USA > New York > Erie County > Buffalo > History of St. Paul's Church, Buffalo, N.Y. : 1817 to 1888 > Part 23
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The following account of the controversy and the reasons for its subsequent settlement, are inserted here in order that the whole mat- ter may be put on record, and clearly understood by the members of the congregation.
January 7, 1901, the Buffalo Railway Company attempted to lay a curve from Pearl Street into Erie Street to form the first connection in the proposed loop. This work was promptly stopped by an injunc- tion, which the church obtained through its attorney, Henry Adsit Bull.
A few months later, all the street railway companies in Buffalo were merged in the International Railway Company, whose officials commenced to negotiate for the consent of the church to the proposed
252
History of St. Paul's Church.
tracks. The company stated that it had prepared 'comprehensive plans, in which the proposed loop was a vital feature, for rearranging all its lines in Buffalo ; and, further, if the church refused consent, that con- demnation proceedings would be commenced, and a fight would be made to obtain, through the courts, the right to lay the tracks. This statement was made without any hostile feeling toward the church, but because the street railway officials had decided that they must have the loop to render their service efficient.
That the running of cars around three sides of the church during services would seriously interfere with religious worship was very evi- dent. Thus the interests of the church and the street railway con- flicted, and in this situation the church had to face the alternative of carrying on a long litigation against a wealthy corporation or giving its consent upon some terms. The proposal was made that the church might consent to the laying of the tracks on condition that cars should not be run over them during the hours of service on Sundays. The street railway officials said they could accept this condition, because their chief need of the tracks was at those hours on week-days when there was the greatest crush of passengers going to and returning from work.
A special meeting of the vestry was held July 14, 1902, at which the whole subject was thoroughly discussed. The sense of the meet- ing was that the proposed arrangement would secure the church against the most serious effects that would result from laying the tracks. It was felt that the noise of the cars passing around the church could usually be kept out by shutting the windows, causing no special annoyance at week-day services, which are short and not largely attended. The decision was that it would be better to make the Sun- day services absolutely safe by giving the church's consent to the tracks on this condition, than to involve the church in a long and expensive litigation. The committee having charge of the matter was therefore instructed to make an agreement with the railway company on the general lines of the proposed arrangement.
History of St. Paul's Church. 253
An agreement was accordingly executed by the church and the International Railway Company, July 26, 1902, by which the discon- tinuance of the injunction action was provided for, and the church gave its consent to the proposed tracks. In return, the railway com- pany, for itself, its successors and assigns, covenanted that so long as religious services shall be regularly maintained in the church no cars shall be run on Sunday over the curve from Pearl into Erie Street, or over the track in Shelton Square, from 8 A. M. till 1.30 P. M., and from 3 P. M. till 9.30 P. M., except that during July and August cars may be run continuously after 1.30 P. M. The agreement fur- ther provides that in case of any change in the hours of service, the church may have any additional services protected by giving written notice of the fact.
In case the railway company, or its successors or assigns, shall vio- late the agreement by running cars during the prohibited hours, then the church may require the tracks to be taken up, or may remove them itself at the railway company's expense, and all the rights of the company, its successors and assigns, shall thereupon cease. The agreement was prepared by the attorneys for the railway company and the church, and the binding force of all its provisions was approved by John G. Milburn, who, in giving this opinion, acted for both parties, and who rendered assistance in the negotiations. The agreement was delivered to Mr. Milburn to hold until additional consents should be secured. When the railway company obtains the required consents, the agreement then goes into effect at once.
The injunction suit was discontinned by an order of court on July 31, 1902, and thus all matters in dispute were finally settled. The entire result is that the greater part of a serious threatened injury to the church has been averted without expense or litigation ; while, if the arrangement had not been reached, the church would have had to wage a long fight in the courts, taking the chance of having the tracks finally laid without restrictions.
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History of St. Paul's Church.
The original deed of the church lot from the Holland Land Com- pany, dated June 14, 1820, did not include two small triangular pieces of land, one adjoining the church lot immediately east of the present chancel and extending to the intersection of the north line of Erie Street prolonged, and the south line of Church Street prolonged, and the other triangle being at the northeast corner of Pearl and Erie streets and adjoining the church lot at or near the great tower.
The triangle east of the chancel was within the boundaries of Wil- link Avenue (now Main Street) as laid out at the time of the original deed. The curve in Main Street, in front of "the churches," was straightened later (see page 16 and map, also pages 19, 174, 220), and the city, when it acquired title to the street by condemnation proceed- ings, took only the land within the present lines of Main Street. This development left the title to the triangle behind the chancel in the Holland Land Company and its successors.
No reason has been discovered for the omission from the original deed of the triangle at Pearl and Erie streets, for those streets were originally laid out with the same boundaries that they have to-day.
When the present fence was built around the church this last triangle and a portion of the triangle east of the chancel were enclosed without legal right. The Farmers' Loan & Trust Company of New York are the successors of the Holland Land Company, Franklin D. Locke of Buffalo being one of the directors. Through his kindly efforts and personal interest in the welfare of the church, the matter was brought before the board of directors of the Trust Company, and on his recommendation they gave to the church a deed conveying the two triangles, and also all rights of the company in adjacent streets, for the nominal consideration of one dollar. This deed is dated April 23, 1902, and was delivered to the church in July, 1902. (See page 262, and plan of church and lot in 1902, facing this page.)
At the next meeting of the vestry, which was held on November 6, 1902, a resolution was unanimously adopted thanking the Farmers' Loan & Trust Company for its gift, and another resolution was alos
To @
CHURCH ST
PEARL ST-
N-PORCH
N. W. PORCH
N-TRAN SEPT
ORGAN ROOM
N- AISLE
This line is a chord in the western boundary of former curve in Willink Ave. (Main St.)
LITENTE
CHOIR
SANCTUARY
ALTRI
CREDENCE TAME
I
TOWER ROOM
5. AISLE
SITO
8. PORCH
SHELTON SQUARE
ERIE
ST
PLAN OF ST. PAUL'S CHURCH AND LOT IN 1902. From a drawing made for, and kindly contributed to, this History, by William Carson Francis, Jamestown, N. Y. The red triangles have been added to indicate those portions of the lot omitted in the original deed
of 1820 (see page 19), which were deeded to the church in 1902. (See page 254.)
W. PORCH
MAIN VESTIBULE
NAVE
VESTRY ROOM
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History of St. Paul's Church.
passed expressing the sincere gratitude of the church to Mr. Locke for his kind and successful efforts in the matter.
On August 7, 1902, died Thomas Lothrop, M. D., for many years a prominent and well-known physician of the city, and a member of St. Paul's Parish. Dr. Lothrop was born in Provincetown, Massachu- setts, in 1836, and came to Buffalo in 1859 ; he was never married. He took a deep interest in the work of the Church Charity Founda- tion, and long served as president of the board of managers. Dr. Lothrop bequeathed to St. Paul's the generous sum of $5,000, with a request that it " be added to and form part of the Endowment Fund of said church."
The broad concrete sidewalks which were laid in 1900, on the Church Street and Shelton Square frontages of St. Paul's, had so enhanced the appearance of the property that the desirability of laying similar sidewalks upon the Erie and Pearl Street frontages was apparent to all. In August, 1902, by private subscription, this work was accomplished, and the church is now entirely surrounded by broad stretches of concrete extending from the fence line to the curb. A great improvement to the general appearance of the church lot has thus been effected, now that, in the growth of the city and the daily passing of many feet, it is no longer possible to properly preserve the stretches of green turf which in earlier days filled in the spaces between the old stone walks and the roadways.
On October 1, 1902, the Rev. Coleman E. Byram, Ph. D., curate at St. Paul's since November, 1899, left Buffalo to become rector of St. James's Church, Pittsburg, Pa. His faithful work in the parish has gained for him many friends.
October 1, 1902, the Rev. Mark H. Milne became the curate of St. Paul's.
At the vestry meeting of November 6, 1902, the rector reported the gift of $100 to the Endowment Fund from Mrs. Abbott, in memory
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History of St. Paul's Church.
of her husband, the late Frank W. Abbott, M. D., for many years a valued member of the parish. Dr. Abbott died April 9, 1901.
At this meeting, the formal vote of thanks to the Farmers' Loan and Trust Company, and to Mr. Locke, referred to above, was adopted.
The additions to the Endowment Fund in 1902, up to November 6th, will make the total amount about $22,000. (See page 262.)
December 1, 1902, being Monday in the week beginning with the First Sunday in Advent, the annual election of the parish was held in St. Paul's Church, for the election of a church warden for two years and three vestrymen for three years each. The rector presided, and the following persons were elected : A. Porter Thompson, warden ; and Edmund Hayes, Hobart Weed and James Sweeney, vestrymen. Those holding over from previous elections were : William H. Walker, warden ; and Albert J. Barnard, James R. Smith, Sheldon T. Viele, Charles R. Wilson, Dr. M. D. Mann and John R. H. Richmond, vestry- men.
1903.
On Sunday evening, January 4, 1903, at his home in Buffalo, died William H. Walker, senior warden of St. Paul's.
Mr. Walker was born in Utica in 1825. Here his father, the late Stephen Walker, had been a vestryman in Trinity Church, and super- intendent of the Sunday School. The family removed to Buffalo in 1832, and immediately became members of St. Paul's Parish. Stephen Walker was superintendent of St. Paul's Sunday School from 1833 for more than a quarter of a century, and was a member of St. Paul's vestry for fifteen years, from 1837 to 1851. (See pages 95 and 96.)
Coming to Buffalo with his father, mother and brother when he was seven years old, William H. Walker had grown up with the city and with St. Paul's, and followed the example of his father in his devoted and untiring interest in the work and progress of the parish. At the time the Walker family came to Buffalo (1832) the stage- coach and the Erie Canal were the principal means of travel between
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Buffalo and Utica. Buffalo was incorporated as a city in 1832, with a population of 10,000, and, while flourishing and growing, it was looked upon as a frontier "western " town. Dr. Shelton had been at St. Paul's only three years.
The public school system had not then been established, and William H. Walker received his early education in private schools and in the old Buffalo Academy. He also studied law for a time in the Albany Law School, but decided, when he was eighteen, to follow a business career, and entered the employ of Orrin P. Ramsdell, a pioneer in the wholesale shoe business in Western New York. In 1856, William H. Walker was admitted to a partnership, which continued until 1876, when it was dissolved and Mr. Walker engaged in the same business for himself. The house which he thus established has become one of the largest and most reliable in this part of the State.
"In the business community, Mr. Walker stood for mercantile success, legitimate and substantial, based on fair methods and wise foresight, and in the world of finance, in which as a banker he played a part, he was a model of correct dealing and wise conservatism."
He was interested in everything that would further the progress and welfare of the city, and his solidity as a man and his ability as a financier carried him into many positions of responsibility and trust. He was always interested in educational, religious, and philanthropic institutions, and his interest manifested itself in a substantial way, by gifts and other active personal support. He was president of the Merchants' Bank, first vice-president of the Fidelity Trust Company, a trustee of Hobart College, former president of the clearing-house, former vice-president of the Buffalo Merchants' Exchange, vice- president and, at the time of his death, acting president of the Buffalo General Hospital, and a member of the Buffalo Club. As a trustee of Hobart College, he did much for that institution. Mr. Walker was one of the directors and chief supports of the Young Men's Christian Association in this city. He also was a member of the standing com- mittee of the Diocese of Western New York, continuously from 1866,
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History of St. Paul's Church.
and active in the Councils of the diocese, and the General Conventions, and a life member of the Buffalo Historical Society.
Mr. Walker was actively interested in parish work from his early years. In 1846, he was a member of the first committee appointed to seat strangers in church. About the year 1847 was formed what was then, and for some years after, popularly known as the " Junior Vestry," composed of four young men of the parish, Charles W. Evans, William H. Walker, George C. Webster and De Witt C. Weed. They were so called from their active interest in parish affairs, and especially in advocating the building of the new stone edifice, and for their efforts in influencing subscriptions to the building fund. These four young men started the St. Paul's Building Fund Association, October 24, 1847, and thus began the first concerted work for the building of the new edifice, and their names head the list of the association which was formed. (Page 58.) The " Junior Vestry " also started the " Chime Fund Association," in September, 1850, and William H. Walker was the first secretary and treasurer, followed later by Charles W. Evans. William H. Walker was first elected a member of the vestry at Easter, 1858, and was a member of every succeeding vestry until his death, excepting for the year 1871. He was thus a member of forty-five vestries, serving longer than any other member since the foundation of St. Paul's, in a parish remarkable for the long terms of so many of its vestrymen. At Easter, 1872, he was elected junior warden, followed at Easter, 1873, by the late Samuel G. Cornell. At Easter, 1874, Mr. Walker was again elected junior warden, continuing in the office until the death of the senior warden, Charles W. Evans, February 8, 1889. Mr. Walker succeeded as senior warden, and was retained in the office continuously until his own death, in January, 1903. During all of these years, Mr. Walker's devotion to the interests of his beloved parish never flagged. He was always ready to give freely both of advice from his ripened business judgment and of financial gifts from his always generous purse. He was an intimate friend of the late Dr. Shelton, who had for him the greatest affection and appreciation, and who made him,
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History of St. Paul's Church.
with Charles W. Evans, one of the executors of his estate. All of the subsequent rectors of St. Paul's have likewise found Mr. Walker a tower of strength, sustaining them as he did in all of the enterprise and good work of the parish, both with judicious and wise advice and liberal and continuous gifts. In the vestry, and as chairman of the finance committee for many years, Mr. Walker's judgment and far- seeing business ability were relied upon by all. He it was, too, who presented many of the terse and gracefully written resolutions and memorials adopted by the vestry. For this difficult form of composition he seemed to have a special gift. He was a constant and devout attendant at divine service, always present in his place; a strong churchman, a deeply religious man. After St. Paul's was destroyed by fire in 1888, Mr. Walker was foremost in furthering the restoration of the edifice, which has resulted in the present harmoniously beautiful church. He was a member of the building committee, and one of the most generous contributors to the building fund. This was likewise the case in the building of the new Parish House, on the site of the old rectory, and in the purchase of the present rectory in Johnson's Park.
In 1869, Mr. Walker was married to Miss Edith Kimberly, youngest daughter of the late John L. Kimberly, and a life-long member of St. Paul's. Mrs. Walker died December 6, 1893. (See pages 197, 198.)
Their children, all of whom survive their parents, are John Kim- berly Walker, William H. Walker and Evelyn Walker.
"The plain but strong old Anglo-Saxon word 'good' applied to humanity means ' kind, benevolent, humane, gracious, propitious, friendly.' No epitaph more fitting, more expressive could be written for the late William H. Walker. He closed last evening - a Sunday evening, marking the end of a twelve hours that he invariably set apart for religious work - a record of sixty years' service rendered in Buffalo, and, wherever those who knew him are talking about that death, the inevitable expression will be : 'He was a good man.' He had fought a good fight upon every line." .. . " In every relation of life he was upright and just, and bore himself withal so kindly that he offended none and made the. example of a good life attractive ; much of the good he helped to establish lives after him." . . .. [Quotations from editorials in Buffalo papers. ]
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History of St. Paul's Church.
At a meeting of the vestry of St. Paul's, held at the Parish House on Monday, January 5, 1803, the following resolutions, prepared by Mr. Viele, on the death of the senior warden, William H. Walker, were unanimously adopted by a rising vote, and directed to be entered upon the minutes :
MEMORIAL.
William Henry Walker, for many years the senior warden of St. Paul's Church, entered into rest January 4, 1903. From his boyhood, Mr. Walker was a consistent and earnest member of this parish. It was during his early manhood that the first stone edifice of St. Paul's was erected. To this work he gave energy and enthusiasm. With three other young men he formed an organization which was known as the "Junior Vestry." They assisted in raising funds, and in arousing the spirit of the people, and co-operated in many ways in the work.
He later became a vestryman, then junior warden, and finally senior warden, thus spending his entire life of usefulness in the active service of our parish. During this long period he was a faithful worker and a consistent and liberal contributor to all the needs of the church. He was especially interested in the building of the first stone church, in the reconstruction of that beautiful edifice in its present form, after the fire, and in the completion of the buildings of the parish free from debt. He has passed away just as his labors in this direction have been crowned with success. He has left to others this example of devotion to duty as an incentive to the perpetuation of the work so well begun. In the general life of the church, Mr. Walker has long had a large and honorable place. For many years he has served as one of the representatives of this parish in the Annual Council of the Diocese, and for more than thirty years has been honored by the diocese with a place on the Standing Committee, and has also several times been elected by the Diocesan Council as one of its lay deputies to the General Convention.
The vestry part from their leader with a sense of almost irreparable loss. The ' congregation will long miss his accustomed presence. His long life of duty well done, of consistent loyalty to the church, of broadening charity to his fellows, will ever form one of the blessed memories of old St. Paul's.
At this meeting of January 5th, the rector presented the request of Mrs. Robert Preston Wilson, Philip S. Smith and Charles R. Wilson for permission to place a suitable bronze tablet in St. Paul's Church to the memory of the Hon. James M. Smith. The placing of the tablet was referred to the committee on memorials.
History of St. Paul's Church. 261
The vestry then adjourned, out of respect to Mr. Walker's memory.
At the vestry meeting of January 12, 1903, the rector presiding, Charles R. Wilson, vestryman, was unanimously elected by the vestry as warden, to serve out the unexpired portion of the late Mr. Walker's term of office. Mr. Wilson became the junior warden of the parish, Mr. Thompson having succeeded Mr. Walker as the senior warden. To fill the vacancy among the vestrymen caused by the election of Mr. Wilson as warden, the vestry thereupon elected E. Howard Hutchinson for Mr. Wilson's unexpired term as vestryman.
John Kimberly Walker was elected clerk of the vestry for the ensuing year. William A. Joyce, the efficient treasurer of the parish for the past ten years, having desired to be relieved from the duties of the office, John M. Provoost was elected treasurer of the parish for the ensuing year.
The thanks of the vestry were voted to the persons who have con- tributed to the music for the past year.
At the vestry meeting of January 26, 1903, the following resolution of thanks to the retiring treasurer, William A. Joyce, was adopted and ordered spread upon the minutes :
" Resolved, That the vestry of St. Paul's Church, recognizing the valuable services rendered by Mr. William A. Joyce as its treasurer, covering a long period of years ; and being deeply sensible of the large measure of his time devoted to the details of that office, and of the fidelity and business ability exercised by him in its administration, now wish to express to him their cordial appreciation of his devotion to the interests of the parish, and thank him for the very able manner in which he has discharged the duties as such treasurer."
At this meeting, also, electric lights were ordered placed in the main tower of the church, the expense to be paid from the bell fund.
In March, 1903, Shelton Square was widened seven feet by the straightening of the line of the adjoining Main Street sidewalk. The stone posts and adjacent raised sidewalk, popularly known as the "Island of Safety," between Main Street and Shelton Square, opposite the head of Church Street (see pages 219, 220), were moved seven feet
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History of St. Paul's Church.
towards the east, to bring the curb at this point into line with the westerly curb of Main Street.
The street railway track, which had been the subject of so much controversy, was then laid in Shelton Square, and the first cars passed over it on Monday, April 13th. (See pages 238, 251, 252, 253.)
The collections at St. Paul's on Easter Sunday, April 12, 1903, increased the Endowment Fund by over sixteen hundred dollars. Fifty dollars of this was an addition to the Frank W. Abbott memorial gift.
The deed of the triangles of land given to the church in 1902 (see page 254) was recorded in the Erie County Clerk's office on April 16, 1903, in Liber 956 of Deeds, at page 497.
This record ends April 16, 1903.
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THE RESTORED ST. PAUL'S, FROM THE SITE OF THE PRUDENTIAL BUILDING. The removal of the old dwellings for the erection of the present Prudential Building, southwest corner of Church and Pearl streets, afforded the only opportunity for obtaining a photographic view of St. Paul's from this point.
Photograph by G. H. B., March, 1895.
The RRestored St. Paul's. The Memorials. The Top. The Chimes of St. Paul's. The Great Tower and Spire. The Music, 1817=1903. historical Motes, 1817=1903.
Historical Outline, 1817-1903. The Seal of the Corporation. First Roman Catholic Mass in Buffalo. Notes on the Early Rectors. Extracts from Old Letters. Major Noah's City. Accounts and Anecdotes of the Rev. Dr. Shelton. Early Years of the Church in Buffalo. The Bank of England and St. Paul's. Account of the Founding of a Free Church, 1849. Removal of the Frame Edifice. The Numbering of the Pearl Street Rectory. The Wooden Model of the Church, 1850. Notes on the Sunday School. St. Paul's Guild (contributed).
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