USA > New York > Rockland County > The history of Rockland County > Part 36
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The first centre-board boat of any size built in this County, if not in the world, was constructed at Nyack, in 1815, by Henry Gesner, for Jere- miah Williamson, and named the " Advance." On one of his trips to Pavonia with stone, Williamson had seen a Staten Island skiff with a centre-board, and the ease with which she was handled, and the closeness with which she sailed to the wind, determined him to try the centre-board in a larger vessel. In the "Advance" the board was set through the keel, which was built of two pieces, with a space for the board, bolted together, instead of, as at present, alongside. As may be imagined, there were many detractors of the new idca, who said that it would be impossible for the weakened keel to be as strong as an unbroken stick of timber, and
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that wood and iron could never be put together strongly enough to stand the wrenching of the heavy board amidships. In spite of their gloomy view the " Advance" did succeed. Like wine, she improved with age, and in later years made the remarkable record of six trips, between New York and Nyack in six days, starting on her first trip with a load of stone early Monday morning and returning from her sixth trip Saturday evening.
In 1825, the centre-board sloop, "Parthenia " was built at Nyack, for use on Long Island Sound. In this case the board was placed alongside the keel, and secured by the bed piece as at present. Again opponents to the idea felt positive, that, while a centre-board might work in the com- paratively smooth water of the river, it would fail in the rougher water of the Sound. The " Parthenia " disappointed these disparagers and proved very successful. From this time, centre-board boats were almost univer- sally built for inland navigation.
Up to 1830, when a marine railway was built at Staten Island, it had been customary for the purpose of cleaning a boat, to run her ashore on a sandy beach at high water, and on the ebb tide to scrub her bottom, and apply a coat of tar below the water line. But the beginning of railways at Staten Island, compelled Nyack builders to advance still further, and add this improvement to their yards. The first marine railway in Rock- land County was built by John Van Houten at Upper Nyack, on the property now owned by J. P. Voris, in 1834. Next, John Felter built a railway just south of Van Houten's in 1839. In later years Felter's yard came into the hands of William H. Dixon. In 1874, Voris owned it, and built two large coasting schooners there. Since that time it has been dis- mantled.
Shortly after this beginning, the Smiths built two railways at Nyack, in or near the ferry slip. Mr. Ross followed in 1845, by building a ways where those by the foundry now stand. Perry put down the next ways at the dock below the gas-house ; and in 1853, Isaac Canfield built two railways in the yard since 1867 belonging to Edward Smith. Nurtured by the demands of the quarry men, boat building at Nyack grew with rapidity, The most busy season in the yards was in 1835-6, when there were sixteen new vessels on the stocks at one time.
An attempt to name the different vessels built at Nyack would be out of place even if the task were possible, and I may but make brief mention of those that were out of the ordinary run. In 1863, Wm. Dickey built two steamboats for the Camden & Amboy R. R. Co. on the property now, belonging to Wilson Defendorf, and in 1865-6, he built the " Chrystenah "
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in front of the foundry at Nyack. I would state here that the "Chrys- tenah " was a new boat, and not, as so many think, built from or on any part of an old hulk. In later years yacht building has grown to large dimen- sions here. At Nyack, too, were built the "Duek," a steamboat experi- ment for canal towing, and the catamaran "Henry W. Longfellow," designed by Wm. Voorhis and launched in 1880. This vessel as built consisted of two segar-shaped hulls 200 feet long, 51/2 feet diameter at the largest part and 9 feet apart. The hulls were made of boiler iron ,3 inch in thickness at the centre, thinning toward the ends. On the hulls rested a single deck 125 feet long, 25 feet breadth of beam, on which was built the saloons. The original motive power was a Well's balance engine of 476 horse power, and a six-blade propeller of 8 feet diameter.
In 1882, the domed vessel " Meteor " was built at Edward Smith's yard. This vessel, built as an experiment, was mastless and covered with a " turtle back " dome, or oval roof, from stem to stern. The "Meteor" was 156 feet long over all, 21 feet 812 inches extreme beam, and, as originally built, had a doubled balanced engine, capable of 400 revolutions per minute. She was built for the American Quick Transit Co. of Boston and was intended to demonstrate that a vessel of this construction was more rapid and less liable to injury from the sea than those with masts and undomed. In lieu of spars, the large vessels are to have auxiliary screws, that can be used in case of accident to the main engine.
On May 15th, 1883, there was launched from the yard of J. P. Voris at Upper Nyack, the steamboat. "Wilbur A. Heisley," built for the Long Branch & Seabright Steamboat Co. This boat was 155 feet length of keel ; 33 feet beam ; 7 feet depth of hold, and 3 feet draught loaded. She was moved by a Ward's tubular boiler and a large stern paddle wheel.
We must now turn to the manufacturing interests of Nyack. July 12th, 1826, Wm. Perry started a shop for the manufacture of shoes in Upper Nyack. In 1828, he removed to Main Street just west of Broad- way, and, his business steadily increasing. by 1832, he found it necessary to employ a dozen men.
Following Perry, we find Daniel Burr starting a factory, and shortly after forming a partnership with Nathaniel and Edward Burr, under the firm name of Burr & Co. A year later Nathaniel left the firm and started alone and the firm name was changed to Daniel & Edward Burr, and still later, the members of this firm separated, each going in business alone. In 1855, Edward Burr sold his business to T. Austin and John Burr, who, under the firm name of Austin & Burr, opened in Union Hall. Later Frederick Dezendorf, joined this firm, the name becoming Austin, Burr &
340
Co., and bought out the business of Daniel Burr. In a short time, the firm name again changed, Dezendorf starting alone.
In 1857, the firm of Ketchel, Caywood & Burr, was organized, chang- ing two years later into Ketchel & Caywood, John Burr having started alone. About the same time, the firm of Smith & Baker started in the shop of Wm. Perry. About 1864, Dezendorf gave up the business at Nyack, and was succeeded by Mr. Cooke. Later, Edward Burr returned to Nyack and began business continuing for three or four years.
Daniel Burr was the first to introduce the sewing machine into the Nyack business. Previous to the general introduction of the machine, very much of the sewing on shoes was done at the employee's home, and it was a common sight to meet people from Rockland Lake, from the mountains at Lyons Hill, now called Mountain View avenue, from Clarks- ville and from Piermont ; walking to Nyack with a great bundle of finished shoes. In 1866-67, Ketchel & Caywood built the factory on the corner of Railroad and Depew avenues, and introduced the steam sewing machine. They were the pioneers in steam power in Nyack. Later the firm changed, by reason of the withdrawal of Caywood and the entrance of Purdy, into Ketchel & Purdy. Later this firm failed and for some time the factory stood vacant.
In 1876, the shoe business which had fallen into a torpid condition, was again revived. The year previous-1875-C. B. Kenedy had begun the manufacture of this commodity on Broadway, but now the business was given greater impetus by the opening of the factory at Railroad and De Pew avenues, by G. T. & C. Morrow ; by P. Morrell's and A. H. Jackman's entrance into the business at Nyack ; and by the opening of a factory by Wm. E. Tuttle. In 1878, Conrad Doersch began the manu- facture of shoes, followed in 1879 by Charles Theis on the corner of Main and Franklin streets, and Jacob Siebert, who started in a 40x80 feet frame building on Main street.
In 1879, G. T. Morrow built a brick factory, three stories and basement 40×125 feet, on the corner of Railroad and Cedar Hill avenues. On his removal to this building, the old factory was occupied; the Ist floor by C. B. Kenedy, and the 2d by Conrad Doersch, the 3d by P. Morrell. In 1884, G. W. Tremper & Sons began manufacturing on Main street. Jackman's present factory is a brick building, three stories in height and 40 feet wide by 180 feet deep. Besides the manufacturers mentioned, the shoe business has been carried on in Nyack by Mr. Gardner, by Mr. Gedney, and by Glenn & Hadley. The total product of the different manufacturers for 1884 was 688,424 pairs of shoes. The pay roll of the employees was cstimated to be $5,000 per week.
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In 1832, John Tallman, later Tallman & Randall, began the making of pianos in a small shop on Burd street. Later they moved up to Fifth avenue, and erecting a large building, carried on the business for a num- ber of years. After the retirement of Tallman & Randall from the busi- ness, Mr. Thompson, formerly an apprentice with them, started in a small shop on Piermont avenue. In 1850, Mr. Ross joined Thompson and they built the factory corner of Broadway and Third avenue. In 1853, Thompson died and the business stopped. Four years elapsed before the factory was again opened and the business recommenced by Sumner Sturtevant in 1857. In recent years additions have been added until the building is now 40x60 feet.
The manufacture of carriages and sleighs was begun in Nyack by Aaron L. Christie in 1835, when he opened a shop on Main street near Broadway, moving to the present site in 1851, and carried on by him till 1871, when the business came into the hands of A. E. & J. H. Christie. Following Christie, E. L. Wright began the wheelwright business in 1843, and still later, Taylor opened a shop on Main street.
In 1840, Henry and Abram L. Storms began the manufacture of wooden ware in a factory, still standing as the large frame building corner of Burd and Cedar streets. In 1850, the business was moved to De Pew's old grist mill, at the place now occupied by Grant's Flock Mill, and when steam power was used, a brick engine house was added. In 1856, the factory caught fire and the old mill burned down, the brick engine house only being saved. After the fire, the present factory was built. For many years the wooden ware business was very heavy, branch factories existing in several places.
Previous to 1850, the manufacture of sulphur matches was carried on in De Pew's mill for a number of years by a Frenchman, named George Dimfelt, who employed about a dozen children in the business. But little can be learned of this industry.
The first stone yard at Nyack was started by Tunis Smith at his place at the head of Court street, and, later, his son C. T. Smith, engaged in the business. In later years, Blakie started a stone and marble yard on Main street, east of Franklin. In 1854, Blakie having left the business, George Towner started a marble yard on Main street.
In 1850, Wm. Crumbie & Sons opened the Nyack foundery, being later joined by Captain Isaac P. Smith. Under their management many engines were built and "set up," and the works obtained a wide-spread reputation. Thomas Magee bought the foundery in 1863, and has since carried on business at it. Under Magee's management many boilers have been made, but he has had little to do with the manufacture of engines.
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In 1879, George W. Griffen began business in Smithsonian Hall, and his enterprise, the Rockland Car Head Lining and Decorated Ceiling Works is still in operation. In 1881 Coplestone began the manufacture of hats in a brick factory, 32 by 96 feet, situated at the foot of Smith Place. Two years before, 1879, the factory of the Rockland County Straw Works had been built by Nelson Puff at the Bight.
In 1881, the wooden-ware factory, which had remained closed for several years, was again opened by D. A. Grant as a Flock Mill, and the business has been continued. The material made at this mill is used in the manufacture of woolen goods and wall paper.
In 1883, the Lockwood Manufacturing Company was incorporated for the purpose of manufacturing wrought iron railings. The first officers were W. F. Storms, President ; E. B. Sipple, Secretary and Treasurer.
Nyack has been used as a summer resort for many years. The first hotel in the village, the Mansion House, was built by C. T. Smith in 1827, and stood on Main street, just east of the Voorhis building, to make room for which, it was torn down in 1878. It was a large, shingle-sided build- ing, with two stories and an attic, facing Main street. During the first epidemic of Asiatic cholera in 1832, this house had eighty guests, and Mr. Smith was compelled to hire other houses to accommodate his boarders. In 1829, Peter Smith opened his house on Main, at the head of Cedar street for boarders, and was followed in a short time by Robert Hart. The building of the Orange led largely to the growth of this business and, as we have seen in the chapter relating to her, special note was made of the accommodation for boarders in the advertisement of the boat.
In 1849, the Pavilion was built, and opened by Abram P. Smith. It has since been added to as occasion required, until it has now attained large dimensions. In later years, the increased demand has led to the opening of other houses, and the building of the Palmer, now Prospect, House. Among the buildings thus employed is the Tappan Zee House, which was formerly the Rockland Female Institute, and was first opened for summer boarders by the Mansfields in 1859; the Smithsonian Hotel, formerly the residence of D. D. Smith, the Clarendon and others.
In 1835, the first post-office was opened in John Van Houten's store at the landing in Upper Nyack, and Van Houten was post-master. The mails were carried by the steamboat, and that for Nyack was kept in a segar box. In those days of primitive honesty, the inquirer for letters was handed the box and allowed to sort his own material out. Following Van Houten in 1836, Samuel Canfield received the appointment as post- master and the office was moved to his place of business, the Dry Dock
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Hotel, corner of Main and Canfield streets. In 1844, Charles Humphrey was post-master, and the office was taken to his residence, corner of Broadway and Main streets, now occupied by Lydecker & Wool. Under the administration of Taylor and Fillmore from 1849 to 1853, William B. Collins was post-master, and had the office on Main near Cedar street. From 1853 to 1861, D. D. Demarest was post-master, and the office was kept in his store, corner of Broadway and Burd street, now occupied by R. Gedney.
In 1861, Aaron L. Christie was appointed post-master by Lincoln, and held the office continuously till his death in July, 1880. His daughter, Sarah L. Christie, was then appointed, and held the office till July, 1885, when Orlando Humphrey was appointed. During the period while Mr. Christie was post-master, the office was moved several times. It was first opened on Broadway, on the spot where Hinton's stationery store now stands.
In 1869, a law rating offices according to their mail distribution was passed, the classes running from I to 4; Nyack was classed as third. In 1878, the Nyack office was the largest in the County. Two southern mails were made up daily, and in summer, a northern mail was added, by tapping the Hudson River Railroad at Tarrytown. Besides these, a daily mail was made up for Piermont, Sparkill and stations up the" branch " of the Northern Railroad, and for Clarksville, New City, Haverstraw and Rockland Lake. The opening of the New York, West Shore & Buffalo Railroad led to the carrying of the mail for these inland towns by that road, and the business of the Nyack office was reduced.
The first fire company was organized in Nyack, October 4th, 1834, and " Orangetown, No. 1" was purchased. This first machine was a " bucket " engine, worked by cranks. This engine was kept in service for a half century. It was in use at the burning of the Arrow, and at every large fire since, and for eighteen years was the only engine in the village. Cornelius T. Smith was the first captain or foreman. In 1884, No. I Company bought a Button steam fire engine, and have obtained a new house in South Nyack, near the railroad station. " Mazeppa " Fire Com- pany, No. 2, was organized December 27th, 1852. The first officers were WVm. Perry, foreman; James Marks, assistant. In January, 1884, this Company bought a Silsby steam engine. A hose carriage was pur- chased in 1876. Mazeppa's old house was on Burd street, in the rear of the Commercial Building. Its present two-story brick building is on Main street, east of Broadway.
January 29th, 1863, "Empire " Hook and Ladder Company, No.
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was organized, and a truck house built at Upper Nyack. Geo. W. Baker was the first foreman ; Henry Palmer, the first assistant foreman. "Jackson " Engine Company, No. 3, was organized May 9th, 1867, with Charles G. Crawford, foreman, and James E. Smith, assistant. Re-organized May 2d, 1882; George Gurnee was elected foreman, and James H. Christie, assistant. The machine is a hand engine, and the engine house stands on Jackson avenue. In September, 1880, "Jackson " Hose Company was organized, with Frank Outwater, foreman, and Henry Strack, assistant. The carriage was purchased in 1883. The chief engineer and his assistants, of the Nyack Fire Department, are elected for two years, under an act of Legislature passed in 1859. George Dickey is chief engineer at this time, with John Foley, first assistant, and August Gross, second assistant.
The largest fires at Nyack have been, the burning of the Roman Catholic Seminary in 1838; the Arrow, at the Nyack landing, in 1840, and again later; the Storm's Wooden-ware Factory, in 1856: Sickle's mill, in 1865 ; Remsen's house, the barns of Isaac S. Lydecker and Garret Sarvent, and the factory corner of Railroad and De Pew avenues. Besides being at these fires, Nyack engines have been sent to Sing Sing, Tarry- town, Piermont, Rockland Lake and Tenafly to aid in fighting fires.
Since the introduction of the telephone to the village an alarm gong has been placed on the truck house at Upper Nyack and connected with the telephone office, as has the fire bell in Nyack. I think it proper here to relate a personal observation of the workings of the department. On November 21st, 1884, a barn was burned at Upper Nyack, two miles north of the Post office and a mile away from the nearest apparatus. The fire was discovered about eleven o'clock in the morning when every one was at work. The news of the fire was telephoned to Nyack by a neigh- bor, and, within twenty-five minutes from the discovery of the flames, an engine was on the spot, followed so rapidly by the rest of the department, that inside of forty-five minutes the whole apparatus was at the fire. Ac- customed, as I am, to the paid and drilled Metropolitan departments, I must express my pleased surprise at this wonderful celerity in the volun- teer department of a country village.
The first school at Nyack, built before 1800, stood near the present reservoir on Main street. It was built of unhewn logs, the spaces between them being filled with clay, which, when dry, was impervious to wind or weather. The seats were rough slabs, taken from the saw mill, and had no backs; the desks, also slabs, were raised but little higher than the seats. The name of the first teacher was Davenport. In 1806, a new school building, two stories in height, was erected on Broadway, a few feet south
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of the present post office. The school room of this building was down stairs, the second floor being used as a hall. In 1827, this building caught fire and was destroyed. It was rebuilt, but only one story high. In 1837, the school building was moved to its present situation. In 1851, a new building was erected on the same site, and Archibald Stewart became teacher. In 1867, a large addition was built to the school, and it remained sufficiently large to accommodate its pupils till, in 1884; then another ad- dition became necessary and was built.
School No. IX., at Upper Nyack, was organized in 1844, with Jacob Voorhis, George Green and John T. Demarest, as Trustees. The first building was erected in 1845, on a lot donated by Wm. Palmer, on the south side of the mountain road, a little distance east of the present Mid- land avenue. N. G. Spencer was the first teacher, and his salary was $25 a quarter. In 1867, the school was repaired and an addition erected. Until 1884, this school was used ; then a lot was bought, west of Broad- way, in Upper Nyack, and a new frame building erected. This new house was first occupied in January, 1885 ; Garret Sarvent, J. P. Voris and Har- vey Gilchrist, Trustees.
The records of the Rockland County Female Institute contain the fol- lowing entries: "A meeting of sundry gentlemen was convened by the Rev. B. Van Zandt, pastor of the First Reformed, Protestant Reformed Dutch Church, of Nyack, at Union Hall, in the Village of Nyack, on Sat- urday evening, December 9th, 1854. The following persons were present : Simon V. Sickles, F. L. Nichols, John W. Ferdon, George Green, I. M. Dederer, Henry Oakes, D. D. Smith, Peter DePew, Thomas Burd, Tunis DePew, M. G. Leonard, D. D. Demarest, James Cooper, R. P. Eells, I. S. Lydecker and Rev. B. Van Zandt. Simon V. Sickles was called to the Chair, with B. Van Zandt, Secretary." Among the Rules and Regula- rions for a Female Institute at length adopted, were the following :
" The name of the institute shall be the Rockland County Female In- stitute ; the same to be under the government of a board of trustees, rep- resenting the different religions of the county, one third of whom shall be elected annually by the shareholders."
" The object of the institute shall be to provide the best facilities for a practical, thorough and complete female education, on the same system of instruction as is adopted in the female seminary at Mount Holyoke." The following people subscribed for the stock at $50 a share :
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Shares.
Shares.
Shares.
S. V. Sickles,
160
Isaac Sloat,
2
M. S. Seymour,
5
Peter DePew,
4
C. T. Smith,
2
B. Van Zandt,
2
D. D. Smith,
5
Wm. B. Collins,
2
H. E. Storms,
IO
M. G. Leonard,
10
J. W. Towt,
4
I. W. Canfield,
4
I. M. Dederer,
2
P. H. Taulman,
IO
E. B. Johnson, James Coates,
2
Azariah Ross,
2
C. Winters,
2
Wm. Devoe,
2
T. Smith Tallman, - 2
Jesse Blackfan,
2
James Westervelt, IO
L. F. Fitch, IO
S. V. Sickles,
40
J. V. B. Johnson,
2
Abram T. Bell, - 2
Geo. Green,
4 C. J. Blauvelt,
IO
Rev. Jared West,
2
F. L. Nichols,
10 Abram S. Crum,
2
Peter Voorhis,
5
J. W. Ferdon,
IO
Edward Green,
IO
S. M. Huyler & Sisters - 10
Thos. Burd,
IO
J. C. Demarest,
2
H. E. Storms,
5
D. D. Demarest,
2
Wm. H. Lee,
IO
WVm. E. White,
2
James Cooper,
2
D. J. Blauvelt,
I
J. J. Ackerson,
2
R. De Cantillon,
2
Wm. Dickey,
2
E. E. Conklin,
10
R. P. Eells,
2
Silas Seymour,
The building now known as the Tappan Zee House, was erected and opened August 28th, 1856, under the charge of Rev. B. Van Zandt. Simon V. Sickles, who had conceived the idea, who placed $10,000 in the stock of the school, and who gave it other and valuable aid, never lived to see the result of his life's ambition ; he died two days after the opening of the institution.
Had Sickles lived to watch over and guide the career of his work, the result might have been different: as it was, the Institute in no particular fulfilled its founder's wish. Mount Holyoke Seminary was the design he aimed to follow ; but like many other grand designs, after the death of the artisan, who had planned and struggled, the current of this idea turned awry.
B. Van Zandt remained in charge of the Institute till January 27th, 1858, when he was superceded by L. Delos Mansfield, who received his appointment March Ist, 1858. For the first few years the finances of the institution were well managed, and every evidence of success was seen : then reverses and difficulties were encountered, which, when ended, left the Institute the private property of Mansfield. For many years the institu- tion remained under Mansfield's management, but it never recovered from financial difficulties, and was finally closed.
In 1858, Christopher Rutherford, opened a private school at Nyack, and in 1859-60, through his efforts the Military Academy was built for him and opened under the trusteeship of Richard De Cantillon, Wm. Prall, J. W. Towt and Wm. Aspinwall. In the excitement of the Civil War, military tactics were introduced in many institutions of learning, and
2
Henry Oakes,
2
Wm. Naugle,
5
4
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to the literary schedule of his academy, Rutherford added the manual of arms. A man of great scholarly attainments, urbane and of fine presence ; a conscientious man and teacher ; there are many sons of Rockland, who look back to him with respect. Mr. Rutherford continued his labors till 1870, the last year oppressed by the sufferings of Bright's disease, when he died, and the academy was closed.
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