Landmarks of Albany County, New York, Part 44

Author: Parker, Amasa Junius, 1843-1938, ed
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1374

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JAMES BLUNN.

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ceeded by Benjamin McE. Schafer, who held the position until his death in 1880, when the present cashier, Arthur T. Phelps, was ap- pointed. In 1853 Dillon Beebe was elected president and was suc- ceeded in 1856 by Joseph M. Haswell, who held the office until his death in 1871. James Roy was then chosen, and was succeeded in 1876 by Thomas A. Knickerbacker, the present incumbent. The insti- tution was changed to a national bank in 1865 and the name changed to the National Bank of West Troy, with capital stock of $250,000. In 1877 this was reduced to $150,000, and in 1893 to $100,000.

West Troy has been and still is a manufacturing center of large im- portance. Fortunately situated for shipping purposes, and with a num- erous population near at hand from which to obtain employees, several large industries have been founded in the village and are still success- fully conducted. In the southern part of the village are the mills now operated by Roy & Co., for the manufacture of various kinds of woolen cloths and shawls. Of this company Benjamin Knower is president ; John F. Roy, treasurer, and F. B. Durant, secretary. The capital is $500,000. These mills were founded by James Roy about 1847 ; he was of Scotch birth and came to America in 1835. Not long afterwards he formed a partnership with John Knower and began the manufacture of woolen shawls, for which a number of workmen were brought from Scot- land. Other kinds of goods were afterwards added to the products of the mills. The establishment now embraces three mills and employs about 700 hands The firm of Roy & Co. was incorporated in 1871, by James Roy, John Knower, and Peter Roy, for the manufacture of builders' hardware, and carried on a large business until 1895, when the works were closed up. James Roy was a man of prominence and public spirit and accomplished much for the welfare of the village. He died in 1878.

The Meneely Bell Foundry, which has a reputation extending through- out the country, was established by Andrew Meneely in 1826. He had learned the trade of brass founder and began the manufacture of civil engineer's instruments in what was then Gibbonsville. He also made town clocks and finally church bells. His business increased and in 1835 he took Jonas V Oothout in partnership ; the latter withdrew in 1841 and in 1849 Mr. Meneely took as partner his son, Edwin A., the

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firm name being Andrew Meneely & Son. The senior of the firm died in 1851, and the business was continued by Edwin A. and George R. Meneely. Soon after the death of the elder Meneely the whole atten- tion of the sons was given to the manufacture of bells. In 1874 George R. Meneely withdrew from the business, and Edwin A. has since died The present firm comprises Mrs. E. A. Meneely and Andrew H. Meneely.

George R. Meneely carries on a brass foundry, in company with his son, Charles D., who came into the business in 1888, for the manufac- ture of a patent journal bearing for cars, engines, etc. It has great merit and a large sale.

The Covert Manufacturing Company was organized in Troy in 1873. the members being James C. Covert, Madison Covert, Henry Wakeman, and Scudder Wakeman. In 1879 the business was removed to West Troy, and soon afterward the Wakemans withdrew. In 1893 Madison Covert withdrew and James C. Covert is now sole proprietor. About eighty hands are employed in the manufacture of saddlery hardware and wrought iron chains.

In 1831 Sanford S. Perry established the pottery now situated on the! corner of Washington and Schenectady streets, the factory at that time being situated on Champlain street fronting the Erie Canal. In 1845 Nathan Porter and Robert H. Fraser purchased the pottery and removed it to its present location. About a year later Mr. Fraser died and was succeeded in the firm by his brother, George B. The firm continued a successful business for eighteen years, when it was dissolved and the establishment was sold to George H. Seymour. . From him it passed to the present owners, Shepley & Smiths.

The J. M. Jones' Sons horse car works were founded as a wagon manufactory in 1839 by Henry W. Witbeck and John M. Jones, under the style of Witbeck & Jones. The business continued until 1863. when Mr. Witbeck withdrew and George Lawrence took his place. The manufacture of horse cars was then begun and the making of wag- ons was soon abandoned. In 1864 Mr. Lawrence withdrew from the business and Mr. Jones associated his sons with himself. In February, 1882. John M. Jones died, and since that time his son, Walter A. has died, leaving John H. Jones in charge of the works, the firm name re- maining the same as before.

JAMES C. COVERT.

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On the site of the Y. M. C. A. building a Mr. Kilgour built a saw and planing mill in 1852, and was succeeded in business by Ufford & Latham, and they by James Kerslake in 1873. He continued in business until his death in July, 1892. The factory finally gave way to the present handsome Y. M. C. A. building which was erected in 1892.

Lewis Rousseau, senior member of the later firm of Rousseau & Har- rington, established a planing mill in 1834, and soon took as partner Mr. Easton, who continued as such for twenty-eight years. Arvin W. Harrington succeeded him as a member of the firm under the style of Rousseau & Harrington. Mr. Rousseau died July 2, 1884, after a long and active life. This mill was subsequently burned. A large planing mill and lumber business is now conducted by Harrington & Co., for whom A. W. Harrington and J. H. Harrington are managers.

By the act of the Legislature of May 26, 1896, the city of Watervliet was erected, embracing the former village of West Troy, with the ex- ception of a small section at the southern end. This act provided that the village officers then in power should hold their places until January 1, 1897 ; they are as follows :

President, M. J. Day ; trustees, First ward, S. V. Feary, one year, Charles M. An- gus, two years; Second ward, W. C. Baxter, one year, J. J. Bennett, two years; Third ward, James H. Foley, one year, J. P. Bridgman two years; Fourth ward, G. H. Mitchell one year, Robert Williams two years; William J. Shaughnessy, cham- berlain; William Lynch, Henry Crall, William H. Cronkhite, assessors; Daniel Knower, Charles F. Polk, John D. Brown, William Fitzgerald, police commissioners; Stephen V. Sturtevant, E. A. Foley, George Witbeck, William Foley, fire commis- stoners; Charles H. Fort (president), Thomas Cavanaugh (secretary), Michael E. Gunnen, James D. Maloney, Thomas E. Coggins, Derwin Mitchell, Thomas F. Ma- har, board of health; Dr. P. E. Fennelly, health officer.

The presidents of the village elected in each succeeding year have been as follows :

1837, Martin Witbeck; 1838, Miron R. Peak; 1839 Andrew Meneely; 1840, Martin Witbeck; 1841, Samuel Wilgus; 1842, Miron R. Peak; 1843, Andrew Meneely; 1844, Albert T. Dunham; 1845, Albert Richards; 1846, Archibald A. Dunlop; 1847, Albert T. Dunham; 1848, Daniel C. Stewart; 1849, Heman Mather; 1850, Daniel C. Stew- art; 1851, Samuel Crawford; 1852, Morgan L. Taylor; 1853, Lorenzo D. Collins; 1854, George B. Fraser; 1855-56, Martin Witbeck; 1857, Samuel H. Waterman; 1858, James Roy; 1859, James Brady ; 1860, George R. Meneely; 1861, William Os- wald; 1862, Peter A. Rogers; 1863, James Duffy ; 1864-65, Francis Beebe; 1866-67,

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James Hamil; 1868, William B. Williams; 1869, Terrence Cummings; 1820-71. Per: Robinson; 1872, Joseph M. Lawrence; 1873, Terrence Cummings; 1874-75, Mich .. Riley; 1876-77, Patrick Lane; 1878, Robert P. Tunnard ; 1879-80, Joseph MeLea. 1881, George B. Mosher; 1882, John H. Hulsapple; 1883, William E. Cox: 1554 Patrick Lane: 1885, Terrence Cummings. The term of office being for one year.

The people of the villages of Washington and Gibbonsville early adopted measures to provide themselves with public religious instruc- tion. One result of this action was the organization in 1814 of the Reformed Protestant Dutch church of Washington and Gibbonsville by the Classis of Albany. Peter S. Schuyler was chairman and Volker D. Oathout 1 clerk of the organizing meeting, which was held in the school house in Washington village March 19, 1814. Mr. Schuyle: and Mr. Oathout were elected elders, and Samuel Phillips and Stephen Conger, deacons. The Consistory of this church united with that o the Reformed Dutch church at the Boght in the town of Watervliet and Rev. Robert Bronk preached alternately in the two places. Mr Bronk labored in the two churches about twenty years, when he re- signed his charge at the Boght and devoted his whole time to the vil- lage church until 1834, when he resigned. The first church edifice wa. dedicated July 10, 1816, more than a year having been devoted to it: erection. The building stood on the west side of Broadway a little north of North street on ground donated by John Schuyler, jr. ant James Gibbons. As time passed and it was seen that most of the con. gregation of this church resided north of the Arsenal, it was deter. mined to build a new house of worship in a more convenient locality A lot was accordingly purchased on the corner of Washington and Buffalo streets, and the corner stone of a new edifice was laid in August, 1839 The building was finished and dedicated in the following year, the cos being about $13,000. Services were held for a few years in the old church in the morning and in the new church in the afternoon and evening. The former was commonly called the South church and the latter the North church. The parish was divided in 1844 and soo the old church was sold on account of financial embarrassment, i being purchased by Clarkson F. Crosby. On the 18th of June. 1844 the "South Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in the village o

1 This name in early years was sometimes spelled as here.

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West Troy" was organized with Philip S. Schuyler, Robert Dunlop and John C. Schuyler, elders, and David Moore and Stephen C. Dermott, deacons, and thirty-six members. This congregation pur- chased the old church of Mr. Crosby, and on July 25 called Rev. Theo- dore F. Wyckoff to the pastorate ; he remained about ten years. In 1871, the old church building having become entirely inadequate for the congregation, steps were taken to provide better accommoda - tions. At this time Hon. James B. Jermain sent to the Consistory a proposition to build a new church at his own expense under the fol- lowing, among other, conditions: 1. A change of site and the pur- chase of a lot by the congregation. 2. The furnishing of the building when completed, including organ, by the congregation. 3. The edifice to be a memorial building in memory of Sylvanus P. Jermain (father of James B.) and of his family. This proposition was promptly accepted, and the site on the corner of Groton and Middle streets was purchased. The present beautiful church was finished in November, 1874, and dedi- cated December 30, of that year. During the year 1874 the tower was added to the edifice, and in 1878 the chapel was added. It is the finest church property in the city, the building having cost about $100 000. By a vote of a majority of its members this church in 1885 severed its relations with the Reformed church and became connected with the Presbytery of Albany.

In 1840 the "North Church," as it theretofore had been known, changed its corporate title to "The North Reformed Church of West Troy." Rev. Dr. O. H. Gregory remaining pastor, and continuing to act until 1870. In 1865 the chapel was erected. The society still has an active existence.

Trinity Episcopal church was organized in 1834, mission services having been held for two years previous thereto by Rev. Dr. David Butler, of Troy, in a school house on the west side of Burlington street. The two families of Raymond Taylor and James Lobdell formed the nucleus of the congregation. The first vestry of the church were the rector, Rev. James Tappan ; wardens, James Lobdell and A. S. Black- man ; vestrymen, Raymond Taylor, John Mason, Glover Blackman, Edgar Botsford, Gilbert C. Bedell, Thomas Evans, John Worthington, and Jonathan Hart. A brick church edifice was built in 1837 on the 54

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west side of Salem street, which was consecrated June 4. Owing to the inconvenience of reaching this church from the northern and centra parts of the village, a new society was organized November 19, 1838 and called St. Luke's. Rev. Washington Van Zandt was called to serve this congregation, and a church was built later on the north side of wha is now Central avenue. After a few changes in the pastorate, Rev William H. H. Bissell was called to the rectorship of both Trinity and St. Luke's. In 1844 the Salem street church was sold and was sub. sequently burned. In September, 1845, Rev. Joshua Weaver becan rector and on January 10, 1848, the present church then just completed was consecrated. During the rectorship of Rev. Joseph S. Saunders 1863-67, the three story brick rectory north of the church was erected In 1875 a mission chapel, in connection with the church, was erected on Groton street, and called St. Gabriel's chapel. In 1878 anothe: mission chapel was built on Ford street, and named St. Andrew's. The church edifice was enlarged in 1865 by a wing on the south side In 1877 it was further enlarged by an organ chamber. In 1882 a chape was built on the rear of the church lot.

St. Patrick's Catholic church was organized in 1839, and in the fol- lowing year a lot was purchased on the corner of Burlington and Union streets, whereon a church was erected in 1840. The congregation wa: organized and the building erected under the superintendence of Rev John Shannahan, of St. Peter's church, Troy. The first priest in charge was Rev. James Quinn. In February, 1850, Rev. Thomas A. Kyle then in charge, organized St. Bridget's church. Rev. William F. Shee. han became priest of the church in October, 1868, and has faithfully ministered to the congregation up to the present time. The old church edifice having become unsuitable for the needs of the congregation, site was purchased on Ontario street and in July, the corner stone o the present beautiful edifice was laid.

St. Bridget's Catholic church was organized and built in 1850 unde the supervision of Rev. Thomas Kyle, who was then in charge of St Patrick's church. The church is situated on the corner of Salem and Mansion streets, Rev. William Cullinan was the first priest in charge of this parish, and was succeeded in May, 1883, by Rev. James A Curtin, under whose direction extensive improvements were made t

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the church edifice. In the fall of 1883 the property, corner of Salem and Mansion streets, was purchased by this church, whereon a rectory was established in the dwelling with a school in adjoining buildings un- der charge of the Sisters.

The Washington Street Methodist Episcopal church was organized in April, 1831, with Daniel T. Wandell, William Tucker, William P. Hall, Ammon Hammond, and David I. Dutcher, trustees. These trustees were by resolution given the title of the "Trustees of the Gib- bonsville Station of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the Town of Watervliet." They purchased of Ebenezer Prescott a lot corner of Washington and Ferry streets and built a small one-story edifice. This was enlarged in 1840 and in the next year a vestry was erected on the same lot ; this was converted into a parsonage in 1857. In the spring of this year the old church was sold and removed and the present church built on the site; the first service in the new church was held in January, 1858. The old structure was purchased by John M. Jones and became the machine shop connected with the Jones car works. In 1883 a steeple, bell and clock were added to the new church, and the parsonage was extensively improved. In 1849 a number of the mem- bers of this society in the upper part of the village organized the Ohio Street Methodist Episcopal church ; after this the former title of the earlier church was dropped and the present one taken-the Washing- ton Street M. E. church.

The Ohio Street Methodist Episcopal church, before mentioned, was organized in the spring of 1849 by Alexander S. Lobdell, Ashael Pot- ter, Edward Mallory, R. E. Gorton, and Otis Wood, an on June 5 of that year the church purchased the property on the southwest corner of Ohio and Ontario streets (commonly called the Bethel church). The small wooden church there standing was burned November 19, 1849, and in the following spring the corner stone of a two-story brick struc- ture was laid, while Rev. I. F. Yates, the first pastor, was in charge. In 1881 a brick parsonage was built, adjoining the church. In 1895 this church was greatly improved at a cost of about $10,000.

The "First Particular Baptist Church and Society of Gibbonsville and West Troy," commonly called the First Baptist church, was organ- ized at a meeting held March 14, 1827, when the following trustees

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were elected : Edward Learned, Thomas Shrimpton, Jonathan Caulkins, Hiram M. Hopkins, and Cyrus Kenney. The society consisted at first of seventeen members. This church site comprises four village lots on the corner of Ohio street and Central avenue, which were a gift by Philip Schuyler and others as trustees of the West Troy Company. The first church edifice was built in 1829, and was a small wooden structure. This was used until 1842, when it was sold to a French Catholic congre- gation and removed. The second building erected was of brick and fronted on Canal street. This served its purpose until 1870, when it was demolished and the present edifice erected. A parsonage, erected in 1847, adjoins the church The first regular pastor, Rev. Ashley Vaughan, began his services in July, 1830. In the summer of 1867 the Sunday school of this church organized a mission Sunday school in the Port Schuyler part of the village, which continued actively until 1875. In 1869 the school organized a mission school on Green Island which continued to 1873, when it was made an independent organiza- tion.

The First Presbyterian church was organized February 12, 1834. when Hiram Hopkins, Horace L. Dann, and Henry Kimberly were chosen trustees. On the 27th of that month the society organized as a Congregational church, which seemed a preferable form of government. and by September of that year a house of worship had been completed. This was of wood and stood on the southwest corner of Ohio and Ontario streets. In 1835 the church government was changed to the Presbyte- rian and the name altered to that given above. Two other changes of the same character were made, the first a few years after the one just mention- ed, by which the Congregational form was again assumed, and the second on August 26, 1839, when it again became Presbyterian and joined the New School Presbytery of Troy. Between 1845 and 1875 no regular pastor was employed. On June 5, 1849, the struggle to properly main- tain the church decided the trustees to sell their house and lots to the Ohio Street Methodist Society, as before stated. The society then re- mained dormant until about 1875 when the present brick edifice was erected on the north side of Union street near Ford.

The Church of the Sacred Heart of Mary (French Catholic) was or- ganized by Rev. Eugene Rey, and the corner stone of the first church

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edifice, on the corner of Stafford and Buffalo streets, was laid September II, 1881. This church was burned April 2, 1885. The present building, was erected on the same site.

GREEN ISLAND (VILLAGE AND TOWN.)

Green Island originally constituted a part of Rensselaer Manor and with what was called Jan Gownson Island and land opposite thereto on the west bank of the sixth sprout of the Mohawk and extending back one-half an English mile, comprised the farm or "Bowery " called Turkee. This farm was sold by Killian Van Rensselaer to Col. Peter Schuyler on May 6, 1708, the consideration being one-tenth part of the annual crops of the farm. Maria Schuyler the colonel's wife, was a sister of the Patroon. On June 8, 1713, Schuyler sold the Turkee farm to Hendrick Oothout of Albany, a carpenter, for £850 New York money. Green Island remained the property of Oothout and his descendants until the early part of the present century, when George Tibbitts became the owner of 262 acres of the northern part, which is about two- thirds of the whole.

In 1835 the Rensselaer and Saratoga Railroad Company built its bridge from the island to Troy and the first train of cars passed over it on October 8, of that year. A little later the company erected a wooden bridge connecting the island with West Troy, and opened the roadway across the island which became and now is Albany street; this was the first public street opened. Previous to these improvements the island had little importance. Until 1854 the cars were drawn by horses from the island terminus of the bridge to the Troy House in Troy ; in that year a second bridge was built adjoining the first and locomotives took the place of horses in crossing it, while the first bridge was repaired and given up to teams and pedestrians. On May 10, 1862, the eastern half of the old bridge was burned, but at once rebuilt with wood. In 1879 the western half was rebuilt of iron and in 1884 the eastern end was likewise renewed.

In 1823 the State constructed a dam across the Hudson River from Green Island to Troy, its completion being duly celebrated. This dam is 1, 100 feet long and nine feet high. At its eastern end was built a sloop lock with a length of 114 feet, a width of thirty feet, height of

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twenty- five feet and nine feet lift. In the year 1849 work was begun by Daniel Hartnett, James Brady, and Ephraim Baldwin of West Troy, under State direction, on a dyke and pier, the first at the northern end and the second at the southern end of the island. The dyke was so located as to turn the water of this sprout of the Mohawk into the Hud- son, while the pier at the southern end acts as a dam and raises the water in the large basin thus formed several feet. At the southern end of the pier a lock was built through which boats pass from the basin to the Hudson. This work was finished in 1852. In carrying out these improvements the former bluff, eight to ten feet high, along the east side of the island, was cut away to obtain dirt. Human bones and other evidences of early occupation were found while making this excavation. Prior to 1850 that part of the island south of Albany av- enue was in a wild state and was used for picnic grounds. Thither the remnant of the St. Francis Indians came in the summer months to camp and sell their baskets and other goods. In 1840 was begun the con- struction of the Troy and Schenectady Railroad, which crosses the island, the first trains on which ran about November I, 1842. At this time there were only six dwellings on the island, a small school house, a saw mill at the State dam, and a few shops.

After these various improvements Green Island was rapidly settled and eventually a village was built up and called by the name of the island itself. This village was incorporated April 5, 1853, and on the 18th of June of that year the first election was held and the following officers elected : Trustees, Stephen Viele, Jacob Yates, Robert Bo- gardus, Warner Groat and Alexander Morrison, the latter being chosen president of the board. Other officers elected were two assessors, a collector, treasurer, clerk, street commissioner, poundmaster, and two fire wardens. On May 12, 1869, a new village charter was granted by the Legislature, which more fully met the needs of the people. Fol- lowing is a list of the presidents of the village from its incorporation to the present time :

1853, Alexander Morrison; 1854, James Remington; 1855, Stephen Viele; 1856. James Remington ; 1857, Charles M. Parker ; 1858, James Torrance ; 1859-61, Thomas Stantial; 1862, Jonas Clute; 1863-4, William M Strong; 1865, John Miller; 1866-7. James Glass; 1868, William E. Gilbert; 1869-70, Henry S. Marcy; 1871-73, James Glass; 1874, Edgar Gardner; 1875-77, Benjamin F. Manier; 1878, William M. Tor-

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rance; 1879, William E. Keating; 1880, William Bliss; 1881, Thomas H. Richardson ; 1882, James Torrance ; 1883-87, Joseph Hines; 1888, George A. Van Bergen ; 1889-90, Joseph Hines; 1891-92, Thomas H. Richardson; 1893-6, Carroll Coon; 1897-8, E. J. Gilbert.

Green Island was originally school district No. 23 of the town of Watervliet. On November 17, 1854, the inhabitants met and voted that it be made a union free school district, and a board of education was elected consisting of Joseph D. Eaton, Stephen Viele, James Glass, William C. Rodgers, and Edmund J. Gilbert. As the population in- creased new school buildings were erected, the first on Hudson avenue in 1865, of brick, and the second at the corner of West and Arch streets, built in 1879. In connection with the latter is a circulating library containing 1,625 volumes.

The public peace of Green Island village was originally maintained by the Capital Police before mentioned, and the village with Cohoes constituted a precinct or division. The Green Island police was organ- ized in June, 1871, the trustees having received legislative authority therefor. The force now comprises a captain and two patrolmen.

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Landmarks of Albany County, New York, Part 44

Author: Parker, Amasa Junius, 1843-1938, ed Publication date: 1897 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason Number of Pages: 1374

Author: Parker, Amasa Junius, 1843-1938, ed
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1374