USA > New York > Albany County > Watervliet > History of the city of Watervliet, N.Y., 1630 to 1910 > Part 13
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Ab urbe Conditi. We have been the most enviable community of " taxpayers " in this State, and should receive from Tammany Hall, their political bouquet of appreciation, for the economy injected into municipal affairs of the city, through and by the well directed efforts of the professional economists who have, and do now represent the different departments of government, most of whom were, and now are " non " taxpayers. The only city of its size in the United States, where the board of police commissioners overlook the fact that for the public benefit, the chief of the depart- ment should appear in uniform. "If not, why not."
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1910.
James Hamil Co. (Inc.), successors to Jas. Hamil, who estab- lished in 1869 the stove business. Became one of the successful merchants. The present company was incorporated January 1, 1910. Albert J. Danaher, president ; Owen Cullen, vice-president ; Arthur Kennedy, secretary and treasurer. Hardware, plumbing and roofing, the main business of the firm. Under the present management new life has been instilled into every department, a large field has been opened whereby an increase of trade will, in the near future, tend to add to their already large patronage. With up-to-date facilities the only concern in the city that carries a com- plete stock of goods in their line, with courteous salesmen and expert mechanics in all departments, patrons are certain of a square deal on all contracts.
In reviewing the history of the early settlement of this locality from 1793, when part of the farm owned by John Schuyler, Jr., was laid out as the village of Washington, it must be apparent to those familiar with other settlements adjacent to it, that their Dutch, Scotch and Irish ancestors made no mistake in the selection of the site upon which to build their homes, and to establish in- dustries that, as the country became more settled, it would become in the near future a business center and prosperity follow. This is borne out from the fact that the selection comprises the largest acreage of level ground this side of New York, with direct com- munication by water, and at that time there was a bright outlook that other transportation facilities would materialize that would enhance the value of their investment. With these ideas in mind they seized the opportunity, and accepting the many hardships that arise in the pathway of the pioneer, through energy, perse- verance and indomitable will they reared the settlement of a farm to that of a village of business activity, substantial homes erected, mills, factories, stores and shops in operation, schools where chil- dren received tuition, and with the church the day of rest afforded an opportunity for all to listen to their pastor as he discoursed on moral and religious topics. At this date, 1802, three ferries, Van de Heyden's at Sixteenth street, Wandell's at Fifteenth street, and Malon Taylor's at Fourteenth street, enabled travelers to cross the Hudson on their way North or West as business or pleasure demanded, and the prosperity of the settlement became known beyond its border when, in 1805, one James Gibbons, a prominent, influential and progressive merchant of Albany, seized the oppor- tunity then presented, purchased the farm north from Washing- ton, extending to Buffalo street (Broadway and Fifteenth), sur- veyed and laid it out into lots, and called the place Gibbonsville.
The second link was forged that in the future was to add strength to a chain of commercial enterprises that had previously
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been established. Having entered the arena as a speculator in real estate, and knowing from previous experience that inducements must be offered or shown whereby manufacturers, merchants, mechanics and others could be prevailed upon to settle in the new territory, he conceived and carried out a project that through some influence resulted in interesting the United States government in purchasing twelve acres of land of his recent claim. Success crowned the effort, and the United States arsenal was established, located in Gibbonsville, Albany county, N. Y., July 14, 1813. Building commenced the next year under the supervision of the commander of the post, and Isaac Chapman, the first master mechanic. Oxen were utilized in hauling supplies, etc. A wooden fence at first enclosed the grounds. The stone wall was commenced later and finished about the year 1844. Contractors, Learned & Bingham. The first church, the Reformed Protestant Dutch, of Washington and Gibbonsville, had been built in 1814 and dedi- cated in 1816. Hank's bell foundry, flour mill, sattinet factory, hat and other industries already established, the population in- creased, and at the time of the incorporation of the village in 1824 there was one church, seventeen mercantile firms, three hotels, with a ship yard in full bloom. The nucleus of the fleet of river craft, the schooner John Silliman, had already made her intial trip to New York.
The business men of that period, foreseeing the steady advance in the prosperity of the settlement, had in the year 1823 formed the West Troy Company, purchased of John Bleeker and his wife the Bleeker farm commencing at Buffalo street (Broadway and Fifteenth), north to the Oothout farm (near Twenty-fifth street), surveyed same and laid it out in lots, and named it West Troy, forming the third link that if welded together would form a chain of business activities that would add strength to the combination and a stronger influence in commercial circles. Only one house (history states) stood on the farm at that date, 1823. West side of river, below Canal street (Broadway and Sixteenth), site of the Rath Block.
The families of the Schuylers, Dermotts, Sages, Dunlops, Elijah Washburn, Smiths, Sweets, Burnetts, Greys, Stones, Kimberlys, Lineys, Hitchcocks, Witmarsh, Oothouts, Bronk, Brown, Wheelers, Evens, Abrams, Learneds, Chards, Hoveys, Lees, Meneelys, Wan- dells, Myers, Hanks, Willards, Chapmans, Bostwicks, Powells, Binghams, Lobdells, Fitchetts, Griffins, Dyers, Rundells, Silli- mans, Robinsons, Tuckers, Samuel Patch, E. F. Hitchcock, Isaac Hitchcock, Learned Haight, Larcums, Veiles, Oswalds, Clarks, Morrisons, Blackmans, Nancie Vallence were some of the first settlers of Port Schuyler, Washington and Gibbonsville, the most influential and substantial business men prior to 1830. The com- pletion of the canal from Rochester in 1824, and finished in 1825,
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added to the volume of business already secured, increased river freighting, giving the ship building industry then in its infancy a brighter outlook for the future.
In 1836 Gibbonsville, including Washington, was incorporated, and at that time the following persons were residents of West Troy proper, that is, north of Buffalo street (Fifteenth street) : Aaron De Graw, Francis Disable, Oscar Potter, Jerry Potter, Patrick Rogers Clark Foss, Sol Greenman, John Savin, Michael Savin, Ashael Potter, Edward Mallory, Mr. Hubbard, M. Levy, James Brady, Asa Spaulding, N. J. Van Arnum, H. L. Dann, Benjamin Tinney, George Green, Dr. Ruggles, Mr. Strattan, John Reiley, Orlando Lathrop, B. B. Griffin, O. L. Stebbens, E. M. Douglass, Benjamin Clark, G. H. Servis, S. J. Lewis, E. J. Higgins, M. I. Moe, James Edgerton, William McClellan, Charles Finn, Attorney Houghtaling, Simeon Smith, David Burrus, H. Mattison, G. H. Vosburgh, W. C. Bates, Samuel Wilgus, I. Getty, R. D. Potter, Ed. Ellis, Billings Blakely, Harris Winfield Higby (school teacher Fourth Ward), T. McGuyer, William Raymond, Dr. Shankland, Herman Mather, W. Wager, James Coggeshall, A. Gilbert, James Quackenbush, Alexander Jacque, Martin Witbeck, Myron R. Peak, Alexander Lenway, L. Lansing, Dr. Van Alstyne, James Meneely, Joseph James, T. Richards, Andrew Morrison, Daniel Hartnett, Hollands, Hill, Perrigo, A. S. Lobdell, R. E. Gorton, Orin Dele- ware, Pierce, Amos Salsbury, Nathan S. Hollister, Patrick Reilly, John McCormick, James Brisban, Henry A. Brigham, James Quackenbush, with few exceptions, every one prominent in and connected with the industries and business interests of the village with a spirit of liberality unknown or practiced by as large a number of the citizens of this section since the year of 1875.
The panic of 1837 was a setback to the business of the country and was severely felt by the business interests of the village. Col- lections were slow, work at the post was lessened, employees laid off, and to add to the other forces that entered into the derange- ment of business interests of the mercantile circle (although the officials of the old Watervliet Bank endeavored to stem the tide), they were forced to succumb, failing in 1841. In that early period New York merchants gave heavy credits and long terms, and on open accounts most of them allowed extension of time, and by other methods assisted in lessening the evil effect that would have prevailed had they done otherwise. Through these concessions and the renewed activity that soon followed canal freights in- creased, confidence was restored, the outlook became brighter, local industries were given new life, freighting to river points below and to New York revived, population increased, new industrial plants located within the circle, sunlight followed darkness, and a season of prosperity once more was assured.
The enlargement of the canal added to its freighting capacity,
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and up to the year 1850 found the village with a fleet of river craft of over forty schooners, sloops and scows owned by the citi- zens, captained by men of prominence, education and prestige. Thirty wholesale lumber and timber firms had located within the boundary line of the commonwealth, stove and other factories were in full bloom, giving employment to home industry, the social, moral and political situation was at its best, and the future seemed bright for all.
From 1840 increased facilities added to the soundness of already lucrative business, mechanics found profitable employment in all branches of trade, new plants sprung into existence, new lumber and other firms located and shared in the general prosperity, and peace, contentment and happiness was everywhere apparent. Pos- sibly the volume of business done and the financial success achieved by the merchants herein located can safely be stated to have been between the years of 1840 and 1860. In 1861, and during the war, business received somewhat of a boom in this locality. Large bounties were being paid, bounty jumpers were numerous in this section, going from here to other places under the guidance of the capper, enlisting, receiving the large bounty offered, and re- turning to the village to perform the trick over again. Reaction soon followed ; the blight came. The temple of industry built as it were on a secure foundation, began to crumble. The master architects who conceived and built the framework of the structure, had long since closed their earthly existence. The extensive lum- ber trade, so long a factor in the commercial success of the place, furnishing employment for hundreds, had vanished, factories closed their doors, the large army of lumber inspectors completely wiped out of existence; the stabling and grocery business located on the dock (Whitehall street), the enormous revenue of which for years had been of importance to the immediate prosperity of the citizen, gone never to return, together with the immense mer- cantile business on the same spot, and also on Side Cut (Twenty- third street). That in 1896 - when the city of Watervliet was incorporated - the whole business of the locality was demoralized, not a vestige of its former prestige visible, nearly all of the in- fluential and active business men of former years dead, and with few exceptions none of their successors capable to grapple with the business problems of the day, and only a shadow left of the ยท sunbeam of prosperity to remind us of the ability, integrity and honesty of our ancestors, the self-imposed task is completed. If the reader obtains any desirable information connecting his or her family with the early pioneers or receives a moment's pleasure in the perusal of the work, it will satisfy the ambition of citizen
JAMES THORN MYERS.
WATERVLIET, ALBANY COUNTY, N. Y., 1910.
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JAMES T. MYERS 1910
Everything That a Home Wears
R. C. REYNOLDS
Colonial Clocks
All people may not inherit handsome Colonial Clocks, but it is their privilege to hand them down.
HE just pride, now so prevalent, in possess- ing what belonged to the grandmother or greatgrandmother should suggest, beyond the mere present delight in owing good furniture, the pleasure in our power to give future generations. I Men build up fortunes to leave be- hind them. Why should they consider the house- hold goods a matter of only one lifetime ? @ The R. C. Reynolds Big Modern Store sells Furniture worthy to be handed down, and it is now exhibiting Colonial Clocks-guaranteeing a perfect time piece within the reach of very moderate purses, with a price range-
$35.00 to $125.00
The latter price is for a 5-rod German movement clock in beau- tiful mahogany case, with the celebrated dead-beat escapment, a maintaining power, polished brass weights and pendulum ball, white enameled dial, hand-painted moon dial and a second hand. It strikes the hour and half hour on the Westminster chimes on fine-toned steel rods and peforms all the functions of clocks sold at figures double the price we ask.
See the splendid exhibition on both our Main Floor and Third Floor Front
R. C. REYNOLDS
Complete Home Furnisher
MONUMENT SQUARE
TROY, N. Y.
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Troy Malleable
Iron Company
Organized in Troy, N. Y., in 1850
Incorporated in 1884, moved their plant to Colonie, outside the boundary line of Watervliet in 1892
HE largest Plant in this section manufacturing re- fined Malleable Castings of every description, employing a large number of workmen, and by its close proximity to the City, is a valuable addition to its business interests. :-: :-:
:-: :-
0000
WILLIAM A. GRIPPIN, President W. K. CHASE, Vice-President AUGUSTUS VEGHTE, General Manager and Secretary WALTER F. WITMAN, Treasurer PHILIP J. SCHILLING, Assistant Secretary
II
West Side Structural Company
Organized in 1904
" The firm consists of William N. Sleicher and William E. Whitney.
Plant located West Side of Erie Canal, Office on Third Avenue, North of Twenty-sixth Street.
Output consists of Structural and Ornamental Castings of every kind, meeting a large demand throughout New York, Vermont and Massachu- setts. They employ four expert designers and draughtsmen and a large force of mechanics that enables them to fill orders promptly.
III
1897
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