USA > New York > Kings County > Gravesend > History of the town of Gravesend, N.Y. > Part 11
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49
MODERN DEVELOPMENT OF CONEY ISLAND.
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NELSON BUYERS
BRIGHTON PIER AND NAVIGATION CO., WEST BRIGHTON, CONEY ISLAND.
1,500, and the cuisine is equal to the easy supply of 10,000 guests daily.
- Almost on a line with the hotel, and to the east of it, is the great BRIGHTON BEACH BATHING PAVILION. This is 490 feet in length, with 1,230 bathing-rooms on the second floor ; and frequently furnishes aceommo- dations for over 6,000 bathers in a single day. Two bridges lead to the beach from the bathing rooms. There are, also, sixteen hot-water bathing-rooms, elab- orately and expensively finished ; and the entire
York, on the 28th of February, 1840. His father, Anthony Engeman, being in moderate circumstances, was enabled to give the boy only an elementary education. When about twelve years old, young Engeman engaged with a trunk manufacturer in New York, at a salary of two dollars and fifty cents per week. Here he worked, steadily and indus- triously, for about a year ; when, thinking to better his for- tunes, he went to Philadelphia ; and thence to Camden, where his half-brother (a son of his mother by a former husband) was established as a ship-builder. With him, at Camden and Gloucester, young Engeman worked at ship- building ; but, the germs of that untiring energy and cease-
OCEAN PIER AND NAVIGATION CO., WEST BRIGHTON, CONEY ISLAND.
arrangements of this establishment are on the most complete and costly seale. By night it is lit by 8,000 gas jets and 13 elcetric lights. The lower floor of the Pavilion is devoted to restaurants, " Bunnell's Museum," the Exhibition of the "Brighton Silk Works," and various eurious " shows," &c., which help the visitor to while away the time most agrceably.
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WILLIAM A. ENGEMAN, the youngest of four children (three sons and a daughter), was born in the City of New
less activity, so characteristic of him in later years, even then urged him to carve for himself a name and place far above, and beyond, the circumscribed limits of a ship-yard ; and, after a couple of years service there, he returned to New York.
From thence he went to St. Louis, where he found em- ployment in rafting lumber between that city and Reed's Landing. The excitement and danger attending this busi- ness had a peculiar fascination to young Engeman ; and, in this employment he passed the summer. But the swamps and staguant waters, in which part of his time was neces- sarily passed, superinduced that scourge of new countries,
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF GRAVESEND.
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HOTEL BRIGHTON, BRIGHTON BEACH, CONEY ISLAND.
"chills and fever," and in the fall the unacclimated New York boy became sick ; his work was over, the season gone by, and he was out of money. But, sick in body as he was, young Engeman was stout of heart, and set off for Cairo, Ill. He found the whole country filled with young men from the East, in search, like himself, of employment, where but little was to be had. Reduced by disease to a mere skeleton, he walked along the bank of the Ohio ; his sole companion being a strong, hearty, warm-hearted Irish- man-Bob Fullerton by name-who endeavored to cheer
reaching Cairo, Ill .. he stopped at Paducah, Ky., where he found employment in repairing the streets-a corporation job. His debilitated condition, however, rendered it impos- sible for him to continue work ; and, in a day or two. he be- came a deck-hand on a tobacco-boat going up Green River, Ky. After two trips, finding himself too sick to continue, he went agaiu to Cairo, and secured a position as cook on board a trading flat-boat bound to New Orleans. On this boat he remained till about the first of February of the suc- ceeding year, when, with slightly improved health, he en-
MOSS ENGCO.N.Y.
BRIGHTON BEACH BATHING PAVILION, CONEY ISLAND.
the boy by kindly words ; and, these failing, carried him on his back for miles, only leaving him when young Engeman positively refused to allow this true friend to be burdened with him any further. Now he was alone, and resolved to retrace his steps to the East. Sick, sore, and weary, he made his way back, subsisting by working at the houses he passed, receiving in return such necessaries as he needed. The customary rate of compensation for the cut- ting of sufficient fire-wood for a day's supply for the family was usually a few potatoes, or a "corn-dodger." Before
gaged as cook on the schooner W. W. Harkness, bound from New Orleans to Tabasco, Mexico ; the trip lasting about six weeks. While at Tabasco, the officers of the schooner made him carry powder ashore in a market-basket, under pretense of going to do the marketing for the schooner ; as, being only a boy, his basket would not be closely scrutinized by the custom-house officers. At night, the mate forced him to ac- company him, with a belt around his waist. and his blue shirt above the belt stuffed with cartridge powder, and silk un ler- clothing-smuggled this way to escape payment of duty.
£
William S' Engomar
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BIOGRAPHY OF WILLIAM A. ENGEMAN.
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His natural repugnance to any but open-and-above-board work was in no wise relieved by the tales poured into his ears, of being sent to the Government silver mines, if detected, where he might expect to pass the remainder of his life as a convict ; and by the moral certainty that, while the captain and mate were reaping a golden harvest front the transaction, neither would hesitate a moment to sacrifice him to save themselves, should necessity arise. Fortunately, however, the stock was all landed withont detection ; and the vessel, well loaded for the return voyage, weighed anchor for honie. The homeward trip was a terrible one. The vessel, heavily laden with sugar, hides, indigo and coffee, encountered a terrific gale for the whole passage ; the sailors were nearly all sick with Chagres fever; and Engeman was obliged to perform the duties of cook, waiter, sailor and do all other kinds of work necessary on shipboard. When, on arrival at New Orleans, the crew were paid off, young Engeman re- ceived the princely sum of ten dollars as his full wages for the trip! But, little did he care for that ; his health was fully restored, and thus his main object had been aecom- plished. A day or two fonud him an omnibus-driver, in the streets of New Orleans, sleeping in a hay-loft in lieu of bed ; economizing in every possible way to save sufficient to pay steamboat fare to Fort Smith, Ark., whither he proceeded as soon as financially able. Here he entered the employ of the United States Government in the transportation, by mule trains, of rations to the army stationed at Forts Waschita, Arbuckle and Cobb, and Antelope Hills. This was in the summer of 1859, in the fall of which year he engaged in the completion of Fort Cobb (Indian Territory). The fol- lowing spring and summer he accompanied the govern- ment forces in pursuing marauding Indians on the Cana- dian River ; and, the next winter the troops were engaged in hunting up the different tribes at Fort Cobb, Waschita River, giving them rations of flour and beef, and in prepar- ing them to settle and farm the fertile lands of the Waschita Valley.
Early in the spring of 1861, the government despatched the trains to Fort Belknap, Texas; whence they were or- dered to Fort Colorado, Here the different infantry and cavalry companies were gathered together, and from this place they proceeded to Fort Mason.
The civil war had broken out, and Texas Rangers gathered ominously about them ; these, in turn, were followed by the Indians, who, at a safe distance in the rear, were laying tlie country waste. From Fort Mason, the Unionists retreated to San Antonio ; from thence to Green Lake, the Rangers following. Green Lake is but a few miles from Powder Horn, from which those who remained faithful to the union canse (among whom was Engeman) took ship for New York. touching at Key West and Cuba on the way. Arrived at New York, Engeman and most of the party proceeded to Washington. Here he was tendered the position of Colonel of the first regiment raised there, by General Holt, to protect the capital. This offer was made on the representations of General Palmer, who had had ample opportunities of know- ing our hero's eminent qualifications for such a position. But Engeman refused the offer. Too much of his life had been passed on the frontier to render the tendered position such a one as suited his temperament. With some of his Western comrades, he wished again to go to the frontier. Railroad travel, however, had been so impeded that leaving Washing- ton was not an easy matter. The first attempt the party made was, via the Relay House (between Baltimore and Washington), whence they proposed going to St. Louis. Before reaching the Relay House, however. they were surrounded aud captured by the guards, who imagined
them to be rebels engaged in tearing up the railroad tracks.
Their protestations were of no avail, and they were marched back to Washington ; and, on Pennsylvania avenue, were in imininent danger of being lynched by a mob. At the critical moment, some of General Palmer's cavalry chanced to be passing, and recognizing their old Texan comrades, saved their lives, and restored them to liberty. So great, however, was the exasperation of the mob, that Engeman and his associates had to be taken to the jail to save them from the fury of the populace. After a few days, when the excitement had somewhat subsided, Engeman and his associates quietly left Washington ; and, tid Harper's Ferry, proceeded toward St. Louis ; narrowly escaping cap- ture, this time by the Confederates, on suspicion of being spies. At St. Louis the party separated, and Mr. Engeman went to Leavenworth, Kansas, and engaged to take govern- ment trains to St. Louis, transporting ammunition from the arsenals there to the different armies and steamboats. He was sent from St. Louis to Rolla, Mo., with army wagons to get ready for the battle of Springfield, where the Union forces were beaten, and driven back to Rolla with the loss of Gen. Lyon. From Rolla they were ordered to Sedalia. Mo .; thence to Leavenworth, with all transportation by land. On their way to Leavenworth, at a place called Lone Jack, they were surrounded by guerillas and detained two or three days. Measles broke out among the Union troops, it was snowing furiously, and the only protection for the sick were the gov- ernment wagons. On the approach of the Irish Brigade from Sedalia, the guerillas left and the brigade escorted the sick and enfeebled remnants of the army to Leavenworth. At Leaven- worth, Engeman had charge of all the government wagons during the winter. The following spring he hauled a battery of artillery from Leavenworth to Fort Union, New Mexico. which he left there, and took a large number of government wagons to Denver, Colorado. At Denver, he was offered the entire charge of the government works and corrals, but de- clined the position and returned to Leavenworth, by way of the Platte River, only one man accompanying him in the dreary ride in an old wagon, through the homes of the Sioux Nation, who, through the scarcity of buffalo meat, had been compelled to use dog's flesh as daily diet. Arriving at Leav- enworth, and finding business slack, Engeman proceeded to St. Louis, where he met Mr. George Bell, an old friend. who had charge of all the government corrals at that port. and with whom he engaged as assistant. After being with Mr. Bell a year, the latter went home, leaving Engemen in entire charge and command of all the corrals and animals : the reception, inspectiou and shipping of all horses and mules purchased for the government at St. Louis for the use of the different Union armies. So varied anl onerous were Engeman's duties of inspection here, that five horses, daily, were tired out in succession in carrying him from place to place as liis business called him. During his terin there Engemau bought and inspected for the govern- nient over one million of horses and innles, a larger number. it is believed, than was handled by any other one man. With the close of the war in 1865 this busines, of course, ceased. Had Engeman so wished he could readily and honestly have left the government employ a millionaire. But a love for money has never been one of his characteris- tics, as all who know him will testify.
Domestic difficulties interrupted his enjoyment of life. and made him desirous of seclusion and quiet, after the toils he had undergone. In visiting New York and Brooklyn. he came to Coney Island, and at once was onom red with its beauty, healthfulness and eminent fitness as a place
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF GRAVESEND.
suited to his taste and feeling. Enquiries, made of those who would be likely to know, showed him the tract now known as the Race Track, the Ocean Hotel property, and the Hotel Brighton property ; these, together, forming one of the orig- inal divisions of Coney Island, known as the Middle Division. This property was purchased from the two or three hundred persons who had, by continued succession of inheritance, come to be the owners ; a hotel was erected as a family home and the coveted boon of quiet seemed at last to have been secured by Mr. Engeman. But his mind, used to activity, refused the rest he had laid out for himself ; and, a year or two later, we find him purchasing the unexpired term of a lease on Coney Island, fronting on the ocean. As an instance of his energy, it should be stated, that the first ocean pier was erected here by him ; that the idea was conceived on the 20th day of June, and the pier completed, opened for visitors, and doing business on the 4th of July thereafter, although one of the intervening days was Sunday. The building of the Bathing Pavilion well serves to illustrate the indomita- ble energy, and determination to carry out his plans, once matured, so eminently characteristic of Mr. Engeman. When the Hotel Brighton was about being located, and the prem- ises whereon it stands were purchased from Mr. Engeman, an arrangement was made that he should have the exclusive right to erect baths, he paying a percentage on receipts, as an equivalent to the company, therefor.
To accommodate this custom Mr. Engeman erected a two- story and basement bathing pavilion-four hundred feet long, fifty feet wide, two stories high above the basement, with an upper piazza of thirty and a lower piazza of fifty feet wide, extending along the entire front. The basement was divided into kitchen, ice-house, dormitories for em- ployees and several hundred bath-houses, to be used when exigencies required. The main floor was occupied by a spa- cious dining-hall, bar-room, billiard-room and the various offices necessary. The second floor was devoted to bathers, and contained about one thousand bath-rooms ; the entrance to the bathing department on the second floor being by means of a spacious staircase from the main hallway below; and the exit for bathers to the water being by means of a wide bridge whose spacious arch spanned the distance from the front of the second story to the water's edge. The idea of the bath-houses on the second or upper story was novel, and-as the sequel proved-successful.
The building was commenced on the 9th day of May, 1878, on which day the first of the piles on which the building rested was driven. One of the chief difficulties was encoun- tered almost at the outset of the undertaking, when it was ascertained that to have the large structure completed, fur- nished and equipped in season, would necessitate the getting of lumber and timber on the ground very much more rapidly
than could be accomplished by any then used method of transportation. But the fertile mind of Mr. Engeman soon overcame this obstacle, and in a most novel method. Aware of the fact that, at certain times of tide. any floating object in the water near the shore would assuredly be thrown up by the waves, he conceived the idea of purchasing worn-out canal-boats, lading them, securing the cargo with hawsers lashed around the entire hull and cargo, and then towing the entire vessel and cargo out of Gowanus Canal, through the Narrows, around Coney Island Point, and fairly out to sea to a point in front of the location of the proposed build- ing: there coming in shore as close as possible, let g of the canal-boat, the tug proceeding homeward and the canal-boat striking the shore, would go to pieces; the lumber and timber drifting on shore at the precise spot needed. Nine times in succession was this unprecedented feat repeated: save that the last canal-boat was beached and unloaded three succes- sive times before it was broken up. It was by the aid of such appliances as these that Mr. Engeman was enabled to complete his building, put in steam-drying apparatus to dry the used bathing dresses, immense ranges in the kitchen. furnish the entire place with not only bath-suits, but with bar and restaurant supplies and furniture-all by the 18th of June, or less than seven weeks from the time of commenc- ing work, a feat certainly unparalleled in the history of the county.
For years the attention of Mr. Engeman had been turned toward making a race-track by the sea; and, in the Spring of 1879, his aspirations were realized. With his accustomed en- ergy he had the land surveyed, the track laid out and built on the marsh which formed the rear part of his Coney Island property, with dirt and loam carted from the city's hills- the lumber drawn to the ground by the horse-cars from the city-the grand-stand, field-stand, sheds, paddocks, bais and offices, judges' and timers' stands, and all the equipments of a well-equipped race-course completed for use in an in- credibly short time-viz., between the first week in May and the middle of June. In this, as well as the former enterprise. amid every discouragement, his brain conceived and his un- tiring energy pushed these works forward to completion.
The innumerable privations endured in early life have left their impression on Mr. Engeman's mind and naturally generous and open-hearted character, and have made bin very tender toward the weaker sex and toward youth, who can always find in him a sympathizing friend and an earnest adviser. Warm in his friendships, and, by no means implacable in his resentments, he is ever more ready to for- give than to punish. While his liberality has made him hosts of friends, his qualities of mind and heart serve to keep these friends warm and steadfast to his great and varied interests.
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MODERN DEVELOPMENT OF CONEY ISLAND.
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MANHATTAN BEACH HOTEL, CONEY ISLAND.
The Eastern section of Coney Island lying between the Ocean and Sheepshead Bay, known in old times as " Sedge Bank," and now as "Manhattan Beach," is reached by the Marine Railway, running from the Hotel Brighton-and built on piles the whole distance, thus allowing ingress and egress of the waves, and making travel possible in all weathers.
Manhattan Beach has a sea-front of over two iniles, fringed with a fine sandy beach, and presenting an un- paralleled view of the Ocean. This section of the Island (as we have already mentioned on page 40) owes its present splendid improvements to the foresight and energy of Austin Corbin, Esq., the well-known banker and railroad magnate. The "MANHATTAN BEACH HOTEL," and the "ORIENTAL HOTEL " (built in 1880, with a view to the especial needs of families as permanent guests), are both unique and imposing struc-
tures-and, from the rear of the latter, the N. Y. and Manhattan Beach R. R. connects, by means of its vari- ous ramifications (viz .: L. I. R. R., to Flatbush avenne ; to Greenpoint and Long Island City, Brooklyn ; and to Thirty-fourth street, and foot of Whitehall and Pine streets, New York City), with the cities of New York and Brooklyn. The Excursion and Picnic Pavilion, the mammoth Bathing Pavilion, Music Stands, etc., which form the necessary adjuncts of these two large hotels, surrounded as they are with extensive walks, lawns and flower-beds, laid out in the most exquisite style of the landscape gardener's art, form-with the ocean view, and the inland view, beyond Sheepshead Bay-a tout- ensemble of most surpassing attractiveness.
The railroad facilities for reaching Coney Island will be found fully described in our chapter on Railroads and Travel in Kings County.
ORIENTAL HOTEL, MANHATTAN BEACH, CONEY ISLAND.
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54
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF GRAVESEND.
JOHN Y. MOKANE .- It is certainly fortunate for the town of Gravesend, beset as it is, on all sides, by grasping monopolies ; and flooded on all days of the week, during four months of the year, by the population of the neighbor- ing cities, that its principal town-officer is "to the manor- born," conversant with all its wants and mindful of all its vested interests ; and that he is a man of nerve, of tact and of honesty. Such a man is Supervisor McKane. He is of tliat excellent Northi-of-Ireland (Scotch-Irish) stock, which for the two past centuries has furnished so valuable an ele- ment to our American population. He was born August 10, 1841, in the County Antrim, Ireland; and, when fifteen months' old, was brought by his mother to Gravesend, where his father had preceded theni by a few months. His earliest education was at the Gravesend district-schools ; and. from the age of eight to sixteen years, he was occupied in working in the garden, digging clams, and all the employments which usually make up a country-boy's life. When sixteen years of age, he commenced to learn the carpenter's trade with Abraham J. Van Dyke, of Flatbush, remaining with him for a year nntil Mr. Van Dyke went West. He then went to work with William Vause, builder. of Flatbush, for another year, when his old " boss" returned, and John resumed his apprenticeship with him, remaining with him four or five years. Then, in 1866, he commenced on his own account as carpenter and builder in the village of Sheepshead Bay, Gravesend. His first publie office was that of Constable, which he held for one year. Then he was elected one of the Commissioners of Common Lands for a term of seven years. Then he was chosen Supervisor of the town, of which he is now serving his third, two-year, term. Siuce its present organizatiou, in 1883, he has been President of the County Board of Supervisors. The confidence which the people of Gravesend repose in Mr. McKane is evidenced by the number and varied character of the offices of public trust with which they have invested him. He is a Police Commissioner ; President of the Town Board ; President of the Board of Health ; President of the Police Board, and President of the Water Board. He is also, by election of the Police Board, the Chief of Police, having under his control 150 police, 20 of whom are regular town police, the balauce being specials, during the "Coney Island season."
In addition to these public duties, he carries on an extensive business as a builder, having built (with the exception of the Manhattan Beach, Oriental and Brigliton) nearly all the hotels, and two-thirds of all the other buildings on Coney Island, as well as in the town of Gravesend. He lias long been a consistent member and supporter of the Methodist Episcopal church of Sheepshead Bay ; and lias been, for seventeen years, the faithful Superintendent of its Sabbath- school. IIe is a member of Franklin Lodge, I. O. O. F., and has held all the offices within its gift. He is also a member of the Mutual Benefit Society, Odd Fellows.
Mr. McKane was married. in 1865, to Fanny, daughter of Capt. Cornelius B. and Maria (Coles) Nostrand, of Gravesend, by whom he has a pleasant little family of three boys and a daughter. His venerable parents reside in Sheepshead Bay. happy in the respect and confidence which they see reposed in their son by their follow-citizens.
Despite the number of official honors eujoyed by Super- visor McKane, he is no politician. A democrat by prefer- ence, he has never felt himself bound by, nor has he ever been elected on, strict party-lines. A friend, who has known him long and well, writes to us of him, thus :
"The life of Supervisor MeKane, the struggles through which he has passed, and the difficulties which he has over-
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come in order to reach his present position of honor ant infineuce, are well calculated to bring out, in strong relief. those sterling qualities of character which have brought him into such worthy prominence among his fellow-citizens.
One marked characteristic of Mr. MeKane is his thorough honesty of purpose. This is conceded by persons of every political faitli, if they give an honest expression of opinion.
As the highest officer of the town, he has ever seemed most anxious that all his public acts shoukl tell for the benefit of his constituents ; and we believe the man is yet to be found who can justly point his finger at a single instance wherein he has stained, or in any way compromised, his official integrity. While his public position and influence would give him abundant opportunity to enrich himself, if he so desired, by winking at the violation of law. and by other questionable means, yet we do not believe he ever added to his possessions one dollar of unlawful gain.
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