Civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the County of Kings and the City of Brooklyn, N. Y., Part 112

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : Munsell
Number of Pages: 1360

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October 9, 1866, at the residence of Dr. Alexander Hutchins. Its first rooms were at 675 Myrtle avenue, whence in May, 1868, it removed to No. 693. The first number of the East Brooklyn Gazette (monthly) was issued by the Association in October, 1867. Presidents : 1866, Alex. Hutchins, M. D .; October, 1867, Rev. John W. Leek; Jauuary, 1868, C. H. H. Pannell; March, 1868, Alex. Hutchins, M. D .; July, 1868, Rev. D. O. Ferris; Juue, 1869, Edgar A. Hutchins.

Union for Christian Work was formed in 1866, under the name of the Brooklyn Liberal Christian Union, for the pur- pose of uniting all denominations of Christians, without ex- ception, in the work of mutual improvement and practical beneficence. It first established its head-quarters in the Hamilton Buildings, corner of Court and Joralemon streets, where it opened a free reading-room, with a good library of six hundred volumes, mostly the gifts of friends, and a large variety of religious and secular magazines and papers; also with suitable means for innocent, rational amusement. As the institution grew in favor with the public, it was found necessary to seek for it ampler accommodations. Its head- quarters were accordingly transferred, Feb., 1870, to the new and handsome edifice, known as Baxter's Building, 131 Fulton ave., opposite Elm place, the second, third and fourth stories of which it devoted to the purposes of library and reading-rooms, and apartments for gymnastics and various other kinds of recreations. These quarters were dedicated to the work of the union by public exercises on the evening of February 14, 1870, when the organization assumed its present name and adopted a new constitution.

In the spring of 1870, the Union rented and fitted up the " Smith Mansion," on Smith st., near Fulton; a library and reading-room were provided, also separate rooms for games, conversation and correspondence. On the second floor are the roonis for boys' evening school and girls' sewing school. An employment bureau, industrial and relief departments have been successfully conducted, and various courses of lectures given from time to time. The Uuion is entirely un- sectarian and undenominational, inviting all to enter its membership, and at an annual fee so low as to be within the means of the poor. Consequently, its rooms are largely fre- quented by young and old, while its general operations have become much extended. The first President was Isaac H. Frothingham; his successors have been : Robert Foster, Charles P. Gerrish, Ripley Ropes, Josiah B. Blossom, and Robert Foster; the OFFICERS for 1883-'84 are: Robert Foster, Pres .; Joseph R. Blossom, Alex. Forman, Vice-Presidents; Wm. C. Gardner, Sec .; Isaac H. Cary, Jr., Treas .; Wm. A. Butler, Supt.

The German Evangelical Aid Society .- A number of Christian German ladies organized September 21st, 1877, a Ladies' Mission Society, to alleviate the misery of destitute Germans in the city. In their work they found many per- sons who were too old and feeble to work, friendless, and without means in a strange land. Tliese ladies determined to found a Christian Home for the aged, helpless, worthy German Protestants of both sexes. They issued an appeal for contributions, which met with a hearty response. Soon a meeting of the German Evangelical Pastors of Brooklyn was held to further the object. An organization was perfected and incorporated in April, 1877, as the German Evangelical Aid Society of Brooklyn. Fourteen lots, at the corner of Bushwick ave. and Fairfax st., were purchased for $45,000, on which suitable buildings are in course of construction. Meanwhile, the house, No. 79 Himrod st., was rented, and is occupied by 15 inmates. The society is governed by a council . of Pastors of German churches and a Board of Managers, consisting of ladies.

1102

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

ELI ROBBINS.

ELI ROBBINS .- Among the men who have helped to make Brooklyn respected as a residential city of merchant princes, a high rank is due to the memory of Eli Robbins, the subject of this sketch.

Mr. Robbins came of a stock in which some of the best qualities of the New England character existed in their happiest combination. Towards the close of the last century Puritanism in New England had laid aside much of its sterness and intoleranee, and had com- menced to reconeile itself with the milder charities of life; retaining, however, amidst all classes of the popu- lation, as much patriarchal simplicity of manners as probably ever existed in a modern civilized community. The Robbins homestead was situated in West Cam- bridge, now Arlington, Massachusetts, on the road rendered historic by the celebrated ride of Paul Revere. The patriotism of the family is indicated by the faet that the name of Robbins is found four times on the roll of Captain Parker's company of "embattled farmers," who faced the British at the famous Concord fight. After the Revolution and the restoration of social order, the qualities above mentioned speedily adapted themselves to their new environment, especially in the vicinity of Harvard College. The original Colonial custom of providing variety for the table, by a neighborly interchange of agricultural commodities, ealled " barter," gave place to a more systematie method of distributing produce, and publie markets were substituted for the primitive pork-barrel and private poultry-bin.

Nathan Robbins, the father of the present genera- tion of that name, was among the earliest to engage in the regular market business, by exchanging meat for other merchandise, such as shoes, sunff, cigars, choco- late, and Continental money. In accordance with the domestic regulations of those days, his home was en- livened by the successive advent of nine children, the youngest of whom was Eli, who was born September 22, 1821. Ile was not a strong child, but being healthy and self-reliant, he soon mastered the rudiments of sneh knowledge as was convement to his circumstances, and began his business career at an early age, by pro- viding a horse and wagon for himself, and purchasing poultry of the neighboring farmers, which he dressed with his own hands and carried to Boston for customers. Meanwhile, his brothers had established themselves in Faneuil Hall market, and were buikling up a profitable trade in the same kind of produce.

About the year 1836, Simeon Boyden, who kept the Tremont House in Boston, and had a high appreciation of these industrions young men, became proprietor of the Astor House, then the principal hotel of New York

eity. He made overtures to Nathan, the eldest, by remarking on the dearth of first-class poultry in Fulton market, and suggesting that there was a fine opening for some New England man, who could attend to busi- ness and keep out of bad company. This was exactly what the Robbins boys knew how to do; and Amos, the next older than Eli, at once departed for the metropolis. Three years later, in 1839, Eli followed his brother to Fulton market, at first as an employee; but in 1841 they entered into partnership, under the firm name of "A. & E. Robbins," which has since become familiar to all frequenters of the streets of New York. It was a small beginning-two country boys, aged 18 and 21, with a capital of only 236 dollars cach. But they had an advantage in the superior style in which they dressed their poultry, and they were not ashamed to work. Add to this their deter- mination not to speculate nor run into debt, and the result might easily have been predicted. They soon distaneed all competitors, and for more than forty years have stood at the acknowledged head of that line of business in the United States, thus affording a notable instance of conspicuous success, attained solely by honorable enterprise and strict integrity.

On the 13th of May, 1845, Mr. Robbins married Miss Maria C. Farmer, of his native town, a young lady with whom he had been acquainted from childhood, and whose subsequent devotedness, as wife and mother, amply justified the prophetie foregleams of his youth- ful affection. Her love, like a jewel, hung for eight and thirty years about his neck, yet never lost its lustre. Possessed of a modest dignity, which created an atmosphere of sweet content, and artless as a chill, she sought her own delight in making all around her bright and happy. The abundant means which her husband furnished enabled her also to gratify every hospitable impulse and refined taste. Their first home in Brooklyn was on Washington street, where two dear children came to work their mission of love; Warren, born September 21st, 1846, and Clinton, December 27th, 1848. The birth of these children was a joy which could only be adequately measured by the terri- ble grief that followed their early departure. Clinton ‹lied April 26th, 1864, and Warren November 12th, 1869.

Mr. Robbins had already become a rich man, and saw in his offspring an adequate shrine whereon to lavish all his paternal love and eare. To this end he erected the spacious and elegant mansion on the corner of Smith and Livingston streets, which, although de- prived of its expected chief attraction, has remained the charming residence of Mr. and Mrs. Robbins, as

10 Gliklibbins

1 い人

1103

BIOGRAPHIES.

well as a welcome resort for a host of relatives and choice acquaintances.

Eli Robbins was, by nature and early training, in- clined to economy and careful in his investments. Yet he was not indifferent to any worthy cause. His bene- factions to private families and individuals were so secret and unostentatious, that none but those who were the recipients of it can compute the sums which he an- nually bestowed among them. In religion, he was a Universalist. On removing to Brooklyn, while yet a young man, he became a member of the First Uni- versalist Society, and remained ever after loyal to that form of Christian faith. This furnishes the key to his whole moral character. He never sought for novelty, nor shrank from the dictates of duty. He had the two things which make men strong-an intelligent con- science and the quict courage to obey it. True courage is not noisy. It does not find its expression in defiant manners or vapory speech ; but it does consist in a quiet determination to do right, because it is right, and in traveling in a straight though unpopular pathway.

With such a conscience and with such a courage, Eli Robbins entered upon the career which lay before him and followed it successfully to the end. The end came

while he was yet far from being an old man. He died on the morning of June 21st, 1883, in the 62d year of his age, leaving, as the result of his life, a character for business integrity, against which no word of suspicion was ever breathed; a fortune approximating two mil- lions of dollars, no portion of which was obtained by questionable mcans; a wide circle of associates who honored and trusted him; and a wife who, having passed with him throughi every grade of society, is peculiarly qualified to be the almoner of his generous intentions.

His will, which was written ten years before his death, disposcs of some three hundred thousand dollars in various bequests, among which are legacies to the Church of our Father, of this city, the Brooklyn Orphan Asylum, the Blind Asylum of New York, the Unitarian and Universalist Churches of Arling- ton, Mass., and his native town, to which his body was taken for interment.

The Montauk Fire Insurance Co. and the Firemen's Trust Insurance Co., of both of which he was a trustee, together with the religious society with which he was long and intimately connected, passed appropriate res- olutions of regret, and all who knew him werc sincere mourners.

AMOS ROBBINS.

AMOS ROBBINS, who is mentioned in the foregoing sketch of the life of his younger brother, Eli Robbins, was born in West Cambridge (now Arlington), Massa- chusetts, December 28th, 1817, and received a limited education in the public schools of the time and locality.

At the age of fourteen, he came a poultry-buyer and dresser for his brother, Nathan, who had then been for some time established in Faneuil Hall Market, in Bos- ton; and who, still living at the age of eighty, has been in business sixty ycars, and is at this time president of the Faneuil Hall Bank, besides being connected with other important interests in Boston.

At the age of sixteen, Amos Robbins removed to Bos- ton, and was employed in his brother's business therc until 1836, when, as has been stated in the foregoing article, he went to New York to prepare and furnish to the tables of the Astor House such poultry as was desired by Mr. Simeon Boyden, who, at that time, assumed the management of that since famous hotel.

Three years later, when Eli Robbins entered the em- ploy of Amos, the latter had laid the foundation of the subsequent immense business of the firm of A. & E. Robbins, reference to whose almost unexampled career has been made above. At the death of Eli Robbins, in June, 1883, he was succeeded in the firm by his nephew, Milton Robbins, son of Mr. Amos Robbins, and the style of the firm was changed to A. & M. Robbins.

Mr. Robbins was married, at the age of twenty, to Miss Adelia Martling, of Tarrytown, N. Y., who has borne him two sons, and two daughters who were reared and marricd, but who died in early womanhood. Mr. Robbins, in his declining years, is in the enjoyment of well-earned wealth, and such has been his character from boyhood that he is held in equally high regard in business circles and among his intimate friends, and is esteemed alike as an intelligent and influential citizen and as a friendly and wholc-souled Christian gentle- man.

1104

· HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

FREDERICK LOESER.

FREDERICK LOESER .- In the year 1853, Mr. Loescr, impelled like many other young men by the desire of getting a start in the world, resolved to leave the beaten track and scek for better fortune in America. His previous life had been but a repetition of an oft-told tale. Born in the town of Mergentheim, in the southern part of Germany, the oldest son of a poor silversmith, he found himself at an early age under the necessity of earning his own livelihood. When only a lad he lost his mother, and was then obliged to leave school, much against his inclination, for his desire was to become a physician. He entered as an apprentice into the store of a fringe-maker in the town of Würzburg, and lived three years in his master's family, but his position there was unenviable; hard tasks and short fare were the rule, though of chidings and blows there was no lack, so those days were a better schooling in patienec and suffering than in the loom and shuttle. His appren- ticeship over, he started on his wanderings in search of employment, with staff and knapsack and some ten florins saved from his scanty earnings. This was the course necessary for every young artisan to pursue in those days; erc he could be counted among the "masters" of any trade he must have spent three years in wandering from place to place, becoming familiar with the methods of trade in different countries. To meet the requirements of these " journeymen," a sort of guild or trades-union existed throughout the cities of thic continent, which provided the young fellow with a position, helped him in distress or sickness, and were friends and home to him wherever lic might be.

Mr. Loeser's first trip was by way of Munich, through the Tyrol and northern Italy to Verona. The whole of the journey had to be performed on foot, for the young man's means hardly suffiecd to buy his daily bread. Wages were small, and the war with Austria caused all German-speaking persons to be looked on with disfavor, so the young man turned northward through Lombardy and Styria to Vienna, in 1850. After a year and a half spent here and two years in Zurich and Berne, he returned to his old home. He had now reached the age when all able-bodied young inen were compelled to enter the army, but as he could ill afford to call on his father's treasury for five years, and be no better off at the end of that time, he resolved to leave for America. Sailing from Havre, November 1st, 1853, he arrived in New York after a short passage, with a capital of two and a half dollars and a silver watch. As nothing was then known of fringe- making in the city, he resolved to go west and find other employment. In Morganfield, Ky., he found some distant relatives, and there, after trading in furs

for a ycar, he carned enough to open a small country store at Smith's Mills, Henderson county, Ky. His prospects brightencd, though after a time both he and his clerk were taken ill with chills and fever. For- tunately their days of sickness alternated, so that one or the other could be in the store every day. In 1855, he sold out and went to Louisville for a couple of years, and then to New York city, where he obtained a position with S. M. Peyser, the leading trimming and worsted store in the city.

In 1860, he married, and the same year went into business with Moritz Dinkelspiel upon a capital of $1,200, opening a store at No. 277 Fulton street, Brooklyn, with a small stock of worsteds, embroidcries and trimmings. Matters progressed well until the rebellion broke out, and injured business for a time. In 1863, Mr. J. W. Joncs entered the firm, and a branch store was opened at No. 737 Broadway, New York. In 1866, Mr. Loeser sold his interest in the New York business, and bought out his partners in the Brooklyn enterprise. In addition he started a button factory on Fulton street, Brooklyn, which was very successful, but which other business carcs compelled him to dispose of after a few years. Iu 1870, the store was removed to its present site, Mr. Louis Liebmann was received as partner, and the stock of dry goods was largely increased. In 1872, his brother, Mr. Hermann Liebman joined the firm, and in 1876, Mr. Gustav Loeser was admitted as a member. The public of Brooklyn has always been appreciative of their enterprisc, Mr. Loeser says, and ready to re- spond to the efforts of the firm to keep the trade at home. Through its liberal patronage, they are enabled to give employment to nearly seven hundred men and women, while their establishment ranks as one of the leading retail houses in the city.

It is mainly due to Mr. Frederick Locser's energy that the business has been developed to so large an ex- tent. His close watch of the demands of trade, bis thorough system introduced into all departments, and his careful attention to details, have enabled him to sue- eced where so many have failed. His features indicate the possession of a strong, positive character, though not haughty or self-willed; his courteous bearing marks the gentleman, while his social qualities make him highly estecmed among a large circle of friends and ac- qnaintances.

Notwithstanding the demands of business, Mr. Loe- ser finds time to gratify his literary taste; his resi dence contains a well-selected library ; he is con- versant with current events, alive to the questions of the day, thorough-going and honorable, and secure in the confidence and estecm of the community.

THE PROGRESS

OF THE

DRAMA, OPERA, MUSIC AND ART IN BROOKLYN.

Gabriel Harmon

T THE PROLOGUE .- There are few cities in any part of the civilized world where the Drama had a longer or a harder struggle to obtain a foot- hold than in the city of Brooklyn. To impute this to the want of taste on the part of its inhabitants, would be incorrect. The fact of Brooklyn being so adjacent to the great metropolis was really the cause. For many years after Brooklyn was looked upon as a city of considerable magnitude, its inhabitants favored New York for almost everything, whether it belonged to commerec or amusements. The habit once formed, it still continued long after Brooklyn was acknowl- edged a great city in many respects. Even at the present day, there is a prejudice so strong in favor of everything in New York that it is detrimental, not only to those who cater for the amusement-seeking portion of the public, but to many in all other branches of business. With a population of over six hundred thousand, and ranking in numbers as the third city in the Union-there are but three places of amusement that can be looked upon as respectable in architectural proportions, or class of amusements furnished for the people ; these are the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Park Theatre, and Brooklyn Theatre, the first named being only occasionally used for either the opera or the drama. The Park and Brooklyn theatres arc invariably elosed during the summer months, and yet thousands of Brooklynites crowd the ferry-boats to attend places of amusement in New York. There is really more cause for this at the present period than twenty years ago. The great improvements in con- veyancc from the several ferries in New York to the up-town theatres, requiring but fifteen minutes by elevated railway, and the great variety and superior manner in which pieces are placed upon the metropolitan stage, both in actors and artistic details, must be admitted as great inducements. Many argue that Brooklyn would not support what might bc termed a first-class theatre-like Wallack's-with a picked company of artists, and months of preparation

for the production of a single play. This is not so; for these very people who go to New York are the most intelligent and respectable class of amusement-scekers, and visit Wallack's, the Union Square, and the Fifth Avenue theatres for the reason that whatever they go there to sec, is sure to be well done in every par- ticular.

The Drama can only be built up to its highest condi- tion by a local growth, and when the managers give proper attention to all the finer necessitics of the stage, together with a first-class company.

Yet, with all the drawbacks and obstacles to a more elevated condition of the stage in Brooklyn, it has a dramatic history of great interest, arising from the fact that nearly all of the great stars who have adorn- ed the stage of the metropolis, have appeared in this city. But it makes no difference what the drama has been in Brooklyn : its future must be of necessity far greater in many respects. The growth of the two cities is so rapid that they are becoming farther apart every year, and the localities of the theatres must ad- vance with their boundaries. This will cause the Brook- lyn people to seek their amusements at home in spite of rapid transit; and the people will require and demand more than one theatre managed on the principles of Wallack's or the Union Square.

DORAN, in his History of the British Stage, and DUNLAP, in his History of the American Theatre, have gone back as far as they could go, in the relation of the smallest details in connection with their subject. If wc may be allowed the same privilege, we will begin the history of the Drama in Brooklyn as far back as 1776.

The Curtain Up."-After Washington had made his masterly retreat to New York, leaving Bur- goyne, Clinton and Howe, in disappointment, to wonder at the magic change of scene made by the ever-watchful American commander in the national drama which they had expected to suddenly conclude; the British army, from Bedford and Flatbush down to the water's edge,

1106

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

where now stands the City of Brooklyn, had a chance for a long rest on Long Island. With this rest eame the necessity for amusements of some kind for the officers and men of the invading foe. Often they resorted to the drama, and rigged np a stage of some kind, even painted their own scenery, formed an orchestra out of a regimental band, and performed some of the lighter dramatic productions. At this period, Brook- lyn became famous as the camp of the British army, and soon followed all sorts of amusements at a stone building situated on the north side of the " old road " (Fulton street), near the corner of Front street. This building had been known for thirty years or more as " Corporation House," from the fact that it belonged to the Corporation of the City of New York. The building was about seventy by sixty feet, and two stories high, containing a large hall on the second floor, with a tavern and ferry-rooms on the ground floor. As soon as the British got possession of Brook- lyn, the Corporation House changed hands and name, and was known, as long as the British remained in Brooklyn, as " The King's Head." It was now fitted up in the most complete manner for the attraction of the officers and men. At The King's Head all sorts of games were given, from bull-baiting to lotteries. The King's birthdays were celebrated by illuminations, and hundreds of people came from New York to see the different shows, and to partake of first-class " fish dinners." In this building, no doubt, took place

The First Performance in Brooklyn .- Among the pieces performed was an original farce sup- posed to have been written by General John Burgoyne, who was one of the commanders of the British forces on Long Island. This same Burgoyne, after he had re- turned to England, became a dramatic writer of con- siderable reputation. He was the author of the " Maid of the Oaks," "Lord of the Manor," the fine farce of " Bon Ton," and the excellent comedy of "The Heiress," which, at the time of its production in London, stood almost as high as " The School for Scandal."

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Civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the County of Kings and the City of Brooklyn, N. Y., Part 112

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909. Publication date: 1884 Publisher: New York : Munsell Number of Pages: 1360

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : Munsell
Number of Pages: 1360