USA > New York > Oneida County > Rome > Our city and its people : a descriptive work on the city of Rome, New York > Part 14
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"Our first work at the site was to secure a map of the grounds, lo- cate the buildings, distance from the street, grove, and river, line of sewer, &c. After survey and map was completed, then came the selection of materials for the buildings, style and capacity, all of which you who where members of the Board at that time, are familiar. The question of water supply, which engaged the attention of the committee -and in fact the whole Board- for a long time, was, as we believe, wisely adjusted by taking water from the city mains. (Also from an excellent well on the premises). An eight inch water main extends to -
the front of the Administration Building ; two four inch pipes lead from
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this main to hydrants on the right and left ; a six inch main extends to the rear of the buildings, where are attached two more hydrants. Thence the water is distributed through smaller pipes to the barn, slaughter house, and water trough. Connections are also made to this six inch pipe at the boiler house and scullery, for use in the buildings. " The main buildings are of brick, with trimmings of red sandstone and limestone. The central or Administration Building, located in front. is a three-story building. 47 by 58 feet. In the basement are located the kitchen, laundry, wash-room, and four store-rooms. On the first floor is the Superintendent's public and private offices, reception room, operating room, and sitting rooms. The second floor contains the Superintendent's dining room, parlor, library, and pantry, while in the third story are the sleeping rooms.
"The Superintendent's office is connected by electric wires and tubes with important points throughout the buildings. The center or divid- ing line in the buildings is directly in the rear of the hall that leads from the Superintendent's office. It is only necessary to step into this hall to occupy a commanding position. There are several other points of observation in the buildings that cover the farm, as well as the in- terior. In the rear of the Administration Building, and connected with it by covered ways, is the main, or service building, 44 by 129, two stories in height, with a basement that contains the main kitchen, laundry, bakery, flour room, creamery, servant's dining room, wash-room, scullery, cooler, and pantries. On the first floor, the attendant's sleep- ing rooms, six old couples' rooms, bath and toilet rooms. Second floor -chapel, lying-in ward, nursery, and toilet rooms ; also large rooms in the attic for storing supplies. The boiler house (34 by .48) and engine room (16 by 30) are in the rear of this building. The intervening walls are built of heavy quarry stone and well cemented, as a protection against accident. The cooler, 1812 by 1612. also scullery, 211/2 by 17, are easy of access from the main kitchen. On the east, forty feet dis. 22
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tant from the main building, is located the woman's building, 40 by 108, and wing 40 by 56. The basement contains the inmates' dining-rooms, work room, store room, pantry, and toilet room. First floor-day rooms, convalescent room, matron's office-separate rooms-bath and toilet room. Second floor are the dormitories or sleeping apartments for the inmates, hospital and nurses' rooms. In the rear, separate rooms for attendants, bath and toilet rooms. The men's building, 40 by 118, and a wing, 40 by 56, is located on the west side of the main building, 40 feet distant. It is a counterpart of the woman's building and nearly one-third larger. In the second story of this building, in the dormitories, is built a gallery, which can be used for sleeping purposes if necessary.
" The main buildings are connected by covered corridors, enclosed with glazed sash, which may be opened or removed during the summer months. The corridors may be made the most convenient places in the building for keeping potted plants, &c. They also afford the aged inmates a pleasant place for exercise during inclement weather. They are connected to the buildings so that they may be removed very readily in case of fire."
The various structures are adequately heated by steam, thoroughly ventilated and well lighted. The cost of the site was about $10,000, and the total cost of buildings and site about $140,000. The average number of inmates is now about three hundred, among whom are a number of State boarders. Louis Mittenmaier, jr., has been superin- tendent of the institution since January, 1895; he is a Republican in politics, held the office of supervisor of the Second ward in 1890-91, and was a member of the Board of Health three years.
Central New York Institution for Deaf Mutes .- This institution was established March 22, 1875, and has since gained a very high and extended reputation. In 1877 a building was erected on Madison street for school purposes, while eight other structures were used for
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the several purposes of the institution. This unsatisfactory condition continued until 1877, when steps were taken to provide buildings especially adapted to the purposes of the institution. Through the benevolence of John B. Jervis, Benjamin Huntington and Edward Huntington a beautiful site was donated, whereon three commodious and handsome brick edifices were erected, at a cost of about $100,000. The first of these buildings was erected in 1878, the second in 1882, and the main one in 1889. The first two are dormitories, one for boys and one for girls, with the main structure between. On the first floor of the latter are found the principal's private and public offices, a large reception room and library, and six spacious school rooms. On the second floor is a large and airy chapel occupying the whole of the center of the building, and six roomy class rooms. The arrangement of all the buildings gives what is an essential for the proper manage- ment of such an institution, namely, complete isolation of the sexes after meals and the closing of school. The principal's residence stands at the entrance of the grounds, overlooking the other buildings. In the rear and on a line with this is the hospital, wholly isolated and ad- mirably adapted in every way to its purpose. Other buildings contain the shops, laundry, etc.
"The annual examinations under the personal supervision of the principal, began on the 20th of May last, and continued till the 10th of June, although quite severe in some cases, still the results were very satisfactory. The school is divided into four departments, viz .: (1) The academical, composed of two classes, where the pupils receive a good practical education ; (2) the preparatory, where the pupils are prepared to enter the academical; (3) the intermediate, from which the pupils go into the preparatory, and (4) the primary or kindergar- ten, where pupils are taught the first principles, and where the founda- tion is laid for their future progress, and also two special classes, namely, the high class, composed of pupils who have passed a satis.
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factory examination and been recommended by the board of trustees for an additional three years, in order to pursue a more advanced course of instruction, and the articulation department, where all pupils who are competent enough and will be benefited thereby are given a special training in articulation and lip reading."
Prof. Edward Beverly Nelson is principal of this institution, as he has been from the first. He graduated from Harvard College in 1873, with the degree of B. A., and two years ago was given the degree of M. A. by that institution. He has proven himself fitted in an eminent degree for the difficult and responsible position in which he is placed, and his success has been commensurate with his unfailing efforts for the good of the unfortunates who have come under his care.
The educational and domestic departments of the institution are in charge of the following persons :
Principal, Edward Beverly Nelson, M. A. In charge of literary classes : High class and Academical grades, Fort Lewis Seliney, Jon- athan H. Eddy, Thomas H. Jewell. Primary and Intermediate grades, Mrs. Ella M. Holliday, in charge of articulation ; Bessie Hall, Bertha Wilkes. Kindergarten, Sarah K Marshall, Miss Gertrude Mosser. Monitors, Hymen A. Evans, Roger McGrath.
Board of Trustees .- President, Dr. W. J. P. Kingsley ; first vice- president, Edward Comstock; second vice president, Rev. Dr. Thomas Gallaudet ; secretary and treasurer, John G. Bissell. First class- term expires February, 1896, Dr. W. J. P. Kingsley, Rev. Dr. Thomas Gallaudet, Thomas H. Stryker, H. M. Lawton. Second class-term expires February, 1897, A. C. Kessinger, D. P. McHarg, John G. Bissell, Edward Comstock, James H. Searles. Third class-term expires February, 1898, W. R. Huntington, E. L. Stevens, W. W. Wardwell, James Elwell. Executive committee, Dr. W. J. P. Kingsley, ex officio, John G. Bissell, D. P. McHarg, W. R. Huntington, Edward Comstock. Building committee, Edward Comstock, W. R. Huntington, James Elwell.
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CHAPTER XVII:
THE NEWSPAPERS IN ROME.
In the year 1799, a few weeks subsequent to the time when a village in Oneida county was named after the " Eternal City," Messrs. Thomas Walker and Ebenezer Eaton, two young men of ability, industry and en- terprise, came to this place and started a weekly newspaper, called the - Columbian Gazette. They came from Worcester, Mass., brought the printing materials with them, and hired a man here to make a " ramage press," upon which the paper was printed. Mr. Walker was then but twenty-two, and Mr. Eaton (brother of General Eaton, who went to Africa and distinguished himself there), not much if any older. At that time Rome contained about 1,400 inhabitants and promised to be the largest place in the county. It was settled, too, by some of the most prominent men in all this section of country. Utica at that time was much smaller in size than Rome, numbering in 1820 only 2,000 persons. The town of Rome in 1820 numbered 3,569 persons. Messrs. Walker & Eaton located their newspaper establishment on Dominick street, in what was called the " McGraw house." The first paper was issued August 17, 1799, and while the first numbers were be- ing struck off Mr. Liston, British minister at Washington, happened to be passing the office on his way to Canada; he called in and procured a copy. In the winter of 1800 Mr. Eaton left and went to Cayuga county, and Mr. Walker continued as sole proprietor. About a year after it was first started, the paper was moved to a chamber in the tavern house then occupied by Solomon Rich, known as the Rome Coffee House. Subsequently the paper was moved to a building on James street and published there until 1803. At that time the laying
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out of the turnpike, or State road, from Utica through Vernon, etc., and the refusal of the owners of real estate in Rome to sell, except at ex- travagant prices, preferring to lease, together with the solicitations of political and personal friends of Mr. Walker in Utica, and the prospect that Utica was to be the place, Mr. Walker, in March of that year, removed his paper to Utica, continued its name there, and made it a supporter of Thomas Jefferson's administration
From March, 1803, until 1818, Rome was without a newspaper. In that year an effort was made by the Uticans to procure the courts, which were then held at Rome and Whitesboro, to be held in that city (village then). The Romans fought that move desperately, and to make the opposition to that project more forcible and effectual, the Romans induced E. Dorchester, of Utica, who was then publisher of the Utica Observer, to remove his press to this place. Mr. Dorchester had been of the firm of Walker & Dorchester in the publication of the Columbian Gazette, and had also in part, if not in whole, edited that paper, from 1814 to 1817. In the latter year he started the Utica Ob- server. In the fall of 1818 he removed it to Rome, and changed its name to the Oneida Observer, and located on the north side of Domi- nick street, in a building then standing just west of the Spencer Hall block site and between that block and Washington street. The paper was published there a year, and was patronized and taken by the Romans, and whilst here, battled successfully against the Utica move- ment relative to the courts. In this fight, the Whitestown people took sides with Rome. In 1819 Mr. Dorchester returned to Utica with his paper, changed its name back to the Utica Observer, and continued its publication.
From 1819 to 1821 Rome was without a paper. In February of that year Mr. Lorin Dewey started a paper called the Rome Republican. It was located in a building standing on James street, near the corner of Stone alley. In May of that year Chauncey Beach became the suc-
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cessor of Mr. Dewey as publisher of the Republican. Shortly after Mr. Beach became proprietor the office was removed to a wooden building then standing where the Merrill block was erected, on the corner of James and Dominick streets. In the fore part of the season of 1828 the paper, which had been theretofore neutral in politics, came out for Gen - eral Jackson for the presidency. This was done through the influence of Hon. H. A. Foster, Judge Hayden, Dr. Brown, and one or two others, who took stock in the paper or subscribed quite liberally for its support, with the understanding that each one of its subscribers, or stockholders, was to be repaid in advertising or job work, Judge Hay- - den being nominal editor. As soon as it became known that the paper had come out for Jackson, an execution was issued on a judgment against Beach, previously rendered, in favor of either William Williams or Mr. Seward, of Utica, and Deputy Sheriff Hubbell, of Utica, came to Rome to make the levy and carry off the type and materials. A levy was made and the materials loaded into a vehicle, and taken some dis- tance from the village, when it was replevined and detained here by Mr. Foster, who had purchased a chattel mortgage given by Beach to S. B. Roberts prior to the judgment. That suit was subsequently com- promised by each party party paying his own costs and the paper con- tinued here.
Inasmuch as the Rome Republican had become a Jackson paper, the Adams men here thought they must have an organ too, so in June, 1828, they started a paper, with J. P. Van Sice, publisher, and called it the Oneida Republican ; that paper was located on James street. Mr. Beach continued to publish the Rome Republican as a Jackson paper, where the Merrill block was built, and Mr. Van Sice continued the Oneida Republican on James street, until some time in 1830; in that year both papers became merged, in some way, and were moved to the "Checkered store," north side of Dominick street; the paper continu- ing Democratic, although J. P. Van Sice was publisher.
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In April, 1831, the proprietors of the Republican (which seemed to be called after the consolidation the Oneida Republican, during the year 1830) sold the establishment to Eber P. Moon, who started a new paper, or rather continued the old one in an enlarged form, under the name of the Rome Telegraph. This paper was published by Mr. Moon in the "Checkered block " about a year, when he was succeeded by James H. Harris, who moved the establishment to a brick building on the south side of Dominick street. Harris continued as publisher for a year or two, when he was succeeded in 1834 by John Brydon, who superintended the paper, as announced, " for publisher and proprietor." During the publication of the Telegraph by Moon and Harris, they had given to Mr. Foster incumbrances upon the plant for advances made thereon, so that when Mr. Brydon came in Mr. Foster was the sole owner, the other stockholders or subscribers having been paid in full. Brydon removed the establishment to a wooden building then standing where the store now stands occupied by Spencer & White, the printing office entrance being from the alley. After Brydon left one or two others took charge of the establishment, which was a losing concern for Mr. Foster, until 1838, when Foster sold out to R. Waldby, Mr. Foster having sunk in the establishment some four thousand dollars Mr. Fos- ter paid Brydon $10 a week for his services, paid the compositors and the other expenses of the office, and he (Mr. Foster) being in the Sen- ate and necessarily absent from town a considerable portion of the time, Brydon collected amounts due the proprietor, pocketed them, and never accounted for them. By this process the proprietor was fleeced, yet he kept the paper going. B. F. Sherman, brother-in-law of Mr. Foster, wrote considerable for the paper, as did Mr. Foster when at home. When Mr. Waldby purchased, he moved the establishment across the street ; he issued his first number November 13, 1838, and changed the name to the Democratic Sentinel. Calvert Comstock was the editor until after the close of the political campaign of 1840. He
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came to this village in 1838 from Whitesboro, where he was practicing law, and entered into a partnership with Foster & Stryker, and was busily engaged in an extensive and lucrative law practice, when, at the urgent solicitation of political friends, he undertook the editorship as above stated ; but in consequence of increasing and pressing law busi- ness he left the editorial chair after ten years' trial. In 1840 the Roman Citizen was started here as a Whig paper, as more fully described here- after.
After Mr. Comstock's withdrawal as editor, L. D). Dana, then a law . student in Foster, Stryker & Comstock's office, edited the paper for Mr. Waldby. In 1842 Mr. Waldby moved the establishment to a building which stood at the corner of the Erie Canal and James street.
In April, 1845, H. T. Utley and S. W. Morton purchased the estab- lishment of Waldby, enlarged it and called the paper the Rome Senti- nel, Mr. Utley being the editor. In that year the establishment was moved to the Armstrong block, south side of the canal. In Septem- ber, 1846, Morton sold out his interest to A. J. Rowley, who became joint proprietor with Mr. Utley. Mr. Rowley entered the office as " devil " in 1835, when it was called the Rome Telegraph ; he was then but eleven years of age, and had stuck to the paper "through thick and thin."
In July, 1847, Mr. Utley sold out to A. J. Rowley & Co. (the com- pany being Calvert Comstock), Elon Comstock, afterward of the New York Journal of Commerce, being the editor. In 1850 A. J. Rowley became sole proprietor, E. Comstock continuing as editor. January I, 1852, Elon Comstock became sole editor and proprietor. July 15, 1852, the Rome Daily Sentinel was started by Calvert and Elon Com- stock, owners of the establishment, and who then removed it to Domi- nick street, over the Rome Exchange Bank. In October, 1854, C. & E. Comstock sold one-half of the Sentinel establishment to D. E. Wager and D. C. Rowley, the latter entering the establishment as an ap- 23
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prentice in 1842. Mr. Rowley entered as "devil " in the Roman Citizen office in 1841. April 14, 1855, Wager & Rowley purchased the whole establishment of C. & E. Comstock. In July, 1861, Wood & Larwill became owners of the establishment, continuing thus until December, 1863, when the firm of Warren & Beers took it, it having been removed in the mean time to its present location. Mr. Warren was a former employee in the office of the Utica Observer, and Mr. Beers learned the printer's trade in the Rome Citizen office. In June, 1864, the establishment passed into the hands of Franklin D. Beers and Augustus C. Kessinger, who for more than thirty years have successfully conducted it. Mr. Kessinger began work in the Sen- tinel office in March, 1856. The daily and weekly Sentinel are Demo- cratic in politics and are among the leading exponents of the princi- ples of that party in the interior of the State. A. C. Kessinger is editor-in-chief, and is assisted by Albert R. Kessinger.
The Rome Citizen .-- The political campaign of 1840 is remembered by old citizens as one of great activity. The Democratic party was largely in the ascendent in the town and county. The " Rome Regency then controlled the politics of the town and county and was influential in national affairs. Here resided some of the political magnates of the Democratic party -- Henry A. Foster, a host in himself; John Stryker, the political king ; Gen. Jesse Armstrong, member of Assem- bly in 1838; C. Comstock, an influential politician; B. P. Johnson, Alanson Bennett, Chester Hayden, and others." These Romans had their aids in all the towns of the county, and the Rome Regency con- trolled caucuses and county conventions. There was a Democratic newspaper here and had been for twenty years, with two in Utica, where there was only one Whig paper. There was no other Whig paper in the county except one at Vernon. In Rome in 1840 the number of leading Whigs was few, but they were able and determined. Among them were such men as Arden Seymour, S. B. Roberts,
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William Howland, Calvin B. Gay, Simon Matteson, Virgil Draper, John B. Bradt, Sanford Adams, Woodman Kimball, and Francis Bick- nell. They were full of fight and when the campaign of 1840 opened they wanted a newspaper organ. To supply this deficiency the Vernon Compass was in June of that year removed to Rome and its name changed to the Roman Citizen. H. N. Bill was the publisher. There was some discussion as to the name to be given to the paper after its removal, and it was finally agreed to call it the Fort Stanwix Banner ; that heading was actually engraved ready for use. Upon further dis- cussion and recognition of the fact that Stanwix Hall was the great rendezvoux of the Democracy, and that it might be therefore mis- takenly supposed by some that the paper was the organ of that party, Col. Arden Seymour suggested that the name be changed to the Ro- man Citizen.
The first number of the paper was issued June 8, 1840, from rooms over a store on the site of the Willett House. H. N. Bill was the pro- prietor, Calvin B. Gay editor, David H. Soliss foreman, John Monroe, oldest apprentice and Alfred Sandford "printer's devil." Mr. Gay was an able lawyer, a strong writer and acted as editor about two years. C. Comstock, another excellent lawyer, was his opponent in the Demo- cratic paper. Other writers, of course, furnished political articles for each paper. The campaign contest was a sharp and bitter one. Mr. Bill continued publisher and about 1845 removed the office to rooms in the Kingsley block, corner James and Dominick streets. For a consid- erable period the two opposing papers were so bitter in and personal toward each other that various grand juries were besieged to find an in- dictment against the other for libel; but probably the grand jury thought it was about an even thing, for no indictment was found on either side.
Finding it difficult to make the establishment pay expenses Mr. Bill about 1845 placed it in a stock concern of fifty shares at $25 a share.
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These were taken by political friends and were to be repaid in printing. In 1846-7 J. P. Fitch hired the paper for one year of Mr. Bill, acted as editor and ran it on his own account. He was a vigorous man and caustic writer and made the Democratic politicians wiggle and twist as if on a bed of nettles. On August 1, 1847, A. Sandford and George Scott, both employees in the printing office, purchased Mr. Bill's inter- est for $1,250, taking up the stock certificates before mentioned. Mr. Fitch was continued as editor at a yearly salary of $100, he practicing law at the same time. About a year later he was succeeded by G. H. Lynch, who ably managed the paper through the Taylor campaign of 1848. Mr. Lynch retired in 1849 to accept a position in the custom house. In the fall of that year, A. C. Sandford purchased Mr. Scott's interest in the establishment and it was removed by the Messrs. Sand- ford, editors and proprietors, to the block opposite Stanwix Hall. In 1854 came the great congressional fight between O. B. Matteson and B. N. Huntington, which was not surpassed by any other political struggle that took place in this city. A. C. Sandford favored Mr. Mat- teson's election while Alfred Sandford favored Mr. Huntington. The succeeding convention was an exciting one, both men claiming to be regularly nominated. In October of that year (1854) A. C. Sandford sold his interest to a committee of Whigs friendly to Mr. Huntington and the paper thereafter advocated his election. A. D. Griswold was then the principal editor. The campaign was an extremely heated one and old citizens may remember that before election a sheet appeared headed "Roman Citizen Extra," containing gross charges against Mr. Matteson Mr. Sandford threatened a libel suit and the charges published created great excitement throughout the country. It was generally believed for many years perhaps that Mr. Sandford was in some way responsible for the issue of that sheet. Such however is not the fact ; it was published and circulated from Utica and he knew nothing of it until it appeared. In the fall
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