USA > New York > Nassau County > Long Island; a history of two great counties, Nassau and Suffolk, Volume I > Part 57
USA > New York > Suffolk County > Long Island; a history of two great counties, Nassau and Suffolk, Volume I > Part 57
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government. In 1862 the Arrowsmith was running the North Shore landings, and following her was the Jessie M. Hoyte.
The next large steamer on the route was the Seawanhaka, built by B. C. Terry in 1866. She was originally 200 feet long but was later lengthened about 30 feet. She performed admirably until June 28, 1880, when she took fire off Blackwell's Island and was run ashore off Randall's Island where many passengers escaped. About 40 were lost, however, and the vessel was completely destroyed.
Following the Seawanhaka came the Idlewild which was built in 1871. She ran to Glen Cove for some years and was finally destroyed by fire in 1901 while lying in winter quarters at Brooklyn.
One of the last steamers of prominence was the Nantasket and after her a number of smaller vessels ran to New York but none for very long.
During the years that these steamers were running many promi- nent residents of Glen Cove and neighboring communities patronized them. Among these may be mentioned William Cullen Bryant of Roslyn; Park Goodwin, also of Roslyn; William R. Grace, one time Mayor of New York City; Richard Dudgeon of Locust Valley, inventor of one of America's earliest steam wagons; Charles E. Appleby, financier; Charles A. Dana, Editor of The Sun when it was a daily morning newspaper; and Samuel L. M. Barlow, attorney for the Erie Railroad. The last four resided at Glen Cove.
The Long Island Railroad did not reach Glen Cove until 1868. As early as 1837, however, they built a line from Jamaica to Hicks- ville with a station at Hempstead Branch (now Mineola), and resi- dents of Glen Cove frequently went by stage or drove there to take the train to the city. From 1834 the line ran from Jamaica to Brooklyn and there was no line from Jamaica to Long Island City until 1860. Then, of course, it was necessary to cross to Man- hattan by ferry until 1910, when the tunnel was completed and trains were run through to the city.
The progress of the line to Glen Cove and then on to Oyster Bay advanced as follows. In 1864 it was completed from Mineola to Glen Head. In 1868 it reached Glen Cove, was built through to Locust Valley in 1871 and to Oyster Bay in 1889.
By the mid-eighteen hundreds many successful trades and indus- tries had become established in the community, several churches had been started, one newspaper The Glen Cove Gazette was being pub- lished weekly and the little settlement that Joseph Carpenter had started nearly two centuries before was a thriving center of activity.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Glen Cove was organized as early as 1785. We are told that their first house of worship was a frame building on the east side of School Street, erected in 1844, upon land conveyed by deed with the provision that the building "shall be known by the name of Glen Cove Methodist Episcopal Church". In 1909 the present building commonly known as the Carpenter Memorial Church was erected upon the same site. In 1910 this church was incorporated under the name of Glen Cove Methodist Episcopal Church.
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Before the erection of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Glen Cove communicants of the Episcopal faith held services here as early as 1820. Before that those who desired to make the journey attended St. George's Church at Hempstead. In 1834 a house of worship for this faith was built on Glen Street. While this building was under construction the name of the community was changed from Moscheto Cove to Glen Cove. It is recorded that the first rector, the Rev. Joseph F. Phillips received an annual salary of 200 dollars. The present church on Highland Road was begun in the fall of 1938.
St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church of Glen Cove was organized in 1854 and incorporated in 1864. A site for its home upon the south side of Coles Street was purchased but in its stead a site upon the east side of Glen Street was acquired about the time of its incor- poration and a frame building erected, to be replaced by the present stone structure in 1899.
In 1862 the African Methodist Episcopal Church of Cedar Swamp purchased land on the easterly side of Dosoris Lane. They did not, however, build upon this property but sold or exchanged it for another piece of land a short distance from the first parcel. Title to this land was taken in the name of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and a frame building was erected and used for worship. In 1899 the church was incorporated under the name of Calvary Metho- dist Episcopal Church of Glen Cove and in the year 1913 a frame building for worship was erected at the northeasterly corner of Cottage Row and Chestnut Streets. This building was later razed and the present brick structure erected on the site.
The First Presbyterian Church of Glen Cove was organized in 1869 and its first home was erected in 1876 on Hendrick Avenue. This building was abandoned in 1905 when the present frame building was erected on the northeasterly corner of School Street and North Lane.
The Congregation Tifereth Israel of Glen Cove, New York, was organized in 1899 and its synagogue built on the east side of Con- tinental Place in 1925.
St. Hyacinth's Polish Roman Catholic Church was organized in 1909, about which time their house of worship was erected on the south side of Cedar Swamp Road.
In 1914 the Scandinavian Baptist Church of Glen Cove was organized and in 1919 their home of worship was erected on the north side of Cottage Row.
The First Baptist Church of Glen Cove (colored) was incorpo- rated in 1919. Meetings for worship were first held on the north side of South Street in the old Ritter Building and their present place of worship is on the south side of Cottage Row.
The First Church of Christ Scientist of Glen Cove, New York, was organized in 1919 and incorporated in 1927. Its house of worship is now on the north side of Dosoris Way and was erected in 1931.
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church of Glen Cove, Nassau County, New York, was incorporated in 1922 and its house of wor- ship was erected on the south side of Forest Avenue in 1924.
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The Christian Missionary Alliance Tabernacle was incorporated in 1924. Their house of worship is on St. Andrews Lane.
In the year 1937 the Saint Rocco's Roman Catholic Church was incorporated. Their house of worship is on Third Street.
The Glen Cove Fire Company was incorporated in 1838 and has kept pace with the times since that date, until today it can right- fully claim distinction as one of the best manned and equipped organizations of its kind in any locality of equal size on the Island.
In 1855 the Glen Cove Starch Manufacturing Company was incorporated, Wright Duryea being the active person in the venture. The factory stood at the south side of the lower mill dam. It grew rapidly until the buildings covered several acres and eventually ranked as the largest corn starch factory in the world. The same interests that supported the starch factory in 1873 incorporated the Glen Cove Syrup Company. Toward the end of the Nineteenth Century, Wright Duryea conceived the idea of a large trust of the principal starch manufacturers of the country, which resulted in the incorporation of the National Starch Company and later the Corn Products Company.
The starch factory was the largest manfacturing company that Glen Cove has ever had. For many years, however, a large tin factory was operated on the south side of Glen Street by Benham, Atwater and Company. This was organized sometime before the middle of the 19th century. It is said that at one time this company employed over 100 men.
Two tan yards were in existence for a few years and carried on a most profitable business.
The lands north of the creek, opposite the site of the starch factory, were acquired by Fayerweather and Ladew for the manu- facture of leather belts. This firm was dissolved in 1905 and was succeeded by E. R. Ladew and Company. The buildings erected by Fayerweather and Ladew are still standing and now house the Columbia Ribbon and Carbon Manufacturing Company and Powers Photo Engraving Company, while the office building of E. R. Ladew and Company on The Place is now the home of the Glen Cove Record- Advance.
Just before our entry into World War II the Wah Chang Trading Corporation established a large plant on the north side of the Glen Cove Creek, south of the Columbia Ribbon and Carbon Manufacturing Company.
As we have already observed it is necessary to look for many casual everyday items to capture the spirit and feeling of a particular era in the history of any locality. And surprising as it may at first seem these are often found where some might least expect them --- in the columns of the press.
Since about the middle of the Nineteenth Century Glen Cove has had at least one weekly paper. The first to be really successful was the Glen Cove Gazette. Another that survived for a short time was the Independent. Following the Gazette came the Glen Cove Echo, which is still being published weekly and the Glen Cove Record-
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Advance which has boasted of a good circulation for a number of years.
An issue of the Gazette dated November 27, 1858, is filled with a wealth of material that sheds light on the life and activities in Glen Cove during those interesting days.
This paper of pre-Civil War vintage certainly did not aspire to paint a picture for the edification of future generations. But on every page we read the pulse of the times. There we learn of the progress the little community was making, the achievements of its individuals and organizations; their joys and sorrows and aspira- tions. In its advertisements we learn what trades and industries were then flourishing and the names of the men and women who made the history of the times.
So far as local news is concerned, this issue proves somewhat disappointing, there being only two items that might be so classified by the wildest stretch of the imagination. The majority of items are quoted from other publications proving that while its editor, Mr. E. M. Lincoln, did not overexert himself in "covering the town" he was unusually adept with the scissors and glue pot.
Of the two items of so-called local news one, at least, must have been of more than casual interest to the town folk. It announced plans of a meeting to be held the following week at Glen Hall for the purpose of getting action on having the railroad continued to Glen Cove. It will be recalled that at that time the line came no farther than what is now Mineola. But nearly ten years were to go by before their cherished dream would be realized.
Much of the story of how they lived in those good old days may be interpreted from the advertisements which cover about three- fourths of the paper. There were several old-time country stores carrying dry goods, groceries, hardware, feed and almost everything else necessary for the housewife and her merchant or farmer husband. And many of these establishments advertised that they were "pre- pared to pay the highest market prices for all sorts of country produce." In those days the country store was a place to sell as well as to buy and thereby held a double interest for the local farming folk. Often farm products were exchanged for oil, clothing or hard- ware without the passing of money over the counter. Among the proprietors of general stores advertising at the time were Isaac Coles, R. M. Bowne, the Luyster Brothers and others.
Some of Glen Cove's ambitious residents conducted several busi- ness ventures simultaneously. Isaac Coles not only operated his store, but also practiced as a land surveyor, which activity later took all of his time, and served as real estate agent. And in subsequent years he found time to act as tax assessor for the Town of Oyster Bay, get himself elected and spend one term in the New York State Assembly, act as clerk for the state Senator from this locality, draw wills, deeds and other legal papers and study French, astronomy and botany on the side, just to keep his mind from going stale. We see from the advertisements that E. S. Henderickson operated a livery stable and at the same time ran a meat market while Samuel Lewin
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ran a drug store, carried a complete line of current newspapers and magazines and also practiced dentistry, in which capacity he guar- anteed to "Extract, Fill and Clean Teeth at the shortest notice."
There is a notice of the sloop Margaret that ran from Glenwood Landing to the foot of Broom Street, New York, to carry produce for the local farming folk. This was signed by George Downing, captain, and Robert R. Mott, salesman.
Another item announces a stage running between Roslyn and Hempstead Branch (Mineola) for the convenience of those who wish to take the railroad to the city.
It is not an exaggeration to say that on the pages of this modest weekly paper is a gold mine for the local historian. The advertise- ments are in themselves evidence of the thriving state of Glen Cove at that time. And we feel that it is only fitting that we offer our heartfelt thanks to Editor Lincoln who, in humbly printing the every- day news of the times, unwittingly wrote history for the future.
The growth of Glen Cove in the latter half of the Nineteenth Century kept pace with that of the rest of the nation. This was an age of expanding horizons and great industrial development that began almost simultaneously with the metamorphosis in name, from Moscheta Cove to Glen Cove, in 1834. During that same year the railroad began reaching down the Island, although over three decades were to pass before it finally came to Glen Cove. But long before it actually arrived the spirit of the times had permeated the little community and worked its magic.
We have already noted the establishment of many important industries during those days. We have seen how the growing popula- tion built churches for the ministration of its spiritual needs. Many trades and professions began to flourish during those years and the first regularly established public school was begun. It was in the decade of the fifties that the common schools in this state were being supplanted by the modern system of public schools. An act was drawn and passed by the legislature in 1857 establishing School District No. 5 in the Town of Oyster Bay, covering the territory of Glen Cove. Shortly after that time the first Public School building was erected on the southeast corner of School Street and Highland Road. And on May 24, 1893 (the 225th anniversary of the settlement of Glen Cove) the cornerstone of a much larger Public School building was laid. This building which has since been torn down, stood on the corner of Forest Avenue and Dosoris Lane.
The year 1868 was of both historic and historical importance in Glen Cove. As we have already seen, it was in that year that the railroad was built through from Glen Head. This in itself would have been enough for great rejoicing. But by a happy coincidence, that year also happened to mark the two hundredth anniversary of the original settlement and was therefore the time of a great celebra- tion. The events that occurred during that celebration and the names of the men and women who participated are preserved for us today in a small volume that was published at the time.
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The prime mover in planning and executing plans for this event was J. T. Bowne, who was aided by several committees of local citizens who worked diligently for several weeks in preparation for the great day. Among the leading names were those of Titus, Weeks, Valentine, Milnor, Coles and Frost. In reading the names of those on committees it is interesting to note the secondary place taken by the women of the community, at least by way of credit received, although a more careful study of the lists indicates how really important they were; especially on the refreshment committee. This committee was com- posed of six males who were "assisted" by thirty-three women! Further evidence of the modest and retiring nature of the ladies in those days is found in the statement that the toast to the women of Glen Cove was responded to not by one of their own sex, but by Benjamin W. Downing!
The 24th of May came upon Sunday that year so plans were made to hold the celebration on Saturday, the 23rd. That day was stormy, however, and the event was postponed until Monday, the 25th.
The principal speaker was the Honorable Henry J. Scudder, who delivered a prepared address from which we have quoted several times. A number of toasts were read and responded to by leading citizens. And from the statement afterward published it is evident that there were plenty of good wholesome refreshments while it is obvious that temperance was the keynote throughout the whole affair. The statement shows that this joyous crowd managed to consume, among other edibles, fifty bushels of clams, one hundred pounds of corned beef, about 100 pounds of ham, 150 loaves of bread, 15 pounds of butter and 120 cakes.
Very appropriately the original Patent that had been issued by Governor Andros in 1677 was hung in a conspicuous place near the speaker's platform where all might see it.
On the morning of the day of celebration there was a great parade headed by a brass band and with Company E of the 15th Regiment of the New York State Militia, units of the Glen Cove Fire Company, several hundred school children and the principal citizens. Many invited guests and others from neighboring communities were on hand to witness the celebration and the number who gathered in the Grove to partake of refreshments and listen to the speeches were estimated to be around two thousand. This was an exceptional turn- out when we learn that the population of Glen Cove at the time was about 1500. The oldest local resident present was Henry Hyde, who was then 96. He did not recall ever having heard that the com- munity celebrated its centennial in 1768.
This might be appropriately termed "The Currier and Ives era", for it was then that these famous "Printmakers to the American People" were turning out their now famous colored engravings that depicted for future generations so much that was of interest in the everyday activities of the times. Many of the quaint and rustic scenes that they portrayed could have been taken directly from Glen Cove and its neighboring environs. And many actually were from nearby Long Island localities.
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Much of the information that the writer has gathered covering this period is gleaned from diaries kept by his grandfather, Isaac Coles, from 1861 to 1896. While some of these are missing, twenty- two volumes, covering as many years, have been preserved in the attic of the old Coles homestead at 7 The Place. Although the entries that they contain are brief the story that they tell would provide material for more pages than are available here. It is hoped that someday we can write of this most interesting era as it should be described with all of the wealth of detail that must be omitted in so brief a sketch as this.
During the quarter century following the bi-centennial celebration in 1868, the reputation of the community as a favored retreat for homes and a convenient site for trade spread far. Many new families moved out from the city, some merely for the summer and others to live throughout the years in the quiet environment. Since 1835 when the Pavilion Hotel was built near the entrance of the Harbor, where it was convenient to the steamboat landing, the little com- munity became well known as a favorite summer resort for some of New York's most famous theatrical personalities among whom was Lillian Russell. One of these "actor folk" who liked Glen Cove well enough to make it his permanent home was Mr. Charles T. Vincent, . a man of wide interests and exceptional ability who was admired by all who knew him. As actor and playwright, he established a reputation during the early years of his life and later had a book and antique shop in Glen Cove that was the mecca of many who were attracted not so much by the goods he had to sell as by the great personality of the man who sold them.
It was during the latter decades of the Nineteenth Century that many of the large estates, for which Glen Cove was noted, were first established. Among the men of wealth who made their homes here in those years were Charles Pratt, the first of many of the same family who have kept large and most attractive estates in this locality ever since.
The year 1893 marked the 225th anniversary of settlement, and the 24th of May called for another great celebration. This time there was a very special reason for rejoicing since that was the date chosen for laying the cornerstone of the new school at the corner of Forest Avenue and Dosoris Lane. This pretentious fifty thousand dollar building was to take the place of the building on the corner of Highland Road and School Street which had been erected when the school district was established.
It is interesting to observe that during the twenty-five years since the last celebration most of the men who had actively par- ticipated had passed away or were unable to serve and only two names appearing on the former committee were to be found among the officers for the latter celebration. These were Isaac Coles and Isaac Townsend. At that time there were about 600 pupils in the school and 13 teachers, including the Principal.
There was a parade and an address by the Honorable William .J. Youngs in addition to the ceremony at the site of the school. Refreshments were also served, as on the previous occasion. Many
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of the young people who marched in that parade and attended classes in the school building during its first year of existence are now living in Glen Cove and remember the celebration, although their numbers are rapidly diminishing.
The public school system in Glen Cove has kept pace with the progress of the community and there has been great expansion in both the numbers of the faculty and the buildings.
Today the once modern school house of 1893 is gone, and in its place new and up-to-date buildings have been erected. In addition to three large school buildings near the old site at the corner of School Street and Dosoris Lane, are the Coles School, the Landing School and the South School in other parts of the City.
For several decades St. Patrick's School, under the guidance of St. Patrick's Church, has steadily grown in number and is a parochial school of the first rank.
At the extreme eastern end of the City, on the Duck Pond Road, is located Friends' Academy, a school incorporated in 1877 under the name of Friends' College by Gideon Frost. Several small private schools have existed from time to time.
By this time the community was beginning to feel the need of a public library and in 1894, at the annual meeting of School District No. 5 of the Town of Oyster Bay, a resolution was adopted establish- ing the Glen Cove Public Library and a board of five trustees. This library was incorporated under the laws of the State of New York in 1897.
With the dawn of the Twentieth Century Glen Cove was beginning to lose much of its more rural atmosphere of earlier years and some of its original individuality was passing due to the proximity of the great City of New York. The children of many who had come from across the ocean to work on the estates were growing up in the community with the children of the older residents and their names were fast becoming established as among the leaders in many important local affairs. While the first settlers were from England the blood of other nations was mixing with the original stock.
From Ireland, Italy, Germany, Scotland, Scandinavia, Greece, Poland, Russia and many other countries came men and women whose children and grandchildren were to figure among the important personalities of Glen Cove. Colored people, many of whose ancestors had been slaves in the homes of the early families, and who had taken on some of the old family names, were also entering into the life of the community.
In 1917 a bill was introduced into the New York State Legis- lature and Glen Cove became a city, leaving the Township of Oyster Bay. The first Mayor of the new City of Glen Cove was the Honor- able James E. Burns who, with his Council, took their oath of office on January 1, 1918, just a few weeks short of the 250th anniversary of the first settlement.
Today, nearly three decades after its incorporation as a city. the little community that Joseph Carpenter and his associates founded over two and three-quarters centuries ago has grown beyond anything that he could have pictured in his wildest dreams.
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It has survived five bloody wars, giving the flower of its youth to march in the ranks. Many years have now passed since the last veterans of the G.A.R. paraded through School and Glen Streets on Memorial Day, but numerous little American flags still wave in the cemeteries on that day in silent tribute to those brave sons who marched for the union.
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