Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890, Part 124

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 124

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The next fire of importance following that of July 15, 1861, occurring (the writer thinks) sometime in the fall succeeding (the exact date we have not been able to ascertain), took place in the immediate vicinity of the state bridge, and consumed two dwelling houses, one of them familiarly known as the " Rice House," standing directly on the river bank ; also the old store of Hiram McCollom, on the corner of Main and River streets, and the three- story building erected by Reuben Rice, also on River street, in the upper story of which the Masonic lodge was situated, the lower stories being occu- pied by Mr. Rice as a dwelling and grocery store.

In May, 1872, a fire broke out in, and destroyed, a building known as " Beers Hotel," situated on the northwest side of State street, some dis- tance below the Levis House. T. S. Roberts's store, Abel Nutting's shoe shop, L. Guyot's harness shop, Hopkins & Roberts's store, D. D. Whittaker's block, a meat market with dwelling overhead, Hubbard's tin shop, and a blacksmith shop, occupied by R. Commins, were also destroyed. The cause of this fire must, in all probability, ever remain a mystery, although the view is strongly held by some of those suffering loss thereby that it was of incendiary origin.

On Saturday night, December 12, 1874, a fire broke out in the large livery barn of Volney Warren, on Canal street, just in the rear of McCollom's block, which was attended with most distressing consequences. The rear

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end of the second story was occupied by the family as a dwelling. Among those who were sleeping when the alarm was gived was Volney's father, Levi Warren. Whether he was at any time conscious of his danger cannot be certainly known. His charred remains were found in the morning, under conditions that led to the supposition that he was not. Although somewhat advanced in years he was still active and useful. He was a man respected and esteemed in the community, and his sad end caused a general feeling of sympathy throughout the village. Volney Warren was terribly burned at the same time, and had an extremely narrow escape from the fate which over- took his unfortunate father.

We are obliged from lack of space to omit relation of numerous instances which, at the time, were severe misfortunes to occupants and owners, and will now enter upon an account, which must of necessity be brief, of the most stupendous event of the kind that has ever befell any village of its size, and which, by comparison, dwarfs into insignificance all preceding visitations of a like nature in the history of the place. Nothing more than a general ac- count can be here attempted, as the particulars, if all given, would more than fill the entire space allotted for the sketch of the village.

The morning of October 20, 1884, was bright and pleasant, a rather brisk wind blowing from the southwest, which, as the forenoon advanced, in- creased in force. Almost directly across the river from the Union Free School building, perhaps a little to the west and about one-third of a mile away, in West Carthage, a row of manufacturing establishments then stood (and now stand, having been rebuilt), deriving their power from a long flume extending from the state dam. At 11: 10 A. M. an alarm of fire proceeded from one of these buildings, which proved to be the sash and blind factory of P. L. & C. E. Eaton. The building burned rapidly, and the tub factory next north, owned by Harvey Farrer, was soon in flames. Meyer, Ross & Co's furniture factory came next in order, after which the fire was confined in the large pile of hemlock bark owned by Revell tannery. Not dreaming of dan- ger to the village on the east side from this source, the Carthage fire depart- ment had turned out at the first alarm and gone over to the assistance of their western neighbors. It was not long, however, before they were called back in a much greater hurry than when they first set out across the water. The wind had increased in force, and was now blowing strongly. Rains had not been of frequent occurrence ; the ground was thickly strewn with leaves ; and it would seem, everything considered, as if a more favorable condition of things for the spread of a great conflagration could hardly be found, and so it proved. The river is broad at the spot where the fire first occurred in West Carthage, and much broken up as it runs down its rocky channel; but as if directed by some malign power, a storm of fire from the burned and burning buildings swept across the chasm, springing at once into vigorous action, wherever finding lodgment in the fated territory on the eastern side.

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It soon came to pass that to assist one's friend or neighbor might not be- done, none having house or home but was summoned to defend his own.

There has been some controversy as to where the first lodgment of the flames and destruction of buildings took place on the east or Carthage side .. The account given by the reporter of the Watertown Times places it at Guyot and Furnace islands, which were then covered with mills and manu- factories, together with vast quantities of lumber and other inflammable ma- terials. These were all swept away as clean as if they had never had exist- ence, but the fact is, as the writer saw it, the fire did not start at any one place, but at many places, and those both near and wide apart.

The single steamer and fire department of the village were now powerless to stay the hurricane of flames, and word was telegraphed to Watertown for help. A few minutes after I P. M. Chief Cole arrived on a special train with 30 trained men in charge of steamer No. 2, and with 1,000 feet of hose. They had made the run (18 miles) in 25 minutes. Shortly after the incom- ing of the Watertown firemen the Lowville department, with its excellent La France steamer, also arrived. The scene was now one the like of which few of them had ever beheld. The flames were spreading with incredible rapidity. School-houses and homes, churches, work shops, and manufact- ories were all alike being licked up by the devouring element, and broken- hearted families were compelled to look on, and helplessly witness the annihilation of the results of years of patient toil and endeavor. To add to the alarm and distress the wind suddenly veered toward the north, and for awhile it seemed as though no earthly power could save from destruction the brick blocks and other buildings comprising the business portion of the vil- lage on State street. The flames had now broken out on West street, in the upper part of the village. The steamers were wide apart, the water supply had given out, and they were apparently powerless. For the space of about half an hour, which seemed to the horror-stricken populace to be an age, nothing was done toward staying the onward march of the flames. All ef- forts seemed paralyzed. But a great change in the aspect of affairs soon

became apparent. Chief Cole had assumed control, and a brave, cool, ex- perienced man at the head, directing and guiding, was not long in devising a way to deliverance from what only a short time before had seemed certain doom to the entire village. He placed the Carthage steamer at the foot of State street, taking water from the river; the Watertown engine, in the center of State street, received the water from the Carthage steamer, and: soon two powerful streams were engaged in suppressing the flames which- were threatening destruction to the business part of State street. In the meantime the Lowville department was busily and successfully engaged in staying the spread of the flames in the northeasterly part of the village. Under this excellent management affairs soon began to assume a more hope- ful aspect, and at 5 o'clock the fire was under control. The Boonville de- partment arrived at 6:45, with their handsome steamer, and relieved the:

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Watertown firemen, remaining through the night, and rendering extremely valuable and much needed assistance to the tired and nearly exhausted men of the Carthage brigade.

The scene presented as night closed in was desolate beyond description. Hundreds of families, utterly destitute of food or shelter, and with no cloth- ing except that which they had on at the time, having, many of them, lost in an hour the products of long years of labor and economy, were wandering about not knowing where to go or what to do. Many had become separated from their friends and families, and were searching distractedly after them. Household goods were strewn around in the utmost confusion. People who had no other recourse were making up beds in barns and in the stores, on floors, or wherever a place could be obtained for the purpose. The smoke of a hundred blackened ruins filled the air, every now and then breaking out into tongues of flame. The wind howled and moaned with dismal force, and it was a sad and weary night for all concerned.

City Surveyor Hodgkins, of Watertown, surveyed the ruins and gave as a result that they covered just 70 acres. The boundaries were as follows : North by Fulton street ; on the south by State and West streets ; on the east by Clinton street and the cemetery ; and on the west by the east side of Me- chanic and River streets.

There were 157 structures of all descriptions burned, about 100 of which were homes. The aggregate loss has been variously estimated, and perhaps correctly, at from $500,000 to $750,000 ; but it is difficult to estimate with any degree of certainty. Many had no insurance, while a large number of others were only partly insured.

No fatal accidents occurred, although numerous injuries were received of more or less severity, while narrow escapes were frequent. Had the fire oc- curred in the night instead of the day time the results in severe accidents and loss of life must have been terrible. The school buildings were all burned, also the Episcopal, Presbyterian, and Baptist churches, together with the parsonages belonging to each. The Disciples Church also burned, the society owning no parsonage. These buildings, together with the new opera house and vil- lage hall, were valued at $82,000, with an insurance in all of $9,500. The loss on the west side where the fire originated, consisted of Eaton's sash and blind shop, Meyer, Ross & Co's furniture factory, H. D. Farrer & Son's tub factory, I. S. Normander's saw-mill, and 90 cords of hemlock bark belonging to Revell & Buck's tannery-agregate loss $17,000.

The heaviest losses to manufactories on the Carthage side were L. H. Mills, saw-mill, grist-mill, store, and furnace, $25,000, insurance $3,600 ; Ryther & Pringle, foundry, machine shop, patterns, office, etc., $50,000, insurance $17,000 ; J. V. Guyot, grist-mill, saw-mill, and other buildings, $12,000, 110 insurance ; Charles Reuter, mills, lumber, and machinery, $10,000 ; Fred Guyot, large brick shop, with machinery for planing wood work, etc., $8,000,

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no insurance ; C. Gregory, wagon shop, stock, and home, $4,000 ; no insur- ance.

On the following day the president of the village, Henry J. Welch, issued a special proclamation expressive of the condition of things; thanking the fire departments of Watertown, Lowville, and Boonville, for their prompt and efficient aid; the Utica & Black River R. R. Co. for their kindness in giving the use of their road; and calling for policemen to aid in the protec- tion of property in the streets. The proclamation also called for a special meeting of the village trustees to convene at the office of the clerk at 2 P. M., for the purpose of providing speedy aid to the suffering poor, who had neither food, raiment, or shelter.

A citizens' meeting to arrange for the relief of sufferers was held at Mechanic hall on Tuesday evening. A. E. Kilby was made chairman, and E. H. Myers, secretary. A committee, composed of C. P. Ryther, A. E. Kilby, James Galvin, Zelotes Wood, James P. Kinney, M. P. Mason, and C. C. Ingraham, was appointed for the purpose. This committee was re- quested to report weekly. C. P. Ryther was made treasurer of the commit- tee, and A. E. Kilby, secretary.

At the meeting held by the trustees pursuant to the president's call figures were presented to them which showed that 106 houses had been destroyed, the number of buildings of all kinds burned aggregating nearly 200. They decided that $1,000 was needed at once to relieve the sufferers in the village, and $500 was at once pledged.

With one exception (Mr. Kapfer, and his loss was heavy, being a member of the firm of Meyer, Ross & Co.) the members of the board were sharers with the many in the loss of their homes ; but they, nevertheless, lost no time in setting about the reorganization of the school. Rooms were secured in the M. E. Church, and also in one of the blocks in the business part of the village, and within a fortnight the scattered children were gathered to- gether and work was again resumed.

It is not sought here to draw a parallel between the awful visitation which befell the devoted city of Johnstown, outranking in the sum of its horrible details any calamity known in the history of our country, but in a few par- ticulars a similarity may be traced. In each case families were left homeless and utterly destitute. In each case no sooner had the news gone abroad than aid began to pour in from every quarter. The appeal issued in behalf of the homeless and impoverished people of the ruined village met with a swift response, as is, and ever will be, the case whenever the sympathies of our common humanity are rightly evoked. Money, clothing, provisions, in fact almost every conceivable article that could be of use in such a case came and kept on pouring in. The committee appointed by the citizens took charge of these matters, and established a depot in McCollom's block, from which they made distribution to those in need. The amount of money received from all sources, as rendered in the final accounting of the committee, was about

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$28,000. Of goods of all kinds, provisions, etc., a fair estimate would not place the value below $5,000.

The blow was a terrible one, and for a time it seemed as if recovery was impossible of achievement, at least during the life of the present generation. But with the passing away of the first great shock courage began to revive. Sympathy and substantial aid had not been lacking, and life-long habits of persevering industry began to assert their power. The work of reconstruc- tion was commenced.

Whoever may have occasion to visit the village of Carthage to-day will see a busy people, dwelling in pleasant homes, churches restored, and ample school- houses ; neither will the sound of machinery be found wanting. The amount of insurance, as given in the account of the fire soon after, aggregated $166,- 050. The agents of the various companies came on at once and settled their losses promptly, and without any protest so far as is known. The largest single loss fell upon the Hanover, $40,000 ; the second largest upon the Liverpool, London & Globe, $20,000. The whole amount was divided among 15 separate companies.

CARTHAGE, LOWVILLE, AND NEW YORK LINE.

In 1858 George Sweet, Nicholas Wagner, and Christopher Rhiner incor- porated and placed in active operation the Carthage, Lowville, and New York Line. The opening of this line made access to New York and intermediate points during the season direct, cheap, and convenient. The incorporators maintained six boats. Their office and storehouse, with dock attached, was a large building, very eligibly situated on the river, just at the corner of Canal and West streets. For the first year or two the boats were towed up the river, a distance of about 44 miles, by the steamer L. R. Lyon. The Lyon was an immense boat, built after the pattern of the Mississippi steamers. She was propelled by an immense wheel, situated at the stern, and was altogether too large and unwieldy to render practical service upon the Black River-a very crooked stream, and in places quite narrow as the ascent approaches the falls. She burned to the water's edge August 10, 1878. The event was pe- culiarly distressing, inasmuch as it involved the death of George Roberts, only son of Mr. and Mrs. T. S. Roberts, who still are residents of Carthage. George was sleeping in the boat, having been acting as engineer.

Captain Sweet, a practical and experienced river man, in 1860 placed in the service of the line a new steamer, which he named after R. Gallagher, one of the principal citizens of the village. This was in fact the first steam- boat ever placed upon the river that was really adapted to practical use. This boat ran successfully until 1873, when it was disabled by being stove in by the ice at Carthage. Upon the arrival of the railroad at Lyons Falls Cap- tain Sweet was in readiness with another new and handsome craft, built in 1864, which ran between Carthage and that station, carrying passengers and

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freight. The name of this boat was the F. G. Connell. Captain Sweet placed another steamboat on the river in 1868, which he named after another highly respected citizen of Carthage, John L. Norton. The Connell was very popular with the traveling public, and was skillfully and carefully handled, so that in its entire career no accident resulting in injury to passengers oc- curred. In 1869 she was totally destroyed by fire. The completion of the railroad to Carthage put an end to travel upon the river. Captain Sweet put another boat upon the river in 1874, which is still running as a tow-boat during the season.

Captain Sweet also opened and commenced running the first daily line for passengers between Cape Vincent and the Thousand Islands. This boat, the James H. Kelley (afterwards the John Thorne, and now, as improved, the Islander), ran in connection with the R., W. & O. Railroad. Captain Sweet is still engaged in the running of a passenger boat. The Ontario, an ex- tremely fine boat, advertises regular trips between Oswego and Alexandria Bay.

Carthage being the terminal point of the canal and river navigation the scene at the docks and in their vicinity, during the season, was one of con- siderable activity. The river was alive with boats passing up and down, laden with merchandise of every description. The products of the forest furnished load after load for shipment, at numerous points, while the tanneries received cargoes of hides, numbering high in the thousands, which they in due time returned to the market enhanced in value through the labor which they had furnished to half a hundred heads of families. Millers not being forced into competition with the great wholesale dealers, now so easily accessible by means of the railroads, received large consignments of wheat, corn, and other grains, which, in the handling, grinding, and distribution to customers at nu- merous points, gave occupation to others, and added to the general industry. Merchants, mechanics, and dealers could not help but flourish if prudent and attentive to business. The farmers of the surrounding country were not among the least of those realizing the benefits of this opening up of a cheap access to the large markets. Potatoes, which had formerly been of no ac- count aside from the limited supply needed for home use, now found ready sale by the boatload at fair prices. Butter and cheese had formerly to be hauled long distances, on wagons, to Watertown, or some other point. Ship- ment could now be made direct, and at rates which, in the aggregate, amounted to a large saving and profit to makers. Wheelwrights, blacksmiths, and mechanics generally found ready employment at good wages, or, if am- bitiously inclined, entered into business on their own account, with the cer- tain prospect of fair success if industrious and capable .* The lumber busi-

* The centralization of capital, and attendent destruction of many of those industries which provided means of livelihood and competency to thousands, has been made possible by the advent of railroads. Discussion of this or other phases of the labor question would be out of place here, and we will drop the subject content with stating the fact.

Algoodale.

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ness, comparatively insignificant before now, sprang into great activity, and has, if anything, kept increasing in its proportions up to the present time. This also furnished employment to an army of laborers, even as it does now, and will, in all probability, continue to do until the forests are annihilated.

Carthage, having become the shipping point for a goodly portion of the sur- rounding country, naturally became, also, the depot from which a correspond- ing amount of supplies were drawn. Many obstacles have, first and last, stood in the way calculated to retard if not to prevent the growth and pros- perity of the place. These have all in their turn been surmounted, and a steady, solid advancement has been made. With all her present advantages, natural and acquired, it seems impossible that the future career of the village can be otherwise than one of honorable, progressive, and upward movement. Whatever advantages can accrue to the place by means of the canal (and they are not to be overlooked) belong there still. The enormous hydraulic power afforded by the river remains unimpaired. The geographical situation of the village, as considered in connection with the existing railroads, is not only important, but may be said to be unique. To the south it had uninterrupted connection with the metropolis and seaboard ; to the west is a branch con- necting with the great lakes ; north and northwest, the Thousand Islands, Ogdensburg, and the Grand Trunk ; while not by any means of the last impor- tance to this growing town, the Carthage & Adirondack Railroad has afforded access in the east to the inexhaustible mines of the great iron sections and the vast wealth of the forests, while for the tourist there remains recreation at lake or stream, or, as shall suit his hunor, he may find rest and peace in the contemplation of nature in her wildest as well as her most grandly beau- tiful forms. The building and completion of the contemplated railroad from Rome and Carthage (a thing which at present seems almost certain of accomplishment) will place this village in many important respects without a peer among inland towns in any section of Northern New York.

The C., L. & N. Y. Line, after a very successful and prosperous career, finally ceased operations in 1870, being unable to profitably compete with the railroads. There is still, however, a considerable amount of business done in heavy freights, such as lumber, etc., at points along the upper parts of the river, and some coal is brought here by boat ; but the railroad may be said here, as elsewhere, to have things pretty much its own way, for the prin- cipal reason that it is available in winter as well as in summer, and vastly quicker in the transportation of goods.

A candid survey of the probabilities forces the conclusion that, had the Black River Canal been brought to completion at the time first expected and designed, Carthage must then have rapidly become a large and important village, ranking by the present time with the largest in Northern New York. "The prospective advantages at this point were very great, and would, as surely

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as cause will lead to effect, have brought all necessary capital and enterprise to have adequately insured the benefits to be derived therefrom .*

The history of the Black River Canal need not be told here. When it did at last reach to this point it had lost nearly all of that importance which it had at first obtained for this section. The energy, enterprise, and sagacious foresight of leading citizens in Watertown had secured to themselves the in- estimable advantages of a railroad, and that busy, enterprising village marched steadily and swiftly on its upward path until, from being the most thriving village in the state, it is now one of the brightest of cities. We do not undertake to say that Carthage would have attained to the dignity of a city, but we do say that nothing could have prevented the immediate growth of a large and important manufacturing town, and to-day have become at least double its present size. We trust, however, that we have been able to give the reader some idea in the course of this article of the facilities which are at our command at the present time for this immensely important item in business affairs, namely : adequate advantages for the transportation of com- modities, and our eligibility, not only in this, but in some other almost equally important respects.

NATURAL BRIDGE is a post village located in the eastern corner of the town, upon Indian River. It contains two churches, one tannery, a grist-mill, saw- mill, planing-mill, four general stores, two groceries, two blacksmith shops, a hardware store, two cabinet stores, two hotels, an opera house, and a fancy goods store. Improvements commenced here in 1818. In 1819 and 1820. mills were erected. The early settlers were Zebina Chaffee, Arnold Burr, Abel Bingham, Teunis Allen, Stephen Nutting, Charles R. Knight, and others. Bingham opened the first store in 1820, and Knight the first inn in 1821 or '22. After the purchase of a large tract in this vicinity by Joseph Bonaparte (Count Survilliers), he caused a large framed house to be built here, for his summer residence, and on one or two summers he made a short sojourn

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Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890, Part 124

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