USA > New York > Albany County > Cohoes > The history of Cohoes, New York, from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 8
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Dealers in Dry Goods and Groceries: Wm. H. Hollister & Co., Caw & Quackenbush, White, Olmsted & Co., Jones & Southworth, Jno. P. Steenberg, P. Kendrick & Son, F. W. Farnam, J. G. Burnap, W. D. Russell & Co., Patrick Mc Entee.
85
1847. HISTORY OF COHOES.
Clothing, etc. : E. C. Howe, Twining & Alden, Waring & Robbins.
Stoves, etc. : John D. Luffman.
Drugs, etc. : Howe & Ross.
Cohoes Hotel : Robert Williams.
Dentist : O. P. Yates.
Axes, etc. : White, Olmsted & Co.
Cohoes Foundery : Chas. A. Olmsted.
Cabinet Ware : Jacob Dodge.
Of these business men only one, Isaac Quackenbush, is now remaining in the place.
In the next issue, a number of new advertisers appeared, among them Wm. Burton & Co., saw mill, John M. Coon, boots and shoes, James G. Foster, leather, and A. L. Phelps, hair dresser.
The editor announced his intention, in the issue of Feb. 23d, of publishing a series of articles on the "History and Manufactures of Cohoes, from its earliest infancy," and added " We shall have no objection to mix with it a bit of the romantic, and for that purpose invite the ladies of our village to exercise their imaginations in penning a tale of ' love and daring' by some Indian maid of the Valley of the Mohawk." Several prizes were offered for contributions of this kind, but none ever appeared. The articles on the manufactures were published, however, and afford us an interesting glimpse of the state of Cohoes industry at that time. The first of the series, from which extracts are given below, appeared March 9th.
" The oldest inhabitant informs us that when he came to this place, sixteen years ago, the number and quality of the buildings were neither worth computing or placing a value upon. There were five tenements constructed of the most rude material, and in the one story building now occupied as the justice's office (the Richard Heamstreet tavern), he obtained his board and lodging until he secured a home in the suburbs. This was only sixteen years ago ; now, with its
86
HISTORY OF COHOES.
1847.
magnificent water power improved, extensive manufactories, behold, how great the change. While its sister village of Waterford has hardly held its own, Cohoes has been er- tending its borders until it now boasts of a population of 4,000. . .. . The first cotton factory was built in 1-37. There are now 4 extensive cotton factories, 2 factories for making cotton and woolen shirts and drawers, 1 factory for making worsted yarn and mouselin de laine, 2 extensive axe factories, 2 grist mills, 1 saw mill for making vencer and looking glass backs, 1 paper mill, 1 iron foundry. 1 paint mill, 2 machine shops, 1 bedstead factory, 1 sofa factory, 1 scythe and edge tool factory. Axes and our tools are also manufactured at the extensive manufactories of Messrs. Simmons and White, Olmsted & Co. . . . . The increase in population during the last year is about 1000. . . .
" There are now in Cohoes 15 stores and groceries, two stove and tin ware establishments, 2 drug stores, 3 clothing stores, 1 leather store, 1 dentist, 4 physicians, 3 lawyers, 5 places of public worship, 1 large hotel, 2 shoe stores."
The figures given in descriptions of the different establish- ments, which were published during the next few weeks, are quoted below. A comparison of them with the indus- trial statistics of the present day is interesting, as affording one of the best means of judging the growth of the place.
"The Harmony Mill has nearly 8,000 mule and throsthe spindles and 220 looms in operation, producing over 1,500,000 yards of printing cloths annually. The annual consumption of cotton is over 700 bales averaging 450 lbs. each ; 250 to 260 operatives are employed in this factory, of whom about 60 or 70 are girls occupied in the weaving rooms. U'p- wards of $3,000 are disbursed monthly to operatives alone.
"The Strong Mill has 2, 700 spindles which supply yarn for 80 looms. The annual production is estimated at 750,000 yards. The number of hands employed is 69. The con- sumption of cotton is nearly 300 bales per year."
" The Ogden Mill, No. 1, contains 7,000 spindles (self actor mule), and 180 looms. Warp No. 30, filling No. 82. 70 ends warp and 78 picks filling to the inch. 20,000 yards of 41 and 36 inch goods are manufactured weekly. About 5,500 lbs. cotton used weekly. No. 2 mill contains .500 mule and throstle spindles and 200 looms, and will when in
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HISTORY OF COHOES.
1847.
full operation turn out 3,500 yards weekly. 250 hands are now employed in each mill. Pay roll about $3,000 monthly for each mill.
" The Cohoes Iron Foundry. Mr. Olmsted now employs in these works about 60 operatives.
"Dodge's Sofa Manufactory. This establishment is capable of manufacturing from 15 to 20 sofas per week.
"Simmons's Axe aud Edge Tool Manufactory. About 200 men are employed in this manufactory, and when on their way to and from their work look like an army. 600 tons of iron and 100 tons of cast steel are manufactured up yearly, and 1,200 tons of coal are consumed. 50 doz. axes besides tools, are manufactured daily.
" Messrs. White, Olmsted & Co. now employ about 60 men and are making from 250 to 300 axes per day.
Messrs. O. and D. Parkhurst's Bedstead Factory is capable of manufacturing from 100 to 150 bedsteads per week, from the common rope bedstead to the most finished article in use.
" Sash and Blind Factory, by Jas. Salisbury & Co. They enjoy facilities for making sash for 50 windows per day, and a proportionate number of venetian shutter blinds. From 6 to S men are employed.
"The Cohoes Worsted Co. The number of spindles in operation is 2,000. Combing machines 2. 30 men are em- ployed in combing by hand. The whole number of opera- tives employed is 130. Amount paid per month $1,000. 500 lbs. of wool are manufactured up per day.
William Burton employs 8 or 9 hands.
" The Cohoes Knitting Factory, by Timothy Bailey. Mr. B. employs about 50 operatives. In this factory are 18 knitting frames in operation, 800 spindles and 3 sets of cards. About 1800 pairs shirts and drawers can be manu- factured per week by this machinery. About 1000 lbs. wool and the same amount of cotton are manufactured up each week. Egberts & Bailey work up about 400 lbs. wool a day employing about 250 operatives."
A creditable feature of the early numbers of the Adver- tiser was the poetical column, sustained by local talent. The chief contributors were S. H. Foster, for years a promi- nent lawyer of the place, and Win. G. Caw, of the firm of Caw & Quackenbush.
1
88
HISTORY OF COHOES. 1847.
In the issue of April 27th is first mentioned the Young Men's Association, an organization which had been formed a short time previous and afterwards became a prominent institution of the place. Its objects were the formation of a library, and the support of a lecture course, in which it had a fair degree of success. The officers, as elected this year, were : Luke Bemis, president; Henry D. Fuller, first vice president; Geo. Abbott, second vice president; Jacob, W. Miller, corresponding secretary; Andrew Alexander, recording secretary; Joshua R. Clarke, treasurer. Manager -: J. M. Brown, H. En Earl Jr., Wm. Leckie, Daniel McEl- wain, Charles O'Brien, S. H. Foster, J. Van Santvoord, C. A. Olmsted, C. A. Stevens, Darius Parkhurst, Wm. II. S. Winans.
The first allusion in the columns of the paper to means of communication between Cohoes and Troy was the follow- ing advertisement :
" COHOES AND TROY RAIL ROAD. New arrangement.
On and after March 10th, the cars on this road will run as follows :
Leave Cohoes
4-6
1-8
Leave Troy 7-1 10-3 1
4-11 1-2 5-1
5
63
Perham and Pettis1
Cohoes, March 7, 1847."
This Cohoes and Troy Rail Road was an institution estab- lished several years after the opening of the Troy and Schenectady road. Perham and Pettis, who had succeeded the Messrs. Fuller as proprietors of the stage line in 1843, made an arrangement with the rail road officials by which an extra car was attached to the westward bound trains.
1 The fare, as stated in a later advertisement, was 614 cts. to Troy and 1836 cts. to Albany.
1847.
HISTORY OF COHOES. 89
This car was dropped at Cohoes, and as the grade was heavy between here and Troy, could be started on the downward trip by simply loosening the brakes, and would acquire sufficient momentum to carry it to the Troy bridge ; it was then drawn to the station by horses. This method of travel proved popular, and the investment doubtless paid. In the Advertiser of July 6, it was stated that "1700 passengers were carried over the Cohoes and Troy Rail Road yester- day." Beside the above route Messrs. Perham and Pettis kept possession of the stage line, and for some time enjoyed a monopoly of the business. On June Sth, the following advertisement appeared :
"COHOES AND ALBANY, SUMMER ARRANGEMENT."
Mail Stages.
The subscribers have placed upon the route a new and commodious stage with four horses and will run for the accommodation of passengers as follows: Leave Cohoes post office at 13 p. M. Leave Albany Museum at 4 P. M. Fare 25 cents.
PERHAM and PETTIS."
However restricted in former years, Cohoes people appear now to have had abundant facilities for travel. Another stage line was announced soon after as follows :
"CLEAR THE TRACK !
NEW MAIL LINE.
Waterford, Cohoes, West Troy and Albany -
The undersigned having fitted up a neat coach for the accommodation of the traveling public, and also for carrying the mail, respectfully gives notice that he will, on and after the 5th of October, run as follows:
Leave Cohoes for West Troy at 8 A. M., returning at 9 A. M. 66 " Waterford at 10 A. M., returning at 123.
at 1} r. M., passing through West Troy at 2 P. M.
Returning, will leave Albany at 4 P. M.
12
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HISTORY OF COHOES.
1847.
Fare from Waterford to Albany, 25 cts.
Cohoes
25 "
Troy 12₺cts.
Troy Albany, 12}cts.
The undersigned trusts that by punctuality and a fervent desire to please, to merit a share of public patronage. JAMES HUBBARD.
Cohoes, Sept. 29, 1847."
The project of connecting Van Schaick's Island with Co- hoes, which has been but recently carried out, has been under discussion for many years. One of the earliest sug- gestions on record in regard to it is the following from the Advertiser Nov. 14 :
" Some time since we called the attention of the people to a proposed route for a railway between here and Troy which would cost comparatively a small sum. The route was to connect Van Schaick's Island to the main land at a point east of the Dutch church by means of an open bridge, and thus reach the line of the Saratoga and Troy rail road. . . . The cheapness of this route and the fact of its decreasing the present traveled distance between our village and Troy, with which city our business relations are so extensive, are conclusive in its favor."
The citizens of Cohoes have always responded liberally to any call for aid to those in need, and the sufferings of the Irish people from the famine of this year, for the relief of which so much was done in this country, did not pass un- noticed here. An Irish Relief Association was formed, which raised money sufficient for the purchase of fifty bar- rels of meal, which were sent to the sufferers. The follow- ing report, from G. J. Slocum, who furnished the meal, shows the amounts contributed by different individuals as chairmen of committees, etc.
D. P. McDonald, $33 00
Michael Donovan,. 14 00
J. M. Brownson, 3 50
II. D. Fuller, 21 75
G. J. Slocum,. 8 00
1847. HISTORY OF COHOES. 91
H. En Earl,
3 00
C. A. Olmsted,. 37 50
Miles White,
23 50
Geo. Abbott,
2 50
Mr. Connaughty, 1 00
Luke Bemis,. 62 50
Egberts & Bailey,. 8 00
Egbert Egberts,.
20 00
8238 25
A fire on the morning of Nov. 28th, destroyed the paint mill belonging to Jeremiah Clute,' situated near Courtland street east of Mohawk, at a loss of $2,000. The Advertiser took occasion to again urge the necessity of the organization of a fire department, saying that if it had not been for several inches of snow which fell during the previous night severe damage would have been done to adjacent property.
An important addition to the religious bodies of Cohoes, was St. Bernard's Catholic church, organized in . the early part of the year, by Rev. Bernard Van Reeth, a Belgian. Mass was first said in an old shop, located on what was then known as the Flats, and later, the services were held in a carpenter's shop on the east side of Remsen street, just below Howard. This building has since been moved to the rear of the block now owned by Wm. Healey, and is now used as a dwelling. The Catholics in Cohoes, of all nation- alities, numbered at that time 300.
The corner stone of the church was laid Nov. 18th by Bishop McCloskey, assisted by Rev. Father Van Reeth and several other clergymen. The Advertiser, after describing the ceremony, said : "We congratulate our citizens in the prospect of having another handsome building to adorn our
1 This mill had not been long established. Another was soon afterward built by Mr. CInte on the bank of a ravine about half way between the Cataract House and the present East Harmony school-house. This was burned Feb. 21, 1550, and then rebuilt, and then again burned March 3, 1552.
92
HISTORY OF COHOES. 1×47.
village. We understand that the new church is to be a gothic structure forty-five by eighty feet, with a tower and spire. For ourselves, we wish the projectors every success."
During the year about forty buildings - stores and dwell- ings - were erected ; many of them being on Remsen street, which within a short time had considerably increased in importance. During 1846, the residence of Luke Bemi- (now S. A. Becker's) on the corner of Seneca and Remsen streets, and the store and dwelling of W. H. Hollister, on the northeast corner of Remsen and Oneida streets, had been built ; the principal additions in the following year were the Granite Hall Block, built by Mr. Baker, corner of Ontario and Remsen streets ; the block of Caw & Quack- enbush, southwest corner of Oneida and Remsen streets, and the building adjoining it owned by Miller & Van Santvoord, the two last named now forming Silliman's Block. Another important structure, was a four story building, forty by one hundred feet, erected by H. C. Billings of Schenectady, just north of Seneca street, on the site of Johnston's Block. This was used as a hotel, the ground floor being occupied by stores, and the upper story as a public hall. It was to be called the Claxton House, after Col. F. S. Claxton, agent of the Cohoes Company, but the name finally adopted was the Van Rensselaer House. It was described in the Advertiser, as " similar to the Delavan House, in Albany." "This," said the editor, " in addition to the buildings of Mr. Baker, Miller & Van Santvoord and Caw & Quackenbush, the new Presbyterian and Methodist churches, will render Remsen street the Broad- way of Cohoes."
In the rear of the hotel Mr. Billings commenced the erec- tion of a factory, in later years known as the Mohawk Mill, the first story of which was completed in the latter part of the year, but for some reason the building was not finished until some time after.
1
93
1847.
HISTORY OF COHOES.
Other new structures were the bedstead factory of Messrs. Parkhurst, a brick building thirty-five by seventy feet, and three stories high, which stood near the north end of the present jute mill ; a brick store on the opposite side of the street owned by Wm. N. Chadwick, which the editor de- scribed as the "handsomest store in the village," and a brick school house on the corner of Canvass and Oneida streets, which was built by A. L. Ferguson. Its erection was pro- cured mainly through the efforts of Messrs. J. W. Miller and C. A. Olmsted, then school trustees.' Preparations were also made by F. W. Farnam for the erection of the three story brick store on Mohawk street, foot of Factory, which now forms part of North's Block. A small wooden store on its site, which had been occupied by the Messrs. Fuller, was moved to the south corner of Remsen street and St. John's alley, and used by J. M. Brown as a shoe store. It is now owned and occupied by Mrs. Ira Terry. These improve- ments, indicating a good degree of prosperity, were made the subject of frequent congratulations by the editor of the Advertiser. One article, entitled "CANT HELP CROWING," after stating that " Cohoes and improvement are synony- mous " and enumerating the buildings then in progress, concluded as follows :
" Now for a village charter - for the water works - three or four good engines - clean streets -and a law limiting the number of dogs in each family.to two, a law also prohibit- ing swine running at large, and we are a made community."
1 This building remained in use until March, 1871, when it was sold to A. J. Griffin, who converted it into a dwelling house.
94
HISTORY OF COHOES.
1848.
VI. 1848 TO 1854.
SINCE 1840, there had been a wonderful increase in the activity of Cohoes. The establishment of two large cotton factories, a new knitting mill, and a number of mis- cellaneous concerns added greatly to the population and business importance of the place. The hamlet of fifteen years before, containing a score of houses, had now become a thriving village, with every prospect of rapid growth ; its development, after a long struggle, was well under way, and the time had come for the inhabitants to take measures for its systematic organization and improvement.
The necessity of incorporating the village had been for some time felt by many citizens, but the project was agitated for a year or more before the general feeling in its favor was strong enough to carry it into effect.
In April 1847, the six weeks notice for application to the legislature for a charter was filed, but nothing further was accomplished. Agitation of the matter continued during the year, and it was made the subject of numerous articles in the Advertiser setting forth the benefits which would result from incorporation. The following is a specimen:
" The annual tax consequent upon it is nothing in com- parison with its manifold advantages. We should then have comfortable and convenient sidewalks and not be subjected to the disagreeable necessity of traveling through mud, ankle deep, or being ship-wrecked in any one of the many ditches and puddles which are too abundant by half, or of being brought up " all standing," as the term is, against some stump or post placed out of line. In the event of being incorporated, some little degree of pride would be evinced by our law makers, and an efficient Fire Depart- ment would be organized. Send in the petitions, then ; press them upon the attention of the legislature, and let us have some laws by which to be governed in future, the
95
HISTORY OF COHOES.
1848.
observance of which will tend to beautify and improve the appearance of our growing village."
Such appeals from the editor, and the continued efforts of the friends of incorporation seem to have had their effect. A meeting of the electors at the hotel was called Feb. 3d, of which notice was given in the paper as follows: "Reader, dear reader, dear indulgent reader, in view of the past let us do something for the future. There is to be a meeting to-morrow evening at mine host Williams's to take into con- sideration the first steps towards getting a charter for this village. Several worthy individuals have been missing during this latter " thaw." Come to the meeting, and go it strong for a charter or a line of life boats."
The following is a copy of the proceedings of this meet- ing : "Chas. A. Olmsted was appointed chairman, and Leonard Van Dercar secretary.
" The secretary then read part of the act relating to in- corporations. John Van Santvoord, Esq., submitted the . following resolution which was adopted :
" Resolved, That in the opinion of this meeting it is expedi- ent that we take the necessary steps to incorporate the village of Cohoes.
" On motion of Egbert Egberts, Esq., that a committee of five be appointed by the chair to take the necessary steps for the incorporation, the chair appointed as such committee Egbert Egberts, Wm. N. Chadwick, John Van Santvoord, Jeremiah Clute, and Henry D. Fuller. It was moved and adopted that the chairman, Chas. 1. Olmsted, be added to the committee, and that the committee have discretionary power to determine on the boundary of such charter and also to call further meeting."
The matter was then pressed rapidly forward, and the charter was drawn up by John Van Santvoord, who had been from the first one of the most active men in its favor.
A map of the territory to be incorporated (now on file in the county clerk's office) was made by John P. Steenberg, April 15th, in which the area of the village is given in 1603.22 acres. On June 5th the application for incor-
96
HISTORY OF COHOES.
1848.
poration was granted by the court of sessions at Albany, which appointed as inspectors of election, to canvass the vote of the electors upon the measure, Chas. A. Olmsted, Origen S. Brigham and Alfred Phelps. The election was held on the 1st July with the following result :
In favor, 346 Against, .. 26
372
The first charter election was held at the Cohoes Hotel a week later. The officers voted for were : five trustees, three assessors, a treasurer, collector, clerk, and poundmaster. The number of voters was 321. The first session of the trustees was held Aug. 4th, in Miller & Van Santvoord's law office on Remsen street, which was the place of meeting until the completion of the engine house in the following year.
Almost the first business done by the trustees was to take steps for the organization of a fire department. Up to 1847 the village had enjoyed a singular exemption from fires, but the occurrence of several disastrous conflagra- tions during that year awoke the citizens to the necessity of being better provided for accidents of this kind. Ae- cordingly Miles White went to Albany, and on his own responsibility borrowed from the authorities an old hand- engine - No. 6 in the Albany department - which had been discarded because unfit for use. A small amount was spent in repairs, and the machine was brought to Cohoes, and though by no means in good working order, was used for some time. The only fire apparatus prior to this of which Cohoes could boast was a small rotary hand engine called the Excelsior No. 1, which had been purchased in 1834 or 1835 by subscriptions from a number of citizens, among whom were Joshua R. Clarke. Oliver Hubbard and David Wilkinson. Its insignificance may be inferred from the fact that in a report made to the trustees on the condition
97
HISTORY OF COHOES.
1848.
of the fire department, it was stated that "your committee would report that they cannot find the Excelsior engine No. 1." . The machine had done good service, however, con- sidering its size and power, for a number of years, and at one time was the means of checking a large fire in Water- ford which threatened to consume the entire village. In later years, however, it was treated with a contempt which the memory of its past services should have restrained, and was kicked about from one place to another, the plaything of several generations of boys.1
After the fire on Mohawk street which is chronicled in the first number of the Advertiser it became evident that the village fire apparatus was greatly deficient, and a meet- ing of the citizens at the hotel was accordingly called for the purpose of arranging for better protection. A com- mittee consisting of Luke Bemis, Egbert Egberts, Miles White, H. D. Fuller, G. A. Slocum, L. S. Fonda, Wm. N. Chadwick, Chas. A. Olmsted, S. F. Wilson and W. H. S. Winans was appointed to take the necessary steps and Luke Bemis was chosen to act as chief engineer in case of the occurrence of a fire. The result of this meeting was the purchase by Messrs. Fuller, Wilkinson and Olmsted of the Cataract hand engine, and the formation of a com- pany, of which II. D. Fuller was captain. An entrance fee of 83 was charged each member, and the proceeds were devoted to the purchase of a hose-cart.
On August 11th, 1848, it was resolved " that the corpo- rate authorities of the village of Cohoes purchase from S. Wilkinson, G. T. Olmstead and H. D. Fuller the fire engine, hose carriage and hose purchased by them from L. Button & Co., and to pay to them or their order the sum of $675." The department was regularly organized at the meeting
1 It is said that the wheels and axles of the old engine are still in existence and form part of a cart used in moving iron about Morrison, Colwell & Page's mill.
13
98
HISTORY OF COHOES.
1848.
of Oct. 4, 1848, from the minutes of which the following is an extract :
" Resolved, That two fire companies be organized in this village for the extinguishment of fires, and that one of the said companies be known and styled as the Parmelee Engine Co., No. 2, and that the other company be styled Cataract Engine Co., No. 3,1 and that said companies be composed of not more than fifty men each.
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