Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 209

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 209

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There are four hundred children attending St. Bernard's schools. The number of sisters em- ployed in teaching is eight ; one of these is exclu- sively engaged in teaching music.

The number of souls belonging to this mission is about four thousand, and there are two priests attached to the church.

The Rev. Thomas Keveny was pastor from 1855 to 1882 ; with the exception of the building of the old church, all the work accomplished in this parish has been accomplished within these years.

Father Keveny was born in the county Sligo. Ireland. He came to America in 1838, and pur- sued his studies for the ministry in Fordham Col- lege, an institution conducted by the Jesuit fathers. He was ordained a priest by the late Archbishop Hughes, of New York, and sent to take charge of the Hogansburgh mission, in the northern part of this State. After remaining in Hogansburgh about four years, he was transferred to Cohoes.

St. Joseph's (French) Church .- On the 23d of August, 1868, Rev. L. H. Sangon, a worthy French priest, was sent to Cohoes by Mgr. Con- roy, then Bishop of Albany, to rally the French Canadians together and build them a church. On the 9th of October the corner stone was laid for the first French Church of Cohoes, on Congress street, above Columbia. Bishop Conroy officiated. On the 12th of December, 1869, the building was opened for divine service, under the name of "St. Joseph's Church of Cohoes." The founder, Rev. L. H. Sangon, died on the 19th of December. The first mass in the new church was celebrated by Rev. Thomas Keveny, pastor of St. Bernard's Church. Father Sangon was succeeded by Rev. J. O. La Salle, formerly of Champlain, N. Y., Christmas day, 1869. In 1871 a pastoral residence was finished.

It soon became apparent that the church edifice was far from meeting the needs of the congregation. The weakness of the foundation and the unsub- stantial condition of the superstructure made the people constantly fear a catastrophe, to avert which the edifice was demolished, June, 1874.

On the 23d of August of the same year Bishop Mc- Neirney laid the corner stone of the second French

966

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Catholic church in Cohoes. The sermon on this occasion was delivered by Rev. R P. Francis Van Campehondt, from II Chron., vii, 16. Four years were occupied in the construction of this building. The fatigue and anxiety of this work undermined the health of Father La Salle, and in less than a year from the time the new church was opened he died. At his funeral Rev. L. M. Dugast said : " His zeal for the house of God had consumed his life."

This building has a basement, ten feet high, of stone-work, devoted to chapel purposes. The main auditorium measures 70 x 100 feet, with nave, aisles, sanctuary, sacristies and adjoining vestibules. The superstructure is of pressed brick, with cut stone dressings. The style is decorated Gothic. The interior is very ornate, finished in plastic, with bold arch molds and foliated capitals. The tower and spire are placed on one corner, and rise to a height of 185 feet. A gallery runs across the front, extending on both sides about three- quarters the length of the aisles. The interior is finished in ash, trimmed in black walnut. The five altars are very beautiful, being handsomely decorated in colors. The architect was Mr. Charles A. Nichols, of Albany.

The Rev. L. M. Dugast assumed the pastorate of this church, March 19, 1879. His administra- tion has been very successful. In less than five years he cleared off the entire debt on the church. While paying off the debt he had to meet the ex- penses of finishing the upper story of the pastoral residence, putting in the pews and doors of the church editice, constructing the galleries and the. railings around the sanctuary, purchasing orna- ments, and the introduction of steam-heating ap- paratus, and numerous other improvements. When Father Dugast arrived in Cohoes, about sixty children of the parish attended a French school taught by a single lay teacher. At his request the Sisters of St. Ann's, of Lachine, near Montreal, established themselves in the parish. On the 4th of September they came, three in number. At the present writing there are ten sisters, comfortably located in a fine brick convent, the cost of which was $17,000, where they impart instruction to more than 400 pupils. This institution opened November 22, 1882, and was dedicated by Very Rev. L. A. Marechal, Vicar-General of the Diocese of Montreal, Canada. At the prize distribution the first Sunday of July, 1883, Rev. Father Dugast decided on commencing the building of a commer- cial college for boys. This edifice, now completed, is built of brick, three stories high, measures 48 x 49 feet, and accommodates about 200 scholars, under the care of five ecclesiastical and lay teachers. The benediction of this institution took place, No- vember 11, 1883, with imposing ceremonies. It is called the "Commercial College of the Sacred Heart, of Cohoes, N. Y." It is managed by the Rev. A. Velleneuve, formerly of Montreal. The present pastor has founded many societies in the church, such as the "Sodality of the Children of Mary," for young ladies ; "The Congregation of the Sacred Heart," for young men ; "The Con-

gregation of the Dames of Charity and St. Ann," for married women.

The object of these societies is to aid in the prac- tice of Christian virtues and give relief to the sick and poor.

Father Dugast also devoted much care to the two conferences of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, for men

Quite recently beautiful stained glass windows were put into this church.

The French population of Cohoes, instructed by priests of their own nationality, numbered at the last census, 1882, 5,635 souls.

Church of St. Agnes (Roman Catholic). - First pastor of this church was the Rev. John F. Low- rey, who still remains in full charge of the church. He was appointed to his position by the Right Rev. Francis McNeirney, Bishop of Al- bany, by letter of September 17, 1878. The first mass was celebrated in the engine house on Johnston avenue. near the bridge leading from Harmony Hill to Fifth Ward. The first church building (temporary) was erected, October, 1878, and opened for divine worship on the 3d of No- vember of the same year. A new parochial resi- dence, at a cost of about $14,coo, was erected soon after, and the vacant lots opposite purchased for a site for the permanent church edifice.

Afterward, the Sheehan farm of twenty-four acres was purchased for a cemetery, and solemnly dedicated by the Bishop of the Diocese, September 26, 1883. There is no debt on the property, and the congregation have on deposit about $10,000 as a building fund. The temporary church build- ing was burned, December 3, and the society will have a few thousand dollars insurance to add to the above fund. The parsonage was saved, though it was three times on fire. About 500 children attend the Sunday school, and the number of adults be- longing to the congregation is about 2, 500. Several large societies attached to the church are in a flourishing condition, and a parochial library for the use of the congregation is always open and in charge of the young men's sodality.

NOTE .- The compiler is indebted to the several pastors for the above facts concerning the churches.

CHAPTER IX.

PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF COHOES.

Cohoes Post-Office. - The first post-office was located at Mr. Waterman's, near the junction. It was moved thence to a store on the canal bank, near the bag mill ; thence to a building opposite the site of the Harmony Hotel ; thence to Mohawk street, between Oneida and St. John's alley ; thence to a building on Oneida street, east of Remsen ; thence to St. John's alley, near Mrs. Terry's store ; thence to Dr. Cheesebro's drug store, Remsen street ; thence to a building on the site of Music Hall block ; thence to Roger's block ; thence to Music Hall, northeast corner; thence to the rooms now occupied in Harmony Hotel, Factory street.

967

THE CITY OF COHOES.

The following is a list of the postmasters up to January 1, 1884 : Frederick Y. Waterman, ap- pointed 1832; Hezekiah Howe, 1833; Peter F. Daw, 1854 ; George H. Wager, 1855; I. W. Cheesebro, 1861; James H. Masten, 1865; Samuel D. Trull, 1866; James H. Masten, 1867.

Cohoes Public Schools .- As stated elsewhere, the first school-house in this region was located at the Boght, about 1813. The next school-house, or the first one within the present city limits, was near the corner of Oneida and Mohawk streets, on the site of the residence of the late M. S. Younglove. The first teacher was a man named O'Neil. Soon after this a second school-house was built on the site of what is known now as the slate yard school- house. Supply F. Wilson was one of the early teachers.

In 1828 a new school-house was located in a building which had been used as a boarding- house, standing on Oneida street, near the old freight-house. The next was a brick school-house on the corner of Canvass and Oneida streets, erected in 1847. According to the act of 1850, school trustees were elected as follows : S. H. Foster, Jacob Travis, William Burton, George W. Miller, Abram Lansing, William Binns. A school was kept in the basement of the Reformed Church, in addition to those already mentioned. In 1855 there was a school on the East Harmony, one on the West Harmony, and one on Columbia street. There are now fine large school buildings in each of these localities. In 1870 the White Street School-house was erected. The Pleasure Ground School-house was erected in 1873, corner Bowery and Elm streets. The Lincoln Avenue School-house was built in 1875, and the school- house on Van Schaick's Island in 1882.

There are now nine school buildings in Cohoes, nearly all of them quite commodious.

The Egberts High School was established by the munificence of Mr. Egbert Egberts, as a trust in the hands of the Protestant pastors of the city. He gave them the large building now occupied by the High School on White street, which had been used as a boarding-house. He gave them also in trust the first and second tenement houses on Remsen street, north of Egberts' Hall, the rent of which was to be used to help sustain the high school, named in the trust as Egberts' Institute. The income from these tenements not being found sufficient to maintain the Institute, the trustees rented it to the Board of Education in August, 1868, the Board agreeing to keep a school at the same grade as the Institute, and in accordance with the bequest of Mr. Egberts. The Board also ob- tained the privilege to use the lower stories of the Institute building for younger scholars.

The teachers of the Institute were : Rev. Alex. B. Bullions, 1864-5; Mr. Chas. P. Evans, 1865-6; Rev. A. J. Bingham, 1866-8.

The principals of the High School have been: W. H. Nellis, Robert Hardie, E. H. Torrey, Oliver P. Steves, A. J. Robb, George E. Dixon.

In 1856 Truman G. Younglove was elected chairman of the Board of Education ; re-elected

in 1858. Then followed George H. Wager in 1860; James H. Masten, 1862; Samuel H. Foster, 1864. Mr. Foster was succeeded by Murray Hub- bard in 1869, and he by Isaac Hiller in 1880.

Beside the free public schools, there have been a number of select schools connected with the churches.

The Board of Education established some years ago a system of free night schools for working children, which have accomplished much good.

Cohoes Fire Department .- The first fire engine in Cohoes was a small rotary hand engine, called Ex- celsior, No. 1, purchased in 1835 by subscription. The next was a hand engine, which had been used by the Albany Fire Department, obtained in 1847. In 1848 the village purchased an engine, hose car- riage and hose, at a cost of $675.

Parmelee Engine Company was formed, and the Cataract Engine Company. Luke Bemis was chief engineer. The first engine house is that near the Methodist church, occupied by the Campbell Hose, erected in 1848. Mohawk Engine Com- pany was formed in 1851, and they had an engine house just south of the Miller House.

The Adams Steamer Company was formed in 1867-president, H. B. Silliman; chief engineer, S. G. Root. Charles H. Adams presented the steamer which bears his name as an expression of his personal interest in the welfare of the com- munity. The building on Oneida street, east of Canvass, was erected for this steamer. Charles Cronk is now engineer and Samuel Ray captain.

The Harmony Company also purchased a steamer in the same year, which is always in read- iness for use when needed in any part of the city. The first president of the Harmony Steamer Com- pany was Robert Johnston, and the chief engineer was John A. Link.

The Alden Hose Company was formed in 1860; Johnston avenue, corner Garner.

The Geo. H. Wager Hook and Ladder Com- pany was formed in 1865; Oneida street. W. E. Simpson is now captain.

The Daniel E. McIntosh Hose Company was formed in 1867; Oneida street.

Edwin Hitchcock Hose Company, formed in 1869; Main street, near Columbia.

The Howarth Engine Company was formed in 1870; disbanded 1873.

The Nolan Steamer Company is now known as Eagle Hose, No. 3, and is located near the Stone Bridge.

The John McCreary Steamer Company, No. 3, was the latest organized. It has quarters on John- ston avenue, near the bridge over the railroad; has 25 men. William Williams is the engineer.

Since 1879 the Fire Department has been man- aged by a Board of Commissioners, as follows : D. J. Johnston, C. F. North, J. Hiller, J. V. S. Lansing and the Mayor, now Mr. Le Roy. R. S. Calkins is chief engineer for the city, and the whole department is remarkably complete and efficient.

Cohoes Police .- Until 1865 Cohoes had a system of village constables to preserve order.

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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

July, 1865, the Capitol Police Law went into effect, including the Albany and Troy Divisions, Cohoes being in the latter division, but being a precinct by itself.

The station-house was in Hayward's Building, and the first sergeants were Wm. Buchanan and John Mc Dermott. May 6, 1870, a new bill was passed, giving Cohoes a separate police force and commissioners.

The captains have been: M. Redmond, Francis S. Staats, Henry Genore, M. Weidman. Police sergeants : F. S. Staats, M. B. Smith, Martin De- laney, Kendall Hodgson. The Mayor is Commis- sioner ex officio. The other Commissioners have been Geo. Z. Dockstader, Wm. Bamerick, Amos T. Calkins, John Slavin, Edwin Hitchcock, G. Carter, John Simpson, J. Tubbs.

Telegraph .- The first telegraph business in Co- hoes was on an independent line from Cohoes to Troy. There was a stock company, and the stock- holders were all Cohoes men-president, Daniel E. Simmons; secretary and treasurer, E. W. Fuller; directors, H. L. Landon, Ira Terry, Joseph Chad- wick.

The first office was in the building now occupied by A. K. Dixon for a grocery store, Remsen street. H. E. Lasell was the operator, and the first dis- patch was sent August 31, 1857. The office was soon removed to the store of H. R. Grant & Co., now occupied by E. S. Gregory, Johnston block, Remsen street. Mr. Grant acted as operator, also Mr. Le Roy, present Mayor. The income at first was about ten dollars a month. After about two years the Western Union ran a line to Cohoes, and Mr. Le Roy became manager and operator. The old line was abandoned. The stock was worth- less. The Western Union gave the Cohoes office half the receipts up to fifty dollars and ten per cent. above fifty dollars. Mr. Le Roy was suc- ceeded as operator by Geo. A. House, and he by Mr. A. F. Hurd, in 1883, with Harry Carpenter, assistant.

Cohoes Gas Light Company .- This company was incorporated in 1853, with a capital of $50,000. The first president was Mr. T. G. Younglove. The works were located on Sargent street, and the ca- pacity was equal to the production of 50, 000 cubic feet of gas daily. The present works are located on the Champlain Canal, and have a producing capacity of 250,000 cubic feet daily. The present officers are: D. J. Johnston, President; Wm. E. Thorn, Secretary and Treasurer; D. H. Van Au- ken, Superintendent; Charles H. Van Auken, En- gineer. The Directors are: D. J. Johnston, Wm. E. Thorn, D. H. Van Auken, Stephen Bush, Samuel W. Johnston, Harmon Pumpelly, David F. Lamb.

The Cohoes Water Works .- The Cohoes Water Works Company was incorporated in 1855. The following were named as commissioners: Charles M. Jenkins, Hugh White, Alfred Wild, Egbert Egberts, James Brown, Joshua Bailey, Wm. N. Chadwick, Wm. Burton, Henry D. Fuller, An- drew D. Lansing, Jenks Brown and Truman G. Younglove. The capital stock was $50, 000, which

might be increased to $250,000. This plan failed of execution, and the next year an act was passed " To provide for a supply of water in the village of Cohoes." The new commissioners were: Alfred Wild, Charles H. Adams, Henry D. Fuller, Wm. F. Carter, Joshua Bailey and Truman G. Young- love. They were empowered to issue the bonds of the village to an amount not to exceed $60,000 and thus take steps to secure an abundant supply of water. A reservoir was constructed on Pros- pect Hill, and the water pumped from the Cohoes Company's canal No. I. The first reservoir has a capacity of 3,000, oco gallons. It covers two acres of ground; 1, 200 feet of pipe carried the water from the pump-house to the reservoir, delivering 35,000 gallons per hour. The pump (a Geyelin) was driven by water with a 45-horse-power wheel. Five miles of sheet iron and cement pipe were laid through the city. In 1869 steps were taken to en- large these water works. A new reservoir was built covering three and one-quarter acres of land, with a capacity of 8,000,000 gallons. This reser- voir is 190 feet above the central portion of the town. new pump was placed in the

pump-house, having a Jonval turbine water

wheel of 100 horse-power. The pipes were also extended. In 1883 the water works were still further enlarged, by laying 8,000 feet of new iron pipe in Mohawk and Remsen and Main streets; 2,500 feet of this new pipe is 24 inches in diameter, 4,000 feet is 16 inches in diameter and the remainder is 12 inches. At the same time two new Flander's pumps, with capacity to lift 6,000, - 000 gallons every 24 hours, were placed in the pump-house. The whole expense of the improve- ment in 1883 was $60,000. The whole length of the city water pipes is now about fifteen miles. About 2,000,000 gallons are used daily by the citi- zens. The present commissioners are: Wm. F. Thorn, President; Mayor Alfred Le Roy, ex officio; P. E. Marshall, John Clute, Robert Weir, John English, W. R. Benedict. The superintendents have been: Fred'k Upham, John Doyle, Sheffield Hayward, H. R. Grant, E. R. Gilman, John Don- lon, Albert Kniffin.

BANKS.

In 1859 measures were taken for the establish- ment of a bank, an institution much needed, and one long talked of. The stock was $100, 000, which was nearly all taken by citizens of Cohoes. The first officers were: President, Egbert Egberts; Cashier, James M. Sill; Directors, Egbert Egberts, Daniel Simmons, T. G. Younglove, Wm. Orelup, Jr., Wm. G. Caw, W. F. Carter, J. G. Root, John Sill and C. H. Adams. This institution became a national bank, May 31, 1865. Its capital was in- creased from $100, 000 to $250,coo, August, 1872. Murray Hubbard was chosen cashier, March, 1862, in place of Mr. Sill. After the death of Mr. Eg- berts Mr. Adams became president, March, 1869.

In April, 1851, an act was passed incorporating the "Cohoes Savings Institution." The corpora- tors were: Charles A. Olmstead, Truman G. Younglove, Egbert Egberts, Hugh White, Daniel

969

THE CITY OF COHOES.

Simmons, I. D. F. Lansing, H. D. Fuller, W. F. Carter, Abram Lansing, Joshua Bailey, Wm. N. Chadwick, Teunis Van Vechten, Andrew D. Lan- sing, Harmon Pumpelly, Edward E. Kendrick, WVm. Burton, Joshua R. Clark, Jeremiah Clute, Miles White. August 15, 1853, this institution commenced business, and received deposits at the office on Remsen street, in the store now occupied by Wm. Bell. Egbert Egberts was the president, T. G. Younglove the treasurer, and Edward W. Fuller, assistant treasurer. This institution has now on deposit over $800,000. Wm. Burton is president, and G. H. Vermilyea is treasurer.

March 21, 1872, the Manufacturers' Bank of Cohoes was organized, with a capital of $100,000. President, Wm. E. Thorn; Vice-president, J. V. S. Lansing; Cashier, N. W. Frost; Directors, Wm. E. Thorn, J. V. S. Lansing, D. H. Van Auken, George Campbell, J. W. Himes, Jacob Travis, D. J. Johnston, N. J. Clute, Wm. Moore, Alfred Le Roy, P. R. Chadwick. This institution was opened for business at 70 Oneida street, July 8, 1872. J. V. S. Lansing is now president; W. T. Seymour, cashier.

The Mechanics' Savings Bank was incorporated March, 1873. It commenced business in May of the same year, in the rooms of the Manufacturers' Bank. The following were the first officers: President, Robert Johnston; First Vice-president, John Clute; Second Vice-president, Wm. Stanton; Secretary, Wm. S. Smith; Treasurer, Abner J. Griffin; Assistant Treasurer, Leonard J. Groesbeck. This savings bank, like Cohoes Savings Institu- tion, has enjoyed continuous prosperity from the first. The deposits are constantly increasing. The present officers are: President, Robert John- ston; First Vice-president, John Clute; Second Vice-president, Wm. Stanton; Treasurer, A. J. Griffin; Secretary, Le Roy Vermilyea.

HISTORY OF NEWSPAPERS THAT HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED IN COHOES.

The Cohoes Advertiser (Whig). - First issued February 9, 1847, by Alexis Ayres and William H. S. Winans ; A. Ayres, editor. Continued one year, when Alexis Ayres retired and Isaac D. Ayres took his place.

The Cohoes Journal and Advertiser (Whig) suc- ceeded the Advertiser, February 9, 1848; Ayres & Winans, publishers ; W. H. S. Winans, editor ; continued to January 1, 1849, when it was suc- ceeded by

The Cohoes Cateract (Rep. ), Chauncy Stow, Horace B. Silliman and Stephen C. Miller, pub- lishers, under the firm name of Stow, Silliman & Miller, proprietors ; Silliman and Miller, editors. This firm continued until March, 1849, when Mr. Stow retired, and the firm became Silliman & Miller. These gentlemen continued the business until September, in 1851, when they disposed of their interest to J. H. Masten, who published the Cataract (with the exception of an interval of two years and five months, during which it was under the control of A. F. Onderdonk and A. S. Baker

& Co.) to July 15, 1871, when he sold the office to William Bean, who, with A. C. Stone, were the proprietors until its suspension, December 31, 1881. Its publication was resumed, October 20, 1883, by William Seaport.

Cohoes Weekly Democrat (Dem.) commenced January 27, 1866, Michael Monahan editor and proprietor. It was published four months and then suspended.

Cohoes Weekly Democrat (Dem.)-The second paper of the name was first issued September 17, 1870, by D. Cady, a resident of Lansingburgh, assisted by John H. Atkinson. Mr. Cady con- tinued until the following November, when his in- terest was purchased by James F. Kelly, and the copartnership of Atkinson & Kelly was formed. On the 29th of August, 1873, the firm was dis- solved by the retirement of Mr. Atkinson. Mr. Kelly continued its publication until the destruc- tion of North's block, where it was located, Febru- ary 21, 1879. It then suspended.

The Cohoes Independent, a weekly paper of small dimensions, was started July 4, 1872, by Robert Johnston and Charles S. Pease, and was continued six months.

The Advertiser, semi-monthly; Johnston & Pease, proprietors. This was started April 12, 1873, and the last number was issued April 24, 1873.

The Cohoes Daily News (Rep.)-The first num- ber of this paper, the first daily paper started in Cohoes, was issued September 22, 1873, by Edward Monk, from the office of Clark & Foster, in Granite Hall. Mr. Monk continued its publi- cation alone until June 1, 1874, when Samuel Sault was admitted as partner. The firm continued until July 22, 1879, when J. H. Masten pur- chased the interest of Mr. Sault. Mr. Monk re- tired from the establishment April 2, 1881, and J. H. Masten has since been sole proprietor.

The Cohoes Daily Bulletin (Dem.), the second daily paper in Cohoes, was commenced June 1, 1875. It was Democratic in politics, and was con- ducted by J. H. Atkinson, formerly of the Dem- ocrat, and J. Barlow Luddy. This was continued until December 13, 1875, when it suspended.

Journal Des Dames (literary), a weekly paper published in the interest of French Canadian ladies, and edited by Mlle. Virginie Authier. The first number appeared September 24, 1875, and the last February 16, 1876.

L' Avenir National (Dem. )-Another French paper, the publication office of which had for- merly been in Troy, New York, removed to Cohoes, and the first number was issued October 15, 1875, under the management of Louis G. Le Bœuf. The paper was discontinued August 11, 1876.

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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 209

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