USA > New York > Putnam County > Cold Spring > Thirty Years of Early History of Cold Spring and Vicinity, with Incidents, By One Who Has Been a Resident since 1819 > Part 2
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A new line of work wasinaugurated at the foundry and machine shops, viz: Sugar machinery for the South- ern part of the United States and the West India
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Islands. This kind of work had before this been manufactured in England and Scotland to some extent. But the enterprise of our wise heads diverted it here. It was said to be very profitable.
I will now return to the growth of Cold Spring. As I have said, large accessions were made to its inhabi- trnts, say from 1826 to 1830, and they scarcely knew where to lay their heads. Houses must be built, and carpenters were in great demand. Houses rose up mushroom-like. Building materials were very cheap in those days. A good pine board could be had for one shilling, joist from eight to ten cents, shingles $3 per thousand, and lime in proportion. The price of nails was the highest.
Wood was then the only fuel used ; I do not recol- lect the price. Coal was unknown in those days, ex- cept what was brought from the Cumberland Moun- tains in Maryland, to melt the iron at the foundry. This coal is what the Smiths now use in their shops. The houses being put up, a lull in building followed. In the years before 1830 some began to settle down on business. Henry Johnson, I believe a ship carpenter from the East, after working a while at house build- ing, commenced getting ship timber for the ship builders in the City of New York. He had only to go on the mountains adjacent to Cold Spring. Webb, the father of William H. Webb, and a builder by the name of Burgh, were rival ship builders in New York, and this start of Johnson took some of the young men of Cold Spring and vicinity to enlist under him
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in traversing the mountains to get ship timber. This was seen, further on, to be a formidable business. Af- ter getting all the ship timber about the mountains here, they went to the Shawangunk Mountains. Elisha Baxter, uncle of Judson and Henry, set up the busi- ness on his own account and continued in it for sev- eral years. Jesse Nelson father of James, was the next to embark in this business. The two Baxters and Nelson, who had been with Johnson, took each a corps of men, and from them came the knowledge of getting ship timber, and subquently became a very large business. They went to Pennsylvania, Dela- ware, Maryland and Virginia, and at least one hun- dred men went to those states every winter for several years. It was very profitable. But some would meet with loss occasionally by putting some of their sales in bad hands. The writer was a martyr to one of that class.
Benjamin Dykman was the first butcher. He kept a stall in Market Street and done his dressing in the old barn used by Stephen Mekeel in Nelsonville, and continued until after 1830.
Shoemakers and tailors came in soon after 1826.
A blacksmith was located at Nelson's Mill. John Ferris, or "Jack," as he was called, was located some- where in the vicinity of the then Davenport Corners,
William Davenport was the milk pedlar in 1820. and for some time after.
The reader will wonder where the people got their shoes and their garments. In this way. A shoema-
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ker would go from house to house with his tools, or "kit," and make up the family shoes, and the tailor would do the same. The circuit would be made about twice a year. This was a joyous time with the boys and girls, for a pair of new shoes was a god-send to them. This mode of shoeing and clothing families was prevalent and universal the country over in 1820.
I will now return to the Foundry. Then no bell was used to call the inen to work, but a horn was used. The horn would blow for the men to go to work at six o'clock, and at half-past six for breakfast ; then again at seven to go to work. It would blow at twelve for dinner and at one to work. At six it would blow for the men to leave work. A store was built of wood where Mr. Groundwater's shop is. It was called a store, and some groceries were kept, but it was not much more than a drink shop for the men. This was continued three or four years. The superintendent seeing his men were not benefitted by the drink, the work was neglected, and families suffered, the drink was abolished. This was about 1825. The store was replaced by the present brick building, and a famous store of all kinds of goods was opened. The Foundry continued to enlarge its works, and shops were filled with castings for the New York shop. They were shipped weekly, in summer by boat and in winter by four to eight teams. This was done until the Hudson River Railroad was built ; then castings went by this road.
I will now return to the Churches. By 1832 they
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all had places of worship, and nearly all had their choir of singers. Timothy Candee, a popular singing mas- ter from Connectieut, a brother-in-law of John P. An- drews, made the teaching of Church music a business. He established many schools, and his fame went abroad. The Churches have had correct singing ever since. I well remember how he astonished the old inhabitants by his mode of teaching and the tunes he introduced. One was Montgomery and one Ocean. His first school for singing was in the house near Dr. Stanbrough's, and I think he kept school in some other part of the district.
All I have written thus far is from memory, no record or diary having been kept, so I hope I will be exensed if I have erred in some particulars.
I have the Session Book of the Presbyterian Church in its first days before me, and I will make some quo- tations from it : The Reverends Blair, Johnson, Os- trom and Welton were appointed hy the North River Presbytery a committee to repair to Cold Spring, and if the way was clear to organize a Church in that place. They convened at the Rev. Mr. Blair's on Tuesday, December 9th, 1828. The following per- sons appeared before the committe : Nicholas Hustis, Peter Lewis De St. Croix, Phebe Travis, Lucy Candee, Eunice Andrews, Catharine Roat and Philema De St. Croix, and related their experience, which being satis- factory to the committee, it was Resolved, on the following day to organize them into a church. Pre- vious notice having been given, the congregation met
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in the meeting house at 11 o'clock A. M. when Rev. James Ostrom preached a sermon from Psalms 46 : 4. The Rev. William Blain read the articles of faith and the covenant, to which the before named persons gave their assent, and Nicholas Hustis and Philimia De St. Croix being baptised, the Rev. John Johnson declared they were constituted a Church of Jesus Christ, and after prayer and benediction adjourned. Rev. Alonzo Welton addressed the new church Mrs. Deborah Chapman was received by certificate from the Church at South East. January 14th, 1829, .Peter Lewis De St. Croix was ordained an elder in this church.
January 9th, 1829, the Session convened, and Miss Elizabeth Nelson and Euphimnia De St. Croix were received as members of the church, and Mrs. Sally Mariah Blain was received by letter from the Church at Johnstown. Sabbath, January 11th, 1829, the ordinance of the Lord's Supper was administered for the first time in this Church.
The Session met April 25th, 1829, Rev. Mr. Blain, moderator, and P. L. De St. Croix, elder. The fol- lowing persons were admitted to the church : John P. Andrews, Martha Hustis. Susan Davenport, Phebe Haight, George Armstrong and Mary his wife.
October 31st the Session met, Rev. Mr. Blain, mod- erator, P. L. De St. Croix, elder. William Young and Susan McClelland were admitted on confession, and George Leitch and Sarah his wife, and Jane Jen- kinson were received by letter from the Spring Street Church, New York. George Leitch being already an
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elder of the church, was voted as such in this church.
February 5th, 1830, Session met. Present, Rev. William Blain, moderator, and George Leitch and Pe- ter L. De St. Croix, elders. Daniel Mulleneux and Susan his wife, Samuel MeLelland, John Short, Jr. and Margary McDowell. This was a preparatory Lec- ture. At this meeting it was unanimously resolved by the Church, (including the Session,) that no person should be admitted as a member of this Church who manufactures, deals in, or nses ardent spirits.
At a meeting of the Church on the 1st of May, 1830, William Young was chosen an Elder, and John P. An- drews a Deacon, and on the following day were ordain- ed as such.
May 8th, Session convened, Rev. William Blair, moderator, and P. L. De St. Croix, George Leitch and William Young, elders. John McDowell, Samuel Mc Dowell and Mrs. Ann Kerr were duly accepted into the church.
September 6th, 1830, Session convened. Present, George Leitch, William Young and P. L. De St. Croix. It was resolved that P. L. De St. Croix be Clerk of the Sessions, and also that William Young be appoint- ed to represent the church at the coming meeting of the North River Presbytery, and as the meeting was not -pro forma, it was not opened and closed with prayer.
September 21, 1830. Mrs. Sally Blain having applied to the Session of the Church, through the Rev. W. Blain, for a dismissal from the church, and she being
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a member of the church in good and regular standing, her request was granted, and a certificate given to the Church of Goodwell. By order of Session. G. L. De St. Croix clerk.
William Young declined to represent the church to convene at Cold Spring next day, George Leitch was appointed in his stead.
The proceedings thus far were duly approved in Presbytery at Cold Spring Sept. 22d, 1830. James Thomas moderator.
The foregoing records were transcribed from an old book kept by me. P. T. DE ST. CROIX.
September 24th. Jacob Helfenstein became the pastor of the church at this time.
I now leave the record of the church, which contin- ued to prosper, as well as all the churches in the place, until after 1852.
A rupture took place about this time in the Presby- terian Church, for causes not easily seen, which result- ed in the organizing of a Dutch Reformed Church, now called "Reformed." A church was built, which would be a credit to any place, and is in full operation to this day.
I take leave of church matters, at least for the pres- ent, and go back to before 1826. The Foundry con- tinued prosperous, cannon were manufactured in abun- dance, orders came in fast, and it was no uncommon thing for them to get from fifty to one hundred for cannon of the heaviest kind yearly, with orders for shell and shot to correspond. I have told the reader
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before that the first guns made were bursted by being proved. I think on reflection that some few were burst here or elsewhere, which induced the govern- ment to be more particular and exacting in their gun- proving. A stronger iron must be had. The strong iron from the Greenwood works would not half sup- ply them. A blast furnace must be built somewhere to make pig iron, so the West Point Foundry Associ- ation conceived the plan of building a furnace. They erected one between the two dams. The ruins of the old stack can be seen to this day. This was also the work of wise heads, and sufficient pig was made for their future purpose. Iron ore and charcoal were found within a distance of eight miles. The mines and the woods were full of workmen. The furnace once in blast must be kept up. One hundred men were employed year in and year out ; some cutting wood, which was very heavy, some coaling it, some in the mines under ground, and many teams hauling the material, when properly prepared in the woods; oth- ers, not a few, must roast the ore and stamp it fine for the furnace ; others stack up the coal in huge rough buildings ; the coal must remain as dumped twenty- four hours before housing lest fire might be smoulder- ing in it. This went on for several years, until the wood for making the charcoal was exhausted. I used to hear of their making forty tons of the finest char- coal iron in existence each day in the year. This you might say was business. Mr. Kemble appeared in his glory when making ordnance for the government.
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He was elected to Congress two terms, and was a can- didate for a third term, but was defrauded ont of it by his opponent, who was a lawyer.
I will now take the reader to Cold Spring for a while. I have already told of the flood of inhabitants that poured into the place about 1830. Every availa- ble house in the vicinity was doubly occupied I might say. The work had increased at the Foundry, and they had spread out their works. The demand for work for Cuba increased. Apprentices to the iron work and wood work were taken, I might say by the hundred, and a perfect knowledge was taught them. A boy learning his trade at the West Point Foundry was a sufficient recommend to get work any where. I am wandering. It was now apparent that more dock room at Cold Spring was needed, so a sluiceway was made from a small dam below the town hall, the water turned from its natural course, and the hills west of the present road cut down and the road straightened to the dock. By filling in the cove in time of freshet the land was formed which is now covered by the Me Coy, the Patterson, the Riley, the Trnsdell hotel, on the left from Market Street, the brick store, James Howell, the saloon next door, the Duffy hotel buildings and the coal yard of Baxter. Before filling in the cove vessels were laid up there in winter, and if luckily they did winter, if not they were wrecked there. I remember of two that were wrecked, one is under the house now occupied by widow McCoy, the other fur- ther down. All the ground on which the buildings I
have mentioned stand, is made ground, and was the head work of William Davenport, who was the gen- eral superintendent of the Gouveneur estate, which was very large. He was assisted by Robert Williams, who I shall take the liberty to speak of hereafter. Whenever a freshet occurred, Davenport and Williams could be seen, hoe in hand, and a gang of men with shovels forcing the dirt and gravel into the cove ; then at other times with carts filling in until the present dock was built. This gave relief to dock room. Sub- sequently the Foundry dock was built and is a con- venient accession to the Foundry. Their wares now go to their dock by rail, with a dummy, crossing the Hudson River Railroad.
I have not quite done with the foundry. As I have already said the most of the castings for machinery were rough cast, and sent to New York by water in summer and by land in winter. They then conceived the idea of moving the finishing and smithing works to Cold Spring. Here they had plenty of room of their own. But where could they get houses for their men to live in. Houses must be provided. Mr. Gouv- eneur was consulted, and was assured that if he would put up a number of houses they would be rented at a profit by the foundry. Accordingly about 1837, a contract was made to build twenty-four double houses ; some to be built at Nelsonville, but mostly at Cold Spring, near the houses belonging to James Sterling and Selah Post in Furnace Street. The houses ocen- pied by Michael Craton and Alexander Spalding are
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among them. Then preparations were completed to receive the families of the workingmen of the finish- ing and smithing departments from New York. This moving made a large increase in the traffic and general business of the place. Two hotels were established- one was kept by George W. Travis, the Cold Spring House ; the other by Walter Simonson, the Pacific Hotel, and were-located on or near the new dock. A new hotel was opened in Nelsonville, called the Alham- bra house. Dr. Burke had before started a saloon in what was called the barracks. He died before or about 1835. Davy Calahan, a house waiter to Mr. Kemble, took the Burke house, saloon and stock in trade. He soon became intemperate and in a few years died. His brother Tommy, who took his place at Mr. Kemble's, took Davy's place in the Burke saloon, with his stock in trade. He, as was said, became intemperate and also died. Thus in the space of about twelve years three persons occupying the same place went to their long home. Mr. Samuel Bryant took the saloon which Burke and the Callahans had occupied. He manufac- tured and sold small or spruce beer and cider for a few years. For several years those four places were near- ly the only ones where drink was sold.
The population at this time was about as large as at the present day. The New York shops had all been removed to Cold Spring. A better set of mechanics could not be found-they were the pick from all the shops in New York. If I should attempt to mention their names I would fail to think of all, so I forbear
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to mention any. They were as a general rule of the best character and were an honor to the community. The twenty-four houses built by Mr. Gouveneur were soon occupied, and others came and built houses for themselves. The price of building lots at this time was as low as $4 per foot. In a few years the price went up from $12 to $15 per foot.
The brook that was so beneficial in filling in the basin before mentioned, by Davenport and Williams, became an occasional damage to the inhabitants and still continues so. It has baffled the ingenuity of all wise heads to devise a plan to remedy it, and hence a remedy has never been found.
I pass to notice some strange incidents that took place in Cold Spring and vicinity along up to 1845-'50.
Robert Williams, as I have before mentioned being in the employ of M. Gouveneur, asked the hand in marriage of Caroline Warren, a graceful and beautiful woman, a sister of the wife of Elisha C. Baxter, of Nelsonville, and they having a married sister as I be- lieve in the State of New Hampshire. Caroline went there and Robert Williams followed after her, his in- tended bride. He left the City of New York in the dead season of winter, leaving his house he had pro- vided in Cold Spring for the return of his supposed bride, proceeded on his journey on the Steamer Lex- ington, which was burnt in the middle of Long Island Sound, leaving none to tell the fate of the passengers and crew. I well remember the consternation that prevailed in Cold Spring on receiving this shocking
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news. The journals of the day commented on it, and all that could be gathered of the fate of the steamer was that a vessel was seen burning on the Sound that night. It was the coldest weather of that year. Thus perished Robert Williams.
Caroline returned to Cold Spring soon after the sad fate of her intended and went in the millinery busi- ness and continued in it for a few years. She made frequent journeys to New York to purchase goods. It was said that a respectable young man living in New York would see her safe on board the evening steamer for Cold Spring. The last time he conducted her to the boat, and an affectionate farewell parting had, the steamer proceeded on her journey. A heavy storm of rain and wind sprang up, and it was late in the evening before the boat reached Cold Spring. The rain was then coming down in torrents. A large Al- bany steamer was lying at the dock for repairs, occu- pying the whole front of the new dock, so the incom- ing steamer had to land its passengers over the deck of the boat at the dock. Caroline was the only pas- senger landed. She was not seen after that, and no clue to her fate could be obtained. Mr Baxter's fam- ily remained up waiting for her until very late, and not arriving they retired. Soon after falling to sleep a knock was heard at the door. Mr. B. sprang up, supposing it was Caroline knocking, but to his surprise no one could be seen. He went to bed again, but soon a knocking was heard again. He hurried to the door, but no one could be seen or heard. It was a sleepless
night after this last knocking for the Baxter family. Mr. Baxter started out to find Caroline. It could not be ascertained whether the steamer had landed at Cold Spring that stormy night, so Mr. B. went to New York to see her friend. He told Mr. Baxter he had seen her safe on the steamer, as was his custom. He next repaired to the steamer where he learned that she had been landed alone on the deck of the steamer at the dock. The excitement now became intense in the whole town. Could she have fallen in foul hands ? Could she have, in crossing the deck of the boat at the dock, walked off its gangway into the river ? or could she have landed safely on the dock and then fell in foul hands ? All these theories were fully dis- cussed. All the hands and waiters on the steamer were sought out. At length the pastry cook was found, and some clew was discovered from her. She was iu the kitchen when the boat landed, felt it strike, and soon after thought she heard a splashing in the water and a scream between the steamer and the dock. From this some thought she was foully handled and thrown in the dock. Others that she was foully handled after she got on the dock. All agreed that the splashing and the scream was that of Caroline Warren.
At times the knocking at the Baxter house door and windows continued, the excitement became very high, and the family would get very uneasy over it. Others visiting there would hear knocking and get frightened away. They were finally visited by their pastor, Rev. Mr. Bancroft, who spent the night there.
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He had been a seaman and had been in much peril at sea. The knockings were frequent during the night, and when he heard them would quickly go to the place from whence the sound seemed to come, but nothing could be discovered. I heard him say all this seemed very strange to him and he could not account for it. He alluded to it in church.
Caroline's body was never found. The river was raked thoroughly but to no purpose. Something like wearing apparel in scraps was found in the raking, but could not be identified as belonging to her. It was evident that the river was her grave, but the cause of her getting there is still an unsolved mystery.
The cholera has visited this town at two different times. Once it was very severe. One day three fun- erals were seen in one procession. Strong and healthy men that were in that procession, were on the morrow cut down, and they too were borne to the grave. I might mention other incidents that happened about this time-such as the murder of Abram Wanzer by George Denny, who paid the penalty by execution the 25th day of July, 1844. I will refer the reader to Blake's History of Putnam County for a full account.
About 1848 the Hudson River Railroad worked its way up to Cold Spring, and at the time set for cars to reach here a mob had gathered to stop it. The cause, as was understood at the time, was that a subcontrac- tor had failed to pay his men, and they had combined to stop the train. But by an unavoidable delay miles below, it did not come as was expected on that day.
This delay put a stop to any resistance by the mob.
About August of this year, a notice appeared in the local papers of the county calling a public meeting at Carmel. Only two persons from Phillipstown at- tended, the writer being one. The object of the meet- ing was to form an Agricultural Society for the Coun- ty of Putnam. I remember meeting Reuben D. Bar- num there. He observed to me : Why, they are build- ing a Railroad along the river. I answered they were. He said we are building the Harlem road up through South East to Albany. Oh well. if they have a mind to throw away their money like that, let them do it, I don't care. They don't need a railroad along the river more than a dog needs two tails. The Hudson River Railroad was built notwithstanding, and your humble servant rode to the City of New York for fifty cents, the regular fare. It remained at that price for a while, then the regular fare was increased to 62} cents, and continued at that for a long time, and finally went up to $1.04 in summer and $1.30 in winter. At this time by commuting the fare can be had for 85 cents.
There is one other incident I have thus far over- looked. The Commandant of West Point before 1819 was Capt. S. Partridge. He had three sons, Newton, Milton and Samuel. The latter I have had occasion to mention as keeping the brick store of Joseph Perry. Milton built the store and occupied it as such for a while, then Samuel took it. Milton was a great searcher after minerals. This seemed to be his main study. He was most of the time in the hills and
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mountains. The three boys at that time were bach- elors. Nothing would be thought if Milton did not re- turn home at night, as he was often absent. At length his dead body was found at the base of Butter Hill. It is supposed that in his searchings for minerals, in at- tempting to climb the steep part of the mountain lost his balance and fell where he was found, a mangled corpse. I do not know where Newton went. Samuel married and went west to Elmira.
About this time Cold Spring and Nelsonville were incorporated as villages, and so remain to this day.
The first Masonic Lodge was started in the dwelling house afterwards owned by William Davenport, in Nelsonville, and for several years after 1826, and then finally went down. It was revived again by and under a new number, in the room over the store of Samuel Shelton, adjoining the printing office of the Cold Spring Recorder, and is now going on successfully.
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