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 II, Part 85

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909, ed
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co
Number of Pages: 1345

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 II > Part 85

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In the spring of 1874 was opened in Brooklyn a branch house, for the purpose of offering to the numerous deaf-mutes of that city the advantages of a day school. As the house at Fordham was at that time considerably crowded (the addi- tion not having yet been built), some of the larger girls were removed to the branch house at Brooklyn. Others, who had entered the school as day pupils, now asked to be admitted as permanent inmates, and the house (a rented one) was soon found to be too small. After mature deliberation, it was deemed advisable to purchase one which should be sufficiently large to accommodate some 50 or 60 inmates. The large and elegant residence of Mrs. Christina Jones, No. 510 Henry street, was, about this time, purchased. A few weeks atter this, an act was passed by which the institution was empow- ered to receive county pupils ; two years later the institution was placed upon the same footing with similar institutions in the state.

Roman Catholic Orphan Asylum Society of the City of Brooklyn was founded in 1829. Mr. Peter Turner, to whose zeal the Society was deeply indebted for its success, was chosen first President, holding the position for three years (the longest term allowed by the constitution), and was suc- ceeded by Dr. J. S. Thorn. On May 6, 1834, the Society was

incorporated by the Legislature, under the title of The Ro- man Catholic Orphan Society in the Village of Brooklyn; the names mentioned in the act being those of J. Sullivan Thorne, Thomas Mooney, John Sweeney, Peter Turner and Charles Brady. The charter was applied for, at this time, in order that the Society might receive a legal transfer of a house and lot offered to the Society by the Rev. John Walsh; and in this house, 188 Jay street, the first asylum was opened and placed in charge of the Sisters of Charity. Some years after, Mr. Cornelius Heeney generously donated to this So- ciety ten lots of ground on Congress street; and, at his death, in 1848, hequeathed the income of the greater portion of his large estate for the support of the orphans. The donation of lots enabled the Society to build their first asylum, that fronting on Congress street (now known as St. Paul's Indus- trial School), for male children, and the one fronting on Clinton, on the same lots, for females. In 1851, an addition was made to the Female Asylum, doubling its size, at a cost of $5,000; and, in 1858, a further addition of a building, 155 by 25 feet, and five stories high, at a cost of $15,000, con- necting with the Male Asylum on Clinton street. In 1858, a new building was erected for males, corner Willoughby and Bedford avenues, at a cost of about $27,000, and accommo- dating 350 children. The building had a front of 120 feet, and two wings, 72 feet deep, and the grounds attached com- prised 14 acres. This building was destroyed by fire, Nov. 9, 1862, 248 children being asleep within its walls when the fire broke out, and a snow storm raging without. Three children perished in the flames. The children were immediately re- moved; the girls to the building on Clinton and Congress streets, and the boys to a house on the corner of Jay and Chapel streets, which had been previously occupied by the Sisters of Mercy.

The Board of Managers, though their means and sources of income were at this time very limited, then purchased the grounds bounded by St. Mark's place, Albany and Troy ave- nues, and Warren street, one of the most elevated and healthy locations in the city. On these grounds, in 1868, they commenced the erection of the present Asylum, now known as "St. John's Home for Boys." It is a massive struc- ture, four stories high, and solidly built of blue-stone. It is 170 feet front, with wings each 170 feet deep, and three stories above the basement in height. St. John's Home was opened in 1870, under the charge of the Sisters of St. Joseph. There are now in this institution over 700 orphan boys, who are, in a great measure, dependent upon the charitably disposed public for maintenance and support. It has accom- modation for 800 boys, and is valued at $200,000.

CORNELIUS HEENEY, a native of Queens County, Ireland, came to America, in 1784, being then about 20 years old. The vessel in which he sailed was wrecked on the Delaware . coast, and passengers and crew were rescued by oyster boats plying their vocation in the bay. The oyster-men however, demanded a dollar a head for their services, which amount Heeney did not have. It was promptly given him by a Quaker fellow-passenger, who would not give his name (which young Heeney enquired, with a view to ultimate repayment), simply saying, "whenever thou seest a fellow creature in want of a dollar, as thou art now, give it to him, and thou wilt have repaid me," a circumstance which made a lasting impression upon Mr. H.'s mind. Mr. Heeney first found em- ployment in Philadelphia, and then in New York, where he entered the store of a Mr. Backhouse, where John Jacob Astor then served as a porter. In course of time, Mr. B. retired from business, and sold out to Messrs. Heeney and Astor. This partnership was dissolved after a few years, and Mr.

CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.

991

Heeney entered the fur business on his own account, and amassed a considerable fortune. In order to secure a debt of $30,000, he took a large property in South Brooklyn, which rose on his hands to a value, at the time of his death, of over $200,000. This he subsequently made his summer residence. He lived and died a bachelor, yet, by his disposition, was peculiarly adapted for domestic enjoyment, affable in dis- position, fond of joke and repartee, warm-hearted and social. His doors were ever open to a friend and acquaintance, and never closed on the needy and unfortunate. His house was ever filled with orphan children, whom he educated and provided for; and many of his female protégés married into most respectable families in New York and Brooklyn, where their descendants now occupy enviable positions in society. His Brooklyn property contained a fine orchard, and during

mas, also, he used to collect all the poor children in the vicinity, and give to each a cake and piece of silver. Though rarely mingling in politics, he onced served a term as mem- ber of the Assembly of the State, and many anecdotes are related concerning his shrewdness and good nature. To the Brooklyn Roman Catholic Orphan Asylum, he gave, in 1829, an endowment of $18,000; about the same time he generously extended a helping hand to St. Paul's Cathedral in New York; donated the ground for St. James's and St. Paul's churches, Brooklyn; was one of the founders of the Roman Catholic Half Orphan Asylum of New York, and contributed largely to several of the charitable associations of that city. Al- though his Brooklyn property increased in value with almost fabulous rapidity; yet, at his death, 3d of May, 1848 (at the age of; ninety-four years), his estate was worth little more

ST. JOHN'S MALE ORPHAN ASYLUM.

the active years of his life, he was in the habit, every summer, of marshaling the little orphan children of the New York Orphan Asylum, and marching with them through Broad- way and across the river to the orchard, where he had men employed to shake the trees and pull cherries, apples and sach kind of fruit in its season, while the children ate and played on the grass. He also purchased wood and distributed it to the poor, gratuitously giving to each what they could carry; and he took a humorous delight in seeing the loads they would assume, it being their custom to divest themselves of a portion of the burden as soon as some intervening fence or other obstruction concealed them from his view, in order to return for more; his enjoyment of the artifice being in- creased by the knowledge he had of its performance, and the efforts to hide what he instantly connived at. At Christ-

than $15,000. It is estimated, however, that his donations and expenditures for benevolent purposes, during his life- time, was not far short of $100,000. His residuary estate (after proper provision made for relatives and friends), was devised as follows: The annual income of one-fifth, to be ap- propriated every year towards supplying the poor of Brook- lyn with fuel during winter. The annual income of one-tenth, to be appropriated towards supplying poor children in Brook- lyn, who go to school, with shoes, and with such other articles of clothing as are absolutely necessary for their health and comfort during the winter. The sum of $250 annually for employment of a teacher to instruct poor chil- dren in Brooklyn in the elements of an English education. The residue to the Brooklyn Catholic Half Orphan Asylum; a portion to be expended in erecting additional buildings. If

992

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

anything intervened to prevent the fulfillment of this be- quest, it was to go to the New York Catholic Orphan Asy- lum. By a codicil to this will, after the incorporation of the Brooklyn Benevolent Society, all the residuary estate was given to that association. Some lots in New York, adjoining the New York Catholic Orphan Asylum, were given to that institution, after the death of parties to whom he devised them as legatees.

St. Joseph's Female Orphan Asylum, located at the corner of Willoughby and Sumner avenues, is also under control of the Orphan Asylum Society, and in the immediate charge of the Sisters of Charity. In the summer of 1869 the corner- stone was laid, and it was fully completed in October, 1873, when 280 children were transferred to it from St. Paul's Fe- male Orphan Asylum, in Congress street. The present num- ber is about 725. It is a very commodious and handsome building, five stories in height, with a front on Willoughby avenue of 224 feet, and a width of 62 feet. It is constructed of Philadelphia brick and brown-stone trimmings. In the rear is a chapel, 102 by 43 feet. The building is heated by steam, and has all the modern improvements for institutions of this kind. This Asylum is under the care of the Sisters of Char- ity. It has ample play-grounds for the children, who now number about 600. A day-school, for the children of the neighborhood, has a daily attendance of about 200. The asylum is valued at $150,000

St. Paul's Industrial School .- This institution is self-sus- taining, and contains at the present time about 300 inmates, who are educated in all household duties, and in needle-work of every kind. Estimated value of building and grounds, $150,000.

The Right Reverend Bishop of the Diocese is President of the Society, and is well and ably assisted by Mr. J. M. Shanahan, First Vice-President, and Mr. Theophilus Olena, Second Vice-President ; Andrew Walsh, Treas .; M. E. Moore, Sec .; P. J. O'Connor, Asst. Sec. The present Board of Direc- tors consists of Messrs. L. P. Bodkin, Arthur E. Marsh, John Cunningham, John McDermott, J. H. Newman, Daniel Bradley, James Cassidy, Wm. Murtha, Bernard McCaffrey, Arthur McGerald, Thos. Horan, Chris. Greay, Wm. Bishop, Thos. Green, Jas. McDonnell.

St. Vincent's Home, of the city of Brooklyn, for the care and instruction of poor and friendless boys, was incorpo- rated in July, 1869, by the following gentlemen, who were also the first managers: Right Rev. John Loughlin, Very Rev. John F. Turner, Rev. Francis J. Friel, Richard Ternan, John Lane, Maurice Fitzgerald, Thomas Code, Thomas Johnson, Francis Curran, Thomas Horan, Matthew Boylan, Charles J. O'Reilly, Patrick H. Quinn, Thomas O'Brien, Jr., Bernard Bogen, James K. O'Mahony, Charles McConnell, Thomas Halpin, Michael Lowry, James Ormond, Michael Philbin, Michael Kirwin, John M. Farrell, William Orr, William Brown and Thomas Farrell.

The object of the society is to provide a home for the care, and Christian, moral and mental instruction, of friendless and destitute boys; to rescue them from evil associations; provide a home and lodging-house for them; establish an evening and Sunday school, and to provide teachers for their benefit and instruction; and to lodge and instruct as many boys as possible, in order that they may be protected and shielded from the vices of evil associations, qualified to dis- charge the duties of useful and respectable citizens, and en- able them to earn an honest and honorable livelihood.

In 1869, the present house, No. 7 Poplar street, and that in its rear, No. 10 Vine street, with the space between the two for a play-ground, were purchased at a cost of $15,000, and

the buildings altered and adapted to the society's purpose. The institution is under the care of a Board of Managers, composed of prominent Roman Catholic clergymen and lay- men, and the work of the institution is largely done by the St. Vincent's Home Ladies' Society, whose OFFICERS (1884) are: Mrs. Hugh Mclaughlin, Pres .; Mrs. E. Brophy, Mrs. J. E. Dallon, Secretaries; Miss M. A. Strain, Treas. The Home is under the direct superintendence of Rev. Maurice Hickey, and nearly 3,000 boys have, thus far, enjoyed its benefits.

Rooms for Voluntary Relief Work (No. 59 Smith street, near Schermerhorn) .- This is a private charity, organized and mainly carried on by Mr. Geo. T. Clark. In his efforts to aid the deserving poor, Mr. Clark investigated their condition thoroughly, so that he soon found himself asked to distribute the benefactions of others. Therefore, about the year 1868, he established rooms where contributions of food, clothing and furniture might be received and whence they might be distributed. He also opened a shop where repairs are made to cast-off shoes and clothing by those who would otherwise be out of employment and earning nothing. The shop pro- fits pay the expenses of the charity; so that money contribu- tions go wholly to the poor. Mr. Clark also maintains an Employment Bureau.

The Williamsburgh Benevolent Society meets every Sat- urday at the school-house of the Williamsburgh Turn Verein, 61 Meserole street, for the purpose of helping the worthy poor. After investigation, money, groceries, shoes, meat, etc., are given to the deserving poor, averaging about 40 cases per week. A large Christmas celebration in gifts is made annually for 700 children. The Society was organized in 1874 by eight gentlemen of Brooklyn, who had previously. maintained several orphans by the proceeds of cigar tips sent to Europe to be manufactured into snuff. The number of members has increased to 132, with the following OFFICERS : F. V. Voigt, Pres .; M. Lindhorn, Vice-Pres .; J. Amthor, Rec. Sec .; F. Huene, Cor. Sec .; M. Grossarth, Treas.

The Emerald Association was organized in January, 1839, in the Second Ward Hotel, on the corner of York and Pearl streets. The first OFFICERS were : J. Colgan, Pres .; J. How- ard, Secy .; and W. Hughes, Treas. The chief object of this association is to aid in the support of the Roman Catholic Orphan Asylum; the total amount thus far raised and pre- sented by this society to that worthy charity is $40,000. The present OFFICERS are: J. C. Kelly, Pres .; B . Leary and J. S. Donovan, Vice-Presidents; T. F. Skelley and W. H. Kiernan, Secretaries ; and J. Hanley, Treas. The annual ball given by this association is the recognized event of the season among socially-inclined Roman Catholics.

The German Roman Catholic "Orphan Home " (of Holy Trinity), Graham avenue, near Montrose, was started, in 1861, by Rev. M. May, for the maintenance and education of or- phans connected with the German Church of the Holy Trinity. Father May was the first President, and still holds the office. The other OFFICERS were : John Bertger, Vice-Pres .; Jacob Timer, Sec .; John Raber, Cashier; John Maerr, Asst. Sec. The same Board continued until 1883, when F. J. BerIcabath be- came Vice-Pres., and Louis Gfiaeren, Asst. Sec. The number of members of the Society is twenty-five. The orphans were first cared for in a dwelling-house procured for the purpose ; afterwards the present brick structure, 50 by 50, was erected. at a cost of $15,000. About 50 children are supported in the Home, and 150 in all have been maintained since the institu- tion was opened. The county of Kings now pays for the support of 340 orphan wards, who are distributed in the dif- ferent houses maintained by the Sisters of St. Dominic- one in Amityville, Suff. Co., one in the 18th Ward,and one in Astoria, L. I .- there being no room in the main Home.

THE

ECCLESIASTICAL ORGANIZATIONS

OF THE

CITY OF BROOKLYN.

THE (DUTCH) REFORMED CHURCH.

T THE FIRST CHURCH OF BROOKLYN, as has been stated in the Ecclesiastical History of the County of Kings (page 337), terminated its collegiate relations with the other congregations of the Dutch Town, in the year 1802; and Rev. John Barent Johnson, of Albany, was called to its pastorate, but died in March, 1803, at the age of thirty-four. He was one of the most eloquent and popular preachers of the Dutch Church at that time. Of

FIRST REFORMED CHURCH OF BROOKLYN.

courteous manners, an amiable and generous spirit, he mingled freely with all classes of people, and was an admira- ble pastor. " He left an excellent name behind him, and his gifts and graces were gratefully remembered "

March 4th, 1807, the consistory determined to erect a new stone edifice, and the corner-stone was laid about the 15th of May, by the Rev. Peter Lowe. The building was completed (at a cost of $13,745.53) and dedicated December 23d, 1807;

it stood on the south side of the lane now known as Jorale- mon street, somewhat back from the site of the present church, and was a very substantial and heavy looking building.

The next Pastor was Rev. Selah Strong Woodhull, D. D. During his charge, the trustees of this church secured its incorporation December 18th, 1814, with the following officiary : Elders, Fernandus Suydam, Walter Berry, Jere- miah Johnson, John Lefferts. Deacons, Jeremiah Brower, Lambert Schenck, Abraham De Bevoise, Abraham Rem-en. Mr. Woodhull in 1825, became a professor in the Theological Seminary at New Brunswick, and also in Rutger's College, but died Feb. 27, 1826.

His successors were: Revs. Ebenezer Mason, 1826; Peter P. Rouse, Oct. 13, 1828; Maurice W. Dwight, 1833. The congregation had then so increased that the consistory resolved to erect the present building. It was built by Lafever & Gallard, architects, under the following building committee: Jeremiah Johnson, Leffert Lefferts, Samuel Smith, John S. Bergen, John Skillman, Garret Bergen, Theodorus Polhemus and John Schenck. The corner-stone was laid on the 22d of May, 1834, by the senior elder, Abraham A. Remsen, and the edifice was finished and consecrated on the 7th of May, 1835. When so far completed that the congre- gation could worship in it, the old one was taken down. The pew owners in the old church were allowed the cost of their pews in sittings in the new building.

It is an elegant and spacious building, with an imposing colonnade of eight columns on both front and rear.

In May, 1843, Gen. Jeremiah Johnson resigned the secretaryship of the church, which office he had held for the space of fifty years. May 1st, 1855, Mr. Dwight resigned the pastorship of the church, although he remained in the congregation, preaching a part of the time for them, until his death.

The subsequent Pastors were: Revs. Acmon P. Van Giesen, installed Nov. 4, 1855; Alphonso A. Willetts, D. D., June, 1860; Joseph Kimball, D. D., installed Nov. 21, 1865, died December, 1874; Henry R. Dickson, October, 1875, died

994

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

March, 1877; David N. Vanderveer, September, 1878, to the present time.

A few years ago this church established a mission in Wyckoff street, near Third avenue. Lots were purchased, and a chapel was erected at an expense of about $18,000. The mission and the school have, from the first, been pros- perous.

It is noteworthy that this church has still in use a por- tion of a communion service, which was presented by Maria Baddia, in 1684. The original Dutch records of the church, made by Dominie Selyns in 1660, are still preserved.

The Ref. Prot. Dutch Church of Bushwick, was organ- ized in 1654; part of the communion service bears the date 1708, and there is also a receipt for a church bell, dated 1711. The first edifice was of octagonal form, with a very steep roof terminating in an open belfry, the whole resembling a hay-stack (see page 337). The congregation furnished them- selves with benches and chairs until 1795, when a gallery was erected and the ground floor furnished with pews.

The people of Bushwick constituted a part of the col- legiate church, and were ministered to by the Pastors of the five Dutch towns, Revs. Freeman and Antonides being the first, and preaching here alternately every third Sabbath. Rev. Peter Low was installed in 1787 as a collegiate Pastor, with Rev. Martinus Schoonmaker of Flatbush. Rev. Dr. John Bassett succeeded him in 1811. The present church edifice was erected in 1829; remodeled in 1876. In 1878, a new Sabhath-school building was erected, seating 1,200 scholars.

Rev. Stephen H. Meeker was installed Pastor in 1824, and served until 1876. He was the son of Benj. Meeker; was born in Elizabethtown, N. J., Oct. 17, 1799, grad. Columbia Coll., 1821; licensed to preach in 1824. He was succeeded by Rev. Henry A. Powell, 1876-'83, and Rev. Robert H. Barr, 1883-'84. The present membership of the church is 464, and the Sabbath-school numbers 1,200.

The Second or Central Reformed Church (Church on the Heights), commenced in 1836 as a mission in the Lyceum, un- der Rev. John Garretson. March 3d, 1837, by the authority of the Classie of Long Island, a church of eleven members was organized; its first consistory being Jacob Tallman and Walter Bicker, elders, and Cornelius C. Stryker and Joseph Hegeman, deacons. In November, 1837, Mr. Garretson re- signed.

In February, 1838, a call was extended to Mr. Henry P. Tap- pan, which was accepted; but his examination not being sus- tained in the unanimous opinion of the Classis, a schism oc- curred, from which originated the Fifth Presbyterian church. In June, 1839, the consistory purchased lots for $9,750, on Henry street, near Clark, on which they proceeded to erect an edifice (now occupied by the (Zion) German Evangelical Lutheran congregation), the corner-stone of which was laid September 16th, 1839. The building was completed in May following, at a cost of $14,740, and dedicated June 3d, 1840, the sermon being preached by the Rev. Jacob Brodhead, D. D., who, the same month, was called to the pastorate, the duties of which he accepted in April, 1841. He resigned in October, 1846, at which time the congregation numbered one hundred and thirty families and two hundred and thirty communicants, and the church debt had been reduced from $23,000 to about $9,000. On the 19th of January, 1847, the Rev. Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Malcolm N. McLaren was called, but resigned in July, 1849, and was followed by the cele- brated Rev. Dr. George W. Bethune.

November 24th, 1850, the corner-stone of a larger and more imposing house of worship was laid, on Pierrepont street, near Monroe place. This edifice was afterward known as the Church on the Heights, and the church was reorgan-

ized under that name. Dr. Bethune's ministry was a period of great prosperity and activity in this church, there being 200 families in attendance and 445 members in communion, whose contributions during his pastorate amounted to nearly $155,000, in addition to which were three mission-school enterprises (viz., the Bethesda and Myrtle avenue schools, and Summit street chapel and school), hesides a flourishing home school and Bible class.

Ministry: Revs. John Garretson, 1836-'37; Jacob Brodhead, 1840-'46; Geo. W. Bethune, D. D., 1847-'60; James Eells, D. D., 1860-'67; Zachary Eddy, D. D., 1867-'72; Jas. Inglis, D. D., 1872-'77; S. S. Mitchell, D. D. 1877-'80; Rev. Alfred J. Hutton, 1881-'84.

The church was renovated and refitted in 1875.

The Bedford Avenue Reformed Church, formerly the Fourth Street Reformed Dutch Church, near South Second, was the first of that denomination erected in the village of Williamsburgh, and the third within the limits of the present city of Brooklyn. The village was then confined mostly to the lower parts of Grand and North Second streets; its only house of worship was a Methodist chapel on North Second; the old Reformed Church in Bushwick accommodated the de- nomination for many years. At length the immediate and prospective necessity for a new church was felt, and meas- ures were taken to erect a chapel on Fourth street, near South Second, the corner-stone of which was laid September 28, 1828, by John A. Meserole (a patriot of the Revolution, and a most generous donor to the enterprise), with appropri- ate exercises by Dr. Brodhead, of New York, and the Reve. Jacob Schoonmaker, of Jamaica, and S. H. Meeker, Pastor of the congregation.

The house was dedicated July 26, 1829; sermon by Dr. Brodhead, from II Cor., vii, 16. Peter Wyckoff, Peter Mese- role, Abraham Meserole, Abraham Boerum and James M. Halsey were chosen trustees. Immediately upon its organi- zation, the church obtained the services of Rev. James Dem- arest, who served for the first six months as a missionary, and partly at the charge of the Board of Domestic Missione. His congregations were small at first, as the church edifice was remote from the village; Fourth street being then but a farmers' lane, rough, uneven, and studded here and there with stumps and trees of the original forest. Mr. Demarest labored with great fidelity and success for nearly ten years, resigning in May, 1839, and was followed in October by Rev. William Howard Van Dorn.

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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 II, Part 85

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909, ed Publication date: 1884 Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co Number of Pages: 1345

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909, ed
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co
Number of Pages: 1345