USA > New York > Rockland County > The history of Rockland County > Part 37
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In 1876, the institution was again opened by W. H. Bannister, A. M., under the name of the Rockland College. In 1878, the college was incor- porated under the Regents of the University of this State, with the follow- ing trustees :
Hon. George M. Van Hoesen, President.
Merritt E. Sawyer,
D. D. Demarest,
R. De Cantillon,
I. W. Canfield,
Wm. H. Jersey,
M. W. De Baun,
Hagerman Onderdonk,
James D. Smith,
D. F. Ackerson,
Edmund Ehlers,
J. H. Edwards, Andrew Fallon.
Under its present management Rockland College furnishes educational facilities for both sexes.
The number of private schools that have been established at different times in Nyack, is large and most of them have been well sustained. At present Willistine Hall, started 1881, by the Misses J. A. & J. Kempshall and since conducted by them, is situated at Upper Nyack. The Nyack Kindergarten, started in 1878, by Miss S. C. Robinson; and the school kept by Imogene Bertholf, are the principle private schools.
The first public burial place at Nyack, was on the point north of the "Bight " in South Nyack. When the first interment in this ground took place, is not known. The last body was buried there in 1834, and in 1873, the remains of those lying on the point were removed to Oak Hill Ceme- tery. About 1730, a place of sepulcher was started on the Mountain Road, in Upper Nyack, west of Broadway. There lie many of the early settlers in the Nyack Valley, and the names of the Sarvents, Perrys, Snedekers, Palmers and Knapps, can still be deciphered. There were buried Major John L. Smith, who died August 22d, 1797, and his brother, Captain Auri Smith, officers in the War for Independence. The last body was in- terred at this spot about 1867. In 1800, the Presbyterian Cemetery was started, and used for a place of entombment till 1850, when the last body was deposited there. In 1869, the bodies were removed to Oak Hill Cemetery. In 1810, burial was permitted on a lot of the farm of John
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Gesner, in the present South Nyack, and shortly after a negro burial ground was opened on the property of M. Cornelison, near the same spot, but little is known of the interments at these places. Another place of burial for negroes was on the south side of the Mountain Road in Upper Nyack, immediately west of the old school building and between it and Midland avenue. At the time the Roman Catholic College was being built at Upper Nyack, in 1832, on property now belonging to George Green, a chapel was opened in the rear of an old house, that stood north of and nearer the road than the present residence. In the yard attached to this chapel several of the laborers, who died while the college was being built, were interred. After the college was burned and the property abandoned ; most of these bodies were removed.
The necessity of establishing a universal cemetery at Nyack was much discussed in 1847, and in February, 1848, a meeting of the citizens of Nyack was called, for a public consideration of the subject. The idea was approved, and the present site, then the property of D. D. Smith, selected.
On June 27th, 1848, Oak Hill Cemetery was dedicated in the presence of three thousand people, two-thirds of whom were from New York City. The exercises began at one o'clock, with a prayer by the Rev. Mr. Dow- ling, followed by an anthem sung by a choir under the direction of Mr. Baldwin, choirister of the Carmine street church. The Rev. Mr. Dunbar and the Rev. Dr. Adams then delivered eloquent addresses. The dedica- tion service was then performed by Rev. Dr. Hardenberg. At the close of the dedicatory service, the Hon. Hugh Maxwell delivered an appro- priate oration, which was followed by a second anthem ; a prayer by the Rev. Mr. Hageman and the benediction by the Rev. Mr. Dewing. The Rev. Dr. Dewitt presided at the meeting.
Under its original organization, D. D. Smith was proprietor of Oak Hill Cemetery, and Thomas Burd, Isaac P. Smith and Jones F. Conklin the first Trustees, with John Mace of 75 Carmine street, Superintendent.
Up to March 17th, 1865, this place of burial remained the property of D. D. Smith, and such adjacent land as was purchased and added to the grounds was also vested in his name. Under this arrangement, D. D. Smith received four-fifths of the purchase money obtained from the sale of lots, while one-fifth was retained by the trustees for the improvement of the grounds. On the date in 1865, above mentioned, a special act was passed by the Legislature incorporating the cemetery. By the terms of this act, D. D. Smith transferred all of the unsold land in the cemetery to
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the trustees and with them fixed a price on the unsold lots. Of this price Smith was to receive seventy-five per cent.
In 1850, the number of lot owners in Oak Hill was one hundred and fifty, the price of a lot $25, and that of a grave from $4 to $6. In 1870, the number buried in this cemetery was 1,827, and by October 12th, 1885, the number had reached 4,415.
The Rockland County National Bank was opened for business June 23, 1860, on the south-east corner of Court street and Smith Place with the following Board of Directors.
Isaac P. Smith, President.
A. D. Morford, Cashier.
Isaiah Milburn,
D. D. Smith, Wm. Voorhis,
Tunis Smith
C. A. Morford,
Wm. R. Knapp,
George Conklin,
A. J. Storms,
D. J. Blauvelt,
H. I. Haight,
Wm. Skelly,
John Peck,
I. M. Dederer, C. A. Fellows,
E. V. Haughwart. .
After the passage of the National Bank Act of February, 1863, this institution became a National Bank with a capital of $100,000. In 1866, D. J. Blauvelt was elected President in place of Isaac P. Smith deceased. The bank continued on the corner before mentioned for some years, and was then removed to the corner of Broadway and Burd street, in the Commercial Building. Through bad management in its loans and the peculation of employees, the funds of the bank were exhausted, and while on Dec. 29th, 1877, the Bank statement showed a capital of $100,000 and a surplus of $40,000, on Dec. 28th, 1878 it suspended payment.
This action was hastened by the failure of the North River & New York Steamboat Co., which was indebted to the bank in the sum of $27,575.00, and of the firm of D. D. Smith, Jr. & Co. who had been loaned both as a firm and as individuals about $100,000. The failure, following closely on that of the Rockland Savings Bank, caused much feeling against the officers of the National Bank, who were generally be- lieved to have been guilty of, to use the mildest term, gross carelessness. The stockholders finally decided that a voluntary liquidation was their best way out of the difficulty, and under the management of the late President the affairs of the bank were settled, paying to the stockholders in all four and one-quarter cents on the dollar. The Directors at the time of the bank's failure were :
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D. J. Blauvelt, President. A. D. Morford, Cashier.
John W. Towt, Isaac S. Lydecker,
Arnet Seaman,
Moses G. Leonard, I. M. Dederer, Nicholas Blauvelt.
The Rockland Savings Bank was incorporated April 14th, 1871, and opened for business July Ist, 1871, with the following Board of Directors:
S. W. Canfield, President. R. P. Eells, Secretary and Treasurer.
A. A. Demarest,
Isaac Pye,
John B. Gurnee,
Isaac Hart,
N. C. Blauvelt,
E. B. Weston,
John Wessel,
W. E. White,
S. B. Cole,
James C. Wool,
S. H. Doughty,
Wm. H. Whiton.
James Ketchel
The Bank continued in existence till July Ist, 1877, when a receiver was appointed and the affairs of the bank wound up with a loss of $38,000. The President and Treasurer of the bank were indicted by the Grand Jury on several counts and were acquitted. Civil suits were then brought against them and pressed for some time, but with no result.
The Directors of the bank at the time of its failure were :
S. W. Canfield, President. R. P Eells, Treasurer and Secretary.
A. A. Demarest,
Isaac Pye,
Wm. B Collins,
J. W. Moison,
N. C. Blauvelt,
E. B. Weston,
John Wessel,
Wm. E. White,
S. B. Cole,
Jas. C. Wool,
S. H. Doughty,
Wm. H. Whiton,
Jno. I. Polhemus,
Abr. P. Smith.
The effect of these failures, while most disasterous to Nyack at first, seems to have been a blessing in disguise, inasmuch as it has banished from the leading places of that village men who had obtained public con- fidence without deserving it, and whose methods delayed the growth of the town.
The Nyack National Bank was incorporated in March, 1878, with a capital of $50,000, and began business in the building formerly occupied
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by the Rockland County National Bank, corner of Broadway and Burd street. The first Board of Directors were :
WVm. C. Moore, President. C. A. Chapman, Cashier
S. R. Bradley, Rudolph Lexow,
J. Weddle,
Quentin McAdams, William Voorhis, George C. Stephens,
Peter K. Knapp.
During the year 1872, a number of the men at that time prominent in Nyack affairs, began the discussion of incorporating the village of Nyack, under a general act for the incorporation of villages passed by the Legisla- ture April 20th, 1870. The original intention of those who led in this movement, was to include the present village of Upper Nyack, and to extend southerly beyond the present south bounds of South Nyack. Their design, as expressed among themselves, was to use the taxes ob- tained from the outlying sections of the incorporated village, in the imme- diate streets of the town, and to out vote the few tax-payers at a distance by those who were benefited. This design was early suspected by Garret Sarvent, of Upper Nyack, but for some time the suspicions were uncon- firmed.
It came to pass, however, that positive proof of the intention of those who were at work in Nyack was put in the possession of a resident in the upper village, and the people of that place decided to incorporate the vil- lage of Upper Nyack. With this object in view, preparations were made as rapidly and secretly as possible, and on September 28th, 1872, the vil- lage of Upper Nyack was incorporated, only twenty-five days before Nyack. The bounds of this village are : The Hudson River on the east ; the division line between Clarks and Orangetowns on the south; the mountain on the north, and on the west, by the middle of Highland avenue from the southern division line to the Mountain Road, and from thence by a line running north-east till it reaches the north boundary a few feet east of Midland avenue.
The first officers of the newly incorporated village, elected September 28th, 1872, were :
Garret Sarvent, President.
Trustees.
Charles A. Fellows,
William H. Jersey, Peter Voorhis.
Wm. H. Kipp, Collector. Isaac V. Smith, Treasurer. D. M. Clark was appointed Clerk.
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The term of office for the first officers lasted only till March 19th, 1873, when, at the annual clection the same Board was returned. In the elec- tions that have since occurred, Garret Sarvent has been returned to the office of President, a position he has thus held consecutively for over twelve years.
Under its new government the streets of Upper Nyack have been macadamized, and Broadway lighted by oil lamps. The low rate of taxes has drawn to it the main office of the Union Steamboat Company, and for a short time, the Pacific Mail Company. The post-office at Upper Nyack was established in August, 1885, with George C. Stephens, post- master.
The vote on the question of incorporating Nyack was given on October 23d, 1872. The total number of ballots cast was 484, of which 292 were for, and 192 against incorporation. The first officers elected were D. D. Demarest, President-who had 341 votes to 186 for T. Blanch Smith- David L. Crane, Isaac Vervalen, Charles E. Hunter, Trustees ; William B. Collins, Treasurer ; Isaac W. Canfield, Collector ; William T. B. Storms, Clerk. As in the case of Upper Nyack, these gentlemen only held office till the annual election, March 19th, 1873. At that time, D. D. Demarest was re-elected by 367 votes as against 38 for T. Blanch Smith, and 8 scattering ; William H. H. Purdy was elected a Trustee in place of Charles E. Hunter ; and J. De Baun, Collector, in place of Isaac W. Can- field.
Under the first administration, from October 23d, 1872, till March 19th, 1873, from fifty to seventy-five oil lamps were purchased and placed on the streets, and Smith Place and Burd street from the steamboat dock to Broadway, Broadway, from De Pew avenue to Main street; Main street to Franklin avenue, and Franklin to the old railroad station, were covered with crushed stone.
In the election held March 18th, 1874, T. Blanch Smith was elected President by a vote of 346 as against 215 votes cast for D. D. Demarest. James E. Smith, C. De Baun, J. I. Polhemus, Charles E. Hunter and George A. Cox were chosen Trustees; William B. Collins, Treasurer ; Stephen De Clark, Collector ; William T. B. Storms, Clerk ; and Charles J. Crawford, Police Justice-Crawford declined to serve and Charles H. Meeker was appointed.
This year Broadway was macadamized with lime stone, from Upper Nyack to the bridge near Hudson avenue and graded at First avenue. De Pew and First avenues were graded from Franklin avenue to Broad- way. The election in March, 1875, resulted in the choice of T. Blanch
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Smith, President, with a few scattering votes against him; James E. Smith, C. Debaun, D. A. Ackerman, C. C. Powell, Abr. L. Smith, Trustees. Wm. B. Collins, Treasurer; Alonzo Johnson, Collector ; Peter Stephens, Police Justice; Wm. T. B. Storms, Clerk. In April, T. Blanch Smith died and Wm. B. Collins was elected by the Board of Trustees to the position of President while George Collins was appointed Treasurer.
Meantime the fate which Upper Nyack had escaped. was falling heav- ily on the lower portion of the village. The heavy tax-payers claimed that they were the sufferers, while the non-taxpayers out-voted them, and at length they presented a petition to the Trustees asking that a meeting be called to determine whether the village should remain incorporated or not. This petition was denied. The petitioners then appealed to the law, and obtained a mandamus from the Supreme Court to compel the Trustees to call a meeting. On the day appointed, however, an injunction was served on the Trustees to prevent the election.
In March, 1876, Wm. B. Collins was chosen President by a vote of 357 as against 168 for D. D. Demarest ; Jno. A. Sickles and A. L. Smith, Trust- ees, in place of C. C. Powell and A. L. Smith; Orlando Humphrey, Treasurer ; Peter Stephens, Police Justice; Wm. T. B. Storms, Clerk, and J. G. Perry, Collector. Perry refused to serve and J. C. R. Eckerson was appointed in his place. Little was done by the Board except to com- bat the anti-corporationists, who accused it of criminal extravagance and corrupt motives, while they constantly endeavored to force a vote on the question of annulling the incorporation. To the charge, the Board re- plied, that they were unjustly blamed for the acts of previous Boards, while in the Legislature they attempted to obtain a repeal of the law by which citizens were allowed to vote upon the question of a continuance of a corporation.
In the election held March, 1877, Tunis De Pew received 172 votes for President as against 169 for Wm. B. Collins; J. N. Perry, Garret Blauvelt, and George Dickey, were elected Trustees; Orlando Humphrey, Treas- urer; Charles J. Crawford, Collector; Peter Stephens, Police Justice ; Charles H. Meeker, Clerk. Tunis De Pew refused to serve, and Wm. B. Collins was declared President. Blauvelt and Dickey refused to serve, and C. C. Powell was elected in their places. The anti-corporationists had labored constantly, and, at length, compelled the Board of Trustees to call a meeting. at which the question should be settled. August 7th, 1877, was appointed ; and on counting the ballots there were found 71 for incorporation, 282 against. On February 7th, 1878, the first incor-
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porated village of Nyack passed from existence, with Wm. B. Collins, President; and C. C. Powell, J. N. Perry, A. L. Smith, J. A. Sickles, Trustees. With the exception of some hydrants, the remains of a few street lamps, and a book-case, the village possessed nothing. The Treas- urer reported that he had transferred $100, which was in the treasury, to the Supervisor ; and the Collector reported the amount of unpaid taxes as $2,000.
Before the end of the incorporated village, two suits had been begun against it, one of which was settled by the Trustees; the other was that of John J. Blauvelt, for damage caused to his property by the grading of De Pew avenue.
On May 25th, 1878, the citizens of South Nyack decided to incorpor- ate the district bounded on the north by Cedar Hill avenue; south, by the south line of the property of the late C. T. Smith; west, by the old Nyack patent line. At the first election held, June 22d, 1878, Garret Van Nostrand was clected President; John G. Perry, R. J. Lyeth, G. D. Wilson, Trustees; Wm. C. Moore, Treasurer; T. D. Seaman, Collector, and C. H. Meeker, Clerk. During the winter of 1882-3, an attempt was made to extend the limit of South Nyack as far north as De Pew avenue, and a petition was presented to the Board of Supervisors to that effect. But the people of Nyack regarded this as an attempt to obtain the school building and opposed the movement vigorously. The matter ended by the Supervisors denying the right of petition. On February 27th, 1883, the village of Nyack was re-incorporated, and at the first election Wm. De Groot was chosen President ; John A. Burke, E. B. Sipple, George F. Morse, Trustees; Nicholas Blauvelt, Treasurer; G. W. Hart, Collector; and Edw. H. Cole, Clerk.
Gas was first introduced in the village by the Nyack and Warren Gas Light Company, which was incorporated November, 1859, I. W. Canfield, Manager.
The gas works were built in their present location, and the first mains laid in the same year. Later, Hon. William Voorhis bought out the works and became President. The Nyack Water Works Company was chartered March 28th, 1873, through the efforts of Hon. William Voorhis, its President. The first reservoir, standing east of Hillside avenue, prov- ing insufficient to meet the demands, a second was built near the Pros- pect House, followed by a third on Main street, near the ice house. The supply being still insufficient, Mr. Voorhis tapped the Hackensack near the turnpike bridge in 1883, and by means of a powerful steam pump, forced the water up to his reservoir. By this procedure an unfailing sup- ply is guaranteed.
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On October 28th, 1883, the Westchester Telephone Company opened an office in the Commercial Building, Broadway and Burd street, with E. E. Blauvelt, Manager. The Nyack Cornet Band was organized in No- vember, 1879, Frederick Noll being its first leader.
The first public hall in Nyack was on the second floor of the school, built in 1806. From the time of the destruction of this building by fire in 1827, till the building of Union Hall by R. P. Eells in 1853, no place of public resort existed. Such lectures, concerts or other amusements as were heard in the village took place in the Presbyterian church, or in a little building that stood on Main street, and the speeches of political campaigns or Independence Day were generally made in De Pew's Grove, which stood just south of De Pew avenue, and stretched from the present school to Franklin avenue. Within two score years celebrations have been held in that grove, of which now, but a few trees remain.
Union Hall, standing on the north side of Main street, just west of Broadway, was at once a success. There, were held the various forms of amusement, that appealed to the taste and pocket books of the villagers, for many years. There, were heard the first words of ominous import which betokened the approaching storm of civil war. There, during that war, met the Union men of the village, and that branch of the Loyal League established in Nyack ; and there, when the Nyack Veterans re- turned at the close of the war, was a public reception given them.
In 1869, the Smith's closed the second floor of their store at the steam- boat dock and turned it into a public hall, under the name of Smithsonian Hall. This resort remained open, until the failure of the firm in 1878 led to a transfer of the property. In 1873, Louis Hoffer, built a hall on De- Pew ncar Franklin avenues, 40 by 90 fect, and with seating capacity for 600 people, which he named the Nyack Opera House. In 1881, Hon. Wm. Voorhis opened a hall, corner of Main street and Broadway, 40 by 100 feet, and with seating room for 585 people, which he named Voorhis Hall. In 1868, the wigwam was opened by A L. Christie, on the corner of Broadway and Church street, and used as a public hall for several years. In this building Horace Greeley spoke during the campaign of 1868.
The Rockland County Journal was established at Nyack by Wm. G. Hacselbarth, in 1850, the first copy appearing Saturday, August 3d, as a twenty-eight column 19 by 36 inch paper. The first three editions were printed in New York City. Up to 1861, the paper favored the Demo- cratic Party, but on the first attempt at disunion, it entered upon the cause of the government. With fearless incision, Haeselbarth attacked the disloyal and drew upon himself and paper threats of vengeance. He
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was supported heartily in his course by the Republicans of Nyack, how- ever, and the organization of the Loyal League, allayed the fierce desire for destruction that pervaded the more rampant members of the opposi- tion.
In 1867, the Journal was bought by John Charlton, and the steam press was introduced by him in 1873. At a later period the paper was enlarged to eight pages and during 1882-83, a sixteen page paper was issued. In 1859, Robert Carpenter, foreman of the Journal, left that office and on May 19th, of that year brought out the first issue of the People's Advocate. The second issue bore the same title, but ere the third was issued, Carpenter had formed a partnership with Wm. Wirt Sikes, later an U. S. Consul, and the name of the paper was changed to City and Country. This business arrangement continued till Sikes left the concern and the paper remained in the hands of Carpenter. Until 1868, the paper was independent in politics. Then it took up the principles of the Democratic Party, and has adhered to them since.
In 1880, Carpenter died, and E. C. Fisk took the management of the paper. In 1881, Fisk and J. J. Hart, purchased the paper and it con- tinued in their hands till September 20th, 1883, when Fisk became sole proprietor and editor. In November 1884, a stock company bought the paper and now controls it. In 1867, the Monthly Gazette was started by C. A. Morford, Jr., but had only a brief existence. On February 14th, 1879, the Rockland Advertiser was started by M. F. Onderdonk, with four pages, fourteen inch columns. In a short time H. G. Knapp, took charge, and conducted the paper under the name of the Rockland Adver- tiser, and Chronicle till September 1881 Then Lafayette Markle, ob- tained the paper and has since managed it under the name of the Nyack Chronicle.
The Tappan Zee Boat Club was organized in 1871, and obtained a barge, gig, six-oared shell, besides many private boats. The shed used as a boat house by this club stood at the foot of Spier street, on the north side of the present boat house, and the upper part was used by Chas. Haines, boat builder. The club passed from existence in 1879. The Nyack Rowing Association was organized in May 1881, with J. H. Blau- velt, President ; Alex. Pollock, Vice President ; Edw. Merritt, Treasurer. The boat house, on the remains of the old steamboat dock foot of Spier street, was built and opened June 15th, 1882.
Oneko Lodge, No. 346, I. O. O. F., was organized March 28th, 1848, with the following officers and charter members: J. N. Johnson, N. G .; S. Gesner, V. G .; Jno. Turnbull. Sec'y .; W. B. Collins, Treasurer ; Henry
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Gesner, A. A. Lydecker, P. Baker and W. Bedell. In August 1867, the number of the lodge was changed to 122. Rockland Encampment, No. 37, I. O. O. F. was instituted August 21st, 1867, with Thos. Lawrence, C. P .; W. B. Collins, H. P .; Nelson Puff, S. W .; John H. Blauvelt, Scribe ; N. Blauvelt, Treasurer ; George H. Cooke, O. H. Dutcher, L. W. Coates ; C. D. Snedeker and T. Campbell. Ruth Rebekah Degree, No. 4, I. O. O. F. was organized December 30th, 1869, with Nelson Puff, N. G ; Mrs. J. Perry, V. G .; Mrs. James Ketchell, Secretary; Patience E. Cook, Treasurer.
Rockland Lodge, No. 723, F. & A. M., held its first communication July 10th, 1872 ; the charter being granted June 4th, 1873. The first officers were : Charles H. Wessels, W. M .; Charles H. Meeker, S. W .; T. Blanch Smith, J. W .; J. H. Blauvelt, Treasurer; George H. Cook, Secre- tary ; Stephen De Clark, Tyler. Nyack Division, No. 203, S. & D. of T, was organized June 12th, 1867, with Christopher Rutherford, Worthy Patriarch.
Waldron Post, No. 26, G. A. R., was organized May 24th, 1867, and named in honor of Towt J. Waldron; the first Commander was Jas. H. Christie. The charter of the Post was surrendered in 1875. On January 30th, 1879, the Post was re-organized as No. 82, with Robert Avery, Commander. John Hancock Post, No. 253, G. A. R., was organized in January, 1882, with George F. Morse, Commander, and thirty members. Post Silliman was organized July 21st, 1880, with twenty members. The first Commander was W. H. Myers. The Post had the honor of being the first composed of colored veterans in the State. The Jewish Society, of Nyack, was organized in March, 1870, with A. M. Brown, President ; Isidore Senigaglia, Vice-President ; . Robert Seigel, Secretary ; N. M. Kosch, Treasurer.
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