USA > New York > Rensselaer County > Landmarks of Rensselaer county, New York, pt 1 > Part 37
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Prof. Greene's acceptance of the position marks an epoch in the his- tory of the school. After a careful study of the scientific and techni- cal institutions of Europe the curriculum was, under his direction, thoroughly reorganized in 1849. This reorganization inchided a ma- terial enlargement of the course of study and the requirement of a more rigid standard of scholarship from candidates for degrees. The number of instructors was also increased, and the length of time de- voted to the course was changed to three years, with a " preparatory class" which made it practically four years in duration. At the time of the reorganization in 1519 30 the name Rensselaer Polytechnic in- stitute was first given to the school, Thus was inaugurated the course and methods which have resulted in giving to the engineering profes- sion in this and other countries during the last half century or less many of its most distinguished members. The main causes of the rep- utation of the school and of the success of its graduates have been the method of instruction then adopted and the high standard of scholar- ship maintained. Although the curricuhim has, of course, since been changed from time to time to adapt it to the needs of the best modern practice, the methods have remained practically unchanged. The names of the presidents and directors and the years during which they served, from the foundation of the school to the present time, are as follows:
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PRESIDENTS .- Samuel Blatchford, D. D., 1824-1828; John Chester, D. D., 1828- 1829; Eliphalet Nott, D. D., LL. D., 1829-1845; Nathan S. S. Beman, D. D., 1845- 1865; IIon. John F. Winslow, 1865-1868; Thomas C. Brinsmade, D. D., 1868; James Forsyth, LL. D., 1868-1886; John Hudson Peek, LL. D., 1886-
SENIOR PROFESSORS AND DIRECTORS. - Amos Eaton, A. M., senior professor, 1824- 1842; George II. Cook, C. E., I'M. D., senior professor, 18-12-1816; B. Franklin Greene, C. E., A. M., director, 1847-1859; Nathan S. S. Beman, D. D , director, 1859- 1860; Charles Drowne, C. E., A. M., director, 1860-1876; William L. Adams, C. E., director, 1876-1878; David M. Greene, C. E., director, 1878-1891; Pahner C Rick- etts, C. E., director, 1892
The history of the Troy Female seminary, the institution founded by Mrs. Emma Willard, up to the death of Dr. John Willard May 29, 1825, has been told in the early pages of this work. October 13 of that year the Common Council leased the seminary to Emma Willard for five years and six months from November 1, 1825. Next spring the building was increased in size and the annual rental raised to $100. The building which was used for musical instruction and laundering and since demolished, was erected in 1828 at an expense of $3,500. Additional ground was purchased in May, 1831, extending the property to Ferry street and westward to the alley. In 1837 a lot was purchased on Ferry street. The founder of the institution retired as principal in 1838 and left it in charge of her son, John H. Willard, and his wife, Sarah L. Willard. Eight years afterward the trustees purchased from the First Presbyterian church additional ground on the west side of the closed alley running from Congress street south to Ferry, and an addition to the main building was erected.
In 1821, the patronage of the seminary having fallen off considerably, the trustees decided to solicit aid from the citizens, providing the city could be induced to convey the entire interest in the property to the trustees The consent of the Common Council to the plan could not be obtained, and May 1, 1893, the sum of $52, 615. 14 having been pri- vately subscribed, the trustees purchased the right of the city for $50,000. William Gurley and Lewis E. Gurley were the prime movers in the work and it was in a large measure due to their efforts that the required amount was subscribed. The contract between the city and the trustees continued the proviso that the property should be used for school purposes only.
John II. Willard and his wife resigned as principals of the seminary at the elose of the term in 1872, and Miss Emily Wilcox became princi- pal. Miss Wilcox resigned soon after the close of the term in 1895, and
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was succeeded by Miss Mary Alice Knox. The old building was torn down in 1890 to give place to the Gurley Memorial building, whose corner stone was laid in June, 1891. The handsome structure was dedicated with appropriate exercises a year later. It was built by Lewis E. Gurley as a memorial to his deceased brother, William Gur- ley, at a cost of $60,000. The seminary conservatory of music, known as the Anna M. Plum Memorial, was opened Thursday, September 13, 1894. It was erected by Mrs. Gerrit V. S. Quackenbush as a memorial to her daughter, Miss Anna M. Plum, and is devoted to instruction in music and painting. Its cost was about $50,000. Russell Sage hall, the last to be added to the magnificent collection of buildings forming the seminary, was dedicated May 16, 1895. Its cost was about $115, 000, and the entire building was given by Russell Sage and his wife, of New York, former residents of Troy
May 16, 1895, the day on which Russell Sage hall was dedicated, the beautiful statue of Mrs. Emma Willard was unveiled with elaborate ceremonies in Seminary park. Mrs. Charles L. MacArthur, president of the Emma Willard Statue association, presided. After the unveil- ing of the statue and the preliminary exercises the statue was formally presented to the board of trustees by Francis N. Mann, who, in his speech, gave a comprehensive history of the Monument association. The association was organized in 1890 and the statue was designed and made by Alexander Doyle of New York city. The statue was accepted in a speech by John IIndson Peck, when the Rev. Dr. John Monroe Taylor, president of Vassar college, made a scholarly and eloquent ad- dress on the life and work of Emma Willard. ' During the exercises a quartette sang " Rocked in the Cradle of the Deep," the words of which were written by Emma Willard. The dedication of Russell Sage hall followed. The address of presentation was made by the Rev. Dr. Stryker, president of Hamilton college, and the speech of acceptance by Lewis E. Gurley. A most eloquent address by Dr. Chauncey M. Depew of New York and the benediction by the Rev. Dr. T. P. Sawin closed the exercises.
The Gurley Memorial hall was dedicated Wednesday, June 8, 1892, with elaborate exercises. The morning and part of the afternoon were devoted to receptions to the students and faculty, former students and the reunion of the Alumna association, when addresses were made by Miss Emily T. Wilcox, president of the seminary; Mrs. Russell Sage, who, with her husband, subsequently gave Russell Sage hall to the
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seminary; Mrs. Lewis E. Gurley, wife of the donor of the building, and Mrs. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a member of the graduating class of 1832. Mrs. Charles L. MacArthur also made an appeal in behalf of the fund for the statue of Mrs. Emma Willard. The dedicatory services proper began at 3 r. M. and included the presentation address by Lewis E Gurley, the speech of acceptance by J. H. Peck, an elo- quent address by the Rev. Dr. H. M. King of Providence, R. I., and the reading of the dedicatory poem by Benjamin HI. Hall.
Among the many distinguished visitors to the seminary beside Marquis de La Fayette in 1824, Lady Franklin, wife of Sir John Frank- lin, called on Miss Willard while Sir John was governor of Van Die- man's Land. In 1841 Sir Joseph Laffan de Hovey eame as the agent of Queen Vietoria, saying : "We have heard that you have got before us in female education, and we wish to know your plans." Dr. Scoresby, the great English edueator; Thalberg, the famous pianist; Gottschalk, the composer; Madam Angel, the great contralto; Strakosch, Ole Bull, Walbare, Dr. Vincent, Clara Louise Kellogg, Fanny Kemble, Dr. John Lord, Dr. Hayes, the Arctic explorer; General William T. Sherman and many other persons noted in the field of art, or letters, or seience, or exploration, were also visitors to the school.
Troy academy was incorporated by aet of Legislature May 5, 1834. The original plan was to unite in one the Rensselaer Polytechnic insti- tute and the Troy academy, the former to be designated as "The De- partment of Experimental Science," the latter as " The Department of Classic Literature," but although an act was passed in 1837 permitting the consolidation of the two corporations, the union was never made. The first home of the academy was at the corner of State and Fourth streets. In 1838 the city transferred to the trustees of the academy the property now occupied by the school at the corner of State and Seventh streets, at that time the site of a building occupied in part by the High school and in part by the old Lancasterian school. The building was destroyed by the great fire of 1862 and was replaced by the present one in the following year. The academy came under the direction of the present principals in 1889. Since then the aim and scope of the work of the school have been somewhat changed, the number of in- struetors has been inereased from four to ten, the military drill has been introdueed, the courses of study in the several subjects have been carefully graded, the number of subjects offered for instruction has been enlarged, and facilities afforded for advanced study in many
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directions. The principals of the school are Prof. Frank Coe Barnes and Prof. Carroll L. Maxcy.
The career of St. Joseph's Provincial seminary (Roman Catholic) dates from the year 1833, when Bishop Dubois built at Nyack a college combining both the theological and collegiate courses of studies. Hav- ing been destroyed by fire the institution was re-established at La- fargeville and reopened in 1838 as St. Vincent of Paul's seminary. This proving unsuccessful a new college was established at Fordham in 1841 with Rev. John McCloskey, afterward Archbishop of New York, as president. In 1844 it was again removed to a building on Fifth avenue and Fiftieth street, N Y. In 1862 Archbishop Hughes, on the recommendation of the Rev. Peter Havermans of Troy, pur- chased the property of the Troy university, which was transformed into St. Joseph's Provincial seminary and placed in charge of profess- ors from the university of Louvain. It was opened under the new auspices in October, 1864, with a faculty consisting of a rector, three professors from Louvain and two from the clergy of Boston and New York. The students numbered sixty. Since that year the number has varied from 100 to 160. Up to May, 1896, 750 students were or- dained to the priesthood and others have been ordained elsewhere. The directors have been :
The Very Rev. Canon Louis Vandenhende, appointed in 1861; Rev. Alexander Sherwood Healey, 1865; Rev. John McLoughlin, 1869; Rev. James S. M. Lynch, 1871; Rev. Philip Garrigan, 1872; Rev. James S. M. Lynch, 1875; Rev. John F. Woods, D. D., 1880; Rev. William A. McDonald, 1884; Rev. Michael J. Considine, 1886; Rev. William Livingston, 1889 to the present time.
'The seminary abandoned the building in Troy in the summer of 1896 and occupied its handsome new home in Yonkers. Since then the building has been used by the Christian Brothers as a school for novices.
St. Peter's convent was established in 1861 and is the third convent of the order of St. Joseph in New York State. It is located at 2328 Fifth avenue.
St. Mary's convent was established in 1848 at No. 185 Third street.
St. Joseph's convent was founded in 1856. The corner stone of the present building on Fourth street was laid in 1867. It is the provin- cial house of the order of St Joseph for the Albany and Syracuse dio- ceses.
St. Ann's convent, located at No. 240 Second street, was established
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in 1885. It is the home of several sisters of St. Ann, the mother house being at La Chine, near Montreal, Can.
The Brothers' Academy of St. Mary was established in 1853. The present building on the corner of Fourth and Washington streets was ereeted in 1878.
The Troy Young Men's Catholic Literary association was organized in 1859 and has always been very prosperous.
The La Salle institute was founded in 1853 by Christian Brothers of the Catholic church. They abandoned the school in 1874 on account of poor accommodations and returned in 1878, since which time the sehool has prospered. The Cadets' battalion was organized in 1893.
NEWSPAPERS.
Since the first newspaper was printed in Troy in 1297, more than half a hundred have been established. Of these but few remain in the field. The first newspaper published in the city was the Farmers' Or aele, printed for the first time January 31, 1797, by Luther Pratt & Co. at the office on Water ( River) street "opposite the ferry."
The Northern Budget (Sundays) was first printed as a weekly in Lansingburgh. The first number was issued June 20, 1797, by Robert Moffit & Co. In May, 1798, the publishers moved to Troy, where the Northern Budget has since been published. January 3, 1826, the name was changed to the Troy Budget and City Register; January 1, 1828, to the Troy Budget; July 6, 1840, to the Daily Troy Budget ; July , 1845, to the Northern Budget; January 3, 1859, to the Troy Daily Budget: July 29, 1861, to the Daily Budget and Union, and October 14, 1861, to the Troy Daily Budget. It was published weekly and semi-weekly until 1840, when a daily was issued. In 1862 the publica- tion of the paper was discontinued. After the founder of the paper retired the publishers were: 1807, Oliver Lyon; - , Ebenezer Hill; 1817, Zephaniah Clark ; 1827, John C. Kemble; 1832, Kemble & Hooper; 1836, Charles Hooper; 1837, Hooper & Cook, also Kellogg, Strong & Cook; 1838, Kellogg & Cook; 1840, Carroll & Cook; 1846, John M. Francis and Edwin Brownell; 1842, John M. Francis and Charles L. MacArthur; 1849, William W. Whitman; 1850, Whitman & MacArthur; 1852, William W. Whitman ; 1854, Charles L. MacArthur; 1859, William Hagadorn; 1861, VanArnam & Co. ; 1861 to 1862, D. H. Jones.
The Troy Gazette, weekly, was first issued September 3, 1802, by
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NEWSPAPERS OF TROY.
Thomas Collier; September 4, 1804, by Wright & Wilbur; December 25, 1804, by Wright, Wilbur & Stockwell; September 10, 1805, by Wright, Goodenow & Stockwell.
The Farmers' Register, weekly, was first issued in Lansingburgh in 1803 by Francis Adancourt. The publication office was removed to Troy in 1806.
The Troy Post began publication September 1, 1812, Parker & Bliss, proprietors.
The Troy Sentinel was first published July 15, 1823, by Wm. S. Parker, with O. L. Holley as editor. Subsequent publishers were Tuttle & Richards, 1826; Tuttle & Gregory, 1827. May 1, 1830, the paper was first issued as a daily.
The Fowler was founded in April, 1824, by Gilbert Gunflint (?).
The Evangelical Restorationist was established by Adolphus Skinner in 1825.
The Troy Review was established January 4, 1826, by Tuttle & Richards.
The Reflector was established March 25, 1826, by Castor & Pollux (?). The Evangelical Repository was founded in 1828.
The Troy Republican, an anti-Masonic organ, was established by Austin & Wellington in 1828, and in 1830 was controlled by Thomas Clowes.
The Northern Watchman was founded in 1831, and changed to the Troy Watchman the following year.
The Gospel Anchor, a Universalist organ, was founded by John M. Anstin in 1831.
The Troy Statesman, an anti-Masonic organ, was founded June 12. 1832, by T. J. Sutherland.
The Troy Press was first issued by William Yates Angust 4, 1832. The Daily Troy Press was first issued February 11 of the following year by Mr. Yates, and was soon after sold to James M. Stevenson, publisher of the Troy Daily Whig. The Troy American was first issued September 18, 1833, by E. J. Van Cleve, who sold it to James M. Stevenson. All three of these papers were ultimately swallowed up by the Troy Daily Whig, which was first published as an afternoon daily July 1, 1834, by James M. Stevenson. Six years later the Whig was changed to a morning paper. The proprietors after the founder were: 1836, James M. Stevenson and Alexander MeCall; 1839, James M. Stevenson; 1850, Charles D Bingham; 1855, George Abbott; 1863,
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Hugh Greene & Co .; 1864, George Evans, representing the Whig News and Printing company; 1867, William D. Davis & Co .; 1868, Alexander Kirkpatrick; 1872, Kirkpatrick & Lynn; 1873, Alexander Kirkpatrick, also the Troy Whig Publishing Co. The Troy Morning Whig was succeeded August 30, 1880, by the Troy Morning Telegram and Whig, which also issued the Weekly Whig.
The Botanic Advocate was issued in 1834 by Russell Buckley.
The Trojan was founded in 1834 by Russell Buckley and Jacob D. E. Vanderheyden.
The State Journal was issued in 1836 by R. J. Masten, and the New York State Journal in 1837 by Jacob Hoxton.
The Troy Daily Mail was issued in 1837 by Wellington & Nafew.
The Troy Daily Bulletin was issued December 6, 1841, by R. Thomp- son and William Hagen.
The Troy Daily Herald was issued October 24, 1842, by Ayres & Whitehouse.
The Aquarian was issued in 1843.
The Troy Temperance Mirror was issued in 1843 by Bardwell & Kneeland.
The Troy Daily Times is the oldest daily paper now published in the city, its first number having been issued June 25, 1851, by John M. Francis and R. D. Thompson. Since the founder the publishers have been: January 31, 1854, John M. Francis; September 12, 1863, John M. Francis and Henry O'Reilly Tucker; April 5, 1881, John M. Fran- eis; May 2, 1881, John M. Francis, Son & Co. (John M. Francis, Charles S. Francis, William E. Kisselburgh and John A. Sleicher). Mr. Sleicher withdrew from the firin May 1, 1883, and Mr. Kisselburgh died May 20, 1887, since which time John M. Francis & Son have been proprietors of the paper. A weekly was issued from July 17, 1856, to 1895, since which time a semi-weekly has been published.
The Family Journal was issued in 1844 by Fisk & Co. In 1848 it be- came the New York Family Journal and in 1851 The Troy Family Journal.
The Troy Daily Post was founded in 1844 by Alexander McCall and Enoch Davis.
The Troy Daily Telegraph was founded in 1816 by Hagen & Ayres.
The Rensselaer County Temperance Advocate was founded in 1816 by S. Spicer.
The Journal of Temperance was founded in 1846, by Allen & Garnett.
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The Old Settler was founded In 1851 by - Allen.
The Unique was founded in 1851.
La Ruche Canadienne was founded in 1851 by Dorian & Mathiot. Our Paper was founded in 1853 by Davis & Cutler.
The Troy Daily Democrat was founded in 1854 by James T. Ellis. The Troy Daily Traveller was founded in 1854 by Fisk & Avery. The Daily Arena was founded in 1859 by MacArthur & Fonda.
The Troy Daily Express was founded in 1859 by Allen Corey. The Troy Morning News was founded in 1860 by E. T. Loveridge. Laigle Canadien was founded in 1860 by James R. Lettare. The Troy Union was founded in 1861 by Van Arnam & Merriam. The Troy City Democrat was founded in 1862 by A. Corey & Co.
The Troy Daily Press was founded August 8, 1863, by A. S. Pease, who was succeeded June 18, 1866, by W. S. Hawley. It was published by the latter until March 2, 1867. October 28, 1867, the publication of the new series was begun by William S. and Edwin P. Hawley. Since that time the proprietors have been: 1868, Edwin P. Hawley; also Edwin P. Hawley and Jerome B. Parmenter; 1869, Jerome B. Parmenter and Charles C. Clark; 1873, Jerome B. Parmenter; 1883, Jerome B. Parmenter and George E. Eaton; 1884, the Troy Press Co. December 6, 1888, the paper was purchased by Henry O'R. Tucker, who founded The Troy Press company, of which he is president, which still publishes the paper. Mr. Tucker has raised the paper from one of little influence and no commercial value to one of the most in- fluential in New York State. The Troy Press company also pub- lishes the Troy Weekly Press, founded August 8, 1863.
The Freie Deutsche Presse was established April 16, 1872, as the Troy Volksfreund by Otto Offenhauser and Michael Wigget. The following year Mr. Offenhaeuser became sole proprietor. In 1876 the paper was sold to Aug. Hillebrand, who changed its name to the Freie Deutsche Presse.
The Troy Northern Budget was first issued under the name of the Northern Budget as a Sunday paper March 24, 1807, by Charles L. MacArthur. In 1868 the paper was given the name which it has since retained. March 29, 1875, Arthur MacArthur, son of Charles L. Mac- Arthur, became associated in the business, and since that time the paper has been published by C. L. MacArthur & Son.
The Troy News (Sunday) was first issued August 1, 1864, by Charles L. MacArthur.
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The Sunday Herald was issued in 1867 by William F. Boshart.
The Publie Spirit was first issued in 1868 by Le Grand Benedict. The Sunday Telegram was issued in 1870 by Thomas Hurley.
The Sunday Trojan was first issued April 25, 1875, by I. F. Bos- worth and A. B. Elliott. In 1878 it was consolidated with the Troy Observer.
The Troy Observer was founded as a Sunday paper October 15, 1876, by William V. Cleary. Two years later it was purchased by A. B. Elliott and consolidated with the Sunday Trojan under the name of Trojan. Observer. In 1879 it was purchased by Michael F. Collins and named the Troy Observer.
The Evening Standard was founded October 17, Ist?, by the Even- ing Standard Publishing company, with W. J. Tyner as president. It is still published under the same anspices.
The Catholic Weekly was founded February 27. 1886, by Hugh M. Reynolds, George L. Thompson and William C. Cozier, and still continnes.
The Troy Morning Telegram and Whig was issued for the first time August 30, 1880 by the Troy Telegram company. C. L. MacArthur & Son became proprietors in 1882 and changed the name to Troy Daily Telegram. In 1886 John Hastings purchased the paper. He was succeeded in 1888 by William C. Cozier and John P. Pratt, who changed the name to Troy Morning Telegram. The paper was pur- chased September 17, 1892, by Thomas A. Keith, who relinquished control November 21, 1895. The paper was issued for a few weeks thereafter by several printers employed by Mr. Keith, and in the spring of 1896 it ceased to exist.
The Sunday News was founded September 9, 1894, by Daniel E. Conway and is still published.
The One-cent Argus, printed by the Argus company of Albany, was first published in Troy April 1, 1895. The publication of the paper was suspended June 20, 1896.
The Morning Star was founded March 3, 1896, by George B. Ander- son, but after twenty issues of the paper had been published the Morn- ing Star ceased to exist, the publisher being convinced that there was no demand for a morning paper in Troy.
The Troy Record was founded April 4, 1896, by the Troy Record company, of which J. K. P. Pine is president; William H. Hollister, jr., vice-president; Harry S. Ludlow, treasurer, and Frank H. Knox, secretary. It is published every morning except Sunday.
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The American Laundry Journal (monthly) was first issued in July, 1882, by Pratt & Clinton. In May, 1883, Clinton & Diekerman became proprietors. L. H. Diekerman has been sole proprietor since Decem . ber 9, 1854.
The first issue of the Carriage Dealers' Journal appeared in May, 1890, with Charles C. Conant as publisher. Two years later P. D. Randall bought a half interest. It is now a hundred-page paper and the largest in the carriage trade with one exception.
The Bicycle Dealer was founded in December, 1895, by the Journal Publishing company, composed of Charles C. Conant and P. D. Randall.
The first issue of the Cosmopolitan Signal as a musical monthly was May 15, 1896, it having been transformed from the West Troy Signal. Its proprietors are Madame Marie Godini and Chevalier Aurelio Ceruelos.
In the summer of 1896 the following newspapers were published in Troy: Troy Northern Budget, Troy Daily Times, The Troy Press, Evening Standard, Troy Record, Troy Observer, Sunday News, Troy Weekly Press, Troy Semi-Weekly Times, Catholie Weekly, American Laundry Journal, Carriage Dealers' Journal, Bicycle Dealer, Weekly Advocate, Freie Deutsche Presse and Cosmopolitan Signal.
The handsome new court house, located on the site of the old one on the southeast corner of Second and Congress streets, which was still in course of construction in 1896, will be one of the handsomest struc- tures in Troy when completed. The work of razing the old eourt house was begun March 11, 1895, by eight men under the direction of Contractor Charles Duncan, soon after the close of the last term of court held in the old building. The laying of the foundation of the new structure was begun in the fall of 1894, on either end of the old building, while the latter was still occupied.
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