USA > New York > Columbia County > Hudson > History of the city of Hudson, New York : with biographical sketches of Henry Hudson and Robert Fulton > Part 14
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The corner stone of their new Armory was laid
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on September 4, 1897, and it was occupied by the Com- pany in December, 1898. Contract price for the build- ing, was 29,288 dollars, exclusive of the site. It is of appropriate architecture, and is rightly considered an or- nament to the city. Company "F" are a well drilled, finely set-up body of men, and our citizens have good reason to feel proud of them. We have also a Company F., Tenth Regiment Drum Corps, numbering fourteen
Hudson abounds in fraternal societies whose aims are beneficent, or social, all of whom seem to be flourishing like "the green bay tree" of the Psalmist. Of these the more prominent are the Elks, Knights of Pythias, Wood- men, and Maccabees.
The Hudson Lodge, No. 787, B. P. O. E. was chartered June 23, 1902, with a membership of 82, which in 1908, had increased to 193.
Their beautiful new Club House was opened on March 7, 1908, with a public reception which was a very successful occasion, and on the 9th, the lodge held their first session in their new house. It will be highly en- joyed and appreciated by the members of the lodge, who had previously met in rooms in the Opera House.
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CHAPTER XXII.
City Hall-Free Library-Chapter House-Some Early Citizens.
The erection of a new City Hall in 1855, was greeted with great satisfaction by the residents of Hudson, for there had been previously no suitable place for public gatherings.
On the completion of a new Court House and jail in 1835, the old jail on the corner of Fourth and Warren streets, was leased and remodeled by John Davis, and under the name of "Davis's City Hall," was used for this purpose during the ensuing twenty years. There was also a room at the top of the Van Vleck building, which served for small assemblies, but neither of these met the requirements of the city.
The Hall, which cost 27,000 dollars, contained an auditorium of fair size with a semi circular gallery at one end, and when first completed, a lecture platform and desk at the other. It was furnished with plain settees in the style of the Lyceums of the day.
The building was opened with addresses of felicitation by Mayor Dormandy and prominent citizens, and later a grand Bachelors' Ball was given, being the first, and doubtless, one of the finest of its kind ever held in Hud- son.
One of the social leaders at the time was Mr. Stephen A. Du Bois, and it is safe to affirm that he not only headed the affair, but was extremely useful at its close. It was quite characteristic of Mr. Du Bois to meet any little deficits from his own plethoric pocket.
He was a man without business, except a directorship
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in the Hudson River Bank, and its President from 1865, until his death, which occurred in 1869, and he found his greatest enjoyment in making others happy. It is not strange that he was universally popular with all ages, from the youngest débutante, to the grave and reverend seigneurs, who were his contemporaries.
The "Bachelors" were not permitted to pay all the expenses, nor indeed to reap all the pleasure of that occasion, for the gallery of the Hall was filled with the older, non-dancing members of society. The admixture of the older element, even unto the third generation, with the younger set, has not been uncommon in Hudson, and has formed one of the chiefest charms of its social gatherings.
The city offices were immediately installed in the City Hall, and the Post Office was located in the eastern cor- ner of the building, from 1867 to 1886. The First Na- tional Bank occupied its present banking rooms in 1869. The auditorium was remodeled later, and furnished with folding chairs, drop curtain, and other accessories of the stage, after which it was called the Opera House. Its name has since been changed by each succeeding lessee.
The Franklin Library Association was assigned excellent accommodations, while in the auditorium above, was held the Course of Lectures, the proceeds from which, over and above expenses, together with annual subscriptions, amply met all expenditures for librarian, and additional books.
These lectures had been held in the different churches, or the Court House, since 1837, but not with the regular- ity and frequency which now characterized them.
It was a liberal education to listen to such men as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Wendell Phillips, Edward Everett, Henry Ward Beecher and others of equal merit. They drew immense audiences, people coming from neighbor-
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ing towns within a radius of more than twenty miles, regularly throughout the season.
Then too we occasionally had an opportunity of meet- ing the celebrities in a social way, at supper or recep- tion-but the day of the Lecture Bureau closed, rather suddenly as it seemed. Prices for such lecturers as we had been accustomed to hear advanced enormously, and the aftermath was not attractive.
The annual subscriptions were mostly continued, and the Library was kept open as usual until 1874; but with a limited number of new books, and those selected, of an undesirable order, many declined to renew their sub- scriptions, and the books, numbering between four and five thousand, were removed to No. 171 Warren street, and thence to the Fourth Street Public School building, and given to the city.
In 1898, the Hendrick Hudson Chapter of the Daugh- ters of the American Revolution decided to establish a "Free Library," having collected quite a number of his- torical works, to which was added the use of the books formerly owned by "The Franklin Library Association."
This Library was opened to the public on April 25, 1898, in the Fourth street school building, which had become "The Hudson High School."
After the Hendrick Hudson Chapter received its beau- tiful Chapter House they purchased from the Board of Education about 1600 of the most serviceable books of The Franklin Association Library and installed them in their present commodious quarters.
In addition to the books continually added by the com- mittee of the "D. A. R. Free Library," it has been the recipient of many valuable presents, and now numbers about 6,500 volumes. Circulation in 1907 amounted to 20,073.
Its present usefulness and success is largely due to the
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interest and generosity manifested by Mrs. Marcellus Hartley, who, in 1903, liberally endowed the institution.
A marble tablet placed in the Library bears the in- scription :
This Free Library Of Hendrick Hudson Chapter D. A. R. is endowed in the name of Robert Jenkins by Frances Chester White Hartley his granddaughter 1903.
Hudson is to be sincerely congratulated upon having so good a collection of books placed freely at the dis- posal of her citizens and of the stranger within her gates, by both of whom it seems to be highly appreciated, as is also the unfailing patience and courtesy of the librarian in charge.
The Hendrick Hudson Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution was organized on December 26, 1895, and incorporated under the laws of the State of New York on July 9, 1898. It has a membership of 112. September 16 was selected as "Chapter Day" in com- memoration of Henry Hudson's first anchorage opposite the site of the City of Hudson.
In addition to the establishment of the Free Library, which has been dwelt upon at length, the Chapter is active and influential in the affairs of the organization in the state and nation, while it furnishes an additional local centre of social life, encourages the study of American history, the observance of patriotic days, and has given prizes in the Public Schools for essays on those subjects.
The Chapter has gathered in its museum, which is open to the public, over three hundred articles of both ancient and modern times, and has held a Loan Exhibition full
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of historic interest. In giving occasional free lectures, and in lending the building for charitable purposes, be- side other works of mercy and kindness, the Chapter has shown itself mindful that "the greatest of these is char- ity."
But the chapter has itself been favored far above other chapters in being presented with a fine old colonial man- sion for their Chapter House. This was fitted up with every convenience for their use, including beside library and reading room, a parlor, museum and charming auditorium, which together with many beautiful things, was given to the chapter by Mrs. Marcellus Hartley of New York, who added to her generous gift, the con- siderate munificence, of a fund for its maintenance.
Mrs. Hartley, who is a life member of the chapter, be- came interested in its welfare through the efforts of its members to procure a building fund, by the sale of a book, called "Mary and I go to Europe," the manuscript of which had been presented to them for that purpose, by its author, Doctor H. Lyle Smith of this city.
In the foyer facing the entrance is placed an artistic bronze memorial tablet, whose inscription tells the sim- ple story of a loving remembrance.
This Tablet is erected to the memory of Seth Jenkins
who with his brother Thomas founded the City of Hudson. He was appointed its first Mayor by Governor Clinton which distinction he enjoyed from April 1785 to his death 1793.
Also to his son Robert Jenkins
who was appointed the third Mayor by Governor Daniel D. Tompkins, serving a period of ten years, from 1808 to 1813, and 1815 to 1819.
Robert built this house in the year 1811, where he resided until his death Nov. 11, 1819.
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Presented by his granddaughter to the Hendrick Hudson Chapter D. A. R. Frances Chester White Hartley A. D. 1900.
The fifteenth of May, 1900, was the notable date of the most noteworthy event in the history of the D. A. R. of Hudson.
Flowers, music and light were lavishly used to deco- rate and render still more attractive their beautiful Chap- ter House and the choicest of the élite were gathered to greet Mrs. Marcellus Hartley, and to receive formally from her the gift, so generously proffered. Addresses were made by Doctor H. Lyle Smith, the Chapter's faith- ful friend, in his own inimitable way-by the Mayor of the City-and then, in simple, well chosen words, Mrs. Hartley conveyed her splendid gift. A fitting, grateful response of acceptance by Madame Regent was followed by the presentation to Mrs. Hartley, of appropriate reso- lutions previously adopted. A fine portrait of the donor adorns the wall of the home-like parlor, which was pre- sented in response to the ardent, and oft-expressed de- sire of the Chapter.
Mention has been made of Seth Jenkins, Jr., a brother of Robert Jenkins, who resided at No. 115 Warren street, adjoining the Chapter House. A more distant relative, Oliver Wiswall, became an important factor in the de- velopment of this city.
Mr. Wiswall was born on the island of Martha's Vine- yard, where his father, Samuel Wiswall, died, and he, with his mother, removed to Hudson when he was nine years old.
After a brief period spent at "Marm Wilson's" school, at the age of thirteen, Mr. Wiswall entered the store of his uncle, Marshall Jenkins, then doing business in the
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building on the corner of Front and Warren streets, later the residence of Mr. Ebenezer Gifford.
In 1801, he formed a partnership with Captain Beriah Pease, who came here soon after the Proprietors, and had been employed in the Merchant Marine service. They occupied a small frame structure No. 114 Warren street until 1804, when they erected the large brick build- ing No. 118 on the same street, that being the "business centre" of the city at that time. This sufficed until 1820, when Mr. Wiswall entered into the freighting business under the firm of Wiswall, Smith and Jenkins, in which he continued until his retirement from active life. Mr. Wiswall's purchase with others of the Hudson Gazette and his connection with the Hudson River Bank as its first president have been noted.
He served the city as Mayor, and was also a Super- visor and Member of Assembly. He was full of interest- ing reminiscences, and contributed much of the material of Mr. Stephen B. Miller's "Historical Sketches of Hud- son." Mr. Wiswall died at his home on Mt. Merino on January 27, 1863.
A valued friend and contemporary of Mr. Wiswall was Judge Barnard.
Robert A. Barnard was born in 1787, in the dwelling on the corner of Warren and First streets, which his grandfather built in 1784, and in which the three genera- tions of the family lived and died. Judge Barnard men- tioned the fact of his residence in this house during a visit to England and Scotland, in reply to the charge that "the American people were so fond of change that it could not be told one year, where they would be the next." The Judge remarked that he was an exception, and his statement could hardly be credited.
The very few years of schooling which in common with most of the boys of that day, were allotted to him, were passed under "Marm Wilson's" guidance, and the Judge
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was launched on his future career. This was that of an active business man, and particularly devoted to the whale fishery during its revival in 1829.
Judge Barnard did much to promote the prosperity of the city that his ancestors helped to found.
He succeeded Oliver Wiswall as President of the Hud- son River Bank, and filled a variety of positions, includ- ing that of Postmaster, Senator, Member of Assembly, Associate Judge and Presidential Elector.
Possessing a retentive memory, Judge Barnard also furnished a store of valuable and interesting matter to the "Historical Sketches."
Judge Barnard passed away in the house his grand- sire built, on January 20, 1872, at the age of 85 years.
Mr. Henry Harder, or "Doctor," as he was familiarly called, was another whose recollections though somewhat dim, were of assistance to the author of the "Sketches." He was a boy of about seven years of age when the Proprietors came here, and was living with his uncle, Justus Van Hoesan, who must have been a descendant of that Justus Van Hoesan, who with his wife, met a sudden and tragical death from accidental poisoning, nearly a century before Mr. Harder's birth. All of which has been duly set down in order, in the early portion of this work.
The Justus Van Hoesan house was on the site of the residence of Mr. Daniel Limbrick, near the South Bay, which was destroyed by fire some years ago.
Mr. Harder dimly remembered the coming of the Pro- prietors, but very little connected with it, and with his passing away, the last link between the city of today, and the "Claverack Landing" of 1783 was broken.
Mr. Henry P. Skinner belonged to a class of early merchants, who were actively identified with the business interests of the city.
His quiet tastes and somewhat retiring disposition, led
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him to decline public offices, but he well sustained the character of a useful, benevolent and enterprising citizen. For more than four score years he retained his wonderful vitality, attending daily to his business, and never failing to take his accustomed walk of miles, before breakfast.
Except the closing sentence, how fitly and admirably, every word here written of Mr. Henry P. Skinner, applies to our respected and valued fellow townsman, Mr. Lorenzo G. Guernsey, who happily is still with us.
In his departure from the city, which he has known, and where he has dwelt for upwards of half a century, will pass away the last living representative of its earlier business men and interests.
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CHAPTER XXIII.
The Press-Industries.
The newspapers now published in Hudson fitly illus- trate the doctrine of the survival of the fittest. Launched afresh in the year 1824, by Ambrose L. Jordan and Oliver Wiswall, both have had an unbroken success up to the present time.
In 1845, the Columbia Republican was purchased by William Bryan and John Moores, the latter retiring in 1851, leaving Mr. Bryan sole owner until 1862, when Frank H. Webb, recently deceased, acquired a half in- terest, and the firm of Bryan and Webb continued its publication during the ensuing fourteen years.
Mr. William Bryan was a prominent citizen, and for eight years was Postmaster of Hudson, combining the duties of the office with those of a successful publisher, an example since followed by his son.
Mr. Frank H. Webb was a native of Claverack and a descendant of one of its oldest families. He wielded a fluent pen, as is shown in his little brochure called "Claverack, Old and New," and in various other writings.
The Hudson Daily Star, which was the first daily paper published in Hudson, was established by Alexander N. Webb in 1848. It was very popular and on August 18 of that year it gave so vivid an account of a conflagration in Albany on the day previous, when 500 buildings were burned, that it roused the citizens of Hudson to the im- portance of re-organizing and enlarging the local fire department. A call was issued for a meeting at Rogers' Columbia Hotel on the evening of the 19th, which re- sulted in the organization of the "First Volunteer Fire Company" with foreman, assistant foreman, secretary and
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steward, also a committee to draft a constitution and by-laws.
In 1850, Mr. A. N. Webb published "The Weekly Star," and in 1873 was succeeded by his son, Herbert N. Webb, who sold them both to Louis Goeltz, with whom Mr. Bryan formed a partnership in 1876, and they were merged respectively in "The Weekly" and "Daily Re- publican."
After the death of Mr. Goeltz in 1877, Mr. Bryan con- tinued the publication of both papers until May 5, 1881, when he associated with him his son, Henry R. Bryan. This partnership was severed by the death of Mr. William Bryan on September 11, 1897, since which time Mr. Henry R. Bryan has been the sole proprietor and editor of both journals. They continue to be the consistent organs of the Republican party, and both weekly and daily editions are ably and judiciously conducted.
"The Weekly Gazette" was resuscitated by Oliver Wiswall and a few leading Democrats in 1824, who pur- chased the plant at a cost of $500.
It was published by Hiram Wilbur-Mr. John W. Ed- monds' duties being limited to the editorship. The print- ing office was in the upper story of the store of Reuben Folger, on the northeast corner of Warren and Second streets.
In 1834, it passed into the hands of P. Dean Carrique, who continued its publication for nearly a quarter of a century.
In 1857, it was acquired by the Messrs. R. F. and M. P. Williams. R. F. Williams entered the army on the break- ing out of the Civil War in 1861, leaving M. P. Williams, now deceased, the sole editor and proprietor, a position which he filled with great ability, for thirty-five years.
Mr. Williams commenced the publication of "The Hudson Evening Register" in connection with "The
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Weekly Gazette," in 1866, and both have had a successful and prosperous career.
Becoming incapacitated for business by continued ill health, Mr. Williams sold the journals to a syndicate, and retired in 1896. His death occurred in April, 1906.
Both "The Weekly Gazette" and "The Evening Regis- ter" are, as they have always been, the exponents of the Democratic party, or some one of its divisions.
Many of the early industries of this city were discon- tinued after the decline of shipbuilding, but others took their place and Hudson has a variety of manufactures in successful operation at this date.
The last flouring and grist mill, the successor of that owned by one of our earliest settlers, Peter Hogeboom, Jr., was demolished in 1874 to clear the site for the pump- ing house of the water works.
Soon after the war of 1812, the manufacture of woolen cloth, principally satinets, was begun by William Van Hoesan and others, among whom was Jonathan Stott. "The Northern Whig" of January 10th, 1826, advertised "for sale by Jonathan Stott at the WOOL Warehouse, a few doors below the Post Office, on Warren street, 1,000 Jenny spindles, from the Sheffield Manufactory, England, a first rate article. Also WOOL of all qualities, satinet warps, and Indigo. CASH paid for all kinds of WooL as usual."
Mr. Stott's factory was burned in one of the large fires that devastated that part of the city, and he removed soon after to the site of Stottville, where he could avail himself of the water power of the Claverack Creek.
Two of the fires alluded to occurred in quick suc- cession, one in 1838, with a loss of $150,000 and in 1839, loss $175,000; insurance amounting to only about one-third in each case.
The tavern of Samuel Bryan was burned in August,
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1838, and was replaced by the building that is now "The Worth." About seventy buildings were destroyed in 1839, including factories, warehouses, four wharves and a vessel loaded with flour. The fire started in the large wool warehouse of Samuel Plumb, and was directly trace- able, as was also the previous one, to sparks from the steamboats Legislator and Congress.
Mr. Samuel Plumb, who is often referred to at this stage of the city's growth, built the fine residence now owned by the McIntyre family, and also set out the magnificent Norway spruce that graces the lawn on the approach to the dwelling.
To return to our industries. A fulling mill and flannel factory was built by Josiah Underhill, on the hill below Underhill's pond, which thus obtained its name.
A hot air furnace was started in 1816, which passed into the hands of Starbuck and Gifford in the same year, and is still successfully conducted.
The Hudson Iron Company was formed in 1848, and extensive works were built which produced annually 22,000 tons of pig iron. Long continued depression in the iron industry, and the necessity of substituting im- proved machinery, caused the works to be closed, and they were afterward demolished.
The Columbia Iron Company was incorporated in 1857, and turned out 18,000 tons of iron per year for a num- ber of years. This furnace was destroyed by fire.
The Allen Paper Car Wheel Company, so named for the inventor, afterward The American Paper Car Wheel Company was organized in 1874, and established its plant in this city. In 1897, it was purchased by The Railway Steel Spring Company and consolidated with other car wheel manufactories, this branch being enlarged and improved.
The business of manufacturing knit goods is one of the most thriving in Hudson. The first knitting mill was
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erected in 1872, and was followed by others in 1881, 1882 and 1900.
To these must be added the Hudson Fibre Company for the manufacture of cotton batting, a planing mill, cigar factories, and various other industries too numerous to mention. All are exceedingly prosperous, furnishing employment to large numbers of our inhabitants, as does also the gathering of ice during the winter season.
Extensive cement works, and brick yards are success- fully conducted, employing almost exclusively foreign or colored labor.
The general business of Hudson is carried on in a safe, conservative manner rarely resulting in failure. Possibly some lines have been too restricted, forcing people to go elsewhere for articles they would prefer to find more conveniently at home. Some of the firms date from a half to three-quarters of a century ago, and in a few in- stances are conducted by the descendants of the founders.
The frequent fires which have inflicted such severe losses, have in almost every case proved a blessing in a fiery guise. The streets have been vastly improved by the attractive buildings which have replaced those that were burned and which possess all the modern and de- sirable facilities for doing business.
Hudson has been sometimes called (rather unwisely it would seem) by its own residents, "a finished city," and if it be true, as we were recently informed, "that there was but one manufacturing site left in Hudson," the situation is rather alarming, though there has been another purchased since, that seemed to be quite eligible.
But the fact is plain that the city cannot expand to any great extent within its present limits, and it is hard to understand why our forefathers in 1837 allowed the town of Greenport to encircle us, almost to our very doors. A census in 1840, gives the population of Hudson as 5672, "after about 1800 had been taken off" during
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the previous decade by the formation of the towns of Stockport and Greenport. The idea of a re-union in the form of a "Greater Hudson" suggests itself, but can- not be hopefully entertained, as we can offer them little inducement as an offset to our tax budget.
The accounts of the procedure in locating the Hudson and Berkshire Railroad are interesting. In 1827, the Common Council appointed a committee of "Five Per- sons for the purpose of meeting the exploring committee from the State of Massachusetts, in relation to the con- templated railroad from Boston to the North River."
A development from this proceeding a few years later, was the loaning by the City of $50,000 in aid of the Hudson and Berkshire Railroad on bond and mortgage.
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