History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. II, Part 123

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898,
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1286

USA > New York > Westchester County > History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. II > Part 123

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).

SCHOOL .- The first record of a school-house in the town is found in a deed made in 1784, when a prop- erty is described as on a road "leading past the sehool-honse " and land of Abraham Knox, William Bloomer and Gershom Hanford.

Another is mentioned in 1816 as being on the high- way leading past Amos Fuller's, who lived iu the low- er part of the town. In 1825 there were five school- houses, known as " the David Horton," in the southwest corner, " the Clark Fuller, or Red House," the "Slos-

530

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

son," the " Bloomer," and the "Field," " Ginney " or " Hardscrabble."

The town received as its portion of the school tax amouuts as follows :

1×13.

$76.10

1836-38 . $62.76

1814-15

66.00

1839

156.90

1816-18

62.98

1×40.

162,59

1819-21 .

83 95

1841-45 137.96

1822-26

71.45

1855

240.80

1827-29

97.93

1865

814.68

1830-31

77.81

1875

1423.23

1832-35

. 69.97

1885 .

12×5.10

The State came under the public-school system about 1825, and soon after towns were divided into districts and managed by directors chosen for the pur- pose.

Thetown is divided into seven full districts and one part distriet, iu each of which is the ordinary country school-house. In the case of two of these distriets, however, an honorable exception should be made. In Districts Nos. 1 and 2 the school buildings are neat, roomy, well-built and well-kept houses, pre- sentiug a creditable appearance both inside and out- side, and are well adapted for school purposes. The average attendance throughout is about twenty-five scholars. By far the most notable building in the town is the academy standing at Salem Centre. His- toric reminiscenees eluster around this old building. Erected for a private residence by Stephen De Lancey, while yet the United States was but an un- fulfilled dream, it was afterwards devoted to the cul- ture of the mind and became the alma mater of men who helped to found the greatness of our State and nation. The North Salem Academy is a large wooden structure, two stories and attic, covered with a hipped roof, out of which project four dormer windows, pre- senting the appearance of some of the old colonial houses which may be seen at intervals in the lower part of thecounty. From the centre of the roof rises a square belfry, pointedly capped. In the centre of the front of the building, which faces the south, is the en- trance and a small square portico, immediately above which, on the second floor, is a large square window, with old-style side-lights, and a small arched window under the projecting gable, which rises from the cen- tre of the side-roof. The building stands on ele- vated ground, level, however, with the Main Street, and is surrounded by a large yard. It commands a fine view of the valley of the Titieus and the sur- rounding country in every direction. The first floor was generally occupied by the family of the princi- pal and boarding students, the upper floor being de- voted to educational purposes solely. The rooms are large, airy, light and conveniently arranged. The building was erected somewhere about the year 1770, and was intended by its owner, Stephen De Lancey, as a residence for himself and family, a fine farm being attached to it. It was never completely fin- ished as a residence, the owner having removed from the town. In 1786 it was purchased by a company

of the townspeople of this and adjacent towns, and completed as an acadeury. In an old day-book, un- der the account of Ebenezer Purdy, who was one of the principal members of the Academy Company, we find, under date of 1787, some items in relation there- to,-" To six days at New York to get the Wright- ings for the house and land completed, £3 128." "To a Carpenter, four days to get out timber, at six shillings per day, £1 108." " To seven days' board- ing, provision and rum, 108. 9d." " To earting thirty- one Boards from Peekskill, 168." "To Frederick Jay, for glass, €9 28." "Paid for iron to make Hinges, 2x." "To ten pounds of fat for the roof, 68." " Paid to the mason for building the chimneys, £a 18." "To John Lawrence, for one set of globes, £11 4s." In 1792 is the item, " Paid for the philosophi- eal apparatus, £60." In the year 1787 also appear the names of contributors to the academy fund, in which are found,-" Cash received of John Jay, £10; Judge Ward, £4; Mr. Hamilton, £6; Mr. Burr, £3; Augustus Van Courtlandt, £3; Amzi Lewis, £32; Haehaliah Brown, £8; Philip Livingston, £10."

In 1790 is recorded, "money received of the regents of the college to furnish articles for the academy, £98." In June 27, 1792, is noted; "Took up the bond given by Delancey by paying £242." It seems from these records that the first use of the building as a school was in 1787, when Rev. Amzi Lewis was placed in charge of it as an educational institution. It was evidently in a flourishing condition. Among the earlier officers of the board were Hachaliah Brown, Thaddeus Crane, Samuel Baruum, Jesse Close, John, Daniel and Olmsted Delevan, Benjamin Haight, Ebenezer Purdy, Abraham Loekwood, Gilbert Hunt, Isaac Keeler, Uriah Wallace and Captain Jones. Upon the application of Benjamin Haight and thirty- eight others it was incorporated by the regents of the university on February 19, 1790, being the first in Westchester County and the third incorporated acad- emy in the State, Cliuton Academy, in East Hamp- ton, and Erasmus Hall, at Flatbush, both having re- ceived their incorporation a little over two years pre- viously. After the close of Mr. Lewis' administration the prosperity of the institution appears to have de- clined somewhat until 1801, when the Rev. John Mc- Niece, who was a man of high intellectual attain- ments and an eloquent preacher of the Presbyterian Church, took charge of the school. This gentleman was one of the compatriots of Eunnet, Adrain, Me- Neven and others of the Irish leaders, and came to Ameriea in 1795. During his administration the academy saw its most popular and prosperous days, and students were received from all sectious of the country, and many names on its roll-books beeame noted in the annals of State and national government. Among its earlier students were Honorable Daniel D. Tompkins (New York's war Governor from 1807 to 1816 and Vice-President in 1817), Chancellor James Kent, LL.D., Colonel J. N. Tallmadge and brother,

531

NORTH SALEM.

and other eminent men. The reports to the regents fluctuated considerably after the term of Mr. McNiece had ended. During his administration the roll show- ed at one time eighty students. After this for some years, at different dates, no report whatever was made, and in the year 1827 it was found neeessary to eall the attention of the patrons of the institution to its eon- dition, which appeared to indicate deeay. A resolu- tion was adopted that the academy buildings be re- paired and placed in good order etc., and then is ap- pended a list of names, forty-eight in number, of con- tributors of from one to twenty-five dollars each for this purpose. Among the names are those of Pierre Van Cortlandt, Jr., Peter Jay Munroe, Lewis Morris, Stephen De Lancey, John Quick, etc. Epenetus Wallace, M.D., was at this time clerk of the board. The reports of subsequent years show a decided in- crease in the number of pupils and the prosperity of the academy. Among the teachers mentioned arc the Revs. Herman Daggett, Abraham Purdy, A.M., and Hiram Jeliff, the two first-named being ministers of the North Salem Presbyterian Church, and Dr. Samuel B. Mead, Ebenezer Close, John C. Jones and G. S. Tozer. Under the more recent régime John F. Jenkins, A.M., eondueted the institution for many years, assisted by his daughter, Miss Mary A. Jenkins, who had charge of the preparatory branehes. This lady still resides at Salem Centre, but a few rods from the academy building, having married a member of the Lobdell family, and is now conducting a private school in the village. During the administration of Mr. Jenkins the anuual catalogue showed an attend- ance of from seventy to one hundred and forty-five pupils, including day-scholars and boarders. During the Revolution this building was used as a eourt-room for the trial of Tories and British aiders and sympa- thizers, and as a jail for the eonfinement of sueh ene- mies to the patriot cause. It was here that a man named Paine was brought iu and tried as a spy. He was condemned and was executed about half a mile northwest of the academy grounds. In 1781 the Freneh army passed through the town on their way from Rhode Island to join the army of Washingtou on the Hudsou. They eneamped on the grounds sur- rounding the academy for two days, and the officers occupied quarters in the building.

The present board of trustees eousists of Walter K. Ritch, president; Samuel B. Clark, clerk; Ira Wheeler, James Quick, Daniel D. Smith, Erastus R. Fineh, Stebbins B. Quiek, Raymond Weed, T. W. Decker, D. S. Halstead. Two others, Uuderhill W. Smith and John Junc, are deceased. By an aet of the Legislature of the State, passed June 7, 1884, the buildings and real estate incorporated and known as the North Salem Academy were directed to be given to the town for the purposes and uses of a town hall, and the incorporation of "the trustees of the acad- einy of North Salem, in the county of Westehester," which was effected February 19, 1790, was dissolved.

A special meeting of the board of trustees was there- forc called and held at the town clerk's office, Mareli 5, 1885, at which it was " Resolved, that the academy building, and all the real estate belonging to said North Salem Academy, be conveyed to the town to be used as a town hall, and that the president and elerk be authorized and directed to make and execute the necessary papers for the same, and also that all funds due the academy and in the treasurer's hands be paid to the supervisor of the town to make repairs, etc., on the building." By this it is seen that the town has beeome possessed of a commodious town-house, which is rich in reminiscences of the early times and of the _ noted minds that have gone out from under its over- shadowing roof-tree to leave their impress on the acts of the commonwealth of State and nation.

INDUSTRIES OF THE TOWN .- As has been remarked, the agricultural interests of the town have de- veloped more in grazing than in root cultivation of the soil, which is a gravelly and elay loam, welladapt- ed to grass culture. The Mughtiticoos or Titiens River, in its course through the town, is flanked by rich traets of meadow land, where abundance of hay is produced, of the best quality, while the hillsides grow a sweet, nutritious grass that is eminently eon- ducive to the production of the dairy products and fatted cattle. In this, as in the adjoining towns in the northern tier, the principal occupation of the agricultural portion of the community is the produe- tion of milk for the New York market, Previous to the advent of the railroad, however, it was different, and mixed farming was the rule, instead of, as now, the exception. Then, by market-wagon twice a week, or onee a fortnight by private farul- wagons, the butter, cheese, eggs, etc., wer carried to the Hudson River, at Sing Sing or Peekskill, and from thence shipped by sloop to New York, while the fatted cattle found purchasers in the numerous drovers who passed through this vicinity. It was ou this basis that the older residents paid for their lands and became comparatively wealthy. Substantial farm-houses are to be seen in every direction through- out the township, surrounded by well cultivated and thrifty farms.

The statistics of the town show that the culminat- ing point of legitimate agricultural production was about 1850, since which time all the tendeney has been towards milk production. This is accounted for by the construction of the New York and Harlem Rail- road, which passes through the western end of the town, and the ercetion of a condensed milk factory ou the Titieus River, at Purdy's Station, which sup- plies a market for a large amount of the lacteal pro- duet of the North Salem farms. This latter enter- prise is owned and conducted by residents of the town. In the town is also the large milk farm of T. W. Decker & Sons, whose wholesale and retail milk establishment in New York City was originated in 1841. The milk from the Decker place is shipped

532

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

directly to the proprietors in the city, and the utmost care is taken at the farm, by a corps of competent men, in its production. Thus it may be said that almost the entire agricultural production of North Salem is milk.

The town is essentially an agricultural district, its hills and valleys being perhaps better adapted to grazing than grain tillage, aud manufactures have but small space in the industrial pursuits of North Salem, and are confined to limited dimensions. Water-power is, however, abundant, both on the Cro- ton River, in the northwest corner, and on the Titicus, running through the centre. Along the latter river are to be found the ruins of former dains, where, at au early day, were located cloth and paper, grist and saw- mills. There are on this stream at present, iu North Salem, Salem Centre and at Purdy's, flour, grist and saw-mills, which, however, have only local custom.

MILLS AT NORTH SALEM .- On the 5th of Jau- mary, 1777, Cornelius Steenrod purchased of Stephen De Lancey and others one hundred aud eight acres of land on the Titicus River, on which was a large dwelling-house and barn, adjoining lands of Isaac Norton, Isaac Keeler, Abraham Delevan, Ebenezer Lobdell and Nathaniel Delevan. On part of this tract, on the river and on the south side of the high- way leading from Croton River to Upper Salem, he | built a grist and saw-mill, which, with four acres of land and the mill-pond, he sold, May 19, 1779, to Jesse Brush, who was at the time in charge of the mills. At this time Philip Briggs was resident adjoin- ing on land bought of Steenrod. At the same place, on the 23d of April, 1825, David Seaman sold to Lewis B. Titus and Epenetus Howe, merchants, three tracts of land containing twenty-nine acres of land. On the 28th of April the next year Epenetus Howe bought of Titus all his interest in four parcels of land along the river, including the store, grist-mill, saw- will, paper-mill, shops, houses, barns and all water privileges. This was the land bought of Seaman and the four acres containing the mills which were in pos- session of Seaman at the time the purchase was made. The land is described as being on the road from the Presbyterian Meeting-House to Ridgefield. A new grist-mill was erected, as in 1829 the " old mill-house" is mentioned. A paper-mill was also built lower down the stream about 1835, which was continued by various parties until 1870, when it was destroyed by fire.

grandchildren, and meution, as an actual occurrence witnessed by him, the fact that one Solomou Stecn- rod, who was connected with the works, crawled through the eye of the hammer. This would indicate that the works were of no mean extent. The ore was smelted by means of charcoal, which was made in abundant quantities in the forests covering the hills to the north and east.

The old forge or furnace has entirely disappeared, but the remains of the dam and slag and cinders are still to be seeu. A short distance up the stream Levi Smith, about 1820, erected a fulling-mill, which was continued until about 1852, when it was abandoned. His brother, Elias Smith, was a hatter and kept a shop across the road from the mill.

WHEELER'S FACTORY .- Midway between Purdy's and Salem Centre are located on this river the woolen- inills of Ira Wheeler. These mills occupy large buildings, have a fine water-power and are kept in operation during nearly every seasou, although the manufacture of cloth is limited, Mr. Wheeler com- bining the business of farmer with that of manufac- turer. He resides in a large fine house of modern constructiou near his mills, and is not particularly interested in the race for wealth or prominence.

How long prior to 1798 a grist and saw-mill was in operation on the Titiens River, at this place, is not known, but in the survey of the town made in that year one is marked where Wheeler's factory now is. In 1812 Isaac Purdy erected a woolen-mill and began manufacturing. During the War of 1812 it was employed on army contracts for cloth. At the close of the war prices for such materials suddenly dropped below the cost of production. Just previous to this period Mr. Purdy had procured, or caused to be built, a large inclosed two-horse wagon; the sides and tops were made of wood and water-tight. Two small doors at the rear gave access to the interior, in which shelves were arranged on either side. This vehicle he loaded with cloth, the product of his mills. He then engaged his uephew, Isaac Quick, to take charge of the goods and start ou a selling tour through the western and lake counties of the State. While the young man was gone the war closed and prices fell. He was at a loss what course to pursue. He was then in the interior of the State, many miles from home, and could not dispose of his goods at any figure, as but very little money was in circulation. Under this condition of affairs he turned his horses' heads home- wards and despondingly started on his return. Mr. Purdy, however, was alert and equal to the occasion. Hle had watched affairs very closely, and when the crisis came he was well on his way westward travel- ling on horseback to useet his nephew with the cloth wagon, which he did, to the surprise of the latter. Thereupon they began to trade the cloth for cattle, and shortly afterwards Mr. Purdy and his young nephew ar- rived at home with over three hundred head of oxen

FORGE AND FURNACE .- On a map of the town made in 1798 a forge is marked as being near the intersection of a road running north and south, with the river road farther east and near the Connecticut line, on land now owned by Jeremiah Birdsall and near the site of his present distillery. The ore was obtained in the vicinity and from near Brewster's. Ephraim Baker, a resident of the town, owner of a large tract of land and long since departed, used to describe the furnace and large trip-hammer to his "and cows, which he facetiously termed " cloth cattle."

533

NORTH SALEM.

After this the mills were run mainly to supply the local traffic, and the wool produced by the farmers of this section fonud a market at the door.

Soon after the close of the war the mills passed to Stephen Brundage, who, on May 2, 1818, sold these mills, including water-power and twenty-five acres of land, to Hiram Jackson and Horace B. Smith. April 1, 1822, Thomas B. Waring becaque a partner, buying the interest of Smith. Waring became the sole pro- prietor, and April 1, 1834, sold to Samuel Higgins, who, on April 2, 1838, conveyed the property to Ira Wheeler, the present owner. A Mr. Raymond was in- terested for a short time, but soon retired. The ruins of the old grist-mill were torn away after the property came into the possession of Mr. Wheeler.

PURDY'S GRIST AND SAW-MILLS .- Isaac Purdy erected a saw-mill at Purdy's Station abont 1800, and soon after crected a grist-mill. On the 19th of June, 1813, he erected a cider-inill and large shed, and on the same day his son, the present Isaac H. Purdy, now on the homestead farm, was born. The mills have been kept in operation to the present time.

In 1798 the map mentioned shows a grist-mill on the branch of the Titicus River that joins that stream from the south at Finch's Mill, about a mile up the stream, aud a saw-mill at the foot of Long Pond Mountain.

About 1826 Ezra Finch erected a cider-mill, saw- mill and distillery on the river, near the academy, and in 1835 erected a grist-mill.

There was also a large grain distillery farther south, at a place called Yerks' Corners, now known as Bog- town. Grain was received and purchased at this place, mainly rye and wheat, from the iuhabitants residing in a circuit of twenty-five miles around. At Bogtown was also established a nail-factory, which employed some twenty or thirty hands con- stantly in the manufacture of various kinds of nails. These industries have, however, entirely disappeared and nothing but the traces of the old dams or founda- tions of the buildings can be discovered. At the present time the industries of importance are located at Croton Falls and Purdy's. At the first-mentioned place are the works of George Juengst & Sons, manu- facturers of machinists' tools and steel planers. The buildings occupied by this firin were erected by Joel Purdy in 1866, who still owns them, with the excellent

water-power attached. There are two large main buildings, one of two stories, connected by a one- story structure, which has been used as a foundry. They are on an elevated table-land, lying along a bend of the Croton River. The water is carried across this table-land in a race-way, which taps the Croton some one hundred rods above the factory buildings, serves the purposes for which it is designed, and flows away directly iuto the river again over a broad chute. The buildings were originally erected for the pur- poses of a wrench-factorv, and leased to an Eastern company. This enterprise was conducted with vary- ii .- 47

ing success for some two years, when, owing to busi- ness reverses, etc., the work was suspended and finally abandoned. Then another company took hold of the works and commenced an extensive business in the manufacture of augers, etc. It was then known as the Croton Falls Auger Works. For some time this continued a success and a large trade was con- trolled. It was the day of prosperity for the village of Croton Falls. For some business reason, however, this company gave up, and the buildings remained unoccupied for a long time. Mr. Purdy himself was a large loser in the auger works. At length a hat manufacturer leased the property, and for a time pros- perity was promised. This enterprise, however, went the way of all the rest, and again the large factory was closed and idle. In 1883 the present firm leased the buildings for three years, and immediately began fitting them up with their heavy machinery. Since that time the firm have been constantly at work.

In 1884 Mr. George Juengst purchased a water- power on the Croton, and about half a mile northeast of the present factory, owned by Close & Whitlock. where he has erected a large factory, one hundred and thirty-two feet long by fifty feet wide, to which is to be added a building of sinaller size, to which the firm removed in 1886. This new building is on the north boundary line of Westchester County and the town of North Salem. Messrs. Juengst & Sons employ about twenty inen, and their business aggregates about twenty-five thousand dollars per annum. Their goods are shipped to all parts of the world. W. S. Harris has also in connection with his watch-making and jewelry establishment a conveniently arrauged work- shop, well-fitted with various lathes and fine mna- chinery, the motive-power of which is steary, where he pursues the occupation of model-maker and manu- facturer of small machinery. The next industry of importance in the town is the works of the American Condensed Milk Company, which are located on the south bank of the Titicus River and on River Street at Purdy's. This building was erected first as Price & Sons' marble-works, and was owned, with the real estate forming the block now occupied by M. C. Teed as a residence, by E. W. Price. The water- power was carried by a race-way into the factory to cut, saw and polish stones quarried from the Vermont marble strata and from the quarries of Italy.

Mr. Price did an extensive business from about 1850 to 1860, when, by reason of business reverses, he was obliged to suspend. His son Edwin car- ried on the marble-cutting business for a few years afterwards, but the site of the cutting works was pur- chased by William Howe and others. Afterwards a milk condensing factory was suggested by George White, who had been interested in this business previously. Accordingly, the water-power was utilized and the milk condensing began about 1864. For a long time it was an uncertain enterprise, but finally began to make money and the sales afforded a handsome pro-

534

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

fit on the investments. The factory building is about one hundred feet in length by thirty feet wide, two stories and Mansard. Its usual capacity for conden- sing the fresh milk brought in by the adjacent farmers every day is three hundred and nine forty- quart cans of fresh milk, making a little over one hundred cans of condensed milk, which is shipped to New York. The amount of business done by this factory is regulated principally by the state of the metropolitau market, but the average business done is over forty thousand dollars per annumn. William I. H. Howe, son of Epenetns Howe, Alfred B. Mead and William Bailey, of Somers, composc the stock- holders. The business of milk condensing is a con- stantly increasing source of profit.

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History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. II, Part 123

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898, Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co. Number of Pages: 1286

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898,
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1286