Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 211

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 211

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Gibbonsville was that part of the present village of West Troy which lies between Port Schuyler, on the south, and Buffalo street, on the north, and was originally the farm of James Gibbons, a mer- chant of the city of Albany, and was by Mr. Gib- bons laid out into building lots, with streets and alleys, and named Gibbonsville.

The village of Gibbonsville proved to be quite a thriving settlement, and in the year 1824 was duly incorporated as a village, and remained as such until. the year 1836, when the act of its incorporation was repealed by the provisions of the act which incorporated the village of West Troy.

West Troy (previous to 1836) was that part of the present village which lies north of Buffalo street (the north boundary of Gibbonsville) and south of the present boundary line, which is the northern corporate limits of this village, and is the old line that divided the farms of John Bleeker and Volkert Oothout.

975

THE VILLAGE OF WEST TROI.

This West Troy was originally the farm of John Bleeker, and in the year 1823 was purchased of him by a number of capitalists, who called them- selves the "West Troy Company." The deed which conveyed this parcel of land was executed on November 12, 1823, by John Bleeker and Elizabeth; his wife, and conveys about 400 acres of land, and excepts therefrom the Troy and Schenectady turnpike (now Genesee street), and lands occupied by the canal, and a parcel of land of about % of an acre which then belonged to Thomas Schrimpton. This deed conveyed this land to George Tibbetts, Nathan Warren and Richard Hart, of Troy, and Philip Schuyler, of Saratoga, as trustees, and states that the above- named parties, together withi Esaias Warren, Stephen Warren, Jacob Merritt, George Vail, Samuel Gale, Ebenezer Wiswall, Elias Pattison, Philip Hart, Jr., John D. Dickinson, John P. Cushman, John Pain, Theodore F. French and William Hart, have formed an association for the purpose of improving the premises, etc.

The consideration price named in this deed is $45,000. The eastern part of this parcel of land (the part which lies east of West street) was laid out into building lots, with street and alleys, and the western part was made into large lots, called "farm lots, ' which contained from 10 to 20 acres each. At present the greater part of these farm lots have been divided into building lots, and are covered with buildings. At the date of the pur- chase of this land by the West Troy Company, the only building thereon of any importance was a small two-story wooden tavern. This tavern had a piazza along the front and was located on the west side of the road, now known as Broadway, a short distance south of what is now called Central avenue (formerly Canal street), and stood upon the same plot of ground which is now occupied by the row of brick stores which are owned by Mr. Thomas Rath, and called "Rath's Block." This tavern, as early as 1824, was a very old building, and was probably erected at the time of, or previous to, the Revolutionary War. In 1830 this tavern was kept by one Samuel Ford.

Previous to the date of the incorporation of this village, the villages of Gibbonsville and West Troy were rivals, and although they lay side by side, they laid out their streets and named them without regard to each other, and consequently what is now known as Broadway was then called Water street, while within the limits of Port Schuyler and Gibbonsville; but when this street ran into West Troy, it was called Broad street. What is now

called Washington street was then known as Washington street only in Gibbonsville, and in West Troy it was known as Rochester street. OI course, this created much confusion, especially with strangers.

By the Act of Legislature, in 1836, which in- corporated the village of West Troy, all real and personal property which then belonged to the then village of Gibbonsville became the property of the village of West Troy; and by this act the village was divided into four wards, and the inhabitants residing in such wards, and duly qualified to vote, were directed to meet on the first Tuesday in May, 1836, at some proper place in each ward, at 9 o'clock in the forenoon, pursuant to a proper notice to be given and signed by the Trustees of the said village of Gibbonsville, and to then and there elect by ballot, in each of these wards, two trustees, who shall be electors and freeholders. Alva W. Rockwell, David D. Abrams and Albert S. Blackman were appointed by this act to attend and preside as inspectors of election of the First ward; Isaac Chapman, Martin Witbeck and John C. Green, in the Second ward; Samuel E. Ford, John T. Van Alstyne and Andrew Meneely, in the Third ward, and Abel W. Richardson, Abraham Van Arnam, Jr., and Alexander S. Lobdell, in the Fourth ward. All of the above-named persons were at this time among the most prominent business men of the village, but all are now deceased. These inspectors were directed to declare the persons receiving the greatest number of votes in their re- spective wards duly elected. This act also directed the said electors at the same time to elect a presi- dent for the said village.

Although the village of West Troy has grown very much since the time of its incorporation, and has in fact for some years past overrun the corporate limits, still the present corporate limits and the number and boundaries of the respective wards remain the same as designated in the charter of 1836. After the incorporation of this village it grew quite rapidly, although it was a thriving town before that time. The United States had, in 1813, purchased and located an arsenal in Gibbonsville, and the Erie Canal had run through the place since 1823, and was then (1836) being enlarged. The United States purchased the land upon which this arsenal was located from James Gibbons and Esther, his wife. This purchase comprised a plot of about twelve acres, fronting upon the Hudson River. The deed describes it as commencing at a point in the north line of Beaver street, at low water mark in the Hudson River, and conveys the land

976

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

lying south of the north line of Beaver street, and between the Hudson River, on the east, and Albany street, on the west. There are now no maps that show this street called Beaver street; but by this deed it included and conveyed said street, which then ran in a westerly direction from the river. This deed conveyed this land in fee to the people of the United States, and to its successors or as- signs, but reserved the right of a ferry privilege upon the river, and forbade the purchasers or their successors or assigns from ever maintaining a ferry from this parcel of land; it also reserved the right to said Gibbons to use the bed of a certain creek which ran through this land as a bed for a canal which was then proposed to be constructed (the Erie Canal). It was the intention of Mr. Gibbons that this creek be used for a canal and as a means of access for boats from the canal to the river, and vice versa. This creek was never used for such purpose, but at a point about half a mile further south, and in the then village of Washington, or Port Schuyler, such a canal was constructed, and is now know as the " lower side-cut." In the year 1828 the United States purchased of Esther Gib- bons, as executrix of James Gibbons, deceased, another parcel of land which contained about thirty acres, and adjoined the land purchased in 1813 on the south and west. This last mentioned parcel of land Mr. Gibbons had contracted to sell to the United States, but died before the purchase was consummated. The purchase price of the first mentioned twelve acres was $2, 585.00, and that of the other thirty acres was $9, 622.00.

The village of Gibbonsville was laid out into village lots, with streets and alleys, in the year 1828, by Evert Van Allen, a civil engineer, although a portion thereof must have been mapped out as early as 1813, as appears by the deed of Gibbons and wife to the United States, which mentions the street called Beaver street, also a street called Al- bany street.

The original owners or proprietors of the villages of Port Schuyler, Gibbonsville and West Troy had large ideas as to the future greatness of these vil- lages. They intended making them great com- mercial centers for the transfer and storage of all commodities to be carried on the canals and river. The proprietors of West Troy constructed a canal, in connection with the Erie Canal, which com- menced at the south side of the side-cut at Union street, and midway between Broadway and the Erie Canal, which ran from this point south to the north side of Genesee street, where it then turned and ran into the Erie Canal; at the point where it

ran into the Erie Canal was constructed a dry-dock, which was so constructed that boats would run on to a submerged platform, and then the boat and platform were raised out of the water by means of large screws, which connected with the platform and were worked with long levers. This canal was filled up several years ago. The proprietors of West Troy also contemplated and made provis- ion for another canal in laying out the streets of the village. This proposed canal was to begin at the west side of the Erie Canal, at Union street, and then run through Union street until it reached West street; then run south through West street until it reached the south side of Genesee street, where it was then to turn to the east and run into Burlington street; and thence through Burling- ton street south to Canal street (now Central ave- nue); and thence east through Canal street to the Erie Canal. This canal was never constructed, and this is the reason why Union, Burlington and Canal streets are now so much wider than the other streets of the village.

In the village of Gibbonsville there was con- structed a short canal or basin, which ran midway between Washington street and the canal, from the south side of Ferry street to the north side of Schenectady street. This basin was called the "Gibbonsville Basin, "and was connected with the Erie Canal by means of a short cut or opening which ran along the south side of Ferry street. This basin was filled up within a few years after its construction.

VILLAGES OF GIBBONSVILLE AND WEST TROY.

The Legislature of the State of New York, on April 23, 1824, passed an "act to vest certain powers and privileges in the freeholders and in- habitants of the village of Gibbonsville," which act was shortly thereafter amended, and, on the first Tuesday of May, 1825, in accordance with the provisions of said acts, an election was held for the purpose of electing five trustees and one treasurer and collector. The persons elected were as follows :

Trustees, Julius Hanks, Elijah Ranney, Isaac Chapman, Edward Learned and Isaac Frink; Treasurer, Gerrit T. Lansing; Collector, Nathan Robbins. At the first meeting of the trustees they proceeded to choose one of the members of their body to be President of the Board, and the choice fell upon Julius Hanks. At a subsequent meeting of this Board they adopted certain village ordi- nances and ordered "that the same be published by affixing to the house of Abraham Van Arnam, with the President's name thereto affixed, together with the seal of the corporation."

At the annual meeting held in the said village of Gibbonsville, in 1826, the following persons

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THE VILLAGE OF WEST TROY.

were elected trustees: Edward Learned, Abijah Wheeler, William G. Groesbeck, Thomas H. Dyer and Isaac Chapman. At this same meeting it was moved and carried that the trustees be empowered to raise seventy-five dollars, by tax, for the purpose of procuring fire hooks and ladders; for the construction of pumps and repairs thereof; for the erection of a pound (should such be re- quired), and the surplus to be appropriated toward contingent expenses of the village.

The trustees of Gibbonsville, elected each suc- ceeding year, were as follows, the first named in each instance being chosen as president at the first meeting of the Board :

1827-Elijah Ranny, Edward Learned, Isaac Chapman, James T. Morrison, Moses Tyler.

1828-Amos Larcom, Moses Tyler, William G. Groesbeck, David Morrison, Isaac H. Williams.

1829-Daniel T. Wandell, Isaac Chapman, David Wheeler, Moses Tyler, Charles Learned. 1830-Jonathan H. Dyer, Hiram M. Hopkins, Levi Lincoln, Moses Tyler, James T. Morrison.

1831 - Isaac Chapman, Ephriam Baldwin, Hiram M. Hopkins, William P. Hall, David Wheeler.

1832 .- William G. Groesbeck, Moses Tyler, Smith Ballou, Jonathan H. Dyer, Zachariah Craver.

1833-Isaac Chapman, Henry Thalhimer, Zach- ariah Craver, John Tisdall, Leonard Hannum.

1834-Isaac Chapman, Charles Learned, John B. Chollar, Eben Jones, Benjamin Brown.

1835 -- Edward Learned, Martin Witbeck, David Morrison, John C. Green, Jonathan H. Dyer.

At a meeting of the last-named trustees, held March 16, 1836, they adopted a resolution pray- ing the Legislature to grant the act which incorpo- rated the village of West Troy, and which was passed April 30, 1836; and in pursuance of this act these trustees called an election for May 3, 1836, at which the first trustees and president of the village of West Troy were elected. The whole number of votes polled at this election was 476. The following named officers were duly elected at this date : President, Edward Learned; Trustees, First ward, Thomas Evans, Jonathan Hart ; Sec- ond ward, Isaac Chapman, Hiram M. Hopkins ; Third ward, Samnel E. Ford, Henry Kimberly ; Fourth ward, Abram Van Arnam, Jr., Joseph Twist. The presidents elected in each succeeding year were as follows : 1837, Martin Witbeck ; 1838, Miron R. Peak ; 1839, Andrew Meneely; 1840, Martin Witbeck; 1841, Samuel Wilgus ; 1842, Miron R. Peak ; 1843, Andrew Meneely ; 1844, Albert T. Dunham; 1845, Albert Richards; 1846, Archibald A. Dunlop ; 1847, Albert T. Dunham ; 1848. Daniel C. Stewart; 1849, Heman Mather; 1850, Daniel C. Stewart; 1851, Samnel Crawford ; 1852, Morgan L. Taylor ; 1853, Lorenzo D. Collins; 1854, George B. Fraser ; 1855-56, Martin Witbeck ; 1857, Samuel H. Waterman; 1858, James Roy ; 1859, James Brady; 1860, George R. Meneely ; 1861, William Oswald ; 1862, Peter A. Rogers; 1863, James Duffy ; 1864-65, Francis Beebe; 1866-67, James

Hamil ; 1868, William B. Williams; 1869, Ter- rence Cummings ; 1870-71, Perry Robinson ; 1872, Joseph M. Lawrence; 1873, Terrence Cum- mings ; 1874-75, Michael Riley ; 1876-77, Patrick Lane ; 1878, Robert P. Tunnard ; 1879- 80, Joseph McLean ; 1881, George B. Mosher; 1882, John H. Hulsapple; 1883, William E. Cox; 1884, Patrick Lane ; 1885, Terrence Cum- mings. The term of office being for one year.

CANALS.

The Erie Canal, which runs through this village, was authorized by an act of the Legislature of this State, passed April 15, 1817, and the work of con- struction was commenced July 4, 1817, and com- pleted October 26, 1825, at a cost of $7, 143, - 789.86.

The enlargement was anthorized by an act of Legislature, passed May 11, 1835, the work of en- larging being commenced in August, 1836, the cost of which was $36,495,535.00.

The Champlain Canal, which extends from Lake Champlain to its junction with the Erie Canal, a short distance north of this village, was anthorized by an act of Legislature, passed April 17, 1817, the work of construction being commenced June 10, 1818, and completed to the village of Water- ford, Saratoga County, November 28, 1822, and fully completed on September 10, 1823, at a cost of $875,000, exclusive of the cost of the feeder at Glen's Falls.

At the date of the completion of the Erie Canal, in 1825, it was very small in comparison with its present size; it was then only forty feet wide and four feet deep; boats when loaded could not draw more than three and a half feet of water. The boats were also very small, being about eighty feet long and fourteen and a half feet wide, and could only carry about one-fourth as much freight as the largest boats in present use.

In 1837 the enlargement of the Erie Canal was made in this village; its depth was increased to seven feet, by means of removing eighteen inches of earth from the bottom, and raising the banks the same number ofinches; the width was also in- creased to seventy feet, by removing thirty feet of earth from the east side of the original bank. In the early years of the canal the principal business done thereon was the carrying of passengers, the boats being provided with large cabins at both ends for their accommodation, the center portion being used for freiglit and baggage. These boats could only carry about forty or fifty tons of freight. At this time nearly all the boats were owned and run by capitalists, who formed themselves into companies, called "lines." At this time the pas- senger travel was very large, as this mode of trav- eling was much pleasanter and cheaper than by stage coach. None of the line boats carried horses on their boats, but were towed by horses, kept at convenient points along the canal where each line had its stables and horses for that purpose. It was no uncommon sight to see a whole family, with their household effects, load the same upon a boat and take passage for the west, whither they were

978

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

emigrating; also, large parties of foreign emigrants, bound for the west, would pass through this village on board these passenger boats, and they would sit upon the decks, with different musical instru- ments, which they had brought with them, and play and sing their native melodies as they passed through the village. As a general rule, all first- class passengers going to or from the city of Albany did not pass through this village, but would leave or take the boats, as the case might be, at the vil- lage of Schenectady, there being a regular line of stage coaches that ran from Albany to Schenectady for that purpose; the reason being that the route was much shorter, besides much time was lost in locking the boats through the several locks be- tween this village and the village of Cohoes. Among the first boats run upon the canals were the boats called bateaux, which had formerly run upon the Mohawk River between Schenectady and Utica and intermediate points, for carrying freight; these boats were pointed at both ends, and were about sixty feet long and nine or ten feet wide. Prior to about the year 1840 many of the canal boats that ran upon the Hudson River were pro- vided with movable masts, rigging and sails, which would be set up after the boat had been locked into the river.

The business of towing canal boats upon the Hudson River, by means of steam-tugs or boats, was not introduced until about the year 1845. Pre- vious to this date it had been the general custom to transfer the freight from the canal boats, either at Troy or Albany, to large boats called barges, and in that manner take all freight to New York and intermediate points upon the river; the barges being towed by steam tow-boats. The first reg- ular line of canal boats that ran through from Buffalo to New York City was established and run by William C. Rice, of Troy, in 1845.

In 1825 the place for weighing canal boats, called the Weighlock, was located on the south side of Union street, a short distance west of Broadway. The weighlock building was a small wooden structure, and the mode of ascertaining the weight of a boat was to run the same into a large stone reservoir, or lock, which was connected with the canal by means of a gate, and then close the gate, when the water which was then in this large reservoir or lock was drawn off into a small reservoir, located below the level of the large lock, and the water thus drawn off was measured, and from the meas- urement thereof the weight of the boat and cargo was ascertained. This mode of weighing did not prove a success, as it was very inaccurate, and a few years thereafter it was abandoned and the mode of weighing by means of scales was adopted; by this last-mentioned mode, when the water was drawn from the lock, the boat rested upon a framework made of timber which was suspended upon heavy chains, and these chains were connected to an iron beam, which ran overhead from the lock into the office or building, where it was connected with a platform, upon which were placed iron weights, the beam being so balanced that a weight of 31 4 lbs. upon this platform represented the weight of

one ton upon the frame in the lock upon which the boats rested. In weighing a boat by this last- mentioned mode, it was necessary to put on or take off these heavy iron weights used upon the plat- form, according to the weight of the boat and cargo, if loaded, and in some cases, in the weighing of one boat, it was necessary to handle seventy or more of these heavy weights.

This mode was more accurate than the former method, but it required much time and labor on account of the necessity of handling the heavy weights; this mode remained in use until 1853, when the present weighlock was built, at the north- ern terminus of this village, and the present easy mode of weighing by means of weights sliding upon scale beams was introduced.

Although the Erie Canal was not fully completed from Buffalo to Albany until October, 1825, yet as early as October, 1823, it was so far completed as to allow the running of boats from this village to Rochester, as is shown by an account of the same published in The Troy Sentinel of October 10, 1823, as follows:

"The opening of the Erie Canal on Wednesday, the 8th of October, 1823, was celebrated by the people of Troy in the following practical manner. When the procession of boats from the junction of the western and northern canals had passed on to Albany, according to the order of arrangements previously made, the Trojan Trader, a western freight boat, came down to the bridge near the Gibbonsville (West Troy) basin, opposite this city, and took on board the first load of merchandise sent from the Hudson west on the Erie Canal. The goods had been purchased several days and were only waiting for the navigation to be opened. As the occasion was new and interesting to us here, our merchants took some little pains to man- ifest their gratification. As the side-cut into the river opposite to Troy was not yet done, and as the junction canal, though completed and filled with water, could not yet be opened, so as to permit the Trojan Trader to come around by Waterford, down the Hudson, to be loaded at the wharf, it became necessary to transport the goods on wheels across the river to the place of embarkation on the main trunk of the canal. Accordingly, in the morning, this necessity being intimated to the carmen of Troy, with an alacrity highly honorable to their public spirit, they volunteered their services with one accord, to take the goods over. After loading their teams, they proceeded in two divisions to the two ferries, and being, through the liberality of Mr. Vanderhyden, the proprietor of the two fer- ries, taken across in his horse boats, toll free, they had the goods all on the bank of the canal by twelve o'clock. Several of our citizens lent their assistance to load the boat, and at two o'clock, the Trader having on board upward of twenty-five tons of merchandise, with her flag flying, and amid the cheers of assembled Trojans, started for the west. The Trojan Trader is commanded by Captain Brace; she is bound for Rochester, and on her flag are painted the following words: 'From Troy; the first western boat loaded at Hudson River.'

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THE VILLAGE OF WEST TROY.

There were between eight and ten tons of mer- chandise which the Trader could not take; these were put on board The Troy, another western boat, owned at Auburn."

The side-cut opposite to Troy, and known as the upper side-cut, was completed on Saturday, November 15, 1823. In the afternoon the locks were in readiness, the water was let in, and the packet-boat Superior, with a large party of citizens on board, passed through and crossed the river to Troy. Two freight-boats followed the Superior, and unloaded their cargoes at the river wharves of Troy, one being laden with staves, and the other with wheat.

Another very interesting event in connection with the Erie Canal took place in this village in 1824, this being a visit, or rather the passing through this village, of General La Fayette on Saturday, September 18, 1824, at the time of his memorable visit at Troy, and is thus described in The Sentinel of September 21 of that year: " Re- ception of La Fayette in Troy .- On Saturday last Troy had the happiness to receive La Fayette. The day was uncommonly serene, and the cere- monies were appropriate and interesting. Indeed, considering the uncertainty that existed until Friday concerning the time of the General's arrival and stay among us, the committee are en- titled to very emphatic praise. The General, ac- companied by his suite, the Governor of the State of New York and his suite, and the Mayor and Corporation of the City of Albany, came up from Albany on the canal, in the packet-boat Schenec- tady. He was expected as early as ten o'clock, but it had been found impossible by the Albany Committee to depart from their city sufficiently early for that purpose. At half-past one, however, the cannon at the United States Arsenal in Gibbonsville (West Troy) announced his approach in a national salute, and at two o'clock he reached the side-cut. There he was met by a deputa- tion from the Troy Committee of Arrangements, and the packet-boat Schenectady, with all on board, was taken down through the locks into the river. Near the mouth of the side-cut, eight boats were waiting to tow the Schenectady across to the city. The boats were each fitted with a mast, on which was hoisted the national flag; each was furnished with four strong oarsmen, and in the stern of each, to guide the movement, sat the master of the sloop to which the boat belonged. The boats, being arranged in line and connected by hawsers, took the Schenectady in tow, and pulling out into the river far enough to clear the point of the shoal that stretches along the south side of the channel leading from the lock, they turned with a graceful sweep down the river, and gave to view the beauti- ful line in its whole length. After the General with his retinue had passed the United States Arsenal on his way to the side-cut, five beautiful uniformed companies from Albany, who had escorted him from that city, crossing at the ferry, united with the military of Troy, and the whole were paraded in Ferry street to wait his landing."

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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 211

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