USA > New York > Onondaga County > Past and present of Syracuse and Onondaga County, New York : from prehistoric times to the beginning of 1908 > Part 69
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 69
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Although later years have seen the principal hotels redneed in number, the quality of the remaining hotels has been distinctly raised. The Yates, built upon the site of the burned Montgomery flats, was opened upon Sep- tember 17, 1892, with a reception to four thousand Syraeusans, and has since been the scene of many banquets and conventions. The building was com- meneed June 1, 1891; enclosed December 19, 1891, and completed September 15, 1892. There was only as much architectural treatment as would obtain a pleasing and possible artistie effect. The Romanesque style predominated. In management the principal change from the old firm of Averhill and Gre- gory came when Mr. Gregory devoted all his attention to the Gregorian in New York and Charles S. Averhill continued with the hotel here. One of the most historie hotel sites was that of the Vanderbilt, standing where onee was Cook's Coffee Honse. For a long period the hotel was closed but in 1906 it was reopened and is today one of the principal hotels of the city. In the old house Cook & Sons were succeeded by Oliver E. Allen, who was followed by P. B. Brayton, that gentleman selling out to G. W. Day. George W. Taylor followed, he in turn selling out to J. H. Fife of New York in 1891.
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Then the Vanderbilt Company was formed by Mr. Fife. On December 13, 1893, J. A. Barry bought the hotel. Several well known hotel men have since been interested in the hotel, among them being Milo K. Like. Upon February 12, 1902, the hotel suffered a ten thousand dollar loss by fire.
The Globe Hotel changes were many and the venture gradually lost its historie prestige until, on August1, 1906, it was elosed by the receiver in bankruptey for Alexander Briggs, its last proprietor, whose illness caused the failure. Reopened for one week in September, during the State Fair, it was then closed forever and built over for a department store. Henry Stev- ens, William Winton, Winton & Butler, Ira Garrison, Austin & Dickinson, E. D. Dickinson, Diekinson & Austin. Dickinson, Austin & Bacon, A. R. Diek- inson, Diekinson. Bacon & Ellis, and Bacon & Ellis were the proprietors whose names are found in the records from 1847. In 1893 James K. Spaulding and Henry S. Neally were in the business. Theodore H. Coleman bought a half interest in the Globe on March 1, 1899, and on April 20, 1900, M. A. Roberts purchased Mr. Nealley's interest.
Another hotel with a closed career was the Mowry, destroyed by fire on February 10. 1907. Built in 1889 upon the site of the old Line House at South Salina and West Onondaga streets, it had an unsettled career as hotel and apartment house. It was in the ascendant as a hotel in the early '90s when under the proprietorship of Charles Carroll Barnes.
Two important hotel changes came when Charles E. Candee sold out the Candee House in East Fayette street in May, 1894, and it afterward became the Manhattan. and Elias T. Talbot went into bankruptcy and retired - from the Empire House, afterward taking control of the old Jervis House at East Fayette and South State streets. The old Hotel Burns at Clinton and West Fayette streets became the St. Cloud and on January 17, 1908. Reeve & Wilcox celebrated the fifth anniversary of their proprietorship.
St. Joseph's Hospital. one of the most beneficent institutions in Syra- euse, has been enlarged again and again in recent years to meet the demands made upon it, until today it is one of the most famous institutions in Central New York. The big hospital annex was built in 1896. The new hospital chapel was dedicated May 17, 1897, and the new surgical pavilion opened with a reception the following day. In 1904 the St. Joseph's Hospital Train- ing School for Nurses was incorporated.
The Hospital of the Good Shepherd, so humbly started as the House of the Good Shepherd in 1874, with Right Rev. F. D. Huntington, S. T. D .. as its first president, has become a pride to the eity in extensive care of patients. From a wooden three story building upon land given by Hon. George F. Comstock in Marshall street in 1874, the building being completed in Decem- ber, 1875, the property has expanded until now more than half a city block is covered with its buildings, and it is but a matter of time when the entire block will be occupied. Upon February 4, 1902, William B. Cogswell gave one hundred thousand dollars to the hospital, his total gifts to date coming close upon two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, while many substantial bequests have aided the indefatigable directors to build a great institution.
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which has never drawn the line as to eolor or ereed. In 1885 the Syracuse Training School for Nurses was instituted, Mrs. Q. B. Mills being the first superintendent of the school, as she was superintendent of the hospital at. that time.
The Syraense Hospital for Women and Children and Training School for Nurses which has come forward as an almost indispensable institution and covers a great field of charitable endeavor as well as filling a want in espeeial cases in the western end of the city. was incorporated on April 25, 1887, and opened for patients on November 11, that same year. The new hospital, which cost originally ninety-five thousand dollars and has sinee been extensively changed, was opened at 1214 West Genesee street on December 1, 1896. In 1907 the president was Mrs. O. V. Tracy; secretary, Mrs. Gansevoort M. Kenyon ; treasurer, Mrs. W. S. Wales, and superintendent, Miss Laura A. Slee.
The new City Hospital in Teall avenue, costing fifteen thousand dollars, was first opened to publie inspection on October 25, 1907. The new diptheria pavilion had accommodations for sixteen patients and their nurses. Miss Millie Andre was placed at the head of the institution. In the corner of the yard was the little four-room cottage used for two years for diphtheria patients, and where, during the epidemie of 1906 there were forty-six cases eared for with but one death. Near the administration building was located the smallpox pavilion. with a capacity for eight patients. The main build- ing was provided with accommodations for seventy patients, without erowd- ing. The beginning of the City Hospital dates back to 1874, when Syracuse was swept with a disastrous epidemic of smallpox. In 1875 the disease was stamped out, and while there are no complete records of eases the vital sta- tisties figures place the number of deaths at two hundred and twenty-one. It was estimated that the epidemie cost the city one hundred thousand dol- lars. At that time the land was purchased for the site of the present City Hospital. The old shack, which answered for a City Hospital and was called the "pest house" at that time, stood until 1892, when the cholera epidemie in New York made the eity look to the safety of the eity, and, under the administration of Mayor Amos, the present administration building was erected to care for cholera if it should reach Syracuse. In 1905, during the scarlet fever epidemie, the administration building was remodeled into a modern hospital.
The Municipal Tuberculosis Clinie and Dispensary was established at 508 East Fayette street on February 27, 1908.
The Homeopathie Hospital was incorporated December 30, 1895, and Jan- uary 21, 1896, the first officers elected were A. C. Chase, president ; E. A. Pow- ell and O. D. Soule, vice-presidents; D. H. Gowing, secretary, and Anthony Lamb, treasurer. Milton H. Northrup succeeded Mr. Chase as president, and J. L. Cheney beeame treasurer. In 1898, E. Elmer Keeler started the Magazine, the Clinie, in the interests of the hospital, the monthly afterwards becoming an independent paper.
In 1906-1907 the Homeopathie Hospital building of reinforced eonerete with sand lime briek exterior and litholite trimmings, was ereeted in East
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Castle street, adjoining the old homestead used for hospital purposes at South State and Castle streets. The Eastern Concrete Steel Company of Buffalo was the contractor. The floors were laid with tile and concrete, six inches thick with stairs of the same construction. The spacious building on the southwest corner of Seymour and West streets was first used for hospital pur- poses.
The most important contagions disease scare in the city since that of the smallpox in the '70s was the spread of the scarlet fever in 1905. The city officers and physicians organized to fight the scarlet fever on February 8, 1905, when there were one hundred and twenty cases in the city. But the work did not become thorough until the following July, when the fear of the effect of the scarlet fever stories upon the approaching Ka-noo-no Karnival, inaugurated a short and sharp campaign, which included a business block canvass. In two months, by August 18, the disease which had been said to be beyond control, was declared to be wiped out. The experience cost the city about twelve thousand dollars, but there was left a more efficient system of school medical inspection.
The statistics of the United States Census Bureau, published in 1907. showed that Syracuse was the healthiest city of one hundred thousand or more inhabitants east of the Mississippi. In low death rates of American cities of one hundred thousand or more inhabitants it was sixth. In low death rate of cities of any size in New York State it was sixth.
The Syracuse Free Dispensary; now located at the junction of Warren and East Onondaga streets, was established September 5, 1888, for the treat- ment of the poor of the city who are able to go to the dispensary. Some idea of the work can be gained when it is said that eight thousand eight hun- dred and thirty-eight treatments were given in 1906. From 1897 to 1900 the Dispensary was located at 407 South Warren street.
CHAPTER LXVI.
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STATE FAIR, MYSTIC KREWE, CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS.
That Syracuse had the ability to make at least one agricultural fair a year successful was demonstrated when the old Onondaga County Fairs were held at Tallman Park, and it was not until the people of Syracuse "got together" and "took hold" that the State Fair became a paying venture for the state and the people. The State Fair, which had become a wanderer, really belonged here. It was in April, 1841, that the New York State Agricultural Society first decided to hold an annual fair in the village of Syracuse. After those first fairs the annual events were itinerant until September 11-18, 1890, when the fair in Syracuse became a regular thing. It was about 1887
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that the tender of one hundred and twenty-five acres on the meadows near the lake and Solvay brought attention to the idea of bringing the fair back to its original home. There was a great deal of work done to get the fair here, and at the first disappointment with the results, for the fair annually had bad weather to contend with for several years that was disheartening, while the people longed for the old typical county fair, with its balloon ascensions, public weddings and cheap shows. Indeed, the Onondaga County Fair was again opened at Kirk Driving Park on September 23, 1898, but it never reached the popularity of the old fairs. Some years later the buildings burned and that was the last county fair ever held here. However, the Onondaga County Fair still survives and is a popular annual event, being held in Phoenix, the association having been incorporated in 1903.
It was on February 16, 1899, that the state agreed to make an appropria- tion to the State fair if the property was deeded to the state. The earry- ing out of this arrangement on March 4, 1900, started things anew and the fair became a broader institution. All the Governors since the fair was established here have been guests, including Governor Roosevelt, and on Labor Day, September 7, 1903, President Roosevelt was a speaker to ten thousand people at the Fair, after having reviewed the Labor parade in the city. Upon September 12. 1907. Governor Charles E. Hughes was a guest. In 1905 the fair became an immovable feast by the establishment of the second week in September as the date of holding the fair, in order to secure the Grand Circuit meeting. The history of the races at the fair includes many sensational performances, one of the greatest being the equalling of the world's record of two, two and a fourth without wind shield by Major Delmar on September 7. 1904. The Legislature of 1908 reduced the Fair Commission in size and made the five commissionerships salaried offiees, beside appropriating two hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars as a begin- ning for a permanent exposition.
An ambitious enterprise fostered by the Chamber of Commerce through its energetic ally the Mystic Krewe, was the Ka-Noo-No Karnival, first given as an adjunct to the State Fair in the form of evening entertainments during the week of September 11, 1905. The Karnival was a brilliant and spectacular evolution of the trade excursions for State Fair week, begun in 1903. The decidedly inauspicious weather of the opening night of the Karnival, which necessitated a double program on September 12, did not deter the enthusiasm which carried the Karnival to success and inspired greater efforts in decora- tion and spectacle the following years. The inaugurating scene was in Clinton Square, three eras being presented, medieval times with D. M. Edwards and Miss Mary Elizabeth Evans as the King and Queen; the aboriginal, with Fred R. Peck as Hiawatha and Miss Benlah Chase Dodge as Minnehaha, and modern times, when Mayor Alan C. Fobes turned over the keys of the city to the King, and Karnival reigned for a week.
The participants in the Karnival were drawn from well known business and professional men of the city. Members of the Royal Court included Frederick R. Hazard, Miss Hazard, Mr. and Mrs. E. G. Connette and W.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF ONONDAGA COUNTY
S. Peck, with Giles H. Stilwell, H. K. Chadwiek, Dr. W. C. Dubois and Dr. Franklin J. Kaufman as guardsmen. The Dukes were W. L. Smith, Willis B. Burns, Gates Thalheimer, Nicholas Peters, W. A. Wynkoop, Dennis MeCar- thy, J. William Smith, Joseph Griffin, W. K. Pierce, James Dey, Salem Hyde. H. L. Wilkinson, W. W. Plomb, E. N. Trump, Anthony Will, Thomas Vickers, A. E. MeChesney and Charles W. Snow.
The feature of the parade upon September 13 were the sixteen beau- tiful floats representing scenes from Hiawatha and the early history of Onon- daga, each ear being in charge of an Indian member of the Mystie Krewe. At the Alhambra on the evening of September 13 was held the Rex ball and at the State Armory the Hiawatha ball. Thursday night was given over to a parade of military and fraternal orders, the Karnival closing on Friday even- ing with an automobile parade. In one way and another it was estimated that Syraeuse spent forty thousand dollars upon its first Karnival.
The second Karnival had Fred R. Peek and Miss Beulah Chase Dodge as King and Queen, and the experiences of the first year benefitted to an increas- ing interest and beauty of effect. The third Karnival was even greater still, especially successful features being the commercial float parade of Thursday night and the school children's parade on Friday night, when the schools arranged floats and effects. The Karnival was both of nations and symbols of the harvest. Giles H. Stilwell and Miss Reba Hiteheoek were the King and Queen.
The oldest social elub of prominence, the Century, which today occu- pies the historie Major Burnet mansion at James and Townsend streets, has its articles of association dated September 12, 1876, but the club was the outgrowth of the Onondaga club, which was organized on March 5. 1866. Many of the most prominent men of Syraeuse were organizers of the old Onondaga, and the succeeding Century always retained men of high stamp in the business and professional life of the city. The elub was first located in what is now known as the Crichton block at James and North State streets, and in 1880 purchased and occupied the Burnet mansion, which has seen many changes to meet the needs of the elub, but the comfort and con- veniences of the old house were never lost. On Novembr 26, 1901, the Syra- cuse Club, which had started originally as the Players in the Lynch building in South Salina street and became the Syraeuse when occupying a building in South Warren street just south of Fayette, was absorbed by the Century. The first president of the Century club, eleeted in 1876. was United States Judge William J. Wallace, who served as president until 1879. In that year Major Alexander H. Davis was elected president and served for ten eonsecu- tive years. Then Justiee Irving G. Vann became president, and was fol- lowed in office by William Kirkpatrick and Justice Peter B. MeLennan, the latter serving in 1895, 1896 and 1897. George E. Dana was president in 1898 and 1899, and Charles E. Crouse in 1900. Charles L. Stone became pres- ident of the club in 1901 and served for two years, being followed by Albert K. Hiscock in 1903 and 1904, when Hendrick S. Holden was elected and still presides over the board of directors.
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Not only is the Citizens' Club, the greatest social organization in Syra- cuse, with a waiting list that runs constantly into the hundreds, but its sue- cess has attracted attention throughout the American club world. From a beginning of twelve members in a single room, ealling the meeting place the "headquarters," the elub sprang, in the autumn of 1885. In 1907 the club had a membership of one thousand four hundred, a waiting list of more than five hundred, and a treasury balance close upon fifty thousand dollars. James Geddes was the president of the "headquarters" organization, and Richard W. Jones the vice-president. The other members were William A. Sweet, Willis B. Burns, John T. Bon, Edgar MeDougall, Thomas D. Lines. Edwin D. Dickinson, George S. Leonard, Frank B. Kloek. P. J. Brumelkamp and I. Henry Danziger. Six months later.with a charter membership of ninety- seven, the Citizens' Club of Syracuse was incorporated. On April 1, 1889, the first meeting of the Board of Directors was held in rooms seenred in the Larned Building. Then the constitution and by-laws were adopted. the cardinal principles of which are the prohibition of intoxicating liquors and gambling-principles which have been rigidly adhered to and to which in great measure the success of the Club is attributed. At this meeting Mr. Geddes was made president. Mr. Jones vice-president, Charles II. Peek secre- tary. and Frank B. Klock treasurer. The other directors were Messrs. Bon. Sweet, Lines, Dickinson, Leonard, Burns and Danziger of the original gather- ing, and Henry J. Mowry. In December, 1890, with a membership of five hundred, the club took top floor rooms in the Larned building, and in 1893 had every room upon that floor. In June, 1898, the club took up the present beautiful quarters, the entire tenth floor of the University Building, made expressly for the purposes of the club. In 1906 and '07 the directors were Edwin D. Dickinson, president ; William HI. Warner, vice-president ; Edward S. Tefft, treasurer. Charles A. Bridgmen, Edgar MeDougall, William K. Squier, J. Frank Draime, Edward K. Butler, Leonard H. Groesbeek, Willis B. Burns, Jacob P. Goettel and George W. Driscoll, with William H. Horton, secretary. Upon the death of Mr. Dickinson in March, 1908, Leonard Groes- beek sueceeded to the presidency.
One of the latest and lustiest of the social clubs of Syracuse is the Uni- versity Club, one of the first requisites to membership being a college degree. The certificate of incorporation of the elub is dated September 28, 1899. and was signed by ninety-two charter members. In 1907 Dr. John Van Duyn was president; Austin J. MeMahon secretary, and John C. Boland treasurer. The habit. early formed, of bringing speakers of prominence to the club rooms and entertaining famous literateurs, artists, college men and other men of affairs, quickly made the elub rooms in the Larned building a center of eul- ture, and these gatherings have become noteworthy in the city's history. The elub is gathering a fine library.
From the sport of a dozen enthusiasts upon improvised links in the cow pastures on the Charles Hiscock farm in De Witt, grew the Onondaga Golf and Country Club, which rose to a distinct feature in the social life of the eity, with three hundred members, a waiting list, and quarters amidst most
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delightful surroundings just west of Fayetteville on the Genesee turnpike. The management of the club is vested in a board of directors which has in- variably taken pride in the work. Former United States Senator Frank His- cock was president in 1907. Ernest 1. White, vice-president, and Fred R. Peck secretary and treasurer, with Hendrick S. Holden, John S. Gray, Alan C. Fobes, Frank C. Howlett and Charles M. Harwood directors. In 1904 the Onondaga Golf and Country Club was incorporated.
The Kanatenah Club, the most successful women's organization. which was outlined upon the broad lines of men's social clubs and which was the first to have a elubhouse of its own, was incorporated May 29, 1896. Mrs. Percy MeCarthy Emory was the first president, and from the beginning the elub was given a distinct individuality, finding a fitting home in the old colo- nial mansion on Fayette Park. which had been the White homestead. In 1907 Mrs. Edwin S. Jenney was the president.
Among the clubs which have played important parts in the social life of the city was the Syracuse Catholic Union. one of the few religious clubs to possess a elubhouse down town. In 1896 this club moved into the old Hawley homestead in East Onondaga street, which was opened as a clubhouse October 20. and maintained for several years under the presidency of Paul T. Brady. The Genesee Club was another with a long history of social usefulness. Dur- ing the presidency of Gates Thalheimer, when the club occupied the D. Edgar Crouse home in Fayette Park, the Genesee and Standard elubs were united. This was on May 2, 1899. On May 4 the united organization took the name of the Fayette Club. The Solvay Citizens' Club, one of the most prominent of local elubs, was incorporated March 17, 1897.
Exclusive of trade unions and hundreds of small social clubs, Syracuse had reached in 1907 the large number of two hundred and thirty-five fra- 'ternal orders, lodges. clubs and miscellaneous societies, the great bodies of the country, like the Masonic orders, Odd Fellows, Red Men, G. A. R., Sons of Veterans, Foresters, Orange institutions. A. O. U. W .. Harugari. Knights of Maccabees. Knights of Pythias and Tycoons, being represented in a way to almost give it the name of "the fraternal city." The Catholic societies alone number forty-four, of which there are ten of the Mutual Benefit Asso- ciation; six Catholic Benevolent Legions; ten Ancient Order of Hibernian societies : nine Ladies' Catholic Benevolent associations; two of the Senior Knights of the Cross; five Catholic Relief and Beneficiary associations, and two of the Knights of Columbus. The list does not include the many societies in connection with the protestant churches.
While the changes in the Masonic lodges of the county in a score of years have been mostly those of the acquisition of a great membership and the fit- ting up of splendid new temples, the historic events have been mostly great meetings, the most important being the state session of the Knights Templar in 1899. In 1908 Mount Sinai Lodge applied for a charter. A magnificent Masonic Temple was fitted in the Washington block in 1903 by the Central City Commandery, and the building was given the name of the Masonic Temple Block. The Masonic Temple Club also fitted up beautiful club rooms
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on the eighth floor of the University block, becoming one of the best social clubs of the city. In 1908 the city possessed the following Masonic organizations : Lodges. Central City. No. 305; Syraense, No. 501; Salt Springs, No. 520; Chapter, Central City, No. 70; R. & S. Masters, Central City Council, No. 13; Commandery, Central City, No. 25; A. & A. S. Rites, Central City Consistory. S. P. R. S. 32: Central City Council of Princes of Jerusalem; Central City Lodge of Perfection; Central City Chapter Rose Croix; Masonie Board of Relief, and Masonie Veterans' Association of Central New York. The Veter- ans' association was organized May 24, 1879.
The Order of the Eastern Star had Syracuse Chapter No. 70. Then there was Kedar Khan Grotto. No. 12. M. O. V. P. E. C.
The Odd Fellows' Club of Syracuse was organized at Elks' Hall on Sep- tember 23, 1907; the charter list closed on November 15 following with about one Inindred and fifty names attached, and the elub was granted the privilege of incorporation on December 18. The elub took an extended lease of quar- ters in the Duguid Realty Company's building at East Fayette and Warren streets, and established a convenient suite of elub rooms. The motive of the elub primarily is the fostering of social relations among the Odd Fellows of Syracuse and to move along the work of Odd Fellowship. "Unity, sociability and activity." is the motto of the elnb. The first president is J. R. Stott; Charles J. Weber, vice-president : Irving J. Higbee, secretary; W. E. Lynn, treasurer ; and W. G. Masters. Everett E. Barber, II. F. Patchen. G. Notting- ham, G. D. Carpenter, Fred P. Smith, W. H. Egather, Judson P. Camp. Dr. Fred Fenner, Willis Swift, Osear C. Hawley and Fred Knobel, directors.
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