History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. II, Part 84

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 84

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Sing Sing has been long celebrated for its schools. The healthfulness and beauty of the location, its ae- cessibility, its nearness to the city of New York, all conspire to make it a desirable place for the establish- ment of educational institutions. Its schools enjoy a national reputation, having a patronage from almost every State and Territory in the Union. The many hundreds of gentlemen and ladies who have received their academical education in our village, and who are scattered throughout our land, will look back to old Sing Sing with pleasant remembrances, and will continue to replenish its schools with their own sons and daughters, as they already have done in many instances. A brief notice of each of these schools will now be given.

THE PUBLIC OR FREE-SCHOOLS .- Before the year 1857, the two public-school buildings then in use in Sing Sing, were wretched little honses, each contain- ing two small rooms, one for males the other for females. One house was located in Spring Street, where G. W. & S. C. Kipp's furniture store-house now stands; the other, built about the year 1840,

was on Water Street, opposite, and a little north of Blakeslee's foundry. In 1857 the main portion of the commodious brick edifice on Broadway was erected, and in 1875 a large extension was added to it, thus making it one of the finest public-school buildings in the county. January 12, 1880, a branch school was opened in Broad Avenue, which accommodates about two hundred scholars, under the care of two teachers. Telephonic communication is kept up between the two schools, and both are under the superintendance of Mr. James Irving Gorton, who has had the gen- eral charge of the public schools of Sing Sing, since Jannary, 1866. The attendance in 1884 was a little over one thousand pupils, carefully graded and in- structed by an efficient corps of twenty lady teachers. Most of these teachers are graduates of our public school. The policy of training our own teachers has proven to be efficient, wise and just, as well as a source of satisfaction to ourcitizens. The Union Free-School District No. 1, has a library, which now contains eleven hundred and thirty-eight volumes. In 1866 an alphabetical catalogue of about nine hundred vol- umes was published by the trustees of the district (pp. 28, 8vo). The total cost of maintaining the pub- lie free-schools of Sing Sing, for the year ending Au- gust, 1884, was eleven thousand two hundred dollars.

Besides those above mentioned, the town contains five other school districts and school-houses, as fol- lows: No. 2 school-house is located near to camp- meeting grounds ; No. 3, is at Whitson's Corners ; No. 4, is at Sparta ; No. 5 district has two school- houses, one being in the rear of the Roman Catholic Church, is known as "St. Augustine's School; " the other is on the Croton road, over two miles north of Sing Sing.

The school-house in the rear of the Roman Catholic Church was erected by the Rev. William Mcclellan, priest of the St. Augustine parish, as a parochial school. An arrangement was subsequently entered into with the trustces of district No. 5, by which it was converted into a publie school. It accommodates about one hundred and twenty-five pupils, who are instructed by a male principal and two female as- sistants. The school-house of district No. 6, is at Scarborough or Loseeville, which like most of the other country schools, is conducted by a single teacher.

According to the official certificate of the school commissioners, September 30, 1884, the number of children between the ages of five and twenty-one years, in cach district was as follows: No. 1, 1666; : No. 2, 141; No. 3, 187; No. 4, 133; No. 5, 458; No. 6, 76; total 2661.

MT. PLEASANT ACADEMY .- This institution was founded in 1814, through the liberality of the citizens of the town; it was incorporated in 1820, and soon after chartered by the Board of Regents.

The present main building-a large marble edifice. was erected in 1830-32, at a cost of eighteen thousand dollars, under the supervision of Rev. N. S. Prime,

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the principal of the academy. In 1864 a three-story brick building, 75x45, was built and connected with the stone structure by a covered passage-way.

A well-selected circulating library, organized near the beginning of the present century, became the prop- erty of the academy, and with the additions made from time to time, embraced in 1878 some two thon- sand volumes. At this time the trustees purchased the library of the late Mr. E. Porter Belden, contain- ing abont ten thousand volumes; so that the two combined make a large and valuable library. A beautiful brick building, forty-eight feet by thirty- six has been erected, to contain the books, and the three academy buildings standing in the midst of a handsome park of four acres, present a fine appear- ance. The school is condneted as a boarding and day- school, and has an average of about eighty pupils.

Rev. N. S. Prime, Rev. Calvin Colton, Mr. C. F. Manrice. Z. S. Phelps, Major W. W. Benjamin and J. Howe Allen have been the principals during the last sixty years.

There is also in the possession of the academy, a valuable chemical and philosophical apparatus, to- gether with a complete outfit as a military organiza- tion including stands of Springfield rifles and a park of fonr pieces of artillery. The reputation of this long- established institution of learning, with the inflnenee of its hundreds of alumni, in every section of our broad conntry, needs no additional commendation.

ST. JOHN'S SCHOOL, was established by its present rector, the Rev. J. Breckenridge Gibson, S. T. D., in the year 1869. The fine briek buildings which are occupied by this school, were originally erected as a school for girls, abont the year 1835 or 1836, having been opened as such by Mrs. Romeyn. This venture failing to be profitable, it was turned into a hotel; which, under the name of the Mountain House, was conducted for a time by Mr. Levi Peck, a noted land- lord of that day. This enterprise having also proven not to be a financial success, in 1845 the property was leased and subsequently sold to Mr. Marlborough Churchill, who established a school for boys, which became very famous under the name of "Mr. Churchill's School at Sing Sing." Mr. Churchill was a graduate of the West Point Military Academy, and already had an experience of three years, as principal of the Mt. Pleasant Academy, in this village. He was the first to introduce a military discipline and army tacties in any school in the place. Mr. Churchill having carried on this school with great success, in every point of view, for a quarter of a century, he sold the property to Dr. Gibson, in 1869, who changed the name to that of St. John's School. Many fine officers of the Union armies, in the War of the Rebellion, were furnished from the former pupils of Mr. Churchill's school, among whom General Alexander Webb can be mentioned with pride.

Rev. Dr. Gibson, has made extensive improvements and additions to the school buildings, by which he

has been enabled to accommodate eighty cadets, instead of fifty, which was the maximum number under Mr. Churchill's management. The location is admirable, not only on account of its unsurpassed scenery, and perfect salubrity, but in possessing six acres of nearly level land, for lawns, parade, ball, and other gaming grounds. An extensive brick gymna- sium and drill-hall has been ereeted on the grounds, and furnished with the most approved apparatus for physical training.

The rector is assisted by a corps of ten teachers, who give instructions in all the branches of an ample academic curriculum, fitting its graduates for entrance into our best colleges, onr national military or naval" academies, or to enter into business life. The school enjoys the patronage of the Bishop of the Episcopal Church.

For more than a third of a century Dr. Gibson has been engaged in Christian education, which is, to use his own words " the whole work of fitting body, mind, and sonl, for the duties of this life, and for the happiness of that which is to come."

DR. HOLBROOK'S MILITARY AND CLASSICAL SCHOOL is situated on an eminence abont one-half a mile sontheast of the village of Sing Sing, from whence one of the most extensive and beantifnl pano- ramas of our lovely scenery can be had. It includes a landscape of not less than thirty miles extent along the Hudson, and to the west nearly the same distanee. The original building was erected by a Mr. Roux for the purpose of establishing a seminary for young ladies, to be conducted by his wife. Madame Roux failed to receive the patronage she had hoped to ob- tain and gave up the enterprise, and returned soon after to hier native country, France. Mr. Milton Tracy leased the premises and opened a boys' school, which he continned until the Rev. D. A. Holbrook, A.M., Ph.D., seenred the property in 1866. Under the new management the buildings have been en- larged to three times their former size, many improve- ments introduced, such as gas-light and steam-heat- ing, etc. A large brick gymnasium and drill-room, with complete equipments, have been recently added to its other attractions. The grounds contain ten acres, in which are included a fine parade and sport- ing field. Dr. Holbrook was formerly associated with Dr. B. W. Dwight in the management of a school in Brooklyn, and, subsequently, he had a school at Clin- ton, N. Y., from whence he came to Sing Sing. This is a boarding-school, with ample accommodations for fifty-fonr boys. Dr. H. is assisted by seven teachers. Instruction is given in all the English branches, Latin, Greek, French and German, also in chemistry, natural philosophy, musie and military tactics.

VIREUN, a school for boys, was established in 1870 on its present site by the present proprietor, H. C. Symonds, who was graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1853, and served in the army until November, 1865. He was an assistant professor in

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the department of English studies at West Point from 1857 to 1861, and left there as an officer of the his- torical West Point Battery, which was on duty in Washington at the inauguration of President Lincoln. The higher standard for admission to West Point and Annapolis, which had been imposed during and sub- sequent to the war of seeession, seemed to open a field for a private school, which should maintain as severe a eurrieuhun in elementary English studies as was held in the best public schools of the country. This has been accomplished, and the distinguishing feature of this school for especial excellenec in the English studies is shown in the faet that in the Westchester Congressional Distriet of New York its pupils have in every instance sinee its establishment earried off the prizes in the competitive examinations for West Point. Many of its pupils have achieved the same results in their competitions in other States.

More than two hundred and fifty of its pupils have here been so well prepared for the severe examina- tions at West Point and Annapolis as to pass their examinations for admission most satisfactorily. The course of study is not limited to such preparation, but this is the solid foundation on which all who enter here must rest their preparation for colleges or the scientific schools, and the studies for these higher ex- aminations are subsequent to such elementary prepa- ration, and are pursued on the general plan of thor- oughness in all respeets.

The discipline of the school is maintained by suit- able modifieations of the general principles governing the military academy.

ODELL'S BUSINESS COLLEGE was established in the year 1875. It is located in Spring Street, is well attended, and has given a business edueation to a considerable number of the young men of our village. Prof. Charles E. Odell is an experienced educator, and an extremely facile penman.

THE OSSINING INSTITUTE FOR YOUNG LADIES was established in 1867 by Miss Sarah M. Van Vleek, a lady of extraordinary ability and of the highest culture, in the building known as the "California House," on Croton Avenue. The school was removed to its present location on the east side of the same avenue about a fortnight before the California House was destroyed by fire. In 1878 Miss Van Vleek sold her interest in the institute to Messrs. Rice and JJewett, who are still its proprietors. These gentlemen, who were already experienced educators, are aided by an efficient corps of nine teachers. The institute in- cludes a primary, English and classical department ; aneient and modern languages, the natural sciences, music, drawing and painting, are all taught in regu- lar courses. The building is large and well adapted for its purposes, occupies a sightly and salubrious position, and is surrounded by ample grounds. The number of scholars during the past year was seventy- four.

HIGHLAND SEMINARY, SING SING, N. Y., was sit-

uated on Highland Avenue. The house stood on a high ridge overlooking the Hudson and was surrounded by an extensive and well-shaded lawn. This school was established by Mrs. E. A. Pentz in September 1878. The following year Miss Bazley became asso- ciated with her. A full course in Latin, mathemat- ics, the natural seienees and belles-lettres was given. The modern languages, music, drawing, and painting were also taught. Average number of pupils forty.

THE WESTCHESTER HERALD AND FARMERS' REG- ISTER, was the first newspaper established in Sing Sing. Stephen Addington was its editor, and issued it every Tuesday morning. The first number ap- peared the 13th day of January 1818. About the year 1820 it passed into the hands of Mr. Stephen Marshall, who had printed it for Mr. Addington. Mr. Marshall edited the paper for five years. In 1825 Mr. Caleb Roseoe became the editor. Under his control it was issued as the Westchester Herald, but at what date the latter part of the original name was dropped off, I am unable to state.

Mr. Roseoe was a man of sterling qualities and possessed of unusual ability. He advocated the prin- eiples of the Whig party as long as that party sur- vived, but when it was broken up he unfurled the Demoeratie banner, which never ceased to wave at the head of his paper. He was both printer and editor. It was a common practice of his, to compose his editorials which were always keen and telling, and set them up in type without having been written even in outline. This I have seen him do again and again, when, in some instances the edito- rial was a column in length. Mr. Roscoe was an antiquarian, and a true historian. The files of his paper abound in interesting faets, which he had res- eued from oblivion, relating to early events in West- chester County. On the 6th, of Deeember, 1856, Mr. Roscoe's dwelling and printing office, and the mass of riel historieal material he had collected in his life-time, were all consumed by fire. In January following this misfortune, the Herald elosed its useful eareer, which had extended through four decades.

The following rather quaint and sareastie marriage notices appeared in the Herald in February 1818.

MARRIED .- On Wednesday evening, the fourth instant, by the Rerd T. Smith, Gabriel L. Dean to the amiable Miss Trifene Fisher, both of this town.

On the same evening by Elder C. Montrose, Master Thomas Lambert, nged sixteen, to the blooming Miss Nancy Israels, aged thirty-nine, both of this place.

" Sure it's a happy change of life To get at once a mother and a wife."

Caleb Roscoe, the editor of the Herald, was born in the town of Harrison November 30, 1800. His father, Luke Roscoe, a native of England, came to America in the latter part of the last century. Caleb Roseoe's early youth was passed in his na- tive village, where he attended a school taught by a Quaker lady, Miss Abigail Pierce. At the age of twelve he went to New York and found a posi-

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tion in a drug store with the intention of studying medicine. His employer's establishment was de- stroyed by fire, and this was the occasion of his changing his occupation for that of printing. He first entered the office of James Oram, who was the publisher of a weekly paper called the Ladies' Mu- seum, and he was subsequently engaged on the Com- mercial Advertiser. In 1825 he removed to Sing Sing and purchased the Westchester Herald, previously pub- lished by Stephen Marshall.

In the publication of this paper Mr. Roscoe was very successful, and it obtained a wide circulation. It was at first neutral in politics, but was afterwards published in the interests of the Democratie party and exerted a wide influence. He continued the i paper was for several years printed at Scarborough publication until 1856, when his establishment was de- stroycd by a fire so disastrous as to preclude a further pro- secution of the business.

In all public matters he took an active part, being for several years a trustee of the village and promi- nently connected with the school department of the place. It was largely through his influence that the first fire-engine was purchased for the village of Sing Sing.

He was one of the original board of directors of the Westchester Mutual Insu- rance Company, which was incorporated in 1837, aud served as a director for many years. He was also one of the first board of trustees of Mount Pleasant Academy, and was the last surviving member of the Caleb Roscoe original board. In every- thing that tended to the moral welfare of the com- munity he was deeply interested, and was promi- | 1852), Matt. F. Rowe (in 1853), and Col. Chambers nently connected with the Sunday-school and temper- ance cause, but his thoughts were most earnestly em- ployed in promoting the advancement of the West- chester County Bible Society, of which he was treasurer for thirty-four years and its vice-president for several terms, and upon his death resolutions of respect were unanimously adopted by the society at its annual meeting.

He married Hannah S., daughter of Dr. Jacob Tisdale. She died July 23, 1837. Their son, Henry Hinsdale, a youth of great ability and promise, died at the carly age of fourteen. Their two surviving daughters are Harriet R., wife of A. S. Edgett, and Helen M.

ii .- 33

Mr. Roscoe was in early life a member of the Pres- byterian Church, but in later years united with the Reformed Church of Tarrytown, a connection which continued until the time of his death, which occurred April 23, 1877. He left behind him the reputation of a sincere and worthy man, a useful and public- spirited citizen and a kind and devoted father. While exercising in business affairs a strict economy, his hand was ever open to the alleviation of human suf- fering and he was ever ready for every good work.1

The Hudson River Chronicle was established in June, 1876, by General Jamcs B. Swain, who was at one time the editor of the original Hudson River Chronicle, as stated in the sketch of the Democratic Register. This

by the " Sunnyside Press," and afterwards in Sing- Sing. The Chronicle is a four-page paper, entirely made up in its own office, ignoring both "patent in- side and outside." The edi- tor was for a long time the Albany correspondent of the New York Times, under the nom-de-plume of "Lco," the peculiar characteristics of which animal he still retains. Unlike the British lion, he prefers to defend Republic- anism rather than Royalty.

The Sing Sing Republican made its first appearance in this town in the year 1857. It was not an riginal ven- ture, but a mere transfer of a paper which had been published at Peekskill since the year 1830, Samuel P. Marks being its first proprie- tor. He was followed in succession by George W. Lyman, William Richards, Col. Joseph J. Chambers (in again in 1856. In January, 1857, The Westchester Herald. ceased to exist, and Sing Sing was left with one paper only,-The Hudson River Chronicle. Mr. J. Holly Platt, who had been associated with the publicatiou of the Herald, induced Colonel Chambers to bring his paper to this place, which he did in 1857. He associ- ated himself with Mr. G. Ten Eyck Sheldon, in 1862, and this gentleman continued the publication of the paper after the death of General Chambers, in 1864.

After the year 1875 Swartfager & Maynard, F. H. Pierson and H. B. Curtis succeeded each other, and

1 This sketch of Caleb Roscoe was contributed by the Editor.

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in January, 1882, the present editor and proprietor took charge of the paper.

The Republican, as its name implies, has always advocated the interests of the Republican party sinee this party had an existence, having previously been an equally stanch Whig partizan sheet. It is an eight-page paper, and is issued on every sueeeeding Thursday.

The next paper established in Sing Sing after the Westchester Herald was the Hudson River Chronicle, the issue of which was begun in the year 1837, by Alexander H. Wells. On his being appointed, two or three years later, to the position of surrogate of the county, he was sueceeded by Edmund G. Suther- land.

From Mr. Sutherland's possession the paper passed into the hands of James B. Swain, afterwards city editor ofthe New York: Tribune, and the " Leo " of the New York Times. He was followed in the position of owner and editor by Abraham G. Levy, who, in 1851, gave way to William C. Howe. Mr. Howe continued to conduct the paper till 1860, when it fell into the hands of Caspar C. Childs, who changed its name to The Democrat. Mr. Childs' successor was Nelson Baldwin, who changed the name of the paper again to its present designation, The Democratic Register. Mr. Baldwin sold the paper in 1872 to Caspar C. Childs, who in turn parted with it November 15, 1877, to Michael Moran, who is the present publisher. Mr. Howe has retained the position of editor con- tinuously sinee the year 1851.

The Democratic Register was a Whig paper when that party was in existence, and afterwards for some time advocated the principles of the American, or Know- Nothing party, as it was nicknamed. The de- eease of this party eaused the Register to join the Democratie ranks, where it has remained continu- ously ever since.

It is an eight-page paper, and is published every Saturday.

THE ANCIENT AND HONORABLE ORDER OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS established their first lodge in Sing Sing, about the year 1812. This lodge had a very brief existence. Its meetings were held in a hall in the upper part of the old Union Hotel, the dilapi- dated building which still stands on the corner of Highland Avenue and Church Street, once the okl Stage Line Hotel, that numbered among its distin- guished guests Napoleon III., late Emperor of France.

A lodge, known as the Zuradotha Lodge of Musons, was instituted in 1846, with " Dolph " Beekman as Worshipful Master. Its meetings were held in the old Franklin Academy, at that time also occupied by Oberlin Tent, of the Independent Order of Recha- bites. About the year 1850 this lodge was discontin- ued, as the Westchester Lodge, No. 180, had already been organized October 5th of that year. The first Worshipful Master of Lodge No. 180 was the late Dr.

Benjamin Brandreth. It began with twelve members and now has one hundred and nineteen.

Buckingam Chapter, No. 174, Royal Arch Masons was organized October 2, 1860, with the Rev. J. H. Black as High Priest. It now has seventy-seven members.

Sing Sing Council, No. 64, Royal and Select Masters was instituted December 4, 1872, with Isaae B. Noxon Thrice Illustrious Master. This council has thirty-six members.

Westchester Commandery, No. 42, Knights Temp- lar was organized at White Plains, March 2, 1868. As a majority of its members lived in and near Sing Sing it was removed to this place April 14, 1871. Its first officer was the late Colonel John P. Jenkins, Eminent Commander. It now has over seventy mem- bers.

INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD-FELLOWS .- The first lodge of Odd-Fellows in Sing Sing was organ- ized in November, 1843, under the name of Ossiuing Lodge, No. 97, I. O. O. F., subsequently No. 12. It had but twelve members. Captain Edward Van Wart was the N. G. and Chas. Southworth, of Peeks- kill, the V. G. The meetings were held in the Moun- tain House (now St. John's School). This lodge terminated its existenee in 1858.

Vulcan Lodge was organized chiefly through the influence of John Russell, superintendent of the Ar- cade file-works. Its membership was largely made up of file-workers. It had a short existence.

Sunnyside Lodge, No. 289, I. O. O. F., was insti- tuted August 24, 1871. James C. Mead, N. G., Stephen Ayles, V. G.

Tappan Lodge, No. 166, _1. O. U. W., was insti- tuted May 16, 1883. It has at present about twenty- five members.

SECTION NO. 71 OF THE HILDISE BUND, a German society for the insurance of the lives of members aud for the payment of stated sums during sickness, was organized in Sing Sing, in October, 1869, and at one time contained about eighty members. The name of the association was afterward altered to " The Prudential League," but the Sing Sing branch still retained its former number and is consequently now known as "Seetion No. 71, of the Prudential League."

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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 84

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