USA > New York > Tompkins County > Landmarks of Tompkins County, New York : including a history of Cornell University > Part 16
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Of this list Mr. Williams considered none of them reliable in case of a protracted fire, excepting B, C and D, most of them being filled by water from roofs, or from drains and small springs. For many years prior to the date under consideration, various plans and propositions had been made for providing an adequate water supply by different companies, and the final introduction of mains in the streets, with a large flow and strong pressure, soon relieved all anxiety on this score.
In this connection it is interesting to note that the expense of the department for the year preceding Mr. Williams's report was $2, 427.84. Of this sum $800 is credited to the "annual donation." There were then in the department five engine companies, one hook and ladder company, one bucket company, and a company of Protective Police, the membership numbering in the aggregate 450 men. There were eleven fire alarms in the year 1868.
The Ithaca Fire Department was incorporated by act of the Legisla- ture April 1, 1871, and includes all of the fire companies formed and to be formed, whose enrolled members number thirty each and are so maintained. The act was amended April 14, 1884. The governing board was made to consist of two trustces from each company, together with the chief engineer and assistants, who were ex-officio members. A president, vice-president, and secretary of the board were to be chosen annually from their body by the trustees. The body thus formed constitutes the "Firemen's Board."
With the incoming of the city government in 1887, the powers and duties conferred on the village trustees by the act of 1860 were con- tinued to the Common Council of the city.
The body known as the " Protective Police " was formed with thirty members January 23, 1868. This body of men have all the privileges and exemptions of firemen and are invested with police powers in time
153
CITY OF ITHACA.
of fire. They are commanded by a captain, a lieutenant and a sergeant, the other officers being a treasurer, secretary and two trustees.
Upon the organization of the Protective Police the following were chosen the first officers: P. J. Partenheimer, captain; Elias Treman, lieutenant; H. A. St. John, sergeant ; L. Kenney, secretary ; F. W. Brooks, treasurer; and the following members: F. A. Brown, C. F. Blood, Walter Burling, Rufus Bates, Uri Clark, C. Cowdry, Joseph Esty, jr. H. F. Hibbard, W. H. Hammond, J. F. Hawkins, C. D. Johnson, Freeman Kelly, J. C. King, E. M. Latta, E. M. Marshall, E. I. Moore, H. D. Partenheimer, James Quigg, J. H. Tichenor, J. B. Tay- lor, S. D. Thompson, jr., Samuel Stoddard, J. R. Wortman, H. J. Wilson, H. W. Wilgus.
The following named companies have been organized at the dates given, with the officers of 1868 designated :
Cayuga Engine Company, No. 1, organized May 12, 1828. Foreman, John Diltz; first assistant, H. Mastin; second assistant, R. Latourette. Besides a large membership, this company published in 1868 a list of seventeen honorary members.
Rescue Engine Company, No. 2, organized June 6, 1823. Foreman, John Spence; first assistant, Edward Landon; second assistant, A. B. Gardiner.
Tornado Hook and Ladder Company, No. 3, organized February 4, 1831. Foreman, J. M. Lyons; first assistant, M. L. Granger; second assistant, O. B. Welch.
Eureka Engine Company, No. 4, organized April 29, 1842. Fore- man, William S. Berry; first assistant, C. Sloughter; second assistant, George True.
Tornado Bucket Company, No, 5, organized July 1, 1846. Foreman, George Pickering; first assistant, Amasa I. Drake; second assistant, Sam Goddard.
Hercules Engine Company, No. 6, organized March 23, 1853. Fore- man, George J. Kenyon; first assistant, C. Popplewell; second assist- ant, E. Jarvis.
Cataract Engine Company, No. 7, organized December 31, 1863. Foreman, Sylvester Norton; first assistant, Ed. Tree, jr. ; second as- sistant, George Norton.
Eureka Company, above named, was placed in charge of the old engine (No. 1), but this machine had seen its best days, and was ex- 20
154
LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.
changed in June, 1842, for a new one. This company finally became Eureka Hose Company, No. 4, now in existence.
Hercules Company, above mentioned, was one of the most efficient early organizations, and was especially for the protection of property in the western part of the village, where the tower at the Inlet was crected for their use. After nearly twenty years of service the com- pany was dissolved, and in its place was organized Sprague Steamer Company, No. 6, October, 31, 1872.
Cataract Company, above mentioned, took charge of the engine pur- chased for No. 4 in 1842. The tower at Fall Creek was built for this organization.
In addition to the above arc the following organizations, all of which are now in existence :
Cayuga Hose Company, No. 1, organized May 12, 1828; now located in City Hall. Has a two-wheeled cart and 500 feet of hose, with other appurtenances. Foreman, B. F. McCormick; first assistant, William McGraine; second assistant, Joseph Myres; secretary, L. F. Maloney; treasurer, Michael Herson.
Rescue Steamer Company, No. 2, organized July 1, 1823; incorpo- rated November 28, 1883. Located in a two-story brick building ad- joining the City Hall; have in charge a third class Silsby steamer, and a four-wheeled hose carriage with 500 feet of hose. Foreman, John A. Fisher; first assistant, Perry Robertson; second assistant, Horace Miller; secretary, W. A. Woodruff; treasurer, Charles Clapp.
Tornado Hook and Ladder Company, No. 3, organized February 4, 1831 ; incorporated March 6, 1886. Located in City Hall, and have in charge a hook and ladder truck, with extension and other ladders, etc. Foreman, F. H. Romer; first assistant, C. S. Seaman; second assist- ant, C. E. Treman; secretary, A. G. Stone; treasurer, O. L. Dean.
Eureka Hose Company, No. 4, organized in 1842. Located in City Hall, and has in charge a four-wheeled hose carriage with 450 feet of hosc. Foreman, J. E. Driscoll; first assistant, George J. Dixon ; sec- ond assistant, W. J. Pringle; secretary, F. D. Gray ; treasurer, George Stephens.
Torrent Hose Company, No. 5, organized March 2, 1843. Located in the two-story brick building on State street near Geneva; has in charge a four-wheeled carriage and 500 feet of hose. Foreman, W. C. Taber; first assistant, E. G. Hance ; second assistant, Henry Brost ; secretary, W. W. Phillips; treasurer, E. McGillivray.
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CITY OF ITHACA.
Sprague Steamer Company, No. 6, organized October 1, 1872. Lo- cated in a two-story brick building on West State street near Fulton; has in charge a Clapp & Jones piston steamer, a two-wheeled hose cart and 600 feet of hose. Foreman, A. R. Van Zoil; first assistant, Milo Walley; second assistant, Bert Shaw; secretary, W. J. Lambert; treasurer, William Moore.
Cataract Hose Company, No. 7, organized December 31, 1863. Lo- cated in a two-story brick and frame building on North Tioga street, and has in charge one two-wheeled racing cart, one four-wheeled hose cart and 500 feet of hose. Foreman, Charles Terwilliger; first assist- ant, William Benson; second assistant, George Edsall; secretary, F. A. Van Vradenburg; treasurer, M. H. Norton.
The gross membership of the department on the 31st of December, 1893, was 447.
Following is a list of chief engineers from 1840 to the present time:
Jacob M. McCormick, December 19, 1838, to June 23, 1842; Robert Halsey, June 23, 1842, to January 17, 1850; P. J. Partenheimer, January 17, 1850, to December 31, 1857; Merritt L. Wood, December 31, 1857, to December 30, 1858; Justus Deming, December 30, 1858, to December 31, 1859.
LIST OF CHIEF AND ASSISTANT ENGINEERS.
Under the Fire Laws adopted June 25, 1860, and Act of Incorpora- tion, passed April 1, 1871, and amended April 14, 1884:
YEAR. 1860, 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864, 1865, 1866, 1867, 1868, 1869, 1870, 1871, 1872, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1876, 1877,
CHIEF ENGINEER. Edward S. Esty.
William W. Esty.
George E. Terry. Elias Treman.
William W. Esty. B. R. Williams.
T. S. Thompson. B. R. Williams. 66 H. M. Durphy.
Almon Boys.
66
FIRST ASSISTANT. Jesse Johnson.
Joseph N. Ives. W. G. Davenport.
Joseph N. Ives. Joseph C. King. R. Willard Boys. J. M. Heggie, jr. T. S. Thompson. George J. Kenyon. John H. Prager.
Almon Boys. ..
E. H. Mowry.
Charles A. Ives.
SECOND ASSISTANT. J. Beardsley. L. V. B. Maurice. Joseph N. Ives.
IV. G. Davenport.
Levi A. Berry. J. R. Wortman. James Latta. James Ashdown. George Sincepaugh. George J. Kenyon. Amasa I. Drake. James Latta.
O. D. Terry. E. H. Mowry. Charles A. Ives.
S. S. Gress.
66
66
66 16
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LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.
YEAR. 1878, 1879, 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887,
CHIEF ENGINEER. Almon Boys.
FIRST ASSISTANT.
SECOND ASSISTANT.
S. S. Gress.
Will F. Major.
Will F. Major.
Frank D. Tree.
Samuel S. Gress.
Louis S. Neill.
William J. Ireland.
66
66 16
E. W. Prager.
A. Schriver.
A. Schriver.
E. E. Robinson.
E. H. Mowry.
E. E. Robinson. 66 H. L. Haskin. 66 66
Frank Cole. 66 66
1888,
Frank Cole.
A. B. Oltz.
1889, 6
1890, Frank Cole.
A. B. Oltz.
W. H. Herrington.
1891,
1892,
66
A. W. Randolph.
Charles C. Garrett. S. Fred Smith.
1893, 66 16
Following is a list of the officers of the department for 1894:
Chief engineer, Frank Cole; first assistant engineer, A. W. Randolph; second assistant engineer, S. Fred Smith; president, J. M. Welsh; vice-president, William Egan ; secretary John M. Wilgus; treasurer, Edwin M. Hall.
Trustees of Department: Cayuga Hose Company, No. 1, J. M. Welsh, C. M. Kelly ; Rescue Steamer Company, No. 2, A. S. Cole, William Egan; Tornado Hook and Ladder Company, No. 3, Chas. W. Major, C. L. Smith; Eureka Hose Company, No. 4, S. S. Gress, C. G. Selover; Torrent Hose Company, No. 5, J. M. Wilgus, J. F. Tetley ; Sprague Steamer Company, No. 6, Isaac Brokaw, Lester Rundle; Cataract Hose Company, No. 7, Thomas Tree, Arthur Tourgee; Protective Police, H. M. Hibbard, Franklin C. Cornell.
In the year 1891 the Gamewell Fire Alarm system was introduced, which now has sixteen boxes, and is a valuable auxiliary to the depart- ment. The expenses of the department for 1893 were $3,637.85. There are now fourteen cisterns in the city at the most available points, with 101 hydrants connected with the water supply system. There were nineteen fire alarms in 1893, and the total loss was $17,511.23. The following table shows the number of alarms and losses since 1860:
Charles S. Seaman.
E. W. Prager.
H. L. Haskin.
E. E. Robinson.
6.
15℃
LOSS OVER
INSURANCE.
S
2,400.00 17,338.00 1,051.00
3,410.00
8,850.00
1,300.00
4,822.00
20,504.00
225.00
449.88
12,245.00 100,520.00
1,695.00 47,888.00 11,875 00 24,032.00
1,136.00 10,808.00 16,700.00 18,980.00
15,588.00 23,675.00 19,480.00
1,611.00
39,495.72
15,565.48
10;896.00 8.112.45
11,157.35
2,052.00
10,960.00
18,925.00
5,784.90
11,361.19
693.00
LOSSES.
2,001.00
4,600.00 23,038.00
4,420.00
1,214.00
17,600.00
1,800.00
17,600.00
31,708.00
¥30.00
499.00
18.395.00 247,138.00
28,98 .00
70,938.00 14,375.00 25,332,00
28
22
15
30
23
30
13
15
13
22
20
14
12
11
18
15
9 19
FIRES
AND
5
15
10
8
6
6
12
11
9 11
20
9
8
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1860
1861
1862
1863
1864
1865
1866
1867
1869
1870
1871
1872
1873
1874
1875
1876
1877
1878
1879
1880
1881
1882
1883
1884
1885
1886
1887
1888
1889
1890
1891
1892
1893
Following is a list of the Protective Police as constituted in 1893: Clark, Uri.
Blood, Charles F., captain.
Williams, R. B., lieutenant.
Hinckley, H. L., sergeant.
Quigg, James, treasurer.
Tichenor, James H., secre-
Esty, A. H., trustee.
Enz, Frank J., trustee.
Almy, Bradford.
Bostwick, H. V.
Brown, C. B.
Burdick, D. W.
Cornell, Frank C.
Crozier, R. A.
Randolph, F. P.
YEAR.
I
1
1
1
1
1
1
:
1
1
I
1
1
1
1
1
1
I
I
1
1
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54.00
8,750.00
500.00
505.00 11,204.00 12,778.00
6,150.00 146,618.00 49.12
475.00 23,050.00 2,500.00 1,300.00
4,780.00 6,975.00 500.00
475.00
1,175.00 4,978.00 3,423.00 5,520.00 9,539.00
9,982.35 5,918.00 4,689.45 10,045.48 29,965.72
977.50
10,410.00
15,985.00
5,407.90
9,941.19
Taylor, J. B.
Van Kirk, E. C.
Van Order, Linn.
Van Vleet, D. F.
Van Cleef, Mynderse.
Wilson, H. J.
Williams, E. L.
Williams, Chas. M.
Stewart, D. B.
Sanford, L. J.
Sage, Wm. H.
St. John, H. A.
Treman, Elias.
Halliday, S. D.
Hibbard, H. M.
Johnson, E. K.
Johnson, C. D.
Kenney, Levi. Lyon, Marcus.
Latta, E. M.
Marshall, E. M.
McElheny, T. J.
CITY OF ITHACA.
INSURANCE
PAID.
443.00
8,211.23
$
1,110.00 2,200.00 5,700.00 951.00
1,320.00
250.00
9,300.00
17,511.23
1
1
1
1
I
1
I
1
1
I
1
1
I
1
1
tary.
Gauntlett, J. C.
Frear, Wm.
Hall, E. M.
1
ALARMS.
3
8
2,940.00
550.00 1,074.50
377.00
460.00
1868
8
2,170.00
158
LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.
The most disastrous fires from which Ithaca has suffered were those of July 14, 1833, which destroyed nearly all of the buildings on the square bounded by Owego (now State), Tioga, Seneca and Aurora streets. Several of these were brick. On the 28th of May, 1840, when everything on the north side of State street from the store of John Rumsey to the corner of Aurora and Seneca streets, ten three-story brick buildings were burned, causing a loss of about $65,000. Sunday night, July 24, 1842, on the south side of State street, the Chronicle office and buildings to the corner of Tioga street, and three small buildings on the latter street, were burned. On July 10, 1845, an in- cendiary fire was started in the stables of the Columbian Inn (then called the Franklin House), and swept nearly the entire block bounded by State, Cayuga, Green and Seneca streets, sparing only the thrce brick stores on the northeast corner of the block, and the residences John L. Whiton and Dr. J. E. Hawley on the west. Six horses were burned in the stables. On August 22, 1871, occurred the most destructive fire in the history of the place. The Ithaca Hotel and the entire block on which it stood was swept clean, excepting a few stores on State street. The flames also crossed Tioga street westward and burned the tannery of Edward S. Esty and many houses on the north side of Green street, and on Tioga several more belonging to Henry L. Wil- gus.
ITHACA WATER WORKS COMPANY .- A brief reference has already been made to the first attempts to supply the village of Ithaca with water. It is sufficient to state that those attempts were largely abor- tive, and not until 1853 was a systematic effort made towards accom- plishing the object. An act passed the Legislature June 25, 1853, under which Henry W. Sage, Alfred Wells, Charles E. Hardy, Anson Spencer and Joseph E. Shaw were named as incorporators, and they and their associates constituted the Ithaca Water Works Company. The capital was $40,000. This company furnished an inadequate sup- ply of water from springs on East Hill, north of Buffalo street, and laid iron pipes in some of the streets. The supply proved insufficient and the works were subsequently sold to a new company, which con- tinued operations under the old charter amended to meet new require- ments. In 1875 the company acquired rights on Buttermilk Creek and erected a crib dam in the ravine, from which water is supplied to the city and to a reservoir on South Hill of 1,250,000 gallons capacity. The head from the dam is 215 feet, and from the reservoir 146 feet. 4
159
CITY OF ITHACA.
The officers of the company are L. L. Treman, president; E. M. Tre- man, secretary; and these, with Elias Treman, R. R. Treman, and Leander R. King, are the directors. Under the present administration liberal extensions have been made of pipes in all the principal streets of the city, and the publie supply is furnished through 101 hydrants. (There are also fourteen cisterns in use in the eity).
Other attempts have been made to furnish a water supply, but they were not suceessful. An act was passed May 23, 1868, in which Alonzo B. Cornell, Charles M. Titus, George W. Sehuyler, John L. Whiton, George MeChain, Elias Treman, Sewell D. Thompson, Edward S. Esty, Abel Burritt, Henry J. Grant, Edwin J. Morgan, Henry L. Wil- gus, John Rumsey, John H. Selkreg, Henry R. Wells, and their as- sociates, were named as a body corporate by the title " Ithaca Water Works Company." Capital, $75,000, with power to increase to $150,- 000. No organization took place under this aet.
In 1870 an act was passed by which Henry B. Lord, Rufus Bates, and Charles M. Titus were constituted commissioners for the construc- tion of water works to be owned by the village, and providing for a tax, not exeeeding $100,000, to pay the cost thereof; subject first, how- ever, to a vote of the tax-payers. When put to a vote the projeet was defeated .
ITHACA GAS LIGHT COMPANY .- The supply of gas to the village of Ithaca dates baek to 1853. The present control of the business is vested in a company under the same title, and is substantially in the hands of the same offieers that are at the head of the water company.
STREET RAILWAYS .- It is within only a comparatively brief period that Ithaca has been favored with street railways. The first steps taken in this matter were in the year 1884, when, on the 29th of No- vember, the Ithaca Street Railway Company was organized with a capital of $25,000. During the various changes that have since taken place, this capital was first inereased, on the 5th of July, 1892, to $175,000, and on the 11th of December, 1893, to $250,000. For about two years after the first eharter was obtained the undertaking lay dor- mant. This is searcely to be wondered at, for the peculiar conditions existing in the place in a topographical sense were not encouraging to the projeetors of the street railway. While the village was growing rapidly, and its prospects were excellent for future growth, the exten- sion was largely towards the east and the university, and up a steep hill presenting a grade of something like 400 feet to the mile. In the
160
LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.
year 1884-88 the first track was laid, extending from the Ithaca Hotel to the railroad stations at the foot of State street. On the 1st of May, 1891, the franchises and property of the old company were transferred to the present organization, and on the 1st of June, 1892, the company purchased the franchise and property of the Brush-Swan Electric Light Company, which it still owns. That company had used electricity on the street cars under the unsatisfactory Daft system since January 4, 1888. The Brush-Swan system was adopted in 1891. Upon the reor- ganization of the company in 1891, as above noted, Charles H. White was made president; D. W. Burdick vice-president; D. F. Van Vleet treasurer. Extensive improvements were inaugurated, the track ex- tended up the hill to the Elmira, Cortland and Northern Railroad station, and new and improved cars began running to that point in February, 1893. The franchise for the Tioga street branch was ob- tained in May, 1891, and the first cars ran thereon in July of the same year. At the present time a branch crosses the Cascadilla Creek on the university grounds and extends northward for the accommodation of the extensive travel to the institution. The Cayuga Lake Electric Railway Company, organized in 1894, is constructing a line passing Percy Field and reaching the lake at the southeast corner, formerly known as Renwick, where a steamboat dock is to be built. Its capital is $25,000. The present officers of the company are as follows: presi- dent, Horace E. Hand, of Scranton, Pa. ; vice-president, Hon. Alfred Hand; secretary, treasurer and general manager, H. Bergholtz; attor- ney, D. F. Van Vleet.
The lighting of the streets of Ithaca by electricity by the Brush- Swan Company, above mentioned, was begun in 1883-84, it being one of the first plants for this purpose in the interior of the State. With the transfer of the franchise to the present company, many improve- ments and enlarged facilities have been introduced, and a contract has just been concluded (December, 1893) under which the company is to supply the city with ninety arc lights for ten years.
BANKS .- Financial affairs in Ithaca, as well as in the other towns in this county, have in past years experienced at least average prosperity in comparison with other localities. Their administration has been, as a rule, conservative and prudent. Aside from the brief periods of ex- aggerated anticipation, speculation, and culminating stringency and panic, described in the preceding pages of general history, in which almost the entire country shared, progress in the increase of wealth
161
CITY OF ITHACA.
and its safe investment has been generally steady and satisfactory throughout the county. It is probably true that few villages or cities in the State of New York have reached the size of Ithaca without ex- periencing more business failures. While the growth of Ithaca has been, until quite recently, somewhat slow, possibly for that reason its business men have been conservative and prudent in a marked degree. This may have been to a certain extent a weakness, as indicating a lack of progressive public spirit and enterprise; but it has certainly been more conducive to the ultimate benefit of the community than would the unbridled speculation and so called booms that have charac- terized many other localities.
The needs of banking facilities were felt in Ithaca before the forma- tion of Tompkins county, and resulted in the incorporation of a branch of the Bank of Newburg under an act of the Legislature passed April 18, 1815. The act authorized the officers of that bank to establish an office of discount and deposit in the village of Ithaca, Seneca county. A lot was purchased on Owego (now Statc) street, west of Cayuga and running through to Green street, and a banking house erected there. That building afterwards became the residence of John L. Whiton. Among the first directors of the institution were William R. Collins, Luther Gere, Benjamin Drake and Andrew D. W. Bruyn. In 1821 Daniel Bates and Jeremiah S. Beebe were placed in the directorate; they were all good citizens of Ithaca. Charles W. Connor was the first cashier and Abel Corwin the second. George W. Kerr, afterwards president of the Bank of Newburg, was an early clerk in the bank.
On the 22d of April, 1829, the Bank of Ithaca was incorporated, with authorized capital of $200,000 in 10,000 shares. Andrew D. W. Bruyn, Henry Ackley, Francis A. Bloodgood, Hermon Camp, Horace Mack, Jeremiah S. Beebe, David Hanmer, Ebenezer Mack, Ira Tillotson and Nicoll Halsey were made commissioners with the usual powers to re- ceive subscriptions. The entire amount of stock was taken in three days. In April, 1830, the real estate owned by. the older institution was sold to the Bank of Ithaca. Following are the names of the first board of directors: Luther Gere, president; A. D. W. Bruyn, Daniel Bates, James Nichols, Benjamin Drake, Jeremiah S. Beebe, Henry Ackley, Calvin Burr, William Randall, Stephen Tuttle, Jonathan Platt, David Hanmer and Ebenezer Mack. The first cashier was Ancel St. John, who was succeeded by Thomas P. St. John and William B. Douglass. Subsequently this bank erected the brick building on the
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LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.
south side of State street, which passed to possession of Treman Brothers, who made extensive alterations in its front. This building is now the Ithaca post-office. The charter of the bank expired in 1850.
TOMPKINS COUNTY BANK .- This financial institution was chartered in 1836, with authorized capital of $250,000. The following composed the first board of directors: Hermon Camp, president; Timothy S. Williams, Jeremiah S. Beebe, Horace Mack, William R. Collins, Robert Halsey, Edmund G. Pelton, Julius Ackley, Chauncey L. Grant, Moses Stevens, Edward C. Reed, Charles Davis, and Augustus C. Marsh. The first cashier was Seth H. Mann, who was succeeded by Nathan T. Williams. Upon his death he was succeeded by Philip J. Partenheimer, who had been the first book-keeper in 1839, and was promoted to teller upon the death of William Henry Hall. Mr. Par- tenheimer was succeeded by Henry L. Hinckley in January, 1881, who still holds the position. Succeeding Mr. Camp as president were Amasa Dana, and next, Chauncey L. Grant. The present capable official and astute financier, Lafayette L. Treman, assumed the office in 1873, and has therefore filled it for over twenty years. The present Board of Directors is composed as follows: Besides the officers above named, John C. Gauntlett, vice-president; Roswell Beardsley, John Barden, L. R. King, Elias Treman, and Robert H. Treman. The bank has surplus and profits of about $78,000, and its average deposits are $300,000. The capital has recently been reduced to $150, 000.
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