USA > New York > Saratoga County > Our county and its people : a descriptive and biographical record of Saratoga County, New York > Part 33
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In 1844 a reservoir of about 3,000 hogsheads capacity was erected on Franklin square, into which ran the water from the aqueduct of Thomas J. Marvin and from several springs. The water was distributed through the village in wooden conduits. In 1845 a new hand engine, costing $650, was purchased. Three years later the records show that the village supported three fire companies and one hook and ladder com- pany. One of the fire companies was disbanded in that year, but soon was reorganized.
November 29, 1844, a disastrous fire occurred, causing a loss of $15,- 000, a large amount for those days. A new system of water works was
litigation not only vindicated the merits of the engine and the honesty of the commissioners but served to make the superiority of the engine widely known and led to its extensive adoption for similar use throughout the country.
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established soon, the reservoir being located in the town of Greenfield. October 2, 1855, Engine Company No. 4 was organized. In 1858 the engine under control of the Congress and Empire Spring company was placed in charge of the village and Engine Company No. 5 was organ- ized. In 1863 a new engine was purchased for Engine Company No. 2.
March 28, 1866, the first steam fire engine, called the " Saratoga," was purchased of the Button works at Waterford for $3,500. It was located in the house of Engine Company No. 1 on Hamilton street, and Dennis Madigan was appointed engineer in charge.
The burning of the famous United States hotel June 18, 1865, caus- ing a loss of $350,000, was the greatest fire up to that time in the his- tory of Saratoga Springs. The local fire department was unable to cope with the overpowering conflagration, and the news of the fire having reached neighboring towns, Eagle engine No. 1 and Star engine No. 2 from Ballston Spa and Hugh Rankin steamer from Troy were sent by special train to the scene of the catastrophe. With their assist- ance the fire was soon checked.
Congress Hall burned on the night of May 28, 1866, but the depart- ment succeeded in saving the adjacent property. In the fall of that year the village purchased a new steam engine, which was named the " John H. White."
September 13 and 14, 1871, a grand firemen's tournament was held at Saratoga Springs. On the second day of the festivities fire destroyed the Crescent, the Park Place and the Columbian hotels, with several other buildings, causing a loss of $200,000.
October 1, 1874, the Grand hotel took fire, and despite the most heroic efforts on the part of the local department, assisted by engines and firemen from Troy, Ballston Spa and other places, this magnificent hotel was destroyed.
In 1877 a fire alarm telegraph system was constructed. Since that date numerous other improvements have been made, until the Saratoga Springs department is to-day one of the best equipped departments in any town of its size in the country.
The Saratoga paid fire department succeeded the volunteer compan- ies in 1883, taking the place of six hose companies, three steamer com- panies, one protective company and a hook and ladder. The first chief engineer was Elias J. Shadwick, who has filled this position contin- uously with the exception of from May, 1892, to November, 1893, when Charles F. See was chief. John T. Dillon was the first assistant chief,
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and served until November, 1886. The only other assistant chief has been Richard Mingay, jr., who at present fills the position. The de- partment includes nine permanent and thirteen call firemen, and is eqipped with a Hayes truck. The central house is on Broadway.
The fire department of Ballston Spa consists of two hose companies and a hook and ladder company, which have been in existence several years. They are Eagle Fire company No. 1, Union Fire company No. 2 and Matt Lee Hook and Ladder company No. 2. Water is taken from a reservoir two miles and a half north of the village, and the pres- sure is sufficient to do away with the necessity of a fire engine.
Mechanicville has an excellent fire department. May 31, 1875, the village purchased of L. Button & Son of Waterford an engine known as Washington engine No. 1. This was sold in 1897 to the village of Schaghticoke. The successor of Washington Engine company is known as the La Dow Steamer and Hose company. A system of water works was constructed in 1891 and 1892, at an expense of about $140,000. The reservoir is located three miles northwest of the village, above Willow Glen. The sewer system of Mechanicville was constructed in 1896 at a cost of $40,000.
The Saratoga Athenaeum and School of Design was organized in 1884 and incorporated in 1885. The founder was Prof. Nathan Sheppard, who was its president until his death in 1887. Charles C. Lester is the present president. The object of the Athenaeum is the maintenance of a public circulating and reference library and school of design and art gallery. The headquarters are in the French building on Broadway and the hope of the members and officers is that in time a handsome building will be the home of the worthy institution which aims to instill into the hearts of the community a love for the best in art and litera- ture. The trustees of the Athenaeum are Charles C. Lester, Winsor B. French, James Mingay, Charles F. Dowd, Edgar T. Brackett, Antoine de R. McNair, Theodore F. Hamilton, Tabor B. Reynolds, Cassius B. Thomas, John W. Shackelford.
The floral fetes which have been the culmination of Saratoga's sum- mer season for four years had their inception in a speech made in 1893 by Franklin W. Smith, proprietor of the House of Pansa. The first fete held in 1894 was a revelation, the echoes of which did not die down until the fete of the following year, which brought 50,000 people to witness the gorgeous pageant of carriages and floats. The fete of 1895 retained the features of its predecessors and in line with the
CHARLES C. LESTER.
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times, brought into prominence the bicycle. There were myriads of blossom bedecked wheels divided into squadrons and cavalcades. Gov. Levi P. Morton rode in the van of the pageant. In 1896 the fete de- veloped into such prominence that 100,000 excursionists visited Sara- toga. The event was no longer a local one and the country for miles around was called on to contribute flowers used in ornamenting the cortege of equipages which passed through floral arches on streets lined with gay decorations and thronged with admiring thousands. The fete of 1897 was the climax of the series. The street display was rivaled by the floral ball, which, although a popular part of previous fetes, reached the zenith of perfection this year. Convention hall, where the ball took place, was turned into a tropical bower, upon whose brilliant verdure countless lights flickered and glistened Six thousand people looked on while two thousand participated in the terpsichorean ecstasies. Scores of children took part in a spectacular fantasie, "The Realms of the Rose," composed and arranged by M. S. Frothingham of New York. The fetes are conducted early in September by a floral festival association, and their object is for the general glory of Saratoga and to show that some attention is paid to the esthetic.
The Charlton Industrial Farm school is a quasi public institution. In the fall of 1894 John S. Hawley of New York city, who had become interested in the welfare of wayward youth, opened a correspondence with Dr. James T. Sweetman of Charlton, of which town Mr. Hawley was a native, with the object of beginning an industrial farm school in Charlton. Dr. Sweetman talked of the project with his neighbors; meetings were held and the result was that the Valentine farm, one of the best in the town, was selected for the location of the proposed in- stitution, Mr. Hawley donating the sum of $25,000 to begin the work. The farm cost about $14,000, besides stock, tools, etc. The institution was opened about the beginning of the year 1896. Subscriptions for a new building have come in, so that the managers now have on hand money sufficient to erect a building that will accommodate from thirty to forty boys. It is expected that this building will be erected very soon. The object of this school is to reclaim boys who, for lack of parental restraint, are drifting toward a life of crime. The boys are committed by legal process to the custody of the school. Being thus removed from their. vicious associates, they are brought under good moral influences, taught the value of character, trained to industry and given a good elementary education. James M. Bell is superintendent
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and Mrs. Kate De R. Thorburn is matron. The directors are Rev. A. Wareham, president; William Chalmers, vice-president; James T. Sweetman, M. D., secretary and treasurer; George C. Valentine and Walter I. Cavert. The outlook for the institution is most promising.
The articles of incorporation of the Schuylerville Steamboat com- pany. were filed in the office of the county clerk May 3, 1898. The capital is $30,000, and the object of the corporation is to perfect and maintain steam navigation for fifty years on the waters of the Upper Hudson river between Schuylerville and Stillwater. The incorporators are Joseph A. Powers, Albert W. Powers, Edward F. Powers, James H. Caldwell, John Knickerbacker, Henry Newland, Herbert O. Bailey. The company operates a steam yacht for passenger traffic between the villages named, connecting at Stillwater with the electric railway for Troy and Albany.
The Dunsbach Bridge company began, in 1898, the construction of a bridge across the Mohawk river at Dunsbach's Ferry, and had spent about $18,000 upon the work when the Halfmoon Bridge company, which operates a bridge over the Mohawk at Crescent, began an action to restrain the first-named company from continuing the work, claim- ing that the new company sought to infringe upon the rights of the older company. The matter is not yet decided.
CLUBS, SOCIETIES, ETC.
The most noted social organization in Saratoga county probably is the Saratoga club of Saratoga Springs.
The Saratoga club was organized in 1892, and in January, 1894, the club occupied its handsome North Broadway home. The club house and site cost $30,000 and the materials used in its construction are brick and terra cotta. S. Gifford Slocum of New York and Saratoga was the architect. In the personnel of its membership and in the appointments of its club house the organization has no superior between Troy and Montreal. James M. Marvin was the club's first president and he has been successively re-elected every year. In 1892 and '93 George P. Lawton was vice-president, John C. Shepherd treasurer and Wharton Meehan secretary. In 1894 the officers were the same, with the ex- ception of the vice-president, who was J. Willard Lester. In 1895 Mr. Lester was vice-president, Mr. Shepherd treasurer, and C. E. Durkee secretary. The officers in 1896 and 1897 were John A. Manning, vice- president, Mr. Shepherd treasurer and Heman L. Waterbury secretary.
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In 1898 John A. Manning was elected vice-president, Lynn R. Rich, treasurer to succeed Mr. Shepherd, deceased, and Mr. Waterbury secretary.
The Utopian club of Ballston Spa is another leading social organiza- tion of the county. The following entry in the records of the club ex- plains its organization :
Monday Evening, Sept. 7, 1885.
According to agreement a party of young men assembled at the store of John H. Westcot, to take up the question of organizing a social or dancing club. There were present, William J. Mitchell, Herbert C. Westcot, Horace E. McKnight and Herman W. Gunther.
After considering the question in its different phases and agreeing to support a club of the kind, it was resolved, considering the small number present, to call a meeting of the young men of the village, who would naturally be interested, at the Medbery Hotel parlor, Friday Evening, September 11, 1885, to organize a club.
The permanent organization of the club took place September 18, 1885, the following officers being elected: President, John H. Burke; vice-president, William J. Mitchell; secretary, Herman W. Gunther; treasurer, Herbert C. Westcot.
Mr. Burke continued to act as president until September 17, 1886. Andrew S. Booth was elected president and continued to act as such from September 17, 1886, to September 9, 1887. Alfred N. Wiley was elected and acted as president from September 9, 1887, to January 11, 1889. The club was incorporated December 30, 1887, the trustees for the first year being: Alfred N Wiley, Irving W. Wiswall, Seth S. Whalen, David L. Wood and Calvin Whiting. Andrew S. Booth was elected president January 11, 1889, and has been regularly elected each year since. The membership is limited to sixty-five.
The Waterford club, a social organization of which many of the most prominent men in the village are members was organized January 29, 1885, when William Holroyd was chosen president and Thomas O'Con- nor secretary. The club has handsomely furnished rooms in the town hall. The following have served as presidents of the club in the order named:
William Holroyd, Thomas Brisbin, John H. Pynes, John W. Ford, C. C. Ormsby, Charles L. Mitchell, William A. Dennis, William L. Porter, George Neil.
William A. Saxe, secretary of the club, has served in that capacity since 1894.
The Homoeopathic Medical Society of Saratoga County, was organ- ized in 1863. Practically all of the homoeopathic practitioners in the
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county have been connected with it at some time during its existence of thirty-five years. Among the early members were Drs. S. J. Pear- sall of Saratoga Springs, Thomas E. Allen of Saratoga Springs, J. F. Doolittle of Ballston Spa, Zina Clement of Saratoga Springs, A. G. Peckham of Waterford, William E. Rogers of Rexford's Flats, B. F. Cornell of Fort Edward.
Empire Lodge No. 79, K. of P., of Saratoga Springs, was instituted with twenty-nine members, February 5, 1872. The charter officers were: Chancellor commander, N. Waterbury; vice-chancellor, B. H. Searing; prelate, C. H. Sanborn; master at arms, C. H. J. Montgom- ery; keeper of records and seals, Henry Marshall; master of finance, T. B. Valentine; master of exchequer, William F. Calkins; inner guard, G. W. Zahn; outer guard, W. L. Graham; past chancellor, F. W. Horton.
Merriam Rebekah Degree lodge of Saratoga Springs was chartered May 1, 1884, with thirty three members. The first officers were: N. G., A. P. Mallery ; V.G., Ellen M. Martin; secretary, Mary E. Rob- bins; treasurer, Miriam Boyce; conductor, Nellie E. Briggs; warden, Addie Robbins; inside guardian, Helen Weed; outside guardian, Mar- garet Kirkpatrick; R. S. N. G., Hannah Sanborn; L. S. N. G., Sarah Tooley; R.S.V.G., Josephine Carlue; chaplain, Sarah Sanborn. Feb- ruary 18, 1885, the name of the lodge was changed to Yaddo. The presiding officers, in the order of their service, have been: Ellen M. Martin, Miriam Boyce, Nellie E. Briggs, Sarah Sanborn, Ella Farring- ton, Anna R. Lorman, Sarah J. Tooley, Minnie Eddy, Viola G. B. Martin, Mary E. Briggs, Mary C. Price, Saran J. Putnam, Minnie E. Clark, Ella B. Myers.
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS.
The one hundredth anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence was celebrated with great festivities at Saratoga Springs, Ballston Spa and Schuylerville. At Saratoga Springs Judge Augustus Bockes of the Supreme Court occupied the chair at the meeting in the evening, held in the town hall, and the late Nathaniel Bartlett Sylves- ter delivered a historical address. At Ballston Spa the historical ad- dress was delivered by Hon. George Gordon Scott, and Hon. Jesse S. L'Amoreaux pronounced a centennial oration. At Schuylerville an address was delivered by General E. F. Bullard.
In 1877 two great historic events were celebrated in the town of Sar-
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atoga. The first of these was the hundredth anniversary of the battle of Bemus Heights, which occurred September 19, 1777. Thousands of people from all sections, but principally from Saratoga county, were present. About nine o'clock in the morning a magnificent procession formed on the square at Bemus Heights hotel, near the river, and marched to the battlefield, half a mile distant. The order was as fol. lows:
First Division .- Platoon of police; General Winsor B. French of Saratoga, grand marshal, and staff; Major-General Joseph B. Carr of Troy and staff; Brigadier- General Alonzo Alden of Troy and staff; Doring's Band of Troy; Chadwick's Guards of Cohoes, Captain P. H. Chadwick commanding; Troy Citizens' Corps, Captain J. W. Cusack commanding; Troy Tibbits Corps, Captain J. Egolf commanding ; Troy Tibbits Cadets, Captain J. H. Patten commanding; Sherman Guards of Port Henry, Captain F. G. Atwell commanding; Hughes's Light Guard of South Glens Falls, Captain F. Gleesattle commanding; Burleigh Corps of Whitehall, Captain G. T. Hall commanding; Battery B of Troy, Captain A. H. Green commanding; Generals Hughes and Tracy and Colonel Lodewick of the Governor's staff; Brigadier-General Dickerman of Albany and staff; Hon. George Gordon Scott of Ballston Spa, presi- dent of the day; orators, poet and clergy.
Second Division .- Colonel D. J. Caw, assistant marshal, and aids; Seventy-seventh Regiment band of Saratoga Springs; Saratoga veterans, carrying the old Bemus Heights regimental flag, commanded by Captain Frank Thomas; Saratoga Conti- nentals, mounted; representative citizens of Saratoga Springs.
Third Division .- Captain Benjamin F. Judson, assistant marshal, commanding ; marshal's aids; Huling's band of Ballston Spa; Eagle Engine company of Ballston Spa; Hovey Fire company of Ballston Spa; Ballston Spa veterans and citizens; Schuylerville band; Schuylerville Fire company; mounted yeomanry; Schuylerville citizens.
The exercises at the battle-ground began about noon. After prayer by Rev. Peter Stryker, D. D., of Saratoga Springs, Hon. George G. Scott of Ballston Spa, president of the day, delivered a brief address. He was followed by Hon. Martin I. Townsend of Troy, who delivered an eloquent oration. Lieutenant-Governor Dorsheimer also made an address. Hon. Austin A. Yates of Schenectady read the anniversary poem, written by Robert Lowell of Union college. John Austin Stevens of New York delivered the historical narrative, giving, in de- tail, the history of General Burgoyne's remarkable campaign. After lunch and a review of the troops by Lieutenant-Governor Dorsheimer and General Carr and staff, the military companies present participated in a sham battle, after which the assembled multitude returned to their homes.
In his remarks, Judge Scott said :
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It is difficult to realize the far-reaching consequences of this world-renowned bat- tle. It has been said with much force that without it Bunker Hill would have been insignificant and Yorktown impossible. It secured to us the alliance and aid of France; it inspired us with confidence in ourselves; and foreshadowed the ultimate, if not early, accomplishment of American independence, which, fifteen months pre- vious, had been boldly, but in the apprehensions of many, prematurely and rashly promulgated. It is ranked by historians among the few battles in the history of the world that have changed the course of empires and shaped the destinies of our race. It has resulted in this great confederated republic, which, in spite of the defects in- herent in that form of government and of the severe trials through which, during its marvellous growth and territorial expansion, it has passed, is, for the highest pur- poses for which governments are instituted, superior to any other, ancient or modern.
In the early part of his long but exceedingly interesting and valuable address, John Austin Stevens said:
The ground upon which we stand is memorable. Before the discovery of the con- tinent this territory, at whose southern angle we are now gathered, was the battle- field of the Indian tribes, whose war trails lay upon its boundaries, and from the days of European settlement it has been the debatable ground of the French and Dutch, the French and English, and the colonists and English, by turns. Here the fate of the American empire has been repeatedly sealed.
In closing his address Mr. Stevens said:
The series of engagements known as the battle of Saratoga has been styled one of the fifteen decisive battles of the world. Its consequences were of such vast im- portance as to entitle it to this distinction. The long-cherished plan of the British Ministry, pursued through two campaigns with persevering obstinacy, was finally defeated. The open alliance of France was secured; the United States of America were recognized by the continental powers. The news of the victory spread rapidly over the land, carrying joy to the hearts of the patriots. Washington viewed it as a signal stroke of Providence. Congress voted the thanks of the nation to General Gates and his army, and a gold medal was struck and presented to him in commem- oration of the event.
The second event to which reference has been made was the celebra- tion of the centennial anniversary of the surrender of Burgoyne, which was held at Schuylerville October 17, 1877. The occasion was made doubly interesting by the ceremony of laying the corner stone of the Saratoga battle monument. The number of persons in attendance is variously estimated at between 30,000 and 40,000.
It was about noon before the splendid procession took up the route of march. It moved in the following order:
Platoon of police; Gen. Winsor B. French, chief marshal; chief marshal's staff, Capt. Benjamin F. Judson, Maj. W. J. Riggs, Surgeon Wm. H. Hall, Col. Hiram Rodgers, Capt. A. A. Patterson, J. W. Lester, R. A. Heminway, Capt. William W.
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Worden, Maj. Edgar T. Brackett, Capt. Edward P. Howe, Capt. P. F. Allen, Samuel F. Corey, Capt. James M. Andrews, jr., Saratoga Springs; Capt. Walton W. French, Ballston Spa; Capt. Geo. Robinson, Capt. Thomas, Dr. Gray, Delcour S. Potter, A. Welch, J. S. Dillenbeck, Charles H. McNaughton, S. McCreedy, P. S. Wheeler, Dr. N. C. Harris, Lieutenants Dillenbeck, Fletcher, Pennock, Schuylerville; Doring's band of Troy; Co. F. Tenth regiment, Capt. George Weidman commanding, of Albany ; Co. I, Twenty-fifth regiment, Capt. Walker commanding, of Albany; First Company Governor's Foot Guards of Hartford Conn., in Old English uniform worn in George III's reign, W. A. Talcott, major, commanding battalion; Colt's band, Hartford, Conn., Thomas G. Adkins, leader; Capt. A. H. Wiley, commanding first company; Lieut. R. D. Burdick, commanding second company; Lieut. S. E. Hascall, commanding third company; Lieut. W. E. Eaton, commanding fourth company; Park Guards of Bennington, Vt., Capt. O. N. Wilcox, commander, with band; Hughes Light Guards of Glens Falls, Captain Gleesattle, commanding; Grand Mar- shal of Knights Templar and aides; Ballston Cornet band; Washington Commandery of Saratoga Springs; Apollo Commandery of Troy; Temple Commandery No. 2 of Albany; Holy Cross Commandery of Gloversville; La Fayette Commandery of Hud- son ; Little Falls Commandery of Little Falls; Desoto Commandery No. 49 of Platts- burgh; Killington Commandery of Rutland, Vt. ; Bennington band; Tefft Command- ery of Bennington, Vt .; St. George's Commandery No. 37, of Schenectady ; M. W., J. J. Couch, grand master of Masons in the State of New York; R. W., Edmund L. Judson, deputy grand master; R. W., Jesse B. Anthony, senior grand warden; Ben- jamin Flagler, junior grand warden; New York State officials; president of the day, Alexander H. Rice, governor of Massachusetts; orators; poets; speakers; clergy and chaplain in carriages; the Saratoga Monument association; invited guests in car- riages; Schuylerville Cornet band; veterans of the late war; Grand Army of the Re- public; veterans of the war with Mexico; veterans of the war of 1812; descendants of revolutionary soldiers; Seventy-seventh Regimental band of Saratoga Springs; cav- alry in continental uniform, Maj. J. S. Fassett, commanding, Saratoga Springs; Ballston Spa cavalry, Col C. T. Peck, commander; civic associations; municipal au- thorities of Schuylerville.
The route of march was as follows:
Gates avenue to Grove street; Grove to Pearl to Burgoyne; Burgoyne to Broad; Broad to Spring; Spring to Church; Church to Burgoyne; Burgoyne to Pearl; Pearl to Saratoga; Saratoga to Green ; Green to Burgoyne; Burgoyne to Cemetery.
The order of exercises at the monument were as follows:
Music, Doring's band ; prayer, Rev. Rufus W. Clark, D.D., of Albany, chaplain of the day; music; introductory address by president of the day, Governor Rice of Massachusetts; music; oration by ex-Gov. Horatio Seymour; music; oration by Hon. George William Curtis; poems by Gen. J. Watts De Peyster and Alfred B. Street; Fitz Green Halleck's "Field of the Grounded Arms," read by Gen. James Grant Wilson; music; historical address by William L. Stone of New York city; short ad- dresses by Hon. Austin A. Yates of Schenectady, H. L. Gladding and others; grand banquet; closing with a brilliant military spectacle representing the surrender of Burgoyne's army.
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