USA > New York > Warren County > History of Warren County [N.Y.] with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 54
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In this connection should be named the very able preceptress, Miss Dora . Wilson, who served the academy with great acceptance during the entire period covered by the principalship of the following : Messrs. Russell, Abbott, Hall, Holman and a portion of Mr. Cooley.
Students. - The value of any educational institution is shown by the char- acter of its students as exhibited in after life ; judged by this standard Glens Falls Academy can truly be considered a successful institution, since it can number upon its roll of students such names as Algernon Paddock, late United States Senator from Nebraska, together with his brother, Frank Paddock, esq., an eminent lawyer of New York city; Hon. Frederick Johnson, Member of Congress from New York ; the late Rev. Edgar Goodspeed, D. D., of Chicago, pastor at the time of his death of the largest Baptist Church in America, and his brother and successor, Rev. Thomas Goodspeed; Hon. Daniel E. Sickles, former Member of Congress and major-general in United States army ; Lemon Thompson, a prominent business man of Albany, a graduate and trustee of Union College ; John Bentley, esq., a leading lawyer of Denver, Col., and for- mer United States commissioner of pensions ; Charles Hendley, who has been one of the secretaries of the last five presidents ; Rev. Sheldon Jackson, D. D., for many years district secretary for the Presbyterian Church of the Rocky Mountain District, and at present in charge of an educational institution at Sitka, Alaska Territory, where he holds an important position under the gov- ernment; Herbert S. Underwood, one of the editors of the Springfield Repub- lican, and a large number of others, who either in professional or business life have secured an enviable reputation.
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Donors. - Besides the liberal donations at the founding of the academy in 1841 and its enlargement in 1870, it has received substantial gifts from many of its generous friends either in the form of contributions to its general fund or in establishing scholarships or prizes, among whom are the late Augustus Sher- man, Hon. Stephen Brown, Mrs. Halsey R. Wing, Hon. A. B. Abbott, Dr. A. W. Holden, Daniel J. Finch, Hon. F. A. Johnson, Daniel Peck, S. A. Parks, Samuel Pruyn, Joseph Fowler, and B. B. Fowler.
Alumni Association. - Its graduates have ever manifested a commendable interest in the prosperity of their alma mater, and in 1882 formed an alumni association to which one day of commencement week is regularly devoted. The orations before this body have been in 1883 by Rev. F. M. Cookson ; in 1884 by Dr. John E. Bradley, of Albany ; in 1885 by Hon. F. A. Johnson.
The presidents of the association have been John A. Dix, class of '79; James A. Holden, class of '80; George M. Watkins, class of '81.
Present Condition. - Since 1878 the academy has been under the joint management of Daniel C. Farr and Frances A. Tefft; during this time there have been fifty-six graduates. During the same period it has prepared stu- dents for Williams, Cornell, Wells, Vassar, Wellesley, and Smith Colleges. Others of its graduates are filling important positions in the professional and business worlds. The standard of scholarship has been steadily raised and it is believed that its course of study both as regards completeness and thorough- ness will compare favorably with that of the very best academies of the country.
The library and apparatus, to which additions are constantly being made, are intended to meet the needs of the institution in the varied departments of literature and science. The two literary societies afford good opportunities for literary culture in addition to the regular instruction in those subjects. While the institution is in no sense sectarian, it aims to be eminently Christian, and its managers believe that sound morality and practical Christianity are grand es- sentials in any course of training.
The field from which its students are drawn is increasingly large ; while it has a large home patronage, a goodly number of its students are from widely different localities. A very large proportion of its students pursue their entire academic course here, covering from four to five years, which enables them to obtain a solid and symmetrical training. Judging from its present outlook this academy is destined to a long and substantial career, holding a position among the very first of the successful academies of the day.
Young People's Christian Union of the M. E. Church .- This association, which promises to be of great benefit to the community, was organized June Ist, 1884. Its design may be generally stated as the advancement of the cause of religion ; the assistance of the pastor in his work ; the promotion of social and literary culture among young people, and the making of the church a home to all who come. Rev. H. C. Sexton is president of the Union, and
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
the following are the other officers: C. B. Thompson, first vice-president ; Miss Margaret McEchron, second vice-president ; N. R. Courley, recording secretary ; Mrs. C. W. Long, corresponding secretary ; C. F. West, treasurer ; Miss Maggie Sexton, editress. Executive committee, C. W. Haviland, chair- man, Rev. H. C. Sexton, Miss Margaret McEchron, Mrs. C. W. Long, Miss Maggie Sexton, Fred H. Bullard, C. B. Thompson, N. R. Gourley, C. F. West, Sherman Williams, Hollis Russell.
The Rockwell Corps .- This military organization, otherwise the 18th Sep- arate Company, N. G. S. N. Y., was originally organized in Saratoga county as the 5th Separate Company of the 10th Brigade; November 17th, 1876. It then embraced no Warren county members. The first captain was Fred Gleesettle, of Saratoga county (South Glens Falls). He held the office until January 17th, 1880, when he resigned, and Dr. J. S. Garrett, of Glens Falls, was elected to fill the vacancy on the 2d of February. In 1881 the original term of service of the company expired, and Dr. Garrett recruited a new com- pany from Warren county, and the organization and headquarters were trans- ferred accordingly in January, 1882. The present officers of the corps are : Dr. J. S. Garrett, captain ; Willis F. Bentley, Ist lieutenant, commission dated January 29th, 1884; John F. . Morehead, assistant surgeon with rank of Ist lieutenant, February 12th, 1884; John H. Leonard, 2d lieutenant, April 30th, 1879. The membership is now fifty-eight men and the organization is in an efficient condition.
Public Buildings .- The growth of the village in population and the in- crease in the wealth of the population, created a demand for a public hall or place of popular amusement which met with a response in 1869. Daniel Keefe and Mr. Amer then erected a beautiful building and called it the Cosgrove Opera House, but afterwards (about 1876) re-christened it the Cosgrove Music Hall. It retained this title until 1884, when it was burned. D. F. Keefe and D. C. Holman rebuilt on the site after the fire, giving the new structure the name of the Armory Block. It is three stories high, fifty feet front and seventy-five deep and is of brick. The ground floor is occupied by stores, while the base- ment is used for corporation purposes. The second and third floors are occu- pied by the armory and quarters of the Rockwell Corps, a billiard parlor, etc.
Prior to the erection of this building the only hall in the place was the Union Hall, adjoining the site of the Cosgrove Music Hall. It was built soon after the great fire of 1864.
The Glens Falls Opera House was erected in the summer of 1871 by Cof- fins & Lasher, of this place, on the old Daniel Peck estate. Its front on War- ren street is occupied by the village post-office and stores, the second and a part of the third stories are devoted to offices, while the rest of the third story contains two large halls elegantly furnished. The Opera House proper extends back in the rear, and has besides the usual appurtenances of a hall arranged
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for the reception of theatrical and operatic troops, all the conveniences for par- ties and festivals. It has a seating capacity for sixteen hundred persons.
The Fountain. - The fact that the village is provided with a handsome fountain is due more, perhaps, to Meredith B. Little than to any other one person. In 1872 he circulated a petition to the village trustees, to which he obtained about two hundred signatures, asking that they, in their capacity of commis- sioners of the water-works, would erect a fountain in the center of the village, at the expense of the corporation, or its taxable property, which should be both a credit and ornament to the place. This was presented to the board of trustees, who thereupon authorized the said Little to act as a committee to select and report a design. This was done in the winter of 1872 and '73, and the trus- tees, acting as commissioners, accepted such plans and estimates and made an appropriation from the proceeds of the sale of water bonds to cover its cost. In the mean time a new election took place and Mr. Little was chosen one of the new board of trustees. In the spring of 1873 the work was commenced, and being vigorously pushed, was completed about the time of the commencement of summer travel in the month of June following, Messrs. Little and William Wait of the board of trustees acting as a committee of construction. It is sit- uated at the central part of the village, near the intersection of Ridge, Warren and Glen streets, and when in full play, is a most conspicuous object of attrac- tion. The diameter of the basin is twenty-one feet, the rim being of iron, the bottom of cement. Its depth is about three feet. The base of the pedestal is of Glens Falls marble, two and a half feet in height, octagonal, with three pro- jecting buttresses. The fountain proper, with ornaments, is about fifteen feet high above the water level. There are a number of jets and attachments, which give a pleasing variety to its play. The entire outlay expended in its con- struction was nineteen hundred dollars. The cost was considerably enhanced by its being built over a nest of five immense cisterns, into which the waste material of the fountain flows, thus creating a large reservoir of water, which can be resorted to in case of great emergency, such as a fire, or obstruction in the water-works.
Horse Railroad. - The subject of a street horse railroad to connect Glens Falls with Fort Edward has been more than once agitated. In December, 1862, the project was discussed and measures adopted for its consummation. A meeting of citizens of the villages directly interested was held at Sandy Hill, at which committees from each village were appointed to further the object. The gentlemen selected for Glens Falls were Augustus Sherman, Jerome B. Lapham and Isaac Mott. A stock subscription was opened at the meeting and about $5,500 subscribed within half an hour. The first estimated cost of the line was about $33,000. Consent of the villages was obtained to lay the track, and a company organized with the following board of directors : Z. Van Duzen, Augustus Sherman, Jerome B. Lapham, D. V. Brown and Alex Robertson, of
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
Glens Falls; William Colman, U. G. Paris, Charles Stone, jr., and O. Richards, of Sandy Hill; George Harvey, Daniel Underwood, F. D. Hodgeman and George Bradley, of Fort Edward. The officers chosen were Daniel Underwood, president ; Jerome B. Lapham, treasurer; Isaac Mott, secretary.
Further estimates of the cost of the road reached $45,000. Of this amount $31,500 was finally subscribed, largely in the town of Queensbury. This sub- scription was still further increased and everything indicated the early completion of the enterprise. But the condition of general financial affairs and other local causes, led to the abandonment of the project. During this present year (1885) however, the subject is receiving such renewed attention as promises its early accomplishment. 1
Plank Road. - In the year 1847 the Glens Falls and Lake George Plank Road Company was organized, the object being clearly indicated by its name. The first board of directors and its officers were as follows: Billy J. Clark, president ; D. H. Cowles, secretary and treasurer; Abraham Wing, Cyrus Burnham, D. G. Harris, W. S. Carpenter, George Sanford, Pelatiah Richards, Thomas S. Gray, and John R. Thurman. The capital stock has always been $24,000. The road has been well maintained and of great utility. The pres- ent officers are : Joseph Fowler, president ; A. B. Abbott, vice-president; L. S. Coolidge, secretary and treasurer; D. H. Cowles, superintendent. The board of directors embraces the above names with those of Daniel Ferguson, F. O. Burhans, Thomas Cunningham, H. G. Lapham and William B. Gurney.
The Fire Department. - The Glens Falls Messenger and Advertiser of Fri- day, January 2d, 1835, contained the following brief description of a disaster which gave the first impulse to the organization of a force to protect the citi- zens of this village from the ravages of fire :-
"FIRE. - On last Friday evening, about 8 o'clock, the Marble Mill, belong- ing to N. Nunn & Co., together with the machinery, was destroyed by fire. Loss estimated at $2,000." This fire, no doubt, created in that early period much excitement, and stimulated the citizens to some exertion in the right direction, for soon afterward the following notice appeared in the Messenger and Advertiser :-
"GLENS FALLS, January 8th, 1835.
"At a meeting of the inhabitants of this village at Messrs. Rogers & Brown's for the devising and adopting of measures to prevent damage and loss by fire, John A. Ferriss was chosen chairman, and Thomas Cotton secretary. " On motion, Resolved, That a vigilance committee of three be appointed to examine the apparatus of stoves and fire-places of the whole village, and to
1 While this work was passing through the press, during the summer and autumn of 1885 a street railway company was organized (the subject having been previously agitated at various times), and the line opened between Glens Falls and Fort Edward on Saturday, September 26th, 1885. This event occurred at so late a day that this mere mention is all that can here be given of the enterprise.
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cause such alteration as safety may require; and that f. A. Ferriss, Henry Spencer, and Lewis Numan, be said committee.
" Resolved, That three fire-wardens be appointed, who shall take command (in case of fires), in the order following, viz .: Alonzo W. Morgan, first; but in his absence Bethuel Peck, second; and Abram Wing, third of said fire- wardens.
" Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to convey the hooks and ladders when and where useful in extinguishing fire, and that f. L. Curtenius, Sidney Berry, and K. P. Cool be said committee.
" Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed, whose duty it shall be in case of fire alarm, to provide axes to be used at buildings on fire, and that A. T. Prouty, H. J. Cool, and Hermon Peck, be said committee.
" Resolved, That Dilwin Gardner, Henry Spencer, and Walter Geer be a committee to take charge of property for safety, when exposed to loss by fire.
" Resolved, That every house owner be earnestly requested to furnish a lad- der to ascend his building in case of fire.
" Resolved, That the interest and safety of the village require that each householder procure one or more fire buckets.
" Resolved, That J. L. Curtenius, A. W. Morgan and Abram Wing be a com- mittee to superintend the making of a reservoir for a supply of water to extin- guish fires.
" Resolved, That we pledge ourselves to each other to carry the foregoing resolutions into effect, and that the same be published in the Warren Mes- JOHN A. FERRIS, Chairman.
senger.
" THOMAS COTTON, Secretary."
As before suggested, this little incoherent organization, with its committee laboring under duties prescribed by resolutions, with its lack of penal sanction for neglect of duties, and with the willing hearts and ready hands of its mem- bers and "committees," constituted the rudimentary germ of a fire department of which Glens Falls is justly proud. Just how much active services they ren- dered cannot be told, but the movement had begun, the perils of fire realized, and the means of defense against it compassed. On the 20th of July, 1839, only a few weeks after the original incorporation of the village, a resolution was adopted by the " city fathers " that in addition to the $150, which by law they were entitled to raise, the sum of $200 be taken " to defray the expenses of making preparations to guard against fire," etc. Under date of October, 1841, in the village records is found a statement that David Roberts was ordered to get two good pumps for wells, and Henry Spencer to procure such hooks, ladders, etc., as might be needed. In November, 1841, the wells were deepened. Thus we see that the people in those days were alive to the over- ruling necessity of guarding in every way against losses by fire. The records are full of similar resolutions and enactments precautionary against this dreaded element. 30
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
The first meeting to organize a company was held in the basement of the building now owned by Judge Rosekrans, and formerly known as the Brick Row, and the following is the article of organization adopted at this place :-
"The undersigned, citizens of the village of Glens Falls, in the county of . Warren, for the purpose of organizing an efficient fire engine company in said village, hereby enlist and associate ourselves together for such purpose, and stipulate and agree, that we will conform in all respects to such rules, regula- tions and ordinances as from time to time may be passed and ordered by the board of trustees of said village for the regulation and government of such company.
" (Signed) L. S. Steele, William Briggs, E. C. Crosby, David Redington, Charles Carpenter, L. C. Hamilton, M. L. Wilmarth, George J. Tillotson, D. G. Roberts, Hiram Roberts, J. R. Taylor, Abel Corbin, J. H. Hitchcock, George A. Swain, Merritt Griffin, Gardner Corey, Ira Scott, R. R. Tierce, H. Hol- brook."
Of the nineteen persons who signed the above call, only six are now living. Of that number three are now residents of Glens Falls - M. L. Wilmarth, D. G. Roberts, and Abel Corbin. The other survivors are located as follows : Charles Carpenter, at Newark, N. J .; George Tillotson (brother of John Til- lotson, of this village) at Muskegan, Mich .; and L. C. Hamilton, at Argyle, Washington county.
On the 19th of May, 1842, a village meeting was called for the purpose of raising funds to buy an engine, or engines, and buckets. On the 26th of the same month the sum of $350 was voted, and each house owner requested to furnish two good buckets for use at fires. Dwight Hotchkiss was appointed a committee to secure the purchase of an engine. On the 26th of August, 1842, a resolution was adopted to buy an engine of Button & Co., of Waterford, at $300, and two joints of hose at seventy cents a foot; that a fire company be formed with an initial membership of twenty, and the power of increasing the number to thirty-two, on the approval of the village trustees. The resolution further provided that the proposed company should convene for practice at least once a month for seven months in each year.
The First Fire Company was organized June 27th, 1842, and was called " Glen's Falls Fire Company, No. I." The following are the names of the orig- inal members : William Briggs, Lewis Steele, Henry E. Fickett, L. C. Hamilton, M. C. Wilmarth, D. G. Roberts, E. Fitch, Abel Corbin, George A. Swain, Merritt Griffin, Ira Scott, H. Holbrook, Enos C. Crosby, David Redington, Reuben Pike, Charles Carpenter, George J. Tillotson, Hiram Roberts, J. R. Taylor, J. H. Hitchcock, H. M. Cool, Gardner Long, R. R. Tearse, Henry Spencer. The following were elected as the first officers of the company : Foreman, William Briggs; first assistant, Lewis S. Steele ; second assistant, D. G. Roberts ; engineer, E. C. Crosby ; first hoseman, L. C. Hamilton ; second
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hoseman, C. Carpenter ; third hoseman, J. H. Hitchcock; axmen, D. Reding- ton, A. Corbin.
The following persons were shortly afterwards added to the list of original members : K. P. Cool, George G. Hawley, D. V. Brown, L. L. Arms, H. R. Wing, O. Ferriss, Jerome Lapham, C. M. Gilchrist, Rufus Boyd, J. H. T. Nor- ris, Isaac Buswell, Alexander Robertson, Benjamin C. Starbuck, Frederick A. Johnson, jr., Daniel Peck, B. F. Lapham, George Norton, W. W. Weed, D. M. Jenkins, A. N. Locke, S. P. Jackman, O. L. Baldwin, Herman Goodman, Isaac Crandell, John H. Austin, David Norton, Joseph Mead, Jacob Daggett, A. M. H. Pierson, M. B. Little, W. H. Norris, Levi Lord, Eugene E. Norris, Zabina Ellis, J. H. Martin, Daniel H. Cowles, Henry Gayger, John M. Clements, Al- bert T. Harris, William Doty, Albert Hall, A. Welch, G. T. Lewis, William T. Norris, A. F. Smith, Gideon T. Mead, Marcus C. Rich, Marvin J. Seymour, O. B. Smith, J. C. Eastwood, Henry Knox, Martin Eastwood, L. M. Burpee, Charles Loveless, George Willard, Legrand Spooner, Ed. Brown, Daniel G. Norris, 2d, M. W. Arnold, M. L. Buswell, Sanford Martindale, Joseph Darby, A. L. Stoddard, Orville Adams, James Johnson, A. Spooner, C. H. White, H. D. Spicer, W. M. Fish, William A. Wait, T. S. Wait, T. S. De Long, Oscar S. Kenworthy, Frank James, H. Holcomb, Edward Joubert, Levi J. Groom, James Bullard.
The First Engine came from Salem, N. Y., June 29th, 1842, but not work- ing satisfactorily it was rejected by the trustees of the village. July 25th an engine arrived from Button's Works, Waterford at a cost of $400, and working to the entire satisfaction of all, was accepted and placed on duty. It was a small, insignificant looking affair, had brakes on the ends, the water being sup- plied with buckets, but did good service on many occasions.
In a few years this machine was thrown aside and the engine afterwards in possession of " Jerome Lapham No. 3 " was received from Button & Son, Wa- terford. The first engine, after remaining in obscurity for several years, was again brought out, and a company of boys formed to run with it, under the name of " Young America No. 3," and the old machine used more for a play- thing than for actual service. In speaking of this engine the Glens Falls Re- publican says in connection with a notice of a fire at Luzerne, December 3 Ist, 1873 :-
" While the fire was in progress we learn that inquiries were made for the fire engine once owned by the village. Investigation revealed the fact that the pumping power of the engine had been taken out and used by a citizen to force water to his residence; two of the wheels did duty for a while on a cannon carriage, and the cannon having burst one day, the disabled gun, wheels and all, was dumped over the falls; the other two wheels served as running gear for a cart, but the fate of the box, brakes, ropes, hose-cart, hose nozzles and other appurtenances and attachments of the defunct machine is enveloped in painful mystery.
.
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"This engine once belonged to the fire department of this village, and was the first machine used for ' Old Defiance Engine Company No. I.' Some fourteen years ago it was sold to Luzerne for $125, and the citizens of that place repaired their prize, formed a company, built an engine house, and for nearly four years kept the 'department' in good working condition. Then one or two leading members of the force moved away, the owner of the land upon which stood the engine house concluded he would use the building for his individual benefit, and so turned the old engine out of doors, where its ven- erable frame stood exposed to the blistering summer sun and the chilling blasts and frosts of winter until the disintegration above recorded occurred - and then came the end."
The records show that on the 28th of May, 1845, a hook and ladder com- pany was formed, to contain not more than thirty members, and to assemble once a month for practice, etc. The members were: Orange Ferriss, James C. Clark, L. G. McDonald, D. McNeil, B. F. Shattuck, L. B. Palmeter, W. Geer, jr., John C. Higby, L. L. Armes, Thomas J. Strong, E. S. Vaughn, Charles Rockwell, M. W. Perine, Abijah Western, Henry Spencer, jr., Marvin R. Peck, William Rogers, George Champlain, O. Cronkhite, H. M. Cool, D. C. Hoyt, William R. Locke, Sidney T. Rogers, A. C. Geer.
Although the first above described company was the first organized effort of the village authorities, ex-officio, to incorporate a fire department, the reso- lutions set forth were in direct response to a movement set on foot by private citizens as such, in the preceding June.
The Second No. I had side brakes; could work about twenty-six men, and threw two streams. For several years this was the only machine in the village and was considered a sacred property.
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