USA > New York > Genesee County > History of the Genesee country (western New York) comprising the counties of Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming and Yates, Volume II > Part 5
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Women students were first admitted to the university in 1900. It was only through the earnest and unceasing efforts of Rochester women, notably Susan B. Anthony, that the univer- sity was opened to female students and in gaining this privilege they secured subscriptions of about $50,000. In 1912 the uni- versity authorities decided that the best interests of all concerned would be promoted by separating the sexes and accordingly the colleges for men and women became distinct. It is the intention, when the men's department is ultimately located at the new Oak Hill site, to utilize the present buildings of the university for the women's college exclusively.
"The Eastman School of Music of the University of Roches- ter" is in the nature of a trust committed to the institution by George Eastman, and is one of a number of foundations which have had so much to do with developing and enlarging the school. It is the outgrowth of a private school of music estab- lished in 1913 by Alf Klingenberg and Herman Dossenbach, known as the Institute of Musical Art, located on Prince Street. Mr. Eastman acquired the corporate rights of this institute in 1918 and presented them to the university. Early in 1919 he considered the plan of a new site for the school and the Eastman theater in combination, the result of which was the present mag- nificent structure, in several particulars, at least, the finest of its kind in the country, and typifying as well the philanthropy and ideals of the donor, as the strong and abiding interest of the community in its cultural and intellectual aims and accom-
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plishments. The school of music was opened September 14, 1921, and the theater September 6, 1922. Kilbourn Hall, the audito- rium in connection with the school and so named in honor of Mr. Eastman's mother, is dedicated to the uses and entertain- ment of the public as well as the students. An addition to the school of music in the rear of the theater was begun in 1923.
The purpose of Mr. Eastman to aid the cause of education so completely and happily expressed in the realization of the school and theater, was again made manifest when in 1920, he gave four million dollars for the establishment of a School of Medicine and Dentistry. Rochester had been selected as the home for a large medical school by the General Education Board, the medium through which the Rockefellers have contributed to the cause of education throughout the country. In this project Mr. Eastman became vitally interested as he saw in association with it an opportunity for the development of the Rochester Den- tal Dispensary, whose endowment he had already increased to the extent of nearly two and a half million dollars. The General Education Board eventually gave five million dollars toward the establishment of this great training school for doctors and den- tists, and, soon after, Mrs. Gertrude Strong Achilles and Mrs. Helen Strong Carter, daughters of the late Henry A. Strong, gave one million dollars for the teaching hospital planned as a part of the school, as a memorial to their father and mother. There is to be as a part of the institution a municipal hospital, erected by the city of Rochester, and a nurses' home. The construction of these buildings upon property adjacent to the Oak Hill site, was begun in 1923, and it is expected that the first classes will be held in the completed buildings in the year 1925.
In 1924, inspired by the determination to secure the "greater University," came the drive which yielded more than ten mil- lion dollars for the founding of a men's college of arts and sci- ences upon the Oak Hill site, a beautiful location bordering upon the Genesee River. The conception of this larger enterprise had existed for three or four years and a number of men gradually developed a general interest to an aggressive shape. The Oak Hill site, occupied by the country club of that name, was the most desirable place for the proposed university group of build- ings, and it was ascertained that this land would be available. At a mass meeting of citizens in July, 1923, the matter took
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shape, a large committee was appointed and definite action be- gun. In March, 1924, the Oak Hill Country Club arranged to transfer the land to the university in exchange for property of equal value elsewhere, and in June following President Rhees announced that the terms of the transaction had been settled.
Mr. Eastman shortly thereafter announced that he would give the university approximately two and a half million dollars if the remainder of the required amount-about seven and a half millions-could be raised by popular subscription. This pre- sented a staggering if alluring task and involved a campaign of the last degree of intensity and one quite hopeless without uni- versal and most liberal support. The period between November 14th and November 24th, 1924, witnessed the concerted effort in every direction by organized teams under a complete organiza- tion and working with the slogan, "A Greater University for a Greater Rochester."
The full amount was raised, thousands of pledges having been given of sums ranging from one dollar to a hundred thou- sand, and in due time the work of construction will begin.
No more important or munificent contribution to the cause of education has been made in the history of the country than that provided by Mr. Eastman for the University of Rochester. His gifts for the various activities of this one institution exceed the huge sum of twenty-three and a half millions of dollars, which is not more than one-half the total amount of the foundations established by him for educational purposes. The details of his gifts to the school are as follows: School of medicine, $6,177,000; school of music, including theater, $12,723,000; college of liberal arts and sciences and greater university, $2,500,000; Eastman laboratory building, $78,500; endowment fund, 1913, $500,000; endowment fund, 1919, $100,000; college for women, $1,500,000.
Music in Rochester has had an extraordinary development in the course of years, and this gained a marked impulse in quite recent times through the influence of the Eastman School of Music and Theatre. The limitations of this work will permit but a brief and very incomplete account of the activities of musical Roch- ester, in a more or less chronological order.
In the early days of the village the Eagle Tavern, or the Mor- ton House nearby, furnished the arena for concerts by traveling companies. The first band in Rochester was organized early in
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1817; Preston Smith was leader, and George Pryor the in- structor. The Rochester Academy of Sacred Music-the first choral society-was instituted in October, 1835. The Mechanics Musical Association, also devoted to choral music, was started in 1837. This was the day of concerts, and most of the noted artists of the time appeared before Rochester audiences, either at the Eagle Tavern, the Rochester City Garden on Main Street, or in Minerva Hall, on the south side of Main, between South Avenue and Stone Street. Very soon, also, the Germans of the city organ- ized themselves into musical groups. Corinthian Hall, opened June 28, 1849, was the scene of many important musical events, including two Jenny Lind concerts, given July 22 and 24, 1851.
In August, 1852, a musical society called the Harmonic came into existence, and two years later the very successful Maenner- chor was organized. The Rochester City Band, known also as Adams' Brass Band, was the second one formed, and then fol- lowed a succession of bands extending down to the present day, some of them of military character and others civilian. The Academy of Music had its beginning about 1864. Under the leadership of John H. Kalbfleisch, a small orchestra was made up, which grew into the Rochester Philharmonic Society, founded October 3, 1865, and which had a long and successful history. Church music had a large part in the early cultivation of musical art in the city. The first organ in Roch- ester was placed in St. Luke's Church in the '20s, and played by Daniel Clark, the city's first professional organist. One of the first attempts at producing light opera by local talent was made in April, 1879, when "Pinafore" was sung on three successive nights in Comedy Hall, a building on State Street opposite Church. This was arranged by several young men of Rochester and their work was received with great favor. Under the same auspices a number of other light operas were rendered and it is said that it was one of the very few musical organizations of the city that ever made money. The Mendelssohn Vocal Society, formed in 1880, provided good music and was well supported. The Apollo Club, of similar type, flourished for a few years. The Rochester Oratorio Society, an association of considerable size, was started in 1882, did some creditable work, but did not last long. About this time the Symphony Orchestra was formed, the
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first of the name, to take the place of the Philharmonic; it was short-lived. The Choral Union of 1885 had a brief existence. About 1892 the first Rochester String Quartette was organized and lasted six years, in spite of poor support from the public.
The Tuesday Musicale, one of the most noteworthy of the societies, was formed in the spring of 1890, at the suggestion of Mrs. J. W. Whitbeck, and had a career of over thirty years of successful accomplishment. The Tuesday Musicale Chorus of 1897 consisted originally of fifty-six ladies; some time later it withdrew from the Musicale and established the Festival Chorus Association, which, after a successful and fairly long existence, went out of business. In February, 1901, the new Rochester Symphony Orchestra, which was the outgrowth of the Orchestral Club, gave its first concert under the able leadership of Ludwig Schenck. Composed of amateurs, it has had a highly successful experience, and its concerts have never failed to command en- thusiastic patronage. The Dossenbach Orchestra, under the lead- ership of Hermann Dossenbach, gave its first concert February 5, 1900, and became at once an important musical organization. It later took the name of the Rochester Orchestra and was dis- banded in 1921.
The Rochester Oratorio Society, beginning in 1911, was short- lived. In 1913 the Festival Chorus of Rochester was founded by the late Oscar Gareissen and has met with pronounced public favor. The Institute of Musical Art was sponsored by Alf Klingenberg and Hermann Dossenbach, with whom Oscar Gareis- sen later became associated. Property at 47 Prince Street was secured, and the name D. K. G. Institute of Musical Art chosen. Gareissen and Dossenbach eventually retired from the school and it became the property of Klingenberg; it was later acquired by George Eastman, as mentioned elsewhere. A school called the Rochester Conservatory of Music was conducted on South Fitz- hugh Street from 1906 until 1913, when it was merged with the Institute of Musical Art.
The first concert of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra was given March 28, 1923, with Arthur Alexander conducting. This body of musicians is in the class with the leading orchestras of America, a fact made possible by the Eastman benefactions through the channels of the school of music and theatre. Dis-
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tinguished conductors of the type of Albert Coates and Eugene Goossens, who are among the best that foreign musical centers have produced, alternate each winter season in directing a series of concerts nowhere excelled. The frequent appearance of noted artists on the Eastman programs is a further manifestation of the high standard maintained.
The David Hochstein Memorial Music School was established in 1920, as a memorial to David Hochstein, youthful violinist, who was killed in France after having been proclaimed one of the world's most promising musical geniuses. The instructors in this school are from the Eastman School of Music.
It may be mentioned in passing that instrumental music was first taught in the public schools of Rochester in the early '70s. In 1890 the study of vocal music was added. Advanced work is given in all departments of music, which, especially in the higher grades and high schools, is selected by nearly the entire student body.
At present Rochester has no central library, but plans for such an institution are contemplated in connection with the proposed civic center. The city has, however, a partial system of branches and other book collections. These are all in rented quarters or in old buildings adapted for the purpose. Within their limited scope and equipment they are rendering an exceptionally large and efficient service. This service has been developed under the direc- tion of William F. Yust, who was appointed city librarian in 1912.
The first movement in the city looking somewhat remotely toward the formation of a public library was made in 1822, when Jonathan Child and eleven others were elected the first trustees of the Rochester Literary Company, but nothing permanent came of it.
The Franklin Institute came into existence in 1826. Having obtained funds from a lecture course, the institute opened library rooms on the southeast corner of Main and Water streets, in the old Johnson building. In 1836 it was merged with the Mechanics Literary Association, which had secured at the start a donation of 500 volumes. During the next eight years its library had grown to nearly 2,000 volumes, and many social and oratorical features were added, but after this period of apparent prosperity the interest dwindled and eventually the association collapsed.
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The Rochester Athenaeum was founded in 1829, with Colonel Nathaniel Rochester as first president, and rooms in the Reynolds Arcade. It ceased to function, after three years, for lack of funds and the competition of the Young Men's Society (1834) and the Young Men's Literary Society (1837). The last named society had its beginning as a consequence indirectly of the first murder in Rochester, which impelled certain of the younger people to form an organization to counteract the "vicious influences" which they believed existed in the community. The society did not have a very promising start, but it grew nevertheless, and, in 1838, joined the Athenaeum and Young Men's Association. This asso- ciation likewise was not without its trials and tribulations, and in 1847 was consolidated with the languishing Mechanics Literary Association, and the Rochester Athenaeum and Mechanics Asso- ciation came into being. During the first two years the member- ship suffered stagnation and then interested persons directed the enterprise into a broader field of public interest and worked a complete rejuvenation. In due time there were 1,200 members; by 1864, 12,000 volumes were on its library shelves. A depart- ment for juvenile publications was started in 1857, and, in asso- ciation with the regular library work, a notable series of lectures was given, which were of inestimable value in promoting the growth of the library. Corinthian Hall was first used for library and lecture room and from its rostrum such widely known men as Ralph Waldo Emerson, John B. Gough, Moncure D. Conway, J. G. Holland, George William Curtis, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Louis Agassiz, Henry Ward Beecher, James Russell Lowell, Bay- ard Taylor and Wendell Philipps spoke. The great success of these lecture courses, however, was really unfortunate for the library, because it created a community satisfaction with this method of maintaining a public library, a method which failed everywhere in the course of time. The lifetime of the Athenaeum was a period of marked activity in the establishment of perma- nent public libraries throughout the country. During that period a majority of the large cities of the United States put their public libraries on a tax supported basis. The failure of Rochester at that time postponed the establishment of her public library a half century.
On account of increasing rent, the Athenaeum Library, in
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1871, was moved to the second floor of the Rochester Savings Bank Building, which was the first of a number of removals, and the beginning of the end of the institution. Numerous plans were advocated and tried in the effort to infuse life into the organ- ization ; financial aid was sought from persons of wealth; a propo- sition was finally made to the board of education to buy the books as an addition to the old Central Library; but every expedient failing, its property was advertised for sale by the sheriff to satisfy claims of less than $2,000. These debts were, however, paid by two interested citizens, Mortimer F. Reynolds and George S. Riley, who thereupon took over the property, and at a later time Mr. Riley disposed of his share to Mr. Reynolds, and for a number of years the books were out of circulation.
The history of libraries in Rochester was, it would appear, one of discouragements and failures until the last transaction recorded. Faulty management, insufficient and irregular sources of money, and the need of a generally free circulation, all con- tributed a part in producing these results. Mr. Reynolds' pur- chase of the books of the Athenaeum in 1877 was made with the design of placing them at the disposal of the public. This he con- summated five years later by opening a library containing these books in the Reynolds Arcade Building, which was incorporated in 1884. Mr. Reynolds first made a cash donation to the library of $10,000, and later added a $3,000 annuity. Upon his death in 1892, the library became the beneficiary of a large portion of his estate, including the Reynolds home on Spring Street, which now houses the Reynolds Library, and the Arcade, the oldest structure in the business district of Rochester. The revenues derived from the Arcade rentals are used for the maintenance of the library, which now contains over 90,000 well selected books.
In 1862 the school libraries of seventeen schools were consoli- dated. In this way 1,000 volumes were brought together and called the Central Library. This was a school library, which came to be used as a public library, contrary to law. After 1875 it was housed in the Free Academy Building and remained there until 1904, when, by order of the state superintendent of public instruction, its use as a public library was discontinued and the 47,000 volumes which it contained were distributed among the schools. This again left Rochester without an adequate library.
There was occasional unorganized agitation but nothing
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definite was accomplished until the cause was taken up by Mayor Hiram H. Edgerton. In keeping with his messages for several years, he secured a charter amendment in 1911 which permitted the city to establish a library system. He also obtained initial appropriation of $10,000, and later in the year he appointed the following trustees : Charles C. Albertson, Edward G. Miner, Rush Rhees and Charles H. Wiltsie. These, with the Mayor and George M. Forbes, president of the board of education, constituted the first board of managers. The board employed Frank P. Hill, Brooklyn public librarian, as consulting expert in its preliminary plans, and shortly afterward elected as librarian William F. Yust, of the Louisville Free Public Library. He began his duties in April, 1912. The first branch was opened at Exposition Park in October, and since then there has been a slow but steady develop- ment of the branch system, together with other smaller centers of book distribution.
At the close of 1924 there were ten branches, located as fol- lows and listed in the order of opening :
Edgerton Branch, Building 9, Edgerton Park.
Genesee Branch, 707 West Avenue.
Monroe Branch, 269 Monroe Avenue.
Lincoln Branch, 433 Joseph Avenue.
Business Branch, 13 South Fitzhugh Street.
Goodman Branch, 511 North Goodman Street.
Charlotte Branch, 40 Stutson Street.
Brighton Branch, 25 Winton Road North.
Arnett Branch, 310 Arnett Boulevard.
Portland Branch, 571 Portland Avenue.
There are also twelve sub-branches in public school buildings, seventy-five deposit stations in stores, hospitals, fire houses, various institutions and industrial plants, 619 grade libraries in the public schools, and small collections at eleven playgrounds. These various collections contain 165,769 volumes, from which were issued for home use during the year 1,485,468 volumes.
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE CITY OF ROCHESTER : MILITARY.
Rochester and Monroe County have participated in five wars, and men from the city and county have always served their coun- try with courage and distinction.
In June, 1812, Congress declared war against England. President Madison at once called for 100,000 men. New York's quota was 13,500. The territory now comprising Monroe County was at the time a part of Genesee County and was sparsely set- tled, but a number of men volunteered for service.
Rochester experienced the actualities of war during this con- flict on several occasions, each one of which was signalized by the appearance of a British fleet off the mouth of the Genesee River. Nothing of very sanguinary nature occurred in connection with any of these episodes, but they supplied an abundance of excite- ment to the settlers of the county and provided a few warlike thrills to relieve the monotony of their existence. Captain Sir James Yeo had command of the small fleet of British vessels which maneuvered in the waters of Lake Ontario during the war, and his movements were generally held in check by the American fleet under Captain Chauncey.
Historical literature is replete with stories and versions of the naval warfare on Lake Ontario. Among the most complete of these is the brochure of Rear-Admiral Franklin Hanford, re- tired, published privately in 1911, and reprinted in Volume III of the Rochester Historical Society publications. Hanford men- tions a visit of British vessels to the mouth of the Genesee as early as June, 1809, an account of which is found in J. Fenimore Cooper's "Lives of Distinguished American Naval Officers." Cooper himself, then a midshipman in the English navy, was a participant in this visit.
On the 16th of June, 1813, Yeo's fleet, composed of seven or eight vessels of various sizes, appeared off the mouth of the river.
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Late in the afternoon a landing squad seized a quantity of provi- sions, salt and whiskey from the store of Frederick Bushnell, but the enemy foraging party did not tarry long on American shores, and well they did not, for a small force of militia, under Lieuten- ant-Colonel Caleb Hopkins, made a forced march to Charlotte from Hanford's Landing and arrived just as the marauding ships were getting under sail. A few scattered shots were sent in their direction, but no casualties were reported. Hopkins made a re- port to his superiors of the unexpected call from the redcoats, and Major-General Amos Hall, commanding a division in the Genesee district, commended his action and advised preparation for fur- ther appearances of the enemy. Some alarm was felt in the com- munity and in a few instances even some women and children were sent away for safety, as it was believed the British might land a strong force of men and march up the river to attack the village. But the British were very uncertain as to the number of American troops in the vicinity and had no such intention.
On the 9th of September, 1813, Captain Chauncey sighted Yeo's fleet near the Niagara River, and then followed a running battle until the 12th, when Yeo safely landed in Amherst Bay, which the American ships could not navigate. During the course of this chase, on the 11th, the British were becalmed off the mouth of the Genesee. The news spread rapidly and, as on the former occasion, the militia and citizens hurried to Charlotte to prevent a landing. Yeo had his hands full, however, and the villagers on shore were merely interested witnesses of a mild skirmish between him and the fleet of Chauncey, which soon put in an appearance. The latter was able to reach the British with his 24- and 32- pounders and made a few direct hits during the five hours of can- nonading, picking off a midshipman and three seamen ; the British were unable to get his range and ceased firing after a few strag- gling shots. At sunset a breeze filled the English sails and they escaped to Amherst Bay.
The English claimed that Chauncey lacked the spirit to take advantage of his superior position, and Chauncey asserted that Sir James Yeo refused to fight him. Writers have expressed divergent opinions upon this subject. Theodore Roosevelt, in his "Naval War of 1812," berates both commanders for avoiding a real fight; he says: "Both sides admit that Yeo got the worst of
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