USA > New York > Rensselaer County > Landmarks of Rensselaer county, New York, pt 1 > Part 36
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The founding of the State Street Methodist Episcopal church in 1808 has been described in a preceding chapter. A new church was built in 1827 at an expense of $7,000 and was dedicated December 1 of that year by Bishop Elijah Hedding. The corner stone of the present handsome stone structure was laid June 25, 1868, and the edifice was dedicated March 30, 1871. The stone chapel on the west side of the church was erected in 1882 and dedicated March 29, 1883. The spire which surmounts the tower of the church was erected in 1896 by George B. and J. W. Alfred Cluett as a monument to their parents. The State Street church may be called the mother of Methodist churches in Troy, as from it nearly all the other churches of that denomination have sprung.
The Pawling Avenue M. E. church was founded by members of the State Street church Angust 15, 1826, and in 1829 the Rev. John Tack- aberry, who had been appointed to assist the Rev. Samuel Merwin, pastor of the State Street society, statedly preached in the new meet- ing house in Albia, which had been created in 1827. The church was rebuilt in 1858.
Members of the State Street M. E. church also formed the Fifth Avenue (North Second Street) M. E. church. Work was begun upon the structure in the summer of 1831 and the dedication occurred August 30, 1835. The church society was incorporated October 12, 1835, as the North Second Street Methodist Episcopal Church of the City of Troy. The Rev. Samuel D. Ferguson preached to the congregation from 1835 to 1836, and the first pastor, the Rev. Charles Sherman, took charge in 1836. A new church was creeted in 1854 and dedicated De- cember 29 of that year. In consequence of a change in the name of the street, the name of the church was changed to Fifth Avenue Meth- odist Episcopal Church of Troy February 9, 1888.
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The Third Street M. E. church is largely an offshoot of the State Street church. A class had been formed in the southern part of the city in 1843, and March 29, 1844, the Third Street church was regularly organized. The church was built in 1846 and 1847 and dedicated on Christmas day of the latter year. The Rev. Oliver Emerson, the first pastor, had been preaching over a year before the edifice was con- structed. In 1873 the church was enlarged. In 1879 the name was changed to Wesley chapel and from 1880 to 1881 the society was in- cluded in the State Street church, having no pastor of its own. In 1886 the old name was resumed.
Grace (Vail Avenue) M. E. church sprang from a Sunday school or- ganized in 1843. The church was formally organized March 15, 1852, as the Methodist Episcopal church in North Troy, and the first pastor, the Rev. John L. Cook, served both that society and the one at Green Island. The church edifice was erected in 1858 and dedicated Decem- ber 10 of that year. In 1867 the society took the name of Vail Avenue M. E. church and April 2, ISS8, it was changed to Grace M. E. church. The corner stone of the present structure was laid August 16, 1888, and the edifice was dedicated the first Sunday in June, 1889. It is located on the east side of Sixth avenue, north of Dow street, and cost about $10,000.
The origin of the African M. E. Zion church is traceable to a class connected with the State Street church led by John Dungy, who in 1831 became the pastor of a small congregation of colored people. In 1832 the society took the name of Wesleyan M. E. Zion church, meet- ing in a small wooden dwelling on Fifth street, north of Liberty. In ISHI the society purchased a building on Fifth street and altered it into a church. February 23, 1843, the society was formally organized. The present church on the east side of Seventh street was created in 1868.
While the formal organization of Trinity Methodist church took place October 28, 1846, its real organization may be traced to a prayer meeting first held about the year 1832 at the house of Isaac Hillman. The corner stone of the present church was laid in October, 1848, and July 12, 1849, the building was dedicated by Bishops Hamleine and Hed- ding. The pews have been free from the first organization. In 1853 a parsonage was built at a cost of $2,876.48. The church was enlarged in 1860, increasing the seating capacity by 200, and again in 1880 it was enlarged and beautified at an expense of $14,084.94. During the
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REV. JOHN J. WALSH.
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winter of 1895-1896 a chapel was built and furnished for the primary department of the Sunday school and for social purposes, costing about $3,800.
Levings M. E. church originated September 24, 1838, by a meeting of persons who designated themselves members of the Fourth M. E. church in Troy. The society erected a house of worship in 1850 during the pastorate of the Rev. John Graves. During the pastorate of the Rev. Charles Edwards in 1889 the edifice was raised and considerably changed in appearance at a cost of $4,000.
The German Methodist Episcopal church was organized July 25, 1857, with Rev. F. W. Dinger as pastor. There had been services held at intervals for nearly two years previous, and a Sunday school had been organized as early as April, 1856. The services were first held in a mission building on Seventh street. Later the society moved to the building on the south side of Congress street. In 1861 under the administration of Rev. G. Abele, two building lots were purchased on the northwest corner of Union and State streets and in 1863 Rev. J. F. Seidel superintended the building of the present church property on those lots. The following pastors have served the society :
F. W. Dinger, J. Swahlen, G. Abele, J. F. Seidel (three terms), J. C. Deininger, G. Mayer, J. Kindler, P. A. Moelling, F. G. Gratz, J. G. Lutz, sr., Wm. II. Kurth (two terms), F. W. Boese.
St. Peter's Catholic parish is the oldest Catholic parish in Troy. From it have sprung the other seven Troy congregations. It was organized in 1825 and four years later a wooden church edifice was erected on the corner of Hutton street and Fifth avenue. In 1818 this building was burned and the present church was dedicated the following year. The pastors have been :
Fathers MeGilligan, 1825-1827; John Shanahan, 1827-1842; Peter Havermans, 1842-1845; Francis Donehue, 1845-1847; Philip O'Reilly, 1847-1819; John Curry, 1849-1851; Michael O'Donnell. 1851-1855; Thomas Daley, 1855-1858; Clarence A. Walworth, 1858-1861; James Keveny, 1861-1880; F. A. Ludden (afterward bishop of Syracuse), 1880-1887; John Walsh, 1887- --. St. Mary's academy is an auxiliary of the church.
St. Mary's Catholic parish was created in 1843 by members of St. Peter's congregation. Father Peter Havermans, who in 1896 is the oldest person in the priesthood in the United States, supervised the erection of St. Mary's church and has been its pastor from the begin- ning. The church is located on the northeast corner of Third and
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Washington streets. The church has charge of a parish school. St. Mary's-for girls. The majority of the boys of the parish attend St. Mary's Academy of the Christian Brothers.
Finding St. Mary's church inadequate, in 1847, mainly through the efforts of Father Havermans, St. Joseph's parish was created and the corner stone of the present church was laid May 21 of the same year. The property was at once turned over to the Fathers of the Society of Jesus, who have since had possession. The pastors have been: Kevs. Peter Verheyden, 1818-1852; August Theband, 1852 1860; Joseph Loysance, 1826-1888; J McQuaid, 1888 ---. The parish has two schools located north of the parish honse. The celebrated choir of St. Joseph's was organized in 1853 by Dr. Thomas Guy, one of the fore- most composers and organists in the State, who is still the director.
The Catholic congregation of St. John the Baptist, or St. Jean- Bap- tiste, was organized in 1852. The first place of worship was at No. 14 Ferry street. This was burned in 1855 and for thirteen years the French Canadian Catholics of Troy were without a permanent place of worship. In 1868 the present church on Second street was erected, being dedicated the following year. The parish includes all of Troy and Green Island. The pastors have been ; Fathers Turcotte, 1-52. 1855; George J. Brown, 1809 -1875; Gédéon Huberdeault, 1875-1-20; R. J. Cost, 1880-1883; Joseph Charette, 1883 1889; J. B. St. Onge, 1889 ---. The students of the parochial schools are taught in both French and English.
St. Lawrence parish (German Catholic) was organized in 1x11, cleven years after the congregation had been formed. 'The first church was built in 1-21, and the present one was dedicated and fest, when the all alitice was converted into a parochial school house. The pastors have been: Fathers Gustave Meittinger, Peter A. Puissant, Father Drolha- gan, Norbert Stoller, Henry C Lipowski, Joseph Ottenhhes, Bernard Schoppe, Mgr. If. Clever. The church is located at the corner of Third and Jefferson streets and has an excellent school.
St. Francis's parish was created in 1861 under the name of Holy Trinity. The first church was erected in 1868 on Fifteenth street. be- tween Christie and Marshall streets, and the present church on Con- gress street, Ida hill, in 1882. The pastors have been :
Fathers Peter Havermans, 1991-1866, Henry Herfaen 1-66 1-62; 1. Francis, 1×72-1825; William J. Burke, 1995 -1376, W. A, Dr rr 1-36-1842. Chanie. A Reilly, 1982-1856: Joseph F. Leonard 1% ;- --.
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CHURCHES OF TROY.
St. Patrick's parish was created in 1871 and Rev. John J Swift has been its pastor since the first church was erected. St. Patrick's paro chial school is one of the most successful of its kind in the State.
St. Michael's parish was created in 1872 through the efforts of the Jesuit fathers of St. Joseph's and the church is located on the corner of Stowe avenue and Willow street. The parish was in full charge of the Jesuit fathers until June, 1888, when the present pastor, Rev. James Flood, was given control.
The German Evangelical Lutheran Trinity church was organized through the efforts of Rev. Peter Eirich of St. Paul's Lutheran church of Albany. Rev. Theodore Maas became its first pastor, September 3, 1871. A formal organization was effected October 15 of the same year. The congregation first worshipped in Turner hall, thence for a num- ber of years in Green's hall, corner Fourth street and Broadway. In : the spring of 1873 the site of the present church was purchased for $5,800, and Rev. Fr. Goessling was called as pastor. The wooden building on the lot was renovated for the use of worship at an expense of $2,000, and dedicated February 7, 1875. In 1878 a discontented fac- tion left the church and organized St. Paul's Evangelical congregation, corner of Seventh and Fulton streets. The church building was de- stroyed by fire in December, 1879, but a new church was built at once and dedicated January 16, 1882. Rev. II. Beiderbecke was pastor from 1882 to 1886, since which Rev. A. F. Walz has officiated. The congre gation has a branch Sunday school at Lansingburgh and a mission chapel at Cohoes.
St. Paul's Evangelical church was organized November 10, 1879. In February, 1885, the house of worship belonging to the Church of Christ, corner of Seventh and Fulton streets, was purchased by the congregation, which began holding services there May 3 of that year The first pastor was the Rev. William V. Gerichten.
The River Street Church of Christ had its beginning in 1838. It was originally known as " The Congregation of Jesus Christ " and held its first meetings in a house on Fifth avenue owned by Elder Dexter Moody, through whose efforts, largely, the organization was effected. In 1865, under the leadership of Elder W. A. Belding, this congrega- tion was incorporated under the name of the Church of Christ. After having met in a room over the post-office on First street and also at the corner of First and Ferry streets, removal was made to permanent quarters on the corner of Seventh and Fulton streets. In 1885 the pres- ent site was chosen and occupied.
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The Second Church of Christ was founded in 1887. The first pastor was the Rev. R. W. Stancill.
The First Unitarian church was organized June 20, 1845. August 19 of that year the Presbyterian session house on the west side of Fourth street, between Broadway and State street, was purchased by the soci- ety and October 1 of that year the church was incorporated. The chapel was dedicated November 14 and in 1846 it was enlarged. The building was sold in 1874 and the corner stone of a new church edifice, located on the southwest corner of State and Fourth streets, was laid May 20, 1875, the dedication occurring December 15 of that year. The first pastor was the Rev. John Pierpont, who served from August, 1845, to 1849.
The First Universalist church was established as the First Restora- tionist church July 2, 1822. July 29, 1823, the corner stone of the first church was laid on the south side of Ferry street, between First and Second, and about the same time the society changed its name to the First Universalist church of Troy. The property was sold to the Sec- ond Particular Baptist church in 1834 and a new edifice was built in 1835 on the west side of Fifth street, between State street and Broad- way, the dedication occurring September 11, 1835. The church was rebuilt in 1875. The first pastor of the society, in 1823, was the Rev. Lemuel Willis.
The Jewish congregation of Berith Sholom had its inception in 1864, when it was organized under the name of Bickur Cholom and was served by Louis Neusted as reader. The congregation was incorpo- rated as Berith Sholom March 26, 1866. The corner stone of the syna- gogue on the west side of Third street, between Division and Liberty, was laid June 12, 1820, and the edifice was dedicated September 22 of the same year. The first rabbi was Bernard Eberson, who came to the society in 1870.
The Jewish congregation of Beth Israel Biekur Cholom was organized August 7, 1870. Four years later the society secured for a permanent place of worship a building on State street between First and River streets. The congregation's first readers were Bernstein A. Chellock and Hermand Lovenstein, in 1873.
The Jewish congregation of Shaare Tephilla was established in 1843. The synagogue on the north side of Division street between First and River, was erected in 1887, the corner stone having been laid October 9 of that year. The first reader was Rev. Isaac Berkowitch.
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CHARLES E. HANAMAN.
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The Young Men's Christian Association of the city of Troy was or- ganized Mareh 13, 1895, with a charter membership of 246 and these officers:
Board of trustees, Robert Cluett, president ex-officio; Geo. B. Chuiett, W. II. Frear, L. E. Gurley, Chas. R. Ingalls, W. H. Rowe, C. W. Tillinghast; board of directors, Robert Clnett, president; W. F. Gurley, vice-president; C. L. Maxey, recording secretary; D. Klock, jr., treasurer; F. II. Cluett, W. II. Doughty, II. S. Darby, W. N. Ells, W. C. Geer, E. W. Greenman, W. H. Hollister, jr., F. HI. Knox, H. S. Kennedy, H. S. Ludlow, J. A. Leggett, H. G. Piersons, J. II. Peck, W. H. Rowe, jr., A. G. Sherry, J. II. Tupper, D. C. Woodcock; executive officers, C. W. Dietrich, general secretary; H. C. Scofield, assistant seeretary.
In the winter of 1895-'96 it was proposed to construct a handsome building for the uses of the association, but after a brief canvass it was considered unwise to enter upon a general canvass until the financial condition of the country were improved. In the eanvass made sub- scriptions were secured to the amount of $35,000.
BANKS.
The early history of some of the oldest banks in 'Troy will be found in preceding pages of this work. Some of the banks established when Troy was a village or in its early days as a city have been extinct many years. Of those that are now in existence the following is a brief his- tory :
The Troy Savings bank is one of the strongest financial institutions in Troy. Its foundation and development and the construction of its handsome and costly building on the northeast corner of Second and State streets have been fully described in other pages. The presidents of this great institution have been:
Townsend MeCoun, 1823-1831; Richard P. Hart, 1834-1839; Stephen Warren, 1839-1847; Gurdon Corning, 1847-1850; Jared S. Weed, 1850-1870; Charles B. Rus- sell, 1870-1886; Derick Lane, 1886-1892; Charles E. Hanaman, February 9, 1893 --.
President Lane died in office December 14, 1892 and First Vice- President Derick L. Boardman acted as president until the election of Mr. Hanaman,
The Troy City bank was incorporated April 19, 1833, with a capital of $300,000. The first president was Richard P. Hart and the first cashier George R. Davis. September 13 of that year the bank moved into a brick banking house on the southeast corner of Fourth and Grand
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Division streets. The building was burned in the great fire of 1862 and the present banking house was immediately constructed. The bank was reorganized January 1, 1863, with a capital stock of $300,000; and it was organized January 1, 1865, as the Troy City National bank, with $500,000 capital. May 10, 1847, the capital was reduced to the former figure. The presidents of the bank since the first one have been :
George B. Warren, sr., 1844-1857; John A. Griswold, 1857-1872; Hannibal Green, 1872-1875; John B. Pierson, 1875-1885; George A. Stone, 1885-
The Union National bank was organized as the Union bank Decem- ber 24, 1850, and four days later Joel Mallary became president, John Kerr vice-president. The first cashier, Pliny M. Corbin, was elected February 28, 1851. The bank began business April 11, 1851, at No. 349 River street with a capital of $250,000, and soon afterward re. moved to No. 12 First street. March 21, 1865, the capital was increased to 8300,000 and the name was changed to Union National bank. April 28, 1888, the institution moved into its new banking house on the east side of Fourth street, between Fulton street and Broadway
The National State bank of Troy was organized April 14, 1852, as the State bank of Troy, with a capital of $250,000, with Ralph J. Starks as president, Henry Ingram as vice-president and Willard Gay as cashier. The transaction of business was begun September 2 of that year in the banking house on the southeast corner of First and State streets. April 15, 1865, the institution became the National State bank of Troy, the capital remaining unchanged.
The Manufacturers' National bank was formed in August, 1862, with $200,000 capital, Arba Read being the first president, Charles WI. Thompson vice-president and John S. Christie cashier. In Octo- ber of that year the banking house at No. 13 First street was occu- pied, and May 1, 1856, the bank moved into its building at the in- tersection of River and King streets December 27, 1864, it became the Manufacturers' National bank, the capital being reduced to $150, - 000.
The Mutual National bank was organized as the Mutual Bank of Troy November 21, 1852, with $250,000 capital. The first president was John P. Albertson, the vice-president Joseph U. Orvis and the cashier George A. Stone. January 18, 1853, the bank occupied the brick building on the northeast corner of First and River streets, occu-
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GEORGE A. STONE.
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PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF TROY.
pied by the Farmers' bank from 1820 to 1830. It became a national bank under its present name March 23, 1865, with the same capital.
The Central National bank was organized December 29, 1852, with $200,000 capital, and called the Central Bank of Troy. February 5, 1853, J. Lansing Van Schoonhoven was elected president and James Buel cashier. The bank began business at No. 271 River street De- cember 29, 1852. May 1, 1853, it removed to No. 5 Second street and twelve years later to No. 13 First street. October 21, 1854, the capital was increased to $300,000, and in April, 1867, the institution became a national bank under the present name.
The National bank of Troy is the successor to the First National bank. The latter bank was organized October 28, 1863, with $200,000 capital and Thomas Coleman for president and Richardson H. Thurman for cashier. The bank began business January 4, 1864, at No. 218 River street. The capital stock was increased to $300,000 January 22, and May 1 the bank moved into its new building, No. 15 First street. The bank discontinued business February 24, 1883, on which day the National bank of Troy was organized with $200,000 capital. Thomas Coleman was elected president, Francis A. Fales vice-president and George II. Morrison cashier. The bank first occupied the building owned by its predecessor, and in 1894 moved into the building at the southwest corner of Fourth and Fulton streets.
The United National Bank was organized March 7, 1865, by a num- ber of depositors of the Farmers' bank and the Bank of Troy, which discontinued business February 27 of that year. The capital stock of the new institution was $300,000. On the day of organization E. Thompson Gale was elected president, William A. Shepard vice-presi- dent and Tracy Taylor cashier. April 13, 1865, the transaction of busi- ness was begun on the northwest corner of First and State streets, the quarters formerly occupied by the Bank of Troy. March 19, 1857, the capital was reduced to $210,000. The quarters were enlarged and im- proved in 1884.
TROY'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The earliest general " Aet for the encouragement of Schools " was passed for the benefit of cities and towns, in April, 1795, when Troy was six years old. At that time $50,000 a year was appropriated by law for the schools for the whole State. Revisions and repeals of the
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school laws followed until April, 1816, when " An act to incorporate the city of Troy " was passed. By this act the first four wards were formed into a district and power was given to the Common Council to raise by tax $500 annually to support a school and also power to build a school house. This law was in force until 1859.
The Lancasterian system, which was indorsed by the State about 1815, was adopted in Troy. The last school of that kind was at the corner of State street and' Sixth avenue. The origin of the adoption of this system in Troy is found in a law passed March, 1828, entitled "An act to prevent the sale of tickets of unauthorized lotteries, and to prevent the forgery of lottery tickets." By this law the mayor of Troy was required to apply all moneys received by him for granting licenses to the vendors of lottery tickets in Troy to the trustees of district No. 1, to be expended by them in the establishment and support of a high school on the Lancasterian or monitorial plan. There seemed to be two school districts, one above and one below the Poesten kill.
The agitation of the free public school system began about 1845. Before that time the schools were supported in part by rate bills. April 4, 1849, there was passed " An act to amend the charter of the City of Troy and to provide for the establishment of free schools in said city." At the same time a law was passed making the schools of the State free. In accordance with the law of April, 1849, a Board of Education was organized. Then the schools began to prosper. Buildings were im- proved and erected and citizens took more interest. Since that time the school laws of the city have been changed several times. The Iligh school was established in 1854. The first superintendent of schools was Edward Danforth, who was elected in October, 1862. He also acted as clerk. From that time until 1873 supervision was done through the clerk. The law of 1873 authorized the appointment of a superintendent of schools as a separate office, excepting two years when the superintendent was also principal of the High school.
The first superintendent under the law of 1873 was David Beattie, elected April 9. He resigned September 1, 1891, and was succeeded by Edwin E. Ashley. He was succeeded by John H. Willets, in March, 1895.
OTHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
The Rensselaer Polytechnic institute, certainly the highest educa- tional institution of its kind in the United States and concededly one of
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the foremost in the world, has had a memorable career. Its founda- tion and history up to the year 1832, when its name was changed from Rensselaer school to Rensselaer institute, has been described in pre- ceding pages. In 1833 the trustees of the school were empowered by act of the Legislature to establish a department of mathematical arts, for the purpose of giving instruction in engineering and technology. This meant the establishment of a course in civil engineering. Eight members of the class of 1835 were graduated as civil engineers and received the degree of C. E. This was the first class in civil engineer- ing ever graduated in any English speaking country. Prof. Amos Eaton died in 1842 and George H. Cook of the class of 1839, who was afterwards widely known for his work as State geologist in New Jersey, was appointed as senior professor in the same year. Under his direction the school was reorganized and the courses of instruction somewhat extended. Ile resigned in 1847 and was succeeded by B. Franklin Greene of the class of 1842, who became director of the in- stitute when that office was created by act of the Legislature in 1850.
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