocery.

October 12, 1847, Weed & Parsons, and the pro- prietors of the Albany Evening Journal, then consist- ing of Thurlow Weed, George Dawson and Visscher Ten Eyck, became partners in the book and job printing, under the firm name of Weed, Parsons & Co. At this time the office was removed to the third and fourth stories of the Journal building, Nos. 65 and 67 State street, corner of James. A book-bindery and a large addition in printing ma- terials were added. By this arrangement a rapid ad- vancement in business was the consequence.

June 18, 1851, James B. Weed, of this firm, died. He had not only a practical knowledge of the printer's art, but possessed admirable business qualities, and his loss was a great blow to the firm.

In 1852, the increase of business again made it necessary to move to more commodious quarters. This was obtained by moving to Nos. 7 and 9 James street, with an entrance through the Evening Journal office. They also rented rooms in the adjoining building of Van Heusen & Charles, on James street, the upper stories of Nos. 59 and 61 State street, and two large rooms on Morton street. At this time their employees numbered about two hun- dred. Their facilities for printing had increased fourfold, and lithographing, electrotyping and ste- reotyping had been added. From 1862-69, va- rious changes took place in the firm. Visscher Ten Eyck retired May 1, 1854, his interest be- ing sold to W. F. Seward, son of Governor W. H. Seward, and Phillip Ten Eyck. Seward dis- posed of his interest to Dawson, Parsons and Ten Eyck in 1869. Samuel Wilkeson, now one of the

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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

editorial staff of the New York Times, was a mem- ber of this firm 1856-58, when he sold his share to Thurlow Weed. The latter, in 1860, sold half of his interest to Dawson, Parsons and Ten Eyck.

In 1869, the amount of business done by this firm made it necessary to procure quarters where the work could be concentrated in one building. The dividing up of various departments and so widely separated, was a decided disadvantage. To remedy this matter, the property Nos. 37, 39 and 41 Columbia street, running through to Van Tromp street, was purchased, and a five-story building was erected. This was first occupied November, 1869. Here they combined under one roof all the various departments. A more commodious and well-ar- ranged printing-office at this time did not exist in the State. From 300 to 400 men were employed.

In the midst of success, April 7, 1871, the entire property was destroyed by fire, entailing a severe loss to the firm. But business adversity displayed the energy and perseverance of the members of this firm. Rebuilding was begun at once, and in seven months from the fire, their present building was completed and occupied. In the meantime the large building on the north end of Van Rens- selaer Island was used as a printing-office, having been stocked with all the needed materials in three weeks after the fire, sufficient to begin full operation with 300 men. Since 1878, the interest of Thurlow Weed has been assigned to Thurlow Weed Barnes. By the death of George Dawson a few years ago, his interest reverted to his wife and son.

For many years this firm has done all the Legis- lative printing, and since 1850 has done the State Department printing. In late years this work has grown to immense proportions. From this establish- ment yearly is published a large number of law books. The excellent character of their work and their large facilities for doing it, has made this firm known all over the United States. They now average over 300 employees.

In the article on "Journals and Journalism " in this History, other printers in Albany are named; and many of more recent date are to-day honoring their craft and extending their patronage by doing first-class work, among whom are Brandow & Bar- ton, Burdick & Taylor, C. E. Houghtaling, Prouty Printing Co., Riggs Printing and Publishing Co., C. F. Williams Printing Co., and the newspaper firms of the Press Co., Times Co., Argus Co., Morning Express Co., Journal Co., M. & E. Grif- fen, all of which do printing and publishing in almost every variety called for.

LAW BOOK PUBLISHERS.

In no city in the United States is the publication of law books carried on on a larger scale than in Al- bany. The first law book publisher in Albany was William Gould, located at 104 State street. A few years after, David Banks, father of the present Mayor, A. Bleecker Banks, became associated with him, under the firm name of Gould & Banks. At this time a branch store was opened in New York City, in which William Gould, David Banks and

Stephen Gould were associated as partners. This partnership was dissolved in 1817.

William Gould died in 1846. He was succeeded in the same business by Anthony Gould, brother of William. He died in 1856, and was succeeded by William Gould, a nephew of the first publisher of that name. In 1867, the firm of William Gould & Son was established. This firm continued to exist until 1885, when William Gould, Sr., retired from the firm, and the present firm of William Gould, Jr., & Co. was formed, and consists of William Gould, Jr., Otis Allen Gould, and Albert L. Gould.

In 1850, this firm was located at 475 Broadway, and in 1857 removed to the present store, 68 State street.

The firm of Banks Brothers was established in 1804 by David Banks, who remained in this busi- ness until his death, in 1872, and at that time was the oldest bookseller in the United States. He was succeeded in 1872 by his sons, David and A. Bleecker who have conducted the business ever since. Their warehouses and sales-rooms in this city, 473 and 475 Broadway, have a total floor space of 80,000 square feet. There is another large store belonging to this firm at 144 Nassau street, New York City, which has been occupied by them since 1835.

The firm of W. C. Little & Co. was established in Albany, in 1828, by W. C. Little, a native of Ban- gor, Me., born in 1805, who engaged in the publi- cation and sale of law books as successor of E. F. Backus, who, in a small way, began the business here. Mr. Little was very successful in the trade, and became widely known. He was succeeded by his son, C. W. Little, who carries on the busi- ness at the old stand, 525 Broadway, since his father's death in 1885.

The law books published by Albany firms em- brace a most extensive list of standard volumes, and are sold to the legal profession wherever English and American law is consulted.

PHOTOGRAPHY.

Few of the arts have made such rapid strides as has that of photography. It is comparatively a few years ago since the first photographs made their ap- pearance, and, wonderful as they were, they would appear as ridiculous caricatures if placed beside the life-like portraits produced at the present time by the improved photographic appliances. The Albany artists have kept pace with their brothers in the profession, and in no place is a higher order of photographic skill displayed and demanded. Prob- ably the leading studios of Albany are those of Aaron Veeder, 32 North Pearl street, and the Not- man Photographic Company, 48 North Pearl street.

Mr. Veeder is a native of Albany, and for fifteen years devoted himself to landscape photography; but, in 1881, he began to make a specialty of por- trait photography, in which he has shown remark- able skill and taste. A number of colorists, re- touchers and artists are employed in addition to the regular photographers.

The Notman studio is a branch of the Notman Photograph Company of Montreal. It has been

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THE ALBANY STAGE.

located in this city for a number of years. The ar- tistic work done at this studio is of a high order of excellence. A specialty of this house is photo- graphing large groups, notably the yearly group of the members of the Legislature, classes graduating from schools, clubs, etc.

Besides the two firms named, the following are engaged in this business: J. L. Abbott & Son, prob- ably the oldest firm in Albany; John N. Byron, R. E. Churchill, V. W. Horton, McDonald & Sterry, Charles S. Robinson, John M. Wood, and W. W. Wood.

THE ALBANY STAGE.

TT has with truth been said that " the history of

the Albany stage is, in a great measure, the history of the drama in America." Before the time when the land was dotted with cities, every city with its "opera house," the field for the drama was not only sterile, but limited. With Boston and Philadelphia further away by days than they now are by hours, Albany, on account of its river com- munication with New York, was looked upon as a convenient place in which to expend any mana- gerial effort over and above what had exhausted the possibilities of profit in the Metropolis; and af- terwards, actors waiting for a New York engage- ment, were glad to put in their time so near by as Albany.

So it happened that in the summer of 1769, the first American company organized in England by the Hallam Brothers having worn out their wel- come in New York, obtained permission of the Governor of the Colony, Sir Henry Moore, Baronet, to play in Albany for one month, three times a week, opening July 3d, in Otway's "Venice Pre- served." This was the first recorded visit of professional players, although, as Mrs. Grant's "Memoirs of an American Lady" tells us, the enact- ment of the "Beaux's Stratagem," by officers of an English regiment stationed here in 1760, created such a division of sentiment in regard to the mor- ality of stage plays as to lead the worthy dominie, Rev. Theodorus Freylinghausen, to start back in despair for his native Holland, being induced to do so by an emblematic message in the shape of a club, a pair of old shoes, a crust of bread and a dollar in money, left at his door the morning after preaching a scathing sermon against the wickedness of amateur theatricals. Taking the hint that he was no longer wanted, and that, therefore, his op- portunity for usefulness was gone, he sailed away, and never came back, having been drowned on the passage, whether by accident or suicide none ever knew, although the latter was surmised.

Of the first visit of the Hallam company nothing is known, except that they played in the Hospital to a schedule of six, four and two shillings. The Hospital stood near the site of the present Lutheran Church on Pine street. The city then contained only about 3, 0co inhabitants. There was no news- paper, consequently all record of the season is lost.

In 1785, when, after the Revolution, a detach- ment of the American company again came up

from New York to try their luck in Albany, they found the Gazette ready to publish their advertise- ment, which appeared December 5th, announcing a performance, "by authority," of "Cross Pur- poses," and "Catharine and Petruchio," for De- cember 9th. It did not take place, however, till December 13th. Meantime the storm of opposition to the theatre, common throughout the country at that time (except in the South), broke forth in great violence Seventy inhabitants signed a peti- tion to the city authorities asking them to recon- sider the permission given by them November 28th, for the players to act, and a whole number of the Gazette was given up to the consideration of the subject by correspondents, most of whom were vio- lent in their denunciations of the drama; and one or two went so far as to threaten to destroy the building in which the plays were to be presented. But the Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen and Assistants, after due deliberation, decided, by a vote of 9 to 4, that consent having once been given, and that without haste, and the players having been to ex- pense in fitting up the rooms, the city could not withdraw from the contract without dishonor; and so the performances began and were given twice a week till the latter part of February, when the com- pany, after paying all their debts, departed for Mon- treal.

In 1803, the company then managed by William Dunlap, assisted by Lewis Hallam, played here three nights a week, from August 22d to October 27, in a dancing-room whichi stood on what is now North Pearl street, two doors south of Clinton avenue. It was much the strongest company that had ever visited Albany, and numbered among its members Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Jefferson, grand- parents of the Jefferson of the present day. Several ineffectual attempts to establish the drama here by other and less important companies followed, and, in the spring of 1811, John Howard Payne, the author of " Home, Sweet Home," played a star engagement, being then about twenty years old, with two years' stage experience. It is fair to sup- pose that he aroused here something at least of the enthusiasm which attended his performances else- where.

Up to this time there had been no building erected for a theatre. In November, 1811, John Bernard, actor, manager and litterateur, came on from Boston, with this project in his head. The burning of the Richmond (Va.) theatre, with its

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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

loss of seventy-one lives, which occurred Decem- ber 26th, following, had a most depressing effect upon the plan. It threw a gloom over theatricals in all parts of the country, and was looked upon by many excellent persons as a visitation of Hea- ven's wrath upon unholy amusements. The pul- pits renewed their thunders against the play-house; the newspapers teemed with long and wordy argu- ments for and against this form of amusement, and the controversey waxed warm and bitter, as it has done time and again, from the days of Jeremy Collier to the present. In Albany, where the proposition to build a permanent theatre was just being agitated, the feeling was intense, and a motion was made in the Board of Aldermen to put down all theatrical exhibitions as a nuisance. This being referred to the Law Committee, they made, January 12, 1812, a long report, supposed to have been written by Recorder John V. N. Yates, and advancing the opinion

"That a well-regulated theatre, supported by the respectable portion of society, so far from be- ing contrary to good order and morality, must es- sentially contribute to correct the language, refine the taste, ameliorate the heart, and enlighten the understanding."

The report closed with a resolution "that the Board cannot legally interfere, nor would it be ex- pedient for it to pass laws regulating or restraining theatrical exhibitions in this city." This was adopt- ed, ten to three, and the theatre-building went slowly on; Mr. Bernard, meantime, acting at the old Thespian Hotel, as the hall near Clinton ave- nue was called.

The theatre was formally opened to the public, January 18, 1813. The building still stands (1886) on Green street, west side, south of Hamilton. It is of brick, and was originally 56 by 110 feet. Its builder was Lewis Farnham, and it was owned by a stock company, among whom were Recorder Yates, Isaac Hansen, George C. Sharpe, Isaac Q. Leake and John J. Godfrey. Mr. Bernard was the manager. The opening bill was the " West In- dian " and "Fortune's Frolic." Admission $1, 75 and 50 cents. Solomon Southwick wrote the opening address. Leigh Waring, father of Mrs. J. W. Wallack, was the star, and in the company were Mr. and Mrs. Bernard, the Placides, and Mrs. Young, afterwards Mrs. Hughes, the favorite "old woman " for so many years at Burton's. Mr. Bernard managed the theatre for four seasons, and soon after returned to Europe, where he died November 29, 1828, aged seventy-two, in desti- tute circumstances. His "Retrospections of the Stage " show him to have been a man of wit and learning, as he was unquestionably a fine comedian, while his character was beyond reproach. Alto- gether, Albany's first manager was an ornament to the profession.

The theatre did not have a very long life. In less than five years it was found to be hopelessly un- profitable, and in June, 1818, was sold to the Bap- tist Society for a church, for which purpose it was used till 1852. Its brief existence as a temple of the drama has proved a mine of theatrical reminis-

cences, well worked by Sol. Smith, the veteran actor, who first went on the stage there, and by Thurlow Weed, who was a frequent attendant. N. M. Ludlow, the veteran St. Louis manager, made his start from the same place, having appeared on the stage there for a few times, and then running away from home with Drake's expedition, which started from here, via Cherry Valley and Coopers- town, for the wilds of Kentucky, en route introduc- ing the drama in Utica, Auburn, Geneva, and other towns in the west of the State. With them went Miss Denny, a native of Albany, afterwards Mrs. Drake, and for more than forty years a star in the Western theatres.

In 1824-25 a theatre was built on South Pearl street by a stock company. It stood on the site of the present Leland Opera House, and is in part the same building, although for nearly twenty-five years it was used as a church, and once, all but the front, was destroyed by fire. Philip Hooker was the orig- inal architect. The building was 62 by 116 feet, and cost, with lot, about $25,000. It was opened May 13, 1825, under the management of Charles Gilfert, with "Laugh When You Can," and " Rais- ing the Wind." The company was of the best, and included George H. Barrett, in his prime, a prince of light comedians; Mrs. Henry, a beautiful woman, soon after his wife; Thomas Faulkner, George P. Hyatt, Mrs. Stone, and others. The elder Booth was the first star, and he was followed by the bright- est and best in the profession. For a time Albany had a model theatre. In the second season, Edwin Forrest was a member of the stock company, and here made rapid advance towards the greatness he soon after reached. Here he played second to Edmund Kean. It was the only time they were associated upon the stage, and the great actor's in- fluence upon the young American was of the ut- most importance, while Kean publicly expressed his admiration for Forrest. The company was soon found too expensive for Albany patronage, and the opening, on North Pearl street, of a popular circus resulted in Gilfert's abdication in May. He took most of the Albany company with him to the Bow- ery Theatre, of which he was the first manager, and which opened the following October.

At the circus dramatic performances were given in connection with equestrianism and spectacles, and the place was largely patronized for a time, at 50 and 75 cents.

George Barrett, Henry Wallack, C. W. Sanford, George Vernon, Duffy & Forrest, Dinneford & Blake, H. W. Preston, and others, managed the South Pearl Street Theatre during the next thirteen years, none of them making much money. How- ever, the best attractions of the day were seen here, including Fanny Kemble and her father; Macready, Clara Fisher, Hackett, George Hill, Master Burke (who subsequently resided near here), Tyrone Power (who was nearly mobbed because he de- clined to play one evening to a small audience), the elder Booth, Forrest (frequently), Josephine Clifton, James W. Wallack, T. D. Rice, James E. Murdoch, Charles Kean, Celeste, and many others. The firm of Duffy & Forrest consisted of William

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Duffy (an excellent actor, an Albanian by birth, who was stabbed by one of his company, John Hamilton, and died March 12, 1836) and William Forrest, brother of the tragedian.

In October, 1836, Charlotte Cushman, afterwards the very famous actress, became a member of the stock company here, and on the very stage where Forrest perfected himself in his life work, she prac- ticed in a great variety of characters. She was here till the following April, and became a favorite both on the stage and in society.

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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 156

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