USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The annals of Albany, Vol. X > Part 30
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The theatre here is a handsome building, and well adapted to the purpose for which it was designed ; but is, I believe, worse supported than any other on this conti- nent. I had been advised not to visit the city profes- sionally ; but being strongly solicited by the worthy manager, " mischief lay in my way, and I found it."
I feel compelled in honesty to state the facts of this trip, though no way flattering to my powers of attraction: however, if there be any thing unpleasant to relate, I ever find it better to tell of oneself, than to leave it to the charity of good-natured friends. The only disagree- ment I ever had with an audience, in fact, occurred here, and roundly, thus it happened.
On the evening when I was advertised to make my debut to an Albany audience, I at my usual hour walked to the house, dressed, and was ready; but when half an hour after the time of beginning, I went on the stage, [Annals, x.] 34
394
Tyrone Power's Impressions of Albany.
there were not ten persons in the house. The stage director and myself now held a consultation on the un- promising aspect of our affairs. He ascribed the un- usually deserted condition of the salle to the sultry and threatening state of the atmosphere, which had deterred the neighboring towns of Troy and Waterford from furnishing their quota-those indeed being his chief dependencies. I was opposed, on policy, to throwing away our ammunition so unprofitable; and so, after due deliberation, the manager agreed to state to the few per- sons in front, that " with their permission" the perform- ances intended for this night would be postponed until the evening after the next following ; as, in consequence of the exceeding smallness of the audience, it was to be feared the play would prove dull to them, as it must be irksome to the actors.
Nothing could be received with better feeling on the part of the persons assembled; not a breath of disappro- bation was heard. They instantly went away; but soon after I reached home, I found, by the report of one or two gentlemen who had since been at the theatre seeking admittance, that a considerable excitement prevailed, and that at the public bars of the neighborhood the affair was detailed in a way likely to produce unpleasant effects on my first appearance.
The appointed night came, the house was filled with men, and every thing foreboded a violent outbreak; the manager appeared terrified out of his wits; but, as far as I can judge, behaved with infinite honesty; disavowed the truth of the imputations connected with the dismissal, and which it was sought to fasten upon me; and affirmed that he was fully prepared to place the facts simply before the audience, in the event of my suffering any interruption.
It was now found that an actor or two needed in the piece were absent. These worthies, the chief agitators in this affair, were, in fact, in front of the house to assist in the expected assault upon a stranger and one of their own profession. On this being explained to the manager,
395
Tyrone Power's Impressions of Albany.
he said he was aware of it. and had threatened to dis- charge the individuals; but relying upon the affair ter- minating in my discomfiture, they did not fear being sus- tained by the same intelligence which they now directed against me.
On my appearance the din was mighty deafening; the volunteer champions of the public had come well prepar- ed, and every invention for making the voice of humanity bestial was present and in full use. The boxes I observed to be occupied by well-dressed men, who generally either remained neutral, or by signs sought that I should be heard. This, however, was out of the question; and after long and patient abiding, " for patience is the badge of our tribe," I made my bow and retired, when the manager, who had on the night in question dismissed the house, made his bow, and, after silence was obtained, begged that the audience would give me a hearing, assuring them on his own knowledge that I had not con- templated insulting them.
I again came forward, and after some time was per- mitted to say that I could in no way account for a simple matter of business being so misrepresented as to occa- sion this violent exhibition of their anger; that, before the audience in question was dismissed, its permission had been obtained ; that, if I really contemplated insult, it is hardly probable I should wait two days to encounter the anger to those I had sought to offend. I further said, that on the common principle which they professed, I was entitled to a hearing, since the sense of the majority was evidently with me; and that, if the disorder conti- nued, I should, for the sake of that respectable majority, sincerely regret this, since the character of their city for justice and hospitality would be more impeached than my prospects be injured.
After this the row was resumed with added fierceness; not a word of either play or farce was heard; but I per- sisted in going through with the performance, being de- termined not to dismiss a second time.
At the fall of the curtain I begged the manager would
396
Tyrone Power's Impressions of Albany.
not again announce me, as although, for the sake of the many who I could see were opposed to this misjudged outrage, I had gone through the business once, I could not again subject them to the annoyance of such a colli- sion, or myself to continued insult.
I was, however, happily induced to change this deter- mination at the request of many gentlemen of the place, who assured me that the whole thing arose from stories most industriously circulated by one or two ill-condi- tioned actors, backed by inflammatory handbills and a scurrilous print.
Out of this affair, which threatened me serious annoy- ance, I really gathered a new proof of the kindness of the people of this country, for I found persons on all sides interesting themselves for me, although I entered the place without an acquaintance; and had I not stood in need of help, so in all probability should I have quitted it; but in this hour of annoyance, men not of theatrical habits put themselves actively forward to shield a ca- lumniated stranger from insult or injury ; in consequence of this interposition, on my appearance, nothing could be more orderly than the conduct of the audience.
I concluded my engagement, which was only for four nights, and left the theatre with a promise to return, which pledge, at some inconvenience, I redeemed; and I have never been able to regret a momentary vexation which obtained for me many friends, and made known to me the sterling good feeling existing in Albany, of which I might otherwise have remained ignorant.
The rides about Albany are numerous, the roads the best in the country ; and the little city of Troy, with its Mount Ida, worthy even the celestial residents who honored its less beautiful predecessor with their presence. Higher up lies Waterford, a thriving place, also charmingly situated; and, near this, the Fall of the Cohoes, one of the finest natural objects in the country. Indeed a morning's ride in this direction offers a succession of views that can no where be surpassed, and which I do not remember to have often seen equaled.
397
Tyrone Power's Impressions of Albany.
Approaching Albany from the west, and looking across the Hudson over the pine-wooded slopes and verdant meadows on which it fronts, it appears a city bordered by an ornamental park; to the south tower the cloud-cap- ped Catskill mountains; on the north are the blue moun - tains of Vermont; and about the verge of the landscape on all sides runs a line of boldly undulating hills, whose rugged outline forms no inappropriate framing to this very beautiful picture.
SPANISH ACCOUNT OF ALBANY IN 1778.
[From Noticia del Establecimiento y Poblacion de las Colonias In- glesas en America Septentrional. By Don F. Alvarez. ]
The county of Albany is near the Indian plantations that extend hence to Canada. The city of this name is in the midst of fine plantations, is well situated for com- merce and formerly bore the name of Fort Orange. The greater part of the inhabitants are of Holland origin and number three hundred families. In this city the govern- ors of other places of New England hold regularly their conferences with the sachems or Indian kings. Albany is defended by a fine stone fort and supports a garrison of two companies.
There is also in this county another city called Sche- nectady, situated twenty miles further to the north, and in a most delightful valley. The Indian nations who dwell a little distance beyond this city have hitherto re- tained their lands.
( 398 )
CENSUS OF ALBANY COUNTY.
-
1840.
From the copies of the statistical returns of the late census of this state, presented to the assembly by the marshals of the northern and southern districts, we have compiled the following table of the population, pro- ductions, trade, manufactures, &c., of this county.
The population of Albany county is 68,546, of whom 8,278 are employed in agriculture, 422 in commerce, 3,705 in trades and manufactures, 34 in navigation of the ocean, 310 on the canals and rivers, and 367 in the learned professions and as engineers.
Of the productions, &c., of the county for the past year, and the number of persons employed and capital invested in each branch of industry, the following is a summary :
Am't or value produced.
No. of men Capital
employed. invested.
Mines of granite, marble and other
stone, .
$ 372,250
844
$ 273,600
Machinery, ..
35,000
14
Hardware, cutlery, &c., ..
15,000
25
Small arms, number made, .
2,500
35
Precious metals,
45,000
28
Various metals,
423,000
186
Manufacture of granite, marble, &c.,.
82,270
159
Bricks and lime, .
63,185
133
191,000
Fulling mills 11, woolen manu-
facturies 8, manufactured woolen goods, . .. .
90,720
67
111,550
Cotton manufactories 2, no. of spindles 5,160, manufactured cotton goods,
70,000
220
225,000
Mixed manufactures,
33,000
30
35,000
Tobacco, ..
162,000
95
34,000
Hats, caps and bonnets,
787,500
782
669,800
No. of tanneries 20,
142
210,700
.
399
Census of Albany County.
No. of saddleries and manufacto-
ries of leather SO,
$ 329,450
$ 149,665
Soap and candles,*
538,000 45
122,000
Breweries 8, distilled and ferment- ed liquors, .
2,007,500gal. 130
357,000
Drugs, medicines, paints and
dyes, . .
33,000
23
39,300
Potteries 4, value of manufactured articles, .
42,000
43
19,000
Confectionery,
42,000
27
16,000
Paper, . .
23,000
15
6,200
Rope-walks 5, val. of produce, ...
130,000
75
31,000
Musical Instruments,
47,500
61
31,000
Carriages and wagons, ..
157,511
272
132,115
Flouring mills 6, grist mills 22, saw mills 84, barrels of flour manufactured,.
11,482
Other manufactures,
57,575
77
90,205
Furniture, .
88,400
68
43,600
All other manufactures not enu- merated.
383,749
143,690
Live Stock .- 9,937 horses and mules, 25,780 neat cattle, 57,491 sheep, 49,068 swine, poultry of all kinds, estimated value $25,650.
Cereal Grain .- 21,008 bushels of wheat, 157,102 bushels of barley, 653,794 bushels of oats, 144,941 bush- els of rye, 100,492 bushels of buckwheat, 127,154 bushels of Indian corn.
Various Crops .- 96,877 lbs. of wool, 373 lbs. of hops, 1,368 lbs. of wax, 540,582 bushels of potatoes, 47,342 tons of hay, 5,407 tons of hemp and flax.
Other Productions .- 24,366 lbs. of sugar, 17,491 cords of wood sold, value of dairy produce $126,343, value of
* The amount set down for Albany in the statement published, is 639,000 lbs. of soap and candles, which is 20,000 less than the amount of hard soap alone made in three factories in the north part of the city, besides 110,000 lbs. of candles and fancy soap. The whole amount of soap and candles made in the city, can not be less than 1,936,010 pounds-or 1,330,000 lbs. soap, and 606,000 lbs. of candles. There are 12 factories, employing about 60 men. By publishing the above, you will correct a very erroneous opinion which has gone abroad, about the amount of business done, in this line, and oblige yours, respectfully,
A Manufacturer.
400
Census of Albany County.
orchard produce $33,012, value of home-made goods, $60,386.
Gardens .- Value of produce of market gardeners $62,503, of nurseries and florists $5,700, men employed 113.
Commerce .- Number of commission houses 47, capital invested $65,000, number of retail dry goods, grocery and other stores 1,116, capital invested $1,144,503, num- ber of lumber yards 27, capital invested $464,000, men employed 161, internal transportation, men employed 1,655.
Printing and Binding .- Number of printing offices 10, number of binderies 5, number of daily newspapers 30,000, number of weekly newspapers 40,000, number of semi weekly newspapers 20,000, number of men em- ployed 126, capital invested $245,800.
( 401 )
NOTICES OF THE WINTERS
AT NEW YORK FOR FORTY-TWO YEARS, AND OF THE DATES AT WHICH THE RIVER WAS FROZEN, OR OBSTRUCTED OR CLOSED BY ICE AT ALBANY.
From the New York Daily Advertiser of Dec., 1832.
[It will be seen on reference to the table given in Vol. 1, p. 326, that the agreement is very general. The remarks on the state of the weather require an allow- ance for latitude in regard to the thermometer, otherwise the difference between the two cities was small.]
1789-90. A very mild winter. The mildest January since 1781. River open till 3d February, though occa- . sionally obstructed by ice before.
1790-91. Very severe weather in December, but more moderate in January and February. River closed on the 8th December.
1791-92. A very severe winter. River closed on 9th December; uninterrupted and severe frost for 4 weeks; lowest degree of thermometer I above zero.
1792-93. A very mild winter; river open all winter to Poughkeepsie, though it closed at Albany on the 12th December.
1793-94. A mild winter, with but little snow; river closed on 26th December.
1794-95. A very mild autumn and December; river closed on the 12th January; no ice till 3d January, and but little cold weather and snow this winter.
1795-96. Another very mild autumn and December; no ice till 21st December; river open till 23d January.
1796-97. Early winter and severe till 12th January; river closed on 28th November, intensely cold on 23d and 24th December ; mercury at zero in the morning.
402
Notices of the Winters.
1797-98. Very early and severe winter; river closed on 20th November ; lowest degree 3 above zero.
1798-99. Very early, long and severe winter, though the weather was moderate for about three weeks in January; river closed on 23d November; lowest degree 2 above zero.
1799-1800. A mild winter ; river closed on 6th Janua- ry, but obstructed by ice before.
1800-01. A mild winter, with but little snow; a very mild December, river closed on 3d January.
1801-02. A remarkably mild winter; river open till 3d February, though obstructed by ice occasionally before. In January the mercury generally ranged be- tween 40 and 50 degrees; and no snow of any consequence fell till 22d February.
1802-03. A mild and variable winter with but little snow; river closed on 16th December.
1803-04. A very mild December; some severe weather and deep snows in January and the latter part of February ; river open till 12th January ; lowest degree, 12 above zero.
1804-05. A remarkably cold and variable winter, deep snows and heavy rains with high winds; lowest degree, 2 above zero; river closed on 13th December-much distress among the poor.
1805-06. Generally cold in January ; though very mild in December and February; river closed 9th January, and opened on 23d February.
1806-07. A severe winter; river closed on 11th De- cember ; lowest degree, 4 above zero.
1807-08. A mild winter; December very mild; river closed on 4th January.
1808-09. A long and severe winter, with much snow; river closed on 9th December; lowest degree, 6 above zero.
1809-10. Remarkably mild till 19th January, when the river closed, and the weather was intensely cold for several days; very little snow this winter ; lowest de- gree, 1 above zero.
403
Notices of the Winters.
1810-11. Much snow in February, though not much severe cold this winter. This season was remarkable for a severe snow storm on the 2d November; river closed on the 14th December.
1811-12. A severe winter; river closed on the 20th December; lowest degree, 2 above zero.
1812-13. A severe winter; river closed on 21st De- cember; lowest degree, 4 above zero.
1813-14. A severe winter; river closed on 22d De- cember; lowest degree, 8 above zero.
1814-15. A very severe though variable winter; river closed on 10th December ; lowest degree, 1 above zero.
1815-16. A variable though not severe winter; river closed on the 2d December.
1816-17. A very severe winter, though it did not set in till the middle of January; river closed on 16th De- cember; thermometer on 15th February was 6 degrees below zero, and the first time since 1788 that it has fallen below zero in this city. As cold as in January, 1765, when the mercury sunk to the same degree; which the papers state to have been the coldest weather expe- rienced in this city in 50 years.
1817-18. Generally moderate in December and Jan- uary, though severe in February; river closed on 7th December, opened on 14th and closed again on 21st De- cember; mercury fell to zero this winter.
1818-19. Severe weather for two weeks in December; river closed on the 14th; generally very mild in January and February.
1819-20. A severe winter; deep snows; river closed on 13th December, though obstructed by ice before; lowest degree, 3 above zero.
1820-21. Intensely severe weather during the greater part of January, though mild in February, river closed on the 13th November, opened on the 20th and closed again on Ist December; the mercury fell on the 25th January to 7 degrees below zero, one degree lower than in February, 1817; as cold weather probably as was ever experienced here. The Hudson was crossed on the
404
Notices of the Winters.
ice between this city and Paulus Hook for several days. During the last hundred years, the river has been passa- ble on the ice in the same way only four times, viz: in 1740-41, 1764-65, 1779-80, 1820-21.
1821-22. A severe winter with but little snow; river closed on 13th December; mercury as low as 1 below zero.
1822-23. No very severe weather till February and March, river closed on 24th December; lowest degree, 3 above zero.
1823-24. Very mild winter ; river closed on 16th De- cember; open in January for a short time.
1824-25. Mild winter with but little snow; river closed on 3d January.
1825-26. Weather generally very mild, though there were two or three excessively cold days this winter. December 14th was a remarkably cold day ; thermometer at 8 a. m. 3 and 10 p. m. indicated 2, 7, and 9 degrees ; river closed on 13th December.
1826-27. A severe winter; river closed on 24th Dec., lowest degree, 3 above zero.
1827-28. A very cold and blustering November, fol- lowed by the mildest winter since 1801-02 ; river closed only about three weeks at different times through the winter. The mildest February since 1778-79, when vegetation commenced and flowers were gathered in the woods, and in Pennsylvania peach trees blossomed in this month.
1828-29. A long, severe winter; river closed on Ist January and opened on 29th March; lowest degree, 62 below zero. Much suffering among the poor in February.
1829-30. Weather generally mild till 23d January, when the river closed; weather then very severe for several weeks. As much ice in our harbor as in 1826, 1827; lowest degree, 3 above zero.
1830-31. A very severe winter with several deep snows; ground covered with snow from 6th January to 28th February, a longer period than in any winter since 1808-09. Severe and uninterrupted frost for upward of
405
Notices of the Winters.
five weeks, during which time there were but three days in which the mercury rose as high as the freezing point; lowest degree, 5 above zero. Much distress among the poor-river closed on 23d December, opened again by heavy rains and closed again on 16th January.
1831. December 10th-Thus far the coldest December since 1786; lowest degree, 14 above zero; river closed on 3d December.
[ Annals, x.] 35
( 406 )
ANNALS OF THE YEAR 1858.
-
JANUARY.
4. Levi Cornell died, aged 60 .... Curtis De Forrest died, aged 90.
5. Mild and pleasant weather; there had been no win. ter day to this time .... John Hillabrant died, aged 28. Horace F. Douglass died, aged 32.
6. Snow began to fall at an early hour in the morning, and made the first sleighing of the winter Anna Maria, wife of George L. Hall died, aged 29.
7. The steam boat Hero arrived from New York with the largest cargo of freight she had ever brought up. Notwithstanding the snow that fell on the previous day there was very little obstruction in the river from ice. Stephen S. Weaver died, aged 59 .... John Dey Ermand died, aged 37 .... George Talmadge died, aged 38.
8. Thermometers marked from 2 deg. to '7 deg. below 0; the first cold day of the season. The ferry boats were partially obstructed by ice .... John Upton died at Amsterdam and was brought to Albany for interment.
9. Jasper Latham died, aged 50.
11. John T. Elton died.
16. Adaline Van Rensselaer died .... J. Stanley Smith, formerly editor of the American Citizen and Albany Morning Express, died at Auburn, aged 40. His remains were brought to Albany and interred at the Rural ceme- tery with masonic ceremonies.
18. Thomas Johnson died, aged 58.
19. Margaret, wife of Daniel Webster, died, aged 29.
20. Grand military parade in winter dress of the Bur- gesses Corps and their guests the Troy Citizens Corps and Utica Citizens Corps, and Company Band their New York guests the 71st Regiment. No winter day was ever
407
Annals of the Year 1858.
more beautiful, and the fete went off with great eclat, being witnessed by a great throng of people.
21. An exhibition of paintings and sculpture from the collections of citizens was opened for the benefit of the poor at Bleecker Hall. (See April 3.)
22. Phebe, widow of P. A. Cummings, died, aged 36. William Kennedy died, aged 57.
25. John J. Taaffe died, aged 43 .... Jacob Lux died, aged 78.
Jan. 27. Thomas Rector died.
29. The body of Capt. Joseph Bilbroock, aged 28, drowned about two months previously at Piermont, was found and brought to the city for interment.
31. George Monroe died, aged 39.
FEBRUARY.
1. Mrs. Andrew Smith died, aged 47 .. . Mary, wife of Peter Ausbro, died.
2. Nicholas Wallace died, aged 65.
3. Peter Cox died, aged 52.
5. Mrs. Mary Forrester died, aged 52. . Francis Gal- logly died, aged 33.
8. Harriet, wife of Hugh Adair, died, aged 26.
10. John C. Ruby died, aged 61 .... Helen J., wife of J. W. Richardson, died, aged 26.
11. Mary, wife of Thomas Prior, died, aged 36.
12. Mrs. Magdalen Campbell died, aged 49.
13. Andrew B. Briare died, aged 41.
14. Charles M. B. Jay died, aged 27 .. .John T. Net- terville died in New York, aged 28.
16. Peter Smith died, aged 66. He was born in Banff- shire, Scotland, 1792, and came to Albany in 1816. John Bowne died, aged 68.
17. G. V. Denniston died in New York, aged about 32. Ann, wife of James Turner, died, aged 52.
19. The 7th of a succession of cold days. Thermome- ters from 5 to 10 deg. below zero .... Sarah E., wife of George Smith, died, aged 21 .... Richard Bulger died,
408
Annals of the Year 1858.
aged 45, and was buried on the 21st with military and civic honors.
21. Amos Fassett died, aged 75. He was a native of New Bedford, Mass., and came to Albany in 1808. He had been a member of the First Presbyterian church forty years, and during the last twenty-six years an elder.
22. The anniversary of Washington's birthday was celebrated by the military with great effect .... Andrew W. Melius died, aged 64 .... Patrick Galvin died, aged 95 .... The common council resolved to excavate and grade the Washington parade ground .... William Henry Cross died, aged 21 .... Christina, widow of Jacob Lux, died, aged 68.
24. Daniel P. Clark died, aged 69. Mr. C. came to this city in the year 1805. Soon after his arrival he united himself with the First Presbyterian church, then under the charge of the Rev. Dr. Romeyn. He after- wards joined the 2d Presbyterian church, and in 1820 was elected a deacon, and served the church in that capacity until the year 1840, when he was chosen one of its elders, which office he held to the time of his death. His demise was made the subject of a most appropriate and eloquent discourse by the Rev. Dr. Sprague, his text being, "He was a good man." The Dr. concluded his discourse by remarking, that of all who were officers of the church when he entered upon the discharge of his duties not one was now left, Mr. C. having been the last survivor. He also remarked that of those who were members of the church at the time he assumed its pastoral charge, nearly all were slumbering in the tomb !.... Elmira C., wife of Jacob J. Deforest, died, aged 42.
25. Patrick Hoy died, aged 56 ... .Capt. Abraham Hitchcock died in New York, aged 47 . Mrs. Elizabeth Montgomery died, aged 85.
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