USA > New York > Monroe County > History of Monroe county, New York with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, Palatial residences > Part 50
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" Ebenezer Watts, Esq.,
" Geo. R. Clark, Esq., cashier.
" Ralph Lcster, Esq., cashier.
" Thos. HI. Rochester, president.
" C. T. Amsden, cashier.
" Everard Peck, Esq., president.
" Isane Ifills, Esq.
" DANIEL W. POWERS.
" ROCHESTER, MONHOR COUNTY, N. Y., March 2, 1850."
Of these seven referees only two are living, C. T. Amsden and Isaac Hills, both residents of Rochester, the former an insurance agent, and the latter one of
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, NEW YORK.
the oldest attorney, in the city. Mr. Powers is still the active manager of his banking-house, and as the result of thirty years of business life stands Powers' commercial fire-proof building, one of the finest structures on the western continent.
FLOUR CITY NATIONAL BANK was organized as the Flour City Bank, April 1, 1856, with a capital of 8200.000, and was increased until April 7, 1857. It was changed to its present name June 15, 1835.
F. Gorton was the first president, and still retains that office, actively engaged in the discharge of its duties. Through the able management of Mr. Gorton the bank has accumulated a surplus of fifty per cent., and has never failed to pay a semi-annual dividend of five per cent. E. H. Vredenburgh was the first cashier, Joho H. Rochester was the second, who was succeeded by the preseut incumbent, William A. Waters, May 1, 1867. During the period of twenty years that it has been in operation but few changes have been made in the board of directors, nearly all of the present organization commencing with the institution. It is iu a flourishing condition, and eleven clerk, are employed in the management of its affairs. The following is the board of directors for 1876: Patrick Barry, Lewis Brooks, C. B. Woodworth, Geo. Ellwanger, F. Gorton, A. S. Maun, William C. Dryer, O. Allen, and HI. B. Hathaway.
TRADERS' NATIONAL BANK was organized as a State bank in 1858, and re- organized as a national bank in June, 1865. Capital, $250,000. The first officers were as follows : G. H. Mumford, president; J. W. Russell, cashier. The present officers are-S. L. Brewster, president; George C. Buell, vice-president ; H. C. Brewster, cashier. The present directors are S. L. Brewster, H. C. Brewster, Henry Brewster, Geo. C. Buell, M. Lewis, B. D. McAlpine, Clinton Rogers, S. R. Roby, HI. S. Potter.
COMMERCIAL BANK, of Rochester, was organized June 1, 1875, with a capital of $200,000, which was increased to 8300,000 June 1, 1876. The officers are- H. F. Atkiosoo, president ; S. B. Raymond, vice-president; H. F. Huntington, cashier. The board of directors is constituted as follows. Hiram Sibley, H. F. Atkinsoo, Lewis H. Morgan, Edmund P'. Willis, Theodore Bacon, M. F. Reynolds, H. Austin Brewster, Charles F. Pond, C. G. Stark weather, L. B. Raymond, Henry F. Huntington. The following are the stockholders, viz. : Hiram Sibley, HI. F. Atkinson, Hon. Henry R. Selden, M. F. Reynolds, George F. Danforth, Lewis Brooks, William F. Cogswell, H. Austin Brewster, Edmund P. Willis, Isaac Willis, Hon. Lewis HI. Morgan, William R. Hallowell, C. G. Stark weather, Charles F. Pond, George P. Wolcott, Edward P. Fuller, Abram S. Mann. Theo- dore Bacon, Melancton Lewis, Harrisoo A. Lyon, General I. F. Quimby, S. B. Raymond, I. F. Huntington, Alvah Strong, Hon. E. Darwin Smith, aud Norman H. Galusha
T. B. & W. CORNINO BANKING-HOUSE .-- This institution was founded May 2, 1870, by two brothers, T. B. and W. C'orning, aod conducted by them ontil the death of Mr. T. B. Corniog, which occurred January 13, 1874. The business is still conducted under the original firm name ; Gordon, son of T. B. Corning, acting as agent at Saginaw, Michigan ; William Corning, Jr., cashier and teller.
BANK OF ROCHESTER .-- This bank was organized at No. 41 State street, February 1, 1875, and commenced business with a capital of $100.000, which was increased, August 1, 1875, to 8200,000 dollars. Its first officers were- Charles H. Chapin, president; J. Moreau Smith, vice-president : George M. Sweet, cashier. Its directors are Williamu Kidd, Charles J. Hayden, J. Moreau Smith, De L. Crittenden, Charles HI. Chapin. Charles C. Morse, Charles F. Smith, H. F. Atkinson, George H. Thompson, HI. C. Roberts, George M. Sweet.
CITY BANK OF ROCHESTER .- This banking house is successor to the First National Bank of Rochester, which was organized in 1864, succeeding the old Rochester City Bank, which was one of the leading banks in the State ; incorpo- rated in 1836. Jacob Gould was first president. This institution has a capital of $200,000. Thomas Leighton, president ; Charles E. Upton, cashier. The present board of directors is as follows .: Thomas Leighton, Ezra M. Parsons. J. B. Perkins, J. E. Pierpont, M. R. Leighton, William Churchill, W. J. Ashley, W. S. Sherman. C. E. Upton.
ERICKSON, JENNINGS & MUMFORD .- This banking institution succeeded the old Union Bank, which was one of the leading banking-houses in the city. The proprietors are Aaron Erickson, George E. Jennings, and George E. Mumford.
THE BANK OF MONROE was incorporated in 1429. Ilon. Jarvis Lord, present State senator, is president, and Willi.nu R. Seward cashier.
F. J. AMSDEN'S BANKINO-OFFICE, Powers' block, was established in 1870. Io connection with the bank Mr. Amsden also conducts a railroad and steamship ticket-office.
STETTHEIMER, TONE & Co.'s banking-house was organized in 1808, and is io successful operation.
THE SAFE DEPOSIT COMPANY of Rochester, located in the Monroe County Savings Bank building, 31 State street. wa- incorporated hy act of brzislature March 30, 1863. It has a capital of Stougrow; adicional liability of stock-
holler>, $100,000. The board of directors is as follows : William N. Sage, Wil- liam Churchill. S L. Brewster, George G. Clark-on. C. E. Upton. C. J. Hayden. Louis Chapin. A. MeVean. William J. Ashley, Ezra MI. Parsons, H. D. Seran- tom. B. M. Baker. J. E: Pierpont. George Ellwanger, Joseph Curtis, J. Moreau Smith, Charles P. Boswell. William N. Sage. President. J. E. Pierpont ; Vice- President, William J. A-hley.
POWERS' COMMERCIAL FIRE-PROOF BUILDINGS.
Thia immense structure has a frontage of one hundred and seventy-six feet oo State street, one hundred and fifty-five feet on Buffalo street, and one hundred and fifty feet on Pindell alley. The main or corner building is faced with Obin freestone, elaborately carved, the blocks being alternately vermiculated and cot in panel. It is seven stories in height, exclusive of the basement. which is of New Hampshire granite. The French roof is twenty-five feet high, built wholly of iron and slate. Back of the Mansard roof, which makes ooe immense hall, one other story is gained, or, rather, the story is divided into two, and the roof is raised eight feet above the Mansard. The great wings of this building present uniform fronts of plate-glass and cast-iron, the brick which enters so largely into the construction being visible ouly in the tower and in the rear on the alley. It is quadrangular in forni, and is the only perfectly tubular block in the United States. It is lighted on all sides, and has an open area in the centre, which fur- nishes an abundance of light for the halls and rooms above the ground-floor.
The ground-floor contains one bank aod fifteen stores. which vary from fifteen to thirty feet in width, and from fifty to one hundred and fifty feet in length, all being fourteen feet and six ioches in height. The upper stories contain two hundred and twenty rooms, used for almost every conceivable kind of business and occupation. The halls are very spacious, the floors of which are covered with square marble tiles and furnished with marble surbase, while each hall is lighted with cicht pendants. There are four entrances, the stairs being entirely of Italian marble. There are three staircases leading from the second to the upper stories, two of - which are wholly of iron, with silver-bronze railings and balustrades, having a lamling or platform in the centre of each story. The grand or principal staircase contains fifty tons of iron, and cost twenty thousand dollars. The floors of the entire block are built of rolled iron, with brick arches. while the partitions throughout are of brick, and the window-frames and casings constructed princi- pally of iron, thereby rendering it fire-proof. The building stands on a fourda- tion of solid rock.
The stores and offices are heated by steam from eleven boilers in the basement. A steam-pump, the largest in the city, and of enormous capacity, supplies the upper stories with water, and to run one of the high-pressure boilers in the win- ter, while the other lies by as a reserve. Every room in the building is furnished with a marble washstaod, and the closet conveniences are numerous and perfect.
The glass in both facades is the best English polished plate, and cust about thirty thousand dollars. The French roof alone cust more than seventy thousand dollars, and the dormer-windows in it one thousand dollars each, while six thousand five hundred dollars were paid for the sidewalk, on which stand five elegant ean- delabra costing two hundred dollars eneb.
This building contains sixty-five thousand square feet of Italian and Vermont marble, eight million pounds-or four thousand tous-of iron, eight million brick -. and over eighty thousand yards of plastering, while twelve thousand wagon kuds of sand were drawn to make the mortar. The floors are all estimated as to strength, and will carry a safe load of' two hundred pounds to the square fout aide from the weight of their own material. Allowing two superficial feet to each person, every floor would contain over twelve thousand people; and the entire building, without either the basement or the large hall iu the French rouf, would holl more than eighty thousand people; in other words, the whole population of the city of Rochester-men, women, and children-could be comfortably asemu- bled on the ten acres of flooring at one time. The number of tenants is alwut one thousand. representing nearly every brauch of business. The Powers block has centralized business, and here may be found merchants, lawyers, bankers, physicians, corporations, painters. clergymen, etc. Surmounting this grand edifice is an irregalar quadrilateral tower rising sixty feet above the roof, and is thirty feet long by twenty-four wide. Iron staircases with half-landings lead up through the first three stories, each of which contains a large room. Doors open froin the room on the fourth floor to the first balcony that runs around the tower. The east and west walls of the tower run up straight from the solid rock, an-1 the iron girders upon which the floors rest bind them so firmly that the structure as immovable against the -tormiest visitations as the grutiest zephyry that play aroand its summit. A spiral staircase leads to the sky-floor, which is paved with marlie, and surrounded by a coping lined with -quares of that material. and tin- i-hed with a railing Above this is a square brak section, twelve feet high, trout
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, NEW YORK.
129
wbich arises a flag-staff, surmounted by a massive gilded engle at an altitude of sixty-three feet more. In the tower is a government signal-office, established November 1, 1870. since which time reports have been sent to General Albert J. Myers every eight bours, and weather maps have been issued daily. Within the past three years this tower has been visited by nearly two hundred thousand persons.
1
the cellar commenced for this immense structure, many shook their heads and uttered ominous forebodings as to the final result of this undertaking, but its pro- genitor heeded not the lugubrious sounds, but looked beyond the Present into the Future, and, realizing the benefits of such a building, rapidly pushed it to comple- tion; aod there it stands,-and will remain when its public-spirited owner has passed off the stage of action,-a fitting mooument of the enterprise, capacity for gigantic undertakings, practical good sense, and aesthetic taste of Daniel W. Powers
The elevators form an interesting as well as essential feature of the building. The shaft of the vertical railway is a brick tower rising from the bed-rock to the cupola on the roof. The cars are the finest in the United States, and probably in the world. Each are seven and one- half by eight feet on the floor, and eleven feet high, domed with cut-glass sky- lights and ventilators, richly carpeted, supplied with gas by a flexible tube which they carry; are fur- Dished with sofas on three sides, and two large mir- rors facing each other, in which the repeated reflec- tion of the gas-light pro- duces the appearance of a long train of palace cars. The aides and the dome are furnished throughout with panels, pilasters, brackets, cornices, mouldings, and carvings, - all of highly polished American woods, whose variegation embraces all the colors necessary to secure an admirable effect. The vertical railways cost forty thousand dollars, and their usefulness is shown by the fact that between five thousand and six thou- sand rides are taken daily by tenants and visitors.
We have attempted in this article a description of the building only, not of the various kinds of business carried on within its walls. One feature, how- ever, deserves a passing no- tice, viz, the art gallery ; and to Mr. Powers the peo- ple of Rochester owe a debt of gratitude for placing within their reach this un- usually fine collection of paintings. The collection enbraces four hundred oil- paintings, many of which are originals from the old masters, secured in the art EGoot DILd centres of the old world by Mr. Powers himself, who is a connoisseur in art mat- ters. In this collection there are also copies of famous works, meritorious paint- ings by American artists, and many other noteworthy features that space will not allow us to enumerate.
Rochester bas reason to be proud of her general prosperity, and can point to many large establishments as monuments of her progres, but above all stand Powers' Commercial Fire-Proof Buildings. When ground was first broken and
CHARLES SALM
T
SALMON'S BLOCK.
Among the other fine business blocks may be mentioned the Rochester Savings Bank building, which is a four-story brown- stone edifice, and wben completed will be one of the finest business struc- tures in the State. It is to be furnished with an elegant elevator and all the modern appliances for busi- ness and comfort. The large tower contains a fine illuminated clock.
The Masonic Hall block was erected many years ago, and is among the largest in the city. The " Arcade" building is a large structure. which ex- tends through from Main street to Exchange place, and is a perfect bee-hive of industry. The city post-office is located on the lower floor. The build- ing was erected by Mr. Reynolds.
One of the fivest busi- ness blocks in the city is owned by C'bas. Salmon, corner Andrews and North Clinton streets. It is a brick structure, and a model of clegunce and coo- venience.
The new block on State street, now in process of erection by the West es- tate, is also a fine edificc.
Other prominent blacks are Smith's Arcade, Ell- wanger & Barry's, Sinith, Perkins & Co., Ellwood block, Gould block, Monroe County Savings Bank bnil- ding, Osborn House block, Young Men's Catholic .1 <- sociation buildings, Odd- Fellows' block, Lano & Paine, and the Smith block.
CITY HALL.
This structure is located on Fitzhugh street, imme-
diately in the rear of the court-house and is one of the finest municipal buildings in the State. It is tive stories in height, including the basement, built of Lock- . port gray sandstone, with trimmings of Gainesville and Medina stone. The main entrance is on the north side, and consists of a handsome porch constructed of stone, with Gainesville pillars. Two sets of large double doors lead into the main hall, which is large, roomy, and attractive. The building is heated by
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, NEW YORK.
steam from boilers furnished by Woodbury, Booth & Co., and connected with the American self-regulating low-pressure heading apparatus put up by Sherlock & Sloan. Guld's patent radiators extend from this apparatus to all portions of the buildings except the police quarters in the basement, which are heated by coal radiators.
On the first floor are located the mayor's office, the city treasurer. police court- room, private office of the chief of police, treasurer. and city messenger. The second floor contains the offices of the eity eleck, surveyor, and assessors. In the third story is located the common council chamber. which is considered the finest in the State. It is sixty by eighty feet, large and corutuodious, and is furnished with everything possible, in the way of conveniences, for the purpose intended. Four bronze pillars support the roof, and the light is furnished by several elegant chan- deliers. The chamber is adorned with oil-portraits of the various mayors ; those of Jonathan Child, the first mayor, and John Allen. mayor in 1844, are full length. On this floor, also, are the othices of the police commissioners and con- missioners of public works.
On the fourth flour is the city hall proper, which is one hundred and ten by eighty feet, and, according to the number of square feet euntained, is the fourth in size in the United States. The sides are raised, after the style of an amphi- theatre, and the entire ball has a seating capacity of about three thousand. Another flight of stairs reaches to the fire alarm department, and still another to the roof, which is entirely of iron. Que more staircase leads to the tower, where is suspended the immense bell, and another to an elevation higher than that of the top of the tower on Powers' block. The stairs in the lower stories are en- tirely of iron, surmounted by a band-rail of black walnut. They are Juished in gilt and bronze, and present a very fine appearance. About the lower hall and all the stairways is a wainscoting, three feet high, of Vermont marble, with base and ruil of Italian marble. This fine edifice was erected at a cost of 8335.684.39. The following is a list of the men who were interested in its construction as com- missioners and contractors :
Commissioners, Chas. J. Hayden. president, Jacob Howe. Daniel W. Powers. . Lysander Farrar, George C. Buell, Lyman M. Newton, elerk.
Architeet, A. J. Warner, Rochester.
Contractors, mason-work, William H. Gorsline. Rochester ; carpenter-work. George W. Albridge, Rochester; gas and steam, Sherlock & Sloan. Rochester ; boilers, Woodbury, Booth & Co., Rochester ; plumbing. Chas. S. Siudons, Roches- ter ; cut stone, Peter l'itkin, Rochester, marble, Henry S. Ilebard, Roche-ter ; iron-work, M. Briggs & Son, Rochester ; galvanized iron, John Siddons, Roches- ter ; Medina and Lockport stone, Brady & Co., Rochester ; artificial vases, A. Churchill, Rochester ; locks, Wray & Co., Rochester; iron roof, Agricultural Works, New York.
THE ROCHESTER GERMAN INSURANCE COMPANY
is the first and the only local organization of the kind organized in this eity. That it ever sprang into being is owing to the energetic. liberal action of' a number of public-spirited German residents of the city, who associated themselves together and gave substance aud shape to the idea. The company was organized under the insurance incorporation laws of the State of New York in 1872. with a paid-up capital of one hundred thousand dollars, with Louis Bauer as president, John Lntes, vice president, and Rudolph Vay, secretary. The only changes that bave taken place in the organization since then was the election of Louis Ernst to the presidency, who was succeeded by Frederick Cook in 1875, and the increase of paid-up capital stock of the company to two hundred thousand dollars in 1874. While the cash eupital of the company now remains at two hundred thousand dollars, its assets are. in round numbers, three hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
Since the company was organized it has paid two hundred and sixty thousand and ninety-nine dollars in losses to its policy-hohlers-a sum in excess of its capital; but, notwithstanding the payment of this large amount, it has never made any special assessment upon stock to meet losses. These losses, while aggregating a large sum, have been made up by small individual hoses. The company has also paid dividends, amounting to seventy two thousand dollars, to its stock- holders.
The following are the directors of the company : J. J. Bausch. Henry Brinker, Frederick Cook, John Dafuer. Louis Ern-t, William Grebe, Fredrick Goetz- mann, Matthias Kondolph, John Lutes, George C. Maurer, Frederick Miller, Michael Neuhardt, Juhn Groh. Charles Rau, Joseph Sebitte, John G. Wagner, Caspar Wehle, John Weis, Louis Wehn, and Christian Yaky.
The business of the company is wide-reaching It has secured not only the stamp of home approval, but it has sought and obtained a lucrative business in other sectious, and the company is now doing business in seventeen States.
COMMERCIAL AND MERCANTILE INTERESTS OF ROCHESTER
The history of these interests alone would fill a large volume, were they written in detail ; probably it is not essentially different from that of any other eity whose growth and development has occupied less than the allotted time of man. Per- haps few. even in this country of startling changes, have experienced an equally rapid growth, as fall success. Yet, individually or separately, they are in most cases preceded by the same persistent and faithful attention to business which usually mark the change from the small store, few attendants, and limited stock to large and commodious rooms, or blocks. filled from basement to Motard, at] numbering clerks and assistants hy seores or hundreds. We might chronicle the past of some of the leading establishments in the different branches of trade. such as Sibley, Lindsay & Curr, Burke. Fitz Simons, Hone & Co., A. S. Mann & Co., of the dry goods trade; or Sunderlin & Me.Allister, jewelers ; Steel & Avery, Serantom & Wetmore, and Erastus Darrow. book dealers; ticorge L. Stratton & Co., Hawly, Myers & Co., Alling & Cory, wholesale dealers in paper and printers' supplies; George H. Gould & Son. boot and shoe dealers ; Smith. Perkins & Co., George C. Buell & Co., wholesale grocers; and so on through the different branches, such as hardware, eruckery, carpet, and drug stores. cloth and clothing houses, ready-made and manufactured (a trade which has assumed a large import- anee, and in which Rochester takes first rank ), coal, lumber, connoission houses. etc., cte., all would demand a portion of our attention. Where there are so many it would be hard to stop, to draw a dividing line. We have marked its begin- ning in our pioncer history ; now, it has grown beyond our grasp. To generalize would only add a list of names; suffice it to say that, situated in the midst of a refined and educated people, thiekly-settled and prosperous country, with natural advantages possessed by no other adjacent village, other results could not well have
been realized. A growing and increasing demand has been met by a larger supply, until, like a whirlpool which draws everything to its centre. Roclu-ter bas drawn the trade for miles around. and not only the merchants from the villages come here for supplies, but even the villagers in the adjoining counties, . when they have large purchases to make, while many establishments send out their agents and runners, who visit nearly if not every State in the Union. Even amid the general stagnation prevaleut throughout the nation to-day, the eommer- cial business of Rochester can boust of being as little affected as any other in the laod.
MASONIC.
VALLEY LODGE. No. 100. F. AND A. M .-- This lodge was chartered June 8, 1846, and the following are names of the first officials :
Chas. G. Cummings, W. M .; Samuel Richardson, S. W. : C. C. Lathrop. J. W .; H. A. Brewster, Tr. ; William F. Holmes. See'y ; Sylvester II. Packard, S. D .; Tbos. Barhydt, J. D. ; Abram L. Jones. Tyler. Of this number only one survived in 1875. and he, Samuel Richardson, was at that time in a feeble coudi- tion. The lodge is prosperous, and the officers for 1576 are as follows :
Henry J. Durgin, W. MI .; Wm. B. Mather, S. W. : Www. Slarks. J. W. ; E. T. Oatley, Treas. : C. C. Gifford, See'y ; Juha H. Bird. S. D .. Frank II. Vick. J. D .; Jas. C. Mckenzie, S. M. C .; Albert Mock. J. M. C .; Thos. E. Bartlet. Tyler; John HI. Kalbfleisch, Organist ; Wm. Darling, Marshal ; Victor Rundbaken. Chaplin.
DAMASCUS TEMPLE, NO. 2, NOBLES OF THE MYSTIC SHRINE, was organized in December, 1875, with the following officers .
Wm. Shelp. G. P' .; Geo. Ilani blet, C. R. ; D. T. Hunt, A. R. : Daniel Gatens, Treas .; William Davis, S. ; Wia. II. Whiting, P .; Geo. T. Loder. O. G. ; Chas. A. Brady, C. G .; Samuel R. Cantec, Ist C. M .; A. T. Vandenbergh, 2d C. M .; E. J. Sugner, G. M .; Hiram IT. Ilewitt, O. G.
CYRENE COMMANDERY, NO. 34, K. T .- This commandery was organized in January, 1867. with the following officers :
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