Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890, Part 107

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- [from old catalog] comp; Horton, William H., [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., The Syracuse journal company, printers and binders
Number of Pages: 1384

USA > New York > Jefferson County > Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890 > Part 107

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715

CITY OF WATERTOWN.

Since its organization the original bounds of the city have not been changed, and are given in section 2 of the charter as follows :-

"The territory within the following boundaries shall constitute the city of Watertown : Beginning at a stone monument marked 'City B,' on the left bank of Black River, 75 links from the water's edge, and in the prolongation of the center of the Cold Creek cross-road, and running thence along the center line of said road, south 13 degrees 22 minutes west, by the true meridian ; variation of the needle 814 degrees west, 12 chains and 29 links, to a point on the stone bridge over Cold Creek; thence south 11 degrees 16 minutes, four chains and 29 links to a point at an angle in the above mentioned road ; thence sonth 14 degrees 22 minutes west, 28 chains and 94 links to the intersection of the center line of State street, by the center of the Cold Creek cross-road; thence along the center line of State street, south 68. degrees and 45 minutes east, one chain and 81 links to the point intersected by the center of the Gifford road; thence along the center of Gifford road, south five degrees west, variation of needle seven and a half degrees west, 17 chains and 61 links to an angle in said road; thence south three degrees and 45 minutes east, six chains and 47 links to a point in the center of the Gifford road, where it is intersected by the prolongation of the sontherly line of George W. Lawrence's land; thence south 65 degrees 46 minutes west, 167 chains and 55 links to a stone monument four links north 45 degrees west from a soft maple tree four inches in diameter on the westerly side of Washington street; thence north 56 degrees and 10 minutes west, variation 12 degrees west, 160 chains and 84 links, to a pine tree 30 inches in diameter standing in the swamp on the land owned by Orrin Graves; thence north four degrees and 35 minutes east, variation seven degrees west, 59 chains and 76 links to a stone monument marked 'City B'in the southerly line of the Sackets Harbor road; thence north 30 degrees and 31 minutes east, variation eight and a half degrees west, 71 chains and 77 links to a stone monument marked 'City B' in the southerly line of the Brownville road; thence north 69 degrees and six minutes east, 114 chains and 11 links to a stone monument marked 'City B' in the westerly line of the road to G. C. Bradley's, in Pamelia; thence south 67 degrees and 15 minutes east, 189 chains and 60 links to a stone monument marked ' City B' on the northwesterly side of the R., W. & O. Railroad, near W. Ishams; thence south six degrees and 30 minutes west, 48 chains and 27 links to the place of beginning."

Section 3 of the charter gives the bounds of the four wards as follows :-

"The city shall be divided into four wards, as follows, to wit: All that part of the city lying within the angle formed by the center line of State street and the center line of Mill street, and the prolongation thereof known as North street, shall be the first ward. All that part of the said city lying within the angle formed by the center line of State street and the center line of Washington street shall be the second ward. All that part of the said city lying within the angle formed by the center line of Washington street and the center line of Arsenal street shall be the third ward. All that part of the city lying within the angle formed by the center line of Arsenal street and the center line of Mill street, and the prolongation thercof known as North street, shall be the fourth ward."

Watertown was incorporated as a city under an act passed May 8, 1869. Since its incorporation the following have served as city officers :-

Mayors .- G. W. Flower, 1869-71; Gilderoy Lord, 1872 ; W. F. Porter, 1873-74; Bradley Winslow, 1875; Levi H. Brown, 1876; W. F. Porter, 1877 ; John C. Streeter, 1878; Denis O'Brien, 1879; Byron B. Taggart, 1880-81; Nelson Burdick, 1882-83 ; De Witt C. Middleton, 1884-85 ; Henry M. Allen, 1886 ; William E. Hart, 1887-88; John Nill, 1889 ; Wilbur F. Porter, 1890.

Recorders .- Laban H. Ainsworth, 1869-81 ; Henry Purcell, 1882-85,. Joseph A. McConnell, 1886-90, present incumbent.

City Clerks .- Edward M. Gates, 1869-70; A. D. Seaver, 1871.

Treasurers .- Louis C. Greenleaf, 1869-70 ; J. A. Quencer, 1871.

716

CITY OF WATERTOWN.

Chamberlains .*- George Smith, 1872 ; 'Byron D. Adsit, 1873-75 ; Charles A. Settle, 1876; John L. Phelps, 1877-78 ; William J. Shepard, 1879, '80, '81 '82, '83 ; William D. Hanchette, 1884, '85, '86, '87, '88 ; John C. Lewis, 1889, present incumbent.

Overseers of the Poor .- Clark Weatherby, 1869-71; Solon B. Hart, 1872- 75 ; Daniel McCormick, 1876 ; James H. Wood, 1877, '78, '79, '80,'81,'82 ; Solon B. Hart, 1883-84 ; James H. Wood, 1885-86 ; Patrick Redmond, 1887-90, present incumbent.

Justices of the Peace .- Lysander H. Brown, 1869-72, 1875-76 ; Thomas Baker, 1873-74; H. H. Wilbur, 1877; William H. Hotchkin, 1879, '82 ; Charles M. Paris, 1883-86 ; Laban H. Ainsworth, 1883, '84, '85, '86, '87, '88 ; Charles M. Paris, 1887-90 ; Brayton A. Field, 1889, for four years.

The present officers of the city are as follows :-

Mayor .- Wilbur F. Porter.

Chamberlain .- John C. Lewis.

City Attorney .- Charles L. Adams.

Recorder .- Joseph A. McConnell.

City Surveyor .- Francis S. Hubbard.

Street Commissioner .- Richard B. Adams.

Overseer of the Poor .- Patrick Redmond.

Sealer of Weights and Measures .- Joseph T. Lynch.

Poundmaster .- Walter D. Tyler.

Aldermen .- First Ward, L. M. Babcock, Philip Riley ; Second Ward, James B. Wise, W. H. Mould; Third Ward, H. F. Inglehart, F. D. Roth ; Fourth Ward, D. J. Hewitt, H. L. Stimson.

Police Commissioners .- Wilbur F. Porter, chairman; J. M. Carpenter, James A. Ward, Richard Marcy, E. C. Van Namee, J. C. Lewis, clerk.

Police Department .- Charles G. Champlin, chief ; William McCutchin, assistant chief ; Miles Guest, J. O. Van Wormer, Charles G. Witt, policemen.

Assessors .- George Castle, M. Horton, D. W. Baldwin.

Justices of the Peace .- Charles M. Paris, Brayton A. Field.

Board of Excise .- A. M. Farwell, Frank Goulding, T. C. Chittenden, clerk.

Board of Education .- Henry Purcell, S. F. Bagg, George Adams, L. C. Greenleaf, George S. Hooker, Sidney Cooper, T. C. Chittenden, F. R. Far- well, S. T. Woolworth, John Lansing, A. H. Sawyer, president ; Fred Sey- mour, superintendent and clerk.

Board of Health .- Mayor W. F. Porter, chairman; Dr. E. S. Sill, George H. Mowe, H. M. Ball, J. E. Bergevin, B. A. Field, George Castle, Dr. H. H. Deane, health officer ; C. S. Adams, clerk.

Fire Department .- Charles E. McClare, chief engineer ; J. E. Gray, first assistant ; B. C. Bauter, second assistant.

* Since 1872 the office of Chamberlain has combined the offices of clerk and treasurer.

717

CITY OF WATERTOWN.

Supervisors .- R. Holden, Jr., First Ward ; J. Atwell, Jr., Second Ward ;. R. E. Smiley, Third Ward ; Solon Wilder, Fourth Ward.

Water Commissioners .- J. C. Knowlton, Fred Emerson, E. B. Sterling, Patrick Phillips, F. A. Hinds, A. Salisbury, superintendent ; N. P. Wardwell, clerk.

What has made and maintains the city of Watertown as a place of com - mercial importance is principally the excellent water-power furnished by Black River. This stream has its source almost in the very heart of the Adi- rondack wilderness-a region abounding in forests and containing hundreds of lakes. The actual source of the river is a small lake in Hamilton County, situated in a direct line about 100 miles from Watertown. In its winding course the river must traverse a much greater distance. Within its first 25 miles it receives the out-flow of numerous lakes of various sizes, most prominent of which are the South Branch, North Branch, Chubb, Bisby, and Gull lakes. The latter is 2,018.88 feet above tide water. These lakes, with their out-letting streams, drain a large portion of Herkimer County and the northeastern portions of Oneida County. About 30 miles from its source Black River receives the contents of Moose River, a formidable rival which has its source in Lake Fonda, in the northwestern part of Hamilton County. It flows across Hamilton County and unites with Black River at Port Ley- den, Lewis County. Moose River is about 50 miles in length, and among. a score of others receives the contents of Moose Lake (2,239.21 feet above tide water), Lime Kiln Lake, the Fulton chain, comprising the 4th, 7th, and 8th lakes, so-called, Shallow Lake, etc. A few miles farther on Black River receives Fish Creek, which latter is the outlet of Brantingham Lake. Be- sides other smaller inlets near the last mentioned, its next contribution is re- ceived within a few miles, when Independence River empties into it, the con- tents of a lake of the same name situated near the eastern boundary of Her- kimer County. Ten miles farther on, at Croghan, Lewis County, Black River receives the contents of Beaver River, which has its source in Smith's Lake, in the extreme northern part of Herkimer County. This river is the outlet of almost innumerable smaller lakes, among the more prominent be- ing Albany, Rock, Burnt, and Salmon lakes, and the Red River chain. Deer River enters from the south. There are other considerable branches enter- ing Black River from the south, and it is estimated that this stream, with its numerous tributaries, drains a territory of 2,000 square miles, or 1,280,000. square acres. It will thus be seen that Black River gives abundant assur- ance of never ending water-power. For miles above and below the city the river flows rapidly over a solid bed of Trenton and Birds-Eye limestone ; but coming as it does from a granite region it is almost as soft as the purest rain water. The rocky nature of the bed and banks of the stream in the vicinity of Watertown is the fullest guarantee against all disasters arising from the washing away of banks or the undermining of dams. An almost natural water-power is furnished here, with a full and rapid flow, requiring little out-

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CITY OF WATERTOWN.

lay in any artificial direction. Just above the suspension bridge on Mill street the Black River Falls are to be found, which in times of high water furnish one of the most picturesque scenes imaginable. A beautiful and use- ful stream is Black River, and not one-quarter of its power in Jefferson County has been utilized. The city is situated in the midst of a rich agricultural dis- trict, which fact has also contributed largely to its growth and present pros- perity.

The erection and organization of the towns of Watertown and Pamelia, from which the city was formed, have been recorded in preceding chapters. Our province under this heading will be the compilation of materials pertain- ing to the territory comprised within the present limits of Watertown city. The first to acquire lands and establish homes here, and whose rude habita- tions formed the nucleus of the present beautiful and prosperous city, were Henry Coffeen and Zachariah Butterfield, who arrived in March, 1800, both coming from Schuyler, Oneida County. Coffeen arrived a little in advance of Butterfield, coming via Lowville, with his family and household goods upon an ox-sled. The same year, and soon after Coffeen and Butterfield, came Hart Massey, who purchased 90 acres fronting on Washington street, to which he soon after added 100 acres adjoining and including the site of the present railroad station. Mr. Massey removed his family to his new home in March, 1801. In describing the locations of these and other pioneers, and the early structures erected by them, we quote from an article published in the Watertown Daily Times, April 14, 1887, from the pen of Marcellus Massey, a son of the early settler. It will be seen that their lands cornered upon what is now Public Square :-

" Mr. Coffeen's first cabin was built almost exactly upon the site where the National Bank of Watertown now stands. His land extended westerly from that point along the road leading on the south side of the river to Brownville, -including all between the street subsequently bearing his name, and Black River,-to where later he built a dam and mills; thence to and beyond the present fair grounds, to the farm at the top of Foltz hill, where his son, Henry Hale Coffeen, afterwards lived and died. Mr. Butterfield placed his house on the spot where the building known as Washington hall now stands. The location or extent of his lands are not known. Mr. Massey built upon his land near where the front entrance to Paddock's arcade now is, his land commencing at the corner of Arsenal street, then called Columbia, and ex- tending along Washington as far as the present Presbyterian Church ; thence westward a mile or more beyond the present crossing of the tracks of the Rome Railroad.

" Mr. Coffeen presently sold lots on the front for dwellings and business pur- poses. Among other buyers were Judge Egbert Ten Eyck and Chauncey Calhoun, both of whom built houses well back from the street. Fronting this street, further north, was laid out the first burial-place in the village, where the evidences denoting former use may still be seen on the fenced

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plot in the rear of the Episcopal Church. As opportunity offered, Mr. Mas- sey made sales from his land fronting Washington and Arsenal streets, com- pelling him, not many years later, to vacate the cabin and move into a new and larger house built on his ground further up the street. The first consid- erable section of land sold by him consisted of many acres extending west- ward as far as the present Massey avenue. The purchaser of this was a lawyer of some eminence from the East, named Amos Benedict. The land was for the most part cleared, and the rear portion used by Deacon Jesse Stone, the father in-law of Mr. Benedict, for tillage and pasturage. Mr. Stone subsequently acquired other land, west of Massey street, on both sides of the Sackets Harbor road. The street opened later bearing his name- which was exceedingly appropriate-had for many years previously been used by him as a lane or driveway in passing from his barn to the farm be- yond. His house on Washington street, of wood, occupied nearly the site upon which the brick house of Pearson Munday was built not many years ago. Orin Stone, his son, was a merchant here for many years. His store, of brick, stood one or two doors east of the National Bank of Watertown. with narrow steps leading up to the door as for a dwelling, for which it had perhaps previously been built.

" There are still in existence printed copies of a map, or sketch, drawn by the late Dyer Huntington in 1804, showing the streets in use, the buildings of every kind in the village, by whom and for what purpose occupied. There appears upon it, among others, a frame dwelling built and occupied by Hart Massey, on the plot on Washington street on which stands the present man - sion of Edwin Paddock. The frame dwelling referred to is believed to have been the first of that character built in Watertown. It was not very long af- ter the land was sold to Mr. Benedict before a similar plot adjoining, of about the same dimensions, was sold to Judge Jabez Foster, including that on which Mr. Massey's house had been built. The latter was not included in the sale, and before long it was removed by its owner and rebuilt at a dis- tant and more central location upon his farm.

" The buyers of the plots named each set about building the most spacious and elegant residence by far yet undertaken. in the village, if not in the county. Quite a considerable portion of that built by Mr. Benedict forms, at the pres- ent time, a conspicuous part of the mansion occupied for many years by the late Oscar Paddock, and now by his family. The one built by Judge Foster was occupied by him till after the death of his wife, when it was sold to, and occupied by, Levi Beebee. After his removal it became the property and the residence of the late Loveland Paddock till his death, when it succeeded to his son Edwin. It was torn down by the latter and replaced by the ele- gant residence now occupied by himself and his family. The well dug on the place, and used during the occupancy of Mr. Massey, is still in use.

" No better evidence can be adduced of the abounding faith and confi- dence of those big-headed and sagacious men, in the future and ultimate

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CITY OF WATERTOWN.

growth and importance of the section where they had planted their homes, than the exceedingly liberal release of land fronting the Square, by the own- ers, for the free use of the public forever as a grand plaza, or common park. In all the years of the past, and, if possible, more now than ever, it is re- garded with pride by the citizens, and is the admiration of visitors. The same spirit is alike manifest in the appropriation of land for Washington street, as far as it then extended in the village. All beyond was known only as the road to Adams. The allowance of width in the laying out of Wash- ington street extended only as far as the jog yet seen opposite the Presbyte- rian Church, which also marks the bounds of the original purchase of land by Judge Massey in this direction.

" South of the fine houses of William Benedict and Judge Foster, the next was a frame dwelling, every way neat, with piazza on front and side, built by Orville Hungerford, a prominent merchant and business man, near the pres- ent corner of Clinton street, quite a number of years before that street was opened. It was occupied by Mr. Hungerford till the larger and more elegant stone house, still occupied by his family, was built farther south upon the same street. After the removal thereto the former was occupied for several years by Dr. Henry H. Sherwood and Dr. Alpheus S. Greene respectively, both of whom were in the practice of their profession, and each for one or more terms received the appointment of postmaster at Watertown. The house was afterwards purchased and occupied by Edwin Paddock, by whom it was materially changed and improved.

" First a gateway, and afterwards a lane, used in common by Mr. Hunger- ford and his next neighbor south, were the incipient steps leading to the open- ing of Clinton street. The first building erected on the street for any pur- pose besides barns, sheds, etc., was one of brick, used for a dwelling. The materials used for this purpose were the same made use of in building the first academy, in 1811, removed in 1820 to give place to the church about to be erected on the same ground. The new building was erected under the charge or direction of Mr. Hungerford, intended for a young ladies' school, and when completed was used as such by the Misses Hooker, who afterwards became Mrs. Thompson and Mrs. Wood. It was some years later before other buildings were built upon Clinton street, or it was known by that name.

" The next house was built for, and occupied by, Rev. George S. Board- man, the second Presbyterian minister settled in Watertown. This house is of stone, but clapboarded, giving it the appearance of being of wood. Olney Pearce, a merchant, owning the adjoining lot fronting Washington street, built upon it a fine house, which was subsequently destroyed by fire, and very soon after replaced by him with a larger and more expensive one of stone. The latter, after the death of Mr. Pearce, was purchased and occupied by Gen. W. H. Angell, and later sold to George Paddock, who modernized and

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CITY OF WATERTOWN.

enlarged it, and it has since been looked upon as among the finest and most picturesque residences on the street.

" A few years later Gardner Keyes erected a stone house on Washington street, a short distance below Clinton, the same now occupied by the family of the late Robert Lansing. About the same time the family of the late Adriel Ely built a similar dwelling on an adjoining lot, where he dwelt till the end of his life, and his family for many more years. It is now owned by E. Q. Sewall, Esq., whose wife is a niece of Mrs. Adriel Ely. It has been changed by Mr. Sewall to the Swiss chatelet style, to the extent that those formerly knowing it best would scarcely recognize it as the same.

" Before the Presbyterian Society had completed their house of worship they had also erected, nearly opposite their church, a plain brick dwelling, intended for a parsonage, and so occupied for a time by the Rev. Daniel Banks. His successor, Rev. George S. Boardman, was without family, hence there was no further present use for the parsonage. It was then rented for a number of years to a Mr. Seward, a bookbinder, who with several members of his family were in the employ of Knowlton & Rice. It was later sold to and occupied by the family of Judge Egbert Ten Eyck, whose death there oc- curred in 1844. It then became the property and home of his son-in-law, the late Hon. Joseph Mullin. It was then enlarged to almost or quite double its former proportions. It remains the property of the family, and is occupied by such of them as are yet unmarried.

" There were not, at the early period of which we speak, very many other notable dwellings, and the few others were widely scattered throughout the village. The two erected by the Honorable Micah Sterling, one on the street and the other in the park bearing his name, were both at different times occupied Mr. Sterling. The former is now the residence of the family of the late John Clarke, and the latter is occupied by those who yet remain of the Sterling family.

" The residence of the Whittleseys on Court street was large and preten- tious, but never home-like in appearance. After their removal the family of Esquire Calvin McKnight lived in it till after his death, when it was torn down, and the high ground on which it stood leveled to a grade with the other buildings upon the street. The elder Amasa Trowbridge, distinguished as a physician and surgeon throughout this section of the state, erected on Arsenal street a large, fanciful building for a residence and office combined, in which he lived till his acceptance of a professorship in the medical col- lege at Willoughby, Ohio, whither he removed with his family.

" Last, not least, we shall be excused for mentioning one other residence, and perhaps as well worthy of note as others which have been mentioned. The house referred to is the one built of brick by Hart Massey, in 1812, on his farm, at a considerable distance from the center of the village. For the time it was looked upon as large, and in every way exceedingly fine and expen- sive. On many accounts it was thought well worth a visit from those visit-

46*

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CITY OF WATERTOWN.

ing the town. The glass for it, procured in Albany, was the best English Crown brand, size 12x18, which had rarely if ever before been seen so far away in the country. Moreover, it is believed to have been the first brick dwelling in the town, if not in the county of Jefferson. The arsenal, acad- emy, and several stores had been built previously, but none intended solely for a dwelling. If this be as stated it is certainly no trifling cause for distinc- tion on the part of the builder to have been, as is claimed in this instance, the builder, owner, and occupant of one of the first three log-houses, the first frame and the first brick house at the commencement of an humble settle- ment, since become one of the most beautiful interior cities in the state.

" At this time there were no streets, as such, or even roads leading to this dwelling in the fields, except by following Arsenal to and thence along the Fields Settlement road to a lane leading 30 or 40 rods to the house. It was by many thought singular, at least, that so practical a person as Judge Massey should build so find and expensive a house so far away away from the village, and withal placing the main door of entrance (with its brass knocker) upon the back side of the house. His reply, when spoken to on the subject, was characteristic, and to the effect that in the course of time the house would be found to face in the right direction and the front door appear on the right side. It is still standing, no longer alone and unabashed by any of its present surroundings in the modern and model city of Watertown. It is still, as it has ever been, owned by the family.

" There was not at that time, nor for many years afterwards, anything more like streets than the common roads, designated only by the places to which they led, as to Brownville, to Sackets Harbor, to Adams, and to other well known localities in the county.

" Mr. Coffeen, with most of his interests in land and property at the north end of the village, seemed to have become aware of the fact that the spacious public square at the center was of considerable consequence, as a matter of pride and convenience to those having already or were seeking to locate in that section. He thereupon set about securing a similar advantage to the business and property nearer to the location in which he was more largely in- terested. This was sought to be and was finally accomplished by procuring for that purpose a large space, commencing at the north near the original court-house, extending in the other direction as far as the crossing of the Sackets Harbor road of the same width as it now appears. Inasmuch as the great name of Washington had been appropriated to the former, it was thought that the name of ' Madison ' would be quite suitable for the street and square of the west end. Aside from the evidence given of the liberality of its donors it is not believed to have conferred the material benefits ex- pected, or proved to any perceptible extent attractive to those who were seek- ing locations, either for business purposes or residences. On the contrary, it is not certain that the location of the court-house, and especially the jail, was not at the time, and long afterwards, a detriment rather than an advantage

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Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890, Part 107

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- [from old catalog] comp; Horton, William H., [from old catalog] ed Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., The Syracuse journal company, printers and binders Number of Pages: 1384

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- [from old catalog] comp; Horton, William H., [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., The Syracuse journal company, printers and binders
Number of Pages: 1384