USA > New York > Schenectady County > Gazetteer and business directory of Albany & Schenectady Co., N.Y., for 1870-71 > Part 14
USA > New York > Albany County > Gazetteer and business directory of Albany & Schenectady Co., N.Y., for 1870-71 > Part 14
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met at certain points and interchanged letters and papers, and when the business was insufficient to pay, subscriptions were made among the citizens who were interested in their continu- ance. In 1789 a stage commenced running from Platt's Inn, in Lansingburgh, to Lewis's Tavern, Albany, three times a week. The fare for the round trip was four shillings. In 1790 a post left Albany on Monday afternoon and reached Schenec- tady the same day, Johnstown on Tuesday, Canajoharie on Wednesday, Fort Plain on Thursday, Fort Hunter and War- rensbush on Friday, and arrived at Albany on its return on Monday forencon. The post to Vermont left the City Monday evening, arrived at Pittstown on Tuesday, at Bennington on Wednesday, at Little White Creek and Cambridge on Thursday, at Tomhannic and Schaghticoke on Friday, and at Hoosick on Saturday.
In 1790 the Legislature granted Ananias Platt the exclusive right of running a stage between Albany and Lansingburgh. In 1794 Mr. Platt, " grateful for public custom," undertook to run his stage twice a day from Lansingburgh to Albany and back. In the winter of 1795 he had increased the number of daily trips to six. In the summer of 1796 the travel had in- creased to such an extent as to employ twenty stages daily be- tween Waterford, Lansingburgh, Troy and Albany, averaging more than one hundred and fifty passengers daily. In 1791 the Postmaster General was authorized by law to extend the post route from Albany to Bennington, Vt., and the first mail reached that town on the 25th of March, the anniversary of the settlement of that town thirty years before.
In 1792 some one proposed to establish a line of stages from Albany to Whitestown, so great had the intercourse become with the western country. In the spring of 1793 Moses Beal " erected a stage for the accommodation of passengers from Al- hany to Schenectady, Johnstown and Canajoharie, once a week." It left Albany at 6 o'clock Friday morning and arrived at Can- ajoharie the next day. It returned on Tuesday. The fare was three cents a mile. The success of this enterprise was so great that John Hudson, inn-keeper, established a line of stages to run from Albany to Schenectady three times a week ; and John Rodgers, of Ballston, ran a line from that place to connect with it, by which a regular communication was first established for the convenience of those who visited the springs. The fare was four shillings to Schenectady and three cents a mile to passengers who went beyond. About this time a stage line was established connecting Albany with the Connecticut River Val- ley at Northampton. A stage started from each end of the route on Tuesdays and Fridays, in the morning, and met at
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Pittsfield in the evening, accomplishing the entire route in two days. The proprietors of this route, in their appeal to the pub- lic for patronage, remark that the difficulty of extending a line of stages across the mountains had always been considered in- surmountable, but reflecting that such an establishment would complete the line of an expeditious and sure communication from " Portland, in the province of Maine," through a rich and flourishing country, to Whitestown, in the western part of the State of New York, a distance of over four hundred miles, they had determined to make the experiment. The fare was four cents a mile. In 1794 there were five post routes centering in Albany. The first, to New York once a week, stopping at the principal places along the east bank of the river. The second, north, via Lansingburh, Bennington, Manchester, Rutland and Middlebury, to Burlington, Vt. The third, via New Lebanon, Pittsfield and Northampton, to Brookfield, Mass. The fourth, via Kinderhook and Stockbridge, to Springfield, Mass. On each of these routes the mail was carried once a week. The fifth route was via Schenectady, Johnstown, Canajoharie, Ger- man Flats, Whitestown, Old Fort Schuyler, Onondaga, Aurora, Scipio, Geneva and Canandaigua, once in two weeks. The fare to New York was this year reduced from ten to eight dollars.
The mails during this year (1796) were carried between Al- bany and Philadelphia, a distance of 260 miles, in three days ; from Boston to Philadelphia in four days, and from Savannah to Philadelphia in thirteen days. By comparing the foregoing with the time tables of our great railroads, we can form some idea of the mighty progress during the last seventy-five or eighty years.
The introduction of steam has changed the mode of travel on all the great thoroughfares. The first steamboat upon the Hud- son was so great a curiosity, and astonished the inhabitants as much as a vessel for ærial navigation would now.
The following description of Albany in 1789, taken from Morse's American Geography, gives a good idea of the City at that time: "It contains about 600 houses, built mostly by trading people, on the margin of the river. The houses stand chiefly on Pearl, Market and Water Streets and six other streets or lanes which cross them nearly at right angles. They are built in the old Dutch Gothic style, with the gable end to the street, which custom the first settlers brought with them from Holland. The gable end is commonly of brick with the heavy moulded ornament of slanting with notches, like stairs, and an iron horse for a weathercock on the top. There is one little appendage to their houses which the people, blind to the incon- venience of it, still continue, and that is the water gutters or
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spouts which project from every house, rendering it almost dangerous to walk the streets in a rainy day. Their houses are seldom more than one story and a half high and have but little convenience and less elegance ; but they are kept very neat, being rubbed with a mop almost every day and scoured every week. The same neatness however is not observed in the streets, which are very muddy most of the year, except those which are paved ; and these are seldom swept and very rough. The City of Albany contains about 4,000 inhabitants, collected from almost all parts of the northern world. As great a variety of languages is spoken in Albany, as in any town in the United States." Speaking of the people, he says: " Their diversions are walking and sitting in mead houses, and in mixed com- panies they dance. They know nothing of the little plays and amusements common to small social circles. The gentlemen who are lively and gay play at cards, billiards, chess &c., others go to the tavern, mechanically, at 11 o'clock, stay until dinner and return in the evening. It is not uncommon to see forty or fifty at these places of resort at the same time; yet they seldom drink to intoxication, unless in company, or on public occa- sions, when it is thought to be no disgrace. They seldom admit many spectators to their marriages, but the day after, the groom prepares a cold collation, with punch, wine &c., to partake of which he expects all his friends will come at eleven o'clock without invitation. A dictator, with absolute power is then appointed to preside at each table or in each room, and it seldom happens that any are suffered to leave the house, until the whole circle exhibits a shocking specimen of human de- pravity." "The best families live exceedingly well, enjoying all the conveniences and luxuries of life; but the poor have scarcely the necessaries for subsistence."
The Bank of Albany, the first that went into operation in this City, and the second one in the State, was incorporated April 10, 1792, and continued in existence until May 11, 1861. The preliminary arrangements had been made and it was de- cided that the capital should be 875,000, divided into 500 shares of $150 each ; $15 to be paid on subscribing and the remainder in three installments. Jeremiah Van Rensselaer, Jacob Vander- heyden and Barent Bleecker were a committee to open the books for subscriptions, which they did on the 17th of Febru- ary, and the stock was all taken in less than three hours. After the stock was all taken and the books were closed, offers of ten per cent. advance were made on the stock, and the next day it rose to one hundred per cent. cash. The first election of Directors under the charter, was held June 12th, and resulted as follows : Abraham Ten Broeck, Cornelius Glen, Stephen
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Van Rensselaer, John Maley, Abraham Van Vechten, Henry Curler. John Stevenson, James Caldwell, Jacob Vanderheyden. Goldsbrow Banyar, Jeremiah Van Rensselaer, Daniel Hall and Elkanah Watson. Abraham Ten Broeck was the first President. The act of incorporation limited the capital to $260,000, each sbare to be 400 Spanish milled dollars or its equivalent. In January 1794, the capital was increased 854,000. The affairs of the Bank were managed prudently for many years, and its stock was worth from 45 to 50 per cent. above par. In proportion to its capital it had more specie than any other bank.
New York State Bank, the second bank in Albany, went into operation in 1803, with a capital of $460,000. May 10, 1804. , the Bank commenced business in their new banking house, which they have occupied ever since. By the act of incorpora- tion, the Controller, together with John Taylor, Thomas Tillot- son, Abraham G. Lansing, Peter Gansevoort, Jr., Elkanah Wat- son, John R. Bleecker, Francis Bloodgood, John Robison, Gil- bert Stewart, John de Peyster Douw, Richard Lush and Thomas Mather were constituted the first Directors.
The Mechanics' and Farmers' Bank was incorporated in 1811, with a capital limited to $600,000. It has been one of the most successful banking institutions in the State. In 1853, on the second expiration of its charter, it closed up its business and di- vided among the stockholders fifty per cent, besides the par value of the stock. During the Rebellion it organized under the National Banking Law, but in 1868 abandoned that, and is now doing business under the laws of the State.
The Commercial Bank was incorporated in 1825. The first Directors were Willard Walker, Joshua Tuffs, George W. Stan- ton. Lewis Benedict, William Cook, Daniel D. Gregory, Seth Hastings, Ira Jenkins, Joseph Alexander, Robert Gilchrist, Richard Marvin, John Townsend and Asa H. Center.
The Canal Bank was incorporated in 1829, with a capital of $300,000. It failed in 1848.
The Albany City Bank was incorporated in 1834 with a capi- tal of $500,000. Erastus Corning was the first President, and Watts Sherman, Cashier.
The Albany Exchange Bank was incorporated in 1838, to con- tinue 662 years, with a capital of 8311,100, with the privilege of increasing it to 81,000,000. John Q. Wilson was the first Pres- ident.
The Merchants Bank was organized in 1853. John Tweddle was its first President, and John Sill was Cashier. .
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The Union Bank was organized in 1853. B. P. Learned was elected President, and A. P. Palmer, Cashier.
The Presbyterian Church in Albany was formed in 1:63. The ('ity executed a deed in trust for the congregation, to John Ma- comb, Daniel Edgar, Samuel Holladay, Robert Henry, Abraham Lyle and John Munro, for the ground upon which the first church edifice was erected. This lot was bounded by Beaver, William, Hudson and Grand Streets, and was occupied by the church until 1796. During this year a new church was erected at the corner of South Pearl and Beaver Streets, the site now occupied by the Beaver Block. It was 64 by 76 feet and al- together the finest church in the City. Oct. 3, 1798, Rev. Eli- phalet Nott, late President of Union College, was installed pas- tor, and continued until he assumed the Presidency of the Col- lege. In 1849 a new edifice was erected on the corner of Hud- son and Philip Streets, and is still occupied by the society. The old church was occupied for several years by the Congregational Society.
BERN was formed from Rensselaerville, March 17, 1795. Knox was taken off in 1822. It lies near the center of the west border of the County. The Helderbergh Mountains form the eastern border and rise to the hight of 1,200 feet above tide. Grippy and Irish Hill occupy the center. They are broad moun- tains with steep declivities and rolling summits, from 900 to 1.000 feet above tide. The south and west parts are hilly and the north rolling. The principal streams are the Foxen Kil and the Switz Kil, passing through the town from the south-east to the north-west, and forming a junction near the north-west corner. They flow through narrow valleys, bordered by steep hillsides. Thompson's Lake, in the north-east corner, partly in this town, and Werner's Lake, near East Bern, are small bodies of water. Numerous small caves and sink holes are found in the lime rock in the north-east part. In one of the caves, still known as the "Tory's Hole," a notorious royalist spy, named Jacob Salisbury, is said to have been captured about the time of Burgoyne's invasion from the North. This cave is a semi- circular cavity in the cliff, just above the road, a good view of which it commands. It is a single room, about 25 or 30 feet in diameter, open on one side, looking out over a block of fallen stone, down the wooded slope, to a road, and beyond into a deep valley between the mountain spurs. This was a secure re- treat for Salisbury for some time, and it was with difficulty that his hiding place was discovered. A band of daring men pene- trated his secret retreat in the night, and he was forced to sur-
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render. He was immediately disarmed, bound and hurried down the mountain.
'The soil is a sandy and gravelly loam, interspersed with clav. There are three mineral springs on the farm of Jacob Hochstros- ser, valuable for their medicinal qualities.
Bernville, (Bern p. o.) in the north part, contains three churches, viz., Methodist, Reformed and Lutheran ; two hotels. five stores, a grist mill, a woolen factory, a bedstead factory, several other mechanic shops and about 60 dwellings.
Peoria, (West Bern p. o.) in the north-west part, on the line of Knox, contains a Reformed church, two hotels, three stores, a tannery and several other shops.
South Bern (p. v.) contains two churches, viz., Methodist and Christian ; a store, a saw and grist mill, and 15 or 20 dwellings.
Reidsville (p. v.) contains two churches, viz., Methodist and Christian ; a hotel, a store and about a dozen houses.
Eust Bern (p. v.) contains two stores, a hotel, a grist mill, a wagon shop, a blacksmith shop and 25 houses. There is a Ma. sonic Lodge of 109 members. A Masonic Hall was erected in 1869, the lower portion of which is to be used for a Union church.
The settlement of this town was commenced about 1750, by a few German families. In 1777 a company of eighty-five militia were raised in this town, sixty-three of whom joined the British, and the remainder the Americans at Saratoga. Bern- ville, then called Beaver Dam, was fortified during the war, and sentinels were posted at night to prevent surprise by the In- dians. The place at one time was a rendezvous for Tories. The family of Johannes Deitz, consisting of eight persons, were murdered by the Indians. Cornelius Schermerhorn kept a Tory rendezvous, and at one time an absconding paymaster from Burgoyne's army is said to have been murdered at his house.
The Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Beaver Dam was formed in January, 1763; the first settled pastor was Johannes Schuyler, in 1767. A parsonage farm was given to this Church by the Patroon, midway between Bernville and Peoria, and a church was erected upon it. In 1835 the society was divided and a new edifice was erected at each of the villages, the farm being held in common by both societies.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized in 1792, and the first house. of worship was erected the same year. The number of members at its organization was 84; the present
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number is 250. The present house of worship was erected in 1835, during the pastorate of Rev. Adam Crounse. It will seat 600 and cost $8,000. Rev. James Sefler is the present pastor.
The Baptist Church of South Bern was organized in 1810, and a house of worship was erected the same year. Rev. E. Crocker was the first pastor; Rev. David B. Collins is the present pastor. The present house of worship will seat 300 and is valued at $1,500.
The First Methodist Church was organized in 1844, with about 40 members. A house of worship was erected in 1844. Rev. . Townsend was the first pastor; Rev. Milton Tator is the present pastor.
The First M. E. Church of Bernville erected a house of worship in 1846, at an expense of 81,200. Its seating capacity is about 300. Rev. -. Earl is the present pastor.
The Methodist Church of Reidsville was organized in 1841, with twenty members, and a house of worship was erected the same year. Rev. Manly Wither was the first pastor; Rev. G. C. Sim- mons is the present pastor. The house of worship will seat 300 and cost 82,200.
The Christian Church of Reidsville was organized in 1832 with twelve members. The first pastor was Rev. Levi Hathaway. A house of worship was erected in 1832; it will seat 300 and cost $2,000. The present pastor is Rev. D. P. Warner.
The Second Christian Church of Bern was organized in 1834 by Lewis H. Tavlor, with twelve members. A house of worship was erected the same year, seating 400. The first pastor was Rev. Stephen Hitchcock ; the present pastor is Rev. D. Warner. The present membership is 180.
The Second Reformed Church was organized in 1853 with 80 members. The present house of worship was erected the same Year and will seat 300. The present membership is 104.
The population of the town in 1865 was 2,851, and its area 39,952 acres.
The town contains 21 school districts, employing the same number of teachers. The number of children of school age is 943; the number attending school, 774 ; the average attendance, 204, and the amount expended for school purposes for the year ending September 30, 1869, was $5,540.73.
BETHLEHEM was formed from Watervliet, March 12, 1:93. New Scotland was taken off in 1832, and a part of Alba- ny in 18:0. It lies on the bank of the Hudson, east of the cen-
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ter of the County, and includes the islands west of the main channel of the river. Its surface consists of a rolling upland, ending upon the river in steep bluffs from 100 to 150 feet in hight. A few sand ridges and rocky knolls occupy the central part. The principal streams are Coeymans Creek, Vlaman's Kil and Norman's Kil. The declivities of the upland are brok- en by numerous deep gulleys, worn from streams flowing into the Hudson. There are several small caves, sulphur springs and quarries of coarse brown sandstone in the town. The soil con- sists of sand and clay. The proximity of a large portion of this town to Albany has afforded a market for produce, and consid- erable attention is paid to the production of milk, butter and garden vegetables for that market.
Kenwood is a small village near the mouth of Norman's Kil. Adamsville, (Adams Station p. o.,) Normanskill (p. o.,) Bethle- hem Center (p. o.,) Cedar Hill (p. o.,) Upper Hollow, Slingerland's, Becker's Corners and South Bethlehem are hamlets.
Callanan's Corners, in the south-west corner, is a post office.
The first settlement was made upon Castle Island in 1614, and a fort was erected the same year. As this island was liable to overflow, causing great damage, another fort was erected on the Norman's Kil in 1817. The island was leased to Martin Gerritsen, in 1668, and is sometimes called after his name. It is now known as Van Rensselaer's Island. One of the early settlers of this town was Albert Andriessen Bradt de Noorman, in honor of whom Norman's Kil was named. He had eight
children. Tradition says that one of them was born on board the ship while coming over, during a storm, and hence was called " Storm von der Zee." He came over in 1630 and leased the water privileges of the Norman's Kil, and was succeeded in 1672 by his son Albertsen, who paid $150 a year. He was suc- cveded by his brother Slingerland, in 1612, as lessee of the farm which his father had occupied on this stream. He died June tth, 1786. Many of his descendants are still in Albany and vicinity. The Indian name of this stream was Ta-wal-son-tha. Mills were built on this stream at a very early day. A part of the house known as " Whitehall," near the Delaware Road, was built by General Bradstreet, and during the Revolution is said to have been a secret rendezvous for Tories. Cherry Hill, on the River road, just beyond the City limits, was the residence of General Solomon Van Rensselaer.
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A Reformed Protestant Dutch Church was formed in colo- nial times, and in 1794 S. Van Rensselaer gave the society 100 acres of land, known as the " Parsonage Farm."
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The First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem was organized Nov. 3d, 1835, by Rev. Dr. Campbell and Rev. W. R. Davis. It con- sisted of 53 members. The first pastor was Rev. Wm. P. Davis, who was ordained and installed Dec. 1st, 1835. The first house of worship was erected the same year at a cost of $1,800. It was enlarged and refitted in 1869 at a cost of $4,000. It will now seat about 300. The present membership is 106 ; the pres- ent pastor is Rev. J. W. Edie. The society own a good parson- age, and are now in a flourishing condition.
COEYMANS was formed from Watervliet, March 18, 1791. A part of Westerlo was taken off in 1S15. It was named in honor of Barent Coeymans, the patentee. It is the south-east corner town of the County, and includes the ad- jacent islands in the Hudson. Its surface consists of an upland from 200 to 400 feet above the river, broken by ridges and hills rising from 100 to 400 feet higher. The principal streams are the Coeymans and Haanakrois Creeks. In the former, at Coeymans village, are two falls, at which the stream descends in the aggregate 75 feet. Lawson's Lake is a small sheet of water in the north-west part of the town. A stratum of marble or limestone extends through the town three or four miles from the river. In the north-east part are two caves, the largest extending about forty rods into a perpendicular ledge. Feuri-Spruyt Kil, a small stream in the north part, disappears and flows for half a mile in a subterranean passage, and comes to the surface again in New Scotland. At the place where the stream disappears it falls perpendicularly into a deep cavity, forming a considerable water power. Another small stream in the west part flows in a similar manner for forty or fifty rods. There are several mineral springs in town impregnated with sulphate of magnesia. The soil in the east part is sand mixed with clay, and in the west part gravel and clay. The fossil re- mains of an elephant were found on the farm of Mr. Shears, about four miles west of the river. Large quantities of hay are sent annually from this town to the New York market.
Mossy Hill, near the south-west part of the town, received its name from its mossy cover. In 1828 a quarry of blue stone was opened here, and ever since large quantities of this stone have been shipped to various parts of the country.
Coeymans Landing, (Coeymans p. o.,) on the Hudson, in the cast part of the town, at the mouth of Coeymans Creek, con- tains three churches, viz., Methodist, Reformed and Roman Catholic ; a newspaper office, an academy, two hotels, four broom factories, a flouring and plaster mill, several stores, groceries and mechanic shops, and about 700 inhabitants.
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The Coeymans Academy was established in 1858 by Fletcher Blaisdell, Theophilus Civill and Peter Seabridge. The first teachers were Misses C. B. and Emma Brace. It is open to both sexes and is now under the control of Thomas McKte. About half a mile south of the village, at the mouth of Haana. krois Creek, is the paper mill of Robb & Caroll. It was estal- lished in 1832, and turns out about $30,000 worth of straw wrapping paper annually.
Coeymans Hollow (p. o.) is a thickly settled public road in the valley of Haanakrois Crech, and contains a Methodist church, two stores and about 40 houses.
The Valley Mills Paper Manufactory of Andrews & Briggs is located in the west part of this valley. The mills were estab- lished in 1847 by J. E. Andrews, and in 1854 were rebuilt and enlarged by the present proprietors. They are run by water and steam, and contain two 300 pound engines and two 400, and one 36 inch and one 48 inch cylinder machines.
Indian Fields, (p. o.) in the west part, contains a hotel, a store, a foundry, a woolen mill, a saw mill, two wagon shops, two blacksmith shops and about fifteen houses.
Stephensville, in the south-west part, on Haanakrois Creek, contains a church, a grist mill, a wagon and blacksmith shop, and fifteen houses.
Keefer's Corners (p. o.) is a hamlet containing a Methodist church, a blacksmith shop and a store. The place was named in honor of Balthus Keefer, who settled at this place in 1791. There were but two settlements in this part of the town at that time. They had no wagons and their roads were traced by marked trees.
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