Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 213

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 213

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The present pastor, the Rev. John Walter Beardslee, was installed December 1, 1884.

The South Reformed Protestant Dutch Church for its first pastor called the Rev. Theodore F. Wyckoff on July 25, 1844, and he remained until December 18, 1854. On May 16, 1855, the Rev. Garret L. Roof became pastor of this church, and remained until January 23, 1865, when he re- signed. On May 10, 1865, the Rev. Jacob S. Wyckoff was installed, and continued as the pastor of this church until October 28, 1869. On the 16th day of March, 1870, the Rev. Selah W. Strong was installed as pastor of this church, and continued as such until the time of his decease, which occurred at the church parsonage on the 6th day of November, 1884, after the long pas- torate of over fourteen years.

In the year 1871 this congregation found that the "old church " edifice was entirely unfitted for the demands of the growing congregation, and while the officers were debating as to the best plans to be adopted to obtain a more suitable edifice, the Hon. James B. Jermain sent to the consistory a communication, whereby he proposed to erect for the congregation, at his own expense, a church edifice upon the following among other conditions :

Ist-A change of site, including the purchase of ground on the part of the congregation.

2d-The furnishing of the building, when com- pleted, with all necessary furniture, including organ, etc., by the congregation.

3d-The edifice to be a " memorial building," in memory of Sylvanus P. Jermain (the father of Mr. James B. Jermain) and of his family.

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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

This proposition was immediately accepted by the consistory, and the present site, on the north- west corner of Groton and Middle streets, was pur- chased for $6,000.

The ground was broken for the new church June 28, 1872, and it was completed in November, 1874, and dedicated December 30, 1874. This new church edifice or "memorial building " (now occupied by this congregation) is of stone, and of the style of architecture called the " early decorate Gothic," and cost about $100,000. This building is by far the finest church edifice in this village.

During the year 1874 the present elaborate tower was added to this building. In the year 1878 the present chapel, situated on the lots north of the "memorial building," was erected, which is a Gothic building of brick and stone, and cost, ex- clusive of furniture, $6,350, and was opened with appropriate services on Sunday evening, December 22, 1878. The parsonage, which is now located in the rear of the church, was erected upon the site now occupied by the " memorial building," and was moved westward some seventy feet, and enlarged and repaired at the time of the building of the "memorial building."

The Sunday school in connection with this church was organized in 1844, with twenty mem- bers, the exercises being held in the church until 1859, when a wooden chapel on the south of the old church edifice on Broadway was erected. The following is a list of those who have served suc- cessively as Superintendents of the School:

Miss Gertrude Ten Eyck, Clarkson F. Crosby, John M. Fort, Lewis Taylor, Adrian Winne, Lorenzo D. Lawrence, Rev. Jacob S. Wyckoff, Lorenzo D. Lawrence, James Campbell, Jr., John J. Clute, Rev. S. W. Strong, Edmund W. Johnson. During the year 1869 the infant department of this school was organized by Mrs. Stephen R. Schuyler and Miss Anna R. Jermain.

This church, in 1885, by a vote of a majority of its members, severed its relations to the Reformed Church, and became connected with the Presby- tery of Albany.

St. Bridget's Catholic Church .- This church was built in 1850, under the supervision of Rev. Thom- as Kyle, the priest then in charge of St. Patrick's Church of this village. This church is located on the northwest corner of Salem and Mansion streets. The Rev. William Cullinan was the first priest in charge of this church and parish, in the spring of 1854, and remained in charge until May, 1883.

The present priest in charge of this parish, the Rev. James A. Curtin, succeeded the Rev. Father Cul- linan in May, 1883, and, in the following Novem- ber, began to make extensive improvements in the church edifice, by the addition of a sacristy on the west, thereby doubling its seating capacity, and by purchasing a bell, and making several other im- provements, at a cost of $18,000. In the fall of 1883 this church purchased the property on the southwest corner of Salem and Mansion streets, known as the "Sague property," the dwelling on the corner being at present used as a rectory, and the adjoining buildings on the south being

used as a school and residence for the Sisters in charge of the school. This school is for the in- struction of boys and girls in the ordinary English branches, and is under the charge of the Sisters of St. Joseph, and has an attendance of about 250 scholars. The Rev. James A. Curtin is assisted in his duties, as priest of this parish, by his brother, Rev. Daniel F. Curtin.

The Washington Street Methodist Episcopal Church .- This church was organized in April, 1831, the first trustees being Daniel T. Wandell, William Tucker, William P. Hall, Ammon Ham- mond and David I. Dutcher. Mr. L. Brown was elected clerk and Ammon Hammond treas- urer. At this meeting it was resolved that the said trustees and their successors in office should for- ever thereafter be called and known by the name and title of the "Trustees of the Gibbonsville Sta- tion of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the town of Watervliet." The trustees of this church then purchased of Ebenezer Prescott a lot on the northwest corner of Washington and Ferry streets, and thereupon erected a small one-story wooden edifice, thirty-five feet front and forty-five feet deep. In 1840 this was enlarged by adding twenty feet in the depth, and by the erection of galleries. In 1841 a small wooden vestry was erected on the same lot on the north. This building was used as a Sunday school room until about 1857, when it was converted into a parsonage. In the spring of 1857 the old wooden church was sold and removed, and the corner-stone of the present church was laid, and it was completed so that the first service therein was held in January, 1858. This edifice cost about $9, 000, and the furniture about $4,000. A steeple, bell and town clock were added to this edifice in 1883, and the parsonage enlarged and greatly improved, at a cost of about $8,000.

The old wooden church, which was removed in 1857, was purchased by Mr. John M. Jones, and by him taken down and removed to his carriage works, on the corner of Berlin and Circle streets, where it was re-erected, and is now used as a ma- chine shop in connection with the Jones Horse Car Works. In the year 1849 a number of the members of this church, residing in the upper part of this village, organized a new church, known as the "Ohio Street Methodist Episcopal Church," and thereafter this church dropped the name of "Gibbons- ville Station of the Methodist Episcopal Church," and became the "Washington Street Methodist Episcopal Church." In connection with this church is a Sunday school in prosperous condition. The infant department, being an important factor, was organized in 1843, and in that year Mr. James D. Lobdell became the superintendent, and con- tinued in the office until the date of his decease in 1879. The present pastor of this church is the Rev. H. C. Farrer.

The Ohio Street Methodist Episcopal Church .-- This church was organized, in the spring of 1849, by Alexander S. Lobdell, Ashael Potter, Edward Mallory, R. E. Gorton and Otis Wood. On June 5, 1849, the trustees of this church purchased the church property located on the southwest corner of

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THE VILLAGE OF WEST TROY.

Ohio and Ontario streets in this village, known as the First Presbyterian or Congregational Church, and commonly called the "Bethel Church." This church edifice was a small wooden structure, and on November 19, 1849, was totally destroyed by fire. The first preacher assigned to this con- gregation was the Rev. I. F. Yates. Immediately after the destruction of the "Bethel," this congre- gation took action to rebuild the church, and in the following spring (1850) the corner stone of the present church edifice was laid, and the building was completed soon after, which is a two-story brick structure, the auditorium being on the second floor and the Sunday school and class rooms on the first floor. For about thirty years this church was the only Protestant church in the northern part of this village. In 1881 the brick parsonage, which adjoins this church on the south, was erected. The present pastor is the Rev. H. Van Decar.

The " First Particular Baptist Church and Soci- ety of Gibbonsville and West Troy," commonly called the First Baptist Church, was organized at a meeting held March 14, 1827, at the residence of Thomas Shrimpton, which was located on the northwest corner of Broadway and Buffalo street, and was composed of seventeen members; the first trustees being Edward Learned, Thomas Shrimpton, Jonathan Caulkins, Hiram M. Hop- kins and Cyrus Kenney. The first real property owned by this society is the same upon which the church and parsonage are now located, being the plot of ground situate on the northeast corner of Ohio street and Central avenue, and comprises four village lots. This land was given to the Society by Philip Schuyler and others, as trustees of the West Troy Company, by a deed dated July 4, 1827, upon the condition that the premises con- veyed should be only used for church purposes by this society or its successors. The first church edifice was erected upon this plot of ground in 1829, and was a small wooden structure, which was used until 1842, when it was decided to erect a large edifice, and this building was removed and sold, and converted into a French Catholic Church. The second church edifice was erected in 1842, and was of brick, with a basement. This building fronted on Canal street, and cost about $1,000. It was used by this society until 1870, when it was torn down, and the present edifice was erected, which is of brick, and fronts on Ohio street. This building is of two stories, the audi- torium being on the second floor, and the lecture room, study, etc., on the first floor. This edifice, with the furniture, cost upward of $20,000. Ad- joining the present church edifice on the cast is the parsonage, which was erected in 1847. The first pastor of this church was the Rev. Ashley Vaughan, who became such in July, 1830, and served for four years. This church has had several pastors, among them being the Rev. William Arthur, the father of ex-President Chester A. Arthur, who served as pastor from April, 1853, until April, 1856. The present pastor, the Rev. A. M. Prentice, was installed in September, 1877.

The Sunday school in connection with this church was organized in 1828, the first superin- tendent being Jonathan Caulkins, and the following persons having thereafter served successively as superintendents, viz .: Isaac I. Fonda, Stearns, Merritt Potter, Miron R. Peak, Edwin S. Johnson, Miron R. Peak, Edwin S. Johnson, Henry C. Kelsey, Andrew G. Coats, David H. Simmons.

In the summer of 1867 this Sunday school or- ganized a Mission Sunday school in the southern part of this village (Port Schuyler), the pastor of the church, the Rev. Edward Mills, being the super- intendent, and, in 1868, was succeeded by Albert Tayer. This Mission school. continued until 1875, when it was disbanded.

In the year 1869 the Sunday school of this church organized a Mission Sunday school in the village of Green Island, Edwin S. Johnson being the superintendent. This school continued as a mission school until 1873, when it became an in- dependent organization. This school is now in a flourishing condition, and holds regular meetings at its rooms on the corner of Market and George streets, and retains the name of "The Baptist Mis- sion."

The First Presbyterian Church .- This church was first organized at a meeting held in the school- house which was located on the west side of Bur- lington street, a short distance north of Union street, on the evening of February 12, 1834, and was presided over by the Rev. Marcus Smith (he being the first pastor of this church), and it was re- solved that it be known by the name of the Pres- byterian or Congregational Society of the village of West Troy. Hiram M. Hopkins, Horace L. Dann and Henry Kimberley were elected trustees. On the 27th of the same month this society organ- ized itself into a "Congregational Church," this form of church government being preferred to that of the Presbyterian. On or about the first of Sep- tember of this year the first house of worship of this congregation was completed, and was situated on the southwest corner of Ohio and Ontario streets. It was a small wooden building, and cost about $650. This edifice was familiarly called " The Bethel," this congregation making a special effort to secure the attendance and interest of boat- men, and when meetings were to be held at the church a flag was hoisted from its cupola as a sig- nal to the boatmen. In 1835 the form of church government was changed from the Congregational to that of the Presbyterian, and the name of the "First Presbyterian Church of West Troy " was adopted. A year or two thereafter, this society again changed their form of church government to that of the Congregational. On the 26th of August, 1839, it was decided by this society to withdraw from the Congregational association and return to the Presbyterian, as organized in 1835, and unite with the "New School Presbytery of Troy, N. Y.," to which they were admitted on Oc- tober 11, 1840. This society retained a regular pastor until July, 1845, but thereafter had no regu- lar preaching or pastor (until reorganized in 1875),

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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

having services and preaching when temporary sup- plies could be obtained. This society, finding that it could not struggle on and maintain the church and a pastor, held a meeting on March 7, 1849, and decided to sell the "meeting house" and lots ; and, on June 5 thereafter, this property was sold to the trustees of the Ohio Street Methodist Episcopal Church. This church or society remained dor- mant until 1872, when it was revived ; but owing to the failure to properly elect trustees during the time the society remained dormant, it became necessary to reincorporate the society, which was formally accomplished on February 24, 1872. In the year 1875-76 the present church edifice, which is located on the north side of Union street, a short distance east of Ford street, was erected. This new church edifice is a two-story brick building ; the total cost, including site, edifice and furniture, was $15,500.

The present pastor is the Rev. Charles G. Mat- tison.

The Church of the "Holy Heart of Mary" (French Catholic), corner of Stafford and Buffalo streets, was organized by the Rev. Eugene Rey, a native of France and member of a religious society or order of that country called the "Eudistes." The corner-stone of the church edifice was laid September 11, 1881.

Upon the front of the edifice was placed two stone tablets, which bore the following inscriptions: "Consécration de Jésus et Marie dite les Eudistes." "Eglise du Saint Cœur de Marie." Upon the corner-stone was inscribed as follows: "Pierre an- gulaire, posée le Septembre, 1881." In 1883 the Rev. Louis Leduce became the priest in charge of this church. On April 2, 1885, the church edifice was totally destroyed by fire, at a loss of $18,000.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

The public schools of this village are what are known as the " District Schools," each of the four wards of the village being a distinct district and having its separate schools and buildings.

These districts are comprised within, and com- pose a part of the district school system of the town of Watervliet, the system being first established and organized in 1813, and has continued ever since. The districts within this village are designated as follows: First ward, District No. 1; Second ward, District No. 2; Third ward, District No. 20; Fourth ward, District No. 9. At the time of the organization of these school districts, the school-house for District No. I was located at the village of Washington, afterward know as the village of Port Schuyler; the school-house for District No. 2 being located at the village of Gib- bonsville; and the school-house for District No. 9 being located in the country. District No. 20 was not organized until some years afterward, and was created from a portion of District No. 2.

TURNPIKE AND PLANK ROADS.

The Troy and Schenectady Turnpike. -- This turn- pike road was incorporated in 1806, and in May of that year was surveyed and laid out by Lawrence

Vrooman. The charter granted the construction of a road from Ferry street, Troy, to the village of Schenectady. This road was constructed and owned by a company composed of the principal mer- chants of the City of Troy, and was built for the purpose of diverting from the City of Albany the extensive grain traffic which it then had from Schenectady. This road ran through the land upon which this village now stands, and in laying out the village this road was called Genesee street within the village limits. The road was abandoned and surrendered to the town of Watervliet a num- ber of years ago.

Watervliet Plank Road Company .- This com- pany was incorporated and the road constructed in 1850, running from Buffalo street north through Broad street, now Broadway, in this village, to Auburn street, where it crossed over to the west side of the canal, and thence to the village of Cohoes. This road never paid any dividends to the stock- holders, and after an existence of ten years was abandoned and the charter surrendered.

Broadway of this village was originally a post road or turnpike, and was known as the Whitehall Turnpike, also as the Northern Turnpike. Along this road from the City of Albany to Whitehall were placed mile-stones; the stone known as the seven- mile stone was located in this village, at a point a short distance south of Genesee street, this point being seven miles distant from State street, Albany.

OLD RESIDENTS.

Of the original settlers of this village, there are at present only three now living and residing in the village, namely: Messrs. Samuel S. Wandell, Henry Kimberly and Morgan L. Taylor.

Mr. Samuel S. Wandell came to this village (then Gibbonsville) to reside in 1828; previous to that date he had resided in the City of Troy, where he was born in the year 1800, at the home of his father, known as the Wandell homestead, which was located on the bank of the river near what is now known as Division street. Mr. Wandell is a painter by trade, and for more than 30 years pre- vious to 1862 kept a store for the sale of paints, oils, etc., in this village, and also worked at his trade. Mr. Wandell is now the oldest person liv- ing that was born in the City of Troy.

Mr. Henry Kimberly was born in Troy, on February 20, 1806. He learned the trade of a blacksmith in the City of Albany, and in the spring of 1827 came to West Troy to reside, and opened a blacksmith shop, which was located on the southwest corner of Broadway and Ontario streets. At that time there were only three other buildings on Broadway; a large wooden building used as a store, on the southwest corner of Broadway and Union streets, which was conducted by the firm of Patti- son & Hart; a small wooden dwelling a short dis- tance south of this store, and an old tavern near the ferry.

Mr. Kimberly, by his industry, prudence and honesty, has become one of the largest real estate owners of this village. In 1836 he was elected a Trustee from the Third ward of this village, being

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THE VILLAGE OF WEST TROY.

one of the first trustees after its incorporation in that year.

Mr. Morgan L. Taylor was born at Ballston, Saratoga County, May 18, 1806, and came to this village to reside in 1828; and for a greater part of the time that he has resided here his business in- terests have been closely connected with the canals and river. For a number of years previous to 1878 he and Hiram Holbrook, under the firm name of Holbrook & Taylor, owned and carried on the canal boat dry dock in this village, known as the West Troy Dry Dock, which is located at the southern terminus of Washington street. Mr. Taylor was elected to the office of President of this village in 1852, and held the same for the term of one year.

PUBLIC MEN.

Lorenzo D. Collins was elected Member of Assembly for the year 1859, and re-elected for 1860; and in November, 1865, was elected State Senator for the years 1866-7.

Waters W. Braman was elected Member of Assembly for the year 1874, and re-elected for 1875, and again elected for the year 1879 ; and in November, 1879, was elected State Senator for the years 1880-1.

Peter A. Rogers was elected Surrogate of Albany County in November, 1871, and entered upon the discharge of the duties of the office on January 1, 1872, and, at the expiration of his term of office, was re-elected and continued to the office until January 1, 1884.

POLICE.

The first police force in this village was organ- ized, under an act of the Legislature, in 1865, and was known as the "Capital Police District." This district comprised the cities of Albany, Troy and Schenectady, the villages of West Troy, Green Island, Lansingburgh, Cohoes and Greenbush, and certain portions of the towns of Watervliet and North Greenbush. The district was divided into two divisions, known as the "Troy Division " and " Albany Division," this village being embraced within the Troy Division. The first Deputy Super- intendent of the Troy Division was John M. Lan- don. The West Troy Precinct was located at 38 Broadway. The first officers and patrolmen were as follows : Captain, Lansing Clute ; Sergeant, Abram E. Lansing ; Patrolmen, C. Spencer Loomis, Richard Crooks, Martin V. B. Jones, James Smith, Charles H. Cary, John W. Decker and Patrick Rogers.

In 1870 the present police force of this village was organized by virtue of an act of the Legislature of that year ; this act repealed the Capital Police District act or law, in so far as it related to this village, and gave the electors of this village power to elect four Police Commissioners, who had power to organize and maintain a police force in this village. The first Commissioners elected under this act were Ebenezer Scoville, John I. Winne, William C. Durant and Isaac R. Getty. These Commis- sioners in that year organized a police force, and appointed James O. Wood, Captain, and Sylvanus

K. Jefferson, Sergeant, who have held the respect- ive positions ever since such appointment.

CIVIL WAR.

Monday, July 1, 1861, was an eventful day in the history of this village, it being the day of the last visit of Co. A, 34th Regiment, New York State Volunteers, prior to their departure for the seat of war in the war of the late rebellion. This com- pany was composed of volunteers who were residents of this village ; the company being formed by the efforts of William L. Oswald, who was at this time president of this village. On this day the company came from the barracks at Albany, and were met at the train by the citizens and members of the fire department and escorted to the North Reformed Dutch Church, in front of which had been erected a large platform, over which hung a large Ameri- can flag. The Rev. G. W. Hathaway, on behalf of the " Ladies' Volunteer Association," welcomed the company, and presented them with two large boxes of useful articles for camp and hospital use. The Rev. O. H. Gregory then addressed the sol- diers, and, on behalf of the Watervliet Bible Society, presented each officer and private with a bible, upon the inside of the cover of which was fastened a slip which bore the United States flag and the words "To the Defenders of Our Country."

A beautiful national ensign, made of silk, a gift of the citizens of this village, was next presented to the company, George R. Meenely making the presentation address. After that the company made a short parade through the village and then took the train for the camp, many of the members never to see this village again. This company was composed of the following named citizens: Captain, William L. Oswald; Lieutenant, Elijah R. Brown; Ensign, Benjamin H. Warford; Orderly Sergeant, Luther A. Hill; Second Sergeant, George H. Swartwout; Third Sergeant, John Oothout; Fourth Sergeant, Martin Gorman; First Corporal, Abram E. Lansing; Second Corporal, John Mc- Intyre; Third Corporal, Joseph Andrews; Fourth Corporal, Edward Hoffman; Henry L. Witbeck, Daniel Cassidy, Edgar Lorman, Thomas Cary, Henry Gilman, Alonzo Hills, James McCormick, Anthony Kelly, Daniel M. Becker, Louis Hoff- man, John B. Amsden, James A. Britton, William Campbell, Robert H. Hartley, Richard Rapson, George Porter, Patrick Horan, Edward Donohue, Martin Troy, Thomas F. Colligan, Sidney Hock- ridge, Patrick Keenan, James Anderson, William Traver, Levi Colwell, Henry White, George Hecock, Martin Luckey, John Walsh, John Tottie. Edward Thompson, John Morey, James M. Shoemaker, William H. Bartlet, John Dailey, Riley C. Witmarsh, Spencer Hoffman, John Cun- ningham, Martin Buck, John Barnett, John Mc- Mullen, Peter Ost, James Dongan, Henry Lor- man, Thomas Kelley, William J. Cary, Peter Van Patten, Jacob C. Forman, Charles Dorn, Alex- ander Hannah, John Dolan, Charles Mitchell, James P. Allen, James Redden, Charles Traver, David Flanagin, Frank Hayden, Albert W. Houce, John Loan, William Kirk, Henry W. Price,

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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 213

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