Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 214

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 214

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

988

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Alphonzo Dubois, David Cary, James Donohue, Patrick Welsh. On the 2d day of July, this regi- ment, under Col. Ladue, left for the seat of war, embarking on the propeller Henry Adams and a barge from the city of Albany, the place of their encampment.

FIRE DEPARTMENT.

The present organized fire companies of the fire department of this village consist of four hose companies and one hook and ladder company. They are as follows: Oswald Hose Company No. I, organized 1859; Michael Kelly Hose Company No. 2, organized 1870; Thomas McIntyre Hose Company No. 3, organized 1873; Protective Hose Company No. 4, organized 1878; S. J. Gleason Hook and Ladder Company No. I, organized 1872. In 1864 the first steam fire engine of this fire department was purchased, and company or- ganized and named James Roy No. I. In 1867 another steamer was purchased and company organized and named James Duffy No. 2, and in 1873 another steamer was purchased and company organized and named Martin Tierney No. 3. These steamers remained in active service until 1878, when the system of public water works, at that time introduced into this village, was deemed sufficient to extinguish all ordinary fires, and the steamers stored for use in case of emergency, and the respective companies were disbanded.

The old fire department of this village of twenty- five years ago consisted of three hand-engines and two hook and ladder companies, and were as fol- lows: Rip Van Winkle Engine Company No. 1, Protection Engine Company No. 2, and Conqueror Engine Company No. 3; Hercules Hook and Ladder Company No 1, and Spartan Hook and Ladder Company No. 2. All these old companies were disbanded twenty years or more ago, but at what dates it cannot be ascertained.

From the organization of this village until 1881 the control of the fire department was vested in the village Board of Trustees. In the last-mentioned year, by act of the Legislature, the control was taken from the trustees and vested in a Board of Fire Commissioners, which was created by said act, and who were to be appointed by the said village trustees.

RAILROAD.

The first steam railroad which ran through this village was constructed in 1852 by the Albany and Northern Railway Company (now leased and run by the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company). The builders of this railroad intended to construct the roadway through this village, along or near the bank of the Hudson River. To this the inhabi- tants strongly objected, as it would necessarily im- pair the value of the most valuable property of the village, besides greatly interfere with our most im- portant business interests; consequently, the road was constructed through the extreme western part of the village, and a station located at Genesee street. This depot being so far from the central part of the village, Mr. Samuel Hill ran a stage for

passengers from the West Troy Ferry, at the foot of Canal street, to the depot.

After a few years the railroad company decided to give better accommodations to the public, and therefore erected a small wooden depot on the north side of Canal street (now Central avenue), a short distance west of Erie street, the cars being backed down to the depot by means of a short track constructed through this street to the main track, and connected therewith by means of a switch, called a Y. This depot had a small bell hung in a tower upon the roof of the depot, which was rung when the trains were being " backed down " to the depot. For a number of years Mr. Lorenzo E. Abbott filled the position of ticket agent at this old depot.

In the fall of 1864 this depot and short branch track were abandoned, the location of the depot being transferred to the original location at Gene- see street.

FRATERNAL SOCIETIES.

Evening Star Lodge (Masonic), No. 75 .- The first Masonic lodge located in the town of Water- vliet was known as Clinton Lodge, No. 202. The date of the charter of this lodge was December 12, 18II. It became inoperative somewhere about 1818.

A lodge known as Evening Star, No. 466, was organized in that part of this village which was called Gibbonsville, and a charter or warrant granted, June 10, 1826. The following named brethren were its first officers : Joseph Hayward, Master; Ira Holdridge, Senior Warden; Obediah D. Brown, Junior Warden. This lodge went out of existence, date unknown, and was revived by authority of the Grand Lodge on January 31, 1840, John D. Willard, Junior Grand Warden, installing its officers as follows: Jacob Gingrich, Master; Jonathan Hart, Senior Warden; Luther M. Tracy, Junior Warden; Wm. P. Lansing, Secretary; Jacob Clute, Treasurer. At this installation Mr. Joseph Hayward, its first Master, was present.

On the 4th of June, 1840, the Grand Lodge changed the " lodge number" of this lodge to 75. On April 12, 1854, this lodge surrendered its war- rant, pursuant to a resolution adopted at a meeting held for that purpose, the brethren having been duly summoned. The officers at this time were as follows : Daniel E. Stewart, Master ; George B. Frazer, Senior Warden; Lorenzo D. Collins, Junior Warden ; John E. Glass, Secretary ; Morgan L. Taylor, Treasurer ; Wm. McClellan, Senior Dea- con ; John W. Fisher, Junior Deacon, and John Christie, Tyler.

The present organization of this lodge dates from March 4, 1864, at which time Grand Master Clin- ton F. Paige issued a dispensation to the brethren at West Troy to form a lodge, to be known as " Evening Star," and subsequently received a war- rant, dated June 17, 1864. The following were its first officers: Daniel W. Talcott, Master; Wm. Andrews, Jr., Senior Warden; Geo. F. Milliman, Junior Warden; Alexander McAllister, Treasurer; John H. Fitchett, Secretary; R. G. Smith, Senior

989

THE VILLAGE OF WEST TROY.

Deacon; Charles H. Fort, Junior Deacon, and William Fox, Tyler.

The Grand Lodge in June, 1864, adopted the following resolution:

Resolved, That the Evening Star Lodge, U. D., be permitted to receive and work under the dor- mant warrant of a lodge once known as Evening Star Lodge, No. 75, and to be hereafter hailed and known as such number.

This lodge has been in successful operation since the date of its present organization, March 8, 1864. This lodge has been unfortunate, as in June, 1865, its lodge room, with all furniture and records, were destroyed by fire, and again, in December, 1870, its lodge room, together with all its elegant furni- ture, etc., met the same fate.

In connection with the Evening Star Lodge, in 1871, was organized a chapter of the Royal Arch Masons, known as Hudson River Chapter, No. 262, the first officers being as follows: Albert Tayer, High Priest; Alfred W. Richardson, King; Charles L. Mather, Scribe; Geo. B. Mosher, Treas- urer, and Henry C. Kelsey, Secretary. This chapter is still in successful operation.

Laurel Lodge, No. 24, Independent Order of Odd Fellowes .- This is the first regular lodge of this or- der organized in this village. This lodge was first organized and charter granted on January 21, 1846, and given the lodge number of "209." The persons petitioning for the charter, and to whom the same was granted by the Grand Lodge, were as follows: Alexander S. Lobdell, L. D. Lawrence, Samuel Wilgus, James H. Marshall, E. F. Hitch- cock, Stephen F. Washburn, George A. Shields, Joseph Schwikhardt, Lewis J. Williams, Robert Kilby, S. Greenman, Robert I. Moe, George B. Fraser, Isaac R. Getty, James E. Dorman, James Cook, Robert Robinson, E. I. Higgins and Ariel Wager.

When the State of New York was divided into two Grand Lodges, "Northern " and "Southern " New York, this lodge joined the Northern New York division, and was given No. 39 for its lodge number. In 1866, when the two jurisdictions came together, this lodge was given the number of " 24," which it now retains.

Although Laurel Lodge was the first regularly organized lodge in this village, yet in or about the year 1838 there was a lodge in this village which was called " Watervliet Lodge, No. 20," and held meetings at a private residence of one of the mem- bers, on Broadway, south of the United States Ar- senal. This lodge was expelled by the Grand Lodge as illegally organized, not having received a charter from the same.

BANKS.

The first bank located in this village was organ- ized and incorporated in 1836, and called the " Watervliet Bank." The officers were as fol- lows : John C. Schuyler, Jr., President ; Edward Learned, Vice-President ; Egbert Olcott, Cashier ; Gerrit T. Witbeek, Teller, and George M. Wheeler, Clerk; the capital stock being $100,000. The banking house was located in the brick

dwelling house situated on the southwest corner of Broadway and Buffalo street. This bank failed in 1841.

" The National Bank of West Troy."-This bank was first organized and incorporated, under the laws of this State, in February, 1852, and com- menced business May 1, 1852, under the name of "Bank of West Troy ;" the capital stock being $200,000, divided into 2,000 shares. John Knick- erbacker, James Van Schoonhoven, James Roy, E. Thompson Gale, John Cramer, Joseph M. Has- well, William Sands, George H. Cramer and Ferdinand J. Suydam were the original incorpora- tors and constituted the first board of directors; the officers being as follows : Ferdinand J. Suydam, President ; George H. Cramer, Vice-President ; Albert C. Gunnison, Cashier. In 1853 Ferdi- nand J. Suydam became Cashier, and Mr. G. B. Wilson became Discount Clerk and Bookkeeper. In 1858 Mr. Suydam resigned his position as cashier, and in May of that year Mr. G. B. Wil- son became his successor and held the position for about nineteen years. In 1877 Mr. Benjamin McE. Schafer became cashier and held the position until his decease, in 1880, when his successor, the present incumbent, Mr. Arthur T. Phelps, was appointed.

In 1853 Mr. Dillon Beebe was elected presi- dent, and held the office until 1856, when Mr. Joseph M. Haswell became his successor. Mr. Haswell held this office until the date of his decease, in 1871.

Mr. James Roy was elected as the successor of Mr. Haswell and held the office until 1876, when Mr. Thomas A. Knickerbacker, the present presi- dent, was elected.

The banking house used by this bank, and situ- ated on the southwest corner of Washington street and Central avenue, was erected in 1852, for the use and occupation of this bank, by Mr. Ebenezer Wiswall.

This bank was converted into a National Banking Association in 1865, and the name changed to the "National Bank of West Troy ;" the capital stock being $250,000, divided into shares of $100 each. In 1877 the capital stock was reduced to $150,000, and in 1883 was still further reduced to $100,000, which is the amount of the present capital stock. On the 21st day of May, 1885, the corporate existence of this bank was extended until the close of business on the 24th day of May, 1905, by order of H. W. Cannon, Comptroller of U. S. Currency.

PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

Corporation Hall .- This is the only public building in this village. It is a three-story brick building, situate on the east side of Broadway, midway between Central avenue and Buffalo street, and was erected in 1864 by the village corporation at a cost of $20,000. The first and second stories are occupied by the Fire Department and meeting room of the Board of Fire Commissioners ; the third story as a meeting room or council chamber for the Board of Village Trustees.

990

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

NEWSPAPERS.

The first newspaper of any importance published in this village was the West Troy Advocate, the first publication being in September, 1837. This paper was printed and published weekly by William Hollands, who continued its publication until his decease, in January, 1853, when his son, William Hollands, Jr., continued the publication until its discontinuance, in July, 1864. Mr. Hollands is now one of the leading lawyers of this village.

The next newspaper which was published in this village was a weekly, called the Albany County Democrat, which was first published in January, 1860, and was edited by Mr. Allen Corey, who continued to publish this paper until July, 1884, when he sold it to the publisher of the Watervliet Journal.

The next newspaper of any importance pub- lished in this village was a weekly, called the Water- vliet Journal. This paper was first published by James Treanor in May, 1880, and continued until July 5, 1884, when Mr. Treanor purchased the Albany County Democrat, and merged these two papers into a paper called the Journal and Demo- crat, which is now published by the firm of Treanor & Hardin.

About the year 1832, there was published in West Troy a newspaper called the Palladium. This paper was edited and published by two young men, who were brothers, under the firm name of Warren Bros. In connection with their printing office they also kept a stationery and book store, which was located on the northeast corner of Canal street and Broadway, on the site now occu- pied by the Collins House.

SCHUYLER MANSION.

Located on the bank of the Hudson River, a few rods from the present southern limits of this village, stands the oldest building in this vicinity. This building is a brick structure, two stories, with high gable roof. It is now owned and occupied by Richard P. Schuyler, Esq., as his family resi- dence, and is known as the "Old Schuyler Man- sion." This building was erected about the year 1768, and was built to replace the original mansion that was, at about that date, destroyed by fire. It stands upon the foundation of the original man- sion. The date of the erection of the original mansion is unknown, but it was probably erected some time previous to the year 17CO.

In 1672, Philip Schuyler, the father of Col. Peter Schuyler, purchased a large tract of land from Kiliaen Van Rensselaer, which included the lands to the south of this village, and known as the " Flats," and also included the land upon which the southern portion of this village is located. The flats were occupied for agricultural purposes as early as 1642, as from that year until 1660 they were occupied by Arent Van Curler, and after him by Richard Van Rensselaer.

On September 14, 1691, Peter Schuyler, son of Philip Schuyler, and afterward known as Col. Peter Schuyler, married Maria Van Rensselaer, the sister of Kiliaen Van Rensselaer, the patroon; and I

in April, 1711, located his residence at the Flats, in the mansion; at this date and until about the year 1806 the main road from Albany ran along the bank of the river, and passed here between the mansion and the river. At about the date that Col. Peter Schuyler took up his residence at the Flats the public safety began to be greatly en- dangered by the insidious wiles of the French Canadians and the hostilities of the Indians, and the Colonel became a person of much importance by reason of his influence with the friendly In- dians, he being their true friend and a person in whom they placed much confidence.

About the year 1708 it was thought advisable to send some of the chiefs of the friendly tribes to England upon a visit, so as to attach them to that country, and that they might see the sovereign of the English nation, and to counteract the false statements of the power and wealth of that nation which the French Canadians had been circulating among them; but it was no easy task to get them to consent to the proposal. At last, however, they consented, upon the condition only that Col. Peter Schuyler would accompany them, as he had never been known to tell a lie, or to speak without think- ing. The Colonel consented, and the adventure succeeded beyond his expectations. The chiefs were much pleased with the attention shown them and with the kind and gracious manner of Queen Anne. She was also much pleased with the Colonel, and desired to knight him, but he respectfully and positively refused, stating as his reason that it would not be in keeping with the simple manners and habits of his life and surroundings. In 1719 Philip Schuyler, the eldest son of Col. Peter Schuyler, married Catalina Schuyler, his cousin, whose father had for a number of years been the Mayor of the City of Albany. Catalina was a person of superior character, and was known during the latter part of her life as " Madame Schuyler."

Philip, at the decease of his father, became the owner of the Flats and mansion, and became a person of great importance in the public affairs of the country, being a member of the Colonial As- sembly, also a Colonel, and being the first person who raised a corps in the interior of the province of New York, which fought in the French and In- dian War.

Col. Philip died in February, 1758, and was survived by widow, the "Madame," and, as he left no children, he devised his property to bis widow during her life, and thereafter to his great- nephew, Peter Schuyler, who was at that time an orphan, and resided with him. The remains of Col. Philip were interred in the family burying- ground, which is located a short distance from the mansion, and over the grave is erected a handsome monument, which still remains as placed there in 1758. This old mansion has always remained in the Schuyler family and been occupied by the de- scendants of the original owner, Philip Schuyler.

WEST TROY GAS LIGHT COMPANY.

The West Troy Gas Light Company was incor- porated in January, 1853, under the provisions of

991

THE VILLAGE OF WEST TROI.

the general act of the Legislature for the formation of gas light companies. The original incorpora- tors were: Richard S. Lobdell, A. V. Barringer, Morgan L. Taylor, Albert Richards and E. H. St. John; the capital stock being $100,000.

Previous to the date of the incorporation of this company, and in October, 1852, John Lock- wood and A. V. Barringer, under the firm name of Jno. Lockwood & Co., obtained the exclusive privilege, from the president and trustees of this village, to lay gas mains through the streets and alleys of this village, and to erect and maintain gas works, etc .; and in November, 1853, John Lockwood and A. V. Barringer assigned their rights and privileges to the West Troy Gas Light Company. In July, 1853, this company obtained from the president and trustees of the village of Green Island the exclusive right and privilege of laying pipes through the streets of said village, and supplying it with illuminating gas. On the first day of February, 1853, this company elected Al- bert Richards, President; Morgan L. 'Taylor, Secre- tary, and Richard S. Lobdell, Treasurer.

On April 1, 1854, Wm. L. Oswald was ap- pointed superintendent of this company, and con- tinued to hold this position until the spring of 1862. In June, 1862, Edwin A. Smith was ap- pointed superintendent, and held the position until the fall of 1864, when he was succeeded by Rich- ard S. Lobdell. Mr. Lobdell held the position until March, 1879, when he was succeeded by the present superintendent, Richard F. Hall. Mr. Albert Richards remained the president of this company from the date of its organization to 1866, when he was succeeded by James Roy, who held the office until 1876, when he was succeeded by E. Thompson Gale, of Troy, N. Y. In March, 1879, the present president, George W. Chapman, succeeded Mr. Gale. In 1876 the manufacturing of gas by this company was discontinued, the com- pany taking its supply of gas from the People's Gas Light Company, of Albany; but this did not prove a success, and, in 1879, this company commenced to manufacture gas at their own works, which are located on the northwest corner of West and Gene- va streets in this village.

WATER WORKS COMPANY.

The West Troy Water Works Company was incor- porated in 1876, under the provisions of the gen- eral act of the Legislature of this State, of 1873, for the formation and incorporation of water works companies, the water being introduced into the village in the early part of 1877. The first Board of Directors of this company were as follows: George R. Meneely, Alfred Mosher, George M. Wiswall, Jesse C. Dayton, Lorenzo D. Collins, John Reiley, George Tweddle, William B. Wil- liams, Richard S. Lobdell and George B. Mosher. The water supplied by this company is obtained from the Mohawk River, at a point near Niska- yuna, and is carried from this point, where it is pumped from the river, to a large storage reservoir located on the hill, about a mile west of the U. S. Arsenal, from whence it flows into the mains

which run through the streets of this village. In 1877 this company introduced the water into the village of Green Island by extending their mains through the village streets. The expense or cost of construction of this system of water works was about $275,000, the village of Green Island be- ing supplied with twenty hydrants and this village with ninety hydrants, which are used for extin- guishing fires by the village fire department. This company has in use about sixteen miles of pipe, and supplies the water to consumers at a pressure of about seventy pounds to the square inch.

· MANUFACTORIES AND BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS.

The mills which are located in the southern part of the village, and commonly called the Roy Mills, were established by Mr. James Roy about the year 1847. These mills are two separate establishments, one being conducted by the firm of James Roy & Co., and the other by the firm of Roy & Co., James Roy & Co. being engaged in the manufacture of shawls and woolen cloth suitable for clothing for men and women. Roy & Co. are engaged in the manufacture of butts, hinges and several other articles of builders' hardware, which are made from iron, steel and brass. The firm of James Roy & Co. in 1870 became a corpora- tion, pursuant to the laws of this State, and took the name of " Messrs. James Roy & Co," the capital stock being $500,000, and the incorporators and trustees being James Roy, Benjamin Knower, John Knower and John F. Roy. This manufactory has three mills, two located at this village and one at Schenectady, N. Y., and gives employment to 700 operatives, and produces annually manufac- tured goods to the value of $800,000. These mills are also called "Watervliet Mills." The firm of Roy & Co. also became a corporation in 1871, under the name of "Roy & Co.," with a capital stock of $150,000, the incorporators and trustees being James Roy, John Knower and Peter Roy. This manufactory has an annual production of about $350,000 worth of manufactured stock, and employs about 350 operatives.

The founder of these large manufactories, Mr. James Roy, was a native of Scotland, and was born near Sterling. He learned the trade or art of a brewer of beer, and came to America in 1835, and was employed in a brewery at Pittsfield, Mass., and in a few years afterward came to this village and be- came the manager in the brewery of Archibald Dunlop, which was then located on the northwest corner of Spring street and Broadway ; and while in the employ of Mr. Dunlop, Mr. Roy, together with Mr. John Knower, became the proprietors of the woolen mill and commenced the manufacture of woolen shawls, they sending to Scotland for a number of their employees that had been em- ployed in the shawl factories in that country. Mr. Roy resided in this village and did much for its welfare and growth, and after a life of much useful- ness, died at his residence in 1878, being survived by three daughters: Anna, wife of Capt. A. H. Sweny ; Mary, wife of Capt. G. A. Sweny ; and Alice, an unmarried daughter. Mr. Roy's only

992

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

son, James, was accidentally drowned at Richfield Springs in 1869, aged 23 years.

The Meneely Bell Foundry was established in 1826 by Andrew Meneely, upon the present loca- tion of this foundry. Mr. Meneely learned the trade of a brass founder and mathematical instru- ment maker of Mr. Julius Hanks, who kept a small shop or foundry, which was then located on the west side of Broadway, about one hundred feet south of Buffalo street, in what was then called the village of Gibbonsville. Mr. Meneely commenced business as a manufacturer of civil engineering instruments, and also the manufactur- ing of church bells and town clocks. This busi- ness steadily increased, and in 1835 he took Jonas V. Oothout into partnership with him, the firm name being Meneely & Oothout. This firm con- tinued to exist until 1841, when Mr. Oothout withdrew, and Mr. Meneely continued the business alone until 1849, when he took his son Edwin A. in the business as a partner, the firm name being Andrew Meneely & Son. In 1851 Andrew Meneely died, and this business was thereafter conducted by his two sons, Edwin A. and George R., under the firm name of Andrew Meneely's Sons; and a few years thereafter changed to E. A. & G. R. Meneely. Soon after the decease of Mr. Andrew Meneely, his successors discontinued the manufacture of civil engineering instruments (Mr. Meneely having discontinued the manufacture of town clocks previous to his decease), and gave their exclusive attention to the manufacture of church bells and chimes of bells, fire-alarm bells, etc. In 1874 Mr. George R. Meneely withdrew from this business, and thereafter the present firm name of Meneely & Co. was adopted, the present members of the firm being Edwin A. Meneely and his sons, Andrew H. and George K. This foundry has a world-wide reputation, having for many years sent bells of its manufacture to all parts of the world. The proprietors of this foundry have from time to time made several improvements in the form of the bells and the manner of hanging them, so as to make the labor of ringing as easy as possible.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 214

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