USA > New York > Queens County > Long Island City > History of Long Island City, New York. A record of its early settlement and corporate progress. Sketches of the villages that were absorbed in the growth of the present municipality. Its business, finance, manufactures, and form of government, with some notice of the men who built the city > Part 6
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" Geselle ist wer was kann, Meister ist wer was ersann, Lehrling ist Jedermann." TRANSLATION : "Journeymen are all who can, Master, he who invents the plan, Apprentice each and every man."
C. F. Theodore Steinway died March 26, 1889, while at Brunswick, Germany.
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WILLIAM STEINWAY.
William Steinway, President of the world-renowned house of Steinway & Sons, and distinguished alike for public spiritedness, marked ability, and purity of character, was born in Seesen, near the City of Brunswick, Germany, March 5, 1836. Hle came from a family of good reputation, some of whose members had served their country with honorable distinction as soldiers and magistrates. Ilis father, Henry Englehard Steinway (see preceding biography), was a successful artisan and prosperous piano manufacturer of Seesen. William was educated at the excellent and thorough schools of his native town, finishing at the celebrated Jacobsohn High School. At the age of fourteen he was proficient in English and French, as well as in German, and had already begun to display remark- able aptitude for music-a trait which, in practical America, is often looked upon as a token of weakness in a busy man, but with him was an indication of genius. At fourteen he could play the most difficult compositions upon the piano, and his unerring ear enabled him to tune the instrument perfectly, even for concert use. His father, Henry E. Steinway, was a man of active mind and extended reading and awake to opportunities; and he conceived the idea of transferring his business to the New World.
William Steinway, who was fourteen years of age, upon arriving in America was offered by his father the choice of a trade or education as a great musician. He preferred the former and was apprenticed to William Nunns & Co., of 88 Walker Street. On March 5, 1853, he joined his father
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HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND CITY.
and his brothers Charles and Henry in the founding of the house of Steinway & Sons. Father and sons had sufficient capital to manufacture on an extended scale, but they wisely began in a small way, in a rear building on Varick street, rented for the purpose. At that time, many cultivated people thought no piano good which was not imported from Europe. With four or five workmen the Steinways built one square piano a week, father and sons taking part, as artisans, in their production. William made the sounding-boards. Their pianos soon attracted the attention of musicians and the public. The beauty and power and the fine workmanship shown in the instruments were recognized at once. The Steinway pianos conquered their way by their own indisputable merits, and the demand for them rapidly increased. More extensive quarters soon became necessary, and were engaged, in 1854, at No. 88 Walker street. Mr. Nunns had failed, and the Steinways rented the quarters he had occupied. It may be said here that William Steinway lost $300 back wages by Mr. Nunns' failure. He forgave the debt, however, and through affection and respect even assisted Mr. Nuuns with monthly contributions until the latter's death,
STEINWAY.
RCULA C UBRARY
LINK
in 1864, at the age of eighty years; thus early in life displaying the largeness of heart and unostentatious generosity of character which have always been conspicuous traits of the man. The growing magnitude of the business now compelled father and sons to resign their fascinating work at the bench and to devote their whole attention to the general
rising house. It fell to the lot of management of the affairs of the
William Steinway to conduct the
mercantile and financial affairs of the firm; and he brought to his department an ability and force which insured the continual tri-
umphant growth of the business.
In 1859 the Steinways built their
present factory on Fourth avenue,
from Fifty-second street to Fifty- third street, taking possession in April, 1860, and in 1863, by the addition of its southerly wing, bring- ing same to its present colossal proportions. In March, 1865, STEINWAY FREE CIRCULATING LIBRARY. Charles and Henry, Jr., died; and Theodore, giving up the flourishing business in Germany, as has been said, came to New York and became a partner in the New York house.
The Steinway pianos soon began to attract the attention of the world. After being awarded thirty- five American medals, they won a first prize medal at the World's Fair, in London, in 1862. In 1867, at the Paris International Exposition, they won the first of the grand gold medals of honor for their perfect square, upright and grand pianos after a close and exciting contest with the best makers of Europe. This was a remarkable success; and the Steinway system of construction thereupon became the standard with the piano makers of the world. Equally great were their successes at the Centen- nial Exhibition, at Philadelphia, in 1876, and the International Inventions Exhibition, at London, in 1885, on which latter occasion the grand gold medal was awarded them for the supreme excel- lence of their pianofortes and their useful and Emeritorious inventions; and a grand gold medal was also awarded them by the London Society of Arts, the Prince of Wales being
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HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND CITY.
President. Large orders and distinguished honors poured in upon the firm from all quarters. They became the Court piano manufacturers to the Queen of England, the Queen of Spain, the Emperor of Germany, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and the Queen of Italy. Illustrious composers and artists bought and used their instruments, including Liszt, Wagner, Helmholtz, Rubin- stein, Paderewski, Theodore Thomas, Patti, Gerster, Joseffy, Rosenthal, and others. The public of America was conquered, and the firm prospered in fortune and in reputation every year. The finishing of piano No. 25,000, made for the Czarowitz of Russia, was celebrated by the firm and its thousand workmen, May 4, 1872. Piano No. 50,000, believed to be the finest grand produced by the house up to that time, was bought by Baron Nathaniel de Rothschild, of Vienna, and dispatched by the Hamburg Steamer, Bohemia, September 15, 1883. The number reached July 1, 1895, was 85, 000, and Steinway & Sons' Piano Works are conceded to be by far the largest establishments in their line in the world. William now remains alone at the head of the house, its only surviving founder, though grandsons of the original founder have been admitted to membership in due succession. It is chiefly owing to the executive efforts and foresight of William Steinway, that this city is indebted for the section called "Steinway." That part of Long Island City represents an economic policy, which has passed the experimental stage and developed into prosperous results, which may well attract the ttention of those interested in questions of capital and labor. The project of such a manufacturing community had its inception in the labor troubles, which twenty-five years ago embarrased the work of the Steinway factory between Fifty-second and Fifty-third streets, New York. In 1869, and again in 1872, there were strikes in this factory which necessitated police protection of faithful employes.
Speaking of the origin of Stein- way village recently, Mr. William Steinway said: "For several years previous to 1870 we had been looking for a plot of land away from the city, and yet within easy access of it, for the erection of an ad- ditional factory rendered necessary by the extension of our business. There were two reasons why we sought a place outside the city. NORTH BEACH. In the first place, we wished to escape the machinations of the anarchists and socialists, who even at that time -- twenty-five years ago-were continually breeding discontent among our workmen and inciting them to strike. They seemed to make us a target for their attacks, and we felt that if we could withdraw our work- men from contact with these people, and the other temptations of city life in the tenement districts, they would be more content and their lot would be a happier one. Then there was a growing demand for more room to extend our facilities. The Fourth avenue factory" was inadequate for our wants, and we needed in addition shipping facilities near the water, and a basin in which logs could be stored in water to keep them moist and prevent them from cracking. We also needed a large space for a lumber yard, a steam saw mill and a foundry, and many other important adjuncts to our factory facilities. After looking about for several years, we found the idcal spot at the place now known as Steinway. At that time it was a beautiful garden spot, surrounded by waste lands and vacant lots. It was partly wooded, and on a bluff stood the handsome mansion of Benjamin F. Pike, the well- known optician. This property gave us upward of half-a-mile of water front, a navigable canal, and plenty of room for our own foundry. Of course we had to create means and facilities for reaching the place quickly, which occasioned a great outlay of money, and while difficulties had to be surmounted, the project has proved a great success. It is the geographical center of Greater New York. It is nearer to the City than Harlem, as it is only five miles from City Hall. The whole matter has had an ideal result, the relations between employer and employed are cordial in the extreme, and as an indication of how the latter have prospered, no less than sixty of
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HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND CITY.
the men employed in Steinway & Sons' factory, own their own houses, while some of them own two houses."
Steinway is a remarkably thriving village now of over 7000 inhabitants. Every house in the village is supplied with pure drinking water from the Long Island City mains. An excellent system . of sewerage has been established there, and gas is supplied by the East River Gas Company. The gas is manufactured in the city, and is also conveyed from Long Island in a tunnel under the East River all over New York City.
A Protestant church, situated on a plot of ground 100 by 125 feet, corner of Albert street and Ditmars avenue, was built in 1889, accommodating over 1000 persons, which is well attended by the people of the neighborhood, and contains the cathedral organ, formerly at Steinway Concert Hall, New York City. A German Baptist church has also been erected, which is now in a flourishing condition.
STEINWAY MANSION. RESIDENCE OF MR. WILLIAM STEINWAY.
The publie spirited and philanthropic endeavor of the firm has resulted in solving some serious economic problems, and offers conditions worthy of study and emulation. Model houses have been erected for the workmen, with good ventilation, perfect drainage and pure water. A public school- house for one thousand children was erected in 1877, and the firm maintains at its own expense, in addition to the course of instruction furnished by the city, a teacher who gives free tuition in the German language and music. A public bath-house, with fifty dressing-rooms, was opened in the spring of 1881, and, adjoining at the riverside, a park was laid out for a popular resort for old and young.
The Post Office Department at Washington, in 1881, established a post-office in the place, but now the free delivery system has been introdneed all over Long Island City, delivering mails four times daily, directly to every house.
In addition to the facilities for education afforded by the public school, Steinway & Sons have erected a handsome building for the Steinway Free Circulating Library, and the Free Kindergarten.
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HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND CITY.
It is situated on the Shore Road and Albert street, in the centre of the village. All of these advan- tages, which they enjoy through the thoughtful generosity of the firm, are appreciated by the army of employees, and their relations are most cordially friendly.
Upon William Steinway, personally, though in recognition of the attainments of the house of which he is the head, rather than of the other successful enterprises in which he has engaged, more honors have been conferred than can well be mentioned in any article less ample than an exhaustive monograph. As far back as 1867 he was made (as was also his brother, C. F. Theodore), a member of the Royal Prussian Academy of Fine Arts, at Berlin, and the same year the grand gold medal was bestowed upon William and Theodore, by King Charles of Sweden, accompanied by an autograph letter from Prince Oscar, now King of Sweden. While abroad in the autumn of 1892, Mr. Steinway was invited to an audience with the Emperor and Empress of Germany, and the Emperor presented him with his portrait bearing the imperial antograph, written in the presence of his guest. " Wilhelm, German Emperor and King of Prussia, Marble Palais; 11-ix-1892." The Empress also wrote him an autograph letter, thanking him for his gifts to the Emperor William I. Memorial Church in Berlin. These honors were followed June 12, 1893, by the bestowal upon him by the Emperor of the Order of the Red Eagle, third class, the highest distinction ever conferred by the German crown upon a manufacturer. Another honor, rare, if not unique, in America, was that conferred upon him in April, 1894, when he was elected honorary member of the oldest and most renowned academy in the old world, the "Royal Academy of St. Cecilia of Rome," founded by the celebrated composer, Palestrina, in 1584. This, as the diploma reads, was " on account of his eminent merit in the domain of music."
It is not alone upon his achievements in connection with the production of the perfected piano that Mr. Steinway's prestige in music rests. It is not too much to say that he and his house have been the greatest cherishers of musical endeavor this country has ever known. The Steinways, and particularly William, supported Theodore Thomas' immensely valuable musical enterprises during the darkest days of that great conductor's career, and but for them it would have been impossible for New Yorkers, and the people of the country generally, to have heard many of that great conductor's early concerts, and the cause of orchestral music would have lacked the powerful initial impetus which his efforts gave it. Mr. Steinway has been a liberal supporter of other great artists, instrumental and vocal, and nearly every movement of serious and ambitious nature in the musical progress of the metropolis and the nation has felt the encouragement of his influence and received his aid in tangible form for the past third of a century or more. During a period of twenty-five years Steinway Hall was the center of the musical history, not alone of New York, but of the United States. Mr. Steinway is a member of the German Liederkranz Society, one of the oldest and most powerful musical organizations in the country, and for fourteen seasons was its president. As has been heretofore noted, he was, in his younger days, noted for his extraordinary physical strength, and as the possessor of a beautiful tenor voice, which has been frequently heard in the high-class concerts of this society. On November 9, 1859, at Schiller's one hundredth birthday festival, in the performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, he sang the great tenor solo, "Free Like the Sun," with splendid success. The primacy which he is by common consent accorded in musical circles, was attested by his being made president of the Columbus Festival, held at the Seventh Regiment Armory, October 10, 1892, and honorary president of the great musical festival held at Madison Square Garden, New York, on June 23-28, 1894. His speech on the opening night, before 20,000 people, was most satisfactory in matter and delivery, and was published in full by the press of the entire country and partly in Europe. We see, therefore, that large as is the responsibility of chief command of the large forces gathered in his great piano industry, it does not entirely monopolize Mr. Steinway's energy or ability. His outside investments are of such magnitude as alone to distinguish him in the business and financial world, were it not eclipsed by his generalship in the conduct of piano manufacture. His business ability is phenomenal. Since 1865 he has been a trustee and vice-president of the German Savings Bank, one of the solid institutions of New York. He was one of the founders of the Bank of the Metropolis, in 1871, and since that time has been one of its directors. He is vice-president of the Queens County Bank of this city, a director of the New York and College Point Ferry Company, president of the New York Pianoforte Manufacturer's Society, and officially connected with numerous other similar institutions. Mayor Grant, in 1890, appointed him one of the committee of one hundred citizens to carry out the World's Fair project. At the public meeting in City Hall, Mr. Steinway opened the subscription lists with the sum of $50,000, and when Congress located the Fair in Chicago, he subscribed and paid in cash $25, 000 for the Fair in that city.
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HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND CITY.
The field of politics is inviting to Mr. Steinway's tastes and talents. While often declining public honors and responsibilities, his high sense of duty has at times led him to the acceptance of some high positions. He was on the famous "eommittee of seventy " that in 1871 successfully prosecuted William M. Tweed and the Tammany Ring. He presided at the immense popular meeting at Cooper Institute, October 29, 1886, which indorsed the nomination of Abram S. Hewitt for Mayor. He conducted the meeting with ability, and aided in the achievement of its results by his eloquent address. In 1888 he was the member of the Democratic National Committee of the United States, representing the State of New York, and a delegate to the convention which nominated Mr. Cleveland for a second term.
October 27, 1892, Mr. Steinway presided at the immense mass-meeting of German-Americans at Cooper Institute. Grover Cleveland, Carl Sehurz, Oswald Ottendorfer, and Dr. Joseph Senner being the other speakers. Upward of 20, 000 people were assembled. Mr. Steinway's speech was reported in full all over the United States, and in synopsis cabled to Europe. In the Presidential election of 1892, Mr. Steinway was one of the Democratic Electors at Large for the State of New York; and
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SCENE ON STEINWAY AVENUE, STEINWAY, L. I. C.
he was unanimously elected President of the Electoral College at the Capitol at Albany, when it met on January 9, 1893, to east the vote of the State of New York for President of the United States. His activity, influence and ability were recognized by President Cleveland by the offer of a number of important Federal offices, which, however, he preferred not to accept.
The rapid transit problem in New York has been one of the great questions of public interest which Mr. Steinway has had at heart during the past two years. As member of every one of the rapid transit commissions since 1890, he has labored diligently to diseover the best possible plan for furnishing the metropolis the rapid transit which it needs, and soon the city will be a heavy debtor for the discretion, zeal and integrity which he has brought to this onerous work. He was unani- mously re-appointed a commissioner by the State Legislature under the new law, passed May 22, (894, which abolished the old commission, and in the fall of that same year distributed the sum of $6250, allotted to him by the Supreme Court for his serviees on said commission, among fifteen charity organizations of New York City, and did the same thing in the fall of 1896 with the second sum of $5000 allowed him.
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HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND CITY.
Mr. Steinway has exercised systematically for years a very liberal, philanthropic, and benevolent spirit. His benefactions at Steinway, Long Island City, have already received mention. They form only a small part of the foundation for good that he has built. Beside a large number of charitable societies, he is assisting schools and libraries with annual contributions in money, has annually a number of young people taught music at his expense, and he has presented many charitable institu- tions and schools with pianofortes, and founded annual prizes in others. In 1894 he founded two annual prizes of $75 in gold each in the New York Normal College. He is one of the staunchest supporters of the German Hospital, and has endowed in it a free bed and various sums of money. In February, 1889, the great fair given at the American Institute, for the benefit of this institut- tion, and managed by him as president, at great expense of time and effort, realized a net profit of $112,000.
As if these and scores of other benefactions and his constant standing as a rock of refuge for the needy and aspiring artist, musician, and teacher, were not sufficient, he has crossed the ocean to lay his largeness of heart to the benefit of the people of his native town. He has founded in Seesen six annual prizes for students, and pays the annual school money for no less than seventy five parents. He has annually sent large sums for the poor, and also presented the town with a beautiful plot of ground, which by official vote of the people was named in his honor, "Steinway Park," and has been unanimously elected "honorary citizen." He is a Protestant in faith, and his liberality has been felt in numerous churches and their auxiliary institutions, regardless of creed.
Mr. Steinway has been twice married. By his first wife, whom he lost in 1876, he has two children, George A. Steinway, born June 4, 1865, now a member of the house, and a daughter, Paula T. Steinway, born December 13, 1866, wife of Louis von Bernuth. On the 16th of August, 1880, he married Miss Elizabeth C. Ranft (daughter of Mr. Richard Ranft, of New York City, a well-known importer of pianoforte materials). She died, after a brief illness, March 4, 1893. Their happy union was blessed by the birth of two sons, viz. : William R., Steinway, born December 20, 1881, and Theodore Edwin Steinway, born October 6, 1883, and a daughter Maud Louise Steinway, born April 6, 1889.
Mr. Steinway has preserved that wise old world capacity for enjoying the amenities of life. IIe is a cultivated gentleman, greatly appreciated for the many genial qualities which he possesses and the gentle bearing which marks the possessor of greatest and truest strength. He is a prominent figure in the highest club and social circles, and valued universally for his huge achievements, his manly integrity and moral stamina, fine mental equipment, equipoise of nature, and all that contributes to the symmetrical development of a forceful character.
Ilis high social standing is illustrated by his membership in the Manhattan Club ; the Liederkranz Society, of which he has been fourteen times president ; the Arion, of which he is an honorary member ; the American Geographical Society ; New York Historical Society : the New York Chamber of Commerce ; the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Berlin, and his honorary membership of the Royal St. Cecilia Society of Rome, Italy. A sound, enterprising, clear-headed, benevolent, and versatile man, and ready speaker, the metropolis is constantly the gainer by his remarkable genius.
The Steinway mansion, the summer residence of William Steinway, is a beautiful building of axed granite and iron, with a French slate roof. It is situated on an elevated site east of the factory, in the center of large grounds, with extensive lawns, a beautifully laid out flower garden and orchard, and a fine stable. It is an ideal summer home, and Mr. William Steinway and his family spend the warm months there every year.
THE DAIMLER MOTOR COMPANY.
The most important and extensive industry at Steinway, next to Steinway & Sons' piano factory, is the Daimler Motor Company, which is engaged in the manufacture of gasoline motors for boats, earriages, fire engines, street railways, and vehicles of all kinds, and for stationary engines, manu- facturing and other purposes. This company is the sole owner of the United States and Canada patents of Gottlieb Daimler, of Cannstatt, Germany.
Mr. William Steinway is also at the head of this company. He became interested in the enter-
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HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND CITY.
prise in a manner rather incidental. In 1888, while traveling in Germany, his attention was attracted by a horseless carriage which had been invented by Gottlieb Daimler, at Canstatt. Vehicles of this nature had for many years been the subject of much inventive experiment and popular interest, hence Mr. Steinway requested the inventor to give him an exhibition of the merits of his motor. The inventor calling for him at his hotel, Mr. Steinway rode to the Canstatt factory, a distance of ten miles. The journey, which was up and down hill, was made in forty-eight minutes, and after a visit to the Daimler factory the return trip was made to Stuttgart in the same vehicle, without mishap of any kind. This satisfied Mr. Steinway of the practical nature of the motor, and after his return home he introduced one of the motor ears on the line of the Steinway Railroad Company and repeatedly carried thirty-five passengers at the rate of twelve miles an hour under twelve horse-power. The company, which now has an extensive motor factory at Steinway, was organized, and the patent rights to manufacture the Daimler motors in the United States and Canada were acquired. The factory, in which the manufacture of motors was commenced, was a small building, 25 feet wide by 100
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