Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 163

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 163

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There are accommodations here and all the comforts of home life, for about fifty women.

No age is specified in the rules of the managers, but as of late years those who have seemed most deserving, with strongest claims upon Christian sympathy, have been those advanced in years, the home has become a refuge for these, and by many has been called "The Old Ladies' Home."

No admission fee is necessary. The first ques- tion concerning an applicant is, Is she worthy ? and following that, Has she no relatives who should provide for her ?

If, after careful investigation, she is thought to be such a one as this home is provided for, one who will appreciate the privileges of this charity, she is admitted.

Need we say this building is always full ? It has a long history-this Home, and in the days gone by has sheltered many from hunger and cold.

On the walls of the chapel, which is the first room at the right upon entering the corridor of the first floor, there is a marble tablet bearing this in- scription : " In memory of Christina P. Lee, who having obtained help of God, in faith and by prayer and effort, laid the foundation of the Home. Opened January 27, 1852."

Above this tablet hangs Mrs. Lee's picture, the face of a beautiful woman whose heart felt for all the poor around her, and whose faith and prayers reached out towards the friendless of Albany in all coming years.

Nor was Mrs. Lee alone in these strong desires for the good of mankind. Other women joined her in her prayers, and on November 18, 1851, they met, formed plans for the adoption of a con- stitution, elected their officers, and named their society The Albany Guardian Society. January 27, 1852, they opened No. 23 Montgomery street for their work. Two years later, these rooms being too small, they moved to the corner of Dove street and Lydius street (now Madison avenue); and in a year or two subsequently, and for the same reason, they again moved to Nos. 15 and 17 Park street. Then they built this home on Clinton avenue, which was dedicated, free from debt, May 5, 1870.

This is a charity of which the citizens of Albany may well feel proud, one which has been well fos- tered by them, and abundantly blessed by heaven.

The work of the Albany Guardian Society is controlled by a board of managers, consisting of ladies selected from the different churches of the city. They have also an advisory board of gentle- men.

This board of ladies elect their own officers an- nually.

The present officers are Mrs. J. B. Sanders, First Directress; Mrs. James McNaughton, Second Di- rectress; Mrs. Samuel Patten, Third Directress; Mrs. George B. Steele, Treasurer; Mrs. George Doelker, Corresponding Secretary; Mrs. Stephen R. Gray, Receiving Secretary; Mr. Archibald Mc- Clure, Treasurer of the Investment Fund.

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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

HOME FOR AGED MEN.

The Home for Aged Men is located on the Albany and Watervliet Turnpike, near Menand's road. Incorporated October 5, 1876. "It is to provide for respectable men, who, at an advanced

age, are left helpless and alone .in the world, and whose poverty is due to misfortune rather than to idleness or vice." The corporators named were John Taylor Cooper, Maurice E. Viele, William Sawyer, Visscher Talcott, Dudley Platt, Ebenezer Halley, W. M. Van Antwerp, B. W. Arnold, J. H.

HOME FOR AGED MEN.

McClure, J. B. Jermain, J. Waterman, and D. A. Thompson. The home was dedicated March 28, 1878. It is pleasantly situated; has accommodations for 30 persons; and has at present 24 inmates. The institution is free from debt, and has an invested fund of $12,641. Inmates are, some of them, sup- ported in whole or part by friends; others are sup- ported at the expense of the society. Beneficiaries are to be natives of the United States, 60 years old or more, Protestant, and residents of Albany County 10 years next preceding application for relief. Exceptions to these restrictions may be made by a three-fourths vote of all the trustees. As a general rule, beneficiaries pay $125 entrance money and furnish their own room. Annual cost of support- ing each inmate about $170.

CHILDREN'S FRIEND SOCIETY.

In November, 1856, a meeting of philanthropic men and women interested in elevating the con- dition of the poor, was held in the middle Dutch Church of Albany, and there formed the associa- tion known as the Children's Friend Society. The initial movement was made by Mrs. Mary Pruyn and a few kindred spirits, whose faith and enthusi- asm carried them through many discouragements, and resulted in the good work which has extended its benefits to hundreds of destitute children, and placed them in the way of a good moral and in- dustrial training through the schools established by this society. The earliest statement of its work says that "the school opened in the Rensselaer Street Mission House, with two hundred scholars, rude, dirty, noisy-in every respect neglected chil- dren." Subsequently, after a few years of struggle, the school was transferred to a building purchased for its use at 81 Hamilton street, and as the needs of the work increased, a second school was opened in Canal street, in a building whose rental was donated by Mr. William White for several years.

Another change became necessary at his death, when the idea of the consolidation of the two schools gained favor, and through the earnest effort of a few of the managers, the necessary funds were contributed for the erection of the fine build- ing on Beaver street, known as the Industrial School. The aim and object of the society is em- phasized in its name, and its claim to be the chil- dren's friend is daily wrought out in the work of the school, and in the benefits offered to poor children struggling against the mighty trio of vice, ignorance and poverty. It provides a day home for them, where, in addition to the ordinary branch- es of study and moral teaching, an industrial train- ing is offered, which fits them for service. They are taught housework and sewing, and the kitchen training system lately introduced, is fitting the girls to take positions as waitresses and chambermaids. At 12 o'clock each day they are marshaled from their school-room to a comfortable dining hall, where a substantial meal awaits them. Clothing is also furnished in a system of rewards. Boys are also received, and the society looks forward to the time when a system of trades for their instruction can be introduced ..

The society was incorporated in April, 1863, and a remarkable fact is, that in about thirty years of existence, the position of President has been held by only two ladies, Mrs. Mary Pruyn and Mrs. Sophia Winne.

CHILD'S HOSPITAL.

The Child's Hospital, for children who are crip- pled or ill with chronic disease, was begun March 21, 1875, in a small house in Lafayette street. It numbered at first only two patients; but in the early summer of the same year a house was opened on Elk street, with beds for sixteen patients. The rapidly increasing work soon showed the necessity for a larger and more convenient building, and, in

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CHRISTIAN WORK.

1877, the present hospital on Hawk street was opened, with fifty beds. In 1879 a gift of $2, 500 from St. John's parish, Troy, was used to erect a quarantine house, called St. John's House; and in 1882 the hospital building was enlarged by the addition of two new wards. There are now accom- modations for seventy-five children.

The work is duly incorporated on The Corning Foundation of Christian Work in the Diocese of Albany.

THE WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION

is the largest temperance society in America, and the largest on record as having been organized, officered, and exclusively controlled by women. It has more than 150,000 members, in more than ten thousand local auxiliaries, and has organiza- tions in forty-eight of the States and Territories. This society is the lineal descendant of the great temperance crusade of 1873-74, and is a union of Christian women of all Christian churches for the purpose of educating the young; reforming the drinking classes; transforming, by the power of Divine grace, those who are enslaved by the im- moderate use of intoxicants; and removing the dram-shop, which is the gilded temptation. The society from its commencement has had three dis- tinct aims set before it-whatever line of work has been taken up, or new departure made, these ends have ever been in view- 1. The reformation of the drinker; 2. The salvation of the children and youth from the degradation of drunkenness; 3. The final banishment of dram-shops by wise and salutary laws, and the dissemination of scien- tific and Christian knowledge.

The first years of this society were given to the work of pledges, prayers, songs, appeals and gospel meetings. The relation of this organization to the home, the church, and social life is well assured. No society has been more earnest in advancing the truth.

The auxiliary branch of the Women's Christian Temperance Union in Albany, was organized in 1873. The members of this society give time and personal effort to temperance and mission work, in this wide field of reform and Christian charity. The needs and sufferings of the intemperate class call for careful investigation, and the mission of these kind hearted-ladies demands many sacrifices to meet the pleadings and wants of those who are made to drink the bitter cup of sorrow, poverty and shame caused by intemperance, while the per- petrator of this source of crime and misery is pro- tected and shielded under a license sanctioned by law, and permitted by the sufferance of the people.

The motto of this Women's Organization is "For God, and Home, and Native Land." The Albany society now has rooms at 69 South Pearl street, where stated meetings are held and calls an- swered. A lady missionary is employed.

The present officers are Mrs. J. H. Ecob, Presi- dent; Mrs. M. A. Wyatt, Mrs. J. B. Jump, Mrs.

S. R. Gray, Vice-Presidents; Mrs. David N. Kirk, Secretary; Mrs. Jonathan Tenney, Treasurer.

Previous to its present home, it had rooms with the Young Men's Christian Association, and at 26 William street, and elsewhere. While the Union could well expend more money in its good work, it has never stopped for the want of funds. It visits the families of the drunkard, and gives them sympathy and help; it keeps open pleasant rooms for reading and instruction; it circulates useful literature; it furnishes wholesome food and drink to the needy; and uses special efforts to keep the young from the dangers of evil appetites and temptations. The great doctrine of the union is that prevention is better than cure. The statute law of 1884, providing for the instruction of chil- dren and youth in schools upon the influence of stimulants and narcotics, was passed especially through the active agency of the officers of the Albany branch of the Women's Christian Tem- perance Union.

THE OPEN DOOR MISSION

is the outgrowth and development of missionary efforts put forth by Mrs. Eleanor Spensley, who has consecrated her life and means to the noble work of alleviating the pain and ameliorating the condition of mankind. Coming to Albany in 1879, for a year she went about among the poor, the sick, and the dying doing good; and then, more effectually and systematically to carry on her work, she rented quarters, No. 75 North Pearl street, on her own personal responsibility; but when the nature, ne- cessity and purpose of the work became known, a large number of Albany's representative citizens became deeply interested in the benevolent enter- prise and gave it most hearty support. This mission field of usefulness has been continually broadening, until to-day it is the peer, though not the rival, of any charitable institution in the City of Albany.

On the 14th day of April, 1882, it became in- corporated, under the title of The Open Door Mission, with Mrs. Frederick Townsend, Pres- ident, and Mrs. Lyman Tremain, Vice-President. Soon the necessity of more commodious and per- manent quarters was realized, and so generously were the appeals made in behalf of the Mission responded to, that it was enabled to purchase the house and lot No. 3 Columbia place. The prem- ises are to be used wholly, only, and constantly for the purposes above set forth. The Mission is governed and controlled by Trustees and Man- agers. No pecuniary or other remuneration is paid to the Superintendent or any one con- nected with the institution, except the cook and laundress. The Mission is non-sectarian in char- acter, and its charities are extended to respectable women and little children, without regard to re- ligion, race, color, or condition.

The city grants two thousand dollars per year on the same conditions as other hospitals. Mrs. Spensley resigned her position as Superintendent in the spring of 1884.

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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

ALBANY HOSPITAL FOR INCURABLES,

No. 2 Madison Place, is one of the youngest benevolent institutions in the city. It was con- ceived in the heart and brain of Mrs. Eleanor Spensley. She had graduated from Oberlin Col- lege in 1878, with a settled purpose to devote the remainder of her life to destitute and helpless suf- ferers. As a preparation for this, she had spent a year in the prisons and hospitals of New York City and vicinity in special training. After leaving The Open Door Mission, she at once received the assistance and co-operation of kind and able friends, and about the middle of November, 1884, again had a family of unfortunates. On the Ist of May following, the number had outgrown all available room on the corner North Pearl and Columbia streets, when rooms were secured and occupied at No. 2 Madison place. While her main object is to furnish a permanent home for hopeless disability, still there has been no time when one or more persons in temporary distress have not found the institution over which she presides the protecting, helpful avenue through which they passed from a state of dependence to self-help; and in some instances from conditions of despair to positions of high respectability and usefulness.

These cases have not been sought for, but have seemed to be brought to her door by the waves of misfortune from the sea of human misery by a directing providence, so that she could not refuse or resist their claim. Already every available room at No. 2 Madison place is occupied by a family of over thirty unfortunates, so that more roomy quar- ters must soon be obtained.

WOMAN'S UNION MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

In 1861, the Woman's Union Missionary Society of America for Heathen Lands was organized, in New York City. Mrs. T. C. Doremus its President. This society has between forty and fifty Missionaries (ladies) of every evangelical denomination, at this time working for women in foreign lands. It has mission stations in India, China, Japan, and the Island of Cyprus. The society is managed entirely by women, has no salaried officers, and has never been in debt. Expends about $50,000 annually. There is in this city an auxiliary called the Albany Branch of the Woman's Union Missionary Society. Officers as follows:

Mrs. Robert Starin, President; Mrs. D. K. Bartlett, Mrs. J. W. McNamara, Mrs. George R. Meneely, Vice- Presidents; Mrs. Frederick Townsend, Treasurer; Mrs. J. Townsend Lansing, Secretary; with a Board of twenty-six Managers, representing every Christian denomination.

The yearly contribution to the general fund of the society from this branch averages $800. This amount is collected by the individual effort of the friends of the society. There is one meeting held each year. No public appeal is ever made in its behalf.

THE ALBANY WOMAN'S EXCHANGE

is the outcome of a meeting held November 3, 1881, " to provide additional facilities to worthy women in obtaining work." Mrs. C. P. Williams was appointed chairman. In less than a month after this meeting, the Woman's Exchange was opened at No. 25 Steu- ben street, its object being to "afford impoverished gentlewomen an opportunity of quietly and unob- trusively earning money to supplement narrow in- comes." During the first four weeks the sales reached nearly $500. In less than six months the managers secured larger quarters. In February, a lunch room was opened in connection with the sales-rooms. The premises No. 14 North Pearl street were rented and occupied April 20, 1882. During the first year nearly two thousand articles were sold. Any person paying $5 becomes a member, and is entitled to enter the work of three persons for one year. All work is entered through numbers instead of names. Tick- ets are issued for $2 each, admitting the work of one person for one year. Prices on all articles are fixed by the persons entering the work. The society receives 10 per cent. commission on all sales. Last year 318 persons were paid sums ranging from 27 cents to $230.

WOMEN'S ALBANY INDIAN ASSOCIATION.

In 1879 Miss Mary L. Bonney, President of the Philadelphia Women's Home Mission Society, be- came greatly interested in the subject of our national wrongs to Indians, and bringing facts concerning these wrongs to her society, she awakened a sen- timent which resulted in presenting to President Hayes, February 14, 1880, a petition on behalf of justice to Indians, signed by 13,000 influential men, representing fifteen States.

In May, 1880,a committee was appointed for the purpose of publishing and circulating petitions, pamphlets, leaflets and circulars, and in June, 1881, the society was organized under the name of the Indian Treaty-keeping and Protective Association, with Miss Bonney as President. In 1882, with aux- iliaries in twenty States, it assumed the name of the Women's National Indian Association, and adopted a revised constitution with the objects:

First .- To strengthen public sentiment on behalf of justice to Indians, and to help secure their civilization and education and the payment of debts to them under existing governmental com- pacts.

Second .- To aid in securing needed new legis- lation, giving to Indians protection of law, lands and citizenship.

Third .- To labor for the elevation of Indian women and homes, and the Christianization of tribes now destitute of Christian instruction.

On the morning of March 22, 1883, about fifty women assembled in Geological Hall, in Albany, to listen to an address by Mrs. A. S. Quinton, General Secretary of the Women's National Indian Asso- ciation. Rev. Charles Wood, Pastor of the Fourth Presbyterian Church, presided. After the address, it was decided to organize an auxiliary to the National

735

CHRISTIAN WORK.

Association, to be known as the Albany Indian Association, whose boundaries should be New York City and Rochester. Mrs. W. W. Crannell was ap- pointed Secretary pro tem. At a subsequent meet- ing the following officers were elected:

President, Mrs. Howard Townsend; Treasurer, Mrs. William Barnes; Secretary, Mrs. W. W. Cran- nell. During the winter of 1884, the society framed the following memorial, which passed both Houses of the New York State Legislature, and was sent to the representatives in Congress by Governor Cleve- land :

Whereas, Believing that the education of Indians and their voluntary citizenship in the United States will most justly, quickly, and economically solve the Indian problem;

Resolved, That our Senators and Representatives in Congress be and they are hereby requested to aid in the passage of resolutions solemnly pledging the faith of the nation to the Indian policy embodied in the following principles:

First, That the unpaid sum pledged for educa- tional purposes by the Government as part payment for the cession of lands by Indians, be appropriated for the purchase of stock, farming implements, tools, etc., for Indian manual-labor schools.

Second, That so much of the net proceeds of the sale of Indian lands as may be necessary, shall be set apart for the purpose of creating a permanent fund for the education of Indians.

Third, That lands in severalty, making their titles inalienable for twenty-five years, and United States citizenship, may be granted at once to all Indians who so desire.

Fourth, That the legal personality of all Indians may be granted, and that protection of law may be given them, as it is to all other races within these United States.

Fifth, That the civilization of Indians may be hastened by providing for and rewarding their civ- ilized industries.

Sixth, That the salaries of Indian Agents be in- creased sufficiently to secure good men of large capacity and business experience, and to retain them in service.

Resolved, That the Governor be requested to transmit a copy of the foregoing resolutions to each of the Senators and Representatives in Congress from this State.

In June, 1874, Mrs. Maurice E. Viele was elected President. In the spring of 1885, auxiliaries to the Albany Association were established in Troy and Poughkeepsie. There is at present about two hun- dred ladies, with the following officers elected No- vember 11, 1885:

President, Mrs. Maurice E. Viele; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. W. W. Crannell; Recording Sec- retary, Mrs. Charles B. Nichols; Treasurer, Mrs. Wm. Barnes; Assistant Treasurer, Mrs. Benjamin W. Ar- nold; Vice-Presidents, Mis. Howard Townsend, Mrs. J. De Witt Peltz, Mrs. Theodore D. Van Heusen, Mrs. James H. McClure, Mrs. J. D. Countermine, Mrs. Leonard Kip, Mrs. George A. Woolverton, Mrs. William L. Learned, Mrs. Jeremiah Waterman, Mrs. J. Townsend Lansing, Mrs. Montgomery Throop,

Mrs. J. A. Lintner, Mrs. Samuel Patten, Mrs. John O. Cole, Mrs. John Taylor Cooper, Mrs. Leander Stick- ney, Mrs. Lemon Thomson, Mrs. David Murray, Mrs. Charles Wood, Miss C. W. De Witt, Miss Anna McNaughton, Miss Harriet Monteath, Miss J. Anna Lansing, Miss C. J. Van Rensselaer.

THE ALBANY WOMAN'S SUF- FRAGE SOCIETY.

N 1852, Miss Susan B. Anthony, as delegate to a temperance convention held in Albany, at- tempted to speak during the first session. Although she had been received as a member of the conven- tion, she was informed that she was "invited to listen, and not to take part in the proceedings." The men and women present who considered her wronged withdrew from the convention, and held a separate meeting in the vestry-room of the First Presbyterian Church. This was the beginning of active work in Albany for the rights of women. Mrs. Thompson, Lydia Mott, and Phebe Jones, of Albany, were pronounced in this.revolt.

A convention was held in Association Hall, Feb- ruary 14 and 15, 1854, by the advocates of equal rights. Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stan- ton, Antoinette L. Browne and Ernestine L. Rose were among the notable women present. A hear- ing was given them by both Senate and Assembly Committees, and 6,000 names of petitioners for the right to vote were presented to both branches of the Legislature. The editorials of the Albany news- papers were, in nearly every instance, furious in their attacks upon the woman suffragists. The Knickerbocker, then as now, demanded "fair play and truthful criticism."

Another convention was held in the Green Street Universalist Church, February 13 and 14, 1855, and again petitions were presented, and hearings in Senate and Assembly were accorded.

A convention was held in Association Hall, Feb- ruary 3 and 4, 1860. Miss Anthony was the ruling spirit. On the 18th of this February, Mrs. Stanton addressed the Legislature on woman's right of suf- frage.

February 7 and 8, 1861, just before the War of the Rebellion, a woman's suffrage convention was held in Albany. It is proper to note that all the eloquent addresses of these eminent women never aroused even a quartet of women in Albany to or- ganize for woman's suffrage work. Lydia Mott's parlors in Columbia street furnished the center for the workers who came from other cities.

After the war, the Constitutional Convention of the State of New York was held in the Old Assem- bly Chamber. Mrs. Stanton addressed the Judiciary Committee, asking that the word "male " be stricken from Sec. 1, Art. 2, of the Constitution of New York. The women of Albany again had the opportunity of listening to Mrs. Stanton plead- ing for justice to her sex. From that year to the present, Mrs. Lillie Devereux Blake has each year made effort in the New York Legislature to bring about woman suffrage. Early in the year 1880, her efforts, and those of the earnest women who pre-

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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

ceded her, were crowned with partial success by the passage of the school suffrage law. Soon after the right to vote at school elections was gained, Mrs. Blake came to Albany for the express purpose of holding a meeting whereby she might confer with the women of Albany, and lead them to take part in the charter election about to be held. The meeting was held in the Geological Hall, March 19, 1880. Mrs. Blake and Mrs. Slocum, of New York City, and Mrs. Saxon, of New Orleans, spoke with great earnestness, and urged the women to form themselves into an active local working society for future help. Mrs. William Barnes and Mrs. Mary Pruyn were nominated for members of the school board, who afterwards refused to accept the nomination. At the close of the meeting, Mrs. Mary S. Howell called an extra session, and a local society was then and there organized. Mrs. Howell was chosen President, and Miss Kate Stone- man, Secretary. Another meeting was held Mon- day, March 22, 1880.

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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 163

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