USA > New York > Monroe County > Rochester > History of Rochester and Monroe county, New York, from the earliest historic times to the beginning of 1907 > Part 17
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96
Dla ized by Google
131
HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
than a pinhead to the search-light mirrors three feet in diameter for the United States navy, be- sides which the firm has lately gone into practical partnership with the federal government iu one line, as it now produces the lenses for the light- houses along the coast (which a few years ago it was thought could not be made satisfactorily ont- side of France) and the most seusitive instruments for measuring the tides; like the Kodak company this house has headquarters, branches and agencies on every continent and in almost every country; there are several other concerns in this city en- gaged in similar production, which would be con- sidered large if they were not overshadowed by this. First also in the manufacture of enameled steel tanks and in the output of seeds and nursery stock, not only from the world-famous nurseries of Ellwanger & Barry, but from a number of es- tablishments smaller than those; first in the man- ufacture of laundry machinery, first in that of thermometers (one of those instruments, made here, having been sent to Boston last year, twenty feet long, than which no greater is known), first in the manufacture of paper boxes, as well as of the machinery for making both wooden and paper boxes (one lithographie concern here filling a single order last summer for a hundred million cardboard boxes for a cereal food, costing half a million dollars and filling 450 freight cars) ; first in the production of buttons, of lubricating oil, of canned fruits and vegetables, of cider and of vinegar.
In all the above-mentioned articles Rochester easily surpasses all other cities on the globe, in others its leadership is confined to this country, though it is probable that the Stromberg-Carlson company turns out more telephones and telephonie apparatus than is innde anywhere else. The Gen- eral Railway Signal company is enlarging its plaut at Lincoln park, so as to give it a hundred thou- sand feet of floor space, preparatory to the em- ployment of some two thousand additional hands, which will enable it to compare favorably with any similar establishment in the country. In the mat- ter of clothing, Rochester stande third, New York and Philadelphia ouly surpassing it; many for- tunes have been made in that and more will be made in the years to come; it is largely in the hands of the Jewa, Meyer Greentree having started it in 1840, though there have always been a few
Gentile houses among the numerous competitors; the total output is more than twenty million dol- lure, and the different articles of clothing go not only into local shops but to the uttermost ends of the earth. As to boots and shoes Rochester comes fourth, rating after Brockton, Lyun aud St. Louis; there are between sixty and seventy factories, rep- resenting an investment of three million dollars, four of which turn out over five million dollars' worth annually, the total production being about fifteen million. To mention, besides stoves, flour, beer, furnaces and ranges, pianos, furniture, car- riages, lithographie work, perfumery and picture frames, all the articles made here, would be like giving u list of all those that are in general use. About the only thing of that sort not produced here to any great extent is the automobile, but the Selden Motor Vehicle company is now putting up at East Rochester a plant for the manufacture of those machines, George B. Selden, a Rochester muu, being the inventor of, and holding the ex- clusive paient for, gasoline engines used for the propulsion of automobiles, For all these produc- tions the home market would be lamentably in- sufficient, neither does the city depend upon itself for what it consumes. To say nothing of what is obtained from other cities of the United States, the merchandise imported from foreign countries during last year came to 81,361,513, the customs receipt- being $193,323.56. The amount of coal exported from here annually is over 600,000 tons, most of it hituminous.
THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
In the development of the city's industries the Chamber of Commerce has, during the twenty years of its existence, been a important factor. In the act of incorporation passed by the legislature May 3d, 1882, the objects of the association were stated to be "to foster the trade and commerce of the city of Rochester, to protect such trade and commerce from unjust and unlawful exactions, to reform abuses in trade, to diffuse accurate and re- liable information mong its members as to the standing of merchants and other matters, to pro- duce uniformity and certainty in the customs and usages of trade, to settle differences between its members and to promote a more enlarged anl friendly intercourse between merchants." That
Dartedby Google
132
HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
these objects have been well carried out is attested by the steady increase in membership and popu- larity of the body, and to its activity may fairly be attributed many of the beneficial movements that have taken place in the city's life. Its first location was in the upper story of the Rochester Savings bank building, but after being there about seven years it removed to its present conunodious quarters in the Chamber of Commerce building. of which it orenpies the entire eleventh floor. The first president was 11. H. Warner, who has been succeeded by William S. Kimball, Lewis P. Ross, Eugene T. Curtis, Max Brickner, Henry C. Brews- ter, Ira L. Otis, Charles P. Ford, James G. Cutler, Charles E. Angle, Rufus A. Sibley, Henry R. Hathaway, A. B. Lamberton, Thomas B. Dunn, Clinton Rogers, Robert A. Badger and Michael Doyle, the present incumbent, the vice-presidents for this year being Charles F. Garfield, Lan- sing G. Wetmore and W. H. H. Rogers. The po- sition of secretary was held for several years by J. Y. MeClintock, after that by George Moss till 1899, since which time it has been filled by John M. Ives; the treasurer is Benjamin E. Chase; the number of members is 425 and the annual dues are twenty dollars.
THE LIBRARIES.
The only free public library, for the use of the general public, now in the city, is the Reynolds li- brary. A word or two regarding its predecessors will be in place here. As far back as 1822 an ef- fort was made to establish a public library, and an association under the name of the Rochester Lit- erary company was formed for that purpose, but it either failed of realization or was very short- lived, as no further record of it can be found. Ia 1826 the Franklin Institute was founded and out of it grew the Rochester Atheneum, which was in- corporated in 1830 and associated with the Me. chanics Literary nssociation in 1819, when the title was enlarged so as to embrace both, though the former name was the only one commonly used. After a generation of usefulness it became extinet in 1877, its books becoming the property of Mor- timer F. Reynolds and George S. Riley, the latter of whom soon transferred his interest to the for- iner, who a little later turned over the property fc
an association incorporated, by an act passed in 1884, under the name of the Reynolds Library. The persons named in the act as incorporators, and therefore trustees, were M. B. Anderson. M. F. Reynolds, George E. Mumford, William C. Rowley, Hiram Sibley, Don Alonzo Watson, Frederick A. Whittlesey, George Ellwanger, Arthur C. Coxa. Theodore Bacon, E. M. Moore, Daniel T. Hunt, Gilman HI. Perkins, Samuel Sloan, Howard Os- good, William C. Morey, Max Landsberg, Josiah Anstice and S. A. Lattimore. Of these only the last three are now on the board, the two preced- ing them or the list having resigned and all the others being removed by death ; their places are filled by Henry F. Burton, Henry G. Dauforth, Charles A. Dewey, Edward G. Miner, Cyrus F. Paine, William F. Peck, Erickson Perkins, Rush Rhees, Rufus A. Sibley, William R. Taylor, Wil- liam E. Werner, Julius M. Wile. The first pres- ident was Dr. Anderson, the next was Dr. Moore, the next Mr. Whittlesey, each serving till his death; the present incumbent is Prof. Lattimore, the treasurer is Mr. Anstice, the secretary Mr. Peck ; the librarian is Alfred S. Collins. The will of Mr. Reynolds bequenthed to the Library all of his real estate, which consisted of the Arcade and his residence on Spring street. The books, which up to the time of his death were kept in the Ar- cade, were after that event removed to the house, surrounded by beautiful grounds, where the donor had lived. There are now over sixty thousand volumes, of which the majority are in the reference department, which is well stocked with encyclo- pedias and other works for consultation ; the cir- culating department is also well provided with books for cursory readers, any one of whom may draw out volumes after obtaining a card, easily procured, establishing his responsibility. The li- brary is absolutely free, and so is the newspaper reading-room in the Arcade, the rental from which building furni-hes the sole support of the insti- tution.
Until quite recently there was a large collec- tion of books, called the Central library, under the control of the board of education. in the Free Academy building, on Fitzhugh street, which was intended primarily for the use of the pupils of the public schools, though citizens generally availed themselves of the opportunity to borrow from it; it has now been broken up and its con-
Dla ized by Google
THE REYNOLDS LIBRARY.
Pionzoo by Google
135
HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
tents distributed among the different grammar schools. The university and the two theological seminaries have large and valuable libraries, which are mentioned elsewhere; they are not confined exclusively to persons connected with those insti- tutions, but can be used by outsiders under reason- able conditions. The law library of the Appellate court, in the county building, is a very extensive one, but, naturally, it is used mainly by members of the legal profession, though laymen sometimes find it convenient to go there to look at the session laws and other volumes.
THE ROCHESTER HISTORICAL.
The Rochester Historical society has its location on the third floor of the Reynolds Library build- ing, which is given up to its use. It was formed at a social gathering on December 17th, 1887, be- ing incorporated in the following November. Its first president was E. M. Moore, who has been followed by Augustus H. Strong, James L. Angle, Charles E. Fitch, John H. Rochester, George M. Elwood, Porter Farley, Eugene H. Howard, Adei- bert Cronise, William H. Samson and Clinton Rogers. The first corresponding secretary waq Jane Marsh Parker, is now Nathaniel S. Olds; the first treasurer was Gilman HI. Perkins, the present is J. V. Alexander; William F. Peck has heen the recording secretary from the begin- ning. The object of the society is to rescue from oblivion all facts relating to the early history of this region and to preserve the record of events that are in any way connected with this locality. It has accumulated a well furnished library bear- ing upon this subject and has purchased a very valuable collection of Indian articles of different kinds, besides possessing a gallery of oil portraits of many of the pioneers of this county and a num- ber of things of interest from the standpoint of 1 local antiquarian, such as copies of the first edition of the Mormon Bible, of the life of Mary Jemi- sen. the "White Woman of the Genesee," and of Morgan's book of alleged revelations of Masonry, with one of the handbills of Sam Patch, aunoune- ing his last leap, and so on. Monthly meetings are held during the winter, at which valuable papers are read by members of the society.
THE ACADEMY OF SCIENCE.
This was organized in 1881, as the outcome o! the Microscopical society, which had existed for the previous two years. Its first president was Rev. Myron Adams, the one now holding that po- sition is Charles T. Howard, the treasurer is Ru- dolph Schmidt, the secretary Harry A. Carpenter, It is in a flourishing condition and its published proceedings have been sent over the world, but it has no permanent quarters, holding its meetings at present twice a month in the Eastman Labora- tory building of the university.
THE WARD MUSEUM.
One of the most interesting places to visit is Ward's Natural Science Establishment, on College avenue. The following account of it has been fur- nished by its president, Mr. Frank A. Ward: "It was founded in the early sixties by the late Prof. Henry A. Ward. While occupying the chair of professor of geology in the University of Rochester he became impressed with the lack of suitable ma -- terial with which to illustrate his lectures. Ob- taining leave of absence from the university, he went abroad and spent several years in visiting the leading educational museums of Europe and coi- lecting such material as he found necessary for his work, He brought back with him several hundred eases of specimens, including casts of the most celebrated fossil forms, which were entirely new in America. These collections were purchased by the Rochester university, and it was in answer to the many letters of inquiry from leading sci- entists all over the country in regard to these objects, which excited great interest, that he de- cided to resign his position as professor and devote his life to the collection and sale of objects of natural history. This led to the founding of Ward's Natural Science Establishment, which was carried on as a private enterprise until the year 1890, when the business was incorporated under the laws of this state. During the early years of its existence large contracts were taken by the company for the Agassiz museum at Cambridge. Besides many fossila and casts, mounted skeletons and stuffed specimens of mammals, birds, reptiles and fishes from all parts of the world were sent to that museum, aggregating over $100,000.00 in
Digizoo by Google
136
HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
cost. The late P. T. Barnum was an enthusiastic neturalist, and for many years the more important animals that died in his menagerie were sent to Rexchester to be prepared and mounted for Tufis college, the celebrated African elephant, Jumbo, among others. Beginning with the Centennial fair at Philadelphia, in 1876, it has been customary to send large exhibits to the great expositions held in different cities. The exhibit at Chicago in 1893 filled the entire north end of the ethnolo- gienl building, and at the close of the exposition was sold to Marshall Field for the Columbian ina- seum for $100,000.00. The purpose of Ward's Natural Science Establishment is now, and has been in the past, to furnish to the museums, col- leges and schools of this country and Europe, weil selected and skillfully prepared specimens in all branches of natural history. Business is now car- ried on with the leading institutions of this count- try, such as the Smithsonian at Washington. the American musem in New York City, the Field Columbian museum of Chicago, the Carnegie mu- seum of Pittsburg, besides the many college mu- seums in every state of the Union. The British museum of . London, and the museums at Paris, Vienna, Sydney, Aus- tralia: Christ Church, New Zealand; Bom- bay, India; Buenos Ayres and Rio Janeiro, South America, are among its many customers. Travelers in all parts of the world have Rochester brought home to them by the familiar label to be seen in all museums, -- 'From Ward's Natural Sci- ence Establishment, Rochester, N. Y?"
PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.
There are thirty-eight public schools in the city besides two high schools, ane on each side of the river, which have been recently erected at much expense and are highly ornamental structures of great architectural beauty. The school census shows that there are 35,716 children here, between the ages of five and eighteen years; of these only three hundred and thirty-nine are known to be un- lawfully absent, with twenty boys and six girls. truants during the last semester ; the rest are re- ceiving regular instruction in the different insti- tutions, private, parochial and public, in the last of which there are six hundred and seventy-four teachers.
The church-going element of the community calls for more than one hundred and twenty places of worship, the number not being given exactly because in some cases the services are held in rented rooms and the congregations are too small to admit of distinct classification. The Young Men's Christian association has a large building on the corner of South avenue and Court street, with a music hall for minor entertain- meuts: the Young Women's Christian association bas a new and commodious one on Clinton avenue North.
SOCIAL CLUBJ.
Fifty years ago social clubs were unknown here, but now they form an important factor in the life of the community. The oldest one now in existence here is the Rochester club, which was formed in 1860, its first president being James Terry. For several years it ocenpied pleasant quarters in the Ellwanger & Barry block, on State street, and after that the upper floor of the Roch- ester Savings bank builling. In 1888 the members judged that the time had arrived for following the example of the leading clubs in the metropolis and owning a house of their own, so they pur- chased a fine private residence on East avenue, between Gibbs and Scio streets, and moved into it in the comse of that year after making suitable alterations; since then the building has been en- larged by the addition of a bowling-alley. The membership is about three hundred. The present officers are William Bausch, president; George F. Roth, vice-president; E. F. Underhill, treasurer ; James Quinlan, secretary.
Confining our attention to those clubs that are still extant the next to be formed was the Phoenix, founded by a number of wealthy Jews of this city, to which nationality its membership has always been confined. For some years they occupied quarters on North Clinton street, near East Main, and after that, changing the name at the same time to the Eureka club, they purchased a large private residence further down the street, near the corner of Andrews, and after using that for some years they tore it down and erected in its place a fine club-house eighty-two feet by one hundred and seventy-six, costing $100,000, one of the principal features of which is a theater, which is of great benefit to the community, as the directors kindly
Dla ized by Google
EUREKA CLI'B.
ROCHESTER CLUB.
ROCHESTER WHIST CLUB.
Pigszoo by Google
139
HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
permit its use, as well as that of the ample dining room, for large gatherings and banqueta, notably those held annually for the benefit of the City hospital. Its first president was J. W. Rosenthal; the present officers are Louis Kirstein, president ; Maurice D. Strauss, secretary ; Morris M. Meyers, treasurer.
In September, 1882, the Rochester Whist club was organized, in a modest sort of way, with John E. Morey as president, content at first with one room in the Cox building but enlarging its habits- tion with each successive removal until it got into its present quarters in the old Dr. Dean house, on North Fitzhugh street, which it does not own but holds on a long lease. It is, distinctively, the down-town club of the city and used for the mid- day meal and for afternoon recreation by a large proportion of its membership, which is probably the largest in the city. Its original purpose has been almost completely abandoned, and that feat- ure constitutes the sole basis of the Genesee Whist club, the only one in the city where that game is played, to the exclusion of all others. The officers of the former are Griff D. Palmer, president; H. Howard Clapp, treasurer; Frank V. Reynolds, secretary.
It will be generally admitted that the higli- water mark has been reached by the Genesee Val- ley club, which was organized January 2d, 1885, was incorporated two weeks later and moved into its club-house, on South Washington street, on March 25th. This answered well enough for four years, but no house that has been a private resi- dence can be perfectly adapted to the requirements of modern club life, so a building, coating $60,- 000, was erected on the corner of Gibbs street and East aveune, the first one to be put up in Roch- ester for the distinct and exclusive purpose of a club-house ( though the Phoenix club had erected a building fifteen years before, of which it occupied all but the ground floor), and into this the club moved on the 22d of February, 1889. It had many conveniences, including a Indies' café, which was an innovation, and a large assembly room for balls and private entertainments, many of which, artist- ic and literary, were given there. But the demand outgrew the accommodations, so a private house adjoining, on East avenue, was made into an annex ; even this was found eventually to be in- sufficient, so additional land was purchased on the
north, the house just referred to was torn down and the whole structure was so much enlarged dur- ing the past year as to double its original size. A new ball-room or assembly room has been built, very beautiful in ite design and decoration, the old ball-room made over into the ladies' café, the room formerly devoted to that purpose being trans- formed into a charming reception room or parlor for their exclusive use; the rest of the second floor is devoted to the main dining-room, rooms for private parties, the kitchen and pantries, and the third story is taken up with bed-rooms for non- resident members, bath-rooms and service-rooms; the club-house is at last commensurate with ita requirements, and is in its interior one of the finest between New York and Chicago. The ad- mission fee is one hundred dollars, the annual dues are seventy-five; the membership, limited to three hundred and fifty, is full, and there has been a waiting list for some years. The first president was Hobart F. Atkinson; the present officers are James G. Cutler, president ; George A. Carnahar, vice-president ; J. Craig Powers, secretary; Erick- son Perkins, treasurer.
In harmony with the custom prevailing in sim- ilar organizations in the principal cities of the United States, the Country club was formed on New Year's day of 1895, as an adjunct to the Genesee Valley, the membership being confined to that of the latter and limited to one hundred, though since then the number has been enlarged and the original restriction on eligibility removed. Obtaining a lease of the Parsons farm, eighty acres in extent, on the Pittsford road, the new or- ganization laid out the grounds for golf, polo, lawn tennis, bieyele riding and other sports, with stables for a large number of horses, and other attractions calculated to make the place a delightful summer resort for the members, who opened it up on the 30th of May in the year named. Before the lease had expired, the club-house, which was the old family residence altered over, was completely de- stroyed by fire, whereupon a new lease was taken, with the option of purchase, which will undoubt- edly be exercised, for the club immediately erected a new and picturesque building of its own. The first president was Hiram W. Sibley; the present one is William B. Lee, the secretary Percy R. McPhail and the treasurer Gilinan N. Perkins.
Digiized hy Google
140
HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
Stimulated by this example other country clubs speedily came into existence, such as the Oak Hill. which has fine grounds on the eastern bank of the river, near Elmwood avenne. Of those intended more for indoor physical exercise the Rochester Athletic club stands at the head. This is really a merger of the old Rochester Athletic association and the Riverside Rowing club ; it was incorporat- ed in 1891 and soon thereafter began the erection of a suitable club-house on Clinton avenne North, with swimming-pool, race-track, gymnasium and all the appliances for corpureal development ; the president is George H. Clune, the secretary Francis S. Macomber, the treasurer Julius M. Wile.
For many years the members of the Masonic order had felt the desirability of having not only a club of their own but a building that should answer the double purpose of a club-house and a temple for the meetings of the different branches of the:r order. The two objects were zo closely connected that they must be described together. The asso- ciation of the Masonie Temple was incorporated in June, 1900, the first president being George A. Benton, who occupied that position till May, 1906. when he retired and his place was taken by John M. Lee, the present incumbent, Samuel B. Wi !- liams being now the treasurer, L. N. Stein the see- retary and Thomas C. Hodgson the superinten- dent. At the time of this incorporation the erec- tion of the Masonic Temple was begun and was completed in three years. It stands on the corner of Clinton avenne North and Mortimer street, is one hundred. feet square and five stories in height, and is in its exterior at once beautiful and impos- ing, so that it would be an ornament to any city in the United States; its cost was about $215,000; the ground floor is devoted to stores, the next to offices of various kinds ; the fourth and fifth floors consist of three magnificent halls, called after the different orders of architecture used in them-the Gothic, on the fifth, the Dorie and the Ionic, on the fourth; in these all the Masonic and quasi Masonic bodies in the city meet at stated times. The third floor is given up entirely to the Ma- sonic club; this was organized shortly before the opening of the temple, which took place on the 21st of October, 1903; the first president was Jos- eph A. Crane; the present officers are John A. Robertson, president : Delbert C. Hebbard, vies-
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.