The civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the county of Kings and the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., from 1683 to 1884 Volume I, Part 48

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909, ed. cn; Brockett, L. P. (Linus Pierpont), 1820-1893; Proctor, L. B. (Lucien Brock), 1830-1900. 1n
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : W. W. Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1114

USA > New York > Kings County > Brooklyn > The civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the county of Kings and the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., from 1683 to 1884 Volume I > Part 48

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During the " panic" winter of 1857 he fared "yery slim," subsisting chiefly upon stale bread and water, until the spring of 1858, when he obtained his first legitimate employment at East New York as a laborer, ostensibly in a coal-yard; but was compelled to divide his attention between a small farm and grocery store, controlled by the same party ; working from 4 A. M. to 10 P. M. for $3 per month and board. This variety of labor, as " man of all work," at first had its charms ; but the long hours, combined with hard work and small pay, grew distasteful to yonng Feltman. He sought and found a change by obtaining employment in a bakery on Smith, near Church street, South Brooklyn. His labors were here divided between driving a wagon during the day and assisting in the bakery at night. One day while at work in the bakery, he met with quite a severe accident ; which, in consequence of improper treatment on the part of a

quack doctor, rendered the use of his right arm impossible for about eight months. Meanwhile his limited savings m-Ited away.

Nothing daunted, and willing to work, he obtained a posi- tion as an apprentice in Kernan's bakery on Fulton, near Jay street, where he remained about two years; and during the year 1866, by close economy, he was enabled to enter into business for himself as a baker. His first place of business was on Classon avenne, near Van Brunt street, where by close attention he supplied several routes and did a thriving trade. He transferred to Parkville, where he purchased some property and erected a building in which he continued busi- ness until the opening of the Boulevard compelled him to leave and return to Brooklyn.

The next attempt was at the corner of Sixth avenue and Tenth street, where he erected a fine brick structure, with brown stone trimmings, still standing, and owned by him. When he commenced building neither street had been cut through, and people langhed at his, so called, " fool-hardi- ness," for building such a fine structure in an open field. Bnt having been blessed with that prophetic intuition which makes the successful engineer and capitalist, he steadily fore- saw the future demands of that portion of the city; which, in a short time was fully verified, as the progress of that section now proves. And from this point he renewed the bakery bns- iness and controlled a large Coney Island trade, supplying the " shanties " with bread, pastry and ice-cream.

During the early part of the winter of 1874, his career as caterer to the visitors of the island was first commenced. At that time, more than three-quarters of Coney Island was a barren, sandy waste, and wind-swept region ; where the Atlantic surges beat with unrestrained violence ; inhabited at the extreme west end by some few " clammers," "roughs." and " three-card-monte-men," who bore the name of "Coney catchers." In the vicinity of Gunther's depot (the only rail- way then running to Coney Island, except the horse-cars), were a few common-place, rough-board shanties, one of which Feltman obtained from a former customer, Martin Hook, in

200

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

consideration of the payment of $500 for one year's lease of an uncouth shanty, 16x25 feet, adjoining the site of said depot. He erected, in connection with this, a shelter-house, 25x50 feet, fitted up a bar and lunch counter, and commenced a career which now justly places him as foremost in his bus- iness. Until then, exorbitant prices were charged for all "solids and fluids ;" but he began by selling luncheons and "clam-roasts " at extreme low prices, including ice-cream at 15 cents instead of 25 cents, lager at five instead of ten cents per glass, etc., etc., until, at the end of the season, so success- ful had been the enterprise that the bar-receipts aloue were $6,000 ; $3,000 of which was divided as net profits with his business partner, Henry Wulff.

Hook, the leasor, having prided himself on having driven such a sharp bargain, was considerably chagrined when he learned of the result ; and when Feltman, at the ex- piration of his one year's lease, offered him $1,200 yearly rental for the beach-front only (for which Hook was paying but $70) it was rejected. It was then offered for $2,000, which was promptly refused by Feltman. Meanwhile, Henry C. Ditmas' lease of the " Washington Hotel," a low, two-story frame building, 75x25 feet in size, and occupying the present site of what is now the "Sea Beach Hotel," was quite anxious to sell out, having lost considerable. At this time his lease was nearly expired, having but one year longer to run ; but, acting upon the advice of Feltman, who instructed him how to proceed, he secured an extension of ten years longer lease, for which Feltman agreed to pay him $4,000 for all right, title and interest to said new lease. When the money was ten- dered, however, it was rejected; with the information that he (Ditmas) had been offered $6,000 for his lease, and would not sell for less. Thereupon Feltman, having been released from his verbal contract, returned to Brooklyn ; while Ditmas, after looking in vain for a purchaser of his lease, im- portuned Feltman again and again, until " sick and discour- aged," he readily accepted Feltman's proposition of $3,800, including all household effects, which in the previous agree- ment was not enumerated. Immediately upon the transfer of said lease to Mr. Feltman, he had plans drawn of his own architectural designing, for a new building two stories high, 55x125 feet, with a wing of 25x85 feet, and more complete in appointments than any structure then existing on the island. This he submitted to Godfrey C. Gunther, President of the only steam-railway then running to the island, and to him he made a full statement of his intentions, and urged the ne- cessity of later evening trains (than 7:15) from the island, to accommodate thousands of business men and working peo- ple, who could by this means avail themselves of the privi- leges offered at this resort, even after ordinary business hours; but all the arguments he could present failed to induce Mr. Gunther to accede to his wishes.

He next applied to the Superintendent of the Brooklyn and Coney Island Horse Car Road, and again was met by rebuffs. The only person he received any encouragement from was Mr. A. R. Culver, whom he met at his office in New York city, and after submitting his plans, etc., he received within one week a decided promise that the new road, when com- pleted, would run late evening trains.

Having succeeded thus far in his plans, he commenced at once the erection of his building, facing it in an easterly direction and toward the terminus of the new railroad. When completed, at an outlay of $20,000, he named it the " Ocean Pavilion;" advertised very extensively, and engaged for the season Wannemacher's 71st Regiment Band, which was the first music ever performed on the island under like circumstances. By hard work and dint of perseverance, he overcame all opposition and division. Although apprehen-

sive of the result, his first season in the " Ocean Pavilion " was a success. The following season he was the first to in- troduce vocal music successfully; since which time, others following his example have caused instrumental and vocal music to be one of the greatest features of Coney Island. Every succeeding season he has added to the original build- ing ; until, at the present writing, he has a larger structure, in point of square feet of flooring, than that of any on Coney Island. It contains the largest ball-room in the world, the walls of which are tastefully and elaborately decorated with panels, consisting of allegorical figures, landscapes of German scenes, and beautiful characters representing Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, etc., executed by a masterly hand. This, when illuminated at night by eleven electric lights, besides 400 gas-jets, presents a beautiful fairy-land as- pect. This magnificent room, three stories high, furnishes ample accommodation for over two thousand dancers upon the floor at one time. Its dimensions are 223 feet in length, by 41 feet and six inches in width, with a ceiling of 32 feet ; the roof of which is supported by seventeen iron trusses, and capable of sustaining 250,000 pounds weight. This feature of construction was originally designed for the purpose of a theatre, the balconies of which were to be suspended from the roof ; thus leaving the auditorium below entirely free from the always to be dreaded and ever objectionable columns. Or again, should he at any time desire to add more sleeping apartments for guests, he may suspend the entire third floor from the roof and partition it off at pleasure, without the neces- sity of disfiguring the ball-room in the least, as before men- tioned. To this building is added two wings, one of which is 135 feet long by 35 feet wide; the other being 140 feet long by 36 feet wide; while around the entire structure is a large, broad piazza, 15 feet wide, capable of seating 5,000 people comfort- ably ; the entire facilities affording accommodation for 20,000 people. 118 rooms have recently been added in the upper portion of one of the wings, for the use of boarders, each one being large and airy, containing marble wash-basins, gas, and electric bells, and finely carpeted and furnished. The summer garden, quite a feature of this immense estab- lishment, in which is introduced a choice variety entertain- ment, is 167 feet long, by 57 feet wide, containing quite 300 evergreen trees, closely planted in large boxes along the sides. It was here Mr. Feltman first introduced to the Amer- ican public, after a visit to Germany in the fall of 1879, the famous "Tyrolese Warblers ;" since which time he has had the best talent which money could obtain.

During his second season as host of the "Ocean Pavilion," initiatory steps were taken to develop a specialty he now largely enjoys, which is that of entertaining lodge-festivals, etc. The steady growth and popularity of this class of pat- ronage may be estimated from the fact, that from two in one season, he has entertained as many as thirty-seven such gath- erings, varying from three to ten thousand each; while the excellent character and good order observable at these excur- sion parties renders the "Ocean Pavilion" the most famous resort on the Atlantic coast.

Mr. Feltman has succeeded far beyond his most sanguine expectations, having received his full share of patronage. He is one of the most affable, energetic, frank and open- hearted men on the beach; while in stature he is medium tall and well-proportioned, quick in his comprehension of business chances as well as in social impulses; "Once a friend always a friend " is his maxim. He points with con- siderable pride to his out-door garden, consisting of trees and shrubbery, as the only successful effort on Coney Island in rescuing a little of the sand from its normal condition of bar- renness, and placing it in condition for thrifty vegetation.

MODERN DEVELOPMENT OF CONEY ISLAND.

201

MRS VANDERVEERIS

PAVILION

MRS

TAND

BATHING PAVILION

ste

MRS. VANDERVEER'S BATHING PAVILION, WEST BRIGHTON BEACH, CONEY ISLAND.

MRS. WILLIAM VANDERVEER .- Mrs. Vanderveer's pleasant face and buxom figure is well known to the habitues of Coney Island ; and her life possesses much of the romance of suc- cess. A native of Newfoundland-Lucy Devlin by name- she was the youngest of three daughters. Her father, a baker doing a large business, was unfortunately drowned while on his return from a visit to Boston. The bereaved widow came on, with her young family, to Brooklyn, to meet some relatives; but, finding they had removed to Cana- da, she concluded to remain ; and, having a little means, established herself in a small business, in which she was as- sisted by her daughters. About 1857, Lucy, the subject of our sketch, married Mr. William Vanderveer, a native of Newtown, L. I., and a plasterer and brick-layer, by trade. He was afterward a captain in the Brooklyn police ; and, subsequently, held an appointment as inspector of sewers. Mrs. Vanderveer first commenced business on her own ac- count by keeping a fruit and confectionery store at the City Hotel, which formerly occupied the site of the present County Court House. Thirteen years ago, her husband came to Coney Island, in the way of his trade (in partnership with Mr. Dibble) ; and, a year later, she followed him. Her first venture here was that of a fruit and confectionery stand on the piazza of the Neptune House, which then stood where the Children's Aid Society's place now is. Here she made money, and invested it; at first, in the construction of twelve bathing houses. The next season she increased the number to seventy-five, and the year after, she had two hundred in use upon the beach. These she worked until she had earned sufficient with which to erect a hotel-the present Vander- veer House. This was in 1875 ; and, after that was paid for, she erected the present elegant and commodious Bathing Pavilion known by her name. Both of these buildings were constructed by Supervisor McKane. The ocean-front which

Mrs. Vanderveer occupies is about 175 feet in width, stretch- ing back to the street, and most conveniently located to the Culver Railroad Depot, the Iron-Piers, etc.

The Pavilion is a picturesque and admirably planned build- ing, of 172 feet length and 65 depth ; three stories in height. It furnishes accommodations for 500 bathers; as well as a large Marvin safe for the reception of their valuables while bathing ; and it also has warm salt-water baths ; an excellent restaurant and bar, reception-parlors, etc. Its cost was nearly $46,000.

Mrs. Vanderveer has not been unmindful of the personal safety of her customers, as well as of their valuables. She first purchased the patent of Captain Street's Patent Elevated Life-Lines, which are now in very general use ; keeps a life- boat out constantly upon the water in front of her establish- ment during the day ; and two beach-guardsmen on duty daily. As many as 300 or 400 persons are frequently found bathing at Mrs. Vanderveer's beach. No less than 5,500 bathing suits form a part of the equipment of the establish- ment ; for the washing and drying of which there is an ex- tensive laundry and steam drying-room, from which, also, is furnished the motive-power for the electric-lights which supply the Pavilion, Hotel, Iron Pier and Observatory near by. Mrs. Vanderveer naturally recalls with pleasurable pride her early struggles in the erection and equipment of this Pavilion; which, when furnished, her sons painted for her, and which her daughters assist her in caring for. Not less is she proud of her very excellent hotel, 100 by 40 feet in size, and with three stories, containing 36 guest-rooms, par- lors, a large bar and restaurant ; and having attached a livery of twenty horses, etc.

All this, as the result of thirteen years of a woman's labor and industry, is a record which cannot be despised ; and forms a portion of Coney Island history which cannot be overlooked by the veracious chronicler.

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HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

DEPOT OF PROSPECT PARK & CONEY ISLAND R. R., WEST BRIGHTON, CONEY ISLAND.

Feltman's, Bauer's and Mrs. Vandeveer's establish- ments form the substantial centre, as it were, of what is known as "West Brighton Beach," extending from the western end of the Island, at Norton's "Old

OBSERVATORY AT WEST BRIGHTON, CONEY ISLAND.

Point Comfort House," to the beginning of the Con- course. This portion of the beach is the most generally popular, owing to the number and variety of its places of entertainment and amusement ; as well as to the fact, that it is the point to which much the largest number of visitors are brought, both by rail and by steamer. Here is the very elegant and commodious depot of the Prospect Park and C. I. Railroad (" Cul- vers") ; from which also runs a branch to Coney Island Point, connecting there with the Iron Steam- boat Company's boats for New York. From near this depot, on the east, also runs the Elevated Railway to Brighton Beach, the Hotel Brighton and the Brigh- ton Beach Racing Course, etc., as, also, lines of omni- buses plying along the Concourse. Here, also, is "CABLE's," erected in 1875, the first hotel of any importance on Coney Island ; the great IRON OBSER- VATORY, brought from the Centennial Exposition of 1876, at Philadelphia, through Mr. Culver's enterprise, (and standing three hundred feet above sea-level, provided with a steam-elevator, and equipped with a powerful telescope, affording a forty-mile view of the surrounding land and water); and, near by, stands the "SEA-BEACH PALACE HOTEL," a beautiful and spacious building, formerly occupied by the United States Government at the Centennial Exposition, and now occupied as the depot and hotel of the New York and Sea-Beach Railway Company. This company is the only one delivering passengers directly at Coney Island from New York, independently of all other rail- road and steamboat companies. Their Long Island landing place is at Bay Ridge, whence passengers are brought direct to West Brighton Beach in the com- pany's own cars. Conspicuous, alike from the land- side, and from the approach by sea, are the two

MODERN DEVELOPMENT OF CONEY ISLAND.

203

SEA BEACH PALACE HOTEL, WEST BRIGHTON, CONEY ISLAND.

immense iron piers; that of the BRIGHTON PIER AND NAVIGATION Co., reaching out fifteen hundred feet into the ocean ; and that of the OCEAN AND NAVIGA- TION Co .- both affording, not only a direct means of access to Coney Island for the thousands who visit there by steamboat ; but, with their promenades, res- taurants, and other conveniences for visitors, affording an unequalled source of comfort and enjoyment.

"Brighton Beach," proper-otherwise known as the "Middle," or " Engeman's " Division of Coney Island, owes its development to Mr. WILLIAM A. ENGEMAN. Its most prominent feature is the " HOTEL BRIGHTON," a large and picturesque edifice, capable of accommodating six hundred permanent guests ; con- nected with which is the depot of the Brooklyn, Flatbush and C. I. ("Brighton Beach") Railroad.

BEABE

SYLVAN DELL

BAY RIDGE LANDING, SEA BEACH R. R.

To particularize the wonderful variety of "side-shows," games, minstrelsies, "Cheap Johns," and entertain- ments of every sort, which have crystallized around West Brighton Beach, would be impossible. It is a veritable Vanity Fair of fun and enjoyment-a Babel of music and of sound-fascinating to Youth and amusing to Age.

Fronting the hotel, the grounds are laid out most taste- fully in flower beds ; and, directly before the main entrance is the music-stand, around which are arranged seats for a large number of people. The afternoon and evening open-air concerts, given here during the sea- son, contribute in no small degree to the popularity of the place. The dining-rooms of this hotel will seat

204

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

NEW PIER

IRON PIER

B.P.&

NELSON MYERS

BRIGHTON PIER AND NAVIGATION CO., WEST BRIGHTON, CONEY ISLAND.

1,500, and the cuisine is equal to the easy supply of 10,000 guests daily.

Almost on a line with the hotel, and to the east of it, is the great BRIGHTON BEACH BATHING PAVILION. This is 490 feet in length, with 1,230 bathing-rooms on the second floor ; and frequently furnishes accommo- dations for over 6,000 bathers in a single day. Two bridges lead to the beach from the bathing-rooms. There are, also, sixteen hot-water bathing-rooms, elab- orately and expensively finished ; and the entire

York, on the 28th of February, 1840. His father, Anthony Engeman, being in moderate circumstances, was enabled to give the boy only an elementary education. When about twelve years old, young Engeman engaged with a trunk manufacturer in New York, at a salary of two dollars and fifty cents per week. Here he worked, steadily and indus- triously, for about a year ; when, thinking to better his for- tunes, he went to Philadelphia; and thence to Camden, where his half-brother (a son of his mother by a former husband) was established as a ship-builder. With him, at Camden and Gloucester, young Engeman worked at ship- building ; but, the germs of that untiring energy and cease-

OCEAN PIER AND NAVIGATION CO., WEST BRIGHTON, CONEY ISLAND.

arrangements of this establishment are on the most complete and costly scale. By night it is lit by 8,000 gas jets and 13 electric lights. The lower floor of the Pavilion is devoted to restaurants, " Bunnell's Museum," the Exhibition of the "Brighton Silk Works," and various curious " shows," &c., which help the visitor to while away the time most agreeably.

WILLIAM A. ENGEMAN, the youngest of four children (three sons and a daughter), was born in the City of New

less activity, so characteristic of him in later years, even then urged him to carve for himself a name and place far above, and beyond, the circumscribed limits of a ship-yard ; and, after a couple of years service there, he returned to New York.

From thence he went to St. Louis, where he found em- ployment in rafting lumber between that city and Reed's Landing. The excitement and danger attending this busi- ness had a peculiar fascination to young Engeman ; and, in this employment he passed the summer. But the swamps and stagnant waters, in which part of his time was neces- sarily passed, superinduced that scourge of new countries,

MODERN DEVELOPMENT OF CONEY ISLAND.

205

HOTEL BRIGHTON, BRIGHTON BEACH, CONEY ISLAND.

"chills and fever," and in the fall the unacclimated New York boy became sick ; his work was over, the season gone by, and he was out of money. But, sick in body as he was, young Engeman was stout of heart, and set off for Cairo, Ill. He found the whole country filled with young men from the East, in search, like himself, of employment, where but little was to be had. Reduced by disease to a mere skeleton, he walked along the bank of the Ohio ; his sole companion being a strong, hearty, warm-hearted Irish- man-Bob Fullerton by name-who endeavored to cheer

reaching Cairo, Ill., he stopped at Paducah, Ky., where he found employment in repairing the streets-a corporation job. His debilitated condition, however, rendered it impos- sible for him to continue work ; and, in a day or two, he be- came a deck-hand on a tobacco-boat going up Green River, Ky. After two trips, finding himself too sick to continue, he went again to Cairo, and secured a position as cook on board a trading fiat-boat bound to New Orleans. On this boat he remained till about the first of February of the suc- ceeding year, when, with slightly improved health, he en-

MOSS ENCCO.N.Y.

BRIGHTON BEACH BATHING PAVILION, CONEY ISLAND.

the boy by kindly words ; and, these failing, carried him on his back for miles, only leaving him when young Engeman positively refused to allow this true friend to be burdened with him any further. Now he was alone, and resolved to retrace his steps to the East. Sick, sore, and weary, he made his way back, subsisting by working at the houses he passed, receiving in return such necessaries as he needed. The customary rate of compensation for the cut- ting of sufficient fire-wood for a day's supply for the family was usually a few potatoes, or a "corn-dodger." Before

gaged as cook on the schooner W. W. Harkness, bound from New Orleans to Tabasco, Mexico ; the trip lasting about six weeks. While at Tabasco, the officers of the schooner made him carry powder ashore in a market-basket, under pretense of going to do the marketing for the schooner ; as, being only a boy, his basket would not be closely scrutinized by the custom-house officers. At night, the mate forced him to ac- company him, with a belt around his waist, and his blue shirt above the belt stuffed with cartridge powder, and silk under- clothing-smuggled this way to escape payment of duty.

206

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

His natural repugnance to any but open-and-above-board work was in no wise relieved by the tales poured into his ears, of being sent to the Government silver mines, if detected, where he might expect to pass the remainder of his life as a convict ; and by the moral certainty that, while the captain and mate were reaping a golden harvest from the transaction, neither would hesitate a moment to sacrifice him to save themselves, should necessity arise. Fortunately, however, the stock was all landed without detection ; and the vessel, well loaded for the return voyage, weighed anchor for home. The homeward trip was a terrible one. The vessel, heavily laden with sugar, hides, indigo and coffee, encountered a terrific gale for the whole passage ; the sailors were nearly all sick with Chagres fever; and Engeman was obliged to perform the duties of cook, waiter, sailor and do all other kinds of work necessary on shipboard. When, on arrival at New Orleans, the crew were paid off, young Engeman re- ceived the princely sum of ten dollars as his full wages for the trip ! But, little did he care for that ; his health was fully restored, and thus his main object had been accom- plished. A day or two found him an omnibus-driver, in the streets of New Orleans, sleeping in a hay-loft in lieu of bed ; economizing in every possible way to save sufficient to pay steamboat fare to Fort Smith, Ark., whithier he proceeded as soon as financially able. Here he entered the employ of the United States Government in the transportation, by mule trains, of rations to the army stationed at Forts Waschita, Arbuckle and Cobb, and Antelope Hills. This was in the summer of 1859, in the fall of which year he engaged in the completion of Fort Cobb (Indian Territory). - The fol- lowing spring and summer he accompanied the govern- ment forces in pursuing marauding Indians on the Cana- dian River; and, the next winter the troops were engaged in hunting up the different tribes at Fort Cobb, Waschita River, giving them rations of flour and beef, and in prepar- ing them to settle and farm the fertile lands of the Waschita Valley.

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The civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the county of Kings and the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., from 1683 to 1884 Volume I, Part 48

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909, ed. cn; Brockett, L. P. (Linus Pierpont), 1820-1893; Proctor, L. B. (Lucien Brock), 1830-1900. 1n Publication date: 1884 Publisher: New York : W. W. Munsell & Co. Number of Pages: 1114

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909, ed. cn; Brockett, L. P. (Linus Pierpont), 1820-1893; Proctor, L. B. (Lucien Brock), 1830-1900. 1n
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : W. W. Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1114