Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 215

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 215

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FACTORIES.

The Brass Foundry of George R. Meneely & Co. was established in 1874 by Mr. George R. Meneely, for the manufacture of a patent journal bearing for steam cars, locomotives, etc. This firm has another foundry, which is located at Atlanta, Ga., where the same patent bearing is manufactured. The firm carries on an extensive business, supplying most of the principal railroads with journals of their manufacture.

The Meneely Hardware Company is a private manufacturing corporation, which was incorporated in 1882, the incorporators and trustees being George R. Meneely, Charles D. Meneely and John Gib- bons, the wares manufactured by this company being harness, rope and chain snaps, also rope goods for horses and cattle, many of the wares being the inventions of Mr. John Gibbons above men- tioned.

The Covert Manufacturing Company was organ- ized in the City of Troy, N. Y., in 1873, the origi- nal members of the firm being James C. Covert, Madison Covert, Henry Wakeman and Scudder Wakeman. In 1879 this establishment removed from Troy to this village, and soon afterward the Messrs. Wakeman withdrew from the firm, leaving the Messrs. Covert the sole proprietors.

The goods originally manufactured by this firm were harness snaps, rope goods and saddlery, hardware specialties. In 1883 the Messrs. Covert added to the manufacture of the class of goods above mentioned the extensive manufacture of all kinds of wrought iron chains, from the lightest to the heaviest grades.

POTTERY.

The manufactory of earthenware, conimonly called "The Pottery," which he located on the southwest corner of Washington and Schenectady streets, was established in 1831 by Mr. Sanford S. Perry, the factory at that date being located on Champlain street, fronting the Erie Canal, a short distance above Buffalo street. This pottery was purchased of Mr. Perry in 1845 by the firm of Porter & Fraser (Nathan Porter and Robert H. Fraser), and by this firm in that year removed to its present location. About a year afterward Mr. Fraser died, and his brother, George B. Fraser, succeeded him as a member of the firm. This firm continued for eighteen years, when it was dissolved, each of the members retiring from active business, and the pottery and business being sold to Mr. George H. Seymour, of Troy, N. Y., and thereafter conducted by him, and now con- ducted by the firm of Shepley & Smiths.

Mr. Nathan Porter, who is now one of our oldest citizens, was born in Brookfield, Mass., in 1809, and came to this village to reside in 1839.

Mr. George B. Fraser was born at Athens, N. Y., and came to this village in 1845, and re- mained a resident until his decease in 1884, aged 78 years.

JONES' CAR WORKS.

J. M. Jones' Sons Horse-Car Works was first es- tablished as a manufactory of wagons and carriages in 1839 by Messrs. Henry W. Witbeck and John M. Jones, under the firm name of Witbeck & Jones. This firm continued to manufacture wagons and carriages until 1863, when Mr. Witbeck withdrew from the business and Mr. George Lawrence took his place; and upon the advent of Mr. Lawrence, the firm's attention was first directed to the build- ing of horse-cars in connection with their regular business, and the manufacture of wagons and car- riages was soon afterward abandoned for the man- ufacture of horse-cars only. In 1864 Mr. Law- rence was obliged to withdraw from the business on account of ill health, Mr. Jones purchasing his interest and associating his sons in the business with him, under the firm name of J. M. Jones & Co. In February, 1882, Mr. John M. Jones died, and his sons, John H. and Walter A., continued the business, under the firm name of J. M. Jones' Sons.

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THE VILLAGE OF WEST TROY.

The cars manufactured by this firm have world- wide reputation. Cars of its manufacture are now being used in South America, East Indies and other foreign countries, besides in all parts of the United States and Canadas.

In January, 1879, these works were removed to Schenectady, but remained there only for a short time, having returned to West Troy in 1883. Mr. John A. O'Haire, the superintendent of these works, has been continuously employed there since 1854. Mr. Robert Waugh, the superintend- ent of the painting department, has been an em- ployee of these works for more than forty years.

PLANING AND SAWING MILLS.

The James Kerslake Planing, Sawing and Mold- ing Mill was originally erected by Mr. Kilgour in 1852, and he was succeeded by Messrs. Ufford & Latham, and Mr. Kerslake succeeded Messrs. Ufford & Latham in 1873, becoming the sole owner of the entire mill property. Mr. Kerslake continued to conduct this mill until his decease, July 9, 1882, and since that date the business has been carried on by his widow. The entire estab- lishment is in charge of and under the control of Mr. Waters W. Braman, the general manager.

The Rousseau & Harrington Planing Mill was established by Mr. Lewis Rousseau, the senior member of this firm, in 1834, and he thereupon entered into copartnership with Mr. Easton, the firm name being Rousseau & Easton. This co- partnership continued for twenty-eight years, when Mr. Easton withdrew from the business. Mr. Rousseau always remained interested in this busi- ness since its establishment. The present junior member of this firm, Mr. Arvin W. Harrington, is a son-in-law of Mr. Rousseau. Mr. Rousseau was born in Troy, September 24, 1804, and lived there for the first thirty years of his life, when he re- moved to this village in 1834. He was also the founder of the Watervliet Bible Society.

Mr. Rousseau died very suddenly, at this village, on July 2, 1884.

The Dry Goods and Wall Paper establishment of James D. Lobdell's Sons was established by James D. Lobdell in 1847, and he continued to carry on the business until his decease, January 18, 1879, when his sons, Messrs. William, Edward and James, succeeded to the business, and carried on the same under the above mentioned firm name.

On February 1, 1884, Mr. James Lobdell with- drew from the firm, and the business is now carried on by Messrs. William and Edward Lobdell under the same firm name.

In 1829 Mr. James Lobdell, the grandfather of the present proprietors of this establishment, opened a dry goods store in West Troy, and ever since that date the Lobdells have conducted the principal dry goods establishments of this village.

GREEN ISLAND.

The village of Green Island is located upon, and derives its name from, the island called Green Island. The corporate limits of this village in-

clude the whole of this island, together with the small island lying east of it, and called Center Island. Green Island is bounded by the Hudson River on the east and the Mohawk River on the west-one of the many mouths or "sprouts" of the Mohawk River, and known as the sixth sprout, running along the west bank of this island and emptying into the Hudson River at the southern point thereof.

This island was originally owned by Col. Kiliaen Van Rensselaer, the patroon, and comprised a portion of the manor of Rensselaerwyck. This island, together with the island called Jan Gown- sen Island, and the land lying opposite to it on the west bank of this sprout of the Mohawk River, and extending back therefrom the distance of one- half of an English mile, comprised the farm, or "Bowery," called "Turkee." This farm, or bow- ery, which included this island, was sold and con- veyed, by Kiliaen Van Rensselaer to Col. Peter Schuyler, by an indenture, which is written upon parchment, and dated May 6, 1708; and in this conveyance this island is mentioned as "the island called Green Island." This conveyance also men- tions the fact that Maria, the wife of said Col. Peter Schuyler, is the sister of said Kiliaen Van Rensselaer; also that said Schuyler and his heirs and assigns are to yield, pay and deliver to said Van Rensselaer one-tenth part of the annual crops of said farm, or bowery, each and every year. On the 8th day of June, 1713, Col. Peter Schuyler, and Maria, his wife, sold this farm, or bowery, called Turkee (which included Green Island), to one Hendrick Oothout, of the City of Albany, a carpenter, for the sum of £850, current money of New York. This island remained in the posses- sion of Hendrick Oothout and his descendants until the early part of the present century, when Mr. Geo. Tibbitts became the owner of the northern part, which contained 262 acres, the whole island con- taining 387 acres. The island was of no impor- tance as a place of residence until 1835, when the Rensselaer and Saratoga Railroad bridge was com- pleted, the bridge making a public highway be- tween the island and the city of Troy. The rail- road company, after completing this bridge, also constructed the wooden bridge over the sprout of the Mohawk to West Troy, and opened the road or highway, which runs across the island, from one bridge to the other, and now called Albany avenue, this being the first public street opened on the isl- and. The railroad bridge was, at the time of its construction, considered a very important piece of engineering and mechanical skill; its length being upward of 1, 600 feet, and resting upon eight mas- sive piers of hewn stone, and having a draw of sixty feet at the eastern end for the accommodation of the river craft. Seventeen hundred thousand cubic feet of timber were used in its construction. On Tuesday, October 6, 1835, the Rensselaer and Saratoga Railroad was completed, and the trains crossed the bridge for the first time on that day. On the arrival of the cars at the approach to the bridge from this island, the locomotive was de- tached and horses were substituted, which drew

994

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

the cars across the bridge and down River street, in the city of Troy, to the Troy House, the termi- nus of the road. This mode of conveying the cars across the bridge was continued until 1854, when a second bridge, adjoining the original, or old bridge, was constructed for the purpose of using locomotives instead of horses, and thereafter all trains were drawn across the bridge by locomotives. The rails of the old track were removed and the bridge thoroughly repaired, and that part used by teams and pedestrians. On the 10th day of May, 1862, the eastern half of this bridge was destroyed by fire (that part which extended from Center Island to Troy), and was immediately replaced with another wooden structure. In 1879 the western half of this bridge was removed and replaced by an iron structure. In 1884 the eastern half of this bridge was removed, and also replaced by an iron structure.

STATE DAM.

The dam which extends across the Hudson River from the eastern bank of this island to Troy, and called the "State Dam," was built by the State, and completed in 1823. The completion of this dam and the sloop lock at its eastern end was honored by the citizens of Troy and vicinity on September 1, 1823, by a public celebration and the firing of artillery. The length of the dam was eleven hundred feet; height, nine feet.

The inside length of the sloop lock was one hundred and fourteen feet, the width thirty feet, height twenty-five feet, and lift nine feet.

The cost of this dam was $92, 270. Previous to the time of the construction of this dam, there was a dyke, which extended from this island in an easterly direction to the channel of the river; but it was removed and replaced by this dam.

STATE BASIN.

The original form of this island has been much altered, by reason of the construction of a dyke at the northern point, which connects it with the city of Cohoes, and a pier at the southern point, which connects it with the village of West Troy. The object of the construction of the dyke and pier was to convert the sprout of the Mohawk River, between these two points, into a large basin to be used for canal boats and river craft.

The dyke at the northern end of this island was so constructed as to cut off and turn the natural flow of the water in this sprout of the Mohawk into the Hudson River; while the pier at the south- ern point of this island acted as, and in fact is, a dam, which holds the water back, and raises its natural level several feet. At the southern end of this pier there was constructed a " lock," by means of which boats were enabled to obtain access to the Hudson River and return.

The dyke and pier were constructed by the State of New York, the work being done by Messrs. Daniel Hartnett, James Brady and Ephriam Bald- win, contractors, all of whom were residents of West Troy; the work was commenced in 1849 and completed in 1852.

Along the east side of this island, and extend- ing from the approach to the railroad bridge to the southern point of the island, was a sudden rise of ground, or bluff, of about 8 to 10 feet high.

This bluff or gravel bank was removed by the contractors, and used to fill up and make the pier. In removing the bluff, there were found quite a large number of human bones and skulls, which were very much decomposed; also a few brass buttons, which were evidently military buttons, but they were so corroded that it was impossible to ascertain with any certainty to whom they once be- longed. It is probable that, at some time during the French and Indian war, a battle took place on or near this island, and this bluff was made a place of burial for those killed in the affray. The finding of these human remains created quite a sensation at the time, and a number of persons from Albany and other places came to examine them. The portion of this island lying south of Albany avenue was, previous to 1849, in a wild and un- cultivated state, and was used as a picnic ground by the residents of West Troy and vicinity; and for a month or two during the warm weather, a few of the St. Francis Indians and their families, from Canada, would come and camp on this part of the island and sell baskets and other articles made by them to the residents of Troy and West Troy. These Indians would always leave the island at a time unknown to the residents in the vicinity, and after they had gone it would be noticed that the earth about this bluff had been disturbed; but if questioned about it, they would deny all knowl- edge of the fact. After the discovery of these human remains, it became evident that these In- dians had knowledge of the fact, and they were slowly digging up the remains and taking them to some other locality for interment or preservation.

RAILROADS.

In 1840 the construction of the Troy and Schenectady Railroad, which crossed this island, was commenced, and the first trains began run- ning about the first of November, 1842. This rail- road is now owned and run by the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad Company.

VILLAGE OF GREEN ISLAND.

The village of Green Island was first incor- porated, or chartered, by an order of the Court of Sessions, held in the County of Albany at the City Hall of Albany, on the 5th day of April, 1853, the Hon. Albert D. Robinson, County Judge, presid- ing. Under the provisions of this charter the in- habitants of this village assembled on the 18th of June, 1853, and elected village officers as follows, viz .: five Trustees, two Assessors, a Collector, Treasurer, Clerk, Street Commissioner, Pound- master and two Fire Wardens.

On the 27th of the same month the Trustees met and organized ; their names were as follows : Stephen Viele, Jacob Yates, Robert Bogardus, War- ner Groat and Alexander Morrison. They chose Alexander Morrison as President.

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THE VILLAGE OF WEST TROY.

On May 12, 1869, this village was duly char- tered by a special act of the Legislature, the former laws under which this village was organized not being adequate to the wants of the village. By this new charter the Board of Trustees were given several powers which they did not have under the former charter. The Presidents of this village from the first organization have been as follows, viz. : 1853, Alexander Morrison ; 1854, James Reming- ton ; 1855, Stephen Viele; 1856, James Reming- ton ; 1857, Charles M. Parker; 1858, James Tor- rence; 1859-60-61, Thomas Stantial; 1862, Jonas Clute ; 1863-64, William M. Strong ; 1865, John Miller; 1866-67, James Glass; 1868, William E. Gilbert; 1869-70, Henry S. Marcy; 1871-72-73, James Glass ; 1874, Edgar Gardner ; 1875-76-77, Benjamin F. Manier; 1878, William M. Torrence; 1879, William E. Keating ; 1880, William Bliss ; 1881, Thomas H. Richardson; 1882, James Tor- rence ; 1883-84-85, Joseph Hines.

Although this village is a distinct municipality, yet, in fact, it is a suburb of the city of Troy ; the land upon which it is built was owned and laid out into village lots, with streets and alleys, by res- idents of that city. The car shops of Messrs. Eaton & Gilbert, being the first manufacturing in- terest of any importance established in this village, were built in 1853, while they were residents of Troy. At the present time the majority of the resident laboring classes are employed in Troy, while many business men, and other persons em- ployed in that city, reside in this village ; and thus the interests of this village are closely allied with those of that city.

HOTEL.

The first hotel located in this village was erected in 1850, on a triangular lot of land on the corner of Albany avenue and Washington street, directly opposite to the approach to the railroad bridge, and was called the Green Island Hotel. This hotel was conducted under the management of Mr. John J. Goddell until 1864, when it was con- verted into railroad offices and depot, and since that date has been occupied as such.

OLDEST INHABITANT.

The oldest resident inhabitant of this island is Mr. Matthew E. Hyde, who removed from the village of West Troy to this island in the spring of 1842. At that time there were located upon this island six dwelling houses, two buildings used as bowling alleys or restaurants, some repair shops of the railroad company, a small wooden building used as a school-house, and a saw- mill, located at the State dam, which was built in 1836.

Goose Egg Island was the name of a very small island about 200 feet south of the south point of Green Island. This island was incorporated in and became a part of the above-mentioned pier at the time of the construction of the State Basin.

NEWSPAPERS.

The first newspaper edited and published in this village was a weekly edition, called The Green

Island Review. This paper was published and ed- ited by Mr. Henry L. Gilbert from January, 1879, to September 26, 1884, when Mr. Gilbert disposed of it to W. A. Cole and L. H. Weeks, who con- tinued to publish the paper under the name of The Albany County Herald.

POLICE.

The first police force of this village was what was known as the "Capital Police," this village being within the same precinct as that of the city of Cohoes. This police organization was suc- ceeded by the Green Island Police Force, which was organized in June, 1871 ; the Legislature, by an act passed April 20, 1871, giving the Board of Trustees of this village power and authority to ap- point Police Commissioners, who were duly em- powered to organize a police force for this village, and to fully control the same.

CHURCHES.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of the Village of Green Island .- This church was organized in the year 1853, the congregation being composed most- ly of members from the North Second Street Meth- odist Episcopal Church of the city of Troy. The meetings and services of this congregation were first held in a small school-house which was lo- cated on or near the corner of George and Swan streets. During the same year this society com- menced the erection of the present church edifice, which is located on the east side of Hudson ave- nue, a short distance north of the railroad bridge. This edifice was completed in the spring of 1854, and was dedicated on the 9th day of May of that year. Its total cost, together with furniture and lots, was about $4,000. The first pastor of this congregation was the Rev. J. L. Cook, and the congregation consisted of thirty-five members. The first class leaders were Hinkley Davis and Joshua Coleburn; Stewards, C. L. Bogardus, C. A. Crawford and E. B. Winne. In the summer of 1863 the church parsonage was erected, which cost $2,000.

In 1875 the church edifice was enlarged by re- moving the whole of the front end of the building and reconstructing the same on the line of the street, thus increasing the length of the edifice; this new front was much improved by the addition of stained glass windows. The cost of the enlarge- ment was about $2, 200. The following named persons have been the successive pastors of this church in the order named, viz .: Revs. R. Gregg, D. W. Dayton, G. W. S. Porter, C. C. Bedell, Truman Seymour, J. W. Belknap, A. C. Rose, S. W. Coleman, B. B. Loomis, D. W. Gates, L. D. Sherwood, J. K. Wager, Wm. H. Washburn, L. N. Beaudry, Samuel Meredith, C. A. S. Heath, Ed- win Genge, and the present pastor, the Rev. B. F. Livingston.

The First Presbyterian Church .- The organiza- tion of this church dates from April 18, 1853, when, at a meeting of the session of the Second Presbyterian Church of Troy, held in the session room of said church, a series of resolutions were

996

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

duly presented by Mr. Thomas Blatchford, M. D., which recommended the procuring a site and building a suitable house of worship in the village of Green Island. These resolutions were adopted by the session, and a committee appointed to carry the same into effect. This committee at once entered on the discharge of its duties, by purchas- ing a suitable plot of ground, which was located on the west side of Hudson avenue, a short dis- tance south of Clinton street, and erecting thereon a small wooden house of worship, which was com- pleted in the following winter and dedicated on the 28th of February, 1854, the dedicatory ser- mon being preached by Rev. Mr. Field, of Troy. This society duly organized on the day of the dedi- cation of the church, with seventeen members, and James Remmington, George Beach and Stephen Viele were elected as elders. On the 16th of the following March, Messrs. James Torrence, William F. Adams, William H. Lansing, Fred. Kean and Joseph D. Hardin were elected trustees. The congregation continued to worship in this house until September, 1866, when it was sold and removed from the plot of ground upon which it stood, and in its place was erected the present handsome brick edifice at the cost of $19, 800. The present membership of this church is 175. The following named persons have been the suc- cessive pastors of this church in the order named: Rev. Wm. E. Jones, from June, 1854, to January, 1857; Rev. Jacob G. Miller, from February, 1857, to June, 1859; Rev. V. A. Lewis, from July,

1859, to - -, 1862; Rev. David Edgar, from , 1862, to April, 1865; Rev. Richard Os- borne, from April, 1865, to March, 1868; Rev. Stephen Bush, from March, 1868, to June, 1874; Rev. J. O. Fillmore, D. D., from , 1874, to , 1875; Rev. J. W. Whitfield, A. M., from February, 1876, to February, 1879; Rev. Charles Wood, from April, 1879, to April, 1880; Rev. J. N. Crocker, a supply for one year; Rev. Charles E. Havens, the present pastor, from May, 1881.

St. Joseph's Catholic Church .- This church was organized in 1869, and the present church edifice, which is located on George street, near Swan street, was erected at a cost of $5,000. In connection with this church is a very handsome parsonage and grounds, which cost $9,000. The first priest in charge of this church was the Rev. J. McManemy, who was succeeded by the present priest, the Rev. Thos. Connelly.

St. Mark's Episcopal Church .- This church was organized in November, 1865, mainly through the efforts of the Rev. Edgar T. Chapman, who was at the time the assistant rector of St. Paul's Church, Troy, and who became the rector of this church at the time of the organization. At the time this church organized, and until the church edifice was completed, services were regularly held in a room in the second story of a small wooden building owned and used by Mr. Uri Gilbert as a carriage house.

Immediately upon organizing, this congregation commenced the erection of the present church

edifice and chapel located on the east side of Hudson avenue, opposite Clinton street, the church being consecrated on December 12, 1866, by the Right Rev. Horatio Potter, D. D., Bishop of the Diocese. The cost of the church and chapel was $17,000. In 1872 the Rev. Mr. Chapman resigned his rectorship, and from that date until 1874 the Revs. E. T. Johnson, J. S. Sharp and E. H. Sanders were the successive rectors of this church for short intervals. In June, 1874, the pres- ent rector, the Rev. R. Julius Adler, took charge.

In 1880 the chapel was enlarged and improved at a cost of $2, 200. In 1883 the church grounds were greatly improved and enlarged by the erection of a stone wall upon the bank of the river at the cost of $1, 150.

In 1884 the rectory which adjoins the church on the south was erected at the cost of $6,000, being the gift of Mr. Uri Gilbert.

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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 215

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