History of Queens County, New York : with illustrations, portraits, and sketches of prominent families and individuals., Part 59

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 59

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

284

HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY.

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

A volunteer village fire department was established in Astoria, probably as long ago as 1850, and at a later date a similar one was organized at Hunter's Point. The fire department of Long Island City was organized May 5th 1871, and such apparatus as was at that tinie owned by these two old departments became a part of the property of the new city department.

The board of fire commissioners in 1871 was composed of Willianı Mulligan (president), James Laws and James Stephenson. The first chief engineer of the city fire de- partment was John M. Snyder. His successors have been Daniel K. Lester, George Casey and Janies Comisky, the present incumbent. The fire department is now un. der the management of the following commissioners: Henry S. De Bevoise, mayor; Stephen J. Kavanagh, president of the board of aldermen; William McBride, Charles W. Hallett and Russell Wright, commissioners of public works.

The department has four hand engines, three hook and ladder trucks and seven hose carriages. The hose con- panies are seven in number and are known as " Mohawk, No. 1," "Empire, No. 2," "Rambler, No. 3," "Hope, No. 4," " Jackson, No. 5," "Union, No. 6" and "Stein- way, No. 7." There are four engine companies, " Jack- son, No. 1," "Protection, No. 2," " Franklin, No. 3" and "Hunter, No. 4." The three hook and ladder compa- nies are called respectively, " Active, No. 1," " Live Oak, No. 2" and "Friendship, No. 3."

EDUCATIONAL. HISTORY.

Previous to 1721 those families living at Dutch Kills, at Hallett's Cove and at other points now within the limits of Long Island City, depended for school privi- leges on Newtown village, which had occasionally had teachers temporarily and where the first regular school was established in 1720. On account of the distance these schools had been to the sections mentioned practi- cally valueless. Feeling the deprivation to which their children were subject, several leading citizens formed the design of starting another school, at Middletown; and, associating for that purpose, they built a school- house upon a piece of ground appropriated by Joseph Hallett. May 20th 1721 this gentleman executed a deed, admitting Samuel Hallett, Samuel Moore, Joseph Moore, Thomas Skillman and Isaac Bragaw as joint owners with himself of the premises, which he thus described:

"Thirty foot long and twenty foot broad, in my lot lying next to George Brinckerhoff's woodland, for the use and benefit of a school-liouse, now erected and stand- ing thereon by the roadside from Hallett's Cove to New- town; to be equally enjoyed by them and their heirs sev- erally, and me and my heirs, forever, having, all and every of us, our heirs and every one of them, the same equal share, right and title to the above said land and school- house, and full power and authority to send what num- ber of children we think fit."

undertaking, and one which none for many years were found ready to incur the expense of imitating. Indeed, the advantages of education and intelligence were as yet too little understood to be valued except so far as they seemed to bear on the promotion of business and the acquisition of wealth." This house, having been sold, perhaps about 1845, formed the kitchen to the dwelling occupied a few years later by the widow 'Tilton.

An incident connected with the old school-house which occurred about seventy years ago is thus given by Riker: " This was the discovery by one of the school boys of a bag of gold to the value of $840, which had belonged to one John Kearns, who had taught school here during the Revolution. The money was taken possession of by the teacher, whose nanie was Neal; but the neighbors, hear- ing of it, collected, and took him before William Lever- ich, Esq., by whose order the money was forced from him. Owing, however, to some irregularity in the pro- ceeding, Neal prosecuted the several persons engaged in searching him, including the justice, and recovered dam- ages for assault and battery; while N. Moore, as administrator for Kearns, sued and obtained the money."

In 1734 several individuals living in Hell Gate Neck combined and erected " a small house for a school to be kept in for the education of their children," on the river road, near Berrian's Point, where John Lawrence had presented "one square rod of land" as a site for the building and which, February 24th 1735, he deeded to his associates, Joseph Moore, Thomas Lawrence, Corne- lius Berrian, William Leverich and Hendrick Wiltsee. A school-house stood on the ground for a hundred years or more, and at last lost its identity by occupancy as a dwelling.

AN ENGLISH AND CLASSICAL SCHOOL.

An English and classical school was established at Hallett's Cove, under the patronage of the leading inhab- itants, but at precisely what date cannot now be known. The following announcement of the teachers appeared in the New York Mercury of April 26th 1762. How many years thereafter the institution was in existence is very uncertain :

" TO THE PUBLIC .- This is to give notice to all whom it may concern, That William Rudge, late of the city of Gloucester, in Old England, still continues his school at Hallett's Cove, where he teaches Writing in the different hands, Arithmetic in its different branches, the Italian method of Book-keeping by way of Double-entry, Latin and Greek. Those who choose to favor him may depend upon having proper care taken of their children, and he returns thanks to those who have already obliged him. The school is healthy and pleasantly situated and at a very convenient distance from New York, from where there is an opportunity of sending letters and parcels, and of having remittances almost every day, by the peri- augers. Letters will be duly answered directed to the said William Rudge, at Hallett's Cove.

" We, who have subscribed our names, being willing to continue the school-master, as we have hitherto found him a man of close application, sobriety and capable of

"This was looked upon," says Riker, " as a hazardous |his office, are ready to take in boarders at £18 per an-

285

PUBLIC SCHOOLS -- BOARD OF EDUCATION.

num: Jacob Blackwell, Jacob Hallett jr., Thomas Hal- lett, Jacob Hallett, Jacob Rapelye, John Greenoak, Sam- uel Hallett jr., William Hallett, Richard Hallett, Rich- ard Berrian, Richard Penfold, William Hallett, John McDonough."

How long this educational enterprise was in existence cannot now be ascertained. It is stated that from time, in later years, other private schools of more or less in- fluence were established at Astoria. No particulars con- cerning them can be obtained and it is probable they were in character and scope much like the schools in vogue in villages throughout the country contemporane- ously with them. Through the influence of Stephen A. Halsey and other prominent citizens good schools were established at Astoria and at Hunter's Point and in other portions of the city as now bounded, which were largely attended and did their part in paving the way for the present splendid public school system of Long Island City.

THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

At the time of its incorporation the city contained three public schools, known as numbers 3, 4 and II of the schools of Newtown. From such records as have been preserved it is found that No. 3 was established as a free school in 1850, by an act of legislature passed March 16th of that year. The site consisting of eight lots of land, was given to John B. Reboul and others con- stituting the board of education, by Stephen A. Halsey, of Astoria, and the school thereon established has proved to be one of the most successful educational in- stitutions on Long Island. The first board of education was exceedingly fortunate in its appointment of Benja- min Mason to the principalship of the school, and under his efficient management of more than twelve years there graduated many who speak with just pride of their con- nection with this school during the time it was under his charge. His successors as principals have been Mes- srs. Ketcham, George A. Everitt, A. W. Melville, E. A. Lewis, C. F. Carroll, N. H. Dumond, Rev. Mr. Rodman and C. W. Gould.

From its organization school No. 4 does not seem to have taken a very prominent rank among the schools of Newtown, though it has not failed to supply a long felt want to a very large class of children in the district known to-day as Dutch Kills and Blissville.

No. II, the school in the Hunter's Point district, was established as a free school March 2nd 1861. It was about this time that Hunter's Point began to assume con- siderable importance as a manufacturing and business center, and its consequent increasing population furnished the necessity for a school. In April of that year Union College, through its agent, HI. S. Anable, leased for a term of five years a brick building on Sixth street, to be used for school purposes. The first board of school trustees of this district organized March 22nd by the election of Freeman Hiscox as president. Isaac Sterns was at once chosen teacher of the newly established school. At a meeting of the board April 25th following Mr. Sterns was allowed an assistant, and Miss Mary B. Walker was

elected to that position at an annual salary of $50. This does not seem to have been an extravagant expenditure of public money when it is remembered that the rental of the building in which the school was held was $1, 200 a year.

The revised charter of 1871 provided for a board of education for Long Island City, to be appointed by the mayor. Under the provision of this act the board as originally appointed consisted of George Petry, Safferin D. Allen, Willy Wallach, John Fahnestock and Lewis J. White. The board organized by the election of Mr. Fahnestock as president, and at an early subsequent meeting Alanson Palmer was elected superintendent. Without any unnecessary delay the efforts of the depart- ment were directed to devising a complete, systematic and graded course of study, which should include all the English branches usually taught in grammar schools. With but slight modifications this course has served ad- mirably to the present.

As early as 1873 it became the duty of the board to increase the school facilities by opening a new school in the third ward, or Ravenswood district of the city. In October a suitable building was leased and in December the school was put in operation. The attendance at once arose to above 300 and it has been maintained at about that figure since. In 1877 three additional schools were established, two in what is now known as the fifth ward and one in Blissville. The upper fifth ward or Steinway school grew out of an urgent necessity for the establish- ment of educational opportunities to the rapidly increas- ing population of the Steinway settlement. It was due largely to the generous aid of William Steinway that the district was enabled to construct and furnish one of the finest school buildings on the island, with seating accom- modations for about 500 pupils in well-ventilated and lighted rooms. The lower fifth ward or fifth ward pri- mary school serves principally as a relief to old No. 3 or the Astoria school. The Blissville school, besides reliev- ing the overcrowded condition of old No. 4, supplies a demand which existed for more convenient and accessible local educational facilities.

All of the efforts of the board of education are at pres- ent directed to the maintenance and improvement of the seven schools above referred to, and though it has not always been able to meet all the requirements of the educational department, it has the satisfaction of know- ing that these efforts have generally been seconded and always appreciated by the public at large. The fact that during the last ten years the increase in the daily aver- age attendance has been more than too per cent. greater than the increase in the population of the city attests the care and efficiency with which the schools have been managed and the interest and confidence with which they are regarded by the public.

The following persons have been officially connected with the board of education since its organization in 1871: First ward-George Petry, Thomas McMahon, Sylvester Gray; second ward-Safferin D). Allen, An- thony Pirz, Anthony Goldner, David Bartley, Patrick

286

HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY.

McKeon, John Metz; third ward-Willy Wallach, Den- nis J. Holland, Daniel Donnelly, Benjamin P. Thomp- son, Daniel O'Callaghan, Michael McBride; fourth ward-John Fahnestock, Henry C. Johnson, Josiah M. Whitney; fifth ward-Lewis J. White, Joseph Larocque, Henry C. Titus. The following named commissioners have served as president of the board: George Petry, Sylvester Gray, John Fahnestock, Henry C. Johnson, Josiah M. Whitney, Henry P. Titus. Alanson Palmer was secretary of the board in 1871-74 and 1875-81, Ed- ward F. Magee, 1874 and 1875.

Besides the principals named in our mention of No. 3, or the Astoria school, the following persons have served since 1871, or are serving in such capacity in the other schools of the city at the present time (1881): First ward -\V. H. Sieberg, Erastus Crosby; second ward-E. A. Barnes, William Silliman, P. R. McCarthy; third ward- Edward F. McGee, P. R. McCarthy, Miss L. A. Salter; fifth ward primary school-Rebecca A. Stafford; Stein- way school-Miss Georgie Swezey.

THE BIBLE WAR.

The educational history of Long Island City would scarcely be complete without mention of a local dissen- sion known as "the Bible war." Early in 1871 the mayor appointed a committee of seventeen to revise the charter of Long Island City and to draft a school law. To Rev. John Crimmin was assigned the duty of drafting the powers and duties of the common council and the school law which now form portions of the revised charter.

The original draft of the school law, read by Father Crimmin before the committee of seventeen, contained a paragraph excluding all religious exercises, such as the reading of the Bible, the singing of hymns and the reci- tation of prayers, from the public schools. While the document was in general highly commended, this partic- ular paragraph caused no small amount of discussion; and as on all religious questions all parties are tenacious of their belief, so also in this case did they hold firmly to their various opinions. After a full discussion of the matter in public the question of the adoption of the par- agraph was brought to a vote, and the paragraph was adopted by a majority of the committee. Two Catholics only voted in favor of its adoption, viz., Father Crimmin and Anthony Pirz. The paragraph was afterward stricken out by a member of the senate. Father Crimmin of- fered no opposition to the passage of the bill so long as nothing was inserted to authorize religious exercises in the public schools. The bill having become a law, the board of education appointed under its provisions in 1871 was composed of three Protestant and two Catholic gen- tlemen, who unanimously adopted by-laws enforcing the usual religious exercises of the public schools. This course naturally aroused Catholics to opposition. They felt greatly aggrieved. Father Crimmin counselled the parents to observe moderation but to hold firmly to their rights, to keep entirely within the law, and, under any provocation, not to violate the peace. He first advised

that the Catholic children should not enter the school until the religious exercises were over. Some of the children were expelled, and others threatened with expul- sion for non-attendance. He then advised the parents to send their children to school at 9 o'clock; that under the direction of their parents they could legally object to the religious exercises, and if the children were expelled he would appeal the case to the State superintendent of public instruction. Many of the Catholic children in the first ward and some in the second ward schools objected to the religious exercises and were expelled. Three large boys, John Dennen, James Clark and John Colton, too big to be ejected, were placed under arrest because they resisted the principal in his efforts to eject a pupil, Miss Katie Dennen, who had objected to the religious exer- cises. The boys were subsequently discharged.

Although Father ¿Crimmin had determined to appeal, he did not desire to do so until all hopes of convincing the board of education of the illegality and injustice of their course had failed. The board, however, decided as a compromise to omit the singing of hymns and the re- citation of prayers and to read only the Ten Command- ments and the Lord's Prayer. Father Crimmin would not accept this compromise, because, as he stated, Cath- olics could not take part in a non-Catholic religious ex- ercise or willingly be present at it. An informal offer was made to substitute the Catholic version of the Scrip- tures for the Protestant version in the schools. Father Crimmin objected, saying that the school board could not legally enjoin the reading of either, and that he would never consent to inflict a grievance upon his neighbor of which he himself had complained. In these views he was sustained not only by Catholics but by many Protes- tants. The board of education, feeling that they had made all the concessions consistent with their rights in the matter, ordered the principal of the first ward school to insist on the reading of the Scriptures, and to expel those children who objected or refused to attend during the reading.

On one occasion some of the members of the board of education, the city superintendent and a number of prominent citizens attended the religious exercises in one of the classes in the first ward school. The exercises opened with the reading of a portion of the Scriptures by the principal. Two of the Catholic children of the class objected. A consultation was held among the of- ficials and the citizens present on the course to be pur- sued. It was resolved that all the children present op- posed to the reading of the Scriptures should be ex- pelled. This information was conveyed to the children and all opposed to the reading of the Scriptures were ordered to stand up, whereupon 42 of the 45 children in the class-some of them Protestants-arose and were ex- pelled. The feeling was intense. Public meetings were called and resolutions adopted censuring the action of the board of education. The board of school trustees of the first ward passed resolutions giving the free use of the school building to all denominations desiring to give religious instruction to their children, before and after

287

RELIGIOUS EXERCISES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS-JOURNALISM.

school hours, in order to settle the difficulty amicably. The board of education opposed this plan and persisted in the course they had adopted.

Before appealing to the State superintendent Father Crimmin drafted the following memorial, which was signed by a large number of citizens and presented to the board of education as a last resort:

Long Island City, Dec. 29th, 1871.

To the Honorable Board of Education of Long Island City:

Gentlemen, ---

We the undersigned residents and citizens of this city respectfully petition your honorable body for the repeal of that portion of section 18, article 12 of the by-laws of the board of education which reads as follows: "The daily opening exercises shall consist of the reading of a portion of the Holy Scripture without note or comment;" and we further petition your honorable body that no re- ligious instructions, prayer, hymns, or other religious ex- ercises be permitted in the public schools during school hours, for the following reasons:

First-Because we, as members of the Catholic Church, cannot join in religious exercises with non-Catholics, even when the exercise is the same in substance and in form.

Second-Because the religious exercises hitherto held in the public schools, and the religious instruction given therein have been and are still condemned by our highest ecclesiastical authority as corrupt, false and heretical. We are forbidden to read, or to attend the religious in- structions and the prayers which our children are obliged to attend in the public schools.

Third-Because, as freemen, we have the natural and inalienable right to hold to this belief, and to live accord- ing to its teachings.

Fourth-Because as rational and responsible beings we have a natural and inalienable right to dictate to our own children, during their minority, what shall and what shall not be their religious convictions; how and why and what they shall believe and practice in religion; and we hold that no human power or authority, whether it be ecclesi- astical or civil, can justly claim this right, or justly exer- cise this power, except with our consent.

Fifth-Because we, as citizens of the State of New York, have a constitutional right to hold, to enjoy, and to practice this religious belief; and we hold that, under the constitution of this State, we cannot be legally de- prived of any right or privilege secured to any citizen of this State on account of religious convictions, or the ex- ercise or enjoyment thereof.

Sixth-Because we, as residents of Long Island City, have a legal right, according to section 24, title 9 of our city charter, to send our children to the public schools of this city, and the only conditions required by law in order to entitle children to the benefits of our public schools are: first, that they shall be residents of this city; secondly, that they shall be of the ages between four and twenty-one years. Their attendance to religious instructions, exercises, or practices is not imposed as a legal condition to entitle them to the benefits of such public instruction; and if it were it would be unconsti- tutional and therefore not binding.

Seventh-Because we, as taxpayers, believe that the employment and payment of officers and teachers by the civil authorities, for the dissemination and maintenance of Protestant religious instruction, exercises and practices, in our public schools during school hours, and the forc- ing of attendance on the part of the children to religious instructions which teach mysteries that require an act of supernatural faith to believe them, which are beyond the

reach or demonstration of human reason, and which are given as holy and sacred, as the teachings of a divine au- thority, without any proof or evidence to the child or to the parent of the child of these mysteries, or that such instructions or exercises are holy or divine or by divine authority; in a word, that they must be accepted with- out note or comment, is an assumption and an outrage on the part of civil authorities against the rights of con- science, and against the organic law of this State. It is giving the school boards a right and a power greater than has been given by the State to its government in its organic laws, by and through which alone the school boards can have an existence. It perverts public insti- tutions to private ends. It prostitutes the public funds to the interests of a particular class. It institutes anar- chy in the State, foments disunion, discord and bitter prejudice in the minds of fellow citizens, and brings odium and disgrace upon the whole system of public in- struction.

We, therefore, pray your honorable body to take prompt and decisive action in the matter which we lay before you, to the end that we and our children may no longer suffer from a public insult and injustice, which we have borne patiently for many years, to the end that our children may as speedily as possible enter our public schools and participate in all their exercises without pro- test, and to the end that not only our children, but the children of every class and denomination of our fellow citizens may profit by the maternal generosity, solicitude and justice of this State, without suffering insult or in- justice on account of their race, their color, or their creed."

This petition having been denied by the board of edu- cation, Father Crimmin drafted the appeal to the State superintendent in the names of some of the parents whose children had been expelled. Nearly forty affida- vits were taken and put in evidence. A copy of the ap- peal was served on the board of education, who put in an answer. The case was decided in favor of the appel- lants by the memorable decision of Hon. Abram B. Wea- ver, then State superintendent of public instruction, by which the reading of the Bible and other religious exer- cises were forbidden in the public schools of Long Island City during school hours.

This ended a long and exciting controversy. Although the decision was the cause of deep chagrin to many at the tinie, it was soon felt as a source of great satisfaction and harmony for all. In justice it must be stated that all de- nominations bore with each other charitably and patient- ly until the decision was obtained, and nowhere in the State are all denominations more harmoniously united on the support and government of their public schools than in Long Island City.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Queens County, New York : with illustrations, portraits, and sketches of prominent families and individuals., Part 59

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