Landmarks of Niagara County, New York, Part 16

Author: Pool, William, 1825-1912, ed
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: [Syracuse] : D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 820

USA > New York > Niagara County > Landmarks of Niagara County, New York > Part 16

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In 1873 Mr. Southwell resigned the rectorship of Trinity church, Middleport. The Rev. J. H. Dennis succeeded him, when occasional services were renewed at Hartland Corners. Rev. Mr. Dennis resigned in September, 1874. The Rev. A. Wood became rector February, 1875, remaining two years. Rev. Mr. Southwell again assumed the rectorship in 1877, in connection with his work at Christ church, Lock- port, and by him occasional services were held at Hartland. April I, 1881, Mr. Southwell resigned the rectorship, and in the same year Mr.

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F. E. Easterbrooks was appointed lay-reader for the parish, March 4, 1882. Mr. Easterbrooks was ordained deacon in the parish church, and on April 25, 1882, St. Mark's Day, the church was consecrated by Bishop Coxe. Rev. Mr. Easterbrooks resigned June 16, 1883. He was succeeded by the Rev. Nobel Palmer.

January 14, 1884, a terrible calimity befell the parish in the destruc- tion of the church by fire There was but a small insurance on the building and its contents, but the small yet devoted band of church- people, nothing daunted, went immediately to work, and raised funds for a new building, which was erected and formally opened by Bishop Coxe, November 14, 1884. The Rev. Nobel Palmer resigned the rec- · torship June 1, 1888. March 30, 1889, the Rev. G. W. S. Ayres occu- pied the rectorship and began his duties the first Sunday in May. Dur- ing his rectorship services were renewed at Hartland Corners, T. W. Atwood serving as lay reader. For a few years this mission again flourished, in 1892 numbering twenty -five communicants. Rev Mr. Ayres resigned the parish October 20, 1893, from which date there ex- isted a vacancy till July 1, 1894, when the Rev. H. S. Gatley occupied the rectorship. During this time Mr. W. Sterritt, senior warden, as lay- reader, conducted the morning service each Sunday, and in the after- noon at Hartland.

In 1896 the parish was in excellent condition, having a communicant list of seventy-two and forty-five families. A vested choir of fifteen young girls, under the leadership of Dr. H. A. Wilmot and wife, has added greatly to the services. The parish has a good theological library, presented by the founder of the parish, the Rev. G. W. South- well. The foundations which Mr. Southwell laid in the early days of the parish are now bearing fruit. The parish is on a sound financial basis. It has a flourishing Sunday school of sixty children. The present rector is the Rev. H. S. Gatley, A. M. The wardens are Messrs. W. J. Sterritt, and G. W. Eddy; the vestrymen : Messrs. . Robert Pearce, T. W. Jackson, H. A. Wilmot, M. D., Samuel Blaxall, F. A. Coon.

No mention is made in this account of the Episcopal church in Niagara county of occasional services held at odd times in some of the smaller settlements of this county, nor of those maintained at De Veaux

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College, from its foundation to the present time, inasmuch, as such ac- count will more properly appear in connection with the history of that institution.

LOCKPORT HOME FOR THE FRIENDLESS .- In September, 1865, the Lockport Ladies' Relief Society and Home for the Friendless was or- ganized, and during the succeeding six years dispensed relief in food and household articles to needy families. In 1871 the necessity was apparent for a permanent home for friendless and destitute children, where they could receive proper care. After considerable discussion a meeting was held, which resulted in the procurement of a charter dated February 8, 1871, under which the following nine trustees were named : Hiram Gardner, John Hodge, J. L. Breyfogle, Horatio Kilborne, Gus- tavus P. Hosmer, D. F. Bishop, Thomas Hall, M. W. Eavns, J. W. Helmer. This board of trustees appointed a board of twenty-four ladies, who qualified and elected the following officers : President, Mrs. J. T. Bellah; corresponding secretary, Mrs. Calvin Haines; treasurer, Mrs. A. J. Mansfield ; recording secretary, Anna S. Gardner. After ener- getic work the sum of $3,000 was raised by subscription and yearly membership dues, which was increased by nearly $3,500 from the Board of Supervisors, on condition that it should be used for the purchase of a Home. On December, 1871, the residence of F. N. Nelson, on High street, was secured at a cost of $5,000. This served its purpose until August, 1892, when Wyndham Lawn, the old home of Governor Hunt, was purchased for $30,000. This institution has accomplished a vast amount of good, and during its existence has sheltered nearly 1,000 children. Its twenty-fifth anniversary was appropriately celebrated February II, 1896.

SCHOOLS .- The first school taught in Lockport, or within the limits of what is now the city, was in 1821, the Friends' meeting house being used for the purpose. The first teacher was Miss Pamelia Aldrich. A village district was soon afterward set off, and in 1822 R. L. Wilson erected at his own expense a log school building. The trustees made him a proposition to open a school on subscription, which he did, and the school sufficed for the existing needs. In 1823 David Nye erected a school building for a private school, which he taught for a time and then sold it to Charles Hammond, who continued the school. The

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first meeting of the school commissioners, after the erection of the town, was held on the 17th of April, 1824. School district No. I was formed, embracing a large territory on the west side of the canal, and on the 19th of August following, district No. 2 was set off on the east side of the canal. The town profited by the public school money in 1825 for the first time as a town, at which time the total number of scholars in the village was 542. The two original districts were divided at various times until they numbered seven in 1848, and the Union school system was adopted for the village. Meanwhile schools were opened, some of them many years earlier, at various points throughout the town. The first of these was situated at Warren's Corners, and stood on ground donated by Ezra Warren. It was a frame structure and was built by subscription in 1814. In the following summer Amanda Rice taught the first school. That building was used until 1836 when it was super- seded by a stone structure. In 1818 a log school house was built in district No. 5, where Lyman Lyscomb was the first teacher. It stood just on or over the Cambria line, and was abandoned after two years and a new building erected on the Lockport side. The first school house erected in district No. 1I was of log and built in 1822. District No. 16 was formed in 1830 and a school house built the same year. The first school house at Wright's Corners was not built until 1837. In 1860 the number of districts in the town was eighteen, and at the pres- ent time it is seventeen.

Lockport boasts of the first union school in this county and is the home of the birth of the system. Until 1848 the village contained no academy, seminary, or other educational institutions, except seven common schools in as many districts, some of which were hardly worth the name of school houses. In 1846 Sullivan Caverno, of Lockport, originated the Union school plan, and after submitting it to several educators in other localities, framed an act which passed the Legisla- ture in 1847, establishing the system in Lockport. The act provided that Sullivan Caverno, trustee of district No. 1, William G. McMaster, No. 2, Joseph T. Bellah, No. 3, Silas H. Marks, No. 4, Isaac Colton, No. 5, John S. Wolcott, No. 6, Edward L. Boardman, No. 7, with Nathan Dayton, Samuel Works, Jonathan S. Woods, Lyman A. Spald- ing, and Hiram Gardner, should constitute a corporation with the title,

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The Board of Education of the Village of Lockport. Other provisions of the act need not be followed here.

The Union School thus established was divided into junior and senior departments, and provision was made for a normal department. Cour- ses of study were laid out for the different grades substantially upon the lines that have been followed since in schools of this character, and from the very first the great superiority of the system over the old one was apparent. Mr. Caverno was chosen president of the Board of Education, and for five years labored indefatigably for the advancement of the cause of education. Soon after its organization the board took steps for the erection of a Union school building. A site was pur- chased on which the structure was erected and properly furnished, the city meeting a tax levy of $13,000 to pay the expense. During the suc- ceeding years new school buildings were added at a cost of more than $100,000, most of which were modern in style and convenience. By a law of 1866 the boundaries of the Union school district were con- formed to the city boundaries, and the power to raise money for the schools was transferred to the council. In 1866 tuition rates in these schools were abolished. Chapter 15 of the laws of 1890 authorized the building of a new Union School house and the issue of bonds for the purpose, by the city, not to exceed $125,000.

About $100,000 was expended in the construction of the new Union School building, a structure of a plain but substantial character, while its interior arrangement includes all the appurtenances and conveniences required by modern educational methods. There are assembly rooms for each department with adequate recitation rooms, a fully equipped laboratory, commercial department, Board of Education rooms, super- intendent's office, and an ample library room. The corner stone was laid with impressive ceremonies by the Grand Lodge F. & A. M. of the State on July 10, 1890. The structure was completed and dedicated August 30, 1891.

Since the Union School building was occupied the school has largely increased its enrollment, attendance and graduating classes. Classes are graduated yearly from the senior department and also from the commercial department. Prof. Edward Hayward, Ph. D., succeeded Prof. Asher B. Evans as principal of the senior department in 1892.

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Under provisions of law a Normal or Teachers' Training Department is also conducted, the graduates of which are well prepared for service as teachers in grade schools.

The school system of the city comprises the Union School, with the departments above mentioned, an Intermediate or Lower Grammar School, and Primary Schools situated on and named for the following streets : High Street, Hawley Street, Washburn Street, Walnut Street, Clinton Street, West Avenue, and Vine Street. The annual enroll- ment of pupils in all of the schools is a little more than three thousand, and about seventy- five teachers are employed.

A most commendable feature of the school management in the city is its entire independence of the municipal control, as it is wholly under the control of a Board of Education whose members are chosen at a special election, and in whose selection thus far political considerations have had no perceptible influence. All teachers and other school offi- cials, including superintendents, are appointed by the board. Best superintendents from any section of the country are to be obtained for the salary that the board may feel warranted in paying. The present superintendent is Emmet Belknap, A. M., who has held the position since 1889.

For a number of years prior to 1892 the city had an imperfect and unsatisfactory street car system. To remedy this the Lock City Elec- tric Railroad Company was organized and on December 12, 1892, the city granted the company a charter to operate a road by the trolley system through Main street, East avenue, Market street, Mill street, Clinton street, Olcott street, West Main street, New Main street, Haw- ley street, Locust street, Willow street and Lincoln avenue. The com- pany accepted the conditions of the charter and went vigorously at work to give the city a first-class railroad system. Charles Johnson is president of the company ; William Spalding, vice-president ; Raymond C. Johnson, secretary.

Gas lighting was introduced in Lockport as early as 1851, chiefly through the efforts of James G. Porter, and a company was organized February I of the year named, with a paid up capital of $15,000. The first officers were James G. Porter, president ; George Reynale, treas-

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urer ; Joseph T. Bellah, secretary. The first Board of Trustees were James G. Porter, William Keep, George Reynale, R. S. Wilkinson, T. T. Flagler, Benjamin Draper, Silas H. Marks, Joseph T. Bellah, and Stephen Meredith. The site which has since been used for the works, corner of Transit and Lagrange streets, was purchased and the required plant established. The main streets of the village were first illuminated with gaslight on the night of the 30th of December, 1851. About five years later the capital of the company was increased and the works en- larged for making coal gas; previous to that time the product was made from resin. In August, 1894, the Lockport Gas and Electric Light Company was organized and incorporated with a capital of $150,- 000. This company is composed chiefly of New York men. The city was first wired for the use of incandescent lights in 1884-85 by the Gas Company. At about the same time another company was formed for lighting the streets by arc lamps, and the two subsequently con- solidated. The present company supplies 209 street lamps.

Enough has already been written to convince the reader that, with its immense water power, if for no other reason, Lockport would early become a large manufacturing center. Some of the early industrial establishments have already been mentioned. With a large wheat- growing district at its doors, and with the shipping facilities supplied by the canal and the later railroad, it is not difficult to understand why a great flouring industry sprang into existence in the village. For many years it was the principal industry and its products were favor- ably known over a wide stretch of territory. A mill was put in opera- tion about 1824, by Otis Hathaway, on a branch of Eighteen mile Creek where it passes under the Erie Canal. So welcome was this mill to the people at that time that on the day when it was first started, a large number gathered and expressed their gratitude to the builder, and in the evening the event was duly celebrated. This mill was followed a few years later by the large mill of Lyman A. Spalding, which has been described. It was begun in the spring of 1826, and was erected seven stories in height. Flour was first shipped from this mill in May, 1827, on the canal boat Chief Engineer; the freight charge to Albany was a dollar a barrel, while the best wheat sold at fifty cents a bushel. This

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mill was purchased by the before mentioned Albany Company in 1832, but Mr. Spalding continued to operate it under lease. It was burned in 1840, and in the following year Mr. Spalding purchased the site and built another mill larger than the first, with a capacity of 400 barrels of flour daily. It was purchased in 1857 by N. H. Wolf and was burned in the following year. What became known as the later Spalding mill was erected on the site in 1858. After passing through various hands it was sold to Thornton & Chester, who operated it with success many years and were succeeded by George T. Chester. This mill also was subsequently burned.

Edward Bissell built a mill on the site of the one that was afterwards operated by Douglass & Jackson, Saxton & Thomson, and others. It was burned, rebuilt, and again destroyed by fire. S. Burt Saxton re- built the mill in 1884, giving it a capacity of 1,000 barrels a day. It was burned December 8, 1889, and was rebuilt in 1890 by the Thomson Milling Company, the present proprietors. Saxton & Thomson were succeeded by the Thomson Milling Company, of which George B. Thomson is president ; A. L. Draper, vice-president ; H. M. Whitbeck, secretary and treasurer. This is now the largest flouring mill in Lock- port and has a capacity of 500 barrels a day.

The Niagara mill was built about 1832 by Henry Walbridge on the north bank of the canal. It was operated about fifty years by various persons and firms, but finally closed up.

What has been known as the Lockport City mill was built in 1863 by David Cope, near the site of the Spalding mill. Mr. Cope enlarged it in 1866, and after his death it was sold to N. H. Wolf. In 1870 it was sold to Gibson, Arnold & Little. It is now operated by Grigg Brothers & Ellis.

The Franklin mill building was erected in 1833 by the Lockport Manufacturing Company (capitalized at $1,000,000) for a cotton fac- tory and was used as such until 1841, at which time Washington Hunt became the sole owner. In the following year he conveyed it to the Niagara Manufacturing Company, who operated it as a cotton factory until 1854. This industry was rendered unprofitable chiefly because of the State withholding water necessary for power. The machinery was consequently removed and the premises purchased by B. C. Moore,

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Washington Hunt and Henry Walbridge, who converted it into a flour- ing mill. In 1864 Hiram Finch became owner of a large interest in the mill and in 1867 its sole owner, operating it until 1872, and increasing the capacity to 500 barrels daily. In 1872 the property passed to Mary H. Hunt, who conveyed it to Ambrose S. Beverly, Nathan P. Currier, J. Carl Jackson, and William S. Camp. The mill is now operated by the Franklin Milling Company (incorporated in 1894), chiefly in the manufacture of entire wheat flour, which is largely used.

What is known as the Farmers' mill, now operated as an iron works by Westerman & Co., with C. G. Sutliffe, manager, was built in 1833 and has passed through the hands of numerous owners. The original structure was burned and the stone part was built by Elliott & Robin- son. What was called the Pine Street mill was operated in the build- ing that became the city Water Works building and is now the City building. It was erected in 1864 by W. K. Moore. The Model mill, on East Market street, was originally a plaster mill, and was converted into a flouring mill in 1865 by B. & N. E. Moore. It was later enlarged by Moore & Willey and was finally closed up. Other minor flouring mills were those operated by John Stahl, which burned, and another by Henry Thornton called Rock mill.

It will be seen by the foregoing paragraphs that the flouring industry has largely declined in recent years. There are good reasons for this which need not be explained here; but while this is true of that one industry, there is at the present time a far larger gross manufacturing interest in Lockport than ever before, as will presently appear.

Zeno Comstock built the first saw mill in Lockport in 1819, on the branch of Eighteen-mile Creek. It was in this mill that the first ma- chinery of any kind was operated in the place. In the early years, be- fore the timber lands were cleared, saw mills were numerous. Among others who had early mills in Lockport was David Frink, which later passed through various hands, and had a sash and door mill added to it. It stood on the site of the Lockport Paper Company's plant and was finally demolished. After the canal water power became available, Lyman A. Spalding erected a saw mill (1825-6) ; this was taken down in 1836 and superseded by one of greater capacity, containing two gangs of twelve saws each. Edward Bissell built a mill in 1828 on the

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site of the Trevor Manufacturing Company's works. In 1836 there were eight saw mills in operation within the limits of the present city. In 1848 Stevens, Doty & Pease built a mill where the Traders' Paper Company is located; this mill also had several different owners. Near the site of the pulp mill H. F. Cady built a saw mill in 1855.

In 1835 Lyman A. Spalding began making agricultural implements, and some years later added steam engines. In 1869 the Pound Manu- facturing Company was formed, with L. Austin Spalding, president; Al- exander Pond, superintendent. The company did a large business many years and finally closed up; the premises are now in use by Nor- man & Evans for the manufacture of merry-go rounds and similar articles.

Mr. Charles T. Raymond, of Lockport, has furnished the editor with the following list of industries running by water power in the city, the value of their property, hands employed, value of product, etc .:

Name of Firm.

Value of Property.

Hands Employed.

Grigg Bros. & Ellis

40,000

Ward & Cobb

9,000

Norman & Evans

45,000

Eleven factories and firms securing

power from Norman & Evans's water wheels

300,000

275

Niagara Cotton Batting Co.

5,000

Thompson Milling Company

100,000

Trevor Manufacturing Co.

42,000

Boston & Lockport Block Co

40,000

Western Block Co

18,000

Miller & Rogers

7,000

Franklin Milling Co

30,000

Empire Manufacturing Co

30,000

Holly Manufacturing Co

500,000

470

Richmond Manufacturing Co

115,000

Lockport Pulp Co

65,000

Traders' Paper Co

130,000

Lockport Paper Co.

250,000

100

Niagara Paper Mills

165,000

Westerman & Co.

100,000

110

Cascade Wood Pulp Co

40,000

United Indurated Fibre Co

300,000

300

Cowles Electric Smelting & A. Co.

150,000

Lockport Felt Co

30,000

Totals

$2,531,000

1,881

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OUTPUT.

Traders' Paper Co.

$ 400,000

Lockport Paper Co 300,000

Niagara Paper Mills 190,000

Westerman & Co 157,500

United Indurated Fibre Co 700,000

Cascade Wood Pulp Co

60,000

Cowles Electric Smelting and Aluminum Co.

190,000

Lockport Felt Co Total

30,000

$2,127,500

The Lockport Manufacturers' Association, organized about 1888 by Charles T. Raymond, is composed of manufacturers using water power on the race and creek, and was formed for their mutual benefit. Au- gustus H. Ivins is president ; John A. Merritt, treasurer; and Mr. Ray- mond, secretary.

One of the most important industries in Lockport is that of the Holly Manufacturing Company, which was organized May 2, 1859, with $20,- 000 capital. The original stockholders were Thomas T. Flagler, Charles Keep, Silas H. Marks, L. F. Bowen, Washington Hunt, G. W. Bowen, and Birdsall Holly. The company began the manufacture of pumps and hydraulic machinery, and in later years constructed water works for cities and villages after the plans and inventions of Mr. Holly, referred to on an earlier page. They constructed the Lockport Water Works in 1864 and three years later supplied Auburn with a system. Since that time the company has installed their system in hundreds of cities and villages. The massive stone buildings used by the company were completed in 1866. Birdsall Holly is deceased, leaving several sons, only one of whom, Frank W., is resident in Lockport.

What was known as the Holly Steam Combination Company was or- ganized in 1877, for supplying steam heat to cities through street mains upon plans devised by Mr. Holly. The business has been successful. The present title of the company is the American District Steam Com- pany, which was organized in January, 1881.

The manufacture of cotton battin ; was begun in Lockport in 1870 by George W. Hamlin, who was succeeded by Levan & Gritman, under the name of the Lockport Cotton Batting Company. E. W. Rogers & Son are the present proprietors. The Lockport Glass Works were first

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established in a small way in 1840 by Hildreth, Marks, Keep & Hitchins. They came into possession of Alonzo J. Mansfield in 1872 and are now operated by A. J. Mansfield & Co. What was formerly the Richmond Mill Furnishing Works are now operated by the Richmond Manufac- turing Company, with William Richmond at its head. The business was started in 1869 by James Richmond. The principal product is grist mill machinery. The Penfield Block Works, established in 1864 by Charles R. Penfield, for the extensive manufacture of tackle blocks and sheaves, passed through other hands and are now operated by the Boston and Lockport Block Company. In 1858 Joseph and J. B. Trevor built a large structure for the manufacture of shingle, stave and heading machinery. The business passed in 1864 to W. W. & F. N. Trevor, who were succeeded by the Trevor Manufacturing Company, incorporated in 1890, with W. W. Trevor, president; F. N. Trevor, secretary and treasurer. Pulp machinery is now manufactured by the company. The Lockport Saw Works were established in 1869 by William Cocker and W. W. & F. N. Trevor, under the style of Cocker & Trevor. The business is now carried on by William Cocker. The Field Force Pump Company was organized by Jason Collier and Will- iam P. Field, both of whom are deceased, with Harrison S. Chapman, about 1880. The present proprietors of the business are Mr. Chap- man and Charles A. Barnes. The large product comprises pumps of

various kinds and steam fittings. The United Indurated Fibre Com- pany was originally started in 1886 by Jesse Peterson, Henry G. Cord- ley, and Charles E. Folger. In 1893 the present company was incor- porated under New Jersey laws, with the factory and general office in Lockport. The capital is $757,000. Jesse Peterson is president ; Henry G. Cordley, secretary ; James E. Hayes, treasurer; Charles E. Folger, assistant treasurer. About 300 hands are employed in the manufacture of household articles from the indurated fibre, the basis of which is wood pulp.

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Landmarks of Niagara County, New York, Part 16

Author: Pool, William, 1825-1912, ed Publication date: 1897 Publisher: [Syracuse] : D. Mason & Co. Number of Pages: 820

Author: Pool, William, 1825-1912, ed
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: [Syracuse] : D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 820