History of Queens County, New York : with illustrations, portraits, and sketches of prominent families and individuals., Part 23

Author:
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: New York : W.W. Munsell and Co.
Number of Pages: 703

USA > New York > Queens County > History of Queens County, New York : with illustrations, portraits, and sketches of prominent families and individuals. > Part 23

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The connection with the parish of St. George's, Flush- ing, was dissolved September 6th 1858, when the parish of Grace Church, Whitestone, was duly organized and the following officers elected : Abraham B. Sands and John D. Locke, wardens; Abraham Bininger, A. H. Kis- sam, Henry Lowerree, Henry Smith, Peter F. Westervelt, Griffith Rowe, Charles H. Miller and John Barrow, ves- trymen.

At a meeting of the vestry, held September 12th the same year, the Rev. William Shortt, the minister in charge, was chosen rector. Owing to an increased pros- perity of the parish a very eligible site was purchased, and the corner stone of a new church edifice was laid with

HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY.

the usual ceremonies May Ist 1858. The new church, handsomely and tastefully built of brick, and estimated to have cost about $6,000, was completed and opened for service November 8th 1860.

Rev. William Shortt continued his ministrations in the parish until May 31st 1865, when failing health compelled him to resign. In June following a call was extended to Rev. B. H. Abbott, of Carbondale, Pa., who accepted and soon entered upon the rectorship of the parish.

The same year two additional lots adjoining the church property were purchased and a Sunday-school building was erected. Rev. Mr. Abbott continued his services as rector until April 3d 1877. In the following December Rev. Joseph H. Young was called to the parish, and at once entered upon the duties of the rectorship. He re- signed April 28th 1879.

In July of the same year a call was extended to the Rev. William F. Dickinson, M. D., rector's assistant to the Rev. J. R. Davenport, D. D., New York city, who entered upon his duties August Ist 1879 and is the pres- ent incumbent.

THE METHODIST CHURCH.

The M. E. church of Whitestone was organized March 28th 1850, and the building was erected the same year, at a cost of $1,200. The first pastor was Rev. A. V. Abbott. From 1855 to 1857 Rev. Mr. Fitch, principal of public schools at Flushing, preached here on Sunday evenings, and Orange Judd, of Flushing, had charge of the Sunday-school. In 1858 Rev. David Tuthill was ap- pointed pastor, but he left within the year, going to Arizona as a missionary. In 1859 Rev. D. A. Goodsell was appointed. Since that time the history of the church has been that of a struggle for maintenance against adverse circumstances.

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.

There is a Catholic church in Whitestone, which is under the charge of Father Connolly. The house of worship was formerly used by Protestant denominations. These facts are all the writer has been able to learn re- garding this church.

FIRE DEPARTMENT-OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.

The Whitestone Hook and Ladder and Bucket Com- pany was organized July 21st 1871, with Thomas A. Harris as foreman, John D. Scott as assistant foreman, Charles Garrison as secretary and Nicholas Doscher as treasurer. There were sixteen members. The present membership is about thirty-five. James L. Coffin is foreman, James Murphy first assistant foreman, Charles Unger second assistant foreman, Wilbur Whittaker secre- tary and Alfred Wilmot treasurer. A. G. Montgomery is chief engineer of the department. J. G. Merritt and Joseph Winkler are assistant engineers. Captain Thomas A. Harris, who was prominent in the organization of the company, was for many years a member of the old New York volunteer fire department.

The German Rifles is a military organization, Captain

A. Martens commanding. It has been in existence seven or eight years. The first captain was C. Omman- leiser.

The Liederkranz, a German musical society, was organ- ized in the fall of 1880 and has about a dozen members. John Seitz is the leader.

COLLEGE POINT.

This village is on the northwestern part of the tract of land known on the early charts as Tew's Neck, afterward as Lawrence's Neck, and which for more than a century formed the estate of the celebrated William Lawrence and his descendants. Here the elder Lawrence main- tained for many years the hospitable manners and courtly dignity of an English gentleman of his day, and took part in colonial matters of importance with a freshness and vigor that made him a marked man.

After the close of the Revolution a part of this estate fell on the market, and a tract of three hundred and twenty acres was bought by Eliphalet Stratton, for £500.

But little of interest occurred liere prior to the erection of St. Paul's College by Dr. Muhlenberg, in 1846. This institution was intended for the education of young men for the ministry of the Episcopal church. The buildings were still incomplete, although accommodations had been provided for about one hundred students, when the death of the founder put a stop to the enterprise, and in the settlement of his estate the building passed into other hands. It has since been occupied by private residences, the chapel, however, being still devoted to religious uses.

During Dr. Muhlenberg's residence here he built, at his own expense, a plank walk across the meadows to Flushing, and in 1855 a causeway was constructed con- necting the two villages.

The history of the place is that of a rapidly growing manufacturing village. In 1854 Conrad Poppenhusen, a German manufacturer, erected here a large factory, called the Enterprise Works, for the manufacture of hard rubber knife handles, toilet articles and other specialties. This establishment has employed as many as five hun- dred hands, and its success has led to the immigration of a class of German factory operatives, among whom other manufacturers have found it easy to obtain the class of labor they required, and have accordingly sought this as a location for their works. In 1880 the village formerly called Strattonsport, now incorporated as College Point, contained the works of the Enterprise Company, the New York India Rubber Comb Company, Funcke's College Point Ribbon Mills, the Germania Ultramarine Works, and the extensive brewery of Hirsch & Herman, with a goodly population, mostly of German and Swiss nationality.

Many of those whose property is invested in manu- facturing interests here are residents of the village, and a number of city business men have built fine residences here.

About the year 1852 the daughter of Eliphalet Stratton sold that part of his estate now included in the village,

COLLEGE POINT-ITS CHURCHES.

for $30,000, retaining 180 acres in the family; thus the original investment of about $6 per acre yielded for the portion sold more than forty times that amount.

To the Poppenhusen family is due the building of the New York, Flushing and North Shore Railroad, and many acts of public spirit in local affairs, that have done much to build up and beautify the place and increase the value of property.

The College Point post-office was established in 1857, with H. Zuberbier as postmaster. Ferdinand Gentner is the present incumbent.

The railway station was erected in 1868, and is a sub- stantial brick building, two stories high, 100 feet long by ject. 25 wide, containing baggage, express and telegraph offices, two spacious waiting rooms and a restaurant. The first station agent was Julius Buhl, who had charge of all the offices in the building for a year. He was succeeded by Eliza Sea, with Lizzie Miller as ticket agent, and she by C. R. Englehardt, who was followed by Wilson Lowerree of Whitestone, the present agent, who was appointed in 1874. Miss Miller was succeeded as ticket agent by Misses Alcburger and Banks; the last-named in 1873 by Anna Schiller, the present ticket seller and telegraph operator.

The village is well supplied with beer gardens and places of a similar character, and is often a place of Sunday resort for military and civic societies from New York and elsewhere, who discourse in the " liquid gut- turals" of the Fatherland, while they enjoy the sea breezes and the foam from College Point lager; much to the annoyance of the class of citizens who deprecate the advent of " a continental Sabbath," and to the grief of at least one of the former historians of Flushing. The large foreign element here demands a lax interpretation of ex- cise laws, and has heretofore been strong enough to practically enforce its view.

Like most German villages College Point takes a deep interest in educational matters. Several private board- ing schools, taught by German professors and devoted largely to teaching music and languages, are well sus- tained; and choral societies and saengerbunds are a pop- ular avenue for social intercourse and the cultivation of the national taste for music. The Germans of this place in proportion to their ability-the large majority of them being poor factory operatives-have contributed liberally for the support of religion.

The place is well adapted to ship building purposes, and at the time this article was written negotiations were pending for the establishment of a yard by an exper- ienced builder from the east end of the island.

This port is the terminus of the People's line of steam- boats running to and from New York, and during the summer is a stopping point for the East River passenger boats, which, with the convenient railroad facilities af- forded by the North Shore road, render it convenient of access to parties doing business in New York, and tend to encourage immigration.

CHURCH HISTORY.

St. Paul's Free Chapel was built by a number of the

friends of religious interests at College Point and else- where The Flushing Bible Society had for several years employed a colporteur, a Mr. Caldwell, at this place; but decided in 1859 to discontinue his services. A Sunday- school having been started by him, and growing rapidly in attendance, being held at the district school-house, it was determined to erect a free chapel, hoping that such an effort would crystallize the different elements of relig- ious faith here, and encourage assistance from more fa- vored localities. W. O. Chisholm, F. A. Potts, C. W. Whitney, Spencer H. Smith, W. H. Stebbins jr., and H. A. Bogert became a committee to carry out the pro- Mr. Poppenhusen generously donated a plot of ground, and nearly $3,000 was raised by subscription. The building was completed January Ist 1860.

St. Fidelis Roman Catholic Church was built at College Point in 1856, the corner stone having been laid in July, and the dedication occurring on the Ist of November, Bishop Loughlin, of the diocese of Brooklyn, officiating. The church is a frame building, seventy-five by thirty-three feet. The founder of the parish was Rev. Joseph Huber, a native of Austria, who was ordained at Albany in 1853 and served as assistant pastor of Holy Trinity Church of Brooklyn until he was sent to this place to organize a parish, which now consists of perhaps one hundred and fifty families, about equally divided be- tween the English and German speaking residents. The Sunday-school is in charge of Father Huber and a Miss Delaney and has an average attendance of sixty. A week day school, with about seventy five scholars, in charge of a secular teacher, who is the church organist, and St. Fidelis Society-a co-operative relief association of about forty members, of which Jacob Becker is president-are the principal auxiliaries to the work of the church.

One of the most imposing events in the history of St. Fidelis Church was the celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the pastor's ordination, which occurred on May 21st 1878, in the presence of Bishop Loughlin, seventy priests and a host of friends. The church build- ing is located on Fifteenth street, near High.

The German Evangelical Lutheran Church (unaltered Augsburgian confession) is named St. Johannes, and stands at the corner of Sixth avenue and Fourteenth street. Some members of the Lutheran Trinity Church in Ninth street, New York, Rev. Th. J. Brohm, had moved to Strattonsport, and Mr. Brohm came and preached at their request to the German settlers in the new place. On March 15th 1857 the first regular meet- ing was held and an organization formed. There were six members, viz .: H. Bannewitz, V. Dissen, P. Illers, E. Grube, C. Otto and J. Hebel. They are all still residents of the vicinity except Mr. Dissen, who moved away. The first services were held in the public school- house. G. Loeber, a nephew of the Rev. Mr. Brohm, organized a school, and preached Sundays until the end of the year 1857, when he received a call to Chicago. About this time the building of a church was resolved upon, money was collected among the members, as well as among friends in New York, Flushing and vicinity,

HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY.

and a building for church and school purposes was com- menced. The walls and roof of the church were erected and the school-house was finished, in which through the winter Sunday services were held. In 1858 Rev. A. Heitmuller was called to be pastor of the congregation. The inside of the church was then finished, and on the 4th of July the building was dedicated by Rev. Th. Brohm. Rev. Mr. Heitmuller remained until March 1861, when he was called to Elyria, Ohio, which call he accepted. In September following Rev. Julius Renz, of Fort Wayne, Ind., accepted a call and became minister. He staid until June 1863. In May 1864 Rev. A. Ebendrik was called to the pastoral care of the congregation. He accepted and still serves. In 1879 the church, 25 by 36 feet in size, proved too small, and it was resolved to make an addition of 20 feet to the length of it, which was accomplished. The congregation has no Sunday school of the kind common in this country, but every Sunday afternoon a public catechization of the young people is held by the pastor.

In 1876 a lot adjoining the church was bought and a parsonage built upon it.

EDUCATIONAL.

The only public school in this part of the town at the commencement of the present century was held in a small red school-house near the sound. John McDer- mott, who taught here for several years, was one of the first teachers, if not the first, in Whitestone. The build- ing becoming inconvenient in size and location a new one was decided on, and on May Ist 1818 a lease from Hewlett Kissam, of a lot 45 by 20 feet, was granted to the district at a rental of three dollars. On this a small plain building was erected at a cost of $250. The first trustees were John L. Franklin, William Powell and Hewlett Kissam. This building was in use about twenty years. The first to teach in it was Thomas R. Starkins. Among the pupils who attended were Joseph Harris, James Fowler, George L. Smith and Edwin Powell-now among the most honored citizens of the town of Flushing.

In 1838 the school had grown too large for its building and it became necessary to remove to the basement of what is now the Catholic church; a building owned at the time by Samuel Leggett, which is spoken of else- where, and the use of which was donated to the board by the philanthropic owner. Hon. B. W. Downing and William Thickett were teachers here for some time.

After the death of Mr. Leggett his executor decided to charge rent for the basement, which fact, added to the dampness of the rooms, led to an effort to build a suit- able school-house. This was met by an attempted se- cession of the part of the district near Bayside, which, after a long struggle, was foiled; and a new building was erected in what was then the central portion of the vil- lage, at a cost of $800. The first term of school taught there was under the care of William Thickett.

Until the year 1857 the school was supported by the payment of part tuition by the parents, John D. Locke very generously paying a dollar for every child who at- | Point.

tended from the families of the employes in his large factory. On the 16th of April in the year last named a special law was obtained, making tuition absolutely free and providing for a board of education. This law went into effect June Ist 1857. Charles A. Roe, Aaron C. Underhill, W. H. Schemerhorn, Edwin Powell and Thomas Leggett jr. were appointed the first board of education. Under this system the school has continued prosperous. In 1873 the building then in use by the schools was purchased by the village council, who re- modeled it into a town hall. The board then erected the present building, a two-story brick structure con- taining nine rooms, seven of which are separated by sliding panels. Its entire cost was about $13,000. The schools are now consolidated into a union graded school, taught by seven teachers and with an average attendance of from two hundred and fifty to three hundred. The managers of the school state that its relations with the community are harmonious, and its reputation good.

A school known as Leisemann's Institute from a small beginning grew to be quite well known and successful. Three or four years ago it was purchased by Adolph Von Uerhtritz, the present manager. Otto Fuerst established a boys' school, called Fuerst's Institute, about 1874, which he conducted until his death in 1879. Mrs. Clark's private school is one of the local educational enterprises of the present time.

THE COLLEGE POINT BREWERY.

The brewing interests of this place have been among its most important business enterprises. The first one was started by Nicholas Gentner, a German, who came from Newark, N. J., in 1854, and opened a place on Sixth avenue, between Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets, which was discontinued in 1856.

The most important of them, however, has been the establishment founded in 1868 by Adolph Levinger & Co., who came here from New York city. The buildings are on Eleventh street, built of brick, and oc- cupy a space two hundred feet square, with storing vaults below having a capacity of fifty thousand barrels, which is the annual capacity of the brewery. In 1872 the property was purchased by Jacob Hirsch, of New York, who removed here with his family in 1878. He has added to the buildings an ice-house, erected on the op- posite side of the street, where the summer's supply of ice -5,000 tons-is annually stored. On the first of July 1880 George Herman, of Brooklyn, purchased an inter- est, and the brewery is now conducted under the firm name of Hirsch & Herman. About forty men and twelve teams are employed constantly, and the products of the brewery have acquired a wide demand among the lovers of the Teutonic beverage in many of the markets of the world, large quantities being bottled and shipped to Australia and other antipodal parts.

SOCIETIES-THE HOSE COMPANY.

Harmonie Soricfy .- This is the oldest society at College It was organized August 24th 1855, and incor-

COLLEGE POINT SOCIETIES.

porated in 1874. It owns a good library, including a great number of music books; its hall is provided with a stage. The charter members were Dr. Weitzel, F. A. Zoeller, Frederick Busch, Gottlieb Schwieger, C. F. Simon, G. A. Fritz, F. G. Meyer, H. Glaser and Peter Buhl. The first officers were: C. F. Simon, president; F. A. Zoeller, vice-president; Peter Buhl, secretary; H. Glaser, secretary; G. A. Fritz, treasurer; Dr. Weitzel, F. G. Meyer and H. Glaser, finance committee.

The successive presidents have been C. F. Simon, H. Zuberbier, J. H. Rehlander, Alexander Brehm, C. Glaeckner, C. Schiller and Matthias Conrad. The of- ficers in 1880 were: Matthias Conrad, president; Moritz Roesler, vice-president; J. Neumann, secretary; Ernst Foeller, assistant secretary; Eugene Luthi, librarian; F. Hohn, assistant librarian; N. Beiderlenden, treasurer; G. Golsner, G. Schubert, C. Schmidt, P. Wacker, Anton Klarmann, Nicholas Rosenbauer and C. Koppmeier, ex- ecutive committee; Albert Steinfeld, director. The membership is eighty· three. Regular meetings are held the first Sarurday of each month, and singing lessons given every Saturday evening in Gaiser's Hall. The property of the society is valued at $2,500.

Union Hose Company, No. 1, was organized February 17th 1857, with the following first officers and original members : Messrs. Haubeil, foreman; Hebel, assistant foreman; Meier, treasurer; Schrell, secretary; Kannewitz, Winter, Corell and Wuerz. The successive foremen have been Messrs. Grossman, Nicholas Cauzet, Feldhaus, Henize, M. Jorch, F. Funk, A Ruebsamen, H. Mueller, C. Bauer, J. Becker, J. Wieners, Philip Lebknecher, Nicholas Becker, J. Strauss and F. Koch. The present (1881) officers, besides the foreman, are : Alvis Reiss, assistant foreman; M. Braentigam, treasurer; H. Geiger, secretary. Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month in the Turn Hall.

Society Krakehlia .- This is the name of a singing so- ciety organized August 15th 1858, with F. Trunk, Theo- dore Feldhaus, John Meyer, Richard Lutters and Robert Lutters as members. F. Trunk was the first president ; W. Kaufman, vice-president; Richard Lutters, secretary; W. Mehus, treasurer, and Jacob Blank, musical director. F. Trunk was president five years, and was succeeded by W. Mehus, C. Regity, A. Rausch, W. Mehus, C. Krum- me, -- Lieber, R. Lutters, Philip Rattman (five years), F. Lutters (three years), James Blank and Jacob Huber, the present incumbents (1881). The other officers at that time were: Philip Lebknecher, vice-pres- ident; H. Dana, secretary; F. W. Mehus, treasurer; C. Doering, librarian; C. Decker and J. Steinbeck, archi- vists; C. F. Haas, director. Meetings are held at Krae- mer's hall every Saturday evening at eight. The objects of the society are vocal culture and social amusement. It has a good library.

Marvin Lodge, No. 252, I. O. O. F. was organized October 26th 1870, with the following named first officers and charter members ; William O. Duval, N. G .; Wil- liam Heinge, V. G .; F. W. Grell, secretary; F. Lutters, treasurer, and C. Stender, The following members have

been elevated to the chair of noble grand : William O. Duval, William Heinge, F. W. Grell, F. Lutters, H. Kraemer, J. F. Wieners, Charles Marse, A. Jackers, F. Buckley, Joseph Blank, T. Miller, Matthew Frees, Eu- gene Luthi, F. W. Dackendorf, F. Ewers, Charles Frey- gang, F. Hunold, William Grimm, H. Kraemer, and P. Matz.

The officers in 1881 were: A. K. Hunter, N. G .; John Kraemer, V. G .; F. W. Dackendorf, secretary, F. Ewers, treasurer; John Friedman, C .; H. Williams; W .; Jacob Williams, S. W .; William Heinge, R. S .; William Grimm, I. S .; A. Jacobs, chaplain. Meetings are held at 8 P. M. Wednesdays, at the Poppenhusen Institute.

Deutsche Rhein Lodge, No. 287, D. O. H .- This so- ciety was organized September 22nd 1872, and meets every Tuesday evening at Turn Hall. Its charter mem- bers were : Henry Horn, Jacob Huber, John Mangler, Moritz Levinger, H. Kugelberg and P. Hoffman. The first officers were : John Brehm, O. B .; John Mangler, U. B .; Moritz Levinger, secretary; H. Kugelberg, trea- surer; H. Horn, accountant. The successive presiding officers have been John Mangler, Jacob Huber, H. Horn, Henry Dana, Joseph Dackendorf, H. Decker, F. A. Mueller, F. Lutters, William Knote, Karl Klein, Augustus Meyer, John Rech, John Schmidt and H. Grosskurth. The officers in 1881 were: H. Grosskurth, Ex .- B .; John Weitzel, O. B .; F. Dackendorf, U. B .; F. Lutters, secretary; Henry Decker, treasurer; Frank Reindel, accountant.

The Sick Relief Association of College Point was or- ganized February 11th 1873. The charter members were Carl Haubeil, Michael Braentigam, Daniel Barth, Gottfried Mahler, Mahler, Fr. Hetzer, Nicholas Rosen- bauer, George Hoffman, Nicholas Cauzet, August Ken- dell.

The first officers were: Carl Haubeil, president; Michael Braentigam, vice-president; Gottfried Mahler, secretary; Daniel Barth, assistant secretary; Nicholas Rosenbauer, treasurer.

The singing society Alpenroesli was organized January IIth 1880. The charter members were A. Noetzli, J. Graefli, E. Luthi, J. Duerenberger, Th. Dannacher, Th. Bollier, M. Bollier, J. Wagner, G. Benz, E. Frey, William Recher, J. Hertner.

The first officers were: A. Noetzli, president; J. Graefli, secretary; E. Luthi, vice- president.

The presiding officers to this time have been A. Noetzli, E. Luthi and J. Graefli.

The officers in 1881 were: J. Graefli, president; J. Duerenberger, vice-president; Th. Bollier, secretary; William Cooper, treasurer; A. Steinfeld, director.

Singing lessons are taken every Monday evening.

This society received a silver goblet as a prize at the international singing festival ir. Newark in August 1881.

The Germania Sick Relief Association was organized July 5th 1881, with the following charter members: Jolin Wahl, George Seibert, John Haunfelder, Seb. Pickel, Nicholas Neu, August Kersten, Max Eisner. The first officers were: John Wahl, president; George Seibert,

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HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY.

vice-president; John Haunfelder, first secretary; Fer- dinand Schneier, second secretary; Nicholas Neu, treasurer.

The officers in 1881 were: Jacob Mueller, president; George Hoffmann, vice-president; Michael Schaefer, first secretary; August Kendell, second secretary; Fr. Landes, treasurer; Conrad Schmidt, Heinrich Meyer, Fr. Kutger, finance committee; August Kersten, Jacob Ehm, John Schuetter, trustees.

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History of Queens County, New York : with illustrations, portraits, and sketches of prominent families and individuals., Part 23

Author: Publication date: 1882 Publisher: New York : W.W. Munsell and Co. Number of Pages: 703

Author:
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: New York : W.W. Munsell and Co.
Number of Pages: 703