USA > New York > Onondaga County > Past and present of Syracuse and Onondaga County, New York : from prehistoric times to the beginning of 1908 > Part 55
USA > New York > Onondaga County > Syracuse > Past and present of Syracuse and Onondaga County, New York : from prehistoric times to the beginning of 1908 > Part 55
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Lewis II. Redfield has been several times mentioned, and was born Novem- ber 26, 1792. He began publishing the Onondaga Register at Onondaga Val- ley, September 17, 1814, and afterward went to Syracuse. Part of the time he sold books. He died July 14, 1882.
Some later comers of prominence may here be added to these, as Dr. J. M. Wieting, who came in 1837 as a civil engineer, and acquired a high reputa- tion as a lecturer, and whose name is associated with the Wieting block. Peter Burns came in 1836, and his saddlery works had a wide reputation. Horaee White eame here in 1838; his brother Hamilton, the next year Both became prominent men. Philo D. Mickles, son of Nicholas Mickles, the fur- nace man, was a prominent hardware and foundry man of Syracuse. Sylvester P. Pierce came in 1839, and at a later day was the head of the firm of Pierce. Butler & Pierce. He died November 5. 1893. Charles A. and Horace Wheaton were early citizens of promise, and built the . Wheaton. afterward the Wieting block.
In 1832 came the Asiatic cholera, and the consequent alarm caused some curious measures. Boats were quarantined for fifteen days at Lodi, if there was cholera on board, and a fleet soon gathered there. Then the authorities thought it best to hurry the boats on their way, and this was done. About one hundred persons died in Syraeuse and Salina, some being prominent peo- ple. The disease passed away. but there was a milder recurrence in 1834. and on the last Sunday of July in that year there were ten funerals.
Street paving was ordered in 1834, but nothing was done till 1835, and not much then. It went on faster the next year, when the sum of six thousand seven hundred and eighty-two dollars was expended for street improvement. In 1838 steps were taken for building a public market. We do not take
strangers to admire ours now. Yet a market house was built, used a while. and then deserted, except as meetings were held in the hall. It did not pay. Our present market is less expensive. It is heated by the sun, cleansed by the rain, and has the blue sky for its dome, the earth for its floor.
Railroads have been mentioned elsewhere. and will be passed over now, except to quote from the New York State Tourist of 1842, a note on the road to Split Roek, a minor enterprise of that day: "By taking a ride by the rail-road five miles up the hill to the quarries, where a thousand men are seen at work raising stones from the surface, and in hewing. shaping, modeling, &c .. for the new locks that are to be made on the Erie Canal. and in entering the cave or chasm that is here found. and in enjoying the extensive prospect from the summit, we can promise the explorer and geologist a rich treat."
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PAST AND PRESENT OF ONONDAGA COUNTY
It may not be amiss to quote from Gordon's Gazetteer an account of Syra. cuse in 1836:
"Syraense, one of the magnificent canal ereations, is situated near the center of the county (of which it is the seat of justice) at the point where the great Seneca turnpike erosses the Erie .canal, and at the junction of that canal with the Oswego canal, 278 miles N. W. from New York, 133 W. from Albany, and by the canal 171, from Utica 61. and from Rochester 99 miles; the meeting of the canals and turnpike renders it the great thoroughfare to Canada. The village, incorporated in 1825, extends on both sides of the eanal. and contains 1 Episcopal. 1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist. and 1 Baptist church, the court honse, prison, and clerk's office. 2 lyceums, 2 printing offiees, each issuing a weekly newspaper. 2 book stores, 1 incorporated high school, "Syracuse Academy." 16 lawyers, 11 physicians, 16 general stores, 22 grocery and provision stores. 4 drug stores, 2 hardware. 4 clothing, and 5 large shoe stores, 3 furnaces and machine shops, 2 flouring and 1 saw mill, 1 planing machine, 3 tin and copper manufactories. 2 leather, 1 morocco, 3 marble, 2 carriage, 3 cabinet ware, and one soap and candle mamifactories, an extensive manufactory of steam engines and other castings, 1 brewery 1 distillery, 2 tanneries. 1 boat yard and dry dock, the Onondaga Bank (eapital $150.000). 2 fire companies with engines. 1 hook and ladder company. 2 companies. each with a capital of $150.000. for the manufacture of coarse salt, making 163,000 bushels annually, and 15 salt blocks for making salt by fire. The increase of this village is most rapid, and it already assumes a city-like appearance, pre- senting many and spacious streets and large blocks of four storied stores; near the canal is one of the most splendid hotels in the State, of brick, four stories high. The number of dwellings is about 700; population in 1830, 2.565; in 1835. 4.103. The Onondaga creek. affording valuable water power, runs through the village, over which the canal is carried in a stone aqueduct of 4 arches. One mile east terminates the Utica long level of sixty-nine and a half miles."'
As president of the village 1838-40. Mr. Leavenworth accomplished much in beautifying the growing town. In 1840 Forman Square was made a park, Washington street was extended to Cronse, and Fayette to Cherry street. In 1838 a city charter was talked of, but nothing was done for some years.
Germans who came here before 1821 settled mostly in Manlius and Cieero. but about 1830 some came to Salina. In 1804 Henry P. Bentz. John J. Mang and Christian Usenbents had come there. Mang was a physician, and Bentz was his nephew. The latter's sister married Usenbents. The family went into the salt business, and Usenbents was prominent in this. Mang welcomed all German immigrants to his house, and died December 16, 1842, at his home near Wolf street, at the age of eighty years.
John Graff eame in 1826, and Nicholas Grumbach in 1828. He was the father of Colonel Nicholas Grumbach. Jacob Drumma eame in 1829, and was long overseer of the poor. Frederick Schneider and John M. Werner came the same year. Henry Herbener, famous as a. band leader, eame in
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PAST AND PRESENT OF ONONDAGA COUNTY
1831, and by 1840 there was a large German population there." Another eol- ony came from Cape Vincent in 1833. Among these was Ernst Iloecher. whose name survives as Hier. In 1840 the Germans number over a thousand.
That year the Rose Hill cemetery was bought for three hundred dollars per aere, and that on Franklin street was abandoned. Cemeteries are treated elsewhere.
Poliee matters attracted attention in 1840, and it was resolved to have a police justice. The village had then a reputation for lawlessness. Pessi- inists, should read the record for 1841. Syracuse was not a large place, but there were seventy-five places where liquor was sold ; gambling places existed ; horse racing brought disreputable characters; incendiarism was feared. A resolution of August, 1841, says :
"We will unite our best efforts with those of the eivil magistrates, not only in bringing to punishment and driving ont from among us the numerous blacklegs. gamblers and incendiaries by whom we are said to be infested. but also in uprooting the infamous dens and resorts in our town, in which they are made, sustained and concealed, whether existing as groceries, billiard rooms, bowling alleys or brothels."
A night watch was sustained for a few months. but it was not till 1856 that Syracuse had a chief of police, directing its eight policemen. It seemed to need one. In 1857 Thomas Davis. the chief, reported five hundred places where liquor was sold on Sundays, and proposed to enforce the law. In 1860 a mob raided some disreputable houses, and a young man was killed. Mat- ters had not been in a satisfactory condition previous to the appointment of a chief, nor did Davis hold the place long. Meetings had been held looking to the suppression of "rowdyism and ineendiarism." resulting in better rules. Since then there has been comparative peace, though laws might have been better enforeed.
To return to the course of events. it appears that in 1839 eattle were abridged of their liberty to roam the streets for a part of the time. and Syra- cuse lost some of its rustie character. The paeket boats long vied with the new railroads in carrying passengers, but the end was sure. This pleasant way of traveling was not to last.
August 20. 1841. the great gunpowder explosion stunned the whole county with its horrors. At 9:30 P. M. a fire broke out in a shop by the Oswego eanal. The fire engines were playing on the flames, when an alarm was given that there was gunpowder in the building. Some persons fell back, and some remained. A terrifie explosion followed. and after the momentary still- ness, shrieks and groans were heard on every side. The dead numbered twenty-five, and the badly wounded forty, and twenty-four were slightly hurt. It was a terrible calamity, often referred to yet.
The Syracuse Library and Reading Room Association was incorporated in 1840, and did a good work in its day. The first water pipes were laid in 1842-3. and several streets assumed their present names. In 1844 the popu- lation was estimated at 10,000, and talk of a city eharter was resumed. One
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PAST AND PRESENT OF ONONDAGA COUNTY
city feature appeared, for the streets were cleaned for two hundred dollars. The city feature was not in the cost.
The Granger Block was erected in 1844, and the Townsend block on West Water street in 1842. The Empire House was begun in 1844. and finished in 1847. It passed into the hands of Colonel James L. Voorhees, one of the builders, and was long known as the Voorhees House. The Globe Hotel block was built in 1846. In 1845 the large canal basin was doue away, and in 1846 the new market was occupied and the Malcolm bloek begun.
Early in 1847 measures were taken for uniting Salina and Syraense under a city charter. In January meetings in both villages favored this, and a committee was appointed to draft a charter. The incorporation took place, December 14, 1847, and included all within the corporate limits of Syracuse and Salina. The latter formed the first ward; the second took in intervening territory north of the Erie canal; and the third all of Syracuse south of the canal. January 3, 1848, both places accepted the charter and Harvey Baldwin became the first mayor.
In 1846 the first plank road was built, from Syracuse to Brewerton, and others soon followed. To give it a city air Syracuse had its first permanent theater, the National, the same year. That year, too, saw the direct railroad to Rochester under survey, though many thought it a foolish expenditure. Another forward step was forbidding ringing of dinner bells in the streets, and whipping of carpets in Fayette Park. Cities are hard on personal liberty.
Elias W. Leavenworth was elected mayor in 1849, and the filling in of the old mill pond and reclaiming of lands on Onondaga ereek soon followed. The Armory Park resulted from this. One impressive act of 1850 was the dedica- tion, in October, of the fine new First Presbyterian Church on Salina street, but recently removed.
In 1851 there came a great depression in the salt business, from which it never fully recovered. That year, too, was marked by the Jerry Rescue, always a stirring theme for some Syraense people. The American Anti- Slavery Society had met here in May, not being allowed a meeting in New York City in any suitable place. William Lloyd Garrison said this action of "New York has covered that city with historieal infamy, the receiving of it in Syracuse will eover this city with historical renown." The society used strong language. While noted Abolitionists were holding a convention in the fall, Jerry, a fugitive slave, was arrested October 1, 1851, and this was thought seemed probable he would be released. His friends took no chances. Jerry
a direct challenge. It was accepted. Jerry had no lack of counsel, and it was brought before Commissioner Sabine, made a break for liberty, was cap- tured and lodged in the police office. In the evening this was broken open. the officers were dispersed, and the prisoner was borne away. Ile remamed hid in the city for ten days and was then taken to Canada. Some arrests and indictments followed at much cost but without convictions. The leading Abolitionists were discreetly full in sight everywhere at the time. So the Jerry Rescue building became one of the city sights, and Garrison's promise was fulfilled.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF ONONDAGA COUNTY
Syracuse was growing. In 1852 the Bastable, Norton, Dillaye and Shel- don bloeks were ocenpied, and the Wheaton block was being erected. This was soon sold to Dr. Wieting, and was burned in 1856, and again in 1881.
Jenny Lind sang here July 16, 1851, and eleven hundred seats were sold. May 31,1852, Louis Kossuth had a publie reception, and that year Gen. Win. field Scott held a military review here. In 1853 Dennis MeCarthy became mayor, and the four city wards became eight. In 1854 the city funded its debt of seventy thousand dollars. The year before the old court house bad been sold, and new County Clerk's offices were built this year. The ereck was also straightened, and other improvements were made. Among these was the sale of salt lands and removal of salt vats from the Fifth to the Third Ward. There was a spirited mass meeting in February, in favor of canal enlargement, generally popular here.
The year 1856 had many fires. January 5 the Wieting block was burned. January 20 a building on the site of the present Jerry Rescue block was con- sumed. February 2 the Dillaye building was destroyed, and February 5 the old court house was burned. It has been said : "These and other fires at about that time eaused a storm of popular indignation. which was intensified by a simultaneous era of lawlessness and crime; a condition caused less by depravity among the people than by inadequacy and inefficieney of the police force and lack of vigor in other branches of city government." Some reforms were made for a time, but many laws have been almost a dead letter.
In 1856 Charles F. Williston became mayor, and in November there was another disastrous fire in the First Ward. The next year was one of financial - disaster through the country, and Syracuse did not escape. It was found, too, that the city's finances had been loosely managed. Reforms were intro- duced, with good results, but the year closed with a debt of eighty-four thousand dollars.
William Winton became mayor in 1858, and was followed by E. W. Leay- enworth in 1859, Dr. Amos Westcott in 1860, and Charles Andrews 1861-62. The military history of the county, recorded elsewhere, covers much of that of the city up to the summer of 1865. Charters for two street railways were granted in 1860. The first one was from the canal bridge through North Salina street to the First Ward. The opening of this for horse ears was duly celebrated. In 1871 another was opened to Oakwood Cemetery, and about 1886 others rapidly followed, built by independent companies, but eventually, under the trolley system, merged in the Rapid Transit lines. The first was the Central City Railway, from the eanal to the First Ward, opened in August 1860; Syracuse and Geddes Railway, built in 1863; the Syracuse and Onondaga Railway, opened July 25, 1864; the Genesee and Water Street Railway about 1866. The Water street track was taken up in 1878, and the Crouse avenne branch added in 1873. The Fifth Ward Railway was opened in 1868. The People's Railroad Company of 1887, and the Consolidated Street Railway Com- pany of 1800, absorbed the others.
In 1863 Daniel Bookstaver beeame mayor, and the council resolved to pay the water company eight thousand dollars per year for five years, if it
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PAST AND PRESENT OF ONONDAGA COUNTY
would provide a new reservoir costing twenty thousand dollars. This was done. In January, 1871. a citizens' committee reported in favor of the Tully lakes as a source of water supply. but the scheme was dropped.
William D. Stewart became mayor in 1865, and again in 1867. In March. 1865. there was a disastrous flood on Onondaga creek. several bridges being moved out of place or carried away. Creek improvement followed. but was unwisely stopped on account of the expense. Two steam fire engines were bought in 1867. and a high school building was begun on West Genesee street, and occupied in 1869. The Fayette street sewer was built in 1867. at the ex- pense of the eity and the New York Central railroad. The system has been gradually extended since.
Charles Andrews again beeame mayor in 1868, soon finding that author- ized expenses had been largely exceeded, perhaps not without reason. The funded debt was one hundred and fifty-three thousand five hundred dollars, and there was a temporary loan of twenty-five thousand dollars for steam fire engines and current expenses. The old railroad depot was removed from Van- derbilt Square February 28. 1869. About that time several fine buildings were erceted, as the Vanderbilt Honse, opened March 16, 1868; the Agan and Barton blocks, the Larned and old Onondaga Savings Bank buildings.
Much interest had been felt in the establishment of Syraense University here, and the corner stone of its first college was laid August 31, 1871. This gave a great impeins to that part of the city. Forman Park was also in- proved, and will soon have other artistie features provided by Mrs. W. H. II. Smith.
Danforth was incorporated as a village in 1875, afterward becoming part of the city. The preceding year a swing bridge was built over the Erie canal, the earlier one having been mich like that on Warren street.
In 1877 the funded debt was one million, four hundred and eighteen thousand dollars, and expenses were examined. In 1879 the city was paying two dollars per thousand for gas, and a proposed new company might furnish it at from one dollar and fifty cents to one dollar and seventy-five cents. That year the telephone was first exhibited in Syracuse. The corner stone of the new county elerk's office was laid August 11, 1980, with Masonie cere- monies, and General Grant was welcomed October 26.
A city improvement society was organized in 1881, and July 19 the Wiet- ing bloek was again burned. The West Shore railroad was opened October 1, 1883, and low rates led to immense travel. The present post office building was begun in March, 1884, and in that year electric lights were first used in the streets. Faces brightened, too, for the funded debt was reduced to one million, two hundred and twenty-two thousand dollars.
In 1887 Geddes and Danforth became parts of the city in February. Just before this Major John D. Burnet presented one hundred and thirty-five acres to the city to form Burnet Park, destined to be one of the most attrac- tive here, its drives commanding many fine views.
Charles P. Clark had beeome mayor in 1870, and that year the city aided the Syracuse Northern railroad by a bond issue of five hundred thousand
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PAST AND PRESENT OF ONONDAGA COUNTY
dollars, which was added to the funded debt of two hundred and eight thou- sand, five hundred dollars. Francis E. Carroll thus eame in as mayor in 1871. with a funded debt of nearly eight hundred thousand dollars, to which was soon added one hundred thousand dollars for Syracuse University, and a floating debt of fifty-eight thousand dollars. Carroll was again elected in 1872, and was succeeded by William J. Wallace in 1873. The latter found a funded debt of one million, two hundred and twenty-six thousand dollars, and a floating debt of one hundred thousand dollars. The latter he severely condemned.
N. F. Graves beeame mayor in 1874. That year occurred the terrible dis- aster at the Central Baptist church. June 23, in which fourteen were killed, and one hundred and forty-five injured by the fall of the floor. The smallpox that year had one hundred and eighty-two deaths out of eight hundred and ton eases by November 10, and there were others later. Beside the loss of trade the direct cost to the city was over sixty thousand dollars.
John J. Crouse became mayor in 1876. The debt was about the same, but the city agreed to pay twenty-five thousand dollars annually to the company for water. Retrenchment became the ery, and a committee of ninety-six was formed, with Charles P. Clark as chairman and P. Il. Agan and R. A. Bonta. secretaries. A compromise ticket was nominated, but failed, and James J. Belden became mayor, with one thousand, seven hundred and forty-five ma- jority. The funded debt was then one million, four hundred and eighteen thousand dollars, and the floating was ninety-five thousand, seven hundred and sixty-three dollars and ten cents. New books were opened, and business - methods successfully used. Mr. Belden was again elected in 1878. By that time one hundred and sixteen thousand and forty dollars and forty-eight cents had been paid on an actual floating debt of one hundred and forty-one thou- sand, three hundred and seventy-three dollars and seventy-six cents, and the cash on hand was nine thousand, one hundred and forty-nine dollars and eighty-eight cents. No debt had been incurred during 1877.
That year the paid fire department was established. It had four steam engines, one chemical, one hook and ladder truck and apparatus, five hose earts, eleven thousand feet of hose, and sixteen horses. The total street ex- pense was thirty thousand, two hundred and thirteen dollars and nine cents. The first city attorney. Martin A. Knapp, had disposed of a lot of claims, and the funded debt was reduced.
Irving G. Vann became mayor in 1879, and Francis Hendricks in 1880-81. with improved financial standing. John Demong was elected in 1882 by sixty- nine votes, and Thomas Ryan in 1883 by eighty-six. The latter was re-elected in 1884-85. The city debt was now one million, two hundred and twenty-two thousand dollars, and principal and interest, amounting to one hundred and eleven thousand, seven hundred and two dollars and fifty cents, were dne in 1884. Out of the Geddes annexation that year came the ninth and tenth wards, and part of the third. Danforth added much to the sonth part of the city. The latest addition was the Huntley traet, January 1. 1908, on the northeast.
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In 1888 bonds of three hundred thousand dollars were issued for a new city hall on the site of the old. This was begun in 1889 and finished in 1891. Some changes in the charter were made in 1885, and about that time there was much fraudulent street paving. A little later the water supply again eame to the front, the question being between Salmon river and Skaneateles lake.
In 1SS6 Willis B. Burns was elected mayor for two years. That year came Major J. B. Burnet's gift of Burnet Park before mentioned, with the conditions that the city should at once expend three thousand dollars in sur- veving and mapping the traet, ten thousand dollars annually for four years. and three thousand dollars annually thereafter for park improvement. The tax levy was now four hundred and seven thousand, eight hundred and twenty- four dollars and twenty-four eents. and many salaries were fixed.
A summary of the business of Syracuse in 1886 follows. The city had thirty-four furniture dealers, ninety-four shoemakers and dealers, forty-eight carriage makers, one hundred and ninety-nine elothiers and tailors, twenty-two coal dealers, fifty-eight fruit and confectionery stores, one hundred and nine- teen contractors and builders, one hundred and sixty-seven dressmakers. twenty-five dry goods stores. thirty-seven drug stores, two hundred and eleven groceries, fifty-eight hotels, twenty-six hardware, and thirty-seven jewelry stores, one hundred and sixty-seven lawyers, eighty-four meat markets, twenty- three millinery stores, one hundred and twenty-six physicians, twenty-six printing offices and newspapers, twenty-seven publishers and agents, twenty- seven salt manufacturers, ninety-six cigar makers and dealers, six saddlery hardware dealers, eleven iron founders and machinists, thirty dentists, four hundred and twenty-one saloons, twenty-nine blacksmith shops, seven boiler- makers, two brick yards, three florists, twelve coopers, four gun makers, sixty-six barbers, fifty-seven insurance agents, three insurance companies, thir- ty-nine livery stables, thirteen laundries, eleven lumber dealers, two planing mills, three pork packing houses. one pottery, seven pump makers, thirty-five real estate agents, seven shirt factories, five telegraph companies, seventeen stove dealers, three tanneries, seven tea and spice stores, seventeen wood dealers, three silverware makers, four umbrella makers, one tube works, eleven architeets, one typewriter factory. eight agricultural implement dealers, twen- ty-one artists, two art dealers, three awning makers, twenty-six bakeries. four baking powder makers, one bar iron factory, seven basket makers, one belt factory. twenty-two billiard parlors, three billiard table makers, four blank book makers. eleven book sellers and stationers, eight bottling works, four box factories, four brass foundries, eight brewers and maltsters, twenty- four brokers. one business college. ten carpet weavers, six carpet dealers, three chemical companies, four eider mills, eight erockery stores, five sash and blind dealers and makers, five dyers, one ear phone maker, thirteen flour and fred dealers and mills, thirty-two furniture makers, eighteen men's furnishing stores, fourteen harness and trunk dealers, seventeen hat and fur dealers. seven leather stores, eighteen wholesale liquor stores. two lithograph offices. nine marble shops, seven music stores, thirteen news rooms, six oil companies. ten paint dealers, three paper warehouses, twelve photographers, two organ
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