History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume I, Part 106

Author: Downs, John Phillips, 1853- ed. [from old catalog]; Hedley, Fenwick, Y., joint ed. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Boston, New York [etc.] American historical society, inc.
Number of Pages: 649

USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume I > Part 106

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Edward Burgess knew that he could benefit himself only as he benefited humanity. He abhored the slug- gard who would not plow by reason of the cold and therefore begged in harvest. His was an active. yet gentle life. Sensitive and tender was the heart of this busy man. and precious to him was human fellowship.

Edward Burgess climbed with unwearied step the ladder from whose height he beheld the dawn of a radiant day -his beloved Atlas respected for its true worth in a field where competition had been so sharp and keen. He gloried in Atlas growth and prosperity, but modestly disclaimed the credit. The loyalty of "the boys" and of his friends, he said, was the secret of Atlas success.

Edward Burgess passed to the Greater Life on Sep- tember 1. 1918, and flags are half-masted in Atlas hearts.

JAMESTOWN BUSINESS COLLEGE.

The Jamestown Business College, the only business college in Chautauqua county, was organized in October, 1886. Mr. E. J. Coburn, the founder, possessed in a marked degree the essential qualities for arousing public interest in a new enterprise. After several months of arduous labor, the services of an experienced educator, W. A. Warriner, Jr., were secured, and in December, 1887, a partnership was effected between E. J. Coburn, W. A. Warriner, Fred P. Hall and Frank E. Sessions, Messrs. Hall and Sessions adding financial strength, and Messrs. Coburn and Warriner remaining in charge of the insti- tution as business manager and principal respectively. In reorganizing the school, H. E. V. Porter, of Dickin- son College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, was induced to take charge of the advanced department of the business course, and Miss K. A. Lambert, a teacher of Arnprior, Canada, was engaged for the preparatory department. A class in shorthand was also organized under the direction of Charles M. Brown, a practical stenographer of the city. Messrs. Coburn and Sessions soon retired, and in July, 1888, J. E. McLean, an alumnus of Eastman National Business College, was engaged to organize and perfect a school of phonography. Later J. P. Byrne, an expert in pen art, was engaged as an instructor in penmanship. For about a year all departments of the school work progressed smoothly.

In the meantime the financing of the institution had become a serious problem, which together with the un- certainty of business management prompted Messrs. Por- ter and Byrne to resign. This crisis in the history of the school was met by leading business men of the city, who realized the importance of a reliable and permanent institution, where business principles and business methods could and would be taught in an able and efficient man- ner to meet the growing demand for office help. With this purpose in view, they took over the private enter- prise in August, 1889, and incorporated it as a college, under the corporate name of the Jamestown Business College Association, Limited. The original incorporators were Robert N. Marvin, Edgar P. Putnam, W. H. Proud-

fit, William A. Hallock, Elliot C. Hall, John J. Aldrich, Eleazer Green, W. A. Warriner and Fred P. Hall, all of whom were elected directors for the first year.

Regardless of the limited income from tuition for sev- eral years, these men continued to employ the best in- structors obtainable, in order to maintain the high stand- ards of business efficiency they had attempted to establish. Thus the reputation of the college for thorough work became known and the patronage of the school increased. W. A. Warriner was the first president of the corpora- tion, and F. P. Hall the first secretary-treasurer. In March, 1890, Mr. Warriner resigned, and was suc- ceeded in office by J. J. Crandall, a former school com- missioner and member of the New York State bar. F. IV. Crossfield, a high school principal, was employed as assistant. H. E. V. Porter was recalled to his former position as director in the school of business, and O. J. Penrose was engaged as penman. Mr. Crandall re- mained with the school but one year, and, Mr. Penrose having resigned, J. P. Byrne returned to his former post of duty.

In May, 1892, the school removed from East Third street to the New Gokey building on West Third street, where with new equipment and enlarged facilities re- newed effort was made to build up the school. The annual meeting of that year resulted in a new board of directors, which was followed by the unanimous election of H. E. V. Porter as president of the corporation and principal of the school. At the same time J. E. Mc- Lean was elected secretary-treasurer of the corporation and associate principal. The faculty was further strengthened by the employment of Mahlon H. Penrose, an experienced educator in schools East and West; Miss Minnie Peterson, a former student of the school, and Arthur J. Porter, of Pennington Collegiate Institute and the Zanerian Art College. The new management faced a heavy burden of accumulated obligations sufficient to have thrown the enterprise into immediate insolvency except for the personal guarantee of Elliot C. Hall and the business standing of his associates.

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CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE

In 1894 President Porter was reelected chief execu- tive of the company and of the school, which relation he has continued to hold by annual reelection down to the present time. During his administration he has been ably supported by instructors of force and character, some of whom have been identified with the institution for long periods of years-Effie E. Chase, for fifteen years in the business department, is now in high school work in the city of Des Moines; John T. Yates, seven years in the school of shorthand, now with the Fisher Schools of Boston; O. O. Gates, recognized as an accountant of rare ability, after five years of service resumed his profession as supervising accountant in the city. Captain Richard Humphrey Vipan, still identified with the institution, has directed the shorthand depart- ment for fifteen years.

In March, 1910, a disastrous fire swept through the heart of the city, destroying the building in which the school was located, with its entire contents. While the firemen were still battling the conflagration, new supplies and new equipment were ordered by wire, and in three days the school was running regularly in temporary quar- ters secured in the Young Men's Christian Association. The board of directors immediately authorized the con- struction of a new fireproof building on land in the center of the city, previously purchased as an ideal loca- tion for a business college building.

Ground was broken by the contractors in the latter part of May, and the building was occupied in part the following November, although not formally opened to the public till the 28th of the following April, 1911. On that date the building was dedicated with impressive cere- monies, embodying the general statement: "This build- ing, erected for the definite purpose of effectually aiding young men and young women to qualify themselves for usefulness in commercial pursuits, is hereby dedicated in all the educational departments and agencies of influence to honor, integrity and efficiency." The public press of the city referred to this statement as a "classic declara- tion of the inspiring principles and motives clearly indi- cative of the high purpose and policy by which the insti-

tution is conducted." The entire building is devoted to the requirements of the college. It is a handsome three- story structure, having on the ground floor an auditorium and gymnasium, with seating capacity for six hundred. The increased attendance at the college in recent years has congested some of the departments, on account of which an annex to accommodate a class of fifty or sixty students was built on during the fall of 1920. The prin- cipal athletic sport of the school centers in basketball, participated in by both boys and girls under competent leadership.

During the World War, 128 students and former stu- dents were enlisted for active service, six of whom made the supreme sacrifice for their country. A bronze memo- rial tablet, on which is inscribed the name of each, occu- pies a conspicuous position in the main lobby. Lifesize portraits in natural colors of Corporal William H. An- gove, who fell in battle on the Hindenburg line, Sep- tember 29, 1917, and Lieutenant Rudolph E. Peterson, who was killed in action November 4, 1917, are also a perpetual reminder of the sacrifices made to defend the rights of humanity.

The officers of the company at present are H. E. V. Porter, president and principal ; R. H. Vipan, vice-presi- dent ; A. J. Porter, secretary-treasurer. The faculty is composed of H. E. V. Porter, principal; Richard Vipan, C. G. Davis, Miss Mame Hamilton, Miss Sara McMahon, Miss Anna Greenleaf, Miss Lucy Huggler, and office clerk, Miss Ethel A. Eddy.

President Porter has been identified with many inter- ests in the city of Jamestown. As president of the Dahl- strom Metallic Door Company, one of the large local manufacturing industries, he is brought in contact with extensive commercial affairs. He is a director in the Board of Commerce, and for eight years has served the city as alderman, being three times elected as president of the board. For nine years he has been president of the local Young Men's Christian Association, and he is now serving his eighth annual term as secretary of the National Association of Accredited Commercial Schools.

THE PUBLIC UTILITIES OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.

The progressiveness and development of any community or region is largely attributed to well organized trans- portation, electric light and power, gas, telephone, and other utilities. Chautauqua county has shared largely from these advantages, which place its agricultural dis- tricts, manufacturing centers and summer resorts in a prominent and commanding position throughout the coun- try.

RAILROADS-A number of the largest carriers in the United States traverse the county's area, and for many years points in Chautauqua county have been amongst the important stopping places en route. It is interesting to note that the longest railroad in the world in 1851 and the first great trunk line in America was the Erie, and further that it was the first railroad to join the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean, and the first to enter Chautauqua county. After the completion of its line to Dunkirk from New York City, on May 16, 1851, the first train arrived at Dunkirk, then the terminus, with a num- her of distinguished guests on board, among them being Daniel Webster, Stephen A. Douglas, William H. Sew- ard, and Millard Fillmore, and notable speeches were made by them in compliment to this great railroad achievement. Since that time more great trunk lines and their branches have sought Chautauqua county as a field of enterprise.

The main line of the New York Central Lines west from Buffalo runs through the county, starting at Irving and leaving at State Line, and among its most impor- tant stops are Silver Creek, Dunkirk, Brocton, Westfield and Ripley. The New York Central also owns the Dun- kirk, Allegheny Valley & Pittburgh railroad, which starts at Dunkirk and stops at important towns along its line, as follows: Fredonia, Laona, Lillydale, Cassadaga, Sinclairville, Gerry, Falconer, Frewsburg, Fentonville and from there on to Titusville, Pa. The main line of the Erie railroad over the Meadville Division, recently named the Ohio Division, enters Chautauqua county at Waterboro and stops at Kennedy, Falconer Junction, Jamestown, Lakewood, and passes out of the county near Niobe, and from there west to Corry, Pa., and other points. The first train to arrive in Jamestown on this line was on August 23, 1860. The Erie also owns the old Buffalo & Southwestern railroad, which runs from Jamestown to Buffalo, and stops at Falconer Junction, Kennedy (Randolph, Cattaraugus county), Conewango Valley, and leaves the county at Cherry Creek, going from there to Buffalo. The Pennsylvania System owns the old Western New York & Pennsylvania railroad, which is now the Allegheny Division. It enters Chau- tauqua county at Irving and passes through Silver Creek, Dunkirk, Brocton, Mayville, Sherman, North Clymer,

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433

THE PUBLIC UTILITIES OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY

and leaves the county at Clymer, where it continues on to Pittsburgh. The New York, Chicago & St. Louis rail- road, perhaps better known as the Nickle Plate, runs parallel with the New York Central Line and touches all points from Irving to State Line.

ELECTRIC CARS-The coming of electric cars was pre- ceded by the old horse cars which started to run June 20, 1884, in Jamestown, this being the advent of first street railway transportation in Chautauqua county. On June II, 1890, the first electrically driven street cars in the county were put in operation by the Jamestown Street Railway Company in Jamestown. Following this, lines were extended to Falconer, Lakewood and Celoron by this company.

With rapid stride on came the interurban trolley lines as follows: The Chautauqua Traction Line on the west side of Chautauqua Lake from Jamestown through Lake- wood, Ashville, Chautauqua, Mayville, and to Westfield ; the Warren and Jamestown street railway from War- ren, Pa., to Jamestown, coming through Fentonville and Frewsburg ; the Dunkirk and Fredonia car line and the Buffalo and Lake Erie Traction line running from Buf- falo to Erie, which runs through the towns of Irving, Silver Creek, Sheridan, Dunkirk, Fredonia, Brocton, Portland, Westfield, Ripley and State Line. The James- town, Chautauqua and Lake Erie steam railroad was later changed to electric and operated under the new name of the Jamestown, Westfield and Northwestern railroad, which starts at Jamestown and passes through the towns of Fluvanna, Greenhurst, Bemus Point, Maple Springs, Dewittville, Point Chautauqua, Mayville and terminates at Westfield.

MARINE-While Chautauqua county is bounded on the north by Lake Erie and has within its bounds Lake Chautauqua, it has not to any considerable degree en- gaged in maritime commerce. Some shipping was done in and out of Dunkirk and Barcelona in early days, but most of the commerce was discontinued with the coming of the railroads. Dunkirk has a fine harbor and break- water constructed by the government in recent years, which offers a refuge for boats during stormy weather and there still is a little shipping done in and out of this harbor. In early days a large portion of the merchan- dise used in Jamestown and vicinity was brought in by boat to Barcelona on Lake Erie, then transported by oxen and horse to Mayville; thence by water on Lake Chau- tauqua from Mayville to Jamestown. A great deal of logging and other cargoes were shipped over the lake in early days to Jamestown ; many cargoes were made up at Jamestown and rafted down the Chadakoin creek to the Conewango and from there by the Allegheny and Ohio rivers to various southern points.

The boats that ply Lake Chautauqua have in the past carried much freight, but since the coming of trolley transportation and good roads this has lessened the freight traffic. However, the passenger service is in- creasing from year to year, due to the large expansion of excursion and summer population trade along Chau- tauqua Lake. The Chautauqua Lake Navigation Com- pany run several large steamers up and down the Lake stopping at Celoron, Lakewood, Bemus Point, Maple Spring, Midway Park, Chautauqua, Point Chautauqua and Mayville. A ferry boat which operates across the lake from Bemus Point to Stow, in the course of a year carries many vehicles and passengers.

ELECTRICITY-The electric lighting and power industry for Chautauqua county began in 1881, when Mr. Thomas Henry Smith, of Jamestown, purchased and installed in his mill, known as the Jamestown Cotton Mills, the first dynamo for electric lighting. This dynamo was received October 4, 1881, and was known as the Brush Arc Light- ing Machine No. 7, and was capable of lighting about

thirty-two old-style open arc lamps. On January 26, 1885, Mr. Smith received a permit from the village coun- cil of Jamestown to set poles, and on January 30, 1885, the first load of poles was received and one pole was set on that day. About this time the arc lights which were purchased to light the streets were all hung up on one floor of the Cotton Mills and were on exhibition to the public, and on February 27, 1885, Main street and Brook- lyn square. together with several stores, were illuminated

by electricity for the first time. Shortly after this a representative of the Thompson Houston Electric Com- pany installed a demonstrating plant in the basement of Allen's Opera House on First street, and connected this to the steam boiler, which was already installed in the Opera House basement, and demonstrated this plant for sixty days. Frederick Fuller's store and other places were lighted up during this demonstration.

In 1887 the Jamestown Electric Lighting and Power Company was formed, and the power house was built on Race alley, just west of Brooklyn square. From that time on it has been a matter of invention, improvement, installment, development and organization of the large electrical interests in Chautauqua county, which have risen high in efficiency in the great electrical world. Much of the power consumed in the county is developed by steam and water in private or public owned plants, and other power comes from outside, especially from the great Niagara source.

The Niagara and Erie Power Company transmission line extends from its starting point into Chautauqua county at Irving and parallels the New York Central and Nickle Plate railroads, running through the north- ern end of the county to the New York and Pennsyl- vania State Line. This power comes from Niagara Falls, and renders its service to various consumers along the line from Buffalo to Erie, and in Chautauqua county to the towns of Irving, Silver Creek, Sheridan, Pomfret, Stockton, Brocton, Fredonia, Dunkirk, and to Mr. Alfred Huntington of the town of Ripley, who operates the lighting and power business there. Dunkirk has a mu- nicipal plant developing part of its own power, and buy- ing the balance from the Niagara and Erie Power Com- pany, likewise the Chautauqua Traction Company buys part of its power from the Niagara Company. The Chautauqua Traction Company sells electricity to the village of Mayville for light and pumping water. The power house of the Jamestown Street Railway Com- pany generates electric power by the use of boilers and steam turbines, and sells electricity for power and light to the following corporations: Jamestown Street Rail- way Company; Chautauqua Traction Company ; James- town, Westfield and Northwestern Railway Company, and the Jamestown Lighting and Power Company, which in turn furnishes electricity to Jamestown, the village of Falconer, Celoron, and towns of Ellicott, and Busti. The Jamestown Street Railway Company also sells power to the Western New York Electric Company, who sup- plies electricity to the villages of Lakewood and Bemus Point, and the towns of Busti, Harmony, Chautauqua, and Ellery.

The city of Jamestown generates its own electricity, and the village of Sherman also generates its own power. The Carroll Electric Light and Power Company supplies electricity to the village of Frewsburg, and towns of Car- roll and Kiantone. This electricity is supplied from the Warren and Jamestown Street Railway Company lines. whose power house is located below Warren, Pa. The electric light plant at Sinclairville is owned by William Huntington, and operated by water power and gasoline engines. The Clymer Power Corporation is owned and operated by Mr. G. H. Tempest, the electricity being generated by water power. The Panama Power Com-

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CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE

pany is owned and operated by Mr. Walter Tanner, who supplies electricity for the village of Panama; this cur- rent is generated also by water power. The towns of Ellington, Conewango and Cherry Creek are supplied with electricity from the Iroquois Utilities Company power lines, whose generating plants are located at Ran- dolph and Gowanda in Cattaraugus county.

TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH-The telephone situation of Chautauqua county dates back to 1880, when the first license was granted to Robert Marvin to install a tele- phone exchange in Jamestown. About the same time a license was also granted to W. D. Wann to install the Dunkirk Exchange. The Bell Telephone System was the leading interest in the inception of the first tele- phone lines in the county, and it was not until about twenty years later that the independent companies started their activities. George W. Appleby, a successful lumber dealer, established the first independent telephone system in the town of Harmony in the spring of 1902. To-day there are a large number of prosperous independent tele- phone companies within the county, and they have built up a large and efficient service under such individual management. These companies do a substantial town and large rural business and have an interchange service be- tween all companies.

The Bell Telephone Company still operates in the northeast portion of Chautauqua county, in Dunkirk, Silver Creek, Forestville and Cherry Creek, but the inde- pendent lines have established themselves elsewhere. Among the independent lines are the Dunkirk and Fre- donia Telephone Company of Fredonia, Portland Tele- phone Company of Brocton, Westfield Telephone Com- pany of Westfield, Ripley Telephone Company of Ripley, Sherman Telephone Company of Sherman, Mayville Telephone Company of Mayville, Chautauqua Telephone Exchange at Chautauqua, Stockton Telephone Company of Stockton, South Stockton Telephone Company of South Stockton, Central Chautauqua Telephone Com- pany of Sinclairville, Sinclairville Independent Telephone Company of Sinclairville, Jamestown Telephone Con- pany of Jamestown, which covers Jamestown, Falconer, Kennedy, Ellington, Frewsburg, Lakewood and (Ran- dolph, Cattaraugus county), Ashville and Panama Tele- phone Company of Ashville; Findley Lake Telephone Company of Findley Lake, and the Cylmer Telephone Company of Clymer.

On account of the nature of its service the telegraph business is necessarily confined to the management of two large concerns, rather than divided in small com- panies as in the case of the telephone. The two great companies which cover Chautauqua county are the West- ern Union Telegraph Company and the Postal Telegraph Cable Company. They are both essentially domestic tele- graph and foreign cable service companies.

The Western Union is the pioneer line of this coun- try, having been merged by the consolidation of a few smaller companies in Civil War days. They extended their lines into Chautauqua county more than sixty years ago. This company has service stations in Jamestown, Chautauqua, Westfield, Brocton, Dunkirk, Fredonia and Silver Creek; besides these, every railroad station in the county has Western Union Telegraph connections. There are telegraph agents in other towns where there are no railroad or other service stations.

The Postal Telegraph Cable Company first entered Chautauqua county about thirty years ago, locating its local offices in Jamestown and Dunkirk, where they re- main to the present. It will be of interest to the readers to know that this company has a direct cable line west from New York City to San Francisco; thence to the Hawaiian Islands, the Philippine Islands, Japan and China, running right through the heart of Jamestown on East and West Second streets.

MISCELLANEOUS-Chautauqua county has been very fortunate in having natural gas fields of its own and being next door to the great gas producing area of north- western Pennsylvania. In the northern part of the county bordering on Lake Erie there is an underlying pool of gas that produces a substantial volume for use in the nearby towns. In the southern part of the county it might be mentioned that some oil has been found, but not in the great quantities such as the gas volume of the north. The following gas companies are located in Chau- tauqua county : South Shore Natural Gas and Fuel Company gets its gas from Erie and Chautauqua county, and supplies Dunkirk, Forestville, Mayville, Silver Creek, Westfield and Chautauqua. The Frost Gas Company gets its gas from northern Chautauqua county and supplies Fredonia, Dunkirk, Hanover, Pomfret, Sheridan, Lilly- dale and Stockton. The Silver Creek Gas and Improve- ment Company gets its gas near Silver Creek, and sup- plies part of the town and confines. The Pennsylvania Gas Company gets its gas in northern Pennsylvania and supplies Jamestown, the village of Falconer, and the town of Ellicott. There are a number of small users of gas who generate it by different inventive means, gaso- line, etc., and some also develop electric power. These consumers are principally located in the countryside and small settlements outside the reach of modern conven- iences.

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History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume I, Part 106

Author: Downs, John Phillips, 1853- ed. [from old catalog]; Hedley, Fenwick, Y., joint ed. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1921 Publisher: Boston, New York [etc.] American historical society, inc. Number of Pages: 649

Author: Downs, John Phillips, 1853- ed. [from old catalog]; Hedley, Fenwick, Y., joint ed. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Boston, New York [etc.] American historical society, inc.
Number of Pages: 649