USA > New York > Queens County > Flushing > History of the town of Flushing, Long Island, New York > Part 12
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15
In 1872 the Central Railroad of Long Island was built. This was commonly known as the Stewart road. It was run in harmony with North Shore road, branching off from that road just below Lawrence avenue, and running through Garden City and Hempstead to Babylon. The Pop- penhusens were becoming a very influential element in rail- road interests on Long Island. They came into competition with the Long Island Railroad on the South Side. By way of retaliation, Oliver Charlick, President of the Long Island R. R., built a road parallel to the North Shore road from Woodside to Flushing. This road was opened in 1873. The
1872
206
HISTORY OF FLUSHING
old station still stands on Jaggar avenue, just south of Brad- ford avenue. The Charlick road, or the White Line as it was called, put down the price of an excursion ticket to Long Island City to fifteen cents. The North Shore road was com- pelled to do the same thing in the following spring. Two years later, in April, 1875, Oliver Charlick lost the Presidency of the Long Island R. R. The Poppenhusens had been buying stock in this road wherever they could find any for sale. In 1876 they were found to be in full control; Conrad Poppen- husen was elected President of the Long Island R. R. ; the fare on both the Charlick road and the North Shore road was advanced; and on April 17th of the same year, all trains were discontinued on the Charlick road. The Cen. tral, or Stewart road never paid, and was abandoned in 1878. The Woodside branch was abandoned about the same time. This, in brief, is the history of Flushing's railroads.
In 1870, the subject of supplying the village with a water system began to be agitated. Two years later, the Trustees were authorized to proceed with the work. The question of a site for the pumping-house and of the source of water supply caused much discussion. Douglass Pond, Kis- sena Lake, and Spring Lane were proposed. The Trustees were equally divided between Douglass Pond and Kissena Lake. The State Legislature was asked to change the number
1873 1870
207
MODERN FLUSHING
of Trustees from six to seven, that the question might be set- tled. This change was made, and Douglass Pond was selected.
The system was completed and put into operation, Dec. 1874 3, 1874. The event was the occasion of a great celebration. Houses were decorated ; a procession marched through the streets ; a dinner was served at the Flushing Hotel ; and a public meeting, with speeches, was held in the Town Hall in the evening. The water in the pond did not prove to be satisfactory. Wells were dug which have since supplied the village with an abundance of pure water. In 1886, mains were laid to Willets Point. The stand-pipe was erected in 1897.
In 1883 the area of the village was considerably en- larged. The community had grown beyond the old limits. The boundary lines at that time established were those in force when the village became a part of New York City. An intelligent notion of the extent of the village will best be gained by stating where these boundary lines crossed the principal thoroughfares leading out of the village. On Whitestone avenue the village extended to the limits of Whitestone village, just beyond the residence of J. F. B. Mitchell; the union of Broadway and Sanford avenue marked the limits of the village toward the east; the line running south included the corner of the Flushing Cemetery near the entrance; the southern line crossed Jamaica ave-
1883
208
HISTORY OF FLUSHING
nue at the bridge over the outlet of Kissena Lake; the western line followed the creek.
In the winter of this same year, 1883, the Art Class of Flushing was organized with seven members, for the pur- pose of aiding in the establishment of a hospital. 23 The by-laws of the Art Class limited the membership to twenty- five. This number was soon reached, and constituted the class for years. Sales of fine needle-work were held by the class, in New York and Flushing, just before Christmas and Easter. In this way the class earned, and paid to the trus- tees of the Hospital about $300 a year, for many years. 2+ Early in the year following the organization of the Art Class, i. e. on February 4, 1884, the Flushing Hospital and Dispensary was incorporated. Soon after the incorpora- tion of the Hospital, on April 3rd, the trustees elected a Board of Lady Managers. 25 This board for three years did
1884
23 The original members of the Art Class were: Miss Marie Bramwell, President ; Mrs. Eugene T. Lynch, Secre- tary ; Mrs. R. S. Bowne, Mrs. John Gihon, Miss Constance V. Bramwell, Mrs. E. M. Travers, Mrs. E. F. Thompson. 24 The class was disbanded in 1896, having contrib- uted to the Hospital about $4000.
25 The first board was composed of Mrs. J. L. Hicks, Mrs. E. T. Lynch, Mrs. R. S. Bowne, Mrs. Abram Bell, Mrs. W. B. Worrall, Mrs. A. K. P. Dennett, Miss F. Bur- dett. Mrs. Hicks was for years First Directress. Of the Lady Managers, Mrs. Hicks, Mrs. Bowne and Mrs. Lynch after- wards became Trustees of the Hospital, and served many years.
209
MODERN FLUSHING
the work of the Hospital. The managers visited the sick poor in their homes, supplied them with medical attend- ance, with medicines and nourishing food, and when neces- sary with the care of a nurse. Cases that could not be properly treated at home were sent to hospitals in New York and Brooklyn. During the winter of 1884-85, the Board of Lady Managers rented a house at No. 41 Congress avenue, and established there a temporary hospital. The work grad- ually widened, and the interest in it increased until 1887, when the Hospital at the corner of Forest and South Par- sons avenues was built. The ground was given by John Henderson, who also loaned the Trustees $3000 toward building the Hospital. When Mr. Henderson died, in 1890, he directed that this debt be cancelled, but his estate was not able to pay all of his bequests, and his Executor has de- clined to release the Hospital. Soon after the erection of . the Hospital, in February 1888, the Trustees elected as their successors members of the Board of Lady Managers. From that date until 1895 the Trustees of the Hospital were
women. In the latter year men were again elected, includ- ing all the members of the medical board. Since then the hospital has been entirely under the care of male Trustees. In addition to the Art Class, the Hospital has had the assistance of the Green Twigs-a society of young ladies.
1
210
HISTORY OF FLUSHING
Besides helping the Hospital in other ways, this last- named organization has given the Hospital an ambu- lance, surgical instruments and case, and furniture for certain rooms.
The work of the Hospital has grown from year to year. 26 The training-school for nurses was started in 1890; the Babies' Ward, the gift of Charles H. Senff, was built in 1893, at a cost of $4000. Since 1895, the Hospital has re- ceived an annual appropriation from the town. This source of revenue was lost when Flushing became a part of New York City. In 1897, Charles H. Senff gave the Hospital $10,000 for a new surgical ward, and F. Augustus Scher- merhorn gave $1000 for a new kitchen and laundry. In this same year a legacy of $500 was received from the estate of Anton Roesingh, and one of $2500 from the estate of Han- nah Willets.
The Flushing Hospital is the only institution of its kind in Queens County outside of Long Island City. It has from the start received the cordial support of the physicians of the town, and has thus been enabled to do a good and
26 In 1894, the Hospital treated 257 indoor patients at an expense of $7800; in 1895, 242 patients, expense $8700; in 1896, 273 patients, expense $11,000 ; in 1897, 393 patients, expense $12,555. The property of the Hospital, in 1897, was estimated to be worth $25,000.
1
211
MODERN FLUSHING
much needed work. It is an institution of which Flushing may well be proud.
To attempt to give a detailed account of all of Flush- ing's institutions would carry us beyond the scope of the present work. 27 We must content ourselves, therefore, with a brief survey of the village as it is to-day, and so bring our
27. The Athletic Club has a gymnasium on Jaggar Avenue, and Golf Links on Whitestone avenue. The Nian- tic Club House stands at the corner of Sanford and Parsons avenues. The Young Men's Christian Association, organ- ized in 1895, occupies a house in Locust street. The Good Citizenship League, a woman's club, was organized and in- corporated in 1891. The United Workers, organized in 1893, is a society for the improvement of the condition of the poor. Connected with this organization are the Wom- an's Exchange and the Day Nursery. The United Workers was the outgrowth of the work of the Good Citizenship League. The Business Men's Protective Association began its work in 1893. Its object is to cooperate in the collec- tion of bills and in determining the financial standing of customers. The Association has shown its public spirit in encouraging public improvements. The officers are: George Pople, President ; John J. Trapp, Secretary and Attorney ; D. H. Van De Water, Treasurer.
In addition to the older schools of Flushing, whose history we have followed, should be mentioned the Flushing Seminary and Kyle's .Military Institute. The former is a school for girls. Hans Schuler, B. D., Ph. D., is the Prin- cipal. Dr. Schuler purchased the school kept by Mrs. Mas- ters, in 1888, and organized the Flushing Seminary. Mrs. Masters' predecessor was Miss S. O. Hoffman, who estab- lished the school in 1874. Miss Hoffman's school was at first for day scholars only. In 1876 a limited number of boarders were received. Kyle's Military Institute, a board- ing school for boys, Paul Kyle, Principal, was first estab- lished in College Point. It came to Flushing in 1892, and
212
HISTORY OF FLUSHING
history to a close. The Village of Flushing has always been a place of residence. Those institutions have been fostered that would render the village attractive to persons seeking homes; manufacture has not been encouraged. 28 The village streets are macadamized, well-shaded with fine trees of many varieties, lighted by gas and electricity, and swept and sprinkled at public expense. 29 The side-walks are paved with stone flagging. A complete system of sewers extends throughout the village. The steam and electric cars make frequent trips between Flushing and the city. These conveniences and improvements have made Flushing
located in its present building at the corner of State and Farrington streets.
Flushing has two banks-the Flushing Bank and the Queens County Savings Bank.
In addition to the Churches referred to in the foregoing pages, Flushing has a German Lutheran Church, incorpo- rated in 1893, the Rev. Dr. R. Mekler, Pastor ; and a Baptist Church for colored people-the Ebenezer Baptist Church. The Church building of the Lutheran society was built in 1894.
The 17th Separate Company of the N. Y. S. M. was or- ganized in 1876. The Armory, located in Amity street, be- tween Main and Union streets, was built in 1894.
28. The principal manufacturing establishments in Flushing are-the machine shops of J. L. Bogert, the Sash and Blind Works of C. W. Copp, the De Bevoise Waist Co., Heinrich Franck Sohne & Co. Coffee Addition Works, the Harway Dye-wood Co., B. & W. B. Smith's Glass Works.
29. This at least was the condition of Flushing in the year 1897.
213
MODERN FLUSHING
an attractive home for business and professional men of New York. Here they find pleasant homes amid rural sur- roundings, within easy reach of their places of business. A number of artists have been attracted to Flushing by its quiet beauty. The annual exhibition of their work is one of the pleasant events in the village life.
It is interesting to note how many of the improvements and conveniences that are to-day enjoyed by the inhabitants of Flushing were unknown ten years ago. In this respect, however, our village is not different from many other com- munities, so rapid has been the development of those things which add to the comforts of life.
Among the older institutions of Flushing that have not been already described, are the Fire Department, the Gas Works, and the Public Library. The earliest legislation on the subject of our Fire Department was a law, passed March 24, 1809, entitled: "An Act for extinguishing fires in the Village of Flushing, in Queens County." This law created a Board of Trustees, to consist of not less than three or more than five members, who were to constitute "The Fire Com- pany of the Village of Flushing." These Trustees were to be elected annually, by "certain persons . . who have associated for the purpose of purchasing a fire-engine, and such other inhabitants as may be proprietors of the said
214
HISTORY OF FLUSHING
engine, when purchased for the use of the said village." The Trustees were authorized "to appoint a sufficient num- ber of firemen (willing to accept) not exceeding eighteen, to have the care, management, working, and using the said fire-engine." The first Captain of the Fire Company seems to have been a man named Stansbury. He was succeeded by Treadwell Sands, who served twenty years. The engine- house stood on Main street, where Van Siclen and Towns- end's green grocery now stands. Before the purchase of the fire-engine, the only means of fighting a fire was by pouring on water from buckets which were passed along a line of men extending from the nearest pump to the fire. The pres- ent Fire Department was organized in 1854.30 Public cisterns, located in different parts of the village, supplied the water. When the present water system was established, in 1874, fire-engines gave place to hose-carriages, and the cisterns were filled up or covered over. 31
The Gas Company was incorporated Oct. 16, 1855, with a capital of $20,000, and the exclusive right of supplying
30. Mandeville, p. 80.
31. Officers of the Fire Department, 1897: James H. McCormick, Chief Engineer; John Carrahar, First Assist- ant; George Townsend, Second Assistant ; Geo. W. Worth, Treasurer. Names of the various companies : Empire Hose Co. No. 1, Rescue Hook and Ladder Co., Young America Hose Co., No. 2; Mutual Engine Co., No. 1; Flushing Hose Co., No. 3; Murray Hill Hose Co., No. 4.
-
215
MODERN FLUSHING
gas to the village for twenty years. Gas was turned on in January, of the following year. Five years later the Com- pany reported two and a half miles of pipe, one hundred metres, eighteen street lamps, and a monthly consumption of 100,000 cubic feet of gas. In 1868, new works were built with a greater capacity. 32
The Flushing Library Association owes its origin to Edw. L. Murray, L. Bradford Prince, 33 Joseph K. Murray, F. A. Potts, and other public spirited men. It was organized in 1858, and incorporated in the following year. The first officers of the Library were: E. A. Fairchild, President ; L. B. Prince, Secretary ; J. Milnor Peck, Treasurer.
The library was at first open only to members of the Association, who paid an annual fee of one dollar. In 1884 it became a free library. To-day it has 7,000 books, and an annual circulation of 19,608. The library, when first organ- ized, was located in a room at the northeast corner of Bridge and Prince streets ; then it was moved to a room over
32. Mandeville, p. 79. History of Queens County, p. 109. The first officers of the Gas Company were: James R. Lowerre, President; Gilbert Hicks, Treasurer ; Charles A. Willets, Secretary.
33. L. Bradford Prince was born in Flushing, in 1840. He was elected a member of the Assembly five years in suc- cession, 1870-1875; a member of the Senate in 1875; ap- pointed naval officer of New York, 1878; Chief Justice of Mexico, 1879; Governor of New Mexico, 1889.
216
HISTORY OF FLUSHING
the drug store at 51 Main street; then to the southwest room in the Town Hall. Later we find it in the Savings Bank building, in a building on the north side of Amity street, east of Main street, and in the store room at 129 Main street. In 1891, the present building was purchased from the Baptist Church. 34
But the past ten years have brought to the village a greater number of improvements than any previous period of five times the length. 35 Ten years ago the streets were not macadamized. They were not sprinkled, except in certain localities where individuals, by private subscription, sought to protect themselves from dust. There was no means of protection against the discomforts of mud. The streets were poorly lighted by an insufficient number of gas lamps. There
34. The present officers of the Library are: President, William Elliman ; Secretary. Walter L. Bogert.
35. The names of the Trustees who have served within this period should be recorded. They are: E. V. W. Ros- siter, James T. Chapman, James A. Renwick, John H. Wilson, Nicholas Mehlen, Samuel Berrien, Francis F. Kee- ler, M. J. Quirk, Patrick R. Brogan, Ernest Mitchell, Fred- erick P. Morris, John D. Hashagen, John Hepburn, James F. Connor, James A. Macdonald, John W. Crawford. E. V. W. Rossiter was President of the Village for six years. He declined the nomination for re-election, in December, 1894. Henry Clement served as Treasurer of the Village for twenty-five years. He resigned in January, 1891. Mr. Clement died Sep. 8, 1895. Clinton B. Smith was Clerk of the Board of Trustees from 1889 to 1898. Edward E. Sprague was for many years Corporation Counsel.
..
217
MODERN FLUSHING
were no electric lights ; there were no electric fire signals. 36 Cows were allowed to run at large. When the Village Trus- tees passed an ordinance, in 1890, forbidding cattle to run loose on the streets, the measure met with no little opposi- tion. A liberty-loving correspondent of the Evening Journal asked: "Whether the craze for the removal of fences is to be indulged in at the expense of our personal liberty?" The ordinance was enforced, the President of the Village personally assisting in its enforcement. The result has been that fences, being no longer necessary, have been gradually removed, to the great improvement of the appearance of the streets. Within the past ten years, the free delivery of the mail has been established, two electric roads have been built, 37 the steam road has completed the change from a
36. The electric fire signals were established in 1893; the electric street lights in 1896.
37. The Flushing and College Point Electric Road was incorporated in 1887; the track was laid in 1888; the first car was run on Thanksgiving day, 1889. The motive power was a storage battery. This system was found to be im- practicable. In 1890 the Trustees gave consent to use over- head wires. Early in 1891 cars began to make regular trips. In 1894 the road passed into the hands of a Receiver. In 1895 the electric road from Long Island City was built to Flushing. The company operating this road purchased the Flushing and College Point road. The system is now known as the New York and Queens Co. Railroad. In 1896 the Brooklyn Heights Electric Railroad was built to Flushing. The first through cars were run on October 24th, of that year.
218
HISTORY OF FLUSHING
single to a double track. Ten years ago Murray Hill, now covered with block after block of pleasant homes, was a nur- sery ; Ingleside and Bowne Park were farms.
The greatest advantage that Flushing has enjoyed over many other localities, an advantage that has made these many improvements possible, has been an honest govern- ment. Party politics have not entered into the election of Village Trustees. Voters have never been notified of the party affiliations of candidates. Very few, if any, of the Trustees have sought office from other motives than a desire to serve the public interests. In their efforts to improve the village and to protect it from threatened evils, the Trus- tees have been ably supported and assisted by the Flushing Village Association. 38
The subject of better streets began to be agitated in 1890. The Village Association at once took up the subject, and secured the consent of a sufficient number of tax-payers to empower the Trustees to issue bonds to pay for the con- templated improvement. From that time, the work went steadily on until the close of the year 1897, when, with few exceptions, all of the streets were macadamized and in per- fect order.
38. The Flushing Village Association was organized in 1886.
1890
219
MODERN FLUSHING
In 1891 a great danger threatened the community. The Flushing Jockey Club, organized and backed by a number of pool-room men of New York, leased the Flushing race- track, and inaugurated a season of races. The great evil of this institution was, that it was established to "make for- eign books," i. e. the races run on the Flushing track were of secondary importance, and were simply an excuse for opening booths where bets were placed on races all over the country. This brought to Flushing a great crowd of disrep- utable characters, and threatened to destroy the peace and quiet, and to corrupt the morals of the community. The Trustees passed an ordinance making the practice unlawful. The Village Association called a mass meeting to protest against the evil. The Association appointed a committee to co-operate with the Trustees, and authorized the com- mittee to draw upon the treasurer of the Association for any money in his possession that might be needed to carry out its work. Certain "book-makers" were arrested on warrants sworn out by John D. Hashagen and Ernest Mitchell, Village Trustees. The defendants were brought before County Judge Garretson, and convicted of violating the Ives law, the very law under which they claimed pro- tection. An application was made to Supreme Judge Bartlett for a stay of proceedings, on a writ of certiorari.
1894
220
HISTORY OF FLUSHING
This was denied, and the fines were paid. Being thus . deprived of the privilege of making books on foreign tracks, the Jockey Club began to lose money. After its one season, it did not return to Flushing.
The Village Association did not content itself with merely opposing the Flushing Jockey Club. The State Constitutional Convention was in session at Albany during that summer. A committee of the Village Association con- sisting of Joseph K. Murray, Foster Crowell, James T. Franklin, L. M. Franklin, G. Webster Peck, sent a petition to the convention begging that the article of the Constitu- tion which prohibited lotteries might be so amended as to include a prohibition of pool-selling and all forms of gam- bling. The amendment was adopted by the Constitutional Convention, and ratified later by popular vote.
At the November election, 1894, the question whether Flushing should be consolidated with New York City, was submitted to the people. Flushing voted against the prop- osition - 1,407 to 1,144. In spite of this vote, the work preparatory to the extension of the limits of New York City, so as to include the town of Flushing, went steadily on. Flushing opposed this measure at every stage of its progress. While the bill was before the Senate's Committee on Cities, March, 1896, a delegation from the Village Association con-
1896
221
MODERN FLUSHING
sisting of John W. Weed, Foster Crowell, Albert S. Thayer, William Bunting, Jr., George W. Hillman, Jr., G. Webster Peck, appeared before the committee to protest against the proposed legislation. Mr. Weed was the spokesman for the committee. Later, a memorial, addressed to Governor Mor- ton and the State Legislature, and signed by more than seven hundred residents of Flushing and Jamaica, protest- ing against the measure, was forwarded to Albany. But the bill was passed, signed by the Governor, and sent to the Mayors of New York, Brooklyn and Long Island City. The Village Trustees and the Village Association appointed com- mittees to appear before the Mayors and show why the measure should be vetoed. 39 The Mayor of New York and the Mayor of Brooklyn vetoed the bill ; but it was re-passed by the Legislature, signed by the Governor, and became a law, in April.
The Village Association did not, however, relax its efforts in behalf of Flushing. Consolidation was inevit- able; the next question was to secure as favorable provision for Flushing as possible. The work of framing a charter
39. The committee from the Village Trustees was : James A. Macdonald, Ernest Mitchell, James A. Renwick, John Hepburn. Frederick Storm, Assemblyman, assisted the committees from Flushing, in various ways, during the fight against consolidation.
222
HISTORY OF FLUSHING
1897
for the enlarged city was placed in the hands of a commis- sion. 40 The Village Association appointed a committee to look after the interests of Flushing, while this work was going on. The committee consisted of Foster Crowell, Albert S. Thayer, John W. Weed, James A. Macdonald, and Wil- liam Bunting, Jr. The proposed charter was published in December, 1896. The Charter Commission offered to grant public audiences, for twelve days in January, on ques- tions connected with the charter. The Village Association's committee asked to be heard on the following subjects : (1) "The basis of representation, and the method of choos- ing representatives in the municipal assembly, to be chosen from the more sparsely inhabited boroughs, especially Queens ; (2) Provision for direct means of public inter-com- munication between portions of the city separated by water." The Commission granted a hearing on the first question, January 6th, and on the second question, three days later. John W. Weed spoke for the committee. The original draft of the charter gave the Borough of Queens two councilmen out of thirty five, and three aldermen out of one hundred and one. These councilmen and aldermen were to be chosen from the Borough at large. The commit-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.