Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 261

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 261

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ROTTERDAM FLATS.

In the summer of 1661, Arent Van Curler, or Corlear, leader of the first settlement, made formal application to Governor Stuyvesant for permission to settle upon the Great Flats lying west of Schenectady.

The bouwlands, the great tract of bottom land west of Schenectady, embracing several hundred acres of arable land, was anciently called the Groote Vlachte. It was mainly cleared land when the white man first occupied it in 1662, and had been the Mohawk's maize land for, perhaps, centuries. This, and other parcels of like soil along the Mohawk, formed the main inducement for the Hollanders to settle here ; in them they recognized the polders, or lowland of the Father- land.

The bouwlands were originally divided into twenty-three separate parcels and assigned to fifteen individuals.

Broom corn was first introduced into this town by the Shakers of Watervliet and Niskayuna, and has been extensively cultivated upon the alluvial flats and is still one of the most extensive products of the soil.

Mr. Martin De Forrest, of Schenectady, now seventy-two years old, says he well remembers that, sixty years ago, the first piece of broom corn planted in Rotterdam was on a morgen of land, or 2.0076 acres, near the city of Schenectady, by the Shakers from Watervliet. It attracted much attention and its peculiar adaptation to this alluvial soil soon brought it into general cultivation. Mr. Sanders Van Eps, then an extensive farmer in Rotterdam, was one of the first to raise it in large quantities and to manufacture it into brooms.

REMARKABLE FEAT.

It is said that Ryer Schermerhorn, the father of Bartholomew and grandson of the first Ryer, was a man of remarkable perseverance, energy and determination. An illustration cannot be out of place at this point. It is handed down by well

established authority, that shortly after the termi- nation of the revolutionary war, when the long contested suit of Ryer Schermerhorn against the Trustees of the Schenectady Patent was pending in our Supreme Court, Ryer Schermerhorn, the plain- tiff, was unexpectedly informed, by his counsel, Judge James Duane, that certain documents then in the hands of one Apple, at New York, must be in court at Albany within eight days from that time, or his cause would be greatly endangered. Bear in mind there were no telegraphs, no steam- boats, no stage routes; but miserable roads, only a weekly mail, and that the sloops took generally two weeks, sometimes three, to accomplish the distance between Albany and New York. Nothing daunted, Schermerhorn started, single-handed, in a canoe from Albany ; went to New York, procured the necessary documents, and on the morning of the first session of court, much to the surprise and gratification of his counsel, delivered him the desired papers. This certainly would be called something of a feat for a young man of the present day. *

THE ERIE CANAL.

The Erie Canal by three locks runs eight miles through this town along the line of the Mohawk.

The Erie Canal was first completed as far as Lockport, twenty-six miles from Lake Erie, and soon after to Lake Erie. Mr. Peter Christler (an ex-Canal Collector) in the Schenectady Union, January 18, 1885, gives the following table as to the development of the canal:

YEARS. DEPTH OF WATER.

BOAT TONNAGE.

1824. 2 ft. 6 in. to 3 ft. 16 to 40

1836.

3 ft. to 3 ft. 6 in. 30 “ 40

1846.

5 ft.

40 “ 70

1856.

6 ft.

60 " 120

1862.

6 ft.

to 9 ft. 150 " 220

1883.

7 ft.

250

Time from Buffalo to Albany has with little vari- ation averaged about eight days. Average cargo at the present time is 160 tons.

In 1884 there was carried over the canal 5, 666, - 057 tons. It was through this avenue, when other ways were closed during the late war, that the Government conveyed to the Western army a great amount of their supplies in addition to what the railroads could do, and in this service the canal was taxed to its utmost capacity. It is estimated that at this time there were from 8,000 to 10,000 boats on the canal.

RAILROADS.

The New York Central, with a four-track road, runs about four miles in this town, coming in at the east and going out at the City of Schenectady, where it crosses over into Glenville and follows the Mohawk westerly.

The Delaware and Hudson Canal Branch Rail- road, from Schenectady to Quaker Street, with a single track, runs seven miles in the town.

The West Shore, with two tracks, runs twelve miles in the town and was built in 1883.

* Sanders' " Early History of Schenectady."

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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

The Athens branch, from Schenectady to Athens, built in 1868, was sold to the West Shore.

The Creeks of this town are the Zantzee, Plata, Poentics and the Normanskill.

The Mohawk River runs along the northern boundary for ten miles. About one mile above the city is what has from the first been known as the Sixth Flat's rift.

The Schermerhorn Flouring Mill is situated near the city on the Plank road. This mill seat has been occupied here for more than a century and a half. Garret Veeder, second son of Simon Val- kertse Veeder, the fourth named original pro- prietor of Schenectady, owned the lands about the mill seat, and obtained a lease from the church of Schenectady of this mill privilege about 1718, which afterward became the Schermerhorn Mill Farm. This mill is one of the best in the county, and is highly prized by the town of Rotterdam.

Ryer Schermerhorn, during the revolution, built the stone house opposite the grist-mill about 1770, and the purpose was entertained at one time of taking it for a fort.

There was a log house near the mill that was used for a place of retreat in times of peril, and the name of "Schuylenburgh" was given to the place, it signifying in Dutch the shelter or a place of safety.

SOUTH SCHENECTADY.

South Schenectady came into being by the building of the West Shore Railroad in 1883, which connected with and crossed the Delaware and Hudson River Railroad two miles southwest of Schenectady. South Schenectady has now a large hotel called the Thompson House, built and kept by William H. Fogerty. Its capacity for boarders is quite large and it is well filled. The West Shore Railroad has here a large round-house, freight-house and depot. There are within half a mile twenty dwellings; a grocery; a store and post-office, kept by Andrew Kelley & Son; a blacksmith shop; the butcher's shop of Allen Estes; H. Herrick's watch-making and repairing shop; a large hay barn for storage of hay in transit, located beside the Delaware and Hudson Railroad, owned by Smith Close & Alfred Ford, who also have in connection with their business a coal yard. James Turnbull is also erecting a hay barn, and has also opened a coal yard near the track of the West Shore Railroad.

Religious services were commenced in this place in the summer of 1884 by Rev. E. E. Taylor, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, who during that season preached in the open air, the congregation being gathered on the steps of the freight-house of the West Shore Railroad, and later in the fall Mr. Fogerty, of the Thompson House, built a hall in connection with the hotel, and at once tendered it to Mr. Taylor, and meetings have been held there for a time.

The Delaware and Hudson Railroad have a large reservoir here for watering their engines.

This place had a great opportunity in 1884, in the offer by the West Shore Railroad to locate their machine shops here, and the building of the round-house was its commencement, but the exorbitant price demanded, and a liberal offer about the time from Frankfort, led them to locate there, where they now employ several hun- dred men, and a large business is there being built up.

PATTERSONVILLE.

Pattersonville is a small village at Hoffman's Ferry, at the west end of the county, containing fifteen dwellings, a hotel called the Patterson- ville Hotel, two stores, a wagon shop, blacksmith shop and shoe shop, a railroad depot and store- house.

The Pattersonville Hotel, kept by W. H. Patter- son, is large and new, with ample accommoda- tions. W. H. Patterson is the proprietor of the store at the west end of the village, near the depot ; and T. L. Marlette & J. M. Clement are the proprietors of the store at the Ferry. In connection with their store they have a large hay barn, and buy and export hay. They also have a coal yard, and are doing a thriving business. Dr. Alexander Ennis lives here, and is a practicing physician and surgeon. The West Shore Railroad have erected a fine depot and freight-house for themselves and the Boston and Hoosac Tunnel Railroad, which runs upon their track at this point. More than one-half of this place has been built up since these railroads reached here. The new buildings are of a fine order, and the place bids fair for a more rapid growth.

The Junction is two miles east of Pattersonville, and is formed by the Boston and Hoosac Tunnel and West Shore Railroads. The Boston and Hoosac Tunnel crosses over the Mohawk from the town of Glenville at this point into Rotter- dam, and unites with the West Shore. The West Shore Railroad have built here a large round-house, a railroad station, and offices for the joint delivery and exchange of freight. These buildings are used in common by both roads, the Boston and Hoosac paying rent for the use of the same.

Duck & Fish, of Decatur, Illinois, have just built extensive stock yards and barns here. The capacity of the present yards is eight hundred cattle ; these will no doubt be enlarged, and the business become one of great importance.

The Mabee House is a fine new hotel, large and commodious for boarding purposes, etc., and a number of other fine buildings have been erected, and others will soon be built. Thus by the intro- duction of the railroads into this town, South Schenectady, the Junction and Pattersonville have sprung into being.

MOHAWKVILLE.

Mohawkville commences from the terminus of Centre street, Schenectady, and extends along the highway about a mile into Rotterdam. There are fifty-four dwellings, a grocery store, a school-house and a Good Templars' building. At the top of

209

THE TOWNSHIP OF ROTTERDAM.

the hill, rising from the city, is what has been long known as Engine Hill. It was here that stationary engine was placed in 1831, when the first railroad of this part of the country was built from Albany to Schenectady, and this engine drew the railroad cars, with ropes, from Schenectady up the hill, as it was too steep for the engine of the train to draw them ; on this account it was called Engine Hill. At the south end of Mohawk- ville was located Crane's factories, and therefore that was called Cranesville. The Good Tem- plars' building, for lodge purposes, is a neat struc- ture, erected last year at a cost of about $1, 500. It owes its existence mainly to the influence and means of Mrs. John H. Chambers, who has taken an unusually active part in organizing and main- taining a temperance society in this place, the effect of which is there is not a drop of spirituous liquor sold in the place or near it.

JONATHAN CRANE, of whom honorable mention should be made, was born February 5, 1790, in North Mansfield, Conn., and in 1814 came to Schenectady. In 1819 he purchased lands in Mohawkville, where he erected factories that to this day constitute the chief industry of the place. In connection with his factories an oil mill was erected, and its first superintendent was Mr. Dillon, and after him Peter Christler, now of Schenectady. A brake factory was also established, and a screw factory. Mr. Crane was the chief leader in trans- ferring the screw manufacturing from England to this country. The main factory was afterward turned into a flax and corn-husk factory, and then again into a twine factory, which has continued for the past thirty years to the present. The factory was thoroughly repaired in 1882 by a company known as The Mohawk Twine Company, and business was pushed to the utmost capacity until the latter part of 1884, when, on account of the depression in the market, work was suspended. There were thirty-five hands employed. The present prospects indicate an early resumption of business. Mr. Crane was a man of marked fidelity, and of decided moral principles. He was a pron- inent temperance leader, and with others organized the first temperance society in Schenectady. He readily engaged in every good work. He formed the first Sunday-school in the county in his own house in Schenectady. He was emphatically a good man, both as a citizen and a Christian, and did much to advance the interests of mankind.

In the year 1830 the first passenger railway in this country was building from Albany to Sche- nectady. Mr. Crane's home was near his mills, and these were in the suburbs of the city, where the railway was to pass, so that he frequently saw the men at work. The slow, difficult process of excavating the sand was noticed by him, and his active mind immediately began seeking for a remedy. At last it was found in an invention which was named the circular receiver. Its patent is dated October 1, 1830, and is signed by the distinguished names of Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, and J. W. McPherson Berrian. The

principle of this machine is simple, and can be seen to-day, somewhat modified, in the ordinary turn-table used by all railroads.

The rapid increase in the number of railways created a demand for this invention, and presented a broad field for contractors. To put his invention into practice, Mr. Crane took a contract on the Albany road, and when this was finished he went to New England and assisted in the construction of many railways there, including the Hartford and New Haven, the Providence and Stonington, the Boston and Providence, the Boston and Albany and the Boston and Maine Railways.

JOHN R. FREEMAN & BROTHERS' oil mill is about two miles from Schenectady, a little west from the Duanesburgh road. Previous to 1855 the place was occupied by Mr. Peek as a cloth factory. In 1855, Freeman & Bro. started an oil mill which ran until 1871, when it was converted into a flax and husk mill. The goods made are better known as green tow. The mill continues the same to the present time. Like most other industries at this present time, work is suspended to a great extent. The Freeman Bros. have a paint, etc., store on Wall street, in Schenectady. They are among the most respected of our citizens.

THE MCQUEEN LOCOMOTIVE WORKS are located on the Mohawk Flats, between the Jones Car Works and the Westinghouse Agricultural Works, near the City of Schenectady, on nine acres of land costing $5,000, with a branch railroad track to the Dela- ware and Hudson Railroad. These works consist of two immense brick structures, one 125 feet x 306 feet, the other 74 feet x 402 feet, and an annexed engine-house 30 x 50 feet, erected at a cost of $60,oco. It stock company, capital $300,000, 28 per cent of which has been assessed. Over half the stock is held by New York parties. The principal stockholders of this company are Walter McQueen, Charles Stanford, N. I. Scher- merhorn, and George G. Maxon. President, Charles Stanford. Office is at 190 State street, Schenec- tady. Secretary, John De Remer; Treasurer, F. W. Jessop. Trustees : George G. Maxon, Walter M. McQueen, John McEncroe, Charles Stanford, N. I. Schermerhorn, T. W. Jessop, and John D. Remer.

There is no machinery yet in the buildings, and the directors are waiting for sufficient encourage- ment in business demand, above the pressure of the present times, to expand and put in operation these works.

SCHENECTADY CAR COMPANY.

This company was organized in 1872, with a stock capital of $400,000. The company purchased the farm of N. I. Schermerhorn for $50,000, and erected buildings and purchased material at a cost of $84,000. The buildings after erection stood idle about four years, and then work was com- menced and carried on for about four months. In 1875 J. M. Jones and Co. purchased the works- including twelve acres of land, buildings, machin- ery and stock, valued at $90,000-for $25,000. They at once resumed work making street cars,

210

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

512

SCH

with a force of 400 men up to about three years ago, when the street car work was transferred to the company's works at Troy, and the company reorganized under the incorporated title of The Jones Car Manufacturing Company, and com- menced building railroad and Wagner palace cars. They put up five additional new buildings. The works went into the hands of a receiver, Mr. E. Nott Schermerhorn, in the spring of 1884, and work was continued for the completion of orders on hand until the fall. An offer of sale by the receiver and creditors was made for $85,000, for buildings, machinery and stock.

These works are situated on the Mohawk Flats, about half a mile from the City of Schenectady. They have a branch track, connecting with the Delaware and Hudson Railroad near by.

January 30, 1885, these works were leased to Mr. Walter A. Jones, the legalized agent of the Jones Car Manufacturing Company, for eighteen months, with the privilege of purchase, within that time, for $60, coo. Work was at once resumed in the repairing and manufacture of Wagner's palace and sleeping cars for the New York Central Sleeping Car Company.

February 4, 1885, the Jones Car Works Com- pany was reorganized and incorporated with a cap- ital of $50, oco ; Walter A. Jones, President. In June following, the New York Central Sleeping Car Company purchased the lease of the Jones Com- pany, and at the present time manage the works, under the direction of Dr. W. Seward Webb, President, and T. H. Munsell, Superintendent.

SECOND REFORMED CHURCH OF ROT- TERDAM.

This church was organized by the Classis in 1813. The first book of records cannot at present be found. March 15, 1824, the church was incor- porated under the State laws, the consistory acting as trustees. A meeting of church members, preliminary to incorporation, was held January 12th and March 15th, the consistory including the Min- ister, Rev. Jeremiah Searle; Elders Lawrence Schermerhorn, Peter Becker and Oliver Springer ; Deacons John J. Vischer, Philip De Forest and John Putnam. These went before Judge Henry Yates, of Schenectady, and procured the necessary papers, properly signed and attested, and the church was duly incorporated. The articles of incorpora- tion are recorded in the County Clerk's office in Church Book of Records, page 25.

Fifteen years after the organization, in 1828, there were seventy-four members in full com- munion, and residing within the bounds of the congregation. May 21, 1843, it is noted that one hundred and twenty-five partook of the communion, which probably approximated the membership of the church at that time. After this date no account is given of the church membership until 1875, when there were fifty-two in communion and one hundred families in the congregation. April, 1884, there were seventy-seven in communion and fifty families in the congregation. The church had one remarkable revival in May, 1832, when fifty mem- bers were added to the church-forty-eight on con- fession of faith and two by certificate; Rev. Joshua Boyd, pastor.

The church was incorporated under the title of The Second Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of the Third Ward of the City of Schenectady. It is now known as The Second Reformed Church, Rotterdam. (Rotterdam was the Third Ward of Schenectady until 1820.) From 1823 to 1836, this church and the First Reformed Church of Rotterdam were united and placed under the same pastorate. Rev. Jeremiah Searle, a licentiate, was called to the pastorate April, 1823, and con- tinued until 1827. After an interval of several months, the two churches united in calling Rev. Joshua Boyd. He began his labors February, 1828, and continued joint pastor until May, 1836, when the relation of the two churches was dissolved by the Classis. This second church immediately called Rev. J. Boyd, who continued his labor from May, 1836, to May, 1840. From June, 1840, to May, 1841, the Rev. John Nott was stated sup- ply, and in May, 1841, he was called to the pastorate of the church, and continued to serve as such until May, 1854. The succeeding two years and a quarter the church was without a pastor, depending upon such supplies as it could obtain, and was at the same time rebuilding its church edifice. August, 1856, Rev. Cyril Spauld- ing was called to its pastorate, and continued therein until October, 1860. Shortly after the dis- missal of Rev. Cyril Spaulding, Rev. R. L. Schoon- maker began preaching there, and was finally employed as stated supply for one year, beginning March 1, 1861, but before the year closed he was called to its pastorate. He began his pastoral labors September, 1861, and continued therein until January, 1869. The church, after he left, made two ineffectual calls : one upon Rev. D. Vermilye, March, 1869, and the other on Rev. S.

211

THE TOWNSHIP OF ROTTERDAM.

F. Searle, May, 1869, and afterward succeeded in getting Rev. William P. Davis, who began his labors 1869, and ended them June, 1873. The next three years the church was without a pastor. August, 1873, an unsuccessful call was made upon Rev. W. P. Davis. During the year April, 1874, to 1875, a minister of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Rev. M. J. Slover, acted as stated supply. This pulpit was also supplied by different preachers from Sabbath to Sabbath until May, 1876, when Rev. Ira Van Allen began his pastoral labors; his pastorate continued until Maw383, when Rev. Lauren Vanderveer was called to the pastorate, and still continues its earnest and success- ful pastor; thus from 1823 to the present-sixty- three years-the church has had eight pastors, besides supplies.

CONSISTORY .- By charter the consistory was com- posed of seven members: the minister, three elders and three deacons. This continued from 1824 to 1837. In 1837, by act of Legislature the charter was amended, and the consistory enlarged to its present size of nine members : the minister, four elders and four deacons. In 1842, when Rev. John Nott was pastor, two additional elders were chosen contrary to the charter, and in 1883 two additional deacons were chosen. This large and illegal consistory of thirteen members continued only two years. In 1845 they returned to the charter number, and it has not been deviated from since.

CHURCH PROPERTY .- November 27, 1820, the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of the City of Schenectady conveyed to the minister, elders and deacons of the Second Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, etc., for the consideration of one dollar to them paid, one acre two roods and five perches of land situated south of the Princetown road and the road now leading to South Schenectady, being the land on which the church and sheds stand, and including what is now known as the Old Ceme- tery.

March 31, 1857, John Schermerhorn and Rebecca, his wife, for the consideration of two hundred dollars, conveyed to the church officers two acres of ground situated north of Princetown road, on which the parsonage and barn now stands, known as the parsonage lot.

April 2, 1880, John Phillips, for the considera- tion of six liundred and eleven dollars, conveyed to the church officers 6-11 acres of land adjoin- ing the old cemetery on the southeast, now known as the New Cemetery.

February 5, 1881, the church officers secured from the trustees of the town of Rotterdam for one dollar, a commutation release of the rental of, and the virtual title to, thirty-seven rods of land lying northeast of the old cemetery and south of the public road,

The church now owns the cemetery plot of land, containing about 72 acres ; and the parsonage lot, containing two acres.

During 1822 the first church edifice was built. It was a wooden structure 38 x 32 feet, with a pro-

jection eight feet deep in front, on which a steeple was constructed. It fronted nearly northeast. It was a plain structure The pulpit was high and boxed, and the center of the church had high box-pews. A gallery twelve feet wide ran along the sides. The cost of this edifice was $1, 200.

In 1855 the church edifice was remodeled. The steeple had been blown off in a storm, and it became necessary to make thorough repairs. The building was enlarged to 46 x 32 feet, and in 1861 a bell costing $125 was placed in the belfry. The total cost was about $2, 200.

In 1870 the church was again remodeled by an addition of eighteen feet, making the building now 64 x 32 feet, with an alcove for the pulpit, and the whole neatly finished at a cost of about $2,000. The seating capacity is 300. There are also a fine lot of sheds 175 feet long, containing twenty-two stalls, costing, in addition to much work being done free, $400.

PARSONAGE .- The parsonage was built in 1857, a two story and a half frame building, at a cost of $1,643.72, and a two-story barn. The total ex- penses, $2, 432. 72. Total value of the entire church propery is about $7,000.

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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 261

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