USA > New York > Jefferson County > Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York > Part 34
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In this connection, that our narrative may be made complete, a brief allusion to the school buildings of the city is appropriate. The high school building at the corner of State and Mechanic streets, still retains much of its original appearance. It is of brick, two stories high, above the basement, and was erected in 1838. It is owned by the trustees of Jefferson county institute, and is leased for a nominal consideration to the board of education.
The Academy street building was originally erected in 1831, and was replaced in 1868 with the present building, at an expense of $9,950. The Arsenal street building was originally erected in 1817, and was entirely rebuilt in 1856. In 1883 its capacity was doubled. The Boon street building (frame) was first erected in 1859, and was rebuilt (with brick) in 1844 The Bradley street building (stone) was erected in 1824, and was abandoned in 1891. The Cooper street building was erected in 1858, and was afterward frequently repaired. This property came to the city with the creating act of 1869. The new building on this site was begun in 1887, and was finished in 1891-92. Number 1 primary building, standing on the same lot, was erected in 1895, at a cost of $10,000. The whole property is valued at $20,300.
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THE CITY OF WATERTOWN.
The Factory street building was erected in 1823, but its use for school purposes was discontinued about the time the Pearl street school was opened. It is now owned by the city. The Lamon street building was erected in 1853; was enlarged in 1821, and materially repaired in 1836 and in 1896, the latter to conform with the Quincey system.
The Mead street building was erected in 1891 to take the place of the old Bradley street school. The capacity of the school was doubled in 1895. The Pearl street building was erected in 1889 and cost, when completed, $6,468. It is located north of the river, at the corner of Pearl and Vincent streets. The Mullin street building was erected in 1862, but was torn down to make room for the more modern structure built in 1891. The latter cost $23, 960. The Munson street building was erected in 1896, at a cost of $1,000, and is one of the most attrac- tive and comfortable modern school houses in the city.
The presidents of the board of education, in succession have been as follows:
Theodore Babcock, 1865-68; Allen C. Beach, 1868-69; Theodore Babcock, 1869-70; Beaman Brockway, 1870 76; William W. Taggart, 1876 78; John Lansing, 1878 81; William W. Taggart, 1881-82; Edmund Q. Sewell, 1882-51; Hannibal Smith, 1884 S6; John Lansing, 1SS6 SS; Azariah 11. Sawyer, 1888 90; Thomas C. Chittenden, 1890-92; Chas. M. Rexford, 1892-91; Henry Purcell, 1891-96; George Adams, 1896- 92: George S. Ilooker, 1897.
Superintendents .- J. Felt, jr., 1865-66; H. H. Smith, 1866-69; William G. Williams, 1969 Feb, 1820; Hannibal Smith, March, 1870-43; Daniel G. Griffin, 1873-15: A. R. Beal, 1875-47; W. K. Wicks, 1877-79; Fred Seymour, 1879-93; William G. Williams, 1893.
Principals of High School-William Read, 1865 66; N. M. Merrill, 1866-68; Edward P. Nichols, 1868-69; G. P. Manley, 1869-Jan. 1870; Hannibal Smith, Jan. 1820-74; W. K. Wicks, 1874-88; H. M. Hill, 1888-89; F. D. Shaver, 1889-91; James G. Riggs, 1891 -92: T. F. Kane, 1892-93; E. W. Lyttle, 1893.
Academic Schools .- In the preceding portion of this chapter frequent incidental mention has been made of the several academic schools which had an existence in the village previous to the incorporation of the board of education, and which were in a measure associated with the history of the common schools of the village. The first attempt to establish a seminary of higher standing than that of the old system was made about the year 1810, when a few public spirited citizens purchased from Judge Keyes the site whereon now stands the First Presbyterian church, and with a subscription fund of $2,500 began the erection of an academy building 32x10 feet in size. Unfortunately, however, the war caused a temporary delay in the work, and the building was first
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used as a hospital for sick and wounded soldiers, and the design of the promoters of the academy project was never fully carried out.
Soon after the war was ended the building was occupied by Rev. Daniel Banks, who opened it as a school and conducted it for several years with a fair degree of success.
A few years later a Lancasterian school ocenpied part of the building, but this plan appears not to have met with hoped for success, henee was soon abandoned. In 1820 the building was sold for debt and passed into the ownership of the Watertown Ecclesiastie society. It was taken down about 1826 or '22 and the material was used in the construction of the Watertown Female academy on Clinton street, an institution without corporate character, and of which little is now known except that from 1828 to 1834 it was a school of much merit and good repute in the village. Miss Northrup and Miss Hooker (the latter a sister of Gen. "Joe " Hooker) were successively its principals.
The female academy was founded for the instruction of young ladies, to the exclusion of the opposite sex, and its apparent success stimulated the establishment of an institution of like character for the education of young men. The first steps to that end were taken in 1831, and in the next year the Watertown academy was incorporated, with Mieah Sterling, Egbert Ten Eyck, Orville Hungerford, Jason Fairbanks, Loveland Paddock, Henry D. Sewell, Thomas Baker, Reuben Goodale, Alpheus S. Green, Justin Butterfield, William Smith, Joseph Goodale, Joseph Kimball, George S. Boardman and John Sanford as its board of trustees. Norris M. Woodruff was a stockholder in the corporation with the trustees above mentioned. A large and comfortable stone building was erected on Academy street, and on September 19, 1832, the school was opened with La Rue P. Thompson as principal.
The institution, however, was not a financial success, and did not receive the patronage it justly deserved. As is stated, it was exclusively for the education of young men, but the influence of William Smith seems to have prevailed with the trustees, as a small room was set apart for his daughters, whom he desired to be under the instruction of principal Thompson. The latter was afterward followed as principal by Samuel Belding, and he, in turn, by Joseph Mullin (afterward Judge Mullin). In 1841 the charter was repealed and the institution virtually merged in the Black River Literary and Religious institute. The building was afterward occasionally occupied for school purposes (though for long periods was not in use) and later came into possession of the trustees
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of the Wesleyan Methodist society, and was by them on July 11, 1868, conveyed to the village (consideration $2,000). The building was transferred to the city for the Academy street school in 1868, and was afterward occupied for school purposes until 1886, when, directly in rear of the old structure, the present school house was erected.
In February, 1836, the Watertown Presbytery adopted a resolution proposing to unite with the Black River Congregational association in founding a school of high order and with marked religions tendency. The proposition met with favor, and a joint meeting of the bodies agreed upon a plan of operation, selecting Watertown as the most available location for the institution. On May 25 of the same year the legislature incorporated the famous Black River Literary and Religious institute, which with its successor corporation known as the Jefferson county institute, has maintained an existence to the present time.
The first trustees were Marens Smith, James H. Morrow, Eli Farwell, Jason Clark, George S. Boardman, Hart Massey, Roswell Finney, Crafts P. Kimball, Elisha Camp, Lewis A. Wiekes, Henry Jones, George W. Knowlton, E. H. Snowden, John Covert, E. M. Adams, Elisha P. Cook, David Spear, Charles B. Pond, Artemus Chittenden, John A. Cathcart, David Granger, Abel L. Crandall, Roswell Pettibone and William Chit- tenden.
The trustees were authorized to establish in the village a seminary of learning, the annual income of which should not exceed $4,000. A lot was purchased on the corner of State and Mechanic streets, and a frame building was fitted up for temporary use. In the spring of 1836, the erection of the stone and brick academy building was begun, and on June 5 of the following year the corner stone was laid with impressive religious ceremonies. Governor Marcy was present. The school in the frame building was opened September, 1836, under charge of Rev. James B. Boyd, principal; Rev. John Covert, vice-principal; and Mrs. Covert, preceptress. The institution was recognized by the state board of regents January 30, 1838, and thereafter shared in the distribution of the literary fund.
The former academy, which had always been feeble, speedily went down before the rivalry of the new institution, and a majority of the stockholders in the former assigned their interests to the trustees of the latter. The academy was suspended in 1838 or '39, and in 18441 its charter was dissolved by the legislature. The female academy also ceased to exist, as the institute had both male and female departments.
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Throughout the period of its existence the same general educational system was maintained in the institute, and there was no conflict what- ever between its management and the trustees of the village schools. The latter furnished instruction in the primary and elementary branches, while the institute provided all the means for a higher education; and, regardless of the fact that it was purely a sectarian institution, it met with marked success for a long time, and hundreds of the best business and professional men of the county in later years refer with pride to the days spent and education acquired within those classic walls. In 1853 the number of pupils registered was more than 500.
On February 23, 1846, the trustees determined to change the name from Black River Literary and Religious institute to Jefferson county institute, and an act to that effect was passed by the legislature on May 12 of that year. During the next twelve or fifteen years the institution was continued with good results to all concerned in the enterprise, but in the mean time the common and district schools of the state were con- stantly advancing their standard of merit, and at the same time the state authorities were perfecting the plan of a general high school sys- tem. In the course of time this was accomplished, and in April, 1865. the special act relating to the public schools of Watertown was passed by the legislature. In the act the trustees of the institute were author- ized to lease or transfer by deed to the village their property for the purpose of a high school; and it was also provided that while the build- ing was held under lease the trustees should be entitled to be repre- sented by two members of the board of education.
Thus the famous Jefferson county institute was practically absorbed by the high school of the village and subsequent city, but through all the years to the present time the old corporation has maintained its existence, and is always represented on the board, furnishing to that body some of the most efficient members.
During the period of its history the principals of the institute were as follows: Rev. James R. Boyd, 1837-48; D. W. Linsley, 1848-52; Rev. Alvin Parmalee, 1852-56; Rev. J. Sessions, 1836-59; M. P. Covert, 1859-61: Rev. George Kerr. 1861-65.
Public School Library. -- Previous to the incorporation of the board of education the only libraries available to the public were those in the three school districts of the village, (then) comprising an aggregate of perhaps 1,000 volumes. When the trustees of the Jefferson county in - stitute leased their building to the board of education, they reserved
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control of the library, chiefly on account of the valuable books it con- tained. But as the books were little read, owing to the absence of any system of loaning, the trustees in 1852 generously offered to surrender control of the library to the board of education on certain conditions, one of which was a requirement that a suitable place be provided for its accommodation. The room in the Utley building, formerly occupied by the board, and also by the public library, was found insufficient to contain the institute library, therefore rooms Nos. 2 and 3 in the Doo- little & Hall building were rented, and were occupied during the sum- mer of 1872. At that time the consolidated library contained a total of 2, 845 volumes, of which 1,323 were from the old public school library ; 1,36 1 from the institute collection, and 158 from the old Delta Phi library of former years.
From that to the present time the board of education has made an annual appropriation of moneys for the maintenance and increase of the library. The latter was kept in rooms rented for its use until the com- pletion of the city hall and was then removed to specially prepared apartments in that splendid building. It is under the immediate care of a librarian, and the general charge of a committee of the board of education. The library now contains about :,000 volumes.
The Water Supply System .- In the spring of 1821 the village authori- ties and business men began to discuss the subject of the water supply for domestic and fire purposes, but further than a discussion of the question nothing was accomplished. In 1829 the trustees appropriated $50 for the purpose of boring a well on Factory square, and in the next year it was voted to apply the proceeds of licenses in the third ward toward procuring a water supply for the village. At the trustees' meeting, May 21, 1829, the sum of $200 was voted for the purpose of boring for water, and accordingly an artesian well was begun on the public square, or mall. After the well had been bored to a considerable depth some person through wantonness dropped the steel drill, point upwards, in the hole, thus effectually stopping the work. In the sime year a company was formed for the purpose of boring for water on Factory square, and accordingly, a hole two and one-half inches in diameter was bored to a depth of about 126 feet, when water was found. The well was tubed and until about 1860 discharged a good supply of water, the latter being slightly charged with iron and sulphur. About the same time a similar well was drilled on Sewall's island, and at a depth of 80 feet was found both water and inflammable gas. The well
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was drilled deeper into the rock and both the former discoveries en- tirely disappeared.
The first regularly organized company whose object was to supply the village with water for all general purposes, was the Watertown water company, incorporated April 10, 1826, but beyond the creation of the corporation nothing appears to have been done by the promoters of the enterprise. The same fate seems to have overtaken the Water- town water works company, incorporated April 11, 1845.1 This com- pany evidently acted with some deliberation and possibly with the en- contragement of the village trustees. In 1844 the latter passed a reso- lution directing engineer Timothy Dewey to make proper inquiries, plans and estimates with a view to determine the most available and sufficient sources of supply, and also the probable cost of the completed system. On November 13, 1844, Mr. Dewey made a detailed report which was published in the Jeffersonian on December 3d of that year. The worthy engineer reviewed the subject of water works systems generally, mentioning the source of supply in many of the principal cities and European countries; and having evidently prepared the minds of the readers for the adoption of some system for this village, proceeded to set forth the desirability of a reservoir at the cold springs, on the Davenport farm, two and one-half miles from the village, from which the water was to be distributed through the streets by iron pipes. The second plan contemplated the construction of a system much upon the lines of the present water works. But the most inter- esting portion of engineer Dewey's report was the argument in favor of a system of some kind, He said :
"Beside, there will be a great saving of soap, as well as hard labor, in washing; more than one-third of the cost of soap will be saved, and one quarter of the time bestowed in this necessary occupation. How much longer shall it be said that the luxury of a bath in the health preserving and invigorating element cannot be ob. tained in Watertown; that the element which the saint and savage, the Turk and Christian most adore shall remain a stranger in the place. Shall the hands and face only receive a small share of the blessing, and the vital organs take care of them- selves as best they may ? Why may it not soon be said that Watertown with its public square, with its spouting fountains, its literary and scientific institute, its fine and well filled churches, its moral and energetic population, its inexhanstible water power, is the most desirable residence in the northern part of this splendid Union ?"
! The incorporators were Loveland Paddock, Timothy Dewey, F. W. Hubbard, N. M. Wood- ruff and Orville Hungerford.
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However, on Mr. Dewey's report we cannot dwell at length. His plans were not adopted at the time, but may have been a factor in de- termining the action of the commissioners who in fact established the village water system in 1853. Under the act of 1815 nothing substantial was accomplished, but eight years later a complete water works was constructed. The incorporating act was passed March 22, and Love- land Paddock, George C. Sherman, Isaac HI. Fisk, William H. Angel and Howell Cooper were declared to be the water commissioners' of the village of Watertown. The commissioners were directed to furnish a joint bond in the sum of $60,000 for the faithful performance of their dutics, and were authorized to borrow on the credit of the village the sum of $60,000 for a term of 30 years. With the fund created by the sale of bonds the water works system of the village was built during the year 1853, the water being turned into the pipes on November 23. "The system still remains, yet not one vestige of the original plant is now in use.
The first pumping house and reservoir were constructed by C. Jay Wells; the machinery was furnished by loard & Bradford, and the pipes were laid by J. Ball & Co. For the reservoir the commissioners secured from John C. Sterling a six acre tract of land a mile south- cast of the village, on the brow of a limestone ridge, 180 feet above the publie square. Mr. Sterling, as executor of Micah Sterling's estate, also offered to convoy to the commissioners a twenty acre traet of land adjoining the reservoir lot, for the purposes of a park, but on the con- dition that the same be laid out with drives, walks and other park im- provements; and also that the sum of $250 be expended in this work within the next succeeding eighteen months. The offer was made April 9, 1853, and was accepted by the board, but the conditions were not fully carried out according to the terms of the donation, and on June 3. 1864, the commissioners reconveyed to the executors (John C. Sterling and Lawrence J. Goodale) a considerable portion of the tract. Through this inadvertence Watertown lost the opportunity of having a beautiful park tract.
The water works was of ample capacity at the time of its construction, but as the village grew into a city, and increased in population and com- mercial interests an enlargement of the system became necessary. In 1821 the reservoir capacity was more than doubled, and in 1882 a new
1 The act of May 22, 1897, declares that the commissioners of water works of the city shall con- stitute the " board of water works "
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pumping station was built at the so-called Delano falls, on the south side of the river. Other material improvements were also made, and in that year the board expended about $60,000. In 1897 still further additions were made, particularly in erecting a new pumping station at a cost of more than $30,000, and constructing a settling basin and laying intake pipe at the expense of more than $24,000. The entire cost of the system to the present time has been about $385,000, and the amout of outstanding water bonds is $235,000. This department of municipal government, however, is self-sustaining, and the water works are maintained with no expense to the taxpayers. The system com- prises about 2? miles of main pipes ; 250 fire hydrants; 1,500 taps. The annual revenue aggregates about $30,000. The presidents of the board of water commissioners have been as follows:
Loveland Paddock, June-Sept., 1853; Geo. C. Sherman, Sept. 1853-June, 1863; Isaac H. Fisk, 1863-June, 1869; A. D. Remington, 1869-June, 1873; Richard Van Namee, 1873-July 6, 18 6; John C. Knowlton, July 6, 1886 -.
The clerks of the board have been Geo. C. Sherman, 1853-58; G. R. Hanford, 1858-63; Isaac H. Fisk (prest. and secty. , ) 1863-Jan. 1864; Chas. Strang, Jan .- Nov. 1864; John F. Moffett, 1864-1869: Nathaniel P. Wardwell, July 1, 1869-Jan. 1, 1898; Gary M. Jones, Jan. 1, 1898 -.
The Watertown Gaslight company was incorporated in March, 1852, with a capital of $20,000, although in September of the preceding year the trustees had by ordinance granted to Walworth, Nason & Guild the exclusive right to supply the village with resin gas for a period of ten years. The regularly organized gas company began operations in 1852 by erecting buildings on Anthony street and laying pipes throughout the principal business streets. The work was completed in due time and the affairs of the company were successfully conducted until 18:4, when a reorganization was effected, a new set of stockholders came into the concern, and the operating capital was increased to $100,000. As the city increased in population and business importance the works have been from time to time enlarged and extended. In 1896 the gen- erating capacity of the plant was doubled, and can now produce 200,000 feet of gas per day. There are about fifteen miles of street pipes, and about 1, 200 meters in use. The present officers of the company are Harry C. Whitney, president and manager; Anson R. Flower, vice- president; Silas L. George, secretary and treasurer; and Allen C. Beach, S. L. George, Il. C. Whitney, A. R. Flower and Mrs. Il. S. Story, directors.
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The Watertown Electric Light company was organized and incorpo- rated in 1885, with a capital stock of $15,000. The first officers were Jno. C. McCartin, president ; Charles 11. Tubbs, treasurer ; and E. S. Goodale, secretary. The company's works were at first located in an old stone building on Beebee's island, but in 1891 were removed to the large stone building erected at the corner of Mill and Moulton streets, on the north side of the river, on the site of the old " checkered " flour- ing mill of early pears. The present company officers are Dewitt C. Middleton, president; Omar A. Hine, treasurer ; and D. C. Middleton, A. C. Middleton, Mrs. Frank L. Baker, Amelia and Alice Baker, directors.
The Watertown Street Railway company was organized in 1887, and on November 22 of that year the common council granted the franchise to build and operate the road from the eastern to the western limits of the city. The work of construction was begun November 24, 1888, and the road was opened for traffic May 20, 1891. The first officers of the company were A. D. Remington, prest. ; E. S. Goodale, sec. and treas. ; W. H. Cole, supt. ; and John C. Thompson, A. D. Remington, S. F. Bagg, E. S. Goodale, E. M. Gates, J. Mullin and Geo. B. Massey, directors. The operation of the road has been a great convenience to the people of the city, and particularly to citizens of Brownville, to which point the road was extended, but for some reason the investment has never been profitable for the stockholders. In 1896 the company went into the hands of a receiver, and in the latter part of 189; the road and franchise were sold to non resident capitalists.
Military .- Within a few years after the close of the war of 1861 5, the state authorities provided for the organization of militia organiza- tions in each county, and in accordance with its provisions the 35th battalion of the 6th brigade, 4th division of national guards, state of New York, was organized with division and brigade headquarters at Watertown. The battalion comprised four companies, A, B and C of Watertown. and D of Theresa, and was for several years regarded as one of the most efficient militia organizations in this part of the state, excepting perhaps the U. S. troops at Madison barracks. In 1879 the splendid large armory was built for the use of the battalion, but in 1882, in conformity with the directions from the state military authorities the the organization was disbanded, and Co. C, being the best disciplined portion of the foree, was resolved into the 39th separate company, as now existing. In 1815 James R. Miller, who came from the west of
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