USA > New York > Bronx County > The Bronx and its people; a history, 1609-1927, Volume II > Part 34
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The newspapers of The Bronx have of course to contend with the powerful competition of the great New York newspapers, but they manage to hold their own pretty successfully, and a certain homage to The Bronx is paid by these metropolitan newspapers, some of which bring out Bronx editions. Thus in "Bronxboro," the official organ of The Bronx Board of Trade, June, 1926, we find the following report of the public welcome extended to the "Evening Journal," on taking up quarters in its new Bronx home :
"Bronxboro extends a hearty welcome to The Bronx and Harlem Edition of the New York 'Evening Journal,' which is now installed in its new home in The Bronx, at 149th Street and Mott Avenue, one of the most complete and best laid-out newspaper plants in the country, and the first metropolitan newspaper plant to be established in the Borough.
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"The formal opening of the new 'Evening Journal' plant took place on 'Borough Day,' Saturday, June 12th, and it was made a gala oc- casion.
"A large number of invited guests, approximately three hundred public officials and civic workers of The Bronx and Harlem, and also Westchester County, inspected the premises between the hours of eleven and twelve, following which a luncheon was held at the Con- course Plaza Hotel, at which they were the guests of the 'Evening Journal.'
"Arthur Brisbane, editor of the Hearst publications, was the principal speaker at the luncheon.
"Addresses also were delivered by Aldermanic President Joseph V. McKee; Borough President Henry Bruckner; and President John M. Haffen, of The Bronx Board of Trade. James C. Dayton, Publisher of the 'Evening Journal,' was Toastmaster.
"President Bruckner, in his address, thanked the 'Evening Journal' for its recognition of The Bronx as a big and prospering community of 1,000,000 people, and congratulated the paper as being the first of the Metropolitan newspapers to give such recognition in our Borough.
"President McKee spoke of the days when he was in newspaper work, and of the power and influence of the press. He also thanked the 'Evening Journal' for its progressiveness in locating its fine new uptown plant in The Bronx.
"President Haffen joined with the preceding speakers in congratula- ting the 'Evening Journal' on its wisdom and foresight in setting up The Bronx plant, and predicted that it would be found to be a good business venture. He also congratulated the 'Evening Journal' on its fair news policy, and its willingness to say a good word at all times for those who are doing the good work of the community.
"Mr. Brisbane, in turn, acknowledged the nice things that had been said about the paper, and then went into the main factors that had led to the decision of the 'Evening Journal' to establish its local plant, a mere beginning of a much larger future unit, a desire to get behind a fast-growing Borough, and to 'grow with it,' to share its joys and its woes.
"In a special editorial, which appeared on the front page of the 'Borough Day' souvenir edition of the 'Evening Journal' distributed at the luncheon, Mr. Brisbane's high regard for The Bronx is expressed in the most glowing terms.
"The salutation to The Bronx, which appeared in the "Evening Journal" on that day, is as follows :
"Hail To The Bronx!
A Great City Today,
The great City of the Future.
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"A few years ago The Bronx was a beautiful country region with a little river wandering through. Men traveled up 'from the city' to fish and get their luncheon at a little French restaurant.
"Today The Bronx is the sixth city in the United States, with a population of a million. A few years hence The Bronx will be a city of many millions, and ultimately greater in population, wealth and real estate values than the Greater New York of today.
"Manhattan has reached its limit in spreading out. Future growth must be up in the air. Manhattan alone may some day contain ten million human beings, landing on roofs of great specialized buildings in their flying machines, flying home at night to distant hills, or living in gigantic apartment skyscrapers.
"Brooklyn, Queens and Richmond will each be cities of enormous size, and their growth in the last few years in the wonder of the world.
"But Brooklyn and Queens can be no bigger than Long Island, Rich- mond no bigger than Staten Island.
"The Bronx is the only borough attached to the mainland, with pos- sibilities of growth unlimited. It can grow all the way to Albany, taking in cities on its way, as Greater New York has taken in cities around it. * *
"The 'Evening Journal' long since realized the importance of The Bronx and foresaw its wonderful growth in population, wealth and enterprise.
"The establishment of the 'Evening Journal Harlem and Bronx Edition,' with pressrooms uptown, was the first recognition by any New York newspaper of the importance and future of Upper New York. "Today the 'Evening Journal' opens in The Bronx, at One Hundred and Forty-ninth Street and Mott Avenue, a great and complete news- paper plant worthy of the city in which it is established, worthy of the 'Evening Journal,' New York's biggest evening newspaper, with more than double the circulation of any other evening newspaper in New York, and influence in proportion to the number of its readers. 4* * * *
"The 'Evening Journal's' new plant is a big one, but those that visit it-its friends are invited to do so-will observe that it was built with an eye to great and frequent increase in capacity.
"Sufficient land was secured for building the greatest newspaper plant in New York, not exceeding any plant on Manhattan Island.
"The 'Evening Journal' has no doubt that a growth of circulation, due to the growth of the new Bronx city, will constantly make increases in plant capacity necessary.
"The 'Evening Journal' in The Bronx is established for the benefit of all the citizens of this great New Upper New York, a new city,
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destined far to exceed all existing cities in Population, Business and Values.
"If you have land in Upper New York, hang on to it, don't let go. "If you haven't any land in The Bronx, buy some.
"Los Angeles is a great and wonderful city, and the whole Nation hears of it. The Bronx is bigger, greater in population.
"The growth of Los Angeles has been amazing.
"The Bronx has grown faster than Los Angeles, and is growing faster than Los Angeles today.
"The People of Los Angeles proudly announce that their city is on the way to two million population.
"So it is, beyond questioin. But when Los Angeles has two million population, The Bronx will have four million population.
* *
"Stay in The Bronx, grow with The Bronx. We can't wish you any better fortune than to go ahead as rapidly as will the new great city of Upper New York, the New York City of the mainland."
Apart from The Bronx and Harlem Edition of the "New York Journal," the leading newspapers of The Bronx are at the present time :
"The Bronx Home News," the headquarters of which are at No. 373 East 148th Street. This paper is published every day including Sunday, and has a circulation of 160,000. It was founded in 1910 by Charles Richardson, who had previously been publisher of an interesting Irish magazine called "An Gaodhal" or "The Gael," which circulated over the entire United States. The present editor is Mr. James O'Flaherty, Jr., and the publishers are the Home News Publishing Company.
Then there is the "North Side News," which appears every day including Sunday, and is published at No. 368 East 148th Street.
The "Bronx Record and Times" is published at No. 2245 Southern Boulevard, and is a weekly published on Saturday. The publisher is H. D. Whittle, 175th Street and Third Avenue.
The "Bronx Sentinel" is published at No. 38 Westchester Square, and is a weekly Democratic organ, published on Friday. It was founded in 1901 by the Bronx Sentinel Company, and the editor is M. J. Don- nelly.
The "Bronx Star" is a weekly published at No. 607 East 169th Street. The "Westchester Globe" is a weekly published at East Tremont and Frisby avenues.
The "Bronx City Islander" is a Republican organ, published on the Thursdays of each week, and established in 1913. Mr. Courter Dick is editor and publisher, and the paper's headquarters are at No. 4113 Third Avenue.
The "Bond News" is published every evening except Sunday by the
VICTROLAS
Janday Fetts Drug
DRUGS
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SOUTHERN BOULEVARD AT 163rd STREET
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THE PRESS
Steurer Publishing Company, at No. 420 East 149th Street, and gives in- formation on municipal bonds. The "Bond News" was established by Charles D. Steurer in 1896.
When the Steurer Publishing Company decided to move the plant of the "North Side News" from Manhattan to The Bronx, many were the prophecies of disaster that would be certain to follow such a step. The nucleus of the present establishment of the Steurer Publishing Company was originated over eighty years ago in "Thompson's Bank Reporter," which had an excellent field before the institution of the National Bank Act resultant upon the Civil War. The epidemic of "wildcat" banks, which afflicted the country at that time, made such a publication highly necessary in order to protect business men against the unceasing flood of doubtful notes that were issued by irresponsible banks, and which issues were largely supplemented by worthless imitations of the then prevailing currency. In 1885, Anthony Stumpf and Charles D. Steurer formed a partnership and purchased "Thomp- son's Bank Reporter," which is still fresh in the minds of many of the elder business men, together with its supplement, a pamphlet bank directory. In 1886 the business was extended by the publication of "Underwood's Counterfit Reporter." In 1888, "Bamberger's Legal Directory of Philadelphia" was added to the firm's publications, and the same year the "Financial Examiner" was also absorbed. These publications were consolidated under the name of "The American Banker" and enlarged from sixteen pages to forty-eight, and the "American Bank Reporter," a complete record of every bank in the United States and its possessions, and Canada, was enlarged from a pamphlet of 128 pages to a cloth-bound volume of nearly 2,000 pages, issued semi-annually, with a special desk edition in April and October. In 1893, another publication was brought into existence, "The American Lawyer," a monthly devoted to the interests of the legal fraternity. The year 1896 saw another successful venture, "The Daily Bond News." This is a journal of necessarily limited circulation. When it began it was in size not quite a quarter of the "Daily North Side News." Its subscription price is $84 a year. It gives every day full information concerning issues of bonds by municipalities, and furnishes bankers and bond dealers with information they could obtain only by employing two or three extra clerks and paying large telegraph tolls.
The "North Side News" was born on April 4, 1897. From the very beginning the people of The Bronx have given it a hearty support. The evidence of good will received from the public acted as a stimulant to the management and the paper was developed. Originally an eight- page paper, of forty columns, sixteen and one-half inches long, it was successively increased in size until the weekly or Sunday issue became a sixteen-page, seven column paper, with columns twenty-two inches in
Bronx-47
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length, and a four-page comic colored supplement, and was then in- creased to still larger proportions.
Seeing the advantage it would be to have all the firm's plant con- solidated under one roof, and not scattered, as it had been, Mr. Steurer and his colleagues selected the site of their present quarters at 149th Street and Bergen Avenue, just at the time when the foundations were being laid for an apartment house by the architect and builder, Albert Rothermel. The requirements of the plant necessitated the reconstruc- tion of the foundations, and in August, 1900, the entire force was gathered together into the handsome edifice of five stories, and base- ment, that henceforth graced the neighborhood and which was a particularly fine building for The Bronx of the time. In the beginning part of the building was rented out to other tenants, but the increasing requirements of the business necessitated the use by the Steurer Pub- lishing Company of the entire edifice.
The increasing demand for a daily issue of the "North Side News" brought it about that on October 1, 1902, the first issue of the "Daily North Side News" appeared as a four-page seven column paper. Later an eight-page edition was repeatedly issued, though the regular edition was a six-page edition, which has been increased from time to time.
In the basement of the new building the firm located its large presses, comprising a Campbell multipress, which printed both sides of the paper at one impression from a roll, for the requirements of the "North Side News," while two largest size new Century and one Cottrell book presses were in constant use for the firm's other publications, a "pony" press for large job work, a 35-horse-power gas engine, dynamos, electric motors on all presses, and steam heating plant.
The first floor was used for offices, and as a stock room for the large quantities of paper needed. The second floor was used for the main offices, filing room and a large force of compilers. The third floor was devoted to the editorial staff of the various publications and a large reference library. On the fourth floor was located a battery of Mergen- thaler linotype machines, job presses, folding and cutting machines, and that important functionary, the proofreader and his assistant. The fifth floor was occupied as the composing and job room, stocked with an enormous quantity of job type to meet the ever-increasing demands upon the facilities of the firm for turning out anything in the shape of printed matter from the smallest label to a mammoth poster.
The "North Side News" owes its success, its conductors say, to the support rendered by the people of the borough whom they have en- deavored to serve in a practical and honest manner, and as a result of strict adherence to the determination which actuated its founders when they entered upon the enterprise in The Bronx. The paper has
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proved a strong factor in the development of the borough. The various public episodes and affairs in which it has played a conspicuous part include the following :
The "North Side News" urged the extension of the rapid transit system north of the Harlem River into The Bronx. It advocated the laying out of the route of the system through 149th Street instead of the divergence up Third Avenue to Westchester Avenue, and the elimination of the two sharp curves at 130th Street and 149th Street. It worked for the starting and carrying out of the movement to equip Lebanon Hospital with a complete ambulance outfit. It assisted in raising money which resulted in materially enlarging the number of wards in the hospital. It urged the construction of the Harlem Ship Canal as the proper solution of the congested commercial conditions that began to prevail off the lower portion of Manhattan. It pushed the demand for the improvement of the Bronx Kills so as to derive the benefits that would accrue to the borough from the barge canal authorized by the Legislature and thus shorten the distance from the inland commercial centres to the coast ports. It demanded and secured the establishment of a courthouse in The Bronx. It campaigned for the erection of the borough into a separate county, with all the benefits that would acrue therefrom. It continually urged every public improve- ment that would conduce to the growth of the borough. It demanded at all times that home rule should be given to The Bronx in the full sense, believing that its residents are better qualified to judge of the needs of the community than outsiders. It demanded from the general government better postal facilities and the institution of a central dis- tributing station in The Bronx. It waged a strong battle for the construction of the New York and Portchester Railway as the means whereby the upper eastern portion of the borough might be brought in touch with the heart of the business centres and thus be developed.
The "North Side News" also insisted upon the establishment of a public market within the borough, which was realized through the establishment of the College Point ferry, thus bringing the producers of Long Island in close touch with the vast army of consumers in The Bronx. It continually demanded improvement in the educational facilities of the borough, which resulted in the establishment of the high school in Boston Road. Its long and persistent struggle to have it designated the Morris High School was crowned with ultimate success. Among other of its victories gained for the community in The Bronx was that of the elimination of the garbage incinerating plant that it was sought to make a fixture in the borough. In the matter of political affairs, the "North Side News" has stood in favor of good government. In matters pertaining to the prosperity of the borough, the paper in short has always been found well in the lead.
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THE BRONX AND ITS PEOPLE
The location of the plant of the paper at 149th Street and Bergen Avenue, was followed by the erection of other creditable buildings and the conversion of 149th Street into a centre of business and financial activity. On May 5, Charles D. Steurer purchased the interests of his partner, Anthony Stumpf, and formed the Steurer Publishing Com- pany, under which name he henceforth conducted the business.
CHAPTER XXII FRATERNAL ORDERS AND SOCIETIES
The social life of The Bronx has kept pace with that of Manhattan. As the population of the borough grew the human need for association with its kind along recognized channels had to be satisfied in common with other human needs. There had been societies and gatherings of various kinds from the first years of the territory's settlement, and there were haphazard associations that functioned spontaneously from the mere habit people had of coming together, and that were in fact clubs and societies though no organization existed and the gatherings had no name. The organized club and fraternal order indeed may be taken as a product rather of modern life than of colonial. The follow- ing associations of various kinds in The Bronx may be taken as representative of the social activities of which fraternal orders and societies are the product: Automobile Club of The Bronx, No. 2432 Grand Concourse (N. M. A.); Boy Scouts of America, 159th Street and Mott Avenue ; Bronx Automobile Dealers' Association, Concourse Plaza Hotel, 161st Street and Grand Concourse; Bronx Bar Association, No. 1187 Washington Avenue; Bronx Board of Trade, 137th Street, Third and Lincoln avenues; Bronx Clergy Association, No. 470 East 161st Street; Bronx County Medical Society, Concourse Plaza Hotel, 161st Street and Grand Concourse; Bronx County Pharmaceutical Asso- ciation, 156th Street and St. Ann's Avenue; Bronx Eagles' Aerie, 142nd Street and Third Avenue; Bronx Elks' Club, Burnside Avenue and Grand Concourse; Bronx Lions Club, Concourse Plaza Hotel, 161st Street and Concourse; Bronx Medical Society, 163rd Street and Eagle Avenue; Bronx Old Timers' Association, 166th Street near Third Avenue; Bronx Rotary Club, Concourse Plaza Hotel, 161st Street and Concourse; Bronx Society of Arts and Sciences, Bronx Park; Bronx Surgical Society, Concourse Plaza Hotel, 161st Street and Grand Con- course; Bronx Women's Club, 190th Street and Davidson Avenue ; Fordham Club, Fordham Road and Morris Avenue; Girl Scouts of America, No. 463 East Tremont Avenue; Grand Jurors' Association of Bronx County, 161st Street and Third Avenue; Piano Club of New York, 137th Street and Third Avenue; Real Estate Board of The Bronx, Inc., No. 375 East Fordham Road; Schnorer Club, 163rd Street and Eagle Avenue; Taxpayers' Alliance, 177th Street and Third Avenue: Young Men's Christian Association (Bronx Union Branch), No. 470 East 161st Street; Young Men's Hebrew Association, No. 1511 Fulton
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Avenue; Young Women's Christian Association, No. 329 East 176th Street ; Young Women's Hebrew Association of Bronx County, Inc., No. 890 Cauldwell Avenue.
As has been said, the club, the secret society, and the federations and unions of the various trades and professions represent in the main a modern growth. A hundred years ago the lodge was not a popular institution, much less a social club or a trade union. Time has revealed the fact that in union there may be strength without loss of honor or integrity. The community, go where one will, is judged by its intel- ligence in the matter of organizing and supporting its lodges, clubs and legitimate federations, both among business men and the laboring classes. The clubs of both men and women have come to be very numerous in this country, and the results accomplished in educational, moral and political fields can hardly be measured by one outside their ranks. There are numerous benevolent societies having for their object mutual life insurance. Millions of dollars are paid back annually to families of deceased members of these orders, and they are found in almost every town, village and city in the land, but their history and official rosters are lengthy. Among secret societies in The Bronx, the three great orders-Masonry, Odd Fellowship, and the Knights of Pythias-are strongly represented.
Early Social Organizations-The first social organization of note in colonial New York was the Friendly Club, formed just before the Revolution by leading men of the time. Its weekly receptions were considered brilliant occasions, but, with the nearer approach of our new government organizations, disputes between Federalist members made its continuance impossible. The Moot Club, an interesting as- sociation of lawyers, also existed before the Revolution. It was formed in 1770 for the discussion of legal questions, with William Livingston as president and William Smith as vice-president. Its articles of as- sociation were signed by the following: Benjamin Kissam, David Mat- thews, William Wickham, Thomas Smith, Whitehead Hicks, Rudolphus Ritzema, William Livingston, Richard Morris, Samuel Jones, John Jay, William Smith, John M. Scott, James Dunne, John T. Kempe, Robert R. Livingston, Jr., Egbert Benson, Peter van Schaack, and Stephen de Lancey. Other associations shortly after the Revolution were: The Society for Promoting the Manumission of Slaves, and protecting such of these as have been or may be liberated; the Cin- cinnati of the State of New York; St. Andrew's Society of the State of New York; General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen; Society of Peruke Makers, Hair Dressers, etc., and so on. The Drone Society was formed soon after the Revolution and it presently numbered among its contemporaries the Black Friars, the Krout Club, formed by de-
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scendants of Dutch settlers, and the Turtle Club, which held an annual feast at Hoboken. But the club impulse developed slowly even in the nineteenth century. The first social organization of real note was the Bread and Cheese Club, founded in 1824, by James Fenimore Cooper, Fitz-Greene Halleck, William Cullen Bryant, Julian C. Verplanck, Philip Hone, Professor Renwick, Judge Duer, and others. Distinguished visitors to New York were usually entertained by this club. In 1829, literary and scientific elements combined to form the Sketch Club.
New York club life really began during the decade from 1830 to 1840, when a number of influential organizations, many of which still survive, were formed. Of these, the Union Club was founded in 1836 on purely social lines. Its members, including the Livingstons, Van Cortlandts, Van Rensselaers, and Dunhams, were representative of the old régime. The Home Club, also formed in 1836, included another set, such as Moses Grinnell, Simeon Draper, Thomas Tileston, Paul Spofford, and James Watson Webb, for the most part men of Whig tendencies. In 1838, some of the best known lawyers of the city formed the Kent Club. The New York Club, founded in 1845, and active con- tinuously since, the Knickerbocker Club, founded in 1871, the Calumet Club, founded in 1879, and the St. Nicholas Club, became prominent among social clubs. The Army and Navy Club started in 1885 as "The Canteen," becoming in 1889 "The United Service Club," then the Army and Navy Club of New York, and finally the Army and Navy Club of America. In all these clubs residents of The Bronx are prominent.
Masonry Above the Harlem-The first secret society known to have been organized in Westchester County, including the territory of The Bronx, was the Cortlandt Lodge, No. 34, Free and Accepted Masons, which was established at Peekskill, Cortlandt Township, under dispen- sation of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York, in 1793. At one time it met in the old village hall. This lodge was in existence during. the Masonic excitement in politics. After the demise of this lodge there was no Masonic lodge in Westchester until 1859, when, upon the petition of James W. Husted, Benjamin F. Depew, George F. Har- wood, Wolff Cohen, James M. Frear, John G. Martin, Charles South- worth and Solomon Clason, a dispensation was received from the Grand Lodge of the State. This lodge was chartered on June 27, 1859, as Cortlandt Lodge, No. 189, Free and Accepted Masons. At first the order assembled in private halls in Peekskill, then in Odd Fellows Hall, until April 1, 1869, when the lodge moved to the Peekskill Savings Bank building. The records showed the lodge to have a membership in 1925 of 362.
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