Civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the County of Kings and the City of Brooklyn, N. Y., Part 86

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

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St. Paul's Industrial School .- This institution is self-sus- taining, and contains at the present time about 300 inmates, who are educated in all household duties, and in needle-work of every kind. Estimated value of building and grounds, $150,000.

The Right Reverend Bishop of the Diocese is President of the Society, and is well and ably assisted by Mr. J. M. Shanahan, First Vice-President, and Mr. Theophilus Olena, Second Vice-President ; Andrew Walsh, Trcas .; M. E. Moore, Sec .; P. J. O'Connor, Asst. Scc. The present Board of Direc- tors consists of Messrs. L. P. Bodkin, Arthr E. Marsh, John Cunningham, John MeDermott, J. H. Newman, Daniel Bradley, James Cassidy, Wm. Murtha, Bernard McCaffrey, Arthur MeGerald, Thos. Horan, Chris. Greay, Wm. Bishop, Thos. Green, Jas. McDonnell.

St. Vincent's Home, of the city of Brooklyn, for the care and instruction of poor and friendless boys, was incorpo- rated in July, 1869, by the following gentlemen, who were also the first managers: Right Rev. John Loughlin, Very Rev. John F. Turner, Rev. Francis J. Friel, Richard Ternan, John Lane, Manriec Fitzgerald, Thomas Code, Thomas Johnson, Francis Curran, Thomas Horan, Matthew Boylan, Charles J. O'Reilly, Patrick H. Quinn, Thomas O'Brien, Jr., Bernard Bogen. James K. O'Mahony, Charles McConnell, Thomas Halpin, Michael Lowry, James Ormond, Michael Philbin, Michnel Kirwin, John M. Farrell, William Orr, William Brown and Thomas Farrell.

The object of the society is to provide a home for the care, and Christian, moral and mental instruction, of friendless and destitute boys; to resene them from evil associations; provide a home and lodging-house for them; establish an evening and Sunday school, and to provide teachers for their benefit and instruction; and to lodge and instruct as many boys as possible, in order that they may be protected and shielded from the vices of evil associations, qualified to dis- charge the duties of useful and respectable citizens, and en- able them to earn an honest and honorable livelihood.

In 1869, the present house, No. 7 Poplar street, and that in its rear, No. 10 Vine street, with the space between the two for a play-ground, were purchased at a cost of $15,000, and

the buildings altered and adapted to the society's purpose. The institution is under the eare of a Board of Managers, composed of prominent Roman Catholic elergymen and lay- men, and the work of the institution is largely done by the St. Vincent's Home Ladies' Society, whose OFFICERS (1884) are: Mrs. Hugh MeLaughlin, Pres .; Mrs. E. Brophy, Mrs. J. E. Dallon, Secretaries; Miss M. A. Strain, Trcas. The Home is under the direct superintendence of Rev. Maurice Hickey, and nearly 3,000 boys have, thus far, enjoyed its benefits.

Rooms for Voluntary Relief Work (No. 59 Smith street, near Schermerhorn) .- This is a private charity, organized and mainly carried on by Mr. Geo. T. Clark. In his efforts to aid the deserving poor, Mr. Clark investigated their condition thoroughly, so that he soon found himself asked to distribute the benefactions of others. Therefore, about the year 1868, he established rooms where contributions of food, clothing and furniture might be received and whence they might be distributed. He also opened a shop where repairs are made to east-off shoes and elothing by those who would otherwise be out of employment and earning nothing. The shop pro- fits pay the expenses of the charity; so that money contribu- tions go wholly to the poor. Mr. Clark also maintains an Employment Burcau.

The Williamsburgh Benevolent Society meets every Sat- urday at the school-house of the Williamsburgh Turn Verein, 61 Meserole street, for the purpose of helping the worthy poor. After investigation, money, groceries, shoes, meat, ete., are given to the deserving poor, averaging about 40 cases per week. A large Christmas celebration in gifts is made annually for 700 children. The Society was organized in 1874 by eight gentlemen of Brooklyn, who had previously maintained several orphans by the proceeds of cigar tips sent to Europe to be manufactured into snuff. The number of members las inereased to 132, with the following OFFICERS ; F. V. Voigt, Pres .; M. Lindhorn, Vice-Pres .; J. Amthor, Rec. Scc .; F. Huene, Cor. See .; M. Grossarth, Treas.

The Emerald Association was organized in January, 1$39. in the Second Ward Hotel, on the corner of York and Pearl streets. The first OFFICERS were : J. Colgan, Prcs .; J. How- ard, Scey .; and W. Hughes, Treas. The chief object of this association is to aid in the support of the Roman Catholic Orphan Asylum; the total amount thus far raised and pre- sented by this society to that worthy charity is $40,000. The present OFFICERS are: J. C. Kelly, Pres .; B . Leary and J. S. Donovan, Vice-Presidents; T. F. Skelley and W. H. Kiernan, Secretarics ; and J. Hanley, Trcas. The annual ball given by this association is the recognized event of the season among socially-inclined Roman Catholics.

The German Roman Catholic " Orphan Home " (of Holy Trinity), Graham avenue, near Montrose, was started, in 1861. by Rev. M. May, for the maintenance and education of or- phans connected with the German Church of the Holy Trinity. Father May was the first President, and still holds the office. The other OFFICERS were : John Bertger, Vice-Pres .; Jacob Timer, See ; John Raber, Cashier; John Maerr, Asst. Sec. The same Board continned until 1883, when F. J. Berlealath be- came Vice-Pres., and Louis Gfiaeren, Asst. Scc. The number of members of the Society is twenty-five. The orphans were first cared for in a dwelling-house procured for the purpose ; afterwards the present brick structure, 50 by 50, was erected. at a cost of $15,000. About 50 children are supported in the Home, and 150 in all have been maintained since the institu- tion was opened. The county of Kings now pays for the support of 310 orphan wards, who are distributed in the dif- ferent honses maintained by the Sisters of St. Dominic- one in Amityville, Sutf. Co., one in the 18th Ward,and one in Astoria. L. I. - there being no room in the main Home.

THE

ECCLESIASTICAL ORGANIZATIONS

OF THE

CITY OF BROOKLYN.

THE (DUTCH) REFORMED CHURCH.

T HE FIRST CHURCH OF BROOKLYN, as has been stated in the Ecclesiastical History of the County of Kings (page 337), terminated its collegiate relations with the other congregations of the Dutch Town, in the year 1802; and Rev. John Barent Johnson, of Albany, was called to its pastorate, but died in March, 1803, at the age of thirty-four. He was one of the most eloquent and popular preachers of the Dutch Church at that time. Of

FIRST REFORMED CHURCH OF BROOKLYN.

courteous manners, an amiable and generous spirit, he mingled freely with all classes of people, and was an admira- ble pastor. " He left an excellent name behind him, and his gifts and graces were gratefully remembered "

March 4th, 1807, the consistory determined to erect a new stone edifice, and the corner-stone was laid about the 15th of May, by the Rev. Peter Lowe. The building was completed (at a cost of $13,745.53) and dedicated December 23d, 1807;

it stood on the south side of the lane now known as Jorale- mon street, somewhat back from the site of the present church, and was a very substantial and heavy looking building.

The next Pastor was Rev. Selah Strong Woodhull, D. D. During his charge, the trustees of this church secured its incorporation December 18th, 1814, with the following | officiary : Elders, Fernandus Suydam, Walter Berry, Jere- miah Johnson, John Lefferts. Deacons, Jeremiah Brower, Lambert Schenck, Abraham De Bevoise, Abraham Remsen. Mr. Woodhull in 1825, became a professor in the Theological Seminary at New Brunswick, and also in Rutger's College, but died Feb. 27, 1826.

His successors were: Revs. Ebenezer Mason, 1826; Peter P. Rouse, Oct. 13, 1828; Maurice W. Dwight, 1833. The congregation had then so increased that the consistory resolved to erect the present building. It was built by Lafever & Gallard, architects, under the following building committee: Jeremiah Johnson, Leffeit Lefferts, Samuel Smith, John S. Bergen, John Skillman, Garret Bergen, Theodorus Polhemus and John Schenck. The corner-stone was laid on the 22d of May, 1834, by the senior elder, Abraham A. Remsen, and the edifice was finished and consecrated on the 7th of May, 1835. When so far completed that the congre- gation could worship in it, the old one was taken down. The pew owners in the old church were allowed the cost of their pews in sittings in the new building.

It is an elegant and spacious building, with an imposing colonnade of eight columns on both front and rear.

In May, 1843, Gen. Jeremiah Johnson resigned the secretaryship of the church, which office he had held for the space of fifty years. May 1st, 1855, Mr. Dwight resigned the pastership of the church, although he remained in the congregation, preaching a part of the time for them, until his death.

The subsequent Pastors were: Revs. Acmon P. Van Giesen, installed Nov. 4, 1855; Alphonso A. Willetts, D. D., June, 1860; Joseph Kimball, D. D., installed Nov. 21, 1865, died December, 1874; Henry R. Dickson, October, 1875, died

994

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

March, 1877: David N. Vanderveer, September, 1878, to the present time.

A few years ago this church established a mission in Wyckoff street, near Third avenue. Lots were purchased, and a chapel was erected at an expense of about $18,000. The mission and the school have, from the first, been pros- perous.

It is noteworthy that this church has still in use a por- tion of a communion service, which was presented by Maria Baddia, in 1684. The original Dutch records of the church, made by Dominie Selyns in 1660, are still preserved.

The Ref. Prot. Dutch Church of Bushwick, was organ- ized in 1654; part of the communion service bears the date 1708, and there is also a receipt for a church bell, dated 1711. The first edifice was of octagonal form, with a very steep roof terminating in an open belfry, the whole resembling a hay-stack (see page 337). The congregation furnished then- selves with benches and chairs until 1795, when a gallery was erected and the ground floor furnished with pews.

The people of Bushwick constituted a part of the col- legiate church, and were ministered to by the Pastors of the five Dutch towns, Revs. Freeman and Antonides being the first, and preaching here alternately every third Sabbath. Rev. Peter Low was installed in 1787 as a collegiate Pastor, with Rev. Martinus Schoonmaker of Flatbush. Rev. Dr. John Bassett succeeded him in 1811. The present church edifice was erected in 1829; remodeled in 1876. In 1878, a new Sabbath-school building was erected, seating 1,200 scholars.

Rev. Stephen H. Meeker was installed Pastor in 1824, and served until 1876. IIe was the son of Benj. Meeker; was born in Elizabethtown, N. J., Oct. 17, 1799, grad. Columbia Coll., 1821; licensed to preach in 1824. IIe was succeeded by Rov. Henry A. Powell, 1876-'83, and Rev. Robert HI. Barr, 1883-'81. The present membership of the church is 464, and the Sabbath-school numbers 1,200.

The Second or Central Reformed Church (Church on the Ileights), commenced in 1836 as a mission in the Lyceum, un- der Rev. John Garretson. March 3d, 1837, by the authority of the Classis of Long Island, a church of eleven members was organized; its first consistory being Jacob Tallman and Walter Bicker, elders, and Cornelius C. Stryker and Joseph Ilegeman, deacons. In November, 1837, Mr. Garretson re- signed.

In February, 1838, a call was extended to Mr. IIenry P. Tap- pan, which was accepted: but his examination not being sus- tained in the unanimous opinion of the ('lassis, a schisin oc- curred, from which originated the Fifth Presbyterian church. In June, 1839, the consistory purchased lots for $9,750, on Henry street, near Clark, on which they proceeded to erect an edifice (now ocenpied by the (Zion) German Evangelical Lutheran congregation), the corner-stone of which was laid September 16th, 1939. The building was completed in May following, at a cost of $14,710, and dedicated June 30, 1840, the sermon being preached by the Rec. Jacob Brodhead, D. D., who, the same month, was called to the pastorate, the duties of which he accepted in April, 1811. He resigned in October, 1846, at which time the congregation numbered one hundred and thirty families and two hundred and thirty communicants, and the church debt had been reduced from $23,000 to about $9,000. On the 19th of January, 1817, the Rer. Mr. (afterwards Dr. ) MMalcolm N. MeLaren was called, Imit resigned in July, 1819, and was followed by the cele- brated Rer. Dr. George W. Bethune.

November 21th, 1850, the corner-stone of a larger and more imposing house of worship was laid, on Pierrepont street, near Monroe place. This edifice wasafterward known as the Church on the Heights, and the church was reorgan-

ized under that name. Dr. Bethune's ministry was a period of great prosperity and activity in this church, there being 200 families in attendance and 445 members in communion, whose contributions during his pastorate amounted to nearly $155,000, in addition to which were three mission-school enterprises (viz., the Bethesda and Myrtle avenue schools, and Summit street chapel and school), besides a flourishing home school and Bible class.

Ministry: Revs. John Garretson, 1836-'37; Jacob Brodhead. 1840-46; Geo. W. Bethune, D. D., 1847-'60; James Eells, D. D., 1860-67; Zachary Eddy, D. D., 1867-72; Jas. Inglis, D. D., 1872-'77; S. S. Mitchell, D. D. 1877-'80; Rev. Alfred J. Hutton, 1881-'84.

The church was renovated and refitted in 1875.

The Bedford Avenue Reformed Church, formerly the Fourth Street Reformed Dutch Church, near South Second, was the first of that denomination erected in the village of Williamsburgh, and the third within the limits of the present city of Brooklyn. The village was then confined mostly to the lower parts of Grand and North Second streets; its only house of worship was a Methodist chapel on North Second: the old Reformed Church in Bushwick accommodated the de- nomination for many years. At length the immediate and prospective necessity for a new church was felt, and meas- ures were taken to creet a chapel on Fourth street, near South Second, the corner-stone of which was laid September 28, 1828, by John A. Meserole (a patriot of the Revolution, and a most generous donor to the enterprise), with appropri- ate exercises by Dr. Brodhead, of New York, and the Revs. Jacob Schoonmaker, of Jamaica. and S. H. Meeker, Pastor of the congregation.

The house was dedicated July 26, 1829; sermon by Dr. Brodhead, from II Cor., vii, 16. Peter Wyckoff, Peter Mese- role, Abraham Meserole, Abraham Boerum and James MI. Halsey were chosen trustees. Immediately upon its organi- zation, the church obtained the services of Rev. James Dem- arest, who served for the first six months as a missionary. and partly at the charge of the Board of Domestic Missions. Ilis congregations were small at first, as the church edifice was remote from the village; Fourth street being then but a farmers' lane, rough, uneven, and studded here and there with stumps and trees of the original forest. Mr. Demarest labored with great fidelity and success for nearly ten years. resigning in May, 1839, and was followed in October by Rev. William Howard Van Dorn.

In the winter of 18-18-'9 the church was enlarged, repaired and modernized, largely at the expense of Messrs. Abraham Meserole, Abraham Boerum, Nicholas Wyckoff, and others. In 18-19, Mr. Van Dorn resigned, and Rev. Job Halsey served as stated supply. November 13, 1849, Rev. Elbert S. Porter was called to the pastorate which he resigned in 1883, after a long and useful service of thirty-four years.

In July, 1865, the old church edifice on Fourth street was sold and a number of lots bought on Bedford avenue, corner of Clymer street, on which was erected a large and elegant edifice of brick, with stone facings. It is in some respects the most complete and perfect in its appointments of any in the city, and was dedicated October 17, 1869.

Dr. ELBERT S. PORTER has been identified with the later growth of the Eastern District as much as any other one man. lle is a native of Hillsboro, Somerset county, N. J., und was at school at Ovid, N. Y .; at a grammar school in Broome street, New York, and at Somerville Academy, N. J .; grad from Princeton Coll., in 1839, and from the New Bruns- wick Theol. Sem. three years later. His first charge wns nt Chatham, Columbia Co., N. Y., where he gathered a congre- gation, organized a church, and a handsome edifice was built.

995

ECCLESIASTICAL ORGANIZATIONS.

In the autumn of 1849, Dr. Porter accepted a call to the First Reformed Church of Williamsburgh, and commenced his long, active and useful pastorate. In addition to his church work, he was editor of the Christian Intelligencer for sixteen years, and always a prolific writer for the press; he wrote voluminous letters from Europe, in 1879, for publica- tion, and on his return delivered an interesting series of lec- tures. A contemporary said of him: "Dr. Porter is emi- nently a prophetic writer, exerting a great influence. All his faculties are under good discipline and control. He knows just where and when to strike to annihilate an adver- sary." He has also written numerous poems and hymns of high literary quality.

"Dr. Porter's intellect is both comprehensive and subtle, logical and poetical; he is broad in his views, and outspoken, yet cautious and politic; doctrinal, yet rhetorical; a conserva- tive progressive, and a progressive conservative. The value of his words is seen in the frequency with which he has been called upon to speak upon public, educational, religious or charitable topics."

He resigned his charge in October, 1883.

The Third or South Reformed Dutch Church (at Gowanus), formerly located on the corner of Forty-third street and Third avenue, had its inception at a meeting held June 27, 1838. The building, situated about a mile south of the village, was completed and dedicated on the 24th of June, 1840. Minis- try : Rev. C. C. Van Arsdale (supply), 1840; Rev. Samuel M. Woodbridge, 1841-'51; Rev. J. M. Rowland, 1852-'3; Rev. John HI. Manning, 1854-'73.

From May, 1842, to January, 1850, services were held by the Pastor, Rev. S. M. Woodbridge, alternately in this church and in the North Church of Gowanus, on Third avenue, be- tween Twentieth and Twenty-first streets, and which had been purchased by the consistory, in May, 1842, from the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn. (See sketch of North Dutch Reformed Church.)

The South Reformed Dutch Church lost a large portion of its members and supporters during the yellow fever of 1856, and it seemed at one time as if its very existence must be abandoned, but the few who were left rallied to its support, and it became again prosperous. Subsequent Pastors : Rev. Henry V. S. Meyers, 1874-'81; Rev. A. D. W. Mason, 1881-'4. The church building was destroyed by fire in 1963, and a new edifice commenced at the corner of Third avenue and Thirty- second street, the chapel of which was used for worship the same year. The church was completed in 1875. It is a brick structure, with a seating capacity of 350, and has a chapel and Sunday-school room in the rear. The Society has a parsonage on Third avenue, between Forty-second and Forty-third streets.

The Fourth Reformed Dutch Church was organized Nov. 11, 1840, at the Wallabout. Rev. Peter S. Williamson was Pastor, from April to October, 1841. The congregation being feeble, and enjoying only occasional supplies, the enterprise was abandoned about the close of 1842, but the church was not regularly dissolved by Classis until October 13, 1844, when the only member (and he an elder) was dismissed by the Classis, on his own request, and joined the Wallabout Church, and the North Dutch Reformed Church became extinct.

The Middle Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, corner of Harrison street and Tompkins place, was org. in 1846, with sixteen members, in a room on the corner of Smith and Butler streets. John V. N. Talmage served as a stated preacher until the first regular Pastor, Rev. Peter D. Oakey, commenced his labors in March, 1847. During that year the congregation erected a church edifice on the corner of Court and Butler streets, a plain brick structure, costing about

$10,000. Subsequent Pastors: Rev. Jas. R. Talmage, 1850-'2; Rev. Nicholas E. Smith, D. D., 1853-69. In 1853, lots were purchased, and the present church edifice commenced, the corner-stone of which was laid July 30, 1855. The structure is of brick, in the Norman style of architecture, with two towers in front, the principal one being 180 feet in height. The building has 70 feet front on Harrison street, and ex- tends 96 feet on Tompkins place, the audience-room having a clear space of 64 feet in width. It has galleries, and its estimated capacity is 1,500 persons. The exterior is trimmed with brown stone, the lecture-room adjoining being fronted with blue marble; cost, about $32,000. Other pastors : Rev. Edward P. Ingersoll, D. D., 1869-'83; Rev. Wm. H. Ford, 1883-'4. The church buildings were renovated and refitted between the years 1872 and 1875, at an expense of about $10,000. The Sunday-school rooms were wholly changed, and they are now as convenient and pleasant as any in the city.

A mission was established in October, 1847, in the vicinity of Clinton and Washington avenues. A division soon oc- curred, and two small buildings were erected, one on Wash- ington avenue, near Fulton, and the other on Clinton ave- nue. Their cost was about $1,300.

Rev. EDWARD P. INGERSOLL. D.D. (Williams Coll., 1877), was born in Lee, Mass., May 6, 1834- a descendant of Rev. Jona- than Edwards. In 1837, his parents removed to Oberlin, Ohio, where he resided until he had partially passed through college, when he returned to Massachusetts and completed his college course at Williams. After graduating at the Law College at Cleveland, he was admitted to the Bar, and practiced three years. Desirous of entering the ministry, he entered Andover Theological Seminary, and, in Dec., 1863, was ordained and installed over the First Congregational Church, Sandusky, Ohio. In 1868 he accepted a call to In- dianapolis. The Middle Reformed Church, of this city, ex- tended a call to him in Dec., 1869. His labors in this field have been crowned with abundant success. Dr. Ingersoll has a very attractive delivery, and, though his pulpit utter- ances are mainly extempore, they show pure thought and earnest Christian spirit. His genial, whole-souled man- ners make him a welcome guest in the homes of his people.

Washington Avenue Protestant Reformed Dutch Church, on the corner of Washington and Gates avenues, was organ- ized about 1848, and a building, 30 by 46 feet in size, and costing some $14,000, was erected. The first Pastor was Rev. A. Elmendorf, who was called in 1848. In 1850, a Mr. Good- man was called, and the corner-stone of a new edifice was laid in 1850; but, in 1851, the church broke up, and the edifice was sold to the Baptists for an amount sufficient to pay all debts and leave a handsome surplus.

The Greenpoint Reformed Church was organized May, 1848, with eight members, by a committee from the North Classis, of Long Island. Its first Consistory compriscd David Swalm and William H. Guest, elders, and Dr. Isaac K. Snell, deacon. It held its first services in a small room, over the grocery store of Elder Swalm. The first church was built in 1850, in Java street, on land given for the pur- pose by Mrs. Magdalena Meserole, the foster-mother of the church. The growth of the church was such that the edifice erected was not large enough to meet the wants of the con- gregation; and, after a few years, a new church edifice, 62 by 95 feet, was built on Kent street, in 1869, and dedicated January 30, 1870. The front is of Philadelphia pressed brick, trimmed with Ohio and Connecticut stone, and is of the Rheno-Romanesque architecture, of the sixteenth century. The westerly tower is 55 feet high, surmounted by a mansard roof, with crestings. The easterly tower is 75 feet high, with

996

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

GREENPOINT REFORMED CHURCH.

belfry, at present surmounted by an octagonal mansard roof. The tower is intended for a spire 175 feet high. The church has a seating capacity of 800 persons, and cost, with land, abont $60,000.

In 1880, a chapel, 45 by 100 fect, seating 1,000 persons, was erected, on land adjoining the church, for Sunday-school and prayer-meeting purposes. It has lecture-room, church parlor, and six class-rooms, with a gallery divided to accont- modate cight bible-classes, and an infant-school department, capable of seating 200 children ; also kitchen, &c. It cost, with furniture, not including the ground on which it stands, $17,000.

The church has had six Pastors : Rev. John W. Ward, 1849 -'54; Rev. Goyn Talmage, D. D., 1855-'62; Rev. George H. Peeke, 1863-'65; Rev. A. P. Van Giesen. D. D., 1866-'67; and Rev. Alexander McKelvey, 1867-'72; Rev. Lewis Francis, 1873-'84.

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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 86

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