USA > New York > Steuben County > Landmarks of Steuben County, New York > Part 24
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Among the houses are several stores and shops, well furnished with goods, and a tavern that would not be thought meanly of in any part of America. The town [meaning the village settlement] stands on a plain, surrounded on three sides by hills of moderate height. The plain is almost wholly divested of trees, but the hills are still uncleared and have a very pleasing appearance from the town. At the foot of the hills runs a stream of pure water over a bed of gravel, which is called Conhocton Creek. There is a very considerable fall in the creek just above the town, which affords the finest seats for mills possible. Extensive saw and flour mills have already been erected upon it."
Such was a superficial view of the surroundings of our pretty little hamlet a century ago, and to the familiar eye of an observer the present beautiful village of Bath is discernible, the scene in many respects being undisturbed. The magnificent and heavily wooded hills on the south are the same to the eye to-day as an hundred years ago, and a home and nature loving people have endeavored to spare and preserve as far as possible the landmarks and reminders of early life. Notwithstand- ing all this, Bath has been a progressive village and all desirable im- provements have been encouraged and promoted. Its people have been conservative, yet generous in all worthy undertakings. Circum- stances and location have in a measure combined to retard its progress during the last half century, yet all municipalities cannot become im- portant and large commercial centers, and there is little manifest desire to have Bath partake of such character. The residents are content with their surroundings and conditions, and there is an indescribable some- thing that always attracts the visitor to the place, makes him contented while there, and causes a pang of regret at departure.
" In 1804," says Mr. McCall's address, "William H. Bull came, with his father, Howell Bull, from Painted Post, and has furnished the mem- oranda from which has been made a bird's-eye view of Bath in that year." Also, in 1811, Edward Howell and his brother William came to Bath, and from the latter we have an accurate pen description of the village in that year, viz .: "In 1811, the only streets in Bath were Morris, Lib- erty, and West Steuben from Pulteney Square to its junction with Morris street. There were nine dwelling houses on the north side of Morris street, extending from the square to Stewart's Hill. There was
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VILLAGE OF BATH IN 1804.
1-Log house, formerly printing office of the Bath Gazette.
2-Bull's Tavern.
3-Log house.
4-Helm's residence.
5-Frame house, afterwards occupied by Rev. J. Niles.
6-Log house.
7-H. A. Townsend's house.
8-McClure's house and store.
9-Grocery.
10-Court House.
11-Turner's house.
12-Jonathan T. Haight, lawyer.
13-Log house.
14-Pulteney Land Agent's residence.
15-Land office.
16-Liberty tree (blown down in 1825). 17-Bath Jail.
18-School house.
19- D. Cameron's house.
20 -- Metcalf's Tavern.
21-Blacksmith shop.
22-Theatre.
23-Helm's grist and saw mills.
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LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
only one house on the south side of the street. On the south side of the square was the agency house and the land office, and back of them were several long low houses, built of logs and sided with clapboards, which had been used as servant's quarters. On the south side of West Morris street. from the land office to where the Erie depot stands, were four or five dwelling houses, and near the depot was a small frame dwelling and a blacksmith shop. On the north side of Morris street (west of the park) were six dwelling houses, viz .: Ira Pratt's, Metcalf's Tavern, John McCalla, D. Cruger, and on the corner, Spring's Tavern. On the opposite corner on Steuben street, was the stone jail building, and south of it a small store building. On the north side of the park, on the two opposite corners of Liberty street, were the Townsend house on the east, and the Captain Helm house on the west There were also some small buildings and a barn extending up to the old cemetery. East of the Townsend house was a row of small frame build- ings, occupied for stores and shops. On the east side of the park was the court- house and a frame building used for a school. The jail was the only building on the south side of Steuben street, while several were on the north side, among them being the ' Old Theater,' also a large square frame building. On the east side of Liberty street were a dwell- ing of frame, another of logs, and the Niles house, while opposite were the Gazette printing office, the Howell Bull tavern and a log house."
Such was the municipal condition of Bath four score years previous to the centennial celebration, and from these primitive elements has the village grown. In another department of the work the reader will find a brief outline history of the town at large, in which mention is made of all the pioneer occupants of the village ; but that the situation during the days of settlement may be made clear, attention is directed to the accompanying map taken from the printed proceedings of the centen- nial celebration in 1893
It appears that an attempt to incorporate the village was made as early as the year 1816, and the measure was in fact adopted although the organization under it was not perfected. At this time Bath was a place of more than ordinary importance among the villages of the Gen- esee country while several of our now large cities were unknown even in name. During the twenty years following 1816, many and various
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improvements were inaugurated and successfully established, and the village continued to grow and enlarge in every direction. A contem- porary writer has furnished a brief outline of some of the more impor- tant events of this period, and those of a local character are deemed worthy of reproduction here. On the Ist of October the County Medi- cal Society was organized, and in June, 1819, the first Agricultural Society was likewise brought into existence. In 1820 the Western Republican began publication, and in the same year Vincent Matthews and William B. Rochester formed a law partnership. Also in this year a semi-weekly stage line was established between Bath and Owego. In 1824 Colonel Bull erected the first brick dwelling in the village On March 2, 1825, the Presbyterian church was dedicated, and on the 29th of April of the same year Robert Douglass was hanged on Gallows Hill. This first execution was a remarkable event in local history, beside which the visitation of the extreme penalty of law upon Ira Appo, about twelve years afterward, was of minor importance. In 1826, the Indians Sundown and Curlyeye were tried for murder, but acquitted, and in the same year the Episcopal church was organized. In 1827 the brick court-house was built to replace that originally erected by Captain Williamson. In 1828, the Steuben Messenger and the Steuben Whig were founded, the former an anti-Masonic, and the latter a cam- paign paper started to oppose General Jackson. In 1829 William S. Hubbell was appointed postmaster. In March, 1831, the Bath and Crooked Lake Railroad Company was organized, with a capital of $20,- 000, but under this charter nothing was done, and rail communication between these terminal points was not secured until the construction of the Bath and Hammondsport Railroad in 1874. In March, 1832, the old Steuben County Bank opened its doors for business, and in the fol- lowing year William P. Angel issued the first number of the Constitu- tionalist, the office of which, together with several other business build- ings, was destroyed by fire in June, 1837.
The village of Bath was regularly incorporated and completely or- ganized in 1836, the act of the Legislature being passed May 6 of that year. The first meeting for the election of officers was held at the Franklin House, June 7, and resulted as follows : John D. Higgins, Ten Eyck Gansevoort, Benjamin Smead, Moses H. Lyon and John T.
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Andrews, trustees; Ziba A. Leland, John M. Campbell and Henry Brothers, assessors ; Robert Campbell, jr., treasurer ; Levi C. Whitney, clerk ; Elisha Hempstead, collector, and O. W. L. Warren, constable. The first village president, elected by the trustees, was Ten Eyck Gan- sevoort, and the last, so elected in 1851, was R. B. Van Valkenburg.
By an act of the Legislature passed January 20, 1851, our village changed its character quite radically, and by a charter became entitled to elect the village president, and was otherwise vested with broader powers than under the old regime. Under the charter the first officers were elected April 6, 1852, and were Robert Campbell, president ; Joel H. Rice, George S. Ellas, Alfred P. Ferris, Lansing D. Hodgman, trustees ; John Bramble, Paul C. Cook and Moses H. Lyon, assessors ; Alva E. Brown, treasurer ; Benjamin C. Ward, collector, and William E. Bonham, clerk.
Such is the character of municipal organization in Bath at the present day, although the Legislature has so amended the village charter as to permit the election of officers other than noted above, and has granted greater powers than those conferred under the original act.
The fire department, as a complete and properly equipped branch of local goverment, was brought into existence by the trustees on Decem- ber 17, 1839, although previous to that year an informal organization was maintained by the villagers for the prevention of fire. At that time the old company was dissolved, and the trustees organized a fire- engine company, the personnel of which was as follows : Lewis Biles, foreman ; J. McBeath, assistant ; R. L. Underhill, clerk, and members, Moses H. Lyon, William H. Bull, L. H. Read, Daniel Miller, John O. Goodsell, Charles Adams, Bernard Fox, W. Secor, Reuben Robie, James Shannon, Benjamin D. Lilly, A. F. Ellas, G. A. Rogers, William Hamilton, Thomas Metcalf, James Moore, A. Babcock, Lewis Shoemaker, William A. Biles, James R. Dudley, A. R. Gould, Nathan Stevens, R. H. Gra- ham, John R. Gansevoort and David McMaster.
In later years the organization was radically modified, and as the growth and necessities of the village demanded, changes were made to conform to the existing condition of affairs. However, the present effi- cient volunteer fire department is the outgrowth of the primitive organ- izations mentioned above, and the construction of a water supply sys-
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tem has materially advanced the efficiency of the organization and less- ened its labors. As now constituted the department comprises three companies, known respectively as Edwin Cook Hose Co. No. I, Frank Campbell Hose Co. No. 2, and Rescue Hook and Ladder Co. No. I.
The Bath Water Works Company was incorporated in 1887, with a capital of $72,000, owned chiefly by non-residents. The supply is obtained from a large reservoir on Magee Hill, and by a combined pumping and gravity system is distributed throughout the village. There are about eight miles of main pipes, seventy- eight fire hydrants, and about 275 taps.
The village officers for the year 1895, (to whom, with their prede- cessors in office, is due great credit for the admirable government of the last score and more of years) are as follows : Hiram W. Brundage, pres- ident ; Bernard M. Wynkoop, clerk; Orland W. Sutton, Edward E. Aber, William H. Scrafford and Matthew E Shannon, trustees ; Will- iam A. Dutcher, treasurer ; Hoyt Butler, collector; Clarence Willis, police justice; Charles A. Ellas, Thomas Fogarty and Andrew Crook, assessors.
Among the various institutions of the county seat, the schools have ever received the same careful attention and generous support that has characterized local interests in all directions. The subject, too, is one which has been extensively treated by local writers of known repute and standing, and it is impossible at this time to enlarge upon what is al- ready of record or to improve upon what has been said. The writer therefore acknowledges access to the sketches of Clarence Willis and Charles F. Kingsley, both recognized authority on the subject treated.
Says Mr. Kingsley : In the very first year of the settlement of the town of Bath a school was established, and here Robert Hunter was the schoolmaster. The first school house was built on the northwest corner of Pulteney Square, where the furniture store stands, but when built records afford no accurate information. Mr. Dixon was the teacher in 1805. Elam Bridges taught school in a little frame building near the old clerk's office as early as 1811. In December, 1812, Henry A. Townsend and wife conveyed to the trustees of the Bath school a lot on the north side of Steuben street, near the end of the Beekman sash factory of later years. In 1813 a school house was built on this lot at
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the expense of district No. 5. This building became known as the " Old Academy," and its upper portion was for a time used by the local Ma- sonic societies. This school was burned in 1824, and was replaced with the once well known "Red School-house," the latter being, it is said, the first school organized in the village under the district system. However, the Red School was burned in September, 1849, and the lot on which it stood was afterward the subject of long and expensive liti- gation.
On the 8th of July, 1846, a Union school was founded by the consol- idation of districts Nos. 2 and 5 in the village, and forms the present district No. 5. Adam Haverling donated to this district the site on which the present Haverling Union Free School stands. On April 13, 1847, a contract was made between the district trustees and Sylvanus Stephens, by which the latter agreed to erect a school building on this lot, at a cost of $2, 180.66. This was done and school was first opened in the building May 15, 1848. However, this structure was burned January 29, 1866, and in its place was erected the present substantial and attractive academy building, at a cost of about $25,000, including $900 paid for the lot in front of it on Liberty street. In 1887 Ira Davenport gave to the district a lease of an acre of land lying north of the old school grounds.
The principals of the Union District School from 1848 to 1868, were Mr. Hathaway, Emerson J. Hamilton, Charles W. Gulick, James Buell, James A. Broadhead, William S. Hall, C. C. Wheeler, J. H. Strong, J. C. Higby, Henry A. Smith, Z. L. Parker and J. Horace Crum and Edward Wilson, joint principals.
At a meeting of the qualified voters of the district held August 6, 1868, the present Union Free School was formed, and G. H. McMaster, L. P. Hard, L. D. Hodgman, R. Hardenbrook, Abram Beekman and Samuel Ensign were duly elected members of the Board of Education.
On the 7th of September, 1868, Haverling Union Free School with its academic department was opened to the public, and it at once took rank with the leading schools of the State; a position which it has maintained to the present day. The principals since 1868 have been Zenas L. Parker, Lewis M. Johnson, E. H. Lattimer and Levi D. Miller.
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CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS.
The present Board of Education comprises L. D. Hodgman, Abram Beekman, Charles F. Kingsley, Clarence Willis, W. S. Burns and W. P. Sedgwick. Mr. Hodgman is chairman and Mr. Kingsley secretary of the board.
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Another of the established institutions of Bath is the Agricultural Society, a county rather than local organization, yet a fixed adjunct of the shire town, hence to be mentioned in this chapter.
The present Steuben County Agricultural Society was organized in 1853, although for a number of years previous to that time annual fairs and exhibitions had been held, and a formal organization may have been in existence. In fact Charles Williamson was the originator of fairs in old Steuben, yet his successors in office and influence failed to awaken the same interest in such exhibitions as did that worthy pio- neer. In 184I a county agricultural society was brought into existence at a public meeting held in Bath, and its first officers were Otto F. Marshall, president ; John Cooper, jr., Israel Wood and Erastus Skinner, vice presidents; Wm. S. Hubbell and Ziba A. Leland, secretaries ; Henry Brother, treasurer. This society was continued for about four years, though with rather indifferent success from a financial point of view, and then dissolved. The last fair, that of 1844, was held on the river flat, southwest of the land office.
On the 18th of May, 1853, a public notice was given, as required by law, to the effect that a meeting would be held in Bath on the 22d of June following, for the purpose of legally organizing a county agricul- tural society. At the time mentioned an organization was perfected and these officers chosen for the following year: Goldsmith Denniston, president ; O. F. Marshall, J. B. Mitchell, J. B. Dickinson, Lyman Bal- com, R. S. Davis and John Van Wie, vice-presidents; Geo. Edwards, treasurer ; R. B. Van Valkenburgh, corresponding secretary, and Geo. S. Ellas, recording secretary. The first fair was held at Bath on the 12th and 13th of October, 1853, in an open field on Robert Campbell's farm.
In 1854 the society leased a portion of its present admirable grounds, and, depending largely upon annual exhibitions to build up a purchas- ing and improving fund, it was not until 1862 that the property was deeded to the trustees. It is deemed unnecessary in this place to note
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one and all of the many improvements made by the society, for almost every person in Steuben county is perfectly familiar with the grounds, the buildings, the famous log cabin, and every other noticeable building within the inclosure. The fair, also, needs no complimentary reference in this chapter, as the annual meeting at Bath is known throughout. the entire State; and it goes without saying that in this village is the best and most successful county fair in Western or Central New York. This success has been due to the untiring efforts of the officers and managers annually elected, in view of which it is proper that we note the succession of presidents, viz : Goldsmith Denniston, Uri Bal- com, Lyman Balcom, Daniel Gray, John W. Taggart, Grattan H. Wheeler, Samuel Balcom, Robert B. Wilks, Frank J. Marshall, Chas. H. Robie, Samuel E. Haskin, Azariah C. Brundage, Nathaniel B. Stan- ton, Martin W. Noble, Joseph M. Hopkins, Daniel B. Curtis, Lemuel Mathewson, Lewis C. Kingsbury, Lyman Aulls, Amos Jewett, Sanford A. Gardiner, James L. Packer, Chas. A. Reynolds, Edward C. Cook.
The present (1895) officers are Edward C. Cook, president; John C. Switzer, G. D. Wilbur, H. T. Connor, J. B. Giffin, George Wolcott, Robert Kellogg, David H. Ackerson and D. B. Bryan, vice-presidents ; Major A. C. Brundage, secretary ; Thos. N. Smith, treasurer, and John W. Moore, general superintendent.
The New York State Soldiers' and Sailors' Home at Bath, although an institution of the State rather than local, is nevertheless a proper subject of mention in this chapter. In fact the location and erection of the buildings in our county town was the result of generosity and enter- prise on the part of the people of Bath and its immediate vicinity. After several futile attempts to found a soldiers' home in this State an effective act was passed by the Legislature in 1876, approved by Gov- ernor Tilden on May 15. An organization was perfected and the con- stituted committee received proposals or offers of land for a site. Of course the public-spirited citizens of various localities made generous offers to the commissioners, but of them all that at Bath was considered the most desirable. The land comprised the well known Rider farm, 220 acres in extent, in addition to which was a cash offer of $6,000 to be used in the erection of buildings.
On Wednesday, June 13, 1877, the corner-stone of the home build-
Muy Rogers
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CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS.
ing was laid, and on the 23d day of January, 1879, the institution was opened for the reception of inmates. The formal transfer of the prop- erty from the commissioners or association to the State was completed in pursuance of an act of the Legislature, passed March II, 1878.
As is well known, the object and purpose of the home is to provide for the care, maintenance and relief of soldiers and sailors from the State of New York, who served in the Union army or navy during the war of 1861-5, and received an honorable discharge therefrom, and who from any cause stand in need of the care and benefits of a soldiers' home.
The Board of Trustees is composed of nine members, exclusive of the governor and attorney general, who are ex-officio members. The board establish rules and regulations for the management of the home, its officers and inmates, and they submit a detailed report of their pro- ceedings to the Legislature each year. The personnel of the present Board of Trustees is as follows: The governor and attorney-general, ex-officio, and Hosea H. Rockwell, John Palmer, Oliver B. Caldwell, O. H. Smith, Halbert S. Greenleaf, George H. Blackman, Frank Campbell, Edwin S. Jenney and Horatio C. King.
The officers of the home are Gen. Wm. F. Rogers, superintendent ; Maj. S. H. Leavitt, adjutant ; Dr. T. O. Burleson, surgeon ; Dr. E. C. Pixley, assistant surgeon ; Capt. Frank P. Frost, quartermaster.
The Davenport Home for Female Orphan Children, one of the noblest charities of the State, is beautifully located in the south part of the village of Bath. It was the free and voluntary gift of Col. Ira Dav- enport, his own and original idea, the revelation of his generous heart and nature; and unaided and unadvised, except by those of his own family, he founded and built the home and endowed it abundantly so that is not in any manner a charge upon the generosity of the public. The building was begun in 1861, and two years later the association was organized. The first inmate was received July 19, 1864. The property was conveyed by Col. Davenport to the home association, and to the managers is assigned the pleasant duty of conducting its affairs. The endowment fund now aggregates more than $200,000, and the an- nual income is about $12,000. At present the home has sixty three inmates. The late John Davenport, who died May 5, 1895, was at that
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time president, and was succeeded by Ira Davenport. Both were sons of the founder of the institution. The trustees and managers are Ira Davenport, Mrs. Sherman S. Rogers, Mrs. John Davenport and James Lyon. Matron, Mrs. Jemima L. McPherson.
The Bath Centennial Celebration, June 6 and 7, 1893, was one of the most notable events in local annals. The preliminary arrangements for this occasion began in January, and nothing was left undone to make perfect desirable features. At the first public meeting, General Averell was chosen chairman, and James R. Kingsley, secretary. For the pur- pose of carrying out the detail of arrangements a large general com- mittee was appointed, and also sub-committees, and, with complete unity in opinion and action, all things were done " decently and in order." On Sunday, June 4, in the several churches of the village were conducted appropriate religious services with historical sermons (from these ser- mons there has been compiled a history of each of the local churches. See Ecclesiastical history in another department of this work), followed in the evening by a union service in the Casino, and address by Prof. Levi D. Miller. From the published proceedings we quote the order of exercises :
Tuesday, June 6, Prayer, Rev. L. M. Miller, D.D., of Ogdensburgh, N Y. Address of Welcome, by President of the Day, Reuben E. Robie.
Poem, Prof. Zenas L. Parker.
Captain Charles Williamson, a sketch, by James McCall.
History of Bath for Fifty Years, Ansel J. McCall.
Evening Exercises, Prayer.
Reminiscences-by Wm. E. Howell, J. R. Whiting, Rev. L. M. Miller, D.D., Irving W. Near, Edward H. Butler and Clark Bell.
Schools, Charles F. Kingsley,
Physicians, Dr. Ira P. Smith.
Lawyers, Charles H. McMaster.
Editors, George B. Richardson.
Soldiers, Major John Stocum.
Wednesday, June 7.
Sunrise Salute of Cannon and Bells.
Parade of all the Schools of the Town to the Fair Grounds (about 1,000 children, headed by five bands of music, participated in this novel and interesting event).
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On the Fair Grounds, 10.30 A. M.
Prayer, M. N. Preston.
Letters of Regret, read by Secretary R. R. Lyon.
Address and Presentation of Portrait of Charles Williamson, by Jas. McCall.
Acceptance on behalf of Trustees, Byron L. Smith.
Oration, Sherman S. Rogers, of Buffalo.
Change of Name of Lake Salubria to Lake Williamson.
Benediction.
2.00 P. M. Parade of Fire Department, Civic Societies and General Trades Display ; Capt. W. W. Lindsay, Marshal ; Messrs. L. H. Bal- com, Hoxie W. Smith, Wm. J. H. Richardson and S. J. Wilkes, Aides.
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