History of Cayuga County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 39

Author: Storke, Elliot G., 1811-1879. cn
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 762

USA > New York > Cayuga County > History of Cayuga County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 39

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Rev. Charles R. Hale succeeded Mr. Stod- dard in the rectorship in October, 1870, and of- ficiated in that capacity till October, 1873. Rev. E. B. Tuttle commenced his labors with them the following November, and continued them till October, 1876. Rev. W. H. Lord, the present pastor, entered upon his labors as rector in Au- gust, 1877, having previously supplied the pulpit five months. The church is in a prosperous con- dition. The congregation has doubled within a year ; and the membership, which now comprises eighty-five communicants, has largely increased under Mr. Lord's pastorate. The average at- tendance at the Sabbath School is about 100 with 140 scholars enrolled.

CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN SOCIETY .- This so- ciety was organized in 1861. It was an offshoot of the Second Presbyterian Society of Auburn, then under the pastorate of Rev. Henry Fowler. Mr. Fowler was an earnest and forcible advocate of the freedom of the slaves, and in his pulpit ministrations gave frequent and full expression to his convictions. It was a time of intense ex- citement, when armed rebellion confronted the nation and when party lines were tightly drawn, producing wide division in churches as well as in secular organizations. With the anti-slavery views of the pastor the great majority of the con- gregation participated, resulting in the secession of the colony that formed the Central Presbyte- rian Society.

The first organization comprised the following officers : Elders, Lewis Seymour, Peter Burgess, and Josiah P. Bailey ; and the first Trustees were : D. M. Osborne, E. G. Storke, H. W. Dwight, Rufus Sargent, Charles P. Wood, D. T. Fowler and David P. Wallis.

The first meetings of the society were held in the rooms of the Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation, then on Genesee street, where they wor- shiped until their chapel was erected on West Genesee street, costing about $5,000. The pur- pose had been to carry up the walls of the chapel as means to do so could be secured ; but in 1869 the plan was changed, the property sold, a lot procured on William street, and the present church edifice erected. . The corner stone was laid August 12th, 1869, and the church was dedi- cated October 24th, 1870. The cost of the building and grounds was about $40,000, and of the organ $5,000.

Rev. Henry Fowler retained the pastoral care of this church about ten years, when his failing health compelled him to resign, which he did October 31st, 1871. Rev. Henry F. Hickok, of Orange, N. J., was the next pastor, installed Oc- tober 12th, 1872. He occupied the pulpit with great acceptance until June 30th, 1875, when he resigned and resumed the pastorate of his society in Orange. Rev. Samuel W. Duffield was chosen acting pastor November 1st, 1876, and continued until May, 1878, when Rev. C. C. Hemenway, a licentiate of the Auburn Theological Semi- nary, was called to the pulpit, and is the pres- ent pastor.

The present membership of the church is 331;

211

CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS.

in Sabbath School 230, with an average attend- ance of 150.

The present officers of this society are the fol- lowing :

Pastor-Rev. C. C. Hemenway.

Elders-Peter Burgess, J. T. M. Davie, T. S. Gage, Zenas Howland, Charles M. Howlet and Samuel S. Smith.

Deacons -George Anderson, Wm. S. Shourds.

Trustees-Willis J. Beecher, Chas. C. Dwight, Charles M. Howlet, Theodore M. Pomeroy, Wm. H. Seward, George H. TenEyck, Wm. F. Wait and Frank D. Wright.

ST. MARY'S CHURCH, (Roman Catholic,) was organized in September, 1868, by Thomas A. Ma- her, the first pastor, who was sent here by the Bishop of Rochester, in July, 1868, and held meetings a few weeks in his house, and subse- quently in Tallman's Hall, on the corner of State and Dill streets. A temporary wooden building was erected in 1869, and in this rough, unsightly structure they held their meetings till the erec- tion of the present house was begun in 1870, on the same site, when they occupied the Academy of Music till the basement was finished, after which their meetings were held there. Father Maher was succeeded in September, 1869, by Rev. M. J. Laughlin, whose pastorate continued till September 2d, 1877, when W. Mulheron, the present pastor, commenced his labors with them. Father Laughlin's ministry gave a great impulse to the growth of the church, which, within ten years, has increased from the mere handful who separated from the Church of the Holy Family to constitute this, to a present membership of about 3,500.

Their church edifice was begun in 1870, in September of which year, the corner stone was laid by the Bishop of the Diocese, and was con- secrated May Ist, 1877, by Rt. Rev. Bishop Mc- Quaid, assisted by numerous church dignitaries. It is situated on the corner of Clark and Green streets, and is a fine specimen of French Gothic architecture. The interior is admirable. The windows of the south transept bear the follow- ing names, "Gift of C. D. S .; " " In Memoriam, Jos. A. Keeler;" gifts of Joseph P. Carrigan, John Hoey, Daniel O. Carr, Jr., Eliza and Bridget Scully, M. D. Kavanaugh ; those in the south aisle include these names, James Bryan, James Driscoll, Patrick Reagen, W. H. Reilly

and John Delaney. In the vestibule are the fol- lowing names : Thomas Murphy, W. Chapman, Hugh Smith, Margaret and Mary Quinn, Michael P. Holmes and Mary T. O'Hara. The center window of the organ loft bears the names of the Rosary and Scapular Societies. The side win- dows were given by the Societies of St. Joseph and Children of Mary. In the north aisle arc recorded the names of Mary O'Neil, Patrick Kel- ly, Daniel Tehan, and Mrs. A. M. Doyle. The windows of the north transept bear the names of Matthew and Catharine Byrne, Michael Hughes, Daniel Kelly, Mrs. Mary Sullivan, Harry Reagan, Frank Byrne and Jno. Keely. The confessional at the north-east corner of the transept is a room by itself and completes the list with the gifts of Wm. Jos. O'Neil and Eliza Ferris.

Connected with the church is a Parochial and Sunday School, the former of which was estab- lished in September, 1873, is under the super- vision of the resident pastor, and is taught by the Sisters of St. Joseph, who were established here the same year by the Mother School in Roches- ter. It is the province of these Sisters to teach as it is that of the Sisters of Mary, connected with the Holy Family Church to attend to the sick in hospitals, &c., though they also visit the sick and are a charitable institution of the church. The convent comprises ten inmates, nine of whom are teachers. The number of scholars attending the Parochial School is 500, but the average at- tendance is somewhat less.

The church property consists of the church and parsonage, which, together are valued at $125,000 ; the Convent of the Sisters of St. Joseph, which is adjacent to the church on Clark street, valued at $7,000 ; and the school house, on Clark street, near Washington, valued at $5,000.

ST. MARK'S A. M. E. CHURCH was organized with sixteen members, July 6th, 1870, by Rev. J. G. Mowbray, who was the first pastor. The first trustees were John Pernell, Nelson Davis, Jno. H. Waire, Isaac White and J. H. Sanford. Mr. Mowbray's pastorate lasted only one year. He was succeeded by E. B. Davis, who also re- mained but a year. The next pastor was N. W. Bowman, who served them two years, and was succeeded in 1874 by Rev. Mr. Frisbee, who re- mained only two months. A. S. Amos suc-

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CITY OF AUBURN.

ceeded Mr. Frisbee and continued his labors with them till May, 1878, when William B. F. Marshall, the present pastor, took charge of their spiritual interests. The present membership is twenty, and the attendance at Sabbath School about the same number.

Their services were first held for nearly a year in Markham Hall, afterwards in the City Hall. In 1872 they were held over 80 Genesee street, and in 1874 the society removed to a room over Richardson's livery, near the corner of Genesee and South streets. Since the fall of 1877 their meetings have been held in the court-house. In 1870, the church bought a lot on Mechanic St., near the Big Dam, on which, in 1874, they built the stone foundation for a church edifice, but they have not been able to gather sufficient funds to further their object beyond that point.

CALVARY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH .- This, the fourth and youngest of the Presbyterian churches in Auburn, received from the elevated ground on which it stands the name of Calvary. The lot was the gift of the late James S. Seymour. It forms the western apex of a triangle between Franklin and Capitol streets. The neat and pretty church building which looks down Frank- lin street, consists of the identical materials which composed the First Presbyterian Church before it was taken down to make room for the splendid Gothic structure which succeeded it. These ma- terials Mr. Seymour transported to the lot he had donated and put them up at his own expense on a somewhat reduced scale. A religious society was formed and the lot and building made over to the elected trustees by the generous donor. The building received in his honor the name of Sey- mour Chapel. On the 20th of November, 1870, a church was organized with a membership of twenty-five persons, by Rev. Dr. Charles Haw- ley, who preached the sermon, and religious ser- vices were regularly held. The church has en- joyed the pastoral services of Revs. H. S. Hun- tington, M. Woolsey Striker, and J. B. Stewart, the latter of whom is the present pastor. The present membership of the church is about one hundred. Mr. Seymour, by his will, endowed the chapel bearing his name with the sum of $12,000. The name was changed as above at the organization of the church.

ST. LUCAS' CHURCH, (German Evangelical Lu- theran,) on Seminary avenue, was organized

March 16th, 1873, by Rev. Charles Shopflin, of Syracuse. The first members were Frederick Hartmann, Charles Strohmenger, H. Traub, Jno. Smith, William Rabtto, Peter Lambert, Peter Jeckel and Jno. Miller. Their first pastor was Charles Shopflin, who served them one year, and was succeeded by Adam Burkhard, whose pas- toral labors covered a period of one and one-half years. Their next pastor was Zur Nedden, who served them a like period. George Teld, their present pastor, came from Buffalo, and com- menced his labors with this church February Ist, 1878. Their meetings were held first for a year and a half in the rooms of the Y. M. C. A., and for a like period in St. George's Hall. They now worship in the seminary building. Their church edifice is in process of erection, and will cost, when completed, about $6,000. The stones used in the basement of this church composed the west wing of the old Auburn Theological Seminary building, which was bought by Mr. H. Traub in 1877, and generously donated to this society. The superstructure is of brick. The dimensions of the building are 80 by 38 feet, and will have a seating capacity for 450 persons. The church comprises about thirty families. The average attendance at Sabbath School is fifty.

CHAPTER XXIX.

HISTORY OF AUBURN, (CONTINUED. )

FIRST LIBRARY-SCHOOL LIBRARIES-SEYMOUR LIBRARY-ORGANIZATION AND HISTORY OF THE WATER WORKS COMPANY-THE AUBURN GAS LIGHT COMPANY-THE AUBURN STEAM HEATING COMPANY-FIRE PROTECTION AS IT WAS AND IS-DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE AUBURN BAR-PRESENT LAWYERS-VIL- LAGE AND CITY ORGANIZATIONS AND OFFI- CERS.

T "HE diary of Gov. DeWitt Clinton, who vis - ited Auburn in his travels in 1810, shows, in connection with his description of the settle- ment at that time, that Auburn then had an in- corporated library of 220 volumes.

SCHOOL LIBRARIES. - Notwithstanding the

BUNDY THE JEWELER

BUNDY JEWELAT

WATCHES CLOCKS & SILVER WARE

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W. L. BUNDY.

HYDE

WONDERFUL CLOCK_

JEWELRY STORE OF W. L. BUNDY. No. 90 GENESEE ST. AUBURN, N.Y.

213

SEYMOUR LIBRARY.

excellent nucleus for a public library thus early established, Auburn has not enjoyed for a long series of years any better accommodations in this respect than those afforded by the dis- trict school libraries, though the excellent library connected with Auburn Theological Seminary, and the less extensive academy library, together with the many extensive and valuable private li- braries, may have compensated for and measur- ably supplied this want.

Legislative provision for the establishment of district school libraries was made in 1838, and notwithstanding their necessarily limited and imperfect character and the many abuses to which they have been subject, they have been very serviceable to many whose means did not enable them to cultivate their literary tastes in a more desirable way. In accordance with the amended school law of 1866, the district libraries in this city were consolidated and placed in a room in the High School building, which was open for the withdrawal of books one hour every Friday afternoon during school term. The libra- ry then contained upwards of 2,000 volumes, many of which were valuable works, in addition to the 300 volumes which originally belonged to the Auburn Academy and comprising many books valuable for reference. It was largely patronized by school children, and to some extent by adults; and if the annual appropriations made by the State for additions to it had been scrupulously applied to that object, its usefulness and popu- larity would have been largely enhanced ; but they were usually misapplied or not applied at all, and although this application to other and foreign purposes was not an unmixed evil, the interest in the library as a consequence materially dimin- ished.

SEYMOUR LIBRARY ASSOCIATION. - The mu- nificent benefactions of the late James S. Sey- mour, which have provided for so many of Au- burn's necessities, were considerately extended to this. Among his many public bequests was one of $18,000 with residuary, and the store No. 80 on the south side of Genesee street, with the lot in the rear, valued at $8,000, " for the purpose of founding a public library in the city of Au- burn." The residuary has thus far increased the monetary part of the bequest to $25,500, and an additional $1,500 will probably be realized. This bequest was made without any other restriction

than the naming of a portion of the first trustees, as follows : Hon. Charles C. Dwight, J. B. Con- dit, D. D., C. H. Merriman, and the pastors of the First, Second and Central Presbyterian churches, and of the Baptist, St Peter's and South street Methodist churches. An organization was perfected and incorporated under the above name May 20th, 1876, and the above indicated in- dividuals, except Dr. Condit, who had died, and the pastor of the Central l'resbyterian church, which then had no pastor, together with six other citizens of Auburn appointed by the Association, were constituted the Board of Trustees, who met in August, 1876, and elected Hon. Charles C. Dwight, President, Charles Hawley, D. D., Vice- President, Benj. B. Snow, Secretary, and James Seymour Jr., Treasurer, cach of whom still holds his respective office. They soon after secured the services of Wm. L. Poole of Chicago, the leading American librarian, to aid them in the selection of books. Since then rooms have been rented over the Auburn Savings Bank, and books obtained by gift and purchase to the number of 62,066 volumes, 1,617 of which are the gift of the citizens of Auburn. It was found to be a work of considerable magnitude to select and catalogue the books, the latter of which was done under the supervision of the librarian, Miss M. A. Bullard. The Association have realized in addition to the bequest, $1,400 from life members, and about $500 for membership dues. The library was opened to the public October Ist, 1878, and starts off with the number of well se- lected books above mentioned all paid for, a store bringing in an income of $800 per annum, and $20,000 of invested funds, thus having a fixed in- come which exceeds its present running expen- ses. At present $2 per year is charged for en- joying the privileges of the library, but it is hoped that sufficient additions will be made to its funds to make it a free library, as Mr. Seymour designed it should be.

The Library committee is composed of Hon. C. C. Dwight, D. M. Osborne, W. G. Wisc, Rev. C. Hawley, D. D., and Rev. John Brain- ard, D. D.

The store bequeathed by Mr. Seymour towards the establishment of this library, is the one purchased by him in 1830, for the establishment, with capital furnished by him, of a suitable " book- store, which should meet the demands of that

214

CITY OF AUBURN.

branch of trade in Auburn, and at the same time to be a healthy moral and even religious center," and occupied, at his instigation, during the six- teen years of his residence in Auburn, by Mr. Hen- ry Ivison, whose name now stands at the head of one of the largest and most honorable publishing houses in this country-Ivison, Blakeman, Tay- lor & Co, New York.

THE AUBURN WATER-WORKS COMPANY Was incorporated April 19th 1859, Wm. Beach, Benj. F. Hall, Theodore Dimon, Geo. W. Peck, Franklin L. Sheldon, Albert H. Goss, Wm. H. Goss, Jno. S. Clark and Paul D. Cornell were the corporators and first directors. The capital stock was $100,000, with the privilege by char- ter of increasing it to $300,000. It was subse- quently increased to $150,000. Their organiza- tion was not perfected until December, 1863, when Edward H. Avery was elected President, and Albert H. Goss, Secretary and Treasurer. A new set of directors was elected, consisting, in addition to Messrs. Avery and Goss, of Elmore P. Ross, S. Willard, M. D., Theodore M. Pome- roy, Cyrus C. Dennis, Josiah Barber, Harmon Woodruff and Geo. W. Peck. Construction was delayed till 1864, by reason of the difficulty ex- perienced in obtaining a suitable location with sufficient elevation for reservoirs. At this time attention was directed to the Holly system of water-works, which resulted in the abandonment of the idea of using reservoirs. With this obsta- cle overcome, active operations were begun in April, 1864, and prosecuted with such vigor that by December of that year water was distributed through 22,930 feet of mains, traversing the city through its principal streets.

The source of supply is the Owasco Lake, twelve miles long and nearly one mile wide, and the Outlet one mile down to the pump works and dam, which are on a level with the lake, and about a mile distant from the center of the city. The area of water-shed is reported by the State Engineer to be about 100,000 acres, including the lake, which has an area of 7,400 acres. The southern boundary or limit of the. water-shed is about twenty miles to the south of the head of the lake, near Fall Creek, which discharges into Cayuga Lake, near Ithaca. Several minor tribu- taries find their way through lateral valleys into the Inlet and the lake, while springs flowing from the hillsides and hidden in the bosom of the lake are a valuable and fruitful source of supply.

Skaneateles Lake, on the east and Cayuga Lake on the west, are at an average of eight to ten miles from the Owasco, the former 150 feet above, and the latter 250 feet below its level. A ridge of high land and hills running nearly north and south, at an elevation of some four or five hundred feet, bound the Owasco valley almost the whole length of the lake, broken on the east- erly side in only two or three instances, to allow the passage of small tributary streams. The highest elevation of land varies in distance be- tween these lakes from one to four miles. The hills are underlaid with rock of a slaty nature, that decomposes into a loose shale upon exposure to the elements. Owasco Lake is above the level of the lime rock formation, which underlies . the greater portion of this part of the County,. and which shows itself upon the surface in many places in the vicinity of Auburn. There is very little low or marsh land through which the water passes in reaching the lake, and were it not for the small area of low land or swamp at the head of the lake, say not more than one hundred acres, none would be touched by the Owasco water. The hill-slopes and lands generally are, or were, wooded with maple, beech, chestnut, basswood, and hemlock, while the low land at the head of the lake is thickly wooded with ash and soft maple.

The record of the rain fall on the water-shed was accurately kept in Auburn, from 1836 to 1849, both inclusive. The maximum, in 1843, was 50.06 inches, and the minimum, in 1838, 21.74 inches. The average for the time was 35.6 inches. The average outflow of the lake during these fourteen years was 8,541 cubic feet per minute, or 12,300,000 feet per day. It is claimed that the clearing up of the country and drainage of low lands has materially reduced the aggregate annual outflow of the lake.

The analysis of the water flowing from the Owasco, shows it to be of excellent quality, and of purity almost unequalled. It is as follows : Chloride of Potassium 0. 39 grains.

Sulphate of Potassa 0.32

Sulphate of Soda. 0.37

Sulphate of Lime 0.01

Carbonate of Lime

5.43

Carbonate of Magnesia. 1.57

Silica

0.16

Oxide of Iron and Alumina trace.

Organic Matter

1.28 =

Total per gallon 9.53

215

AUBURN GAS LIGHT COMPANY.

The original cost of the works and additions was about $225,000. The cost of their mainte- nance, beyond the compensation of its general officers and office expenses, the payment of a mechanical engineer, superintendent of pipes and hydrants, is a moderate sum, as the power in ac- tual use is obtained from water-wheels, and the pipes and machinery are comparatively new. There are about twenty-six miles of mains laid, and 225 hydrants distributed throughout the city. There are nearly two miles of twelve-inch heavy iron mains, and about half a mile of cement pipe of the same caliber, forming two parallel lines, one on the east and the other on the west side of the river, leading from the pump works directly into the heart of the city, from which branch out laterally, mains often eight, six and four inches. The average daily distribution of water, exclu- sive of that used for extinguishing fires, is about 2,000,000 gallons. The supply is ample for the present wants of the city, and is furnished by pumps driven by three turbine wheels. One wheel drives a gang of six vertical pumps, which are almost sufficient to supply the ordinary wants. The two other wheels drive a capacious rotary pump each. There is in reserve, in addition to the power above mentioned, one of Holly's two hundred horse-power steam engines, which drives one of his No. 14 rotary pumps.

In connection with the above is a fire alarm telegraph line, having nineteen stations, from all of which an alarm can be instantly conveyed to the engineer at the works. The ordinary average daily pressure maintained in the mains is forty pounds to the inch ; but with the reserve power, no difficulty would be experienced in obtaining a pressure of thrice that amount.

Distribution is made generally through cement pipes, having a sheet iron center lined and cover- ed with a strong and hard cement. Cast iron is adopted for future use, and is being substituted where an increase of size is required. The cement pipes for ordinary pressure have given good satisfaction, but under fire pressure, in a few instances where corrosion of the iron through imperfection of the cement coating has existed, they have failed.

The Ludlow & Eddy gates and stop-cock, and Matthews' patent hydrants and mains are used. The water is not filtered, but forced through am- ple gates and screens.

The present officers and directors are : Alonzo G. Beardsley, l'resident; Josiah Barber, Vice- President; Nelson B. Eldred, Secretary, Superin- tendent and Treasurer ; A. G. Beardsley, Josiah Barber, E. H. Avery, Wm. H. Seward, T. M. Pomeroy, Nelson Beardsley, Wm. Allen, and S. L. Bradley, Directors. The engineer at the pump-house is Orrin Carrington ; the foreman of mains and hydrants, William Jago.

AUBURN GAS LIGHT COMPANY. - The manu- facture of illuminating gas was commenced in Auburn by the Auburn Woolen Company to sup- ply their extensive mill, at the big dam, about thirty years ago. Tallow dips, and wax candles had supplied the principal lights of the period, and the proposal to introduce gas met the oppo- sition common to all innovations upon long-estab- lished usages. A few enterprising citizens con- cluded, nevertheless, to organize a company to supply the city with illuminating gas. The original act of incorporation bears date Decem- ber 4th, 1848, and is on file in the office of the County Clerk. The capital stock was fixed at $20,000 and the following were the incorpora- tors : Benjamin F. Hall, Ethan A. Warden, William W. Shepard, George B. Chase, Thomas Y. How, Jr., Roland F. Russell, Albert G. Smith, William H. Van Tuyl and Joseph P. Swift.

The delays usual with new enterprises followed, and it was not until January 14th, 1850, that the affairs of the company were put into working shape. The first recorded business meeting was held at the office of Benjamin F. Hall, at the latter date, when the following Directors were chosen : George B. Chase, Philip R. Freeoff, Henry G. Ellsworth, Paul D. Cornell, Zebrina Mason, Adam Miller, Roland F. Russell, Willam H. Van Tuyl and Benjamin F. Hall. George B. Chase was elected President and Benjamin F. Hall, Secretary. The services of Thomas Hoad'- ly, a competent gas engineer, and of Michael Kavenagh, a practical gas manufacturer, who had built and managed the gas works of the Woolen Company, were secured, the former as superin- tendent, the latter as foreman.

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History of Cayuga County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 39

Author: Storke, Elliot G., 1811-1879. cn Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason Number of Pages: 762

Author: Storke, Elliot G., 1811-1879. cn
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 762