USA > New York > Steuben County > Wayland > Directory of the Village of Wayland, N.Y, 1901 > Part 11
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The polls of said election will be open at 10 o'clock of the forenoon of said day.
F. E. Holliday, Supervisor, George Folts, Town Clerk, Inspectors of Election. Dated ; Wayland, N. Y., May 1, 1877.
The result of this election was the choice of the following officers :
H. S. Rosenkrans, President. N. N. St. John,
G. B. Bennett, Trustees.
Henry Schley,
T. S. Beeman, Collector.
G. W. Morehouse, Treasurer.
At the first meeting of the board Charles C. Tinker was chosen clerk. William Rauber was appointed the first police constable, "without salary." Gid- eon S. Granger was the first street com- missioner, notices being served on H. B. Rice and A. B. Adams, pathmasters, to discontinue their work within the limits of the new village. Several suc- ceeding meetings were occupied in the adoption of village ordinances, and a code of laws was evolved which for comprehensiveness eclipses anything of a former period ; neither the generalities of the Roman Twelve Tables, the min- utes of Moses, or the severity of Draco being comparable to it.
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HISTORY OF WAYLAND, N. Y.
The first license fee, of two dollars, was collected of a circus which exhibi- ted in the village on June 23. For the Fourth of July celebration special police were appointed at two dollars each, and trustee Bennett was commissioned to provide a place of detention for disturb- ers of the peace. The following year a lot was purchased for twenty-five dol- lars, and James E. Showers was awarded the contract for building the jail, his bid being $160.
the average American takes in any mat- ter tinged with politics, we quote from a citizen's diary the following reference to the second village election :
Tuesday, April 19, 1878.
Election at Tinker's, upstairs. Polls open at one o'clock, p. m. Voted the straight "People's" ticket. Great deal of talking and pulling etc., as usual. Presidents a tie. The rest all elected by small majorities on "People's" ticket. Lot fell to Rosenkrans. "Big cheer," etc. H. B. R --. , justice, struck the
RESIDENCE OF MR. CHARLES M. JERVIS, Corner W. Naples and Scott Streets.
The municipality of Wayland was thus started on its career. It was, truly, a day of small beginnings; but not therefore, to be despised. Scant credit is due to those who feel no heart- burn- ings for their homes, be they ever so humble, and patience bestowed on citi- zens who decry their town is a wasted virtue. What may be the future of Wayland is not foretold, but "Our hearts, our hopes, are all with thee."
To illustrate the intense interest which
Hon, J. G. B. -. General racket, then G. S. G- - threw Hon. J. G. in the mud. Fired the cannon. Band came out, and a good many drunk.
Throughout the early period Wayland had a most inspiring drum corps. Its members were Ira Wilbur, now our oldest citizen, William S. Kellogg, de- ceased, James G. Bennett and Mark H. Hess, son of Dr. Henry H. Hess, and the last one bearing the name of that large family to reside in the town with
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HISTORY OF WAYLAND, N. Y.
which they were so prominently identi- ficd. The older men and the youth would beat their drums and blow their fifes with that absorbed interest which in ancient times thrilled the continental farmers at Lexington and Valley Forge to themselves beat everything in sight, particularly if it wore a red coat. They were in great demand, especially during political compaigns.
This drum corps may, perhaps, be considered the germ of the first Cornet
the leaders in the movement. By what subtile influence it was thwarted will always remain a mystery to the student of Wayland affairs. That a Hook and Ladder Company whose business in fires is generally regarded as supple- mentary to that part of the department that seeks to extinguish the flames, should exist so long and be so liberally supported by a community that refused to assist the effort to provide a means for putting out fire, seems passing
RESIDENCE OF MR. CONRAD H. WEINHART. Corner S. Main and Washington Streets.
Band that was organized in the village, strange. and not far out of line with in the year 1876, and was under the leadership of Frank Adams. The Wayland Press mentions its perfor- mance by stating that "the people are justly proud of it" and "we hear naught but praise." Since that time the village has never been for any great length of time without an excellent band.
A strong effort was made in 1882 to start a Babcock Fire Extinguisher Com- pany, Frank G. Patchin being one of
those wise men of Gotham, who, on going away from home, carried the doors of their houses with them, lest thieves should burst them open during their absence. To make this most cx- cellent Hook and Ladder Company really effective, there should be some means of throwing water or chemicals on the flames, and a system of offensive as well as defensive fighting of fire.
During the seasons of 1880-82 the
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HISTORY OF WAYLAND, N. Y.
+
MR. HENRY V. PRATT.
Delaware, Lackawanna & Western rail- road extended its line from Binghamton to Buffalo, the route passing through Wayland. A large force of Italian lab- borers was brought to this neighbor- hood, and Dr. Witheral, the contractor of this section, and his assistants came to town. It was a busy time, full of action. Dr. Witheral was a man of genial nature, and of grcat liberality, and cver ready to head a subscription with a generous sum for any object pro- posed by the citizens. The possibility of finding oil in this locality called from him a promisc of aid in putting down a test well, and for a time the villagers indulged in much feverish speculation on the subject. Wiser councils, how- ever, prevailed, and neither well nor
money was sunk, but many dreams of sudden and fabulous wealth were dissi- pated.
The railroad people at first refused to place a station, other than the one at Perkinsville, in the town, and when H. G. Pierce made a request for a Wayland stopping place backed by a promise on his part to build a warehouse that should secure for them a share in the freights of the town, it was indifferently received. On a day when farmers were busy drawing potatoes to market, Mr. Pierce learned that the "comet," a com- bined locomotive and car used by the officials of the road, was to make a trip over the division, and he suggested to a number of farmers that they wait and see it pass, with the result that when it
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HISTORY OF WAYLAND, N. Y.
went through, the highway for a long to James F. Wood's, now U. H. Stein- distance was filled with teams. The "comet" stopped and came back to the crossing, inquiry was made as to what so many teams meant, the answer being "drawing potatoes to the Erie," and the outcome was an immediate order for the building of the station.
James G. Bennett was the first agent. The amount of business now transacted at this station places it in the front rank of country places on the line of the road.
Following the opening of the D. L. & W. railroad, in 1882 came the con- struction to Angelica and Hornellsville of the railroad now known as the Pitts- burg, Shawmut & Norther.), the pro- spective idea of which is to reach the coal and lumber and oil regions of Pennsylvania from the D. L. & W. trunk line in this state. This road was opened in 1888.
Sunday night, September 2, 1883, fire started in the Hess block and des- troyed that building and those adjacent to the house now occupied by Valentine Hemmer, on Main street, and the house and store owned by George Nold on Naples street. In the Hess building Albert Sauerbier occupied the basement, Kimmel, Morris & Co., and the post office, the stores, and William W. Clark, Dr. E. Biglow and C. C. Bill the offices; Wearkley's bakery ; John J. Munding's shoe shop, and E. S. Arnold's furniture store, on Main street, and George Nold, on Naples street, were the concerns that suffered.
Just six weeks later, October 14, fire again started in the Gothic Hotel- standing on the present site of the Weinhart opera house-and burned to the corner of Main street and westward
hardt's residence, which was saved by a great effort after being repeatedly ablaze. Every citizen of the village was out, cach individual fighting most desperately to stop the fire before it should reach his own home, and it would be difficult to describe the feeling of despair that overcame the crowd when the cornice of the old hotel broke out in flame, and it seemed that the town was wholly doomed. Shifting winds were kind, and the fire spread no farther.
The morning of October 15, revealed on three of the four corners, where had been done the business of a prosperous town, nothing but charred and smoking ruins. It was indeed, a "blue" Monday for Waylanders. People from the sur- rounding country and neighboring towns flocked to the village, and seeing its desolation, wisely shook their heads, saying that the blow was fatal.
October 19, the walls of George Nold's present store, the first brick building in the village were completed. The erection of that building required more of what is termed "nerve" than any other deed of the time, and it meant more to property owners than can be estimated. With most people, the main idea for the first days following the second disaster seemed to be how to get out of Wayland with as little loss as possible, but to get out any way. That building, surmounted with an evergreen bush, defiantly overlooked the surrounding ruins, and proved the anchor to hold, and the corner stone of the new Wayland. On November 6, ground was broken for the stores, Nos. 5 and 7 Main Street,-now occupied by F. K. Smith and C. Gottschall & Son- by Walter Bryant.
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HISTORY OF WAYLAND, N. Y.
Mr. Bryant had been a resident of time in an interim between regular ten- the village about two weeks when the ants. He was a trustce of the village in 1885 and '86. During the later years of his life he was an invalid, and died in 1899, Mrs. Bryant and their three children, Belle, Colonel J., and Mark, since deceased, surviving him. second fire occurred, though he had owned the old hotel property for some time, the house being conducted by his son, Colonel J. Bryant. Mr. Bryant was born in Auburn in 1818, and in youth removed with his parents to Con- neut, Ohio. Here he experienced a life full of the adventures incident to pio- neer existence, and developed the rugged fearlessness of obstacle that afterward
Mr. Bryant's belief that Wayland, if dead, as so many of its citizens constantly proclaimed, could be resurrected, and his faith in boldly venturing his capital were contagious. Martin Kimmel pur-
RESIDENCE OF HON. WILBUR W. CAPRON. Corner W. Naples and Scott Streets.
characterized him. After residing for a time in Westfield, Chautauqua county, he came to Springwater, settling on a farm on Herrick street in that town, and marrying Lydia Ann Hudson, (1839) daughter of one of Springwater's oldest residents. With the exception of four years, 1845-49, during which he conducted a hotel in the "Valley," he continued to reside on this farm until his removal to this village in 1883. Mr. Bryant conducted the hotel for a short
chased the old Gothic hotel site for a building for the hardware, which he was induced to exchange for the site on which his store now stands, and the work of erection was begun at once. This change of location made by Mr. Kimmel, and the building of the Bryant stores resulted in turning the drift of trade into Main street, and made a trans- formation of the business portion of the village, as prior to the fires, the greater portion of the stores had been on
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HISTORY OF WAYLAND, N. Y.
W. FREDERICK KIEL.
Naples street. It was in the belief that Naples street would continue to be the principal business thoroughfare that George Nold re-built on his former site.
The year following, 1884, Mr. Bryant erected the hotel building, and in 1885, Dr. Cameron Patchin replaced the old Hess structure with the present brick building.
Dr. Cameron Patchin, a son of Dr. Warren Patchin, was a man most highly esteemed by our older citizens, and but little known to the younger generation. A natural dignity of bearing lending a sternness of appearance which caused him to be frequently misunderstood by those who did not know the real man. In youth his desire to study medicine was not encouraged by his father, but his steadfast determination in the matter at last gained parental sanction. He carried the same fixed determination to
succeed into his profession and his busi- ness, and it resulted in his attaining at least equal eminence with his father as a practicioner and in consultation, and in making substantial additions to his inheritance. He married Harriet Glines, from Bradford county, Pa., who died in 1895, leaving two sons, Frank G. Patchin, of the Cyphers' Incubator Co., and Bert C. Patchin, who retains the homestead and is proprietor of the Patchinhurst breeding stables. Dr. Patchin died in 1896.
Other brick buildings near the "four corners" were built by Christian Klein and B. F. Pursel in 1886; James E. Young, on Naples street, in 1887 ; David Berman 1894; F. J. Raufenbarth 1896 ; National Bank 1899, and John Kimmel in 1900, and the recovery of the village from the great fires is so much more than complete, that they now
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HISTORY OF WAYLAND, N. Y.
WAYLAND HIGH SCHOOL. S. Wayland Street.
seem as a blessing rather than a disaster.
The roller skating "fad" that swept over the country in the early '80's did not leave Wayland unscathed. A rink was built in 1885, and opened with one of the first three-day contests held in this part of the state, and which excited much more than local interest. With the subsiding of popular interest in the sport, the building passed through sev- eral stages of evolution to be eventually transformed into the village theatre.
-
One month in the winter of 1889 is memorable as being a period of almost total eclipse. An itinerant pedlar came to the Pfaff hotel sick, and it was soon discovered that his malady was small pox. A pest house was immediately improvised on the outskirts of the vil- lage, and the patient and his nurse were isolated, every precaution in the way of
disinfecting and vaccination being taken. No other cases occurred in the village. It proved, however, the opportunity for some of the neighboring towns to make an attempt to secure the farm trade that had been coming to Wayland in increas- ing volume, and they established a most rigorous quarantine against this village. The denizens of the village, in their isolation, had such a surplus of unoccu- pied hours that the merchants even be- came social among themselves, and when the bugbear danger was officially declared to be past, and the doughty guards, who had stood with drawn clubs in the roadways, went home, and the doors to the outside world again swung open on their rust-eaten hinges, they put forth the only united effort they have ever been guilty of, in a most suc- cessful invitation for a return of their
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HISTORY OF WAYLAND, N. Y.
former customers. Twice before in its history, in 1859 and in 1872, Wayland was afflicted with this disease.
The first public lighting of the streets was by a system of oil lamps adopted in 1 890,and, as was then predicted, it proved a temporary, unsatisfactory and expen- sive makeshift. Electricity for street lighting purposes was already throwing coal oil into as oblivious a shade as that surrounding the torches of the middle ages. But the people could not brook delay. Six years later, 1896, the old oil lamps were thrown out and a contract awarded Shaffer, Wolff & Co., for elec- tric lights. At the expiration of this contract their franchise was renewed for a period of thirty years, in doing which our village fathers overlooked the exper- ience of progressive municipalities to the effect that public franchises are valu- able assets of a community, and should not be bestowed gratuitously ; and that overhead wires are a nuisance, a disfig- urement, and a danger, that should not be permitted.
The building of the Portland Cement Factory by Thomas Millen & Sons of Syracuse, in the year 1892, is memora- ble as the emancipation of the village from dependence on agriculture as its sole source of revenue. An industry was established which meant, through- out years of bounteous harvests, and leanness alike, a constant succession of weekly pay-days, to the benefit of the laborer, and those dependent upon his toil, -the merchant, the doctor, the lawyer the church,-in fine, a stable prosperity to the entire community
The Messrs. Millen were originally manufacturers of cement sewer pipe, at South Bend, Ind., and were obliged to import the cement they required in that
business. The great economy possible with the ability to manufacture their own cement led them to devote a num- ber of years of time and a large amount of money in experimenting in this direction, with such flattering suc- cess that they subsequently gave up their sewer pipe business, and devoted their entire energy to the manufacture of cement, being among the first to make a success of the business in the United States. After remaining in South Bend for several years they sold out their plant, and came to Syracuse, where they established a factory at Warners, a suburb of that city, which they also disposed of, after having oper- ated it for several years. Attracted by the surface appearance of the swamp south-west of this village, they made tests and discovered a large deposit of exceptionally good marl, the necessary component of cement. This marl comes from the decay of shell-fish, and indi- cates that in the remote past this part of the state was under water. The de- posit here ranges from mere surface indications to almost eighteen feet in depth. The early settlers of the town had discovered that this "white clay," as they called it, contained lime, and made a fair substitute for whitewash. Securing options on the lands desired, the factory was built and equipped with machinery, on most of which the pro- prietors own the patents. The cement has proven to be of extraordinary qual- ity, sustaining a tensil test of from 300 to 400 pounds to the cubic inch after an exposure of 12 hours in water and 12 hours in the air, the government standard requiring 240 pounds under these conditions. The factory has a daily capacity of 300 barrels, and since
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it was opened has employed a night force more hours than the regular day force has been idle from the several temporary "shut downs" for needed repairs to the machinery, thus being a constant industry. July 4, 1892, the works were damaged by fire, but were immediately re-built.
To the Messrs. Millen belongs one credit that is unusual, and eclipses all ordinary bon hominie. During the eight years that they have conducted
dry goods store and the grocery of Aus- tin H. Salter,-in which the fire origina- ted-the house of Mrs. Davis Gray, the store and dwelling owned by George Folts, and the hotel building owned by Christian Klein and occupied by Will- iam Holmes. This fire, as in the former instance, made way for an improvement in the buildings that have replaced the former frame structures.
The building of the Foundry and Machine shop by Messrs. Lewis and
RESIDENCE OF MR. ERNEST KNAUER, No. 23 Rosenkrans Street.
their factory, they have had no friction with their employees. The firm con- sists of Thomas Millen and his sons, Duane and Homer C. Millen.
On the evening of November 24, 1893, Wayland was visited by a third extensive fire, which destroyed the building owned by Frank Engle, at Main and Fremont streets, and from the opposite corner to the Hatch pro- duce office, including the building owned by A. L. Morley, and occupied by his
Van Tuyl, both from Hornellsville, was a valuable addition to the village indus- tries, and under the efficient manage- ment of John F. Kiel, who succeeded to the proprietorship in 1898, is supply- ing demands that formerly took Way- land trade to other towns.
The Steuben County Firemen's Asso- ciation held their Annual convention in Wayland in 1896. The villagers made unstinted efforts for the entertainment of their guests. Every business build-
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HISTORY OF WAYLAND, N. Y.
HON. WILLIAM W. CLARK.
ing, and almost every dwelling was pro- fusely decorated with flags and bunting. Booths were erected on every available spot to supply the hunger and thirst of the expected multitude, and had there been thousands where there were hundreds, the provision would have been ample. A grand parade of the fire companies from the several towns of the county, abundantly equipped with brass bands, and followed by the inevitable "many prominent citizens in carriages," was the spectacular part of the celebration, and the greatest event of the kind ever seen on our village streets. As has happened in other places, Wayland paid a round sum for the many expressions complimentary to her hospitality.
An industrial acquisition not less im- portant than the cement factory is the Cyphers' Incubator Factory. In 1897, Frank G. Patchin became interested with Charles A. Cyphers, of Philadelphia, in his patents for the artificial incuba- tion of chickens, and through his influ-
ence the plant for their manufacture was built in Wayland, where were situated Mr. Patchin's "ancestral acres," which had descended to him through three generations. The concern employs a large number of helpers in its various departments, a large per cent. of whom are skilled laborers.
The concern does a business, the ex- tent of which is scarcely comprehended by the people of this inland town, for the Cyphers' Incubator is not alone the most popular machine among the poultry professionals of this country, but it has found its way into Europe, and the far away countries of India, China and Australia. Its superior ex- cellence consists in the nicity of mechan- ical adjustment to the scientific princi- pals of incubation.
The members of the firm are Charles A. Cyphers, president, Grant M. Curtis, also a descendant of Walter Patchin, secretary, and Frank G. Patchin, treas- urer.
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HISTORY OF WAYLAND, N. Y.
The Canning Factory is a co-opera- tive concern, and was established in 1899, with a capital stock of $10,400. The last year was the first full season of its operation, and in which it abundant. ly proved the reason of its existence, by distributing upward of $5,000 in wages, and earning over twelve per cent. on the capital stock. It is under the man- agement of a board of directors, with Wesley R. Guile as superintendent.
Mr. Guile was born in East Spring-
of the company for the position of sup erintendent, which he has filled with marked ability. He was village trustee in 1899.
The question of a water supply system has been strongly urged, and during the past few years, repeatedly voted down at annual and special elections. The village at present draws its supply from wells driven through a layer of gravel that is a few feet below the surface, sometimes the wells being
RESIDENCE OF MR. SIEGLE B DUDLEY,
No. 10 S. Wayland Street.
water, and has virtually belonged to Wayland during his entire life. His education was completed at the Gene- seo State Normal School. In 1894 he removed from his farm to the village, and the following spring became a part purchaser of the corner drug store, from which he retired in 1896. He then became interested in the hay and straw trade, and at the organization of the Canning Factory he was selected as the most available and capable member
driven to a second layer of gravel be- neath the first, from whence an abun- dant supply of water is drawn for domestic purposes, and which has never proven to be specially impure or con- taminated. There is no person of intel- ligence, however, but dreads the time when typhoid fever, cholera, or some kindred disease will become epidemic, and who does not feel that with the growth of the village, and the conse- quent increasing need of a thorough
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HISTORY OF WAYLAND, N. Y.
sewerage system, it is sure to come. The citizens recognize the necessity of a good drainage system first, to be follow- ed by a good water system, and the opposition indicated by their votes on the measures submitted has been due to the crude manner in which they have been presented. The time will soon come when a definite proposition in which the source of supply, the quality of the water and the perma- nence of the accumulation will be defi- nitely stated, with a reasonably accurate estimate of the cost, and will receive favorable consideration.
Wayland village is situated on what is termed, in the old geographies, "the heighth of land," an elevation that di- vides the tributary drainage of the St. Lawrence from that of the Chespeake, and it is 1361 feet above the sea level.
A few million years ago it was on comparatively, a much higher elevation, for the rock on which it is built slopes rapidly southward and underlies the co il fields of Pennsylvania at a depth of more than a mile. While to the north, and extending to the Adirondack region, was once a mighty river flowing from the Great Lakes, the mouth of which is yet traceable in the ocean depths, about eighty miles south of New York. The territory about us
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