USA > New York > Erie County > Our County and Its People: A Descriptive Work on Erie County, New York (Volume 1) > Part 93
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THE PRESS OF ERIE COUNTY.
changed to the Tonawanda Press. Later J. H. Meahl and E. M. Krauss were the publishers, and on September 1, 1890, it was sold to Frank L. Lane, who in January, 1891, was joined by his brother, A. F. Lane. On May 8, 1891, the paper was consolidated with the Daily News. These various newspapers comprise the principal history of journalism in both Tonawanda and North Tonawanda, whose interests are so closely identified that such a digression may be pardoned in this case.
In Hamburg Alexander C. Stolting commenced the publication of the Erie County Independent on the 9th of November, 1874. About 1880 it was purchased by J. W. Constantine, who was followed by Charles G. Miller, from whom Joseph B. Miller, his brother, purchased it in April, 1882. Under Mr. Miller's control the Independent has acquired, probably, a larger circulation than any other weekly paper in the county outside of Buffalo. In 1876 the Hamburg Democrat was started as a campaign paper; only twenty-five numbers were is- sued. The Hamburg Sentinel was published for one year by Charles Sickman. In 1880 F. M. Perley established the Hamburg Journal, which passed into the possession of E. P. Thurston, and was discon- tinued about 1885.
The first paper in Alden was the Oddaographic, a small weekly, started in November, 1875, by E. C. Dodge, who discontinued it after a few months. In 1880 a stock company, under the management of J. A. Webb established the Alden Trumpet, which died the next year. The Alden Gazette was first issued in January, 1882, by Eddy & Co .; it closed its career June 1, 1883. On April 1, 1892, Benjamin H. and Evan A. Morey started the Industrial Union at Marilla, and in April, 1893, moved it to Alden; the next year they changed the name to the Alden Union.
The earliest newspaper in Marilla was the Marilla Record, which was first issued January 26, 1883, by F. C. Webb, who continued it two years. The next was the Industrial Union, which was removed to Alden, as stated above. Harvey H. Blackman issued the Poultry, Garden and Fruits from 1893 to 1896.
Lancaster's first newspaper was the Lancaster Star, which was started February 8, 1878, by Paul Bussman and William B. Fuller. Mr. Fuller became sole owner on March 28 of the same year, and on May 20, 1880, was succeeded by E. R. Vaughan and Peter J. Gaudy, who changed the name to the Lancaster Times. Mr. Gaudy succeeded this firm, and on January 29, 1885, sold the paper to Adam L. Rine-
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
walt, who on October 20, following, passed it over to Marvin L. Reist, the present editor and publisher. The Enterprise was established De- cember 10, 1895, by the Enterprise Publishing Company; A. Leon Chandler is the editor and manager. It was made a semi-weekly June 9, 1897.
In September, 1878, Frank G. Smith established the first newspaper in Akron-The Akron Breeze. It passed successively to King & Murray, John H. Meahl, and Edwin M. Read, the present owner, who purchased it in 1889; the editor and publisher is Carl G. Clarke. The Akron Record was started about 1877 by Covey & Wheeler, and after a few months was absorbed by the Breeze. The Akron Herald was established May 28, 1896, by John C. Murphy, the present editor and publisher.
The villages of Angola and Williamsville had each a newspaper in 1879. The Amherst Bee was established in Williamsville on March 27, 1879, by Adam L. Rinewalt, who is still the editor and publisher.
The Angola Record, the first paper in the town of Evans, was start- ed May 22, 1879, by H. J. Penfold, who was joined as a partner in 1881 by Orlin C. Brown. They were succeeded in May, 1884, by David C. Oatman and Stephen Landon, as the Record Publishing Com- pany, and this firm was followed by Weston N. Landon, a son of Stephen, the present editor.
The Holland Review was started in Holland in 1889, the editor being Clayton A. Button; he was succeeded by Paul J. Wurst, and he by Albert F. Bangert. It has always been printed in Delevan, Cattarau- gus county.
The Sardinia Censor was started about 1890, with George A. Smith as editor. He was succeeded by Thomas B. Crocker. Like the Hol- land Review, the Censor is printed in Delevan.
The Depew Herald, the first newspaper in that thrifty village, was established May 1, 1893, by John T. Lynam and George M. Beeman, who were succeeded on May 1, 1894, by. Mr. Beeman and William T. Salter. Augustine Davis became the proprietor in July, 1895, and later John T. Earl was admitted to partnership. The firm was subsequently changed to Earl & Salter, who were succeeded on September 1, 1897, by Mr. Earl, the present publisher.
In closing this account of journalism in Erie county it may be noted that there are now (1897) twelve weeklies and one semi-weekly pub- lished outside of the city; in Buffalo there are twelve dailies, one being
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issued only during the summer months; six Sunday papers; two tri- weeklies; one semi-weekly; twenty-one weeklies; thirty-six monthlies; one bi-monthly; and three quarterlies.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
CHARITABLE AND BENEVOLENT ORGANIZATIONS.
Buffalo the First to Inaugurate a System of Charity Which Has Since Become Pop- ular-Conditions Prior to the War of the Rebellion-The Buffalo Orphan Asylum- List of Presidents-Hospital of the Sisters of Charity-Roman Catholic Orphan Asylum-Other Catholic Institutions-The Charity Foundation-Organizations Cre- ated Since the War-Women's Christian Association-Children's Aid Society-The Charity Organization Society-The First One in the County-Its Purposes and Its Success.
In recording the progress of the city of Buffalo it becomes a pleasant duty to allude at some length to the charitable and benevolent institu- tions which have been such potent instrumentalities for the relief of the unfortunate and which have given the city extended and honorable fame. Buffalo enjoys the distinction of being the first city in the United States to inaugurate a system of public charity that has proved most effective and beneficial in every respect, and which has found fol. lowers in several other large communities in recent years. Through the generosity of citizens and intelligent action by the authorities the numerous institutions founded for the relief of the poor, sick and unfortunate are now carrying out their manifold purposes in a manner wholly satisfactory.
Considerable progress had been made in the founding of charitable institutions' in Buffalo prior to the war of the Rebellion, conspicuously in connection with the various churches; but they were limited in num- ber and scope, and may be here considered mainly as the forerunners
1 The reader will bear in mind that nearly all of the important charitable institutions in Erie county receive and care for, as a rule, two classes of inmates: 1st, those who pay according to the benefits and privileges they enjoy, and, 2d, those who, on account of poverty, are cared for or treated at the expense of the city or county, principally the latter. The county. through its Board of Supervisors, appropriates annually about $40,000 for this purpose. The funds received from these sources, together with public contributions and donations, are used in the main- tenance of the institutions by their boards of managers. The second class of inmates is termed, in all public reports, " beneficiaries."
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of the admirable and efficient system that came into existence in later years. The Buffalo Orphan Asylum had its inception at a meeting of representative women held on the 15th of November, 1836, when an association was organized. The constitution adopted at that time de- clared that "the objects of the association shall be to extend relief to orphan and other destitute children " and that "the children shall be taught the principles of the Christian religion as held by the different evangelical sects, yet no denominational peculiarities shall ever be in- culcated." It has been allied from the first with the Christian religion. The first Board of Managers consisted of twenty-two members, as fol- lows : From the First Presbyterian church, Mrs. A. T. Hopkins, Mrs. James Crocker; Pearl Street Presbyterian church, Mrs. John C. Lord, Mrs. D. Lathrop; Free Congregational church, Mrs. J. C. Rudd, Mrs. S. G. Orton; Unitarian church, Mrs. Noah P. Sprague, Mrs. J. B. Macy; Society of St. Paul's, Mrs. Henry Hamilton, Mrs. Cyrus Athearn; Trinity church, Mrs. Samuel Russell, Mrs. E. H. Cressy; Universalist Society, Mrs. Barnett Staats, Mrs. J. Hoyt; Baptist So- ciety, Mrs. Chapin, Mrs. Samuel F. Pratt; Methodist Episcopal So- ciety, Mrs. W. Madison, Mrs. J. W. Beals; Bethel Society, Mrs. H. C. Knott, Mrs. F. Leonard; Associated Reformed Society, Mrs. Ar- thur McArthur, Mrs. McLaren. On the 12th of January, 1837, pur- suant to an invitation from the Ladies' Board of Managers, a meeting of gentlemen was held at which the following names were appended to the constitution: Noah P. Sprague, Daniel Bowen, John E. Keeler, Arthur McArthur, Nathan Lyman, Samuel N. Callender, James Crocker, Cyrus Athearn, John O. Choules, Stephen G. Austin, Asa T. Hopkins, William Madison, Albert M. Baker, John R. Lee, Henry Hamilton, Alpheus F. Kinsley, Robert H. Maynard, Melville Kelsey, Moses Bristol, Gurdon C. Coit, Henry H. Sizer, Peter Curtiss, Oliver G. Steele, Hiram Pratt, Nathaniel Wilgus, Thomas Farnham, Samuel F. Pratt. ' The asylum was incorporated April 24, 1827. It possessed no property, and commenced its beneficent work under very adverse circumstances. A house was rented on Franklin street, and in May the children who had been gathered into that house gave an ex-
" The presidents of the Buffalo Orphan Asylum have been as follows. Cyrus Athearn, elected January 11, 1838; Stephen G. Austin, June 11, 1839; Albert H. Tracy, June 8, 1841; George Palmer, June 14, 1842; Peter Curtiss, June 13, 1843; Heman B. Potter, June 9, 1846; Gaius B. Rich, June ~ 1847; Russell H. Heywood, June 13, 1848; Jason Sexton, January 18, 1863; George Howard, January 30. 1874; John D. Hill, M. D., May 4, 1876; Nelson Holland, October 8, 1878; John D. Hill, M. D., October 21, 1879; Joseph B. Sweet, April 5, 1883; Walter H. Johnson, May 4, 1893.
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hibition at the First Presbyterian church, which was the first public appeal made for support. One of the most popular methods of raising funds during the early life of the institution was through the Old Settlers' Festival,' which was held annually for several years in the old St. James Hall. During the second year the asylum occupied a house on Seneca street; in 1840 its last rented building was on Niagara street, near Carolina. In 1845, by purchase and gift it came into possession of the old Buffalo Literary and Scientific Academy property on the corner of Main and Virginia streets, which appears to have been re- garded, however, as a temporary home. Louis Le Couteulx, in 1838, had given the institution a large lot on Virginia street, near North Morgan, and there in 1850-51 the trustees were prepared to begin the erection of a suitable building. By the sale of its academic lands, by the gift of $20,000 from the State, and by various private donations it had funds for the enterprise, and in 1852 the new and present structure was occupied. In 1878 an infant ward was built at a cost of $10,000, the donor being Mrs. Stephen G. Austin. The asylum is governed by a board of trustees composed of twelve men, assisted with which is a board of directresses composed of thirty-three women from as many Protestent churches in the city. It is the oldest charitable organiza- tion in Erie county, and has always exerted a potent and wholesome influence in its special field. On April 26, 1887, it appropriately cele- brated its semi-centennial anniversary.
The next permanent public charity was the Buffalo City Dispensary, which was organized in March, 1847, and incorporated in February, 1850. It has ever since performed a most beneficent work in relieving such poor, sick, and indigent persons as are unable to pay for medicinal aid.
In 1848 two very important and wide reaching charities were inaugu- rated, both of which have worthily carried out the purposes for which they were founded. The best known of these is the Buffalo Hospital of the Sisters of Charity situated at 1833 Main street. It is the oldest hospital in the city, and was established in June, 1848, by the Rt. Rev. John Timon. For many years it was located on Main street, near Vir- ginia. In 1872 the present site was purchased, and on August 16,
' The Old Settlers' Festival was first held in connection with the great Christian Commission Fair in February, 1864, and for many years was one of the leading social events in Buffalo. Old settlers from all over the country tock part, and it became very popular and attracted immense crowds. It usually continued three or four days in mid-winter, in St. James Hall, and had for its object the review of past local history in the form of speeches exhibitions, songs, dancing etc.
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1875, Rt. Rev. Stephen Vincent Ryan laid the corner stone of the large four-story brick structure now occupied by the Sisters. The building was dedicated November 5, 1876, and cost $168,368. A new wing and an isolation pavilion (for contagious diseases) were erected in 1895, the cost of the former being about $70,000. The hospital has 344 beds. including thirty beds in private rooms, and receives all classes of patients without reference to color, nationality or religious belief. It is under the direction and management of twenty-five Sisters of Char- ity. The Emergency Hospital, at the corner of South Division and Michigan streets, was established as a branch of this institution in 1833 for the reception of accident cases. The books of the Charity Hospital (as it is generally known) for the first fourteen years of its existence were destroyed by fire, but subsequent records show that during the past thirty-six years the Sisters received over 40,000 patients: the average number each year is between 1,800 and 2,000. During the cholera epidemic of 1849 there were admitted into this hospital, prior to September 1, 136 cholera patients of whom fifty-two died, and the reports of that year showed that 1,513 patients were admitted. This hospital is said to have one of the most complete surgical operating rooms in the world. It was one of the first hospitals in the United States, under the Sisters of Charity, to establish the custom of resident physicians, and the first one under the Sisters' management to estab- lish a training school for nurses. The latter was started in 1890.
St. Vincent's Female Roman Catholic Orphan Asylum and Industrial School, the second important charity that was inaugurated in 1848. was incorporated in January, 1849, and was situated at the corner of Broadway and Ellicott streets until October, 1885, when it was moved to its present home on Main street, corner of Riley. The old property was sold for $30,000; the new site cost $30,000 and the new building $30,000 more. The institution is under the Sisters of Charity. It is an asylum and school for destitute female orphans and girls between the ages of six and fourteen and for the industrial training of older girls, the latter department being added in 1855. Besides the kinder- garten and industrial departments it maintains a grammar school, the teachers of which, three in number, are paid by the city. The number of inmates range from 100 to 150. Closely following this orphanage was the Organization of St. Joseph's Male Orphan Asylum, which was first opened in Buffalo in August, 1849, to care for orphans and destitute children between the ages of four and fifteen, regardless of religious
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faith or nationality. This institution was moved to Lancaster in 1850 and incorporated August 2, 1851. It was returned to Buffalo in 1854, and in 1872 found a permanent home at Limestone Hill in the town of West Seneca, where a suitable building was erected. Over 200 children are cared for and educated. Sister Elizabeth Wheeler has been in charge since 1879.
The decade between 1850 and 1860 was prolific of the institution of public charities. The Buffalo Widows and Infants Asylum was incor- porated January 12, 1852, and was soon followed by St. Mary's Lying-in Hospital, which was incorporated on the 25th of October, 1855. These institutions were consolidated and reincorporated October 18, 1897, with the name St. Mary's Infant Asylum and Maternity Hospital. Each organization was founded by Bishop Timon, and together have always occupied the present property at 126 Edward street, the original site being donated by Louis Le Couteulx. The consolidated institution is under ten Sisters of Charity, and is goverened by a board of trustees. Its objects are the caring for widows and lying.in women and the care and education of infants without respect to religion, color, or na- tionality. Upwards of 200 children and 100 adults are cared for annually. The property is valued at about $100,000. Opposite this institution, at 125 Edward street, is Le Couteulx St. Mary's Institution for the Improved Instruction of Deaf Mutes, which was incorporated in 1853 as Le Couteulx St. Mary's Benevolent Society for the Deaf and Dumb. The site was given by Louis Le Couteulx, and upon it Bishop Timon secured the erection of three cottages; three Sisters of St. Joseph, who had been trained in France, were brought here from St. Louis to teach the deaf mutes; one of these was Sister Superior Mary Anne Burke, who is still in charge. In 1862 Bishop Timon completed a four-story brick building, to which additions were made in 1866, 1871, 1876, 1878, and 1880. In 1871 the institution was privileged to take children as county beneficiaries; in 1872 the Legislature extended the benefits of the law for this class of children as State pupils to the insti- tution; and in 1873 it was one of the first institutions in the country to introduce articulation or improved instruction. The pupils are taught all kinds of household and mechanical industries, manufacture all their own clothing and shoes, and publish a weekly paper. A branch for boys is maintained at the corner of Main street and Forest avenue.
In 1855 Bishop Timon was instrumental in bringing from France three or four nuns of the order of Sisters of Our Lady of Charity of
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Refuge, otherwise known as Sisters of the Good Shepherd. Among these was Mother St. Jerome, the founder of the order in America. They were organized in Buffalo on July 8, 1855; Bishop Timon secured six acres of land bounded by Best, Johnson and East North streets and Durrenberger place, on which was built the first convent of this order in the United States. It was incorporated in January, 1856, as the Asylum of Our Lady of Refuge, and for more than thirty years has been presided over by Mother Superior Mary of St. Joseph Schaefer: there are fifty-seven nuns. The institution maintains a protectory for the care and education of destitute Roman Catholic girls under six- teen, most of whom are orphans. There is also a Magdalene class for reclaiming young girls, in which many remain for life and are uniformly clothed, but are not and never can be members of the Order of the Good Shepherd. The institution also receives girls committed by local authority.
Two very important institutions were opened in 1858, viz. : The Buf- falo General Hospital (described in Chapter XXXI) and the Church Charity Foundation's Home for Aged Females. The former has been noticed sufficiently in another chapter.
The Charity Foundation of the Protestant Episcopal church in the city of Buffalo was incorporated July 28, 1858, by Rev. William Shel- ton, Lester Brace, Edward S. Warren, Rev. Edward Ingersoll, George W. Clinton, John M. Hutchinson, Rev. William Bliss Ashley, James P. White, Sandford Eastman, Rev. Reuben I. Germain, William A. Bird, Samuel F. Gelston, Rev. Lawrence S. Stevens, John E. Russell, Chester P. Turner, Rev. Orlando F. Starkey, Isaac A. Verplanck, Ivory Chamberlain, Rev. William White Montgomery, William Jarrett, James S. Hawley. It was the intention of the founders to establish a complete system of benevolent institutions, so arranged as to be mutually protective. The charities contemplated in the charter of the Foundation were as follows: A Home for Aged and Destitute Females, which was opened in 1858; a Home for Aged and Destitute Males; a Hospital for the sick; a Home for orphans, half orphans and other destitute and unprotected children, which was opened in 1866; a Shei- tering Arms for Infants, which was opened in 1876; Houses of tem- porary relief, shelter and refuge; Houses for the protection of the in- sane, the blind, the deaf and dumb, and incapables generally; and Schools for the education of orphans, the deaf and dumb and other in- capables. Preference was given to members of the Protestant Episco-
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pal church, but all persons who were willing to accept the religious ministrations of that church were to be admitted. In 1866 the prop- erty on Rhode Island street, near Niagara, was purchased for $12,000, and in 1869 a new brick building for orphans was erected at a cost of $7,000. In 1884 the Legislature granted the Foundation the old ceme- tery lot bounded by North, Jersey and Rogers streets, which was then valued at $10,000; this was sold in 1889 and is known as the Circle. The Home cares for about ninety orphans and from twelve to fifteen aged people annually. It has a permanent trust fund of about $140, - 000, which is protected by a special act of the Legislature, making it a misdemeanor for any of it to be voted away or decreased.
During the war four public charities were organized in Buffalo. The first of these was the Provident Lunatic Asylum, which was incorpo- rated in 1861 by the Sisters of Charity, by whom it has since been conducted. In 1890 the name was changed to the Providence Retreat. The object of the institution has been, from the start, the humane and scientific treatment of the insane. It was the first institution of its kind in Western New York, and up to November 1, 1897, has received and'cared for a total of 3,334 patients. The Sisters own twenty eight acres of land on Main street corner of Humboldt Parkway, where a small building accommodating thirty patients was originally erected this has since been enlarged until now its capacity is 160. It has four male and four female wards. For many years it received patients from and at the expense of the county, but since the enactment of the new lunacy laws has been entirely private.
The second charitable institution inaugurated during the war period was St. Francis's Asylum for aged and destitute persons without dis- tinction of religious belief or nationality, which was incorporated on the 14th of November, 1862. It is situated on Pine street, between Broadway and Sycamore, is under the charge of Sisters of St. Francis, and has accommodations for 300 inmates. The others were formed two years later. St. John's Protectory was incorporated in 1864 as the Society for the Protection of Roman Catholic Children of the City of Buffalo. Ample buildings were erected at Limestone Hill in the town of West Seneca and Rev. Father Hines was installed as superintendent ; he was succeeded in 1882 by Rev. Nelson H. Baker, who is still in charge. The Protectory is under the Brothers of the Holy Infancy and seventeen Sisters of St. Joseph; the average number of boys is 325. A large parochial school is maintained and the boys also have the
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advantages of an excellent industrial department. The Evangelical Lutheran St. John's Orphan Asylum was organized March 6, 1864, and incorporated April 14, 1865. Its character is indicated by its name. The girls' department is situated at 280 Hickory street and the boys' department at Sulphur Springs in the town of West Seneca; at the latter place a new brick structure was erected in 1896-97.
There were few other benevolent institutions of any kind in the city at the close of the last war. The sorrow of mourning households on every hand, and the many families left destitute of the strong arms that had provided for their wants by that long conflict, opened the hearts and stimulated the compassion of many persons in every community, and charitable institutions of various kinds and those already founded were imbued with renewed activity. Since that period Buffalo has acquired wide-spread renown for the number and efficiency of her organized charities. In the following pages mention is made of the more prominent institutions, nearly all of which own property; besides these there are numerous charitable and benevolent societies which perform noble work in their special fields
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