Our County and Its People: A Descriptive Work on Erie County, New York (Volume 1), Part 70

Author: Truman C. White
Publication date: 1898
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1017

USA > New York > Erie County > Our County and Its People: A Descriptive Work on Erie County, New York (Volume 1) > Part 70

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Conception. This parish has always been in charge of the Redemptorist Fathers and is one of the largest in the diocese of Buffalo. The present parochial school house was dedicated November 21, 1875.

St. Boniface German Catholic church was organized by a few Ger- man families living in the vicinity of Mulberry street in 1849. Two lots on that street, near Carlton, were purchased and a frame edifice at once erected. On the 15th of May, 1849, Rev. Father Kunze held the first services in the church. The congregation then included about forty families. A parsonage and a school house were completed in 1850, and in the next year the church was enlarged. In 1856 still larger accom- modations were needed and a commodious brick edifice was built on the old site. In 1861 a large brick school house was erected, which has since been enlarged and improved.

St. Francis Xavier church was founded in 1849, and on the 2d of De- cember of that year the first service was held in a small building on Amherst street, near East, by Rev. Franz Guth. In 1852 a brick edi- fice was erected at 157 East street, to which an addition was soon made. The edifice was still further enlarged in 1877, a handsome tower built and a chime of bells hung. In 1871 the Sisters of St. Joseph estab- lished a school with three teachers in a large and handsome brick build- ing, which is still maintained by them.

St. Joseph's church first worshiped in a little frame edifice which the congregation erected on Main street about 1849; this was used until 1893, when the present handsome structure, near the county almshouse, together with a rectory, was built. The parish comprises sixty-five families and maintains a parochial school, which is in charge of three nuns of the Order of St. Joseph.

St. Michael's church was organized in June, 1851, by about twenty families. The first pastor was Rev. T. L. Caveng, S. J. The corner stone of the first church edifice was laid August 20, 1851. The new and imposing stone church at 651 Washington street was dedicated in June, 1867. A large parochial school is connected with the church. The parish is in charge of the Jesuit Fathers.

St. Ann's church was founded in 1858, with Rev. I. B. Huss, S. J., as the first pastor. Work was at once begun on a church edifice, which was dedicated June 20 of that year. A school house was built in connec- tion, which was superseded in 1863 by one of larger dimensions. In 1872 Rev. William Becker, S. J., aroused the congregation to enthusi- asm regarding the erection of a new edifice. Funds were collected and

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in 1873 such progress had been made that the building of the present magnificent structure on the corner of Broadway and Emslie street (where the old building stood) was commenced. The church is 225 feet in length and 122 feet wide and is one of the finest in the State. The school building, 340 feet long and 73 wide, in the rear of the church, was built in 1896.

St. Vincent's church was organized in 1864 at Cold Spring by about forty families. The first pastor was Rev. J. Sorg. A church was built on Main street, near Humboldt Parkway, which has been greatly im- proved to its present condition. A school is maintained by the Sisters of St. Joseph.

The Church of the Seven Dolors was established in 1871 by Rev. Father Gundelach, the first pastor, and in 1872 a house of worship was erected on Genesee street, near Fillmore avenue. To accommodate the growing congregation the present church edifice was built on the corner of Rich and Genesee streets; it is of stone, and is a splendid specimen of church architecture. The parochial school house con- nected with the church was built in 1895.

St. Nicholas church was formed in 1874 with fifty members and Rev. V. Velten, the first pastor. A church edifice was erected on Glen- wood avenue near Jefferson street, which was subsequently superseded by the present fine building on the corner of East Utica and Walker streets. A prosperpous parochial school is maintained.

The Church of the Sacred Heart was organized in 1875, with about thirty families, the first pastor being Rev. Chrysostomus Wagner. The present church edifice on Seneca street, near Emslie, was built the same year. A parochial school has been connected with the parish from the first.

St. Agnes's church, in East Buffalo, has a brick edifice on Benzin- ger street and a school which is in charge of the Sisters of St. Francis.

The Chapel of Our Lady Help of Christians, although within the limits of Cheektowaga, may properly be noticed here. It was founded chiefly through the gift of Joseph Batt, sr., to the bishop, of three acres of land for church and school purposes, in 1851. A frame school house was erected that year, and a chapel in 1853. The new parson- sonage was built in 1891. Through efforts of the present rector, Rev. F. X. Scherer, a spacious school house and a large convent have been erected. The latter is occupied by the order of St. Francis, who are teachers of the parochial school.

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Besides the foregoing, there are several churches in Buffalo which were founded wholly or partly by Germans, or whose congregations are largely composed of these people. The Evangelical Reformed Salem's church was organized August 31, 1873, and erected its present edifice at 413 Sherman street in 1874. Of the German Lutheran churches there are Christ's, corner of Broadway and Fox street; Grace, corner of Carlton and Rose streets; Immanuel, at 1194 Lovejoy street; Redeemer, on Doat street, near Bailey avenue; and St. Paul's, on Sco. ville avenue, near Clinton street. Of the German Evangelical churches there are Jerusalem's, on Miller avenue; St. Paul's, on Duerstein ave- nue; Bethania, on Eaton street, near Jefferson; Bethlehem, on Genesee street and Parade avenue; Jacobus, at the corner of Jefferson and High; and Salem, on Calumet place, corner of Garfield street.

In the county outside of Buffalo there are also a number of German churches, many of which maintain flourishing parochial schools. Brief notices of these will be found in the respective town chapters.

The devotion of the German people to music is well understood, and among the more than a score of societies for the cultivation and prac- tice of vocal and instrumental music in Buffalo there are several that deserve more than casual mention. The oldest German musical organ- ization in the city is the Liedertafel, which was formed in 1848, with the following first officers: H. Wiser, president; F. Albrecht, secre- tary; C. Huis, treasurer; A. Wunderlin, librarian. John Dossert was the first musical director. In 1853 the Liederkraenzchen was organ- ized as an independent society, and from this society sprang in April, 1855, the Buffalo Saengerbund with fourteen members and C. W. Braun, director. The first home of the first named society was a modest one in the back room of a grocery on the corner of Cherry and Maple streets. When business engagements took Mr. Braun out of the city, he was suceeeded by a Mr. Weitz. The society moved to the old Phoenix Hotel to secure more commodious quarters and changed the title from Liederkraenzchen to Liederkranz; but from various causes a lack of interest was manifested by the members and the organization became substantially extinct. The leaders then organized the German Saengerbund of Buffalo, as before stated, which has had a prosperous existence until the present time; the name was abbreviated in 1875 to the Buffalo Saengerbund. Mr. Braun was chosen director of the new organization. The society made two removals before it occupied its present quarters in 1895 in Music Hall. Friederich Federlein was en-

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gaged as instructor, Mr. Braun retaining the directorship. While the production of opera can scarcely be considered the legitimate aim of a singing, society, the Saengerbund has been unusually successful in this direction and between 1862 and 1879 produced ten different operas in a commendable manner. During the last ten years the society has passed through a varied experience with new directors, some of whom were musicians of acknowledged ability. Hy. Jacobson is the present incumbent of the position and under his direction a creditable presenta- tion of Der Freischuetz was given in 1896.

The Buffalo Orpheus, in respect to the social standing of its members and the high character of its musical attainments as a body, is the fore- most organization in the city and has attained fame throughout the State. The Orpheus was called into being in 1869 through the action of nineteen singers who withdrew from the old Liedertafel for the pur- pose. At the first meeting held October 1, eight others joined, making the number of founders twenty seven; of these, nineteen are still living. In 1870 Carl Adams took charge of the musical work which he success- fully continued twelve years. In 1882 Johannes Gelbke became direc- tor of the chorus, in which position he continued until 1885, when Mr. Adam again took the position; he was succeeded by John Lund, the present director, in October, 1887. In 1883 the Orpheus made its headquarters in Music Hall, then just completed; the destruction of the building in March, 1885, compelled a removal and rooms were secured in a building on Main street. When the new Music Hall was finished in 1887, the society returned to it. It now occupies the commodious Orpheus Hall in the Germania building, corner of Main and High streets. During the past twenty-five years this society has taken part in many notable musical events in various parts of the country, and also has given numerous concerts of a high order of merit.

The Buffalo Turnverein was organized March 7, 1853, by the follow- ing persons: Louis Allgewaehr, Gustav and Frederic Duehrfeldt, Herman Weber, Heinrich Nauert, Gustav Spitznagel, Martin Riebling, Karl and Gotthard Krech, Ed. Gerstenhauer, Wilhelm Moeser, A. Liesenhopp, John Haffner, Anton Heilman, George Hirsch, Valentine Friedrich, James Von Arx, G. Bachman, G. Berger, and A. Kalte- negger. This German organization has been very prosperous and owns valuable property, including a large Turn Hall, on Ellicott street. In compliance with the request of a number of the members possessing good singing voices, a meeting of the Turnverein was called in August.

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1894, at which was organized the Vocal Section of the Turnverein. M. Weyland was elected president and Johannes Gelbke, director. Rapid progress was made and four months later a public concert was given. Other vocal and operatic entertainments succeeded in which a good degree of musical excellence was attained. Hermann Hoffmann succeeded to the presidency of the Section, and upon his untimely death Robert Eichel took the office, to be succeeded by Arthur Mann.

Another musical organization of importance is the Harugari' Froh- sinn, which was organized September 6, 1885. The headquarters of the order are in Ohm's Hall on Howard street, where they have been from the first. The membership is forty-five active and 300 passive, giving the society a sound financial backing. Rehearsals are continued throughout the entire year. The first president was Jacob Rusche, the first director, E. Hodapp. The society has taken active part in various saengerfests in Buffalo and a number of distant cities.

The Germans of Erie county have always manifested deep interest in the education of their children, who are almost without exception kept in schools until they have gained at least a good practical education. Besides the facilities supplied by the public school system, there are other educational institutions which are conspicuously instrumental in giving German Catholic children opportunity for study. The Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart is one of these. It is conducted by the Sisters of St. Francis. These Sisters were noted educators in Prussia in past years in normal and government institutions, and were exiled in 1874 on account of the perfidious May laws. In that year they came over and established a small school in Buffalo, of which this academy is an outgrowth. In 1877 the institution was first opened as a day school, and with the exception of a short intermission in 1888, has been thus continued to the present time. In April, 1895, it was incorporated, and in the next year its course of study was approved by the Regents of the University of the State, making its graduates eligible to the teachers' training class and conferring upon them university diplomas. The chief purpose of the academy is to afford young ladies facilities for

1 The distinctively German order, Harugari, is strongly represented in Buffalo. Its constitu- tion directs the exclusive use of the German language in its proceedings and seeks the preserva- tion of the mother tongue in other ways. The first lodge of the order here was founded in 1848, under the name of Columbia Lodge No. 11; the second was Goethe Lodge No. 36, both of which were soon dissolved. Following them were organized Black Rock Lodge No. 85, in 1858; Cherus- ker, No. 47, in 1854; Robert Blum No. 54 in 1855; Buffalo No. 10 in 1860; Ludwig No. 195, Buffalo Plains No. 111, and German No. 119, all in 1875; Erie County No. 165 in 1868; Goethe No. 252 in 1870; Loche in 1875; Bal Dur in 1876; and others of later date.

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acquiring a thorough commercial and scientific education, and to fit them morally and intellectually to grace any position in society. The school has met with marked success, and the attendance, which has yearly increased, now numbers 130. To secure increased accommoda- tions a new structure is now (December, 1897) in process of erection, which will contain all modern facilities for study. It stands on Wash- ington street, near Goodell.

Canisius College, another important educational institution, was founded and opened in September, 1870, and is conducted by the Fathers of the Society of Jesus. It was incorporated in January, 1883, and is under the care of the Regents of the University of the State of New York. Instruction is given in academic and collegiate depart- ments. The use of the German language is obligatory and is taught in a graded course, including the reading of classics and the history of German literature. The college was opened in a small brick building on Ellicott street, with two classes comprising thirty-five scholars. In the year of its silver jubilee, 1895, there were 300 students whose homes were in twelve different States. When the needs of the institu- tion demanded larger accommodations the present great edifice with a frontage of 316 feet at 615 Washington street was erected. In this building is a beautiful chapel, a well equipped gymnasium, a library of 20,000 volumes, class rooms and study halls, and all the best modern conveniences. The faculty numbers twenty-eight.

The German Young Men's Association was founded May 10, 1841, by nine young men, for mutual good. Their names were F. A. Georger, Dr. John Hauenstein, Jacob Beyer, Stephan Bettinger, Karl Neidhardt, George F. Pfeifer, Wilhelm Rudolph and Adam Schlagder. The pur- poses of the association, as stated in the act of incorporation were, " to propagate the knowledge of the treasures of German literature, and to cause the preservation of the German language, and the growth of the German spirit and self-conscience." The title first adopted was, "Ger- man and English Literary Society." Weekly meetings were held in which the proceedings consisted mainly of addresses and debates in both German and English, and the association increased rapidly in numbers and interest. The name was changed to the present one Sep. tember 11, 1841. The foundation of a library was established and a librarian employed. Within the succeeding four years the library gathered 450 volumes, and the membership was 125. The association was incorporated May 12, 1846. From that time forward the use of the

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German language became more general and the number of volumes in the library was rapidly augmented. In 1857 a mistaken policy was inaugurated under which the regular meetings were discontinued and the affairs of the association were placed in the hands of a committee of ten members This caused much dissatisfaction and many members withdrew. In December, 1861, the membership was reduced to fifty- four. This policy was soon abandoned and an era of renewed interest and growth began. In 1866 the library had been increased to 2,273 volumes and the membership to 200. The association celebrated its silver jubilee in an appropriate manner, on which occasion generous members contributed $800 to the library fund, and the number of vol- umes was soon increased to more than 7,000.

In 1883, after the National Saengerfest had closed its session in Buf- falo, J. F. Schoellkopf and Philip Becker conceived the idea of erecting a great music hall. They accordingly purchased a site on the corner of Main and Edward streets, and through the enthusiastic support of the whole association the undertaking was consummated. A subscription list was opened with the names of J. F. Schoellkopf, Philip Becker and Albert Ziegele, sr., who pledged $1,000 each for the work. The sub- scriptions of sums from $50 for a life membership rapidly increased, plans were made by competent architects, and the erection of the first Music Hall, to cost $225,000, was begun. Bonds bearing five per cent. interest were issued to the amount of $150,000 in sums of $25 and up- ward, to run thirty years, with privilege of collection at any time after ten years. The building was completed and opened in 1883 and was burned in 1885. It was immediately replaced by the present handsome and commodious structure. This association has contributed largely to the welfare of the Germans of Buffalo and is in a prosperous condition.

The benevolent instincts of the Germans are manifested in Buffalo in the founding and maintenance of nearly a score of organizations of more or less importance and with widely-varied purposes. Conspicuous among these is the German Deaconess Home, established in 1895, largely through the zealous efforts of Rev. C. L. Schild and the gener- osity of members of the United German Protestant congregations of the city; the Lutheran Church Home for Aged and Infirin, organized April 7, 1896, with William Hengerer as president; and the German Hospi- tal, opened in December, 1896. These are noticed at length in another chapter.

Other German benevolent institutions are the Bavarian Benevolent

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Association, Elsass-Lothringen Benevolent Association, Evangelical Church Home, German American Benevolent Association, German Be- nevolent Society Concordia, German Evangelical Church Home, Har- monia Benevolent Association, Hessian-Darmstadter Denevolent Asso- ciation, Rheinpfaelzer Benevolent Association, and Schwaebischer Benevolent Association, Vereinigte Sectionen des Bavarian National Bund (ten sections), Gruetli Society, and Buffalo Regiment of the Knights of St. John. Through all these avenues the poor, sick and unfortunate persons of this nationality are liberally cared for.1

Though the number of German organizations of various kinds in Buffalo is very great and their influence far-reaching, it cannot be said that they have been wholly effective in the preservation of the language, customs and national characteristics of the Fatherland. While this fact is regretted by many of the Germans themselves, the community of American citizens consider it beneficial to the city and county at large. The result is that the strength of the German element in these respects is weakened. In most of the German societies of to-day the meetings are conducted in the English language and the charm of national pecul- iarity is lost. In the various religious institutions, however, German language and literature, German spirit and character, are better pre- served.

CHAPTER XXIX.

EDUCATION IN ERIE COUNTY.

It is not known in detail and, perhaps, never can be, just what efforts were first made to establish means for educating the young in the region of which this work treats, aside of what may have been accom- plished by the Jesuit priests and their apostles. Early school records were either ill kept, or not kept at all, in many localities, leaving the historian no means of information other than living persons. In the very eastern part of this State, where the thrifty Hollanders settled very early along the Hudson, records have been preserved which throw

1 Among the 250 German societies of various kinds in Buffalo the following are also prominent in their special fields: Teutonia-Maennerchor, Buffalo Zither Club, Damen Section des Buffalo Zither Club, Buffalo Central Schnetgen Verein, Sprudel Fishing Club, and several fraternal orders.

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considerable light on this subject in that section. The great West India Company, which ruled for years with an almost omnipotent hand, realized that its own interests, as well as those of their colony, would be subserved by promoting education, hence they provided school- masters. But those pioneer teachers had other occupation than teach- ing the young; they were forced to in order to gain a living. In many instances they were preachers and more frequently they were "com- forters of the sick," an officer who also aided the public preacher. Much of the teaching was of a religious character, based on reading the Bible; aside from this it was of the most primitive character. The masses of the early immigrants were unable to read or write; the immorality that always accompanies ignorance prevailed. Dr. O'Cal- laghan is authority for the statement that "the state of morals at New Amsterdam was at this period [1638] by no means healthy. The early schools were not eagerly sought nor liberally supported by the people, and the teachers were frequently ignorant and sometimes unprincipled." In a remonstrance against the West India Company made in 1649 is found the following:

There ought to be, also, a public school, provided with good teachers, so that the youth in this wild country, where there are so many dissolute people, may, first of all, be instructed, and indoctrinated, not only in reading and writing, but also in fear of the Lord. Now the school is kept very irregularly, by this one and that, according to fancy, as long as he thinks proper.

There is an epitome of the whole situation in that pregnant para- graph; and it indicates to what an extent scriptural teaching, such as it was, was combined with the secular. It would appear that the West India Company cared more for new and profitable schemes for obtain- ing furs from the Indians than for education.

After the accession of the English educational affairs gradually im- proved. Teachers were at first required to have a license from the governor of the colony, which probably introduced a better class of instructors.

The following is the license of the first teacher in Albany :

Whereas, the teaching of the English tongue is necessary in this government; I have, therefore, thought fit to give License to John Shutte to bee the English Schoolmaster at Albany; And upon condition that the said John Shutte shall not demand any more wages from each 'schollar than is given by the Dutch to their Dutch Schoolmaster, I have further granted to the said John Shutte that hee shall bee the onely English Schoolmaster in Albany.

Given under my hand, at Fort James, in New York, the 12th day of October, 1665.

RICH'D NICOLLS.

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In the instructions given to Governor Dongan at Windsor, May 29, 1686, was the following:

88. And wee doe further direct that noe Schoolmaster bee henseforth permitted to come from England & to keep school within our province of New York without the license of the said Archbishop of Canterbury; and that noe other person now there or that shall come from other parts bee admitted to keep school without your license first had.

Similar instructions were given to his successors in that office.

The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, in- corporated in 1701, accomplished something for the cause of education in the colonies. One of their orders as to qualifications of teachers contained the following :

I. That no person be admitted a Schoolmaster, till he bring Certificates, with respect to these Particulars following: 1. The age of the Person. 2. His condition of life, whether married or single. 3. His Temper. 4. His Learning. 5. His Pru- dence. 6. His sober and pious Conversation. 7. His zeal for the Christian Relig- ion and diligence in his Calling. 8. His Affection to the Present Government. 9. His Conformity to the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England.

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Our County and Its People: A Descriptive Work on Erie County, New York (Volume 1), Part 70

Author: Truman C. White Publication date: 1898 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1017

Author: Truman C. White
Publication date: 1898
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1017