Production Note
Cornell University Library produced this
volume to replace the irreparably
deteriorated original. It was scanned using
Xerox software and equipment at 600 dots per
inch resolution and compressed prior to
storage using CCITT Group 4 compression. The
digital data were used to create Cornell's
replacement volume on paper that meets the
ANSI Standard Z39.48-1984. The production of
this volume was supported in part by the New
York State Program for the Conservation and
Preservation of Library Research Materials
and the Xerox Corporation. Digital file
copyright by Cornell University Library
1993.CfnrneU Hnimaitg ICthrary
Strata, Rtni |Jnrk
BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE
JACOB H. SCHIFF
ENDOWMENT FOR THE PROMOTION
OF STUDIES IN
HUMAN CIVILIZATION
1918CITY HALL.
[From Maiden Lane.JTHE
ALBANY HAND-BOOK
A
Strangers’ Guide and Residents’ Manual.
CONTAINING
Information About the City Government, Schools and Churches ;
Description and History of Public Buildings and Institutions,
with Special Reference to Washington Park,
the Rural CeljItery,. and
THE NEW CAPITOL.
Compiled and Alphabetically Arranged by
H. P. PHELPS,
Author of “ Players of a Century; a Record of the Albany Stage."
ALBANY, N. Y.
Brandow & Barton, Printers and Publishers
1884
/VCopyright by
HENRY P. PHELPS,
1880—1884.INSURE IN THE
Insurance Company
OF ALBANY,
OFFICE, No. 57 STATE STREET.
CAPITAL INVESTED IN
UNITED STATES BONDS.
Abundant Indemnity,
Low Rates of Premium,
Equitable Adjustment of Losses,
Prompt Payment of Approved Claims.
DIRECTORS:
ADAM VAN ALLEN, President.
C. P. WILLIAMS.
C. B. LANSING.
JAMES W. EATON.
JESSE C. POTTS.
1. A. CHAPMAN.
C. H. ADAMS.
ROYAL BANCROFT.
G. A. VAN ALLEN, Vice-President.
B. R. WOOD.
E. DARWIN JONES.
SAMUEL SCHUYLER.
NATHAN B. PERRY.
O. H. DAVENPORT.
ISAIAH PAGE.
S. DE LA GRANGE.
R. V. DE WITT, Secretary.G. A. Van Allen.
/ R. V. De Witt.THE
ALBANY HAND-BOOK.
A Bit of History.—Albany is the
oldest surviving European settlement
in the 13 original States. Jamestown,
Va., founded seven years earlier (in
1607), has long since ceased to be in-
habited, and nothing but the ruins of a
church-tower and a few tombstones
are left to mark the spot, even a por-
tion of the site having been washed
away. Albany comes next. It was in
September, 1609, that Henry Hudson
dispatched from Holland by the Dutch
East India Company, to search for a
north-west route to India and China,
came sailing up the river which now
bears his name, thinking surely that
the long looked-for “ passage ” was
found at last. But arriving in the
vicinity of where the city of Hudson,
now stands, the yacht “ Half Moon ”
(like many another craft in after years)
found difficulty in proceeding, and the
mate and four sailors came up stream
in a small boat, which they moored, it
is believed, at a spot now in Broadway.
The site of the future city was covered
with pine, maple, oak and elm, and
between its hilis five brawling brooks
ran laughing to the beautiful, river.
Subsequently they were known as the
Normans kill, the Beaver kill, the Rut-
ten kill (which flowed down what is
now Hudson avenue), the Foxen kill
(down Canal st.), and the Patroon’s
creek. Poor Hudson returned the way
he came, went back to Holland, and
subsequently, in the service of ihe
London Company, discovered, far to the
north, the bay which bears his name,
and then, through a mutiny among his
crew, was set adrift in a small boat, to
die alone amid the ocean he had so
fearlessly explored. [The evidence
that the Italian navigator, Verrazzano,
in 1524 came up the Hudson, is too
dim for sober history.] In 1614, Hen-
drick Corstiaensen, under a grant of
the United New Netherlands Company,
erected a trading-house, 26 feet wide
and 36 feet long, on the island below
the city, nearly opposite the residence
known as Mount Hope. This was
surrounded by a stockade 50 feet
square, and a moat 18 feet wide. It
was garrisoned by ten or twelve men,
who had two cannon and 12 stone
guns with which to defend themselves.
Here they carried on an extensive fur
trade with the Indians, until the spring
freshet of 1617 nearly destroyed their
domicile, when they moved up town ”
and erected a new fort on the hill near
the Normanskill, or 1st kill, as it was
then called, the other four being num-
bered in succession northward. In
1623, another organization, called the
West India Company, erected a fort on
a spot near what is now the steamboat
landing, and called it Fort Orange, in
honor of the prince who presided over
the Netherlands. In the same year
colonists were sent over, but in 1626
only 8 families were resident here. In
1629 the Patroon system was trans-ACA—ADE
4
planted to this country (see Patroon)
and the following year more colonists
arrived at Rensselaerwyck, a domain
48 miles broad, and which extended 24
miles on both sides of the river, from
Beeren island to the Mohawk’s mouth.
In 1634, the village began to assume a
name independent of the fort, and was
called Beaverswyck, or Beaver’s Fuyck,
or the Fuyck, so named from the bend
in the river. Subsequently it was
known as Williamstadt, and became
the centre of the fur trade in North
America. In 1664, the province came
into the hands of the English, who
speedily changed the name of the set-
tlement to Albany, in honor of the
Duke of York and Albany, New Am-
sterdam on Manhattan island undergo-
ing a similar transformation. In 1686,
Albany was incorporated a city by Gov.
Dongan, the bounds being one mile
wide, from the river back sixteen miles.
The town from its very earliest settle-
ment was protected from the incursions
of the French and Indians by palis-
ades* a kind of fortification consisting
of upright posts driven firmly into the
ground. In 1695 the boundaries of
the stockade were, Hudson st. on the
south, Steuben st. on the north, the
river on the east, and Lodge st. on the
west. Afterward, as the town increas-
ed in population, these lines were ex-
tended. The stockade then reached
as far south as Hamilton st,, and on
the north it crossed Broadway, near
Orange and Van Tromp sts. At this
point the north gate was placed, and it
was the line dividing the * city of Al-
bany from the Colonie. When the
town was first fortified, it contained but
three streets: Jonkers and Handlers
(corresponding to State st. and Broad-
way), and Pearl. In 1795, the town
of Colonie was annexed. In 1797 the
city became the capital of the State.
(See Congress of 1754.)
Academy of Music.—The name
under which the South Pearl Street
Theatre (now Leland Opera House,
which see,) was opened by John M.
Trimble, Dec. 22,1863. It was burned
Jan. 29, 1868. The Division Street
Theatre opened Oct. 4, 1869, was also
called by that name while under Frank
Lawlor’s management. It was burned
Dec. 8, 1876, and its site is now occu-
pied by dwellings.
Academy Park, consists of about
two acres, bounded by Elk and Eagle
sts., Washington ave. and Park place.
A charming bit of green, gracefully
sloping towards the High school and
State hall. Was placed in hands of
the park commissioners in 1881, and
improved at an expense of $4,306 the
following year. A little distance west
of this spot used to be a ravine running
north and south, where, tradition says,
tories, in the time of the revolution,
were stripped of their coats, hats and
shoes, and a bandage put over their
eyes, in which condition they were
shot and buried on the spot. It was
in Academy park that the building of
the Army Relief Bazaar was erected in
1864. (See Parks.)
Acipenser Brevirostris. — Scien-
tific name for Albany beef. Any per-
son selling the unskinned article “ by
the piece or pound,” is liable, by a city
ordinance, to be fined $5. (See Stur-
GEONVILLE.)
Adelphi Club.—Organized as the
Adelphi Literary Association, Jan. 26,
1873. Occupied rooms on S. Pearl st,
between Division st. and Hudson ave.
In 1876 moved to Adelphi Hall, for-
merly “Turn Halle,” on Green st.
While located here dramatic enter-
tainments were given by the members
with success. In 1874-5 a lecture
course was given at Beverwyck Hall.
A series of balls was given each year.
In 1880 the house 101 Hudson ave.AFR
was leased and converted into a club
house. The membership increased and
in order to obtain larger quarters, in
1881 the present beautiful club house,
cor. S. Pearl and Division sts. was
built for the club, who took a ten
years’ lease of the same. Feb. nth,
1881, the association was incorporated
as the Adelphi Club. The present
quarters are next door to where the
club was first organized. Excepting the
Fort Orange, they are the handsomest
of the kind in the city. Among the
members are prominent and influential
Jewish residents. For convenience the
club house is a model of its kind. The
first floor is used for kitchen and rooms
for the steward. The second floor is
divided into billiard and card rooms
and library. The third floor is used
for parlors and dining rooms, and the
entire fourth floor for a hall. The
balls given here are as grand as any
held in this city, and as many as ioo
couples have been present. The mem-
bership is limited to 125, present
membership 120. Sigismund Illch,
pres.‘ I. Strasser, vice-pres.; William
Lowenthal, treas.; A. Fleischman, rec.
sec.; S. Baffin, fin. sec.; trustees, D.
Muhlfelder, L. Stark, Wm, Barnet, L.
Auer* M. Gips, M. ?. Frank, J. Nus-
baum, L. Livingston, H. Foreman, J.
Friedman.
African Race.—By the census of
1880, there were 1,056 negroes in Al-
bany. Many are employed as waiters
at the hotels and on steamboats, etc.;
some are well-to-do, and they have
their representatives in the learned
professions. Following are the institu-
tions peculiarly their own :
Israel A. M?. E. Church, 365 Ham-
ilton st. Organized with 12 members
in 1831, Rev. Mr. Candish, pastor.
Since then it has been ministered to by
about 25 different clergymen. The
first edifice was burned down in 1844;
the present one was erected ten years
later and was remodeled in 1881.
Present pastor, Rev. Horace Talbot.
Jephthah Lodge, No. 13, F. & A.
M. was constituted under a warrant
emanating from the M. W. G. Lodge,
of this state, Dec. 26, i860. The offi-
cers are W. M., C. E. Lewis; S. W.,
S. H. Mando; J. W., S. Branch; sec.,
J. J. Buright; treas., J. H. Deyo. 35
active members.
Philomathean Lodge, I. O. O. F.
—Organized in 1844; 45 members.
Meet at No. 5 North Pearl st. Present
officers:	N. G., William Waters; VY
G.	, Henry Pinckney; N. F., L. H.
Rhoden; P.N.F., Henry Cross; chap-
lain, H. Hyson; treas., C. C. Oatfield;
sec., John Caldwell.
Charles Sumner Benevolent As-
sociation.—Founded Dec. 13, 1875;
incorporated Nov. 30, 1878. Members
are provided for when sick, if the ill-
ness is not the result of immoral con-
duct. Number of members, 50. John
H.	Deyo, pres.; Wm. H. Brent, vice-
pres.; Thos. L. Jackson, treas.; Geo.
W. Clark, rec. sec.; J. A. Douge, fin,
sec ; Wm. H. Anthony, chap.; H.
Rose, marshal; Thos. Elkins, M. D.,
physician; trustees, J. R. Chapman,
Heuson Jones, L. W. Johnson, Wm.
H. Gaynor, Samuel Green.
Female Lundy Society.—Founded
June 19, 1833. Has 40 members, and
is supported by monthly dues. Assists
its own members. Mrs. Susan Douge,
pres.; Mrs. Sarah Usher, vice-pres;-
Mrs. Mary Williams, sec.; Mrs. Ade-
line Douge, cor. sec.; Mrs. Sarah
Smith, treas.
Female Lovejoy Society.—Mrs.
Anna Bell, pres.; Mrs. Leah Stewart,
vice-pres.; Mrs. Sarah Freeman, sec.;
Mrs; Ruth Lippitt, treas.
The Carltons (social society.) —
Pres., J. A. Smith; vice-pres., Mrs. C.
Newman; sec., A. Blake Platto; cor.
sec., Miss A. M. Chapman; treas, Ed-
ward Robinson.
Burdett Coutts Benevolent As-ALB
6
sociation. — Has about 20 charter
members. Pres., T. H. S. Pennington;
vice-pres., John H. Deyo; treas.,Benj.
McIntyre; rec. sec., R. F. McIntyre,
cor. sec., C. B. Miller.
Albany Academy, The, or the
Boys’ Academy, as it is often called,
was incorporated March 4, 1813. Its
first session was held September 11,
building that Joseph Henry, who from
1826 to 1832, wTas one of the profes-
sors, first demonstrated the theory of
the magnetic telegraph in transmitting
intelligence, by ringing a bell through
a mile of wire strung around the room.
It only remained for Prof. Morse to in-
vent the code of signals, and the ma-
chine for making them, and the thing
was done. As has been well said,
. THE ALBANY ACADEMY.
1815, in a dwelling on the southeast “The click heard from every joint of
cor. of State and Lodge sts. The pre- those mystic wires which now link to-
sent brown freestone building, fronting gether every city and village all over
on Academy Park, north of the Capitol this continent, is but the echo of that
Park, was erected by the pity. The little bell which first sounded, in the
corner-stone was laid July 29, 1815. upper room of the Albany Academy.”
The main building is 70 by 80 feet, It was in this building that the well-
with wings 30 by 45; is three stories known Bullions grammars were written
high, including basement. Cost $90,- and first used as text-books, by their
000. It was in the upper rooms of this author, Professor of Latin and GreekALB
in the institution. For many years, T.
Romeyn Beck, who created the science
of medical jurisprudence, was the prin-
cipal, and at all times the institution
has maintained an enviable reputation.
On the 26th of June, 1863, a semi-cen-
tennial celebration was held, when it
was found that more than 5,000 stu-
dents had been educated here.
Present Condition.—In 1882, Prof.
James M. Cassety, Ph. D., a graduate
of Harvard, was elected principal.
Under his careful and judicious man-
agement the school has more than
maintained the high standard of schol-
arship which it had attained during the
long principalship of Dr. Merrill E.
Gates. The number of students has
steadily increased and the attendance
at the present time is the largest in the
history of the Academy. More than
300 students of all grades now receive
instruction daily in this historic school;
its courses of study were never more
thorough; the results were never more
satisfactory. There is a primary de-
partment for the youngest boys; a pre-
paratory department where oral lessons
by object methods are given, and an
academic department, the latter con-
sisting of a course of six years in Eng-
lish, the classics, mathematics, includ-
ing surveying and analytical geometry,
French and German, history and liter-
ature, natural sciences, including a two
years’ course in physics, for which a
large lecture room has been recently
fitted up and furnished with a complete
supply of modern apparatus. The
school also possesses a working chem-
ical laboratory, furn shed with accom-
modations for 25 pupils, where each
student, under the direction of a teach-
er, performs every experiment of the
course. This is believed to be the
only preparatory school in the country
which gives to entire classes this com-
plete experimental drill. Twelve hun-
dred large photographs, collected in
Europe and the East, and carefully ar-
ranged and bound for use, illustrate
the geography, the history and the
painting of the world. Military drill is
a well developed feature of the Acad-
emy, and the appearance of the cadetr
battalion, now numbering 125, upon
the streets of the city, always excites a
lively interest.
Albany Business College, The,
was established in 1857, by H. B. Bry-
ant and H. D. Stratton, and was the
fourth link in their international chain of
business colleges. E. G. Folsom, found-
er of the old Cleveland Mercantile Col-
lege in Ohio, in 1851, in which both
Bryant and Stratton were formerly stu-
dents; came, to Albany and became
partner with them in 1862. In 1867,
just- before the death of Stratton, Mr.
Folsom purchased their entire interest
in the Albany Business College, and
was sole owner of the institution until
1878, when C. E. Carhart became
partner.
The institution'has now been in suc-
cessful operation for 27 years, during
which time some 6,000 students have
become members. Its graduates are
to be found in almost every branch of
mercantile life, especially in banks,
commission houses, railroad offices,
wholesale and retail trade, etc., and in
many instances: are they to be found
occupying prominent positions in pub-
lic life. The Hon. J. A. McCall, Jr„
State Sup’t of Insurance, graduated
from this institution in 1865. The av-
erage yearly attendance during the past
few years has been 306. The course
of study, consisting of branches essen-
tially commercial, now embraces pen-
manship, arithmetic, grammar, spelling,
business correspondence, commercial
-law, political economy, the science and
practice of accounts, commercial geog-
raphy, business ethics, detection, of
.counterfeit money, stenography, type-
writing, telegraphy, etc.ALB—ALM
8
Albany Institute, meets each al-
ternate Tuesday evening, from October
to June, at the Albany Academy. Its
origin dates back through other organ-
izations, of which it is the legitimate
successor, to the year 1791. The char-
ter of the Albany Institute was granted
February 27, 1829, the Society for the
Promotion of Useful Arts, and the Al-
bany Lyceum of Natural History, hav-
ing consolidated under that name. Its
membership has included many per-
sons of distinction as scholars and
also in professional and civil life. Its
standard publications are ten volumes
of Transactions, two of Proceedings
and one entitled Field Meetings of the
Albany Institute. The annual fee for
resident members is $5. There are
now about 200 members. The library
contains 6,000 volumes, and many old
newspapers, including a collection
made by De Witt Clinton, but owing
to lack of proper accommodations it is
not easily accessible. The president is
David Murray; vice-pres’ts, Henry A.
Homes, J. A. Lintner, Leonard Kip;
rec. sec., George R. Howell; cor. sec.,
Ernest J. Miller.
Albany Insurance Company,
The, has its office in the Albany Sav-
ings bank building, cor. State and
Chapel sts. J. Howard King, pres.;
Theo. Townsend, vice-pres.; John E.
McElroy, sec. Was chartered by the
legislature March 8th, 1811, to transact
fire, life, and marine insurance. The
capital was $500,000. The first board
of directors were Elisha Jenkins, Philip
S. Van Rensselaer, Isaiah Townsend,
Dudley Walsh, Henry Gest, Jr., Charles
Z. Platt, Simeon De Witt, Stephen
Lush, (Charles D. Cooper, Thomas
Gould, John Woodworth, Peter Ganse-
voort, and Christian Miller. In 1828
the charter was extended, also in 1851
and again June 1, 1881. In 1829 the
capital was reduced voluntarily. In
consequence of hard times in 1837-38
the company lost $134,200. By fires in
1848-49 and 50 the company lost and
ALBANY SAVINGS BANK.
paid over $431,488.03. Isaiah Town-
send died in 1838, being the last of the
original directors. He was a director
twenty - seven years and president
twenty-three years. To the present
time the company has paid 142 divi-
dends. The present capital is $200,000.
Assets, $373,582; liabilities, $49,891,
and net surplus over every liability,
$123,691. For over seventy - three
years it has made good all its contracts
for indemnity against loss or damage
by fire, paying therefor the sum of two
million and ninety-one thousand eight
hundred and fifty-two dollars.
Albany News Company.—(See
News Co., Albany.)
Alms-House, The, is situated on
the plankroad, south of Washington
park and west of the Penitentiary.9
ANI—ANT
The Alms-house farm contains 116
acres of good land. The buildings in-
clude the poor-house, lunatic asylum,
hospital, pest-house, etc. The city
pays 60 and the county 40 per cent, of
the cost of maintenance. The average
number of inmates is 250. State pau-
pers (such as have not been residents
of any county for 60 days) are received
here and boarded at $2.50 per week.
There are about 50 insane. Incurable
cases are sent to the asylum at Ovid.
A new pest-house, erected on the out-
skirts of the farm, will accommodate
50 persons. Cattle and geese are em-
pounded here, and the unclaimed dead
of the streets, the river and the Peni-
tentiary find here a burial. Visitors
are admitted every day except Sunday.
Animals, Domestic. — According
to the last census, there were in Alba-
ny county 9,469 horses, 66 mules, 515
working oxen, 13,042 milch cows,
7,314 other cattle, 24,393 sheep, 12,027
swine.
Anneke Jans, whose estate has
been the subject of so much solicita-
tion, resided cor. State and James sts.,
present site of the Mechanics’ and
Farmers’ bank, and died in this city
March 19, 1663. Shie is supposed to
have been buried in the Beaver street
burying ground. Her first husband
owned land on the west side of Broad-
way, New York, along the river, from
Chambers to Canal sts., with a strip
running up to give an entrance to
Broadway. This was sold to the gov-
ernment by her heirs, and was known
as the King’s farm, and given to Trin-
ity church. It is now worth millions,
and many of her descendants have
imagined that it ought to revert to
them.
Antiquities.—In the Sunday school
room of the First Reformed church are
to be seen a pulpit, hour-glass and
Bible which came from Holland. The
pulpit is of oak, of octagonal shape,
four feet high and three feet in diam-
eter. It was in use 150 years by eight
successive pastors. So, too, was the
hour-glass, by which the preacher was
timed by the entire congregation, and
greatly did he offend if he failed to
occupy his full 60 minutes. The Bible,
with its wood and leather covers, brass
corners and clasps, was printed in 1730.
The weather-cock, which adorned the
old Dutch church in which these arfi-
OLD DUTCH CHURCH.
cles were used, and of which a cut is
here given, is stored with the archives
of the Van Rensselaer estate. (See
Reformed Churches, Episcopal
Churches.)
Anti - Rentism, although a thing
of the past, at one time was a very ex-
citing issue, and entered largely into
State politics. It was an attempt to
evade the conditions under which large
tracts of land were originally leased by
the Patroon (which see.) The Van
Rensselaer manor was not much set-
tled till after the revolution, when, the
property being entailed, Stephen VanANT
io
Rensselaer, acting on the advice of his
brother-in-law, Alexander Hamilton,
adopted the policy of leasing farms in
perpetuity, giving generally about eight
years’ occupation at the nominal con-
sideration of “a peppercorn a year;”
at the expiration of which time the
leases drew a rent estimated to be the
interest at 6 per cent, on the value of
the land, or about 20 shillings an acre,
payable in the produce of the soil, that
is in wheat, fowls, and days’ service
with carriage and horses, the reservar
tion for days’ service being intended
for a capital with which to aid the
tenants in building bridges, repairing
roads, erecting churches and making
other improvements. The old Patroon
died Jan. 26, 1839, and, the right of
entail having been abolished, divided
the manor, giving Albany county to
Stephen, his only son by his first wife,
and Rensselaer county, to William P.,
his oldest son by his second wife. The
old Patroon had been a very lenient
landlord; but the tenants, at his death,
became exceedingly anxious as to the
policy that would be pursued by his
heirs. Particularly were they excited, in
regard to the clause in the leases in ref-
erence to what was known as the quar-
ter sales. This condition was that in
case the tenant wished to sell his farm,
the landlord should have the first right
of purchase, and if the purchase was
declined, and the farm sold to another,
the landlord was to have one fourth
the proceeds of the sale, and this as
often as the farm changed hands.
This condition, which to modern ideas
appears unreasonable and exacting,
was really intended as a tax on alien-
age, as it did not apply where the farm
was sold or descended to one of the
tenant’s family. It was a relic of the
old feudal days, and intended to keep
the tenants together. The old Patroon,
however, never enforced it^but it was
feared that his sons would do so. This
led to the appointment of a committee
of the tenants, composed of some of
the most respectable and responsible
men of the manor, friends of the Pa-
troon, to propose the purchase of all
the reservations, get a release from the
rentals and obtain a fee simple. To
this the counsel for the Van Rensse-
laers refused utterly to listen. There-
upon the tenants further organized,
raised a fund and employed counsel to
ascertain whether they could take any
steps to relieve themselves. Henry G.
Wheaton was retained, and his ad-
vice was, that the legal claims of the
landlords under the leases were abso-
lute. He could see no relief for the
tenants except to make the collection
of the rents so difficult that the land-
lords would be willing to make terms
at last. He specially counselled against
violence, but suggested their banding
together and giving notice to each
other of the approach of sheriff’s offi-
cers, thus making difficult the serving of
process. They had other advisers who
were not so discreet. In 1840, Gov.
William H. Seward, being then a can-
didate for reelection, went out to East
Berne, and addressed a very large
meeting of anti-renters, whom he ad-
vised to organize in this and all the
counties where the troubles existed,
and send men to the legislature who
should hold the balance of power, and
thus force the passage of such laws as
would relieve them. This was followed
not only by a political movement, but
by the organization of bands who
masked under the name and in the
disguise of Indians and attacked the
officers of the. law. The first conflict
which attracted, general attention was
at Grafton, Rensselaer county, where a
man was killed by disguised anti-rent-
ers, . The examination of more than
200 persons failed to disclose the au-
thor of the deed. Other manors were
equally excited, and in 1845 Governor
Wright issued a proclamation declaring
Delaware county in a state of insurrec-II
ARB—ARC
tion. In the following year he was
defeated by the anti-rent candidate for
Governor, John Young, who went into
office pledged to pardon such of the
anti-renters as were in prison for their
crimes, a pledge which he kept faith-
fully. The excitement not only found
its way into the legislature, but made
itself felt in the constitutional conven-
tion. Then the contest was transferred
to the courts, although it ,is not ten
years since all violence ceased. In
1853, the Van Rensselaers sold out all
the leases of the hill towns in Albany
county and nearly all those of Rensse-
laer county to Col. Walter S. Church,
and since then he has bought the re-
mainder, and the business, what there
is left of it, is in his hands. He has
pursued the policy of releasing the
rentals and giving a fee simple, so that
now three-fourths of what was the
manor is entirely free from any rental.
During his administration he has
brought over 2,000 suits in ejectment
for non-payment of rent, and in every
case except perhaps ten (in which the
plaintiff was in error as to the facts)
has been successful. Compromises
have been effected on this basis: for a
farm of 160 acres on which the annual
rent was 22^ bushels of wheat, four fat
fowls and one day’s service with horses
and carriage the value was fixed at
$26, which is the interest at 6 per cent,
on $433. By the payment of the $433
the tenant receives a fee simple.
Much has been written upon this sub-
ject, and many erroneous ideas are
afloat upon it. What little is found
here is believed to be historically cor-
rect. The excitement in this city at
times has been intense, and on three
several occasions have the military
been called out since Col. Church’s
purchase.
Arbor Hill, north of Clinton ave.
Two lots on Ten Broeck st., between
Second and Third sts., were given by
the Patroon for a burial ground in
1764, and were used as such by the in-
habitants of the north part of the city
till 1842, when the ground having
.fallen into a disgraceful condition, was
sold for assessments, and the scattered
bones were buried in the Rural Ceme-
tery.
Architectural Features.—The ex-
amples of primitive Dutch structures,
on the southeast cor. of State and
Pearl sts., and northeast cors. of Pearl
and Columbia, and Chapel and Steuben
sts., are interesting as old landmarks,
and for their quaintness. Modern
buildings, in Albany, are erected with
brick of local manufacture; Philadel-
phia, Croton and other pressed brick;
sandstone from Nova Scotia, New Jer-
sey, Connecticut and Ohio; Schenec-
tady blue stone; granite; and cast-iron
for fronts, and for trimmings to doors
and windows. In Albany, as in all old
cities, three periods in architectural
design are distinctly noticeable, viz:
the “ Carpenters’,” as are the majority
of domestic houses in the oldest por-
tions of the city, together with public
buildings such as the Geological Hall,
Globe Hotel, and old Normal School.
Secondly, “ Transition ” from the first
named to architects’ handiwork, in-
cluded in which are the numerous
buildings remodeled for stores, offices,
etc. Lastly, “Art culture,” in which
may be cited numerous private resi-
dences upon Elk and State sts., and on
Washington and Madison aves., and
near the park, the Kenmore Hotel,
Mechanics’ and Farmers’ Bank, and
many modern suburban residences.
In ecclesiastical architecture, promi-
nent as examples of decorated Gothic,
are St. Peter’s, St. Joseph’s; the Cathe-
dral furnishes a.good example of the
Perpendicular; the carved work in the
tower of the first mentioned is prob-
ably unsurpassed in design and faith-
fulness of the workman by any work inARM
12
America or Europe. The Lutheran
church, upon Pine st., is a creditable
specimen of “ Early English,” wrought
out of brick. The Methodist church and
Baptist church on Hudson ave., are in-
teresting studies in Gothic and Greek
characters. In Romanesque style we
might mention the Reformed church
upon Pearl st., St. Mary’s upon Lodge
st., and Our Lady of Angels on Cen-
tral ave., while the new City Hall is a
fine example of this style, with a square
Norman tower for the fire alarm. The
new Post Office and the Presbyterian
church recently erected, near the Park,
are also examples of the Romanesque.
The new Capitol may be generally de-
scribed as belonging to the French
Renaissance style, distinguished from
the Italian by the introduction of
Gothic features. The Presbyterian
church upon Chapel st. approaches
Sir Christopher Wren’s style in many
of its prominent features, although its
spire finial, the pumpkin and codfish
are wide departures therefrom. The
interior design and arrangements of All
Saints Cathedral chapel furnish proof
of success of culture in an architect.
The Holy Innocents church, on Pearl
st., a gem, pure in conception, should
be seen by tourists and lovers of art.
The later public schools are genuine,
practical, sensible designs, embodying
exteriors and floor plans in keeping
with intended purposes, affording com-
fort to teachers and pupils, while
familiarizing the eye of youth with
taste, cleanliness and sanitary demand.
St. Agnes School is a model of its kind,
and although simple, almost severe, in
style, yet its numerous architectural
surprises tend to leave an agreeable
impression, upon the memory. The
Grecian pretensions of the Female
Academy are in rather unpleasing con-
trast with their modern surroundings,
and calculated to suggest unfavorable
criticisms. The Sacred Heart Convent,
at Kenwood, deserves particular men-
tion for its charming location, and as
an illustration of Gothic character
adapted to an institute of education.
Another illustration of simple, good
taste in architecture, striking the eye
favorably and leaving pleasant impres-
sions, is the Child’s Hospital, modern
and yet antique in its conception. In
the State Armory, cor. of Eagle st. and
Hudson ave., is a fine type of military
architecture, in character resembling
the baronial style introduced into Eng-
land by King Edward I, upon his re-
turn from the Crusades. Among many
other edifices worthy of note are the
Boys’ Academy, the Madison Avenue
Reformed church and the State Hall.
Armory, The State.—The State
arsenal, formerly located on Broadway,
cor. Lawrence st., was, by act of April
17, 1858, exchanged with the city for
the present site on Eagle, cor. Hudson
ave. The present edifice was erected
in the same year, and is of substantial
workmanship and elegant architectural
style. Two companies of the 10th bat-
talion, D and K, are quartered in the
building, occupying the rooms on the
second floor. The upper story is not
used. The drill room is on the ground
floor. Its designation was changed
from a State arsenal to an armory Jan.
1, 1882. It is under the charge of the
senior officer quartered there.
Arrasby Memorial, The, in
honor of Dr. James H. Armsby, was
unveiled in Washington. Park, Novem-
ber 25, 1879, in the presence of the
Albany County Medical Society, the
students of the Medical College, mem-
bers of the Albany Institute, and others.
It stands about forty rods west of Wil-
lett st. The column of granite is 14
feet; the capital is elaborated; the bust
is of bronze, twice the size of nature,
and is the work and gift of E. D. Pal-
mer. It was cast in Paris by F. Barbe-
dienne.13
ART—AUC
Art owes something to Albany.
Here resides the distinguished sculptor
Erastus D. Palmer, whose statues, me-
dallions and portrait busts are celebra-
ted the world over. His son, Walter
L. Palmer, a painter of distinction, is
also resident here. This was the
adopted home of Launt Thompson,
whose taste for art was encouraged by
Palmer, under whom his mind received
the bent that has placed him among
the eminent sculptors of the age. The
Hart brothers, William particularly
distinguished for his American autumn
scenes in oil and water colors, and
James McDougal, renowned as a paint-
er of cattle and sheep, were for years
Albany boys. George H. Boughton,
now famous among the London artists,
passed his youth in Albany. Asa W.
Twitchell, the. portrait painter, resides
but a little way from the city, and Ed-
monia Lewis, the colored woman sculp-
tor, was born in Greenbush.
Art Gallery. — The nearest ap-
proach to an art gallery in Albany is
Annesley & Vint’s, 57 N. Pearl st., a
favorite place of resort for lovers of
the beautiful, and one to which Alba-
nians in their desire to create a favor-
able impression of the culture and re-
finement of the city, are sure to pilot
strangers. It may indeed be called the
art centre of Albany. The rooms are
arranged with a special view to advan-
tageous lights and shades, and the
most noteworthy works of art brought
to this city, whether the production of
native or of foreign talent, are gener-
ally placed here on public view. Rare
and costly engravings and gems in oil
and in water-colors are on sale, and
there is usually something unique in
artistic furniture, in which the firm are
also extensive dealers. They have
been established since 1802, and are as
well and favorably known as any insti-
tution of which our city can boast.
Visitors are always welcome.
Ashes. — Throwing ashes in the
streets is not only prohibited by city
ordinance, but by act of legislature
(chap. 377, Laws of 1866), which for-
bids it in the cities of New York, Al-
bany, Buffalo and Rochester, under
penalty of from one dollar to ten dol-
lars fine.
Athletics.-(See Outdoor Sports.)
Auctions.—The principal auction
houses are on State st., and many sales
are conducted in the middle of that
accommodating thoroughfare, the city
ordinances providing that bulky articles
may be so disposed of, provided they do
not interrupt travel, are not placed
within ten feet of a crosswalk, and are
removed one hour after the sale. The
auction u audiences ” are always inter-
esting to the student of human nature.
The leading auctioneer in Albany is
Mr. John S. Dickerman, who for over
twenty-five years has followed the
business, winning by tact peculiarly his
own, a reputation by no means con-
fined to the city of which he is a prom-
inent citizen. His large and commo-
dious salesrooms are in the five story
and basement building No. 98 State st.
Here is conducted the business, which
by long experience, honorable dealing,
good nature and uniform courtesy the
General has made a success. Works
of art, imported goods from the East,
and large invoices of new first-class
furniture are disposed of, while real
estate, stocks and city bonds help
make up the variety of his sales. Quite
often he is called to other cities to
officiate at important sales. The upper
portions of the building, including over
fifty rooms, are set apart for the storage
of fine furniture, works of art, etc.,
which are conveyed by elevators, in
perfect safety, to the rooms selected.
This is the only large storage warehouse
of the kind in the city.AWN—BAP

Awnings must be at least eight United States. Open from 10 A. M. to
feet above the pavement, and if ex- 2 p. M., except Sundays and legal holi*
tended beyond the stoop or platform days. The interest for discount is fixed
of a building must extend across the at 6 per cent. There are also seven
sidewalk; penalty $5 a day.	savings banks, which pay 3^ per cent.
interest on deposits.
Baggage.—(See Expresses.)
Baptist Churches.—The history
Ball Playing and" shinney ” play- of the Baptist denomination in this
ing in the public streets are punishable city dates back to Feb. 1, 1810, when
by a fine of $1 for every person thus a few brethren of that way of thinking
offending.	met together to worship, and August 5,
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
Banks.—Seven National and two
State banks do business in Albany.
The State banks are organized under
the State banking laws, and the Na-
tional banks under the act passed by
Congress during the war.. Most of
these were State banks, and re-organ-
ized under that act. They are permit-
ted to issue circulating notes by depos-
iting U. S. interest-bearing bonds with
the U. S. Treasurer at Washington, to
secure their redemption. These notes
pass for their full value all over the
of the same year, organized as a so-
ciety. Jan. 23, 1811, they; became a
church numbering 21 members. Rev.
Francis Wayland was their first pastor.
They met in various places for several
years, and then bought the Green
Street Theatre, turned it into a church,
and dedicated it as such Jan. 1, 1819.
Gov. (afterwards President) Martin
Van Buren was a pew-holder here.
From this organization sprang all the
other Baptist churches in the city.
The First church now worships inBAP
15
the building cor. Hudson ave. and
Philip st., with rear on Plain st. It
was erected at a cost of $26,000, in
1852, Rev. Dr. Reuben Jeffrey, pastor;
remodelled and enlarged to a seating
capacity of 900 under Rev. Dr. E. L.
Magoon; and again renovated and
beautified at a cost of $9,000 under
Rev. Dr. D. M. Reeves. The church
has been reduced in membership and
means from time to time, by the emmi-
grations, to form and increase the sev-
eral new interests, but has as often re-
vived with renewed power and pros-
perity. It has two missions, one at
Kenwood, the other in Madison ave.,
prospering under the superintendency
of Mr. Augustus Bowers. Thomas
Rambaut, D.D., LL.D., pastor; John
Cox, clerk; Eliakim Chase, sexton;
Henry V. Shelley, supt. Sunday school.
Membership, 508; baptisms in 73
years, 2,269; received by letter, 1,070.
Sunday services: Preaching, 10.30 a.
m. and 7.30 p. m.; Band of Hope, 9 a.
m.; Covenant Band, 6 p. m.; Sunday
school, 2 p. m. List of pastors since
formation: Francis Wayland, Isaac
Webb, Joshua Bradley, John Finley,
Lewis Leonard, Bartholomew T. Welch,
Geo. B. Ide, Alanson L. Covel, J. L.
Hodge, John Knox, Jas. M. Coley, Asa
Bronson, W. S. Clapp, Reuben Jeffrey,
E. L. Magoon, Geo. C. Lorimer, J. B.
Hawthorne, M. C. Lockwood, Thomas
Rambaut.
Emmanuel, on north side of State
st.. above Swan. One of the finest
churches in the city. The corner-stone
was laid Aug. 14, 1869; dedication,
Feb. 23, 1871. Is of unhewn Onon-
daga limestone, and will seat 1,500.
Cost $200,000. The church was or-
ganized in 1834, under the pastoral
care of Rev. B. T. Welch, D.D., and
was known as the N. Pearl st. Church,
worshiping in an edifice on the spot
now occupied by Perry Building.
Under the pastorate of Rev. C. DeW.
Bridgman, D.D., the new building was
erected. He resigned in Feb. 1878,
and was succeeded by Rev. T. Har-
wood Pattison, D.D., and he by Rev.
Henry M. King, D.D., the present pas-
tor. Church membership, 650. No
debt. Sunday services at the usual
hours, morning and evening. In 1883,
through the liberality of Mrs. Eli Perry,
and in memory of her late husband,
the tower of the church was completed
at a cost of $17,000.
Calvary Church, organized Feb. 16,
i860, was formerly known as the Wash-
ington ave. Baptist Church, but changed
its name Feb. 4, 1865, and bought the
State st. Baptist Church, opposite Cap-
itol park, the society which had wor-
shiped there disbanding. Rev. William
P. Everett was the first pastor; he was
succeeded by Rev. Messrs. J. Spencer
Kennard, John Peddie, Joshua Day,
and John Humpstone. Under the
ministrations of the latter, on April II,
1880, at the morning service, $42,072
was subscribed—sufficient to build the
beautiful structure in which the church
now worships. It stands on a lot 75
by 100 feet, cor. State and High sts.,
the site of the former building, and was
dedicated March, 26, 1882. The total
cost was $57,418, all of which is paid.
It is of pressed brick and rock-faced
brown stone, built in French Gothic.
Will seat 1,100. Rev. J. Wolfender
has been the pastor since May, 1883;
missionary, Miss Kimball; treas., Joseph
Taylor; supt. Sunday school, Wm. San-
ger; sexton, John Bomus. Member-
ship, 636.
Tabernacle, cor. Clinton ave. and
Ten Broeck st., Rev. Albert Foster,
pastor. Organized Oct., 1859, with 56
members. Present membership, 463.
The church edifice now occupied was
completed February, 1877. Cost, with
lot and appointments, $78,000. Pres-
ent debt about $1,600. Services:
preaching Sunday morning and even-
ing; Sunday school, 2<| P. m.; evening
meetings, Wednesday and Friday.BAS—BEE
16
Mission fieldr North Albany, W. H.
Falke, supt. Trustees, Frederick Clap-
ham, Lemon Thompson, Hamilton
Harris, Rodney Vose, John W. Clark,
H. Southwick, Jr., James Marston and
B. Lodge. The former pastors were
Justin D. Fulton, D.D., Rev. Dr. Alden,
Rev. Thos. Cull, R. B. Kelsay, D.D.,
and F. R. Morse* D.D.
German.—Washington ave., near
Knox. Rev. John Jaeger, pastor.
Organized in 1854. Present member-
ship, 75.
Memorial Chapel, cor. Madison
ave. and Partridge.
Basin, The Albany.—Formed by
the construction of a pier in the Hud-
son river. (See Pier.)
Bath-on-the-Hudson. — A village
on the east side of the river, oppo-
site the northern part of Albany, and
in the town of North Greenbush, Rens-
selaer county; incorporated May 5,
1874, population 2,000. Is reached by
Lumber District horse-cars and ferry,
or by upper railroad bridge. It re-
ceived its name from a mineral spring
whose waters, were once used exten-
sively for bathing purposes. There is
another village named Bath, in Steuben
county.
Baths.—The public bath is a high-
ly popular institution, especially with
the boys. It was established after
many efforts of many kinds, by public
subscription, and is moored in the river
at the foot of Columbia st. Last year,
during the season, which began June
14 and ended Sept. 22, it was open 12
hours every day except Sunday, and
63,863 persons bathed. It is in charge
of Garry Benson, a famous “ water
dog,” who has saved many persons
from drowning. Mondays, Wed-
nesdays and Fridays are pay days,
when 10 cents a bath is charged.
Other days it is free. Swimming
classes for both sexes are taught by
Mr. Benson. (See Blasie’s Baths)
Beaver Block.—South Pearl st.,
N. E. cor. of Beaver, was formerly
the Brick church, preached in for
the last time Feb. 8, 1868. Here
Rev. Dr. Nott delivered his famous
discourse against duelling, called out
by the death of Alexander Hamil-
ton at the hands of Aaron Burr, in
1804.
Beeren Island.—Twelve miles
south of the city, near Coeymans Land-
ing. It is usually called Barren island,
the spasmodic attempts of antiquarians
to have its original name restored hav-
ing proved abortive. In 1643, Patroon
Van Rensselaer erected a fort and
trading house here, to exclude private
traders and exact toll from all vessels
not belonging to the West India Co.
This created much indignation at New
Amsterdam. The island is now a
favorite resort for picnics and excursion
parties. Its southern point is in four
counties, Albany, Rensselaer, Columbia
and Greene.BEG—BEN
*7
Begging is forbidden by a city
ordinance, which imposes a fine of
from $2 to $10, unless permission has
been given by the mayor or common
council. It is not generally known
that this restriction applies to “ raising
moneys by subscription, for any pur-
pose whatsoever.”
Benevolent Societies and In-
stitutions.—In Mr. Dickens’s Dic-
tionary of London, the list of organiza-
tions under this head numbers about
850, and includes almost every con-
ceivable object of charity, from supply-
ing “gratuitous homes for gentlewo-
men ” to supporting a “ temporary asy-
lum for lost and starving dogs.” Al-
bany’s charities though of course -not
as numerous, nor, perhaps, as far
reaching, are still highly to the credit
of the citizens, as will be seen by the
following:
The Albany Orphan Asylum, first
went into operation in November,
1829, opening with eight children
under the care of Mrs. Heely. Before
the winter was over seventy helpless
ones enjoyed the shelter of the new
institution. During the following sum-
mer public meetings were held and
much interest created in the charity.
It was incorporated March 30, 1831,
under the name of the Society for the
Relief of Orphan and Destitute Child-
ren in the City of Albany. In 1832-3
a building was erected between Wash-
ington and (what is now) Central aves.
at Robin st.—a beautiful situation.
The edifice was originally only three
stories, forty by eighty, but has been
greatly enlarged. It now has accom-
modations for 250 to 275 inmates; the
average number is 250. It receives
both orphans and half-orphans, and
has sheltered over 4,000 in all. Pres.,
John F. Rathbone; sec., A. V. De
Witt; treas., David A. Thompson;
auditor, James Covert; executive com.,
2
John F. Rathbone, Maurice E. Viele,
David A. Thompson; supt., Albert D.
Fuller; matron, Mrs. Albert D. Fuller.
The institution is supported by dona-
tions and voluntary contribution, inter-
est on invested funds (from legacies),
and by receipts from counties for sup-
port of children, under chap. 173, Laws
of 1875, and the various other acts
since passed amending the same.
Children’s friends and visitors to the
institution received the first Thursday
of each month from 2 to 4 P. M.
Babies’ Nursery, 562 Clinton ave.,
was founded in 1875, and cares for
young children whose parents cannot
support them, or who are left orphans.
It is supported by voluntary subscrip-
tion. Mrs. Fred Townsend, pres.;
Mrs. Samuel Hand, treas.
Home for Aged Men.—On the Al-
bany and Watervliet turnpike, near
Menand’s road. Incorporated Oct. 5,
1876. “It is to provide for respectable
men who, at an advanced age, are left
helpless and alone in the world, and
whose poverty is due to misfortune
rather than to idleness or vice.” The
“ home ” was dedicated March 28,
1878; is pleasantly situated; has ac-
commodations for 30 persons; has at
present 24 inmates. The institution is
free from debt, and has an invested
fund of $12,641. Inmates are, some
of them, supported in whole or part by
friends, others are supported at the
expense of the society. Beneficiaries
to be natives of the United States, 60
years old or more, Protestant, and resi-
dents of Albany county 10 years next
preceding application for relief. Ex-
ceptions to these restrictions may be
made by a three-fourths vote of all the
trustees. As a general rule beneficia-
ries pay $125 entrance money and fur-
nish their own room. Annual cost of
supporting each inmate about $170.
James B. Jermain, pres.; David A..
Thompson, sec.; Mrs. Mary H. Stod-
dard, matron. (See cut, page 18.) .BEN
18
Home of the Friendless.—No.
553 Clinton ave., opp. Perry st. A re-
treat for aged women. The building
fe of brick, three stories, 56 by 75,
stands on a plot of ground 100 by 244,
and has pleasant accommodations for
50 persons. The home was established
in 1850, by Mrs. Lee, with $56, and
duly organized Nov. 18, ig5'i, as the
Albany Guardian Society. The pres-
ent building was dedicated May 5,
1870. The lot upon which it stands
was given by James Kidd.
House of Shelter.—Cor. of Wen-
dell and Howard sts. Organized
March 9, 1868, soon after which it was
opened for the reception of inmates.
Incorporated in January, 1869. The
present building was erected in 1872,
and with lot and furniture cost $21,500.
Its mission is to provide a home for pen-
itent women who have no other place
to go to. Average annual expenses
$3,000, met in part by work done by
the inmates and, in part, by subscrip-
tions. A. S. Kibbee, pres., John E.
HOME for aged men.
Home for the Aged Poor, 415
Central ave. Opened on Clinton ave.
in 1871. Removed to present location
the year following. Conducted by 11
Little Sisters of the Poor, of which
order there are 32 houses in this coun-
try. Although of the Catholic faith,
they receive the aged and helpless of
both sexes of every denomination.
Must be over 60 years of age, and des-
titute. Admission free. The institu-
tion is supported entirely by charity,
the Little Sisters begging from doOr to
door for food, clothing and money to
dispense to the helpless under their
care. The home has 150 inmates; all
that it can well accommodate.
McElroy, treas.; Miss M. L. Dare,
matron. The usual number of inmates
is 25, but 30 can be accommodated.
The institution is free from debt and
has a small invested fund,	,
Ladies’ Protestant Union Aid
Society. —Founded in 1866. Its man-
agers (numbering twenty), are com-
posed of a representative from each
Protestant church in the city. The
society is supported by collections from
the churches, solicited by the repre-
sentative managers, and by individual
donations and legacies. It benefits the
worthy, destitute Protestant poor.
Regular meetings, first Wednesday in
every month, in the rooms of the19
BEN
Young Men’s Christian Association, 20
N. Pearl st. Annual meeting in May.
Pres., Mrs. Isaac Edwards, vice-pres.,
Mrs. Wm. H. Goewey; sec., Mrs.
James Briggs; rec. sec., Mrs. Charles
Sprague; treas., Mrs. William Wen-
dell.
Open Door Mission.—Incorporated
April 14, 1882. Located at No. 3
Columbia place. Mrs. Eleanor Spens-
ley, a graduate of Oberlin, and trained
to mission work in the prisons and
hospitals of New York, supt. She
opened a retreat for incurables, in
Hawk st., in 1879; then removed to
75 N. Pearl st. Through the influence
of Mrs. James C. Cook the present
organization was effected. Twenty in-
mates; three of whom are children.
Pres., Miss Jane Lansing; treas., Miss
Ellen Dempsey; sec., Mrs. Jane Brad-
ley, who, also, with Annie L. Van
Vechten, Sarah Edmonds, Mrs. David
Gregory, Catherine Ten Eyck, Mrs. A.
Stickney and the supt., are the trus-r
tees.
Orphans’ Home of St. Peter’s
Church, No. 7 La Fayette st. Or-
ganized in 1864 ; accomodates 25 girls,
from five to sixteen years. Was first
known as Miss Knapp’s Ragged
School; then incorporated as the
Albany Juvenile Retreat; adopted by
St. Peter’s Church, and name changed
to present title in 1876. St. Peter’s
Church contributes annually about
$1,700 to its support. Is designed for
the Christian care and training of
orphan girls rather than temporary
relief. Number of inmates, 20.
St. Andrew’s Society. — Estab-
lished in 1803, and the oldest benevo-
lent institution in the city. Its object
is to aid needy Scotchmen. Has a
sinking fund of about $14,000, and
embraces among its members most of
the prominent Scotchmen in Albany.
Peter Kinnear, pres.; Andrew McMur-
ray, vice-pres.; Walter McEwen, treas.
St. George’s Benevolent Society
was reorganized January 27, i860, the
old one having gone out of existence
, many years previous. Its objects are
to afford relief and advice to indigent
natives of England, of to their wives,
widows or children, and to promote
social intercourse among members.
Natives of England, sons and grand-
sons of natives are eligible if over 21
years of age; initiation fee, $2; annual
subscription, $3. The society has now
95 members in good standing. Wil-
liam Lacy, pres.; William W. Grey,
sec.
St. George’s Italian Society.—
Organized Jan. 1, 1880. Dionisio
Rovere, pres.; Attilio Pasquini, vice-
pres; Antonio Paltenghi, treas.;
Henry Guidotti, sec. Its object is to
assist needy Italians.
St. Vincent de Paul Society.—
An agency for most beneficent good in
connection with the Catholic church,
located in seven of its parishes. The
first society was organized in St. Mary’s
parish in 1848; St. John’s, the Cathe-
dral, St. Joseph’s, St. Patrick’s, St.
Ann’s and the Assumption Society
came into existence in the order
named. The aggregate work of these
societies since their inception is thus
summarized: Amount of money ex-
pended on the poor, $95,000; number
of families visited, 9,000; visits made,
125,000. There are at present 119
members throughout the city dispens-
ing voluntary charities to the needy
and worthy poor. During the past
year $2,927 was thus expended. The
officers of the conference, which in-
cludes all the city societies, are: Spir-
itual director, Rev. John Walsh; pres.,
Nicholas Hussey ; vice-pres., Peter A.
Cassidy; sec., P. Flanigan; treas.,
Francis Roche.
St. Vincent’s Orphan Asylum So-
ciety, in the city of Albany— The Fe-
male Branch is situated on Elm St.,
between Eagle and Hawk sts. It is
managed by the Sisters of Charity, ofBIB—BIC
20
whom there are ten stationed here.
There are 260 inmates, from four to
fifteen years old. They are supported
in part by the county, which pays $1.50
per week for each. Places are gener-
ally found for them when they are fif-
teen, but those who show a taste for
needle-work are placed in an industrial
school on N. Pearl st., where they are
instructed till they are 19. The build-
ing on Elm st. occupies a conspicuous
position, and is well adapted for its
purpose. Recent important improve-
ments have made it in every respect a
model institution.
The Male Branchy like the female
branch as at present designated, was
established under the auspices of the
present Cardinal McCloskey, while
Bishop of Albany. The Christian
Brothers took charge of it in 1854,
and six are stationed here. It is sit-
uated on Western ave. between Part-
ridge and Erie sts., on a farm of 80
acres. There are 120 inmates, from 5
to 14 years of age. The county pays
$1.50 a week for each; the other ex-
penses are provided for by collections
taken twice a year in the Catholic
churches. The boys are .taught the
common English branches and to work
on the farm. At the age of 14, places
are found for them. The present
three-story building was erected in
1853, under the personal supervision
of William Ellis, architect, and Rt.
Rev. John J. Conroy, then Vicar-Gen-
eral. (See City Tract and Mission-
ary Society, Industrial School,
Hospitals, Woman’s Exchange, Af-
rican Race.)
Bible Society, The Albany
County, ranks among the first of its
kind in the country, and was organized
in this city Oct. 1. 1810, for the exclu-
sive work of distributing the Holy
Scriptures without note or comment.
In 1816, its representatives assisted to
organize the American Bible Society,
to which it has since been auxilary. It
has always been actively employed in
supplying the Scriptures, and has can-
vassed the county several times for
that special purpose. It is one of the
oldest of local institutions, and deserves
the sympathy and support of the whole
Christian community, depending, as it
does, on annual contributions received
from co-operating churches and in-
dividuals for means to carry forward its ‘
benevolent and economical operations,
which are under the direction of a
board of officers and managers com-
posed equally of clergymen and lay-
members of the churches in the county,
all of whom’ render their service gratu-
itously. The annual circulation reaches
about 3000 copies of the Scriptures
printed in various languages, and which
are always kept at the Depository in
this city, and sold at the cost of manu-
facturing, or given away to needy per-
sons and charitable institutions, when-
ever their want becomes known.
Maurice E. Viele, pres.; Rev. Samuel F.
Morrow, vice-pres.; Charles P. Easton,
cor. sec.; Albert P. Stevens, treas.;
Stephen R. Gray, Depositary, Nos.
42 and 44 State street.
Bi-Centennial.—The 200th anni-
versary of the incorporation of the city
of Albany will occur July 22, 1886,
and will, no doubt, be observed by
appropriate and interesting ceremonies.
It appears from the city records that
the method of celebrating “ The Cen-
tury Anniversary,” July 22, 1786, as
recommended by a committee of the
Common Council, was as follows:
“ That Common Council convene in the
forenoon of that day at Ten o’Clock at the City
Hall, and from thence proceed in procession to
the Hill westward of the City, attended by
such Citizens as shall Chuse: That during the
Procession all the Bells of the several Churches
in this City shall Ring, and at the arrival at
the place assigned for the Purpose on the Hill,
Thirteen Toasts and one for the Charter, under
the Discharge of Fourteen Cannon.
“ Resolved, that the former Committee be a21
Committee to prepare and superintend the said
Business, who aye to purchase a Barrel of
Good Spirits for the purpose.”
Bicycling-(See Out-door Sports).
Bill-posting on any lamp-post,
electric light pole, telegraph pole,
shade tree, fire hydrant, curbstone or
flagstone, is forbidden by a city ordi-
nance, which is_ not observed in the
slightest degree; Biii posters must be
licensed. The principal man in the
business is Fred A. Keeler, 15 Green
st. He owns all the prominent bill
boards in the city.
Birds.—The bird stores of a city
are always interesting places to visit,
especially to those who are fond of
the feathered songsters. There are
usually some curious foreign birds on
exhibition, and always good singers to
be heard. The Hartz mountain cana-
ries are sold from $2.50 to $3; parrots
from $6 to $50; mocking birds from
$5, for young ones, up to $20, and
even $50. In buying, it is always best
to go to some responsible dealer; the
canaries hawked about the streets, and
sold under price,, are either females
which never sing, or inferior stock of
some kind. The Old Albany Bird and
Cage Store, kept by William R. White,
44 Green st., has been established for
more than 25 years, and customers are
there always honestly dealt with.
Blasie’s Imperial Porcelain
Baths. — The only establishment in
the city where the Porcelain Bath Tubs
are in use, is at Blasie’s barber shop,
389 Broadway, (adjoining the Mansion
House.) The most fastidious con-
cede that for beauty, comfort and
cleanliness, these baths have no equal.
The bathing rooms are open daily
from 6 a. m. to 8 P. M.; on Saturdays
till up. M., and on Sundays till 12 M.
Price for bath, 25 cents. Blasie’s 50-
ct. instantaneous hair and whisker dye,
colors black or brown.
BIC-BOS
Bleecker Hall.—At 529 Broadway.
The headquarters of the Burgesses
Corps; and used for dancing parties
and chamber concerts.
Bleecker Park.—A. small triangu-
lar enclosure in front of the Cathedral,
and bounded by Eagle st. Madison
ave. and Madison place, was enclosed
in 1835,. the city appropriating $i ,000
and the remainder being raised by
subscription. It contains the first pub-
lic fountain erected in Albany, the
gift of Wm. Fleming, dedicated in
July, 1863.
Bonfires in the streets are forbid-
den under a fine of $itf or less. No
one would ever imagine on election
night there was any such ordinance.
Books of Reference, in regard to
Albany, are not numerous. The An-
nals of Albany, ten volumes, and Col-
lections on the History of Albany, four
volumes, by the late Joel Munsell, are
of much historical value, but are out of
print and scarce; the Settlement and
Early History of Albany, by William
Barnes, is an interesting production;
the Memoirs of an American Lady,
by Mrs. Grant, gives a charming pict-
ure of life in this colony prior to the
revolution. Sampson, Davenport &
Co. publish annually the Albany Direc-
tory. The Albany Hand-Book for
1881, contains much information not
otherwise easily attainable. There is
an atlas of Albany, also one of Albany
county, and an Albany County Direc-
tory. Two or three histories have been
projected, but none are yet published.
Boston & Albany Railroad.—Sta-
tion in the Union depot, Maiden lane.
The direct route to Pittsfield, Spring-
field, Worcester and Boston. The
Boston & Worcester, and the Western
railroads were consolidated in the B.
& A., Dec. 1, 1867. The Western22
BOU-^BRI
railroad received its charter in 1833,
.and was organized in 1836,,' The first
locomotive arrived at Greenbush from
Bostain, Dec. 19, 1841, and a celebra-
tion of the completion of the road took
place D^fc. 28, following. Its equip-
ment incltides 244: locomotives, 229
passenger cars, . 5,437 freight ears.
Employs 5,233 persons. . Carried last
year 8,079,072 passengers; moved 3,-
411,324 tons of freight; average rate,
per mile per passenger, through, 2.21
cents; way, 2.24 cents; average rate
per mile per ton of freight, through, .87
cents; way, 1.84 cents. Wages and
Salaries, $3,080,567. Total earnings,
$8,539,875; expenses, $6,896,804; div-
idend 8 per cent; $1,407,100; surplus,
$235,97 K. Not a passenger was killed
nor injured during the last railroad
year.
Boulevards.—(See Washington
Park.)
Brewing.^—'The business of brewing
was begun in this city as early as 1633,
and has for many years been a leading
industry. One of the most prominent
brewers in the last century was Harman
GanSevbort, whose establishment which
Stood about on the site of Stan wax Hall,
was taken down in 1807. There are
how 20 breweries, some of them very
extensive. Albany ale,; at. one time
-was On tap in all the large cities of the
country, but of late has been displaced,
to some extent, by lager beer which is
also brewed here in large quantities.
(See Lager Beer.) The total yearly
product of beer of all kinds in this city
last year was 332,794 bbls., valued at
$2,000,000.
Bricks.—There are ten brick-yards
in Albany which produce annually
from 30,000,000 to 40,000,000 brick.
The material used, though lacking the
iron deposits which give to Philadel-
phia brick so clear a red, is of excel-
lent quality, and brick made therefrom
stand the, weather better than that
made in many other localities.
Bridges.-—Three bridges span the
Hudson at Albany. The first, or upper
bridge, now used exclusively for freight
trains, was opened Feb. 22, 1866, after
thirty years of the most steadfast op-
position, in which Troy took the lead.
It is doubtful, however, whether the
bridges have really injured that city a
dollar; but they certainly have had a
depressing effect upon some kinds of
business in Albany, carting especially.
Before, all trains had to be unloaded
here, and the work this involved was
very great; but now freight goes
through without breaking bulk from
New York to San Francisco. The up-
per bridge is supported by twenty-one
stone piers. The bridge proper is
I,953 feet long, and with the trestle
work 4,253 feet. Its cost, including
necessary purchases of real estate-, was
$1,100,000. The middle bridge, also for
railroads, is 1,940 feet long, or with ap-
proaches 2,665 feet> tliat is, twenty-five
feet over half a mile. The spans number
twenty-two. The draw weighs about
400 tons. Work of construction began
in May, 1870, and the bridge was first
used in 1872. The total cost of the
two bridges was $2,532,357.43, of
which the Central-Hudson paid $1,-
173,T33.8°; the Boston & Albany
$351,485; the rest by the companies
who have had the earnings of the
bridges. Over 60 men are employed
upon them. The toll on both bridges
for foot passengers is three cents;
-50 tickets for $1. A third bridge
across the river was begun in 1876, but
for several years progressed very slowly
except in litigation, of which there was
plenty. The bridge was finally com-
pleted, and opened for teams and foot
passengers, Jan. 24, 1882. It is at
South Ferry st. below the steamboat
landing; length, including approaches,BRO—BUT
23
1,669 feet; 29 feet above low water
mark. The draw, 400 feet long,
weighs 1,500 tons, and is worked by a
30 horse-power engine. Owned by
Albany & Oreenbush Bridge Co.; A.
Bleecker Banks, pres.’ Tolls, foot pas-
sengers, 2 cents; double teams, 15
cents; single, 10 cents.' It will even-
tually be used as a railroad bridge, the ;
top being arranged with that in view.
State Street Bridge, leads from,
the foot of State st. over the basin: to;
the pier. On the 22nd of August, 1840,
the draw of this bridge gave way, and
twenty-one persons were drowned.
Broadway, runs from Gansevoort
st. near the Island Creek to the nor-
thern boundary of the city, and thence
into the Troy road. No street in the
city presents, such a varied aspect. At
the south end it is lined with foundries,
iron shops, breweries, etc.; further
along it is the abode of poor people;
by the steamboat-landing it is given
over to hotels and restaurants; theft
come provision houses and yarious
stores, wholesale and retail; north of
State it widens into one of the hand-
somest streets in the city, having on it
many tall commercial buildings; from
Columbia st. to Clinton ave. it dwindles
both in appearance and business;
North of Clinton ave. it is, in a
great measure, a street of substantial
residences till the viaduct is reached;
beyond which are several prominent
manufacturing buildings, and where
Broadway merges into the Troy road
stands the Van Rensselaer mansion.
(See Old Houses.) The old market
used to stand in the centre of the street
where it is widest (above State), and
it was called North Market st. till 1840
when it received its more metropolitan
title. There was also a market at the
steamboat landing, but the street south
of State was known as Court st., and
at one time was the most fashionable
part of the city.
Broadway Viaduct, The, was
built in 1882-3 to obviate the great
danger of crossing the tracks of the
Central-Hudson railroad, on Broadway
and Colonie street, where many per-
sons had been killed. The grades of
Broadway and Colonie and North Lan-
sing sts. were depressed, arid the .
tracks carried over .upon iron bridges..
The work' was done, under provision
of the Laws of 1881 at the expense of _
the railroad company, but the damage
to adjacent property had to be met by
the city. The cost to. the railroad
company was $128,765; the damages
to be paid by the city, including
expenses, have been assessed at $1.34,-
237- - ' ■ - ' ■	-	••
Burr, Aaron, who began his legal
career in this city in 1782, Is said to
have had an office on the-north side of
Store lane, now Norton st., the second
building from Pearl. . His early mar-
ried life was spent in Albany, and
here his only legitimate daughter,
Theodosia, was born; and although
removed to New York when an infant,
she was also married/here, hier father
at that time again residing in. Albany,
being a member of the Legislature.
Later in life'-(in 1824) he passed con-
siderable time in this city. (See: Fort
Orange Club.)	;*-x-	....
Buttermilk Falls.—What was nat-
urally a romantic . ravine, down which
the Beaverkill plunged in foaming
fury. Civilization and the "street de-
partment have destroyed the beauty of
its surroundings, but something of its
former state may be imagined by peer-
ing at it from the vicinity of Swan st.
south of Elm. It was suggested, at
one time, that the park should be so
located as to take in this feature; had
this been done, Albany would have
had the most romantic and picturesque
pleasure ground of any city in
America.CAL—CAN
24
Calvin Edson, the walking skele-
ton, came to Albany in April, 1830, ex-
hibited himself at the Museum, and
gave levees at the Medical College.
He was then forty-two years old, five
feet two inches high, and weighed but
sixty pounds. Subsequently he went
upon the stage, as an actor, in the
character of Jeremiah Thin. The
more he ate the poorer he grew, till, in
1833, he swallowed his last mouthful
and lost his last ounce, dying at the
weight of forty-five pounds. For
months previous the medical colleges
had kept track of him, anxious, so long
as he had expressed himself while liv-
^ ing as willing to promote the cause of
science after death, to help what they
could by utilizing his remains. New
York and Albany were first on the
ground, and through the finesse of the
late Mr. Arnold Nelson, and of Dr.
Alden March, together with the pay-
ment of a good round sum to the skel-
eton’s widow, Calvin Edson’s forty-five
pounds was secured for the Museum of
the Albany Medical College. By some
process of, embalming, he was pre-
served with his skin on, placed in a
glass case, and labeled “ No. 1; ” and
his appearance to-day, barring discol-
oration, is said to be not so very differ-
ent from what it was when animated
by the breath of life and a hearty meal
of victuals.
Canals.—This is one eastern term-
inus of the Erie canal, the other being
at Troy. The canals of the State were
made free of tolls by a constitutional
amendment, adopted in 1883.
The Erie Canal is 363 miles long,
connecting the Hudson river at Albany
and Troy with Lake Erie at Buffalo;
was begun in 1817 and opened in
1825; original cost, $7,602,000; en-
larged between the years 1835 an<^
1862 from 40 feet wide at surface to
70; from 28 feet at bottom to 56, and
from a depth of 4 feet to 7. It has 57
double and 15 single locks. The first
boat from Buffalo passed through the
lock into the Albany basin at three
minutes before 11 A. M., Oct. 26, 1825^
Cannon, placed in hearing of one an-
other, announced from Albany to Buf-
falo and from Albany to S4ndy Hook
that the great work had been com-
pleted. The signal was returned in
the same way and reached here from1
New York five minutes before 12 M.
The Champlain Canal, begun in
1817, was completed in 1822. It con-
nects the Hudson with Lake Cham-
plain at Whitehall, and is 66 miles
long. Has 20 locks.
Canal St., running west from 90 N.
Pearl to Robin, the old bed of the
Foxenkill, a stream which for many
years was abundantly stocked with fish.Copyrighted by James R. Osgood	Co.for “ The Public Service of the State of New York” and used by permission.
[completed design, subject to modification.]THE CAPITOL.
'T'he great structure which towers this matter, and it is an actual fact that
majestically from the brow of the some have not reached that stage of
hill overlooking the Hudson at Albany, advancement yet.
needs no cicerone to announce its	Hist or v
name, no guide book to designate its
object. Its fame as the greatest and The old Capitol (built in 1806-8) at
grandest legislative building of modern an expense of #110,685.42, had been
times is widely spread; and from far found wholly inadequate, and there
and near, come thousands annually, to was much discussion about a new legis-
view its grandeur of design, its beauty lative building and where it should be
of ornamentation; and like the Queen erected. New York city had long
of Sheba, after her call upon King coveted, the Capital, but the central and
Solomon, they go home, declaring, western portions of the state, while not
that the one-half had not been told altogether satisfied with having it where
them. The foresight, which makes it is, were still more averse to seeing it
possible an adequate comprehension of moved down the river. The conse-
the needs, a century hence, of a State quence was, it remained at Albany,
like this, is of no common order; and which after all is the most convenient,
it is no wonder that ideas and plans and so far as population is concerned,
based upon such prescience, appear the most central of any eligible point
to many, wild and extravagant. It is that can be named. The legislature
this unfortunate but not unnatural has met here continuously since^1797,
shortsightedness, that has given birth in the Stadt Huis, cor. Broadway and
to much of the opposition which the Hudson ave. first, and afterwards in
building of the Capitol encountered, the old Capitol which stood till 1883 on
In time, all will agree, that it is none a site in front of the present building,
too grand, none too beautiful, and The first definite action taken
none too costly for the chief edifice of by the legislature on the subject of a
the grandest, the proudest, the most new capitol was April 24, 1863, when
prosperous and the most progressive Senator James A. Bell, from the corn-
state in the American Union. But to mittee on public buildings, offered a
have started with the proposition that resolution (which was adopted) that
it was to cost fifteen or twenty millions the trustees of the capitol and the
would have been hopeless. It has chairman of the committee on public
taken years to educate the public up to buildings be authorized to procure suita-
the idea of what is only sufficient in ble plans for a new capitol, and report
3	(25)26
to the next legislature. They did so, Park, or in any public place, and also
recommending the plans submitted by proposed to erect all the necessary
Fuller & Jones. Early in 1865, a com- buildings free of expense to the state;
mittee was appointed by the senate to and, in addition, build an executive
ascertain by correspondence with vari- mansion on Fifth avenue, opposite
THE GCLDEN CORRIDOR.
ous municipalitiesonwhat terms the Central Park. Yonkers, Saratoga,
necessary ground and buildings could Athens,' Whitestown, Argyle and Sing
be obtained. New York showed her Sing made liberal offers; Buffalo,
desire for the honor, by offering a site Oswego and Ithaca declined to enter-
on the Battery, or at Citv Hall park, tain the proposition, as did Sandy Hill,
or in Tompkins square, or in Central “ If, ” wrote the worthy president of27
that virtuous village, “ the time has
come when our capitol is to go to the
highest bidder like most everything
that has any connection with our pres-
ent legislature, then I would frankly
say that our people are not the ones to
offer large bribes or inducements for
the purpose of building up their place
or people to the detriment and incon-
venience of all the rest of the people
of the state. ”
The first committee (appointed April
24, 1863) had suggested in their prop-
ositions for plans that they should be
made with reference to the square
about the old building as the site for
the new one. The city of Albany now
offered to convey to the state the lot
adjoining, occupied by the Congress
Hall block, or any other lands in the
city required for the purpose.
On the 1st of May, 1865 an act was
passed (Chapter 648) authorizing the
erection of a new Capitol, whenever
the city of Albany should deed over
the land proposed, providing for the
appointment of three commissioners,
and appropriating $10,000 for the
commencement and prosecution of the
work. On the 14th of April, 1866,
the city having made good its offer at
an expense of $190,000, an act was
passed ratifying and confirming the
location of the capitol, and May 3d of
the same year, Hamilton Harris, John
V. L. Pruyn, of Albany, and O. B.
Latham, of Seneca Falls, were ap-
pointed New Capitol Commissioners.
On the 22d of April, 1867, an act was
passed appropriating $250,000 for the
new Capitol, but providing that no part
should be expended until a plan had
been agreed upon not to cost when
completed more than four millions.
The plan submitted by Thomas Fuller
was adopted, and he was appointed
architect, and William J. McAlpine
consulting engineer.
Work Begun.—On the 9th of De-
cember, 1867, the excavating was begun
on the corner of Hawk and State
streets by John Bridgford, who had
under him 100 men.
On the 19th of May, 1868, an act
was passed appropriating an additional
$250,000, and adding to the commis-
sion Messrs. James S. Thayer, Alonzo
B. Cornell, William A. Rice, James
Terwilliger and John T. Hudson.
The commission were also authorized
to take as additional land one-half the
block adjoining Congress Hall block
on the west, and to change the plans
at their discretion, with this proviso:
That if they were so changed that the
building would cost more than four
millions, the commissioners were not
to proceed to construction till such
plans were approved by the legislature.
Meantime work had been delayed for
a year in order that the additional
lands might be secured. On the 2d
of October, 1868, the commissioners
having come to the conclusion that
preparing the land was not included
in the term “ construction, ” the demo-
lition of houses on State, Washington,
Spring and Hawk sts. was begun, and
in December following, 400 men and
200 teams were employed carrying the
earth that had been excavated and de-
positing it down the bank at the cor.
of Swan and Canal sts. The enlarged
plans, prepared by Fuller & Laver,
were duly reported to the legislature
and approved by act of May 10, 1869.
The Foundation.—The first stone
in the foundation was laid July 7,1869,
by John V. L. Pruyn. This foundation,
although, of course, out of sight, and
scarcely thought of by the ordinary
visitor, is a wonder in itself. In the
first place, excavations were made to
an average depth of 15 43-100 feet be-
low the surface. Then a bed of con-
crete, 4 feet thick, was laid, constitu-
ting a stone floor which will grow
harder and harder as time rolls on.
The sub-basement extends down 19
feet 4 inches, and contains 735,00028
cubic feet of stone, while the brick bricks. The foundation of the main
walls, from 32 inches to 5 feet thick, tower is 110 feet square at the base,
contain between ten and eleven million tapering to 70 feet square at the base-
ASSEMBLY STAIRCASE.29
ment floor. In this sub-basement are in the newspapers, and many tedious
no less than 144 different apartments investigations have been instituted, the
used for heating, storing and ventila- details of which it is as impossible to
ting purposes.	enter into here as it is unnecessary.
The Corner Stone was laid with It is only just to say, however, that
great ceremony by the Grand Lodge while the whole system of erecting
of Free and Accepted Masons on the public buildings by commissons has on
24th of June, 1871. The exercises general principles been condemned as
took place in the midst of a drenching unwise, nothing against the personal
rain, but were said to have been wit- character of either or any of the com-
CAPS TO COLUMNS UNDER LADIES’ GALLERY.
nessed by at least 20,000 persons. Ad-
dresses were made by Hon. Hamilton
Harris and Gov. John T. Hoffman.
Since that time work has progressed,
sometimes faster and sometimes slower,
with occasionally an entire cessation
for lack of funds as in 1874, when it
stood still six months. The enterprise*
like all other great undertakings has
met with obstructers and fault-finders
innumerable, from the workman dis-
charged for incompetency to the gov-
ernor who called it a “public calami-
ty.” The prevalent opinion that no
public work of this magnitude can be
carried on without unlawful gains to
some one, has led many to suppose
that such is the case with the new Cap-
itol. Charges of various kinds have
time and again been made, orally and
missioners or superintendents was ever
substantiated.
Changes in Commissioners. — In
April, 1871, the commission was so
changed as to be constituted as fol-
lows:	Hamilton Harris, William C.
Kingsley, William A. Rice, Chauncey
M. Depew, Delos De Wolf and Edwin
A. Merritt. In February, 1875, Mr.
Hamilton Harris, who had been chair-
man of the board for nearly ten years,
resigned. Resident here in Albany,
and from the first deeply interested in
having a capital worthy of the Empire
State, his services during the critical
periods in the building’s history have
been of incalculable value, and after
his resignation, as chairman of the
finance committee of the senate at a
time when a most determined opposi-30
tion to any further appropriations was
made by the New York city press, he
again fought the battles of the Capitol
throught to victory. On the 21st of
June, 1875, entire old board was
abolished, and the lieutenant-governor
(William Dorsheimer), the canal audi-
tor (Francis S. Thayer), and the attor-
ney-general (Daniel Pratt), were con-
stituted a new board. Of this board,
Lieut.-Gov. Dorsheimer took an active
interest in completing and furnishing
the interior, and much of its present
sumptuousness, especially the assembly
chamber, is due to 'his taste. This
board was superseded by the succes-
sors to these several offices as follows:
Lieut.-Gov. George G. Hoskins, from
Jan. 1, 1880 to Jan. 1, 1883, when he
was succeeded by Lieut.-Gov. David
B. Hill; Canal Auditor George W.
Schuyler, from Jan. 1, 1876^0 May 20,
1880, when he was succeeded by John
A. Place, who held the office till it was
abolished in 1883; Attorney-Generals
Chas. S. Fairchild, from Nov. 2, 1875,
Augustus Schoonmaker, Jr., from Nov.
6, 1877; Hamilton Ward, from Nov.
4, 1879; Leslie W. Russell, from Nov.
8, 1881.
In 1883 a law was passed creating
the office of Capitol Commissioner,
abolishing the office of supt. of the
Capitol, and empowering the single
commissioner to take full charge of
the work, at a yearly salary of $7,000.
This bill was signed on the 30th of
March, 1883, and the same day Gov.
Cleveland sent to the senate the nomi-
nation of Isaac G. Perry. He was con-
firmed April 5.
Changes in Superintendents.—In
December, 1872, John Bridgford, the
first superintendent was retired, and
June 11, 1873, William J. Me Alpine,
who from the beginning of the work
had been the consulting engineer, was
appointed superintendent, and remain-
ed such till May 29, 1874, when James
W. Eaton was appointed in his place,
and held the position till the office was
abolished, as just stated.
Change in Architects.—With the
abolition of the old commission in 1875
came a change in architects, Mr. Thos.
Fuller being superseded by an advisory
board, appointed July 15, 1875, con-
sisting of Frederick Law Olmsted,
Leopold Eidlitz and Henry H. Rich-
ardson. Up to this time the exterior
walls had been carried up upon the
Fuller plans, a working model of which
had been constructed at a cost of
$3,000, and which was on exhibition
for several years. Pictures of the
Capitol as it was to have been had also
gone broadcast over the land and
world. This plan was that of the Ital-
ian Renaissance, which was now modi-
fied to the Romanesque, but work had
not proceeded far when the legislature
passed an act directing a return to the
original style and that the building be
carried up to the roof in accordance
therewith. This has been done so far
as possible, the result being what is
called the Free Renaissance.
Occupied by the Legislature.—
The Capitol was first occupied by the
legislature Jan. 7, 1879, the senate
meeting on the second floor, in the
room originally intended for the court
of appeals, the assembly in the assem-
bly chamber. The same evening a
grand reception was given by the citi-
zens of Albany, when 8,000 people
were present. Gilmore’s band, of New
York, and Austin’s orchestra, of Al-
bany, furnished the music. The sup-
per was served under a canopy in the
central court.
The formal occupation took place on
the evening of Feb. 12, 1879, when in
presence of both houses of the legisla-
ture, the court of appeals, the State
officers and others, assembled in the as-
sembly chamber, prayer was offered by
Rt. Rev. William Croswell Doane, D.D.
and addresses were delivered by Lieut.-
Gov. William Dorsheimer, Speaker3i
Thomas G. Alvord and Hon. Erastus
Brooks. The senate chamber was first
occupied March io, 1881. Other
parts of the building have been occu-
pied as they have been
made ready for the va-
rious officers and depart-
ments.
Description.
No matter from what
side you approach Al-
bany, the building makes
itself strikingly evident,
rearing its heavy masses
and sharp roofs into the
sky from the top of the
hill. The impression
produced varies with va-
rious persons. One ac-
complished writer finds
it “ not unlike that made
by the photographs of
those gigantic structures
in the northern and east-
ern parts of India, which
are seen in full series on
the walls of the South
Kensington, and by their
barbaric profusion of or-
namentation and true
magnificence of design
give the stay-at-home
Briton some faint inkling
of the empire which
has invested his queen
with another and more
high-sounding title. Yet
when close at hand the
building does not bear
out this connection with
Indian architecture of
the grand style; it might
be mere chance that at
a distance there is a simi-
larity; or it may be that
the smallness of size in
the decorations as com-
pared to the structure
itself explains fully why
that Oriental architecture should have
recurred to mind. As in the great
temple enclosures of India, there is in
the quadrangular scheme of the Capitol
DORMER, STREET SIDE.32
a tendency to confuse the eye by the
number of projections, arches, pillars,
shallow recesses and what not, which
variegate the different facades. The
confusion is not entirely displeasing;
it gives a sense of unstinted riches,
and so far represents exactly the spirit
that has reared the pile.”
On the other hand, Mr. Edward A.
Freeman, the English historian, was,
by the general look of the city, carried
so completely into another part of the
world “ that if anyone had come up
and told me in French, old or new,
that the new Capitol was * la chateau
de Monseigneur le due d’Albanie,’ I
could almost have believed him.”
The situation is a most commanding
one. The Capitol square, which em-
braces all the land between Eagle st.
on the east and Capitol place on the
west, and between Washington ave.
on the north and State st on the south,
is 1,034 feet long by 330 feet wide,
and contains 784-100 acres. The
elevation of Capitol place is 155 feet
above the level of the Hudson, and
the ground falls off to the eastward
51 feet. In front, State st. stretches
away towards the river, one of the
broadest and handsomest avenues in
the country.
The Size of the structure impresses
the beholder at once. It is 300 feet
north and south, by 400 feet east and
west, and with the porticos will cover
three acres and seven square feet. The
wall^are 108 feet high from the water
table, and all this is worked out of
solid granite brought, most of it, from
Hallowell, Maine. There are other
buildings which, in the mere matter of
area, exceed this one. The capitol at
Washington, for instance, covers a
little over three, and a half acres, but it
is of marble and of sandstone painted
white. The new city hall in Philadel-
phia covers nearly four and a half
acres, but that is also of marble. The
government buildings at Ottawa, Can-
ada, are of sandstone. All lack the
massive effect which this great pile of
granite produces. Its outer wall, at
the base, is 16 feet 4 inches thick.
The Central Court is 137 by 92
feet, extending an open space to the
sky, and admitting much needed light
and air. Above the six dormer win-
dows that open on the court, and that
are above the fourth or gallery story, are
sculptured the arms of six families that
have become more or less distinguished
in the history of the State.
The Stuy vesant arms are on the north side,
west. The carving is as follows: party per
fess argent and gules: in upper a hunting
hound in pursuit of a hare. In lower a stag
current. Crest. A demi stag issuing from a
royal crOwn. Motto. Jovi pr&stat Jidere
quam homini.
The Schuyler arms are on the north side,
middle. The carving is as follows:	Vert a
cubit arm habited issuing from the sinister
base point holding a falcon proper. Crest, a
falcon proper gorged with a fillet, strings re-
flexed.
The Livingston arms are on the north side,
east. The carving is:	Quarterly, first and
fourth quarter argent three gilli-flowers; sec-
ond quarter quarterly first and last gules a
chevron argent, second and third azure three
martlets; third quarter or, a bend argent be-
tween six billets. Crest, a demi Hercules with
club in dexter band and the sinister strangling
a serpent. Motto, Sije puis.
The Jay arms are on the south side, west.
The carving is: argent a chevron gules, in
chief a demi sun in splendor, between two mul-
lets argent below, in base a rock proper sur-
mounted with a large bird close. Crest, a cross
calvary.
The Clinton arms are on the sonth side mid-
dle and are carved as follows: argent six cross
crosslets fitchee, three, two, one, on a chief two
mullets, pierced. Crest, a plume of six ostrich
feathers on a ducal crown.
The Tompkins arms are on the south side,
east. The carving is: argent on a chevron
gules between three birds close, as many cross
crosslets. Crest, a unicorn's head armed and
maned and gorged with a chaplet laurel.
' While no patriotic soul objects to
giving due honor to those who have
served the State, the idea of carving
private arms upon a public building
has not in it the exact “ elements of
popularity.” The carving can best be
seen from the upper stories.THE FULLER PLAN OF THE CAPITOL—1869-75.33
The first or ground story, which is
nearly on a level with Washington ave.
and State st., is devoted to committee
rooms and offices, elsewhere specified.
Ascent to the other stories may be
made by elevators, but visitors will
generally prefer to walk up one or the
other of the grand stair-cases.
The Assembly Staircase, on the
north side, is of Dorchester freestone,
of soft drab color; its ascent is easy,
its design vigorous and scholarly. The
cut elsewhere gives a
better idea than words
can do of its majestic
proportions.
The Golden Corri-
DOR.-On arriving upon
the second floor by the
assembly stair-case, will
be seen the Golden Cor-
ridor, 140 feet long by
20 wide and about 25
feet high, extending
along the whole “court”
side of the north cen-
tre. Seven large win-
dows opening upon this
court divide the corri-
dor into bays, 20 feet
square. Each bay is
flanked by piers be-
tween which arches are
turned and these arches
sustain a low and rib-
less groined vault. Mr.
Montgomery Schuyler
says:
“The piers are covered
with a damask of red upon
umber. The angle mould-
ings are solidly gilded. The
crimsom wall screen on both
sides is overlaid with a sim-
ple reticulation of gold lines
framing ornaments in yellow
The whole vault is gilded,
and upon its ground of gold
traversing each face of the
vault, is a series of bands of
minute ornament in brown,
scarlet and deep blue.
The method — this close
mosaic of minute quantities
of crude color—is entirely Oriental; and
the effect is Oriental also. The varying
surfaces of the vaulting, each covered with
fretted gold, give a vista, lengthened by the
dwindling arches, aliye with flashing lights and
shimmering shadows; and under the iridescent
ceiling there seems always to hang a luminous
haze. In the quality of pure splendor there is
no architectual dectoration in this country
which is comparable to this.”
Opening out of the corrtdor to the
right, is the room originally intended
for the court of appeals, but declined
by the judges as unsuitable for their
INSIDE VIEW OF WINDOW, ASSEMBLY CHAMBER.34
FIRE-PLACE.
purpose. It is 60 feet square and 25
feet high, subdivided into parallelo-
grams, one twice the width of the
other, by a line of red granite columns
carrying with broad low' arches a mar-
ble wall. The walls are of sandstone,
visible in some places but covered in
most with a decoration in deep red,
and with the tall w ainscoting of oak,
w'hich oecupies the w;all above the dado
of sandstone. The ceiling is a superb
construction in carved oak carried on
a system of beams diminishing in size
from the great girders supported by
great braces, and finally closed by
oaken panels, profusely carved. The
senate occupied this room previous to
the completion of the senate chamber,
and it has since been used for various
purposes. At the time of the “ scare ”
in relation to the ceiling of the assem-
bly chamber (in 1882-3), it was hastily35
fitted up for occupation by the assembly,
with gallery, etc. The members sat
there one day and returned to their
quarters. When the state library
building was razed, this room and the
Golden Corridor were utilized tempo-
rarily for library purposes.
The Assembly Chamber.—Ascend-
ing another flight of the staircase, we
come to what is, without doubt, the
grandest legislative hall in the world,
the assembly chamber, 84 by 140 feet,
including the galleries, although the
chamber proper is but 84 by 55. Four
great pillars, four feet in diameter, of
red granite, sustain the largest groined
stone arch in the world, the key-stone
being 56 feet from the floor. These
pillars and the arch which springs
from them are the most striking feat-
ures of the room, but it will bear a
world of study. Mr. Schuyler says:
“The perspective of the room is so arranged
that from the entrance one looks through the
large end of the telescope, as it were, down
vistas framed in arches narrowing and vaults
hanging lower as they recede, from the great
red pillars on either hand, along the vast and
ever-varying surfaces of the ceilings, their
creamy sandstone faces divided by the sweep-
ing lines of the deeper toned ribs and arches
that uphold them, and fretted with wide belts
of ornament climbing their climbing courses,
touched with the gleam of gold and standing
out from hollows filled with deep ultra marine
and burning vermillion, to * the dark backward,
and abysm ’ of the remotest vault. Through
the lower arches one sees the openings of the
windows which flood the transept, not with the
dim, religious light of old cathedrals, but with
naked and open daylight. Around them wheel
the intricate arabesques of their arches defined
against a ground of vermillion and encircled
with bands of gold. Above and between the
lower three, beneath the broad belt which is
some day to carry a sculptured procession, the
whole wall is covered with arabesques in a
field of dull red. Above the upper arcade are
glimpses of the draperies and the attitudes of
colossal painted figures.
“One feels at once in this great stone room
that he is in the presence of a noble monument,
and that in what a musician would call the ‘ dis-
persed harmony ’ of this hiearchy of ordered
masses, and this balance and opposition of
sweeping curves there has been achieved in the
America of the nineteenth century a work not
unworthy to be compared with what has been
done in more famous building ages. When
the shock of such an impression has subsided,
and he has time to examine the sources of this
effect, he finds them in the general conception
of the room rather than in any of its parts, or
in any aggregation of them less than the whole.
Here is a distinctly Gothic room, which in its
plan has so many resemblances to a mediaeval
church that it cannot be described without
using the terms of ecclesiology, which yet has
probably never reminded a single visitor of a
church. Its civic character has been impressed
upon it by the force of design alone, and mainly
by the modeling of its masses, after the noble
arrangement which this modeling assists.
There is a vigor in it which reminds one of
Romanesque or early Gothic, but it has
none of the rudeness of Romanesque vaulted
architecture, and none of the tentative imper-
fection of early Gothic work. Except in one
conspicuous instance, the structure is com-
pletely developed, and complete development
is the mark of perfected Gothic. This com-
pleteness, however, nowhere degenerates into
the attenuation that comes of excessive sub-
division—nowhere into a loss of that sense of
power which belongs to unhewn masses fulfill-
ing structural necessities. There is nothing
here of which one may say:	‘ ’Twere to con-
sider too curiously, to consider so.’ Neither
is there anything of that ascetic intensity
which most of all has set its stamp upon the
ecclesiastical work of the middle ages. This
work is as day-lit as Grecian Doric. It is
frank and manly and it is eminently alive—
distinctly a product of our time. ”
While all admit the grandeur of the
room, its vastness is also its defect; for
as a debating hall it is far from perfect.
With the assembly in perfect order (a
condition rarely observed for ten con-
secutive minutes) a good speaker can
be heard without difficulty, but the
statesman with weak lungs, poor voice,
uninteresting manner, or thread-bare
subject is apt to complain bitterly of
the acoustics. At one time many fears
were entertained of the safety of the
ceiling. It had been found necessary,
in order to keep the key-stone in place,
to weight it very heavily; and this
extra weight upon the sandstone caused
some of the defective stones to crack.
Small pieces fell, and there was much
apprehension that the building was
settling unevenly, and that the tons
upon tons of stone in and about the
ceiling, would some day come down36
with a crash. A commission of ex- coverer standing upright in a boat,
perts reported that it was best to take dark against the sunset sky, For-
the ceiling down. The architects pro- tune erect behind him trimming
tested, and offered to repair it at their the sail with her lifted left hand
own expense; they were allowed to do while her right holds the tiller. The
so, replaced the defective
stones, and all anxiety ap-
pears to have subsided.
The Allegorical Pic-
tures.—No one feature of
the Capitol has caused more
comment than the pictures
that occupy the upper por-
tion of the north and south
walls of this chamber. They
were painted by the late
William M. Hunt, one of
the greatest of American
artists, and possess a melan-
choly inter est from the fact
that they are the only work
of the kind he ever did. He
received for his services the
sum of $15,000.
The space covered by each
is 15 by 45 feet. That on
the northern wall represents
the allegory of Armujd and
Ahriman, or the flight of
Evil before Good, or, as it is
more generally interpreted,
the Flight of Night. The
Queen of Night is driving
before the dawn, charioted
on clouds drawn by three
plunging horses, one black,
one white, one red, without
other visible restraint than
that of a swarthy guide, who
floats at the left of the pic-
ture, and whose hand is
lightly laid upon the head
of the outermost horse. At
the right of the goddess, and
in deep shade, is the recum-
bent figure of a sleeping
mother with a sleeping child
upon her breast.
The picture on the south-
ern wall represents the Dis-
THE FLIGHT OF NIGHT.” (MURAL PAINTING IN ASSEMBLY CHAMBER.)37
boat is rising to a sea, and is attended
by Hope at the prow, with one arm
resting on it, and one pointing forward;
Faith, whose face is buried in her
arms, and who is floating with the tide,
and Science unrolling a chart at the
side.
Van Brunt’s Criticism. — Henry
Van Brunt in an article in the Atlantic
Monthly (May, 1879), characterizes
these pictures as “ the most important
of the kind yet executed in this
country,” criticises them at length as
architectual decorations and concludes
as follows:	“We cannot but consider
that the opportunity has been mis-
understood in a fundamental point,
and that work of a far lower grade,
than that of Mr. Hunt, would have
better served the purpose. With all
his strength of will, with all his skill in
the adaptation of his tones, and all his
fiery determination of drawing, he has
been unable to conquer a right to fill
such spaces with such work. It is a
waste of great resources. ” The writer
then proceeds to consider these works
of art simply as pictures, and says:
“The artist has symbolized the simultaneous
occurrence of the revival of letters and the dis-
covery of America by the allegories of the Flight
of Night and the Discoverer. The former has
in its elements long been familiar to those who
frequented Mr. Hunt’s studio. It is, in fact, a
flying cloud, the substance and movement of
which is figured by the suggestion of an aerial
chariot drawn by three plunging steeds, to the
mane of one of which clings a torch-bearing
groom rather guiding than restraining the
downward flight. High upon the cloudy seat
sits a female figure, directing the vision with a
gesture of her hand; and below, inveloped in a
shadowy fold of fleecy drapery dimly portrayed,
is a sleeping woman with a child, and over her
hovers a little protecting spirit. The visionary
character of the composition is unencumbered
by any material appliance. There are no reins,
no harness, no chariot, no wheels. It is a pre-
cipitous movement of vapor poetically set forth
with a superb flight of horses, and enough of
human interest in the figure to suggest a mean-
ing which each can interpret in his own way.
It is a very fine point in the sentiment of the
picture that the allegory is not forced upon the
spectator by the insistence of vulgar acces-
sories. The horses are drawn with magnficent
spirit, and with the confidence and elan of a
master. The human figures are little more
than suggestive; they are fleeting visions—a
art of a cloudy pageant. When illuminated
y bright sunlight, or by the artificial lighting
of the chamber at night, the vigorous mechan-
ism of outline and color which are contrived to
produce an effect, are somewhat unpleasantly
betrayed. In the half light of the afternoon,
the very qualities which are crudities, at other
times, contribute to make up a pictorial har-
mony of the most effective and poetic kind.
“The same may be said with even greater
force of the Discoverer, A Hamlet-like man,
in armor and cloak, stands conspicuous in a
boat, riding half disclosed on a billowy swell of
the ocean. Behind him, at the helm and hold-
ing a bellying sail of drapery, stands a winged
female figure in an attitude of dignity somewhat
like that suggested by the Venus of Milo; and
upon the prow, with her outlines defined against
a bright rift in the western sky, leans a spirit
of the water, with a frank, onward look and a
gesture significant of confident hope. This
figure seems to us the best in the group; it is
beautifully drawn, and plays a happy part in
the composition. Two other female figures
float upon the waves. We have thus Fortune
at the helm, and Hope at the prow. The
guide-book shall interpret the rest of the alle-
gory, which, to us, as compared with that
portrayed on the opposite wall, is wanting in
significance, and made up of too many elements
and of too much of materialism to leave upon
the mind a concrete poetic image. The com-
position is wanting in simplicity, and the effect
of the whole depends upon a momentary inci-
dent; the next instant of time beyond that
depicted, the next wash of the uncertain bil-
lows, will evidently throw the whole group
into confusion. This impending catastrophe
seems in some way to detract from the dignity
of the allegory. The masters of the Renais-
sance, when they chose a sea pomp for their
subjects, such as the Triumph of Galetea, the
Rape of Europa, and the Venus Anadyomene
managed to spare us from doubts of this kind
by a more multitudinous grouping of figures
capable of falling into new combinations with-
out loss of harmony. But Mr. Hunt’s
allegory is disjointed, and appears to need
some harmonizing element to give us that feel-
ing of security which accompanies the floating
and flying groups of Guido, Rubens, and Anni-
bale Caracci. The idea of the Flight of Night
is in this respect, admirable; in a moment the
cloudy vision will have departed, leaving a
serene sky, and space for all the succeeding
pageants of civilization.” *	^ '
We are told, since Mr. Hunt’s mel-
ancholy death on the Isles of Shoals,
that the fifty-five days devoted by him-
self and assistant to the painting of
these pictures, by no means represented
all the labor bestowe;d upon them.38.
The Discoverer was first drawn in char- for an easel picture. After accepting
coal in the year 1857. The Flight of the commission, Mr. Hunt’s preparatory
Night had been put on paper ten years work in his studio in Boston was of
earlier, and had been designed simply nearly five months’ duration. For the
Flight of Night, the heads
of the horses, their legs
and feet were all freshly
painted from life. The
Queen was painted from a
life model. Sleep and the
child were painted from
life, also the dusky guide.
For the other picture, the
Discoverer, Science, Hope
and Fortune, were painted
from life models. The heads,
hands and arms of these
figures were also drawn and
colored as separate studies.
In all, 30 or more careful
charcoal drawings and more
than twelve pastels were
made, besides 19 complete
copies in oil, 17, 12 inches
by 30, and two, 6 feet by 8.
The work itself had to be
done by a specified time,
and this involved much anx-
iety. Each morning the
artist and his assistant were
up to catch from the rising
sun a fresh impression to
carry to the work upon the
Flight of Night. Every even-
ing they watched the waning
daylight, and noted the ef-
fect of figures and objects
against the setting sun, as a
study for the Discoverer.
Later on in the work, Mr.
Hunt obtained from his as-
sistant a solemn promise
that if their effort proved a
failure, he would paint out
both pictures in a single
night. (See Atlantic Month-
ly for July, 1880.)
The South Side Corri-
dors.—The executive cham-
bers, or the Governor’s39
rooms, are in the southeast corner on
the second or entrance floor. On the
way to this portion of the Capitol one
is struck by two very important differ-
ences in construction between the
southern corridors and the correspond-
ing passages on the north side of the
building. These differences consist in
the use of colored marbles here for
wainscoting, and in the admission of
light by windows rising from the top of
the wainscot above the level of the eye,
and surrounding the doors leading into
the various committee rooms that re-
ceive direct light. The effect of the
wainscot is of great richness and var-
iety, and! it also seems substantial and
enduring. The richness and variety of
color is truly wonderful, and it contains
in low tones more combinations
than the most eleborate palettes of
a painter could reach in a lifetime.
The most prominent tints are shades
and hues of red, and these are relieved
by numberless colder tones, grays and
browns predominating. The marble
has been selected with a harmonious
scale of color, and is put together in
simple slabs, the joining edges of
which are beveled perpendicularly and
are held in place by a slightly convex
string moulding and a cap of brown
stone, which, where they abut upon
the doors, are daintily carved into ter-
minal bosses, while the whole rests
upon a moulded base of brown stone.
This wainscot is more pleasing than
any combination of tiles could be, but
its effect would be entirely thrown away
were in not for the means adopted for
lighting the corridors through the win-
dows mentioned above.
The Governor’s Room is 60 feet
long by 40 wide; the walls are wain-
scoted to a height of 15 or 16 feet with
mahogany, arranged in square panels
surmounted with a band of carving and
a carved moulding above. The space
between this and the ceiling of maho-
gany is covered with hangings of
Spanish leather, which harmonize, in
its soft tones of golden brown and red
and olive, with the mahogany. On
one side of the room is an enormous
fireplace having a shelf and several
emblematic panels of elaborate carving
above it. The ceiling is composed of
beams, which divide the space into
panels, having rails perforated in the
form of a quatrefoil surrounding the
panel. There are convenient arrange-
ments to connect with the offices of the
executive attendants and the bill room
by small doors in the panelling, and
altogether the room is well adapted to
the reception of persons having busi-
ness to transact with the Governor and
his assistants.
The Corridor of Columns.—As-
cending from this floor by the com-
modious and easily running elevator,
we find ourselves in a corridor similar
to that previously described, which
leads into a broader one, running
east and west along the north side of
the Senate chamber. This last named
corridor, which is after plans furnished
by Mr. Eidlitz, is entirely lined and
vaulted with sandstone, and has a row
of columns in the centre, above which
there is a double arched vault extending
to either wall. Upon this spacious
corridor open the main doors leading
to the Senate chamber.
The Senate Chamber, in the rich-
ness and variety of its decoration, is
equalled only by the famous St. Mark’s
Cathedral in Venice. Its treatment
was assigned to Mr. Richardson, and
of his success there can be no question.
The space in which he had to work
was 60 feet in breadth, nearly 100 in
length, and about 50 in height. He has
reduced the plan of the room to a
nearly square form, cutting off from
either end of it the lobbies, above
which are placed the galleries, opening
on the chamber proper. These lob-
bies, opening from the corridors, are
simple in treatment. Yet by a slight
4o
similiarity in detail they, in a measure, wall, from which the chamber is
prepare the eye for the Senate chamber lighted by three large openings
itself. They are wainscoted with light rising from a level with the floor
marble, arranged panelwise in slabs and six lesser openings near the
and rails, and are ceiled with quartered ceiling. Two of the large windows
oak. From the west lobby opens the are filled with disks of stained glass,
Lieutenant-Governor’s room, comfort- which shade from browns and rubies
ably fitted up with a carved and pol- near the floor through olives and golden
ished mahogany wainscot and fireplace, hues to the semi-circular tops, which
ARCH IN THE. LOBBY.
and an oak ceiling supported on corbels are filled with varied iridescent and
of marble. By the arrangement of the opalescent tint. The central window
galleries over the lobbies, the actual is obscured by the reredos behind the
floor space of the Senate chamber president’s desk, which rises to the
proper is reduced to about 60 feet by 55. spring of the window arches but does
Entering on this floor by the main not cover the semi-circular window-
doorway from the vaulted corridor head, which, like the others, is filled
above described we first see the south with many hued opalescent glass. The41
stained glass has been used not only to
add brilliancy of color, but to avoid the
glare of light that has proved so objec-
tionable in some of the other rooms.
These windows are arched, and the
stone mouldings above and below them
are carved with intricate and delicate
patterns of interwoven lace-like forms
and a carved band of stone divides the
lower part of each window from the
semi-circular upper light. The capi-
tals of the angle columns are more
heavily cut into conventional forms
taken from oak leaves and other
foliage. The wall space between the
windows, as far up as the spring of the
arches, is of Knoxville (Tenn.) marble,
a reddish gray stone, not highly pol-
ished, though having a smooth finish.
The Mexican Onyx Panelling. —
Above the three arches of the lower
windows for about twelve feet (per-
pendicularly) the wall is panelled
with Mexican onyx. These panels are
cut into slabs three feet square and are
separated, or rather framed, by slightly
convex rails of Sienna (Italy) marble,
the mottled reds, yellows and browns
of which contrast with the tints of the
onyx. For additional support the slabs
are backed up with slabs of ordinary
marble. The variety of color display-
ed in the onyx is very remarkable,
the prevailing tints being mottled
and semi-translucent whites, cream
colors, sea water, olive and ivory.
These tints are broken and waved by
lines, striae and splashes of raw Sienna
coloring, rosy brown, and numberless
shades of other neutral browns, some
inclining toward red and some toward
green and even blue, while the surface
everywhere varies in play of light and
shade of semi-opacity and translu-
cence. The various slabs, no two of
which are alike, are arranged with a
certain idea of contrast, but never
formally nor with regularity of counter-
change. They are laid haphazard
with a motive. The dividing rails of
4
Sienna marble are of colors that har-
monize admirably with those of the
onyx, being principally yellows of a soft
golden character and reddish brown
mottled, the intensity of which is varied
in every piece, and some times ap-
proaches so nearly the color of an
adjacent slab of onyx as to melt into
it. Both panels and rails are highly
polished. Above this panelling is a
string course of simply carved marble,
and above this is the upper tier of win-
dows, six in number. The shape and
treatment are similar to those of the
lower windows.
The Golden Frieze.—The wail
space above these windows is filled in
with lead, heavily gilt, constituting a
sort of frieze. The ornament of this
is a carefully studied design of arab-
esque or floral pattern, beaten out or
embossed by means of hammers,
stamps and dies of various sizes and
shapes, thus affording a varied play of
light and shade on the gilt surface.
This field of gold, being absolutely
neutral, adapts itself to the color of the
surrounding objects, and in the eleva-
tion and depression of its beaten and
stamped surface supplies the compli-
mentary colors necessary to complete
the color harmony of the whole cham-
ber.
The Oak Ceiling.—Above the
broad frieze of beaten gold and termi-
nating the wall are the massive carved
beams of oak, more than four feet in
depth, which constitute the framework
of the ceiling. These great beams are
supported on stone corbels sunk into
the walls and projecting under the
beams. The corbels are carved
into bold and vigorous forms derived
from foliage and flowers. The main
beams divide the ceiling into long, nar-
row, rectangular spaces running from
east and west, and these spaces are
divided into lesser rectangular spaces
running north and south, which are
again divided in half by smaller beams42
and form squares,which
are still further divided
by rails into four square
panels each. It is the
intention of the archi-
tect to treat these
groups of four panels
with color, so that every
group of four shall
count as a whole. This
treatment of the ceil-
ing was adopted for two
reasons, which are, that
such a large room need-
ed a ceiling composed
of enormous masses or
material in order that
it might be in scale with
the rest of the work in
the room, and in order
that the sound waves
which ascend from the
speakers might be
broken and lost among
the beams instead of
being reverberated and
reflected in the form of
an echo to annoy audi-
tors. The eye is easily
carried to the western
wall by the upper por-
tion of wall space,
which is decorated by
the beaten frieze of
gold. On this side again
is the lower wall space
of Knoxville marble. It
appears, however, in
greater mass than on
the south side of the
room, being only brok-
en by the two doors of
the lobby. Disposed
in large blocks and un-
carved, this marble pre-
sents an appearance of
solidity and strength
very necessary to a
room of great size, and
affords a powerful un-
DORMER, COURT SIDE,ROOM UNDER ASSEMBLY CHAMBER44
derstructure for the support of the say that the arches in the Senate cham-
heavy columns and arches above, ber seemed to me, as far as their gen-
Although this surface is much hidden eral conception goes, worthy to stand
by the high-backed settees that line at Ragusa, some will understand that I
almost the entire wall of the room, can say no more.”
enough shows through to give an im- Between the columns the galleries
impression of solidity and strength of bow out slightly, giving the effect of
construction. Above this lower wall of balconies, and are protected by a balus-
marble are three great arched spaces, trade composed of columnar balusters
occupying nearly the whole width of of Sienna marble and rails of gray
the wall and disclosing the galleries, marble, the projections of the galleries
These arches are supported by four being supported by long, flat corbels
A CLUSTERED PIER.
massive columns of a dark, red-brown
granite, with capitals of whitish marble,
elaborately carved. The arches them-
selves are of the yellow Sienna marble,
with both iniier and outer mouldings
carved. Of these arches Edward A.
Freeman remarks;
“ There are parts [of the building]
which I cannot at all admire, but there
are other parts, those in which the
columns and round arches are em-
ployed, which certainly pleased me as
much as any modern building that I
have seen for a long time. When I
of gray stone, elaborately carved. The
wall is thus divided into three spaces—
the marble foundation wall, the arched
space giving on the galleries, and the
space for the gold frieze. The frieze
space again carries the eye to the north
wall, where it is shown in its greatest
mass. Appearing on the south wall in
a small strip above the arches of
the upper tier of windows, and in
rather greater mass on the west wall,
it shows itself here in a broad, un-
broken surface equal to more than
one-third of the whole wall surface.45
The value of this arrangement will be
seen at a glance, for the gold surface,
catching the light of the upper win-
dows directly opposite, reflects it over
the room.
Half way between the east and west
walls is the main entrance of the corri-
dor, and on either side of the main en-
trance are two great open fireplaces

SCALE OF *EET
» * »
PLAN OF ASSEMBLY CHAMBER,
jutting out into the room. The door-
way and fireplaces are constructed of
marble, as is the space between them.
The openings of the fireplaces are
about six feet in height and something
more in breadth. The cheerful effect
of these, when filled with blazing logs,
the flames of which are reflected on
the polished onyx and marble from all
sides of the room, may well be im-
agined. Above the fire openings are
to be carved legends or symbolical
devices. Above these are the broad
faces of the chimney breasts, which
are to be cut in bas-relief
with representations of his-
torical or legendary scenes,
emblematical of, or illustra-
ting the legislative character
of the room. The chimney
pieces are finished with and
surmounted by hoods slant-
ing back to the wall at a
steep angle and ornamented
with crockets and carved
bands. The whole chimney
pieces are about half as high
as the room, reaching to the
string course below the gold
frieze. Above the doorway
and wall space of Knoxville
marble we see the wall space
up fo the frieze covered with
the Mexican onyx panel,
and like the frieze, in greater
extent of surface than else-
where. So placed these two
great fields of onyx and gold
catch the broad southern
light and afford a great diver-
sity in the play of color, and
offer the necessary repose to
the eye after looking at sur-
faces broken by the arches
of the windows on the south,
east and west walls. Above
the onyx and enclosed within
y T the frieze is a long rectangu-
lar space, which may be filled
in with mural painting of
some allegorical subject fitted to the
place.
The Chandeliers and Side
Lights.— Hanging directly in front
of each of the arches opening uponby an ornamented iron staircase. The
court room is in the southeast corner,
over the executive chamber, and is 35
by 53, and 25 feet high. It is finished
in quartered red oak, timbered ceiling
of the same material, with carved
beams and deep recessed panels. The
five window openings are finished with
Knoxville marble, the arches resting
upon carved trusses and columns re-
cessed into the angles formed by the
jambs and outer belting, terminating
in ornamental trusses. A deep carved
wood string in line with the trusses,
and the carved capitals of the marble
columns divide the oak panelling on
the walls into two parts. The frame
work of the upper section is filled in
with large plain panels, and the inten-
tion is to decorate, by gilding, the
rails. The panels are designed to
be painted in varied designs to har-
monize with the wood carving. The
lower section below the window arches
stands upon a moulded base and is
filled in with double raised panels and
subdivided longitudinally by carved
string courses, containing between them
a section of vertical fluted work in
which are fixed at intervals in carved
frames' the portraits of the judges,
many of which hung in the Court of
Appeals room of the old Capitol.
On the west side of the * room is a
recessed fireplace of large dimensions,
over which is displayed the arms of the
State carved in the oaken panels of
the mantel over the recess. The re-
cess of the fireplace is lined with Sienna
marble and has a bench on either side
of the fireplace of the same material.
The lintel over the fireplace is also
Sienna marble richly carved and ex-
tending across the whole recess. Rest-
ing on the lintel is a large panel com-
posed of several choice specimens of
Mexican onyx skillfully arranged.
The judges’ bench has been care-
fully designed in style and form to suit
the requirements and wishes of that
honorable body. The front is divided
into panels set in framework; the
panels are exquisitely carved in varied
designs and separated by ornamental
balusters, the whole resting on a
moulded base. Carved in the centre,
panel are the arms of the State. There
is a medallion convex of carved gro-
tesque heads located along the pro-
jecting top. Perhaps no room in the
building is better adapted to its purpose
than this. Four other rooms adjacent
form a continuous suite extending
north from the court room along the
eastern front. A room for lawyers in
attendance on the court of appeals is
opposite the court room on the west
side.
The Southeast or Senate stair-
case occupies a space 52 by 52, and
114 feet high from basement bottom to
the top of the walls. Great care was
taken in preparing and putting down
the footing courses that support this
grand monumental work, and which
are constructed of granite blocks in
two courses, cut to straight and parallel
thicknesses. The blocks of granite in
the lower course are from 3 to 4 feet
wide, 8 feet long and 2 feet thick; in
the upper course 7 feet long, 20 inches
thick, well bonded with the lower
course, all of which is laid and bedded
in Portland cement. The foundations
from the footing course up through the
basement are constructed of hand-
burned brick, laid and grouted in Port-
land cement, strengthened by broad
skewbacks extending through the mas-
sive walls. The pier binders and caps
are all of well wrought granite.
The stairs start on the ground floor
on the south side and extend to the
gallery story. The great platforms and
steps are of Dorchester sandstone.
Each story is divided into two sections
by spacious intermediate platforms mid-
way in each story, extending the whole
distance-between the north and south
walls a distance of 50 feet by 12 feet5°
wide. The stairs are of easy ascent entrance and main stories is pro-
and grand and dignified in appearance, vided with balconies, the platforms
The upper landings of the stairs on placed on a level with the tiled floors
each story are on platforms extending of the corridors adjoining. These bal-
the whole length between walls by 14 conies serve both as useful and orna-
feet wide, resting on the walls at either mental features, and are approached
end and supported at the cross joints through the openings made in the east
by massive moulded granite girders, wall as heretofore described. Each of
NORTH VIEW OF THE CAPITOL.
The west walls on the ground and en-
trance stories form a continuous line
of niches, divided by piers and col-
umns, embellished with moulded bases
and carved caps. The west wall in
each of the four stories is pierced by
large openings through which light is
admitted to the staircase from the
court. The eastern wall in the
the elevations on the east and west
sides of the wall, the bases of which
are on a level with the floors in the
various stories and intermediate plat-
forms, is divided into five openings by
piers with columns recessed into the
angles of the same, embellished with
highly ornamental carved foliated caps
of varied designs, in which are intro-5i
duced allegorical figures of various arches are decorated by incised orna-
forms, carefully studied and exquisitely ments, the underside of arches by flow-
executed from drawings. The open- ing lines of tracery terminating in gro-
ings are spanned by pointed arches, tesque heads and figures. The north
the two outer arches extending over and south sides of the well are each
the steps. The faces of piers and divided into two openings, which are
DOWN ASSEMBLY STAIRCASE.
spanned by arches
springing from the
massive piers at the
ground floor, up to and against
the piers resting upon the caps
of the centre columns, from
which the upper span of arches
spring to and against the piers52
of the various landings. These arches
are constructed at an angle conforming
to the angles of the steps and support-
ing the same. The vertical faces and
soffits are decorated in a similar manner
as the arches heretofore described, with
the exception of the lower section in
which spandrels are formed, filled in
with geometrical tracery.
Resting on the arches continuing up
the steps and forming the coping over
the same is a moulded string course,
up the face of which is a deeply re-
cessed and richly carved decoration.
This coping and decoration extends
along a level with all the platforms,
and is divided by the piers at the
angles. The coping, up the steps and
along the platforms, is surmounted by
a beautiful balustrade worked in geo-
metrical figures and foliage ornaments,
on which rests a heavy moulded hand-
rail. Richly carved mouldings extend
along the underside of the platforms
and up the soffits of the stairs next to
the outer walls. The base and wain-
scoting along the platforms and upon
a parallel line with the stairs on the
outer walls are also executed in geo-
metrical figures, surmounted by a
moulded capping. All the outer walls
from the ground floor to the underside
of the skylight are faced with sand-
stone ashlar, surmounted by an enriched
stone cornice, on which rests the iron
construction supporting the skylight.
This great monumental work is believed
to be without parallel on the face of
the globe.
Military Statistics, The Bureau
of, is on the fourth or gallery floor,
west end, south side, and is open to
visitors daily from 9 A. M. till 5
p. M. This collection grew out of a
desire to perpetuate in some way the
patriotic memories of the war of the
rebellion. It was at first proposed to
erect a suitable building for the pur-
pose, and over $30,000 was subscribed
by towns and by individuals. This
money is now on deposit, and the in-
terest helps to support the bureau,
which is under the charge of the ad-
jutant-general.
The objects of greatest interest are
the battle flags of the various State
regiments, 804 in number, some of
them torn in shreds, others still bearing
plainly the names of the battles in
which the regiments participated.
These are in cases in the senate gallery
corridor. There are 28 rebel ensigns
captured from the enemy, and many
other trophies to interest the curious.
Over 3,000 photographs have been col-
lected, and many are framed and on
exhibition. There is also a large col-
lection of newspapers in which the
history of the war was written in the
time of it; many specimens of ord-
nance; some relics of the revolutionary
war and of the war of 1812; an inter-
esting collection of Lincoln memorials,
including a piece of the bloody shirt
taken from his person on the night of
the assassination.
Another interesting group is the
clothes worn by Col. Ellsworth when
he was shot down in Alexandria, and
the rebel flag which he took from the
Marshall House, an act which led to
his untimely death.
The Heating Apparatus for the
whole building is placed under the
central court, in the cellar, where are
two batteries of six steel boilers each or
twelve in all, aggregating 650 horse
power.* There are two principal heat-
ing chambers, containing together 60,-
cxx) square feet of heating surface; two
engines, with an automatic cut-off gear,
of 200-horse power each, with connec-
tions so that either or both can be used;
two large steam pumps for the ele-
vators and two feed pumps. The
engines furnish power to four ventil-
* The boilers will eventually be removed to
a separate building. A bill for that purpose is
now pending t April, 1884) in the legislature.53
ating fans of a united capacity of 220,-
000 cubic feet of fresh air per minute.
There is also an exhaust fan, which
forces out foul air from the flues that
do not have a natural draught, which
has a capacity of 90,000 cubic feet per
minute. Of the supply fans, one is for
the Senate, 20,000; one for the Assem-
bly, 33,000; one for the north side,
35,000, and one for the south side and
CAP OF LARGE COLUMN, ASSEMBLY ROOM.
wings, 132,000. These quantities are the Capitol,
capable of being increased by a greater
speed of the engines, which is sixty
revolutions per minute. Besides the
main heating chambers, where the
entire air is warmed, at each window,
in the floor is a marble slab, seven feet
long and two feet wide, heated by
steam pipes beneath it. These merely
neutralize the effect of the large cool-
ing surfaces of the windows, which are
five feet by seventeen feet in dimen-
sions. These slabs alone are nearly
sufficient to maintain the temperature
of the rooms. As the supply of air is
constant, means are provided for reg-
unlating its temperature, to prevent
over-heating. This is done precisely
as water is tempered for a bath, and it
is not often that air is supplied over
eighty degrees except for rapid heating
up. The entire air sup-
ply to the Senate chamber
is through registers in the
floor and concealed open-
ings in the bases of the
furniture. In both Senate
and Assembly the remov-
al of foul air is from the
top of the room, and the
quantity of fresh air sup-
plied per person, inclu-
ding all possible occu-
pants of the galleries, is
up to the standard re-
quired by the best author-
ities, while all members
and officers present have
a much more liberal sup-
ply. The apparatus for
furnishing the electric
light is also in the cellar.
Cost Thus Far.—The
following figures taken
from the books of the
comptroller show the
amounts actually paid
each year by the State
towards the building of
the fiscal year ending
September 1.
1863.................. #5 *>593 66
1864.	.................... 9.453	55
1865.	................... 10,860	08
1866	.................... 65,250	OO
1867	.............,.	10,000 00
1868	.................... 50,000	00
1869	..................  451.215	63
1870	................. 1,223,597	73
1871	................... 482,942	3754
1872	..................... 856,106	98	with stone. The interior	will be ap-
1873	................... 1,175,600	00	proached from the eastern	end, and at
1874..	................... 610,275	16	the sides by broad granite steps and
1875	................ 1,392,71208 platforms flanked by granite but-
1876	.................... 908,487	92	tresses. Broad and easy stairs are
1877	.................... 728,220	20	provided for, extending from the pave-
1878	............... 1 >075,700 00 ment to the ground and entrance stories
1879	...........—.	982,836 44 which are also accessible from a cover-
1880	................   1,008,363	56	ed carriageway extending	transversely
1881..	................ 1,350,600	00	through the structure near the building.
1882	..................  1,210,600	00	The grand western staircase is located
1883	...............     I>274>357	72	in the centre, extending east from the
—	----------great reading room of the library to
$14,928,773 08 the main court wall, 71 feet by 52 feet,
-	■■ ■	•	— and connects with corridors running
north and south, and with all the rooms
This includes the cost of the land in the several stories. It will, in some
with the exception of what was given respects, be the grandest staircase of
by the city of Albany ($190,000). the three. The state library will be in
The latest estimate as to what it will the west end. It will be in keeping
cost to finish the building is between with the rest of the building,
four and five millions.
No one now imagines	ss, l|j	^ v
that it will cost, in all,
less than $20,000,000.
Work yet to be
Pone.—The important
features of the work yet J
to be done are the east- m-
ern approaches, the west-	i
erri staircase, the state
library and the tower.
The eastern approach will
be of granite, semi-circular ^, j
in form at the eastern en^.
It will consist of a series of -'54
grouped granite columns with en-
riched caps and moulded bases resting
upon foundations constructed of cut *W1
stone. The basement ceiling will be ‘l’1| JlwBlJI
of brick arches springing from stone
skewbacks and covered with stone
flags. Resting upon the outer columns
will be an entablature over which there
is designed to be an open parapet. To
form the ceiling of this structure there
will be a series of groined arches con-
structed of granite, and over the whole	lliir,l!
surface a layer of asphalt. The top
surface of the structure will be paved	griffin on fire-place.55
DIRECTORY.
Rooms in the Capitol are occupied as follows:
FIRST OR GROUND FLOOR.
North Side — East End.
Superintendent of Public Works.
Railroad Commission.
Superintendent of State Buildings.
Assembly Committee Rooms.
Entrance to Assembly Staircase.
Storekeeper’s Room.
West End.
Assembly Committee Rooms.
State Survey.
Entrance to Elevator.
South Side—East End.
Insurance Department.
Superintendent State Prisons.
Entrance to Elevator.
West End.
Department of Public Instruction.
Senate Committee Rooms.
Store Rooms.
SECOND OR ENTRANCE FLOOR.
North Side—East End.
Secretary of State.
Assembly Staircase.
Old Court of Appeals.
Entrance to Elevator.
West End.
Court of Claims.
Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Entrance to Elevator.
Golden Corridor.
South Side—East End.
Executive Chamber.
Entrance to Elevator.
Inspector-General.
Vital Statistics.
Board of Health.
Adjutant-General.
Paymaster-General.
West End.
Attorney-General.
THIRD OR PRINCIPAL FLOOR.
North Side — East End.
Assembly Parlor.
“	Document Room.
“	Postoffice.
“	Cloak Room.
“	Chamber.
Entrance to Elevator.
West End.
Assembly Clerk.
Speaker of Assembly.
Assembly Library.
Entrance to Elevator.
South Side — EasiEnd.
Court of Appeals.
Senate Chamber.
“ Clerk.
Entrance to Elevator.
West End.
Senate Cloak Room.
“ Postoffice.
Reporters’ Cloak Room.
Senate Library.
FOURTH OR GALLERY FLOOR.
North Side — East End.
Committee Rooms.
State.' Entomologist.
Assembly Gallery (Gentlemen.)
Entrance to Elevator.
West End.
Adirondack Survey.
Assembly Gallery (Ladies.)
Committee Rooms.
Entrance to Elevator.
South Side — East End.
Senate Gallery (Ladies.)
Committee Rooms.
Entrance to Elevator.
West End.
Bureau Military Statistics.
Committee Rooms.
Senate Gallery (Gentlemen.)The Capitol of the state of New
York, is, in fact, a building of which
any empire or kingdom in the world
might be proud. It is true the legisla-
ture might have deliberated in halls
that would not have cost a tenth part
as much as these have done; but the
capitol of such a state should mean
something more than mere rooms in
which laws are made and mended. It
should be, as this is, a grand monu-
ment to the spirit of progress and civ-
ilization.
And the influence of such an edi-
fice is not confined by the boundaries
of states or countries. The fine arts
everywhere are stimulated and strength-
ened by such a structure.
As Clarence Cook says:
“ There is nothing like a great architectual
undertaking, with its implied accompaniment of
sculpture and painting, to create a love of art
in a community, and New York has the proud
distinction of being first of the States of the
Union to have lighted in her capitol a beacon
fire that shall call all the arts together and set
them at work in noble tasks for her behoof.”
A DREAM OF THE NEW ALBANY.CAT
57
Catholics.^-The Catholic diocese of
Albany extends from the southern
limits of Jefferson Co. to the Pennsyl-
vania line, and from Auburn eastward
to Vermont and Massachusetts, em-
bracing twenty counties,' and an esti-
mated Catholic population of about
160.000.	. The diocesan officials are as
follows:	Bishop, Rt. Rev. Francis
McNeirny, Bishop’s house, 225 Mad-
ison ave., Albany; vicar general,
Very Rev. P. A. Ludden, St. Peter’s,
Troy; chancellor and sec. Rev. John
Walsh, 12 Madison place, Albany;
auditor of diocesan accounts, Rev. G.
Huberdault, Church of the Assumption,
Hamilton st., Albany.
Diocesan Statistics. — Churches
with resident pastors, 125; churches
without resident pastors, 50; total, 175;
chapels, 30; stations, 122; priests, 191;
clerical students, 27; academies and
select schools, 19; orphan asylums, 11;
homes for the aged, 4; hospitals, 4;
religious communities, of men, 6, of
women, 11.
City Statistics. — Churches, 12;
priests, 25; schools, select and parish,
20; religiouses, male and female de-
voted to educational and charitable
work, 235; pupils attending Catholic
schools, 3,920; Catholic population,
(as estimated by church officials) about
40.000.
Churches.
The first Catholic chapel erected in
this city was built in 1797-8 (the city
giving the land) on the site of the^
present St. Mary’s church, Lodge st.,
cor. of Pine. It was of brick, and for
thirty years was the only Catholic place
of worship in Albany.
Cathedral of the Immaculate
Conception, Eagle st., cor. Madison
ave. Rt. Rev. Francis McNeirny,
D. D., Bishop of Albany. Rev. John
Walsh, Rector and Chancellor; Revs.
John J. Hanlon and Richard H. Gahan
assistants.
This magnificent edifice is pointed
5
Gothic in style; has a frontage of 95
feet on Eagle st. and a depth of 195
feet on Madison ave. and Jefferson st.
From the sidewalk to the apex of. the
roof its height is 70 feet, and to the
top of spire 210 feet. Its interior
measurement is, nave, 125 feet; tran-
sept, 96 feet; sanctuary, 35 feet square;
height of ceiling about 54 feet. Twelve
massive columns support its roof, and
light is admitted through 32 stained-
glass windows of much beauty, the one
at the back of the chancel costing
more than #3,000. It tells, in a series
of finely-wrought pictures, the story of
the Virgin Mary. There are five
altars adorned with statuary and en-
riched with relics.
The corner-stone was laid July 2,
1848, by Archbishop Hughes, and the
church dedicated by the same prelate,
Nov. 21, 1852. It has a seating ca-CAT
58
pacity of 2,500, but 4,000 people often
congregate within its walls. Cost,
about $180,000. Architect, Patrick
C. Keeley. It is always open, and is visit-
ed by hundreds of strangers yearly. The
imposing rituals of the Catholic church
are observed with magnificence, and
the ceremonies are often witnessed by
many who are not of the faith, but who
are attracted by the pomp and splen-
dor of the scene and the grandeur of
the music. On Sundays, low mass at
7 and 8 a. m.; high mass at 10:30;
and vespers, in the winter, at 3 p. M.;
in the summer at 3:30.
In 1882, the interior was renewed
and many improvements added at a
cost of several thousand dollars. The
stately gas standards, rich altar and
mural decorations, and the fourteen
Stations of the Cross magnificently
painted by A. Ertle, of New York,
brighten and enrich the reverent so-
lemnity of this superb Cathedral.
Solemn services of re-dedication were
.held on Oct. 8, 1882, at which Bishop
McNeirny officiated, and Bishop Wad-
hams, of Ogdensburgh preached.
Charles Makay, the English author,
speaking of his visit to this country in
1858, said of this Cathedral:	“It is
internally one of the largest and most
magnificent ecclesiastical edifices in
America. Here high mass is sometimes
performed with a splendor and com-
pleteness, orchestral and vocal, not to
be excelled even in Paris or Vienna,
and to which London, as far as I
know, can make no pretensions.” The
organ, built by Erben, cost $8,000, and
has 2,166 pipes, six of which are 16
feet long. In 1882 extensive improve-
ments were made, almost doubling its
capacity, and making it one of the
sweetest and most complete in the
country. There is also a fine chime of
bells.
The first bishop of Albany was Rt.
Rev. John McCloskey, (now Cardinal)
who was installed Sept. 19, 1847; the
second, Rt. Rev. John J. Conroy, in-
stalled Oct. 15, 1865; and the third
and present, Rt. Rev. Francis Mc-
Neirny, D. £)., consecrated April 21.
1872.
St. Joseph’s. — Ten Broeck cor.
Second st. Rev. T. M. A. Burke,
pastor; Rev. Messrs. Maurice Sheehan,
John F. Howard and Joseph H.
Mangan, assistants. This church,
though designed by the same architect
as the Cathedral, is strikingly different
in its general effect, each being con-
sidered a master-piece in its own way;
one being sombre, heavy and majestic,
and answering the popular idea of a
cathedral; the other, light, ornate and
graceful, conveying an immediate im-
pression of the chaste and beautiful in
architecture. The dimensions are
nearly the same. St. Joseph’s was
originally trimmed with Caen stone
brought from France, but this crumbled
away, and has been replaced by more
durable material. The church, which
was five years in building, was conse-
crated May 13, i860. It was in this
edifice that Emma La Jeunesse, now
the world-renowned Albani, sang and
officiated as organist while living in the
city from which she took her name.
St Mary’s Church.—Lodge cor.
Pine st. Rev. C. A. Walworth, pas-
tor; Rev. Messrs. P. H. McDermott,
John J. Dillon, assistants. This was
the first Catholic parish in the city, the
trustees having been incorporated Oct.
6, 1796, and the first building erected
during the two years following; the
second was erected in 1830; the third
and present one in 1867-9. Seating
capacity, 1,000.
St. Ann’s.—Fourth ave. cor. Frank-
lin st. Rev. Edward A. Terry, pastor.
Consecrated Dec. 20, 1868.
St. John’s.—South Ferry cor. Dal-
lius. Rev. James M. Ludden, pastor;
Revs. James P. Halpin, John McGraw,
assistants. The second oldest Catholic
parish in the city.CAT—CEN
St. Patrick’s.—-Central ave. cor.
Perry st. Rev. P. J. Smith, pastor;
Rev. James L. Walsh, assistant. Cor-
ner-stone laid Dec. 21, 1866. Church
consecrated Ang. 30, 1868.
Our Lady of Angels (German).—
Central ave. cor. Robin st. Rev. Caesar
Cucchiarini, pastor; Revs. Anselm
Auling, Otto Keegan, assistants. Cor-
ner-stone laid Nov. 29, 1868.
Church of the Holy Cross (Ger-
man).—Hamilton st. cor. Philip. Rev.
Joseph Ottenhues, pastor. Corner-
stone laid May 12, 1850.
Our Lady Help of Christians
(German).—72 Second ave. Very
Rev. Mgr. Oliver, pastor. Corner-stone
laid June 27, 1880.
Church of the Assumption.—
Hamilton below Grand. Rev. Gideon
Huberdault, pastor. Formerly used by
the African Baptists; bought by the
French Catholics, and consecrated
Dec. 12. 1869.
Church of the Sacred Heart.—
Walter st. cor. N. Second, at N. Al-
bany. Parish founded Aug. 5. 1874;
Rev. F. J. Maguire, pastor. The first
service in the chapel on Erie st. was
held Aug. 16. Ground was broken for
the erection of the present church
July 31, 1876; the excavations for the
church were made by members of the
congregation evenings, after the regu-
lar labors of the day were done. Cor-
ner-stone laid Aug. 27, 1876; building
dedicated May 23, 1880. Cost of
church and parsonage. $45,000.
Church of St. Francis de Sales,
West Albany. Pastor, Rev. James J.
Peyton. In process of construction.
Cattle Market.—The stock yards
at West Albany are reached in 45
minutes from Broadway by the State
st. horse cars, which leave on the half
hour; or in ten minutes by trains on
the Central railroad. This, before the
growth of the western country was one of
the largest cattle markets in the United
States. It was, in its infancy, located at
“Gallup’s,” on Washington ave., north
side, between Swan and Lark sts.,
afterwards at the old “Bull’s Head” on
the Troy road, and then at Hunter &
Gallup’s, at the end of what is now
Central ave. About 18 years ago the
business was1 removed to its present
location at West Albany, just north of
the Central railroad track, where large
sheds and buildings were erected for
the accommodation and protection of
many thousand head of stock. The
buildings devoted to sheep and hogs
cover an immense area of ground; are
floored throughout, are entirely en-
closed, well lighted, and adequately
supplied with running water. The
cattle yards are laid out in the lanes,
each alley designated by a letter or
name, and each particular yard by a
number. Ample sheds afford protec-
tion to the cattle, and each yard is
provided with water. Buffalo is the
last feeding point west of Albany, and
stock shipped from there one day
should reach here the next. The rules
of the Central road require all stock
passing forward to be unshipped here
arid fed. Sales, however, are nothing
to what they used to be, and the recent
custom of shipping dressed beef from
the west has tended still further to
lessen the importance of the market.
Cemeteries, The, are the Rural, on
the Troy road near West Troy; Anshe
Emeth, (Jewish), adjoining the Rural
on the west; St. Agnes, (Catholic),
adjoining the Rural on the south; St.
John’s, on the Bethlehem turnpike
below Kenwood, and St. Mary’s and
St. Joseph’s on Washington ave. (See
Rural Cemetery, St. Agnes Ceme-
and Graveyards.)
Census of 1880.—Following are
the census returns of 1880. (See,
also Population.)
1st Ward .................5,6286o
CEN—CHR
2d Ward....................... 5*9*5
3d Ward.....................   5,089
4th Ward...................... 5,821
5th Ward.....................  4,765
6th Ward.........	4,171
7th Ward....... ..........     3,522
8th Ward.....................  4,143
9th Ward...................... 4,809
loth ward......................6,880
nth Ward.......................6,119
12th Ward.........	.........- 6,034
13th Ward......................4,623
14th Ward......................4,899
15th Ward..................... 5,097
16th Ward....................  7,376
17th Ward..................... 5,867
Total..................90,758
Total in county .  ........154,890
Central & Hudson River Rail-
road, New York.—Depot, north of
Maiden Lane, near the river. This
great corporation whose capital stock
is now about $90,000,000 is the result
of many consolidations. The Central
and Hudson River roads were con-
solidated Nov. 1, 1869. The Central
came into existence through the con-
solidation of ten railroads between this
city and Buffalo, which took effect
Aug. 1, 1853. The Albany & Schen-
ectady, one of these ten, was the first
railroad built in the state, and was
partly opened Sept. 12, 1831, under
name of Mohawk & Hudson, name
being changed in 1847; Schenectady
& Troy opened in 1842; Utica &
Schenectady, Aug. 1, 1836; Syracuse
& Utica, July 3, 1839; Auburn & Roch-
ester, in Aug. 1841; Auburn & Syra-
cuse, in June, 1838; the direct line
between Rochester and Syracuse, in
1853. The Hudson River road was
opened from New York to East Al-
bany, Oct. 3, 1851.
The total cost of the consolidated
road and its equipment is $114,731,917.
For 295 miles between this city and
Buffalo it has four tracks; it owns
2,361 miles of track and leases 324
miles more. It owns 655 locomotives,
361 first-class passenger cars, 22,973
freight cars; employs 15.355 persons
and paid them last year $8,401,208 in
wages. During the last railroad year
it carried 10,746,925 passengers and
10,892,440 tons of freight; the average
rate per mile per pa^enger was
through, 2.05 cents, way, 2.04; of
freight, per ton, per mile, .69 cents on
through, .97 way. Total earnings,
$33»77°»7215 charges against earnings
(including an 8 per cent, dividend
amounting to $7,148,131) $33,59*,697*
leaving a surplus of $179,024.
Central Avenue branches from
Washington ave. at Townsend park.
Was formerly called the Bowery, and
before the completion of the Erie
canal was the great thoroughfare to
the west leading out to the Schenec-
tady turnpike. Transportation of pro-
duce was by means of six-horse teams,
which were quartered along this street.
The name was changed to Central ave.
in 1867. The residents now are largely
German, and one “ garden ” thereon is
well patronized.
Charter.—The original charter of
Albany, granted by Gov. Thomas Don-
gan, and dated July 22, 1686, is depos-
ited in the mayor’s office. It is written
in English, in Gothic letter on parch-
ment, and bears a seal, in a silver case.
The text was first printed by Hugh
Game, in 1771. The present charter
forms Chap. 298 of the Laws of 1883,
and was passed April 23d of that year.
See Manual of the Common Council,
compiled by Martin Delehanty, clerk.
Cholera raged in Albany terribly
in the summer of 1832. Over 400
deaths resulted, in a population of
30,000.
Christian Church.--Chestnut above6i
CHU—CIT
Dove. At present without a pastor,
Rev. E. C. Abbott, who was instru-
mental in organizing the church two
or three years since, having resigned
early in 1884.
Churches.—There are between fifty
and sixty churches in Albany, includ-
ing five Baptists, one Congregational,
six Episcopal, two German Evangeli-
cal, three Jewish, five Lutheran, seven
Methodist, eight Presbyterian, five Re-
formed, twelve Catholic and one Christ-
ian. Besides these, the Universal-
ists, Second Advents, Friends and
other sects, hold services with more or
less regularity. The' church edifices,
taken together, are highly creditable
to the city; the Cathedral of the Im-
maculate Conception and St. Joseph’s
(Catholic), Emmanuel, Tabernacle,
and Calvary (Baptist), First and Second
Reformed, First Presbyterian and St.
Peter’s (Episcopal), being worthy of
special note. The advance in church'
architecture in the past ten years has
been very marked. (See different de-
nominations.)
Cigars.—The leading cigar manu-
facturers in Albany are M. Strasser &
Co., 27 Hudson ave. They are the
makers of the brand so widely and
favorably known as “ Silk, ” a most
appropriate name, for the proverb, “ As
fine as Silk, ” is in everybody’s mouth,
and so are wStrasser’s cigars. Noth-
ing finer in that line is to be found,
being celebrated for its natural aroma,
purity, reliability and uniformity. The
house was founded by M. Strasser, the
senior member of the firm, in 1852.
It now occupies a large four-story
building in which are employed a great
nunber of the best workmen in the
country. No machinery is used, the
cigars being all hand made. While
the “ Silk ” is the leading brand, other
varieties are manufactured, and the
firm are also dealers in leaf tobacco
which they import in large quantities.
Their trade extends throughout the
state of New York, and quite a ways
into New England. They are also
doing a large business in the west and
their motto “ for sale everywhere, ” ap-
proaches every year nearer to the literal
truth. They have attained much of
their success by advertising, but that is
only one evidence of the enterprise
that characterizes the firm in all re-
spects. They understand their business
perfectly, are thorough judges of the
article in which they deal, strive always
to keep faith with their customers and
with the public, and by dealing hon-
estly, manufacturing good goods, and
keeping abreast with the times they
have grown into a great representative
house, of which Albany may well be
proud. Their establishment is one
that will be found of interest to all who
know anything about this industry
which plays so important a part in the
commercial and tax-paying world. The
number of cigars on which duty was
paid in this internal revenue district in
1883, was 38,063,420.
City Building, The, occupies the
site of the old Centre market, corner
South Pearl and Howard sts. It was
begun in 1868; is of the Lombardic
style of architecture, ornamented with
a Mansard roof, and is built of brick
faced with Lake Champlain limestone.
It cost the taxpayers $200,000. It.
contains the police court room;
City court; offices of overseer of the
poor; of the park commissioners and
engineer; fire and police commission-
ers; fire alarm telegraph; chiefs of the
police and fire departments and prop-
erty clerk; detectives; Second pre-
cinct station house; the Rogues’ Gal-
lery, and excise commissioners.
City Government.—Following will
be found information in regard to the
various city officers:CIT
62
Mayor's Bureau.
The Mayor’s bureau consists of the
Mayor and two clerks.
The Mayor is the chief executive
officer of the city, and is elected bien-
nially on the second Tuesday in April,,
to hold office from the first Tuesday in
May following. Annual salary, $3,500.
When prevented from attending to the
duties of his office, the President of
the Board of Aldermen may act with
full power, but can not approve ordi-
nances, or make appointments, unless
the Mayor is so prevented for 30 days.
Office, City Hall; open from 10 A. M.
to 4 p. M. The Mayor is not eligible
for re-election till one term has inter-
vened. He has absolute power to
appoint corporation counsel, one as-
sessor each year, six district physicians,
janitor of city building, three excise
commissioners, four bell-ringers, two
clerks, six marshals of the city
court, and park commissioners on
expiration of their terms.
Common Council.
The Common Council is composed
of 19 Aldermen, and exercises the
entire legislative powers of the city..
One Alderman is chosen from eaeh
ward, and two from the city at large.
To be eligible for the office one must
have resided in the ward at least one
year immediately prior to his election;
Aldermen-at-large, one year in the
city. Aldermen are chosen biennially
on the second Tuesday in April, to
hold office for two years from the first
Tuesday in May following; they elect
a president from among their number.
No Alderman or city officer shall be
interested, directly or indirectly, in any
contract with the city, nor furnish any
goods or property to it, nor hold any
office in the gift of the city, except in-
spector of election and commissioner
of deeds. Meetings are held in the
City Hall on the first and third Mondays
of the month, except in July and August.
Clerk of Common Council, elected
biennially by the Common Council;
salary, $2,500. Office, City Hall; open
from 9 till 12, and 2 till 5. He ap-
points an assistant at $600.
Finance Department.
The Finance Department consists of
the board of trustees of the sinking
fund, the board of finance, the board
of audit, chamberlain’s bureau, and
bureau of taxes. Has control of all
fiscal concerns of the corporation.
Trustees of Sinking Fund.—Con-
sist of the Mayor, Chamberlain, and
one citizen appointed (to serve three
years) by Common Council.
Board of Finance.-—Consists of
trustees of the sinking fund, president
of the Common Council, and one Al-
derman.
Board of Audit.—Consists of the
Mayor, Chamberlain, and president of
the Common Council.
Chamberlain’s Bureau.-------The
Chamberlain is appointed by the Com-
mon Council on nomination by the
Mayor, “ biennially on the eve of the
feast of St. Michael, the archangel.”
(See St. Michael’s Feast.) Duties
those of treasurer to the city; salary,
$3,500. He appoints a deputy with
consent of the Mayor, salary $1,500.
Office, City Hall.
Bureau of Taxes.—The Receiver
of Taxes, appointed by the Mayor,
confirmed by Board of Aldermen; sal-
ary, $3,500; he appoints a deputy with
approval of Mayor, salary, $1,800;
may also appoint one or more clerks,
at a yearly expense not to exceed$i,200
in all. Office, City Hall.
Street Department.
The Street Department includes four
bureaus.
Board of Contract, and Appor-
tionment.—Consists of the Mayor,
Chamberlain, Street Commissioner,
City Engineer and Surveyor, and Presi-A. BLEECKER BANKS.—Mayor of Albany.CIT
63
dent of the Common Council. Office
in the City Hall (office of Street
Commissioner); open from 9 to 5.
Awards all contracts for opening, pav-
ing and repairing streets, drains, re-
pairing docks, etc., cleaning and lighting
streets, and removing garbage. It also
apportions and assesses the cost of street
and drain improvements, etc., upon
property holders. The board appoints
a clerk; salary, $2,000, who also acts
as clerk to the Street Commissioner.
Regular meetings, 1st and 3d Mondays
in each month.
Bureau of Street Improvements
has for its chief officer the Street Com-
missioner, appointed by the Common
Council on nomination by the Mayor;
salary, $3,000. The Commissioner ap-
points two street superintendents and
one superintendent of lamps; salary,
$1,200 each; may also employ from
six to ten day laborers, all with the ap-
proval of the Mayor. He has charge
of streets, drains and wells, and of
lighting the city.
Bureau of Engineering and Sur-
veying.— Chief officer, City Engineer
and Surveyor, appointed by the Com-
mon Council on nomination by the
Mayor; salary, $3,000; office, City
Hall; deputy appointed by the Engi-
neer; salary, $1,800; two assistants
appointed by the Engineer, $1,200 each,
all with the approval of the Mayor.
Bureau of Lamps, Gas and Elec-
tric Lights.— Chief officer, Street
Commissioner, although the Superin-
tendent of Lamps may perform all the
duties; salary, $ 1,200.
Other Officers.
Unless otherwise specified, appoint-
ed biennially by the Common Council
on nomination by the Mayor.
The Recorder was formerly the
representative of the Crown in the city
government, and the office is now
something of an anomaly. He is
elected by the people, holds office four
years, and receives an annual salary of
$2,700. He has the powers of a Su-
preme Court Judge sitting at chambers;
holds, with a justice of the peace, the
Court of Special Sessions; is one of
the joint board with the Mayor and
Supervisors in charge of the Peniten-
tiary, and is nominally counsel for the
Park Commissioners.
The Corporation Counsel is ap-
pointed biennially by the Mayor, with-
out consent of the Common Council;
salary, $6,000, besides being entitled to
receive in cases in which the city is suc-
cessful, all costs collected from the un-
successful party, returning to the city
all such disbursements as are collected
which the city has prepaid. He ap-
points an assistant and pays him out of
his own salary.
The Law Department consists of
the Assistant Corporation Counsel and
the Law Committee of the Common
Council. Office in Citv Hall.
City Physician.— Attends the sick
at the Alms-house. Salary, $1,200.
District Physicians.— Six in num-
ber, appointed by the Mayor. Salaries,
$400. Attend the indigent and fur-
nish them with medicine. First dis-
trict, 1 st, 2d and 5th wards; second
district, 3d and 4th wards; third dis-
trict, Second Police precinct; fourth
district, Third precinct; fifth district,
Fourth precinct; sixth district, Fifth
precinct.
City Marshal.— Acts as sergeant-
at-arms for the Common Council;
serves notices of its meetings; and
serves notices of unpaid taxes; collects
license fees for amusements. Salary,
$i,5°o.
Janitor City Building.— Appoint-
ed by the Mayor. Salary, $900, and
residence in the City Building.
Inspector of Weights and Meas-
ures.— Once in six months inspects
weights and measures; is paid by fees
which range from 5 cents to $1.50.
Excise Commissioners.— Three inCIT
64
number; appointed by the Mayor;
term of office, three years. Office in
City Building. Annual salaries, $1,000,
They appoint a clerk at $1,200.
Overseer of the Poor.—Disburses
all the funds for the temporary relief
and support of the indigent. Salary,
$2,000, with $500 additional from the
county. Office in City Building; hours
from 9 till 12 and 2 till 5. Appoints
his assistant with approval of Mayor;
salary, $900.
Alms-house Superintendent. —
Salary, $2,500. He appoints a deputy
with the Mayor’s approval; salary,
$1,200; clerk, $900; other assistants
not to exceed annually $5,000.
City Assessors.—Tnree in number;
salary, $3,000 each. Appointed by the
Mayor; hold office three years, one
going out every year, first Tuesday
in May. Office in City Hall. They
appoint a clerk; salary, $ 1,000.
Bell Ringers.—Four in number;
appointed by the Mayor; salary, $60 a
year.
Commissioners of Deeds.— Nomi-
nated jointly by Mayor and Corporation
Counsel, and confirmed by Common
Council; must not exceed 300 in num-
ber; appointed for two years; all terms
expire Jan. 10, 1885, and biennially
thereafter.
(See Fire Department, Police,
Washington Park, Water-works,
Board of Health; for list of officers,
see Appendix.)
City Hall, The, on Eagle st., cor.
Maiden lane, was Erected in 1881-3 on
the site of the old City Hall, burned
Feb. 10, 1880. A better idea of this
quaint-looking building can be obtain-
ed from the frontispiece to this volume
than from any written description. It
was designed by H. H. Richardson,
architect of Trinity church, Boston, and
one of the advisory board of architects
of the Capitol. It is built of reddish
granite, trimmed with Long Meadow
brown stone, and is a “ free treatment
of Gothic from the south of France.”
The tower, 202 feet, is divided into 12
stories for storing records. The cost,
including furnishing, etc., was $325,-
000, of which $290,000 was obtained
by the issue of bonds. The expense of
construction and maintenance is borne
half by the city and half by the coun-
ty, rather an unfair division, the city,
as part of the county, bearing the
larger share of the county’s half. The
building was erected by a commission
consisting of the mayor and the chair-
man o f the board of supervisors, ex
officio, Erastus Corning, C. P. Easton,
Robert C. Pruyn, Leonard G. Hun,
Albertus W. Becker, William Gould.
It contains the county offices and all
the city offices not in the City Building.
Next to the Capitol, it is the building
which attracts most attention. Mrs.
Schuyler Van Rensselaer, in an article
in the Century (May, 1884) says:
It is a bold piece of work—unacademic, I
dare say, and therefore displeasing to many
eyes, but undeniably powerful and imposing.
It gives us what I have heard called “ a dis-
tinct architectural emotion” (that rare thing
with modern work!)—and not a factitious one
either, since we like it better, I think, the more
we look at it. Every observer may hold his
own opinion as to the aesthetic success attained
by the daring expedient of building the body of
the tower of unbroken light stone and the open
top of unbroken dark stone; but there is no
question as to the skill with which the windows
have been placed in its base so as to give
ample light within and yet not weaken the
solid appearance of the whole. What is per-
haps the finest feature of the tower, however,
cannot be clearly felt from an engraving; the
graceful yet strong and reassuring line formed
as it broadens toward the base.
City Tract and Missionary So-
ciety.—Incorporated in 1856. Rooms
91 N. Pearl st. V. H. Youngman,
pres.; James Rogers, sec.; Albert P.
Stevens, treas.; Rev. Charles Reynolds,
supt. A most effective organization,
owning, free from debt, a large three-
story brick building, cor. of Franklin
and Rensselaer sts., where meetingsCLU—COA
65
are held on Sunday and nearly every
evening in the week; a library and
reading-room are maintained; an eat-
ing room, cheap and wholesome, is a
CITY MISSION BUILDING.
feature; and, in fact, where the most
practical charities are dispensed. The
society also occupy the old mission
building on Rensselaer st. below Frank-
lin. Several missionaries are employed
to visit the sick and the needy, and a
ladies’ auxiliary board, of which Miss
A. E. Tweddle is president, has charge
of a cooking school, a kitchen garden,
a newsboys’ lodging-room, and the
fruit and flower mission, which are
mentioned more particularly elsewhere.
The society also publish monthly a
paper called The Work at Ho?ne.
Clubs.—The principal clubs are
Adelphi and Fort Orange (which
see), also Friendly Few.
Coasting.—The steep grades of the
Albany streets have always tended to
make coasting a favorite amusement,
but law is against it. The following
resolution passed the common council
more than 170 years ago:
“Whereas ye children in said city do very
unorderly, to ye shame and scandell of their
parents ryde down ye hills in ye streets of said
city with small and great slees on Lord day
and in week by which many accidents may
come—Now for preventing ye same it is hereby
published and declared that it shall and may be
lawful for any constable within this city, or any
other person or persons, to take any slee or
slees from all such boys or girls ryding or offer-
ing to ryde down any hill within this city and
break such slee or slees in pieces!
“ Given under our hands and seals in Albany
22nd of December in the 12th year of Her
Majesty’s reyn, Anno Domini 1713.”
Nowadays coasting, snow balling,
aud kite-flying are all forbidden under
penalty of $1 for each offense.
Coat of Arms.—There is no history
extant of the Arms and Seal of Albany.
This is the arms:
The arms as displayed on the west
front of the city hall are patterned
after the seal in use in the mayor’s
office. In the upper half of the shield
is a tree prostrate, but where it still
clings to the stump, an industrious
beaver is finishing his work of gnawing
off the last fibres of wood and bark.
[N. B.—The beaver in the above cut
is small for his age; been stunted by
too much Assiduity, perhaps.] In the
lower half on a red ground are two
sheaves of wheat in their natural colors.
The crest is a sloop under full sail, and
under the shield on a scroll is the mot-
to Assiduity. We see here plainly
enough symbols of industry and its re-COF—CON
66
wards to man and beast on land and
sea. [Heraldically party par fess ar-
gent and gules. Above, a beaver
gnawing at the stump of a tree pros-
trate, both proper; below two garbs as
the last. Crest; a sloop under sail
proper.] Motto, Assiduity. Note. The
sloop has the mainsail, topsail and jib
set, and the bows are turned to the
sinister corner of the shield.
Coffee Room of the City Mis-
sion.—The “ Model Coffee Room ” is
in the basement of the city mission
building, cor. Rensselaer and Franklin
sts. It is a neat eating-room, free
from all bar-room influences, and
where food is supplied at very low
rates. Good meals from 6 to 25 cts.
Coffee, 3 cts.
Cohoes.—A city of 19,416 (by last
census) inhabitants, situated in Albany
county, 8 miles north of Albany;
reached by the D. and H. C. Co.’s
railroad, fare 25 cents. Previous to
1811 the site of Cohoes was a barren
waste. Population in 1831 about 150.
Incorporated as a village in 1848; as a
city in 1869. The place owes its
growth to the immense water privilege
afforded by the Cohoes falls in the
Mohawk river, and owned by.the Co-
hoes Company, organized in 1826.
The falls are 75 feet in height, and in
any state but the one in which Niagara
is situated, would be considered a great
wonder. The Harmony cotton mills
are very extensive, employing 4,000
operatives; and more knit goods are
manufactured here than in any other
place in the country. It is a place
well worth visiting'.
Commerce Insurance Company,
The, was organized in 1859, with a
capital of $200,000. Its first board of
directors by the act of incorporation
were Silas B. Hamilton, John G. White,
Theodore F. Humphrey, Edward A.
Durant, Luther M. Palmer, Adam Van
Allen, Thomas Schuyler, Charles B.
Lansing, Chauncey P. Williams, James
W. Eaton, Jesse C. Potts, John H.
Reynolds, Isaac A. Chapman, Matthew
H. Read, Charles B. Redfield, Archi-
bald McClure, John N. Parker, Albion
Ransom. Of these gentlemen Adam
Van Allen, Charles B. Lansing, Chaun-
cey P. Williams, James W. Eaton, Jesse
C. Potts, Isaac A. Chapman still remain
in the direction. The first officers
were Silas B. Hamilton, president,
Garret A. Van Allen, secretary. Mr.
Van Allen has been as secretary and
vice-president, an officer of this com-
pany since its organization, a quarter
of a century ago.
In 1865 the capital of the coiripany
was increased to $400,000, and in 1866
the present Commerce Insurance
Building, 57 State st., was erected.
The Chicago fire of 1871 brought a
loss of nearly half a million of dollars,
and compelled a reduction of capital to
$100,000. The stockholders imme-
diately subscribed $100,000 more,
bringing up the capital to the present
amount $200,000.
In 1872 the company lost a little
over $80,000 in the great Boston fire,
and during its organization it has paid
$2,400,000 for losses. Its present offi-
cers are : Adam Van Allen, president;
Garret A. Van Allen, vice-president;
Richard V. DeWitt, secretary.
Committee of Thirteen, The.—
The working section of the Citizens’
Association of Albany, organized in
1881, for the purpose of attending to
city and county affairs, and working
generally in the interests of the tax-
payers and of good government. They
claim in their last report to have saved
the public more than half a million
dollars. J. Howard King, pres.
Congregational Church, cor. of
Eagle and Beaver sts. Corner-stonelaid Sept. 22, 1868; dedicated Oct. 14,
1869; cost, includiug lot, $130,000.
No debt. Will seat 1,125. Thirteen
associated gentlemen, consisting of
Anthony Gould, Bradford R. Wood,
Rufus H. King, James McNaughton,
and others, bought the edifice that had
long been owned and occhpied by the
First Presbyterian Church, cor. S.
Pearl and Beaver sts., now Beaver
Block, Dec. 15, 1849, f°r $20,000, for
the purposes of a Congregational church
and society about to be formed. As
soon as suitably repaired, it was opened
for divine service, April 7, 1850, Rev.
Leonard Bacon, D. D., of New Haven,
Ct., preaching. Other eminent preach-
ers of the denomination followed for a
few months. June 6th, a religious so-
ciety was organized. On the 10th of
July, a church of 81 members was
formed. ' Rev. Ray Palmer, D. D., of
Bath, Me., was installed pastor, Dec.
10, 1850, and so remained until April
18, 1866. Rev. William S. Smart,
D. D., of Benson, Vt., was installed
May 30, 1867. The last sermon in the
old church was preached Feb. 8, 1868.
After that date, Association Hall, now
Board of Trade rooms, was occupied
for religious services until the present
edifice was completed. Rev. William
S. Smart, D. D., pastor; D. A. Thomp-
son, clerk; William Gould, Jr., dreas.
Sunday services, 10^ a. m., 7^ p. m.
Sunday-school, 2 p. M., Henry R.
Kingsbury, supt.; Bethany Mission
School, 67 S. Pearl, 9 A. M., Nelson
Lyon, supt. Congregational singing
led by Prof. John E. Sherwood, chor-
ister. Whole number of church mem-
bers enrolled since organization, 804;
present number, 396.
Congress of 1754.—Of the congress
of commissioners which met in this
city, June 19, 1754, Bancroft says:
“ America had never seen an assembly
so venerable for the states that were
represented, or for the great and able
men who composed it.” The colonies
of New York, Massachusetts, New
Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island,
Pennsylvania and Maryland were rep-
resented by 25 commissioners. After
completing a treaty with the Six Na-
tions, the subject of a union was taken
up. A plan presented by Benjamin
Franklin, representative from Pennsyl-
vania, was reported to the congress,
and after twelve days spent in debate
it was adopted substantially as pre-
sented. July 11, the congress ad-
journed, and as Franklin descended
the Hudson, the people of New York
thronged about him to welcome him as
the mover of the American Union.
The plan, however, was to be of no
force unless confirmed by the several
colonial assemblies, and not one of
them would submit to delegating so
much power as was proposed, to the
general government. On the other
hand, the king found it did not go far
enough in that direction, and so it
failed. But it is remarkable how near-
ly the proposed basis approached the
constitution of the United States, and
Gen. Garfield was perfectly right in
declaring the last time he passed
through Albany, that it was in this city
the germ of the American Union was
first planted by Benjamin Franklin, in
1754.
Conjugal Felicity.—The Duke de
la Rochefoucauld Liancourt, one of the
French nobility exiled during the Rev-
olution, who visited Albany in 1795,
has recorded that the inhabitants
“ lived retired in their houses with their
wives, who sometimes are pretty, but
rather awkward in their manners, and
with whom their husbands scarcely
exchange thirty words a day, although
they never address them but with the
introductory appellation of “ my love? ”
There is reason to believe that this
quiet picture of domestic happiness has
been somewhat modified of late.coo—cou
68
Cooking School, The, is in charge
of a committee from the ladies’ auxiliary
board of the City Tract and Missionary
Society. Miss Clara T. Harris, 722
Broadway, chairman. Sessions held
in rooms in rear of City Mission Rooms,
9 N. Pearl st., five days in a week.
Adults as well as children are in-
structed how to cook wholesome food
economically.
Cotrell & Leonard’s Hat and Fur
Store is at Nos. 472-474 Broadway,
between Maiden Lane and State street,
a five story marble building, well
adapted to the wants of their large
wholesale and retail trade. For more
than half a century this house has
stood for all that is enterprising, thor-
ough-going and reliable in the import-
ant business in which they are engaged.
Their trade extends throughout the
state and into the neighboring states
of Massachusetts and Vermont, and in
hundreds of country towns and villages
the styles in hats are set by those
bearing the Cotrell & Leonard stamp.
Their retail trade is also very large,
and the number of elegant fur goods
disposed of by them each season is al-
most incredible. In nothing is the
average purchaser more at the mercy
of the dealer than in the matter of
furs, and the necessity of dealing with
men of honor is therefore apparent,
and accounts, in part, for the steady
success and growing trade of the firm.
Sleigh and carriage robes, blankets,
etc., form part of the stock which is
not to be excelled in variety or quality
in this country. The present building,
to which visitors are always welcome,
was first occupied by the firm in April,
1884; for 35 years previous they had
been at 46 State st. Their present
warehouse is one of the finest and most
complete hat and fur stores in the
United States, and is an establishment
of which the citizens of Albany are
justly proud. The house has been a
very popular one for many years, and
enjoys a very liberal patronage from
every section of country doing trade in
Albany.
Cottonwood Trees.—The planting
or maintaining of cottonwood trees is
made a misdemeanor, by city ordin-
ance, punishable by three months in
the Albany penitentiary.
County.—The county of Albany
has an area of 509 square miles. It is
bounded east by the Hudson river, and
north in part by the Mohawk. The
Normanskill andCatskill furnish it with
good water power. The land near the
Hudson and some of the other streams
is fertile, but in the mountains it is less
productive. The east part is covered
with immense beds of clay, sand and
gravel, the sand in some places being
40 feet deep. The county was erected
in 1689, and originally extended east
of the Hudson and included the whole
colony north and west of its present
limits. (See Farms and Farm Pro-
ducts.)
Government.
Following will be found information
in regard to the county officers. (See
Penitentiary and Appendix.)
The Board of Supervisors con-
sists of 31 members, who are elected
annually on the second Tuesday in
April (with the exception of the Cohoes
members, who are elected a month
earlier), and organizes the second
Tuesday in May following. They meet
in the City Hall; salaries, $350.
The Sheriff is chosen every three
years; office at' the jail, in Maiden
lane; compensation through fees and
perquisites. The sheriff is not eligible
for two terms in succession. By a bill
passed in 1884, after the expiration of
the present term, the sheriff will be
paid by a salary of $4,000 and legal
fees.cou
District Attorney.—Elected by
the people; term three years; salary
$4,500. Appoints his assistant; salary
$2,500.
County Clerk.—Elected by the
people; term three years; paid by fees
and perquisites. Appoints his own
deputy and clerks.
County Treasurer.—Office, City
Hall. Elected by the people; term,
three years; salary, $5,000. In addi-
tion to the ordinary duties of the office,
the treasurer of this county enforces
the collection of all taxes in this city,
unpaid on the first of December in
each year.
County Judge.—Elected by the
people; term, six years; salary, $4,500.
Surrogate.— Elected by the peo-
ple; term, six years; salary, $4,000.
There is a clerk of the surrogate’s
court; salary, $1,800.
Coroners.—By chap. 37, Laws of
1878, it is provided that there shall be
four coroners elected in Albany county,
who shall hold the office three years
each, at an annual salary of $1,200,
without fees or perquisites of any kind,
except in case of acting in the place of
the sheriff.
Ttie board of supervisors each year
elects by ballot, four physicians to at-
tend post mortem examinations. Sal-
ary, $600.
Justices of Sessions.—Elected
yearly by the people. Paid by fees;
$3 a day for each day’s attendance
upon court duties.
School Commissioners.—Three in
number; supervise the schools outside
the cities of Albany and Cohoes; elect-
ed by the people for a term of three
years; salary $800 each.
Loan Commissioners.—Appointed
by the Senate on nomination by the
Governor. Term of office three years.
The fund of which they have charge
amounts to $91,.615	It is part of a
sum which belonged originally to the
general government, and, there being
69
no use for it, was apportioned among
the several States, and reapportioned
to counties to be lent on good security,
at the legal rate of interest, the pro-
ceeds going into the sinking fund of
the State.
Debt.
The bonded debt of Albany county
is $999,000, which pays from 3^ to 7
per cent, interest.
County Agricultural Society.—
The Albany County Agricultural So-
ciety meets annually on the third Wed-
nesday in January, at 18 Beaver st.
Jurian Winn6, pres.; John H. Farrell,
sec.; D. V. S. Raynsford, treas. No
fair has been held since 1874.
Courts.—Following are the courts
which sit in this city:
United States Circuit Court.—A
term is held on the third Tuesday in
January in Government building.
United States District Court.—
Albany is one of the 46 counties of the
Northern district of New York. A
session is held on the third Tuesday in
January in Government building.
Court of Appeals.—William C.
Ruger, chief judge; Charles A. Rapal-
lo, Charles Andrews, Theodore Miller,
Robert Earl, George F. Danforth,
Francis M. Finch, associate judges; E.
O. Perrin, clerk. Meets at the Capitol.
Regular terms from second Monday in
January, with such recesses as the
court directs.
Supreme Court—Third department
—General Terms held on the fourth
Tuesday of January and third Tuesday
of November at City Hall.
Supreme Court, Circuit, Oyer and
Terminer and Special Terms, held
at City Hall on the second Monday of
January, first Monday of March, first
Monday of May, second Monday of
June, for trial of equity cases without
a jury; first Monday of October, firstcus—noD
70
Monday of December. Special terms
for motions only, held at City Hall, last
Tuesday of each month. Special
terms for motions and arguments on
demurrers at City Hall last Tuesday of
every month. Justices—A. Melvin Os-
born, pf Catskill; Charles R. Ingalls,
of Troy; Wm. L. Learned, of Albany;
T. R. Westbrook, of Kingston; Rufus
W. Peckham, of Albany.
Albany County Court and Court
of Sessions meets at City Hall on the
second Monday of February, fifth Mon-
day of March (no grand jury), second
Monday of June, third Monday of Sep-
tember, and second Monday of No-
vember. John C. Nott, county judge;
Peter Walker, Albert E. Hinman, jus-
tices of sessions; D. Cady Herrick,
district attorney; William D. Strevell,
clerk. The following terms are held
without a jury:	Fourth Monday of
January, second Monday of March,
fourth Monday of May, fourth Monday
of October, fourth Monday of Decem-
ber.
City Court, m^ets in City Building
every day at 9 o’clock (Sundays and
holidays excepted). Justices—Andrew
Hamilton, Franklin M. Danaher, Ed-
ward J. Brennan.
Special Sessions of the City of
Albany, meets at City Hall every
Tuesday. Anthony Gould, recorder;
John A. Delehanty, assistant district-
attorney.
Police Court, meets daily in City
Building. William K. Clute, John
Gutmann, police justices.
Custom House, U. S., Government
building. John A. Luby, surveyor of
customs; Orrin A. Fuller, special dep-
uty. There are also two deputies and
four inspectors. The revenue from
this office averages about $150,000 a
year; expenses less than $11,000. The
imports are principally lumber and
grain (in large part barley) from
Canada.
Debt.—The city debt, April 1, 1884,
was as follows:	General, $1,095,000;
Washington park, $1,048,000; water,
$1,090,000; total, $3,233,000.
Delaware & Hudson Canal Co’s.
Railroads.—This great corporation
leases and operates among others, the
roads formerly known as the Albany &
Susquehanna, and the Rensselaer &
Saratoga. Depot foot of Maiden lane.
The Albany & Susquehanna, was
opened to Binghamton Jan. 14, 1869,
and was leased to the D. & H. Feb. 24,
1870. Its length is 142 miles; employs
2,161 persons, and paid them last year,
$991,541- It carried 474,496 passen-
gers, and 2,355,215 tons of freight—
of which 1,246,092 tons was coal.
Through fare, 2 cents per mile; way
fare, 3 cents. Total earnings, $2,615,-
468; surplus, o^er expenses, $160,361.
The Rensselaer & Saratoga, was
chartered April 14, 1832. Employs
1,930 persons; wages paid, $793*398;
carried last year, 1,852,916 passengers,
and 1,346,352 tons of freight; fare, 3
cents a mile. Earnings, $2,149,043;
deficiency, $917.
Docks.— Strictly speaking, there are
no docks in Albany, except at the
Lumber district, as the term means an
inclosed basin, or the water-way be-
tween two wharves; but the quays are
by custom called docks.
Dodgers.— The name by which
printed hand-bills of a small kind are
known. The penalty should any per-
son “ throw, deposit, strew or litter on
any street, sidewalk, square or park in
the city of Albany, or cause to be
thrown, deposited, strewn or littered
thereon, any paper or other substance
having any printed or written matter
thereon, or pictures, with the intent to
advertise or attract public attention to
any subject, thing or event,” is not less
than $10 nor more than $50.DOG—DRI
Dogs.— The prevalent superstition
that dogs are more likely to run mad
one season of the year than another is
perpetuated in a city ordinance, which
prohibits all dogs from going at large
in June, July, August and September,
unless properly muzzled, under penalty
to their owners of $5 fine. Unmuzzled
dogs so running at large may be killed
by anybody. The police make a prac-
tice of poisoning a great many every
year.
Douw’s Building.—South-west cor.
of State and Broadway; devoted to
stores and offices; erected in 1842.
Drives.—The drives in and about
Albany are numerous and picturesque.
Washington Park, with its three miles
of excellent roadway, may be taken as
the centre from which the drives radi-
ate. The most frequented is the New
Scotland turnpike, or the Hurstville
road, as it is commonly called, which,
starting at the Lexington and Madison
ave. entrance to the Park, leads to a
drive of inexhaustable extent and va-
riety. Two miles out is the famous
Log Tavern, the glory of which has
somewhat faded under modern man-
agement. Seven miles distant is the
pretty village of Slingerlands, while a
drive of a dozen miles along this
smooth plank road brings us to the
foot of the romantic Indian Ladder.
A mile further takes us to the top of
the mountain, from which the view is
almost as sublime as is that from the
hotel verandah on the Catskills. A
lovely drive on the New Scotland road,
and a much shorter one, is to the
covered bridge, three miles from
Albany, and then turning to the right
make the circuit, coming out at Mc-
Kownsville, on the Western avenue
road, and then to the city. This is a
drive of about seven miles, and is sim-
ply exquisite, the view from Sunset
hill, the road through the dense pine
woods, and the little church in the for-
est, being the most attractive features.
Another pleasant drive is out Western
avenue to the Boulevard, turn to the
right and take the road west, which is
a continuation of State street. This
leads over the sand, the appearance of
which is desolate for two miles, but
after that the shrubbery grows dense,
and the approach to Rensselaer lake
(see Water-works) is one of the
most charming bits of landscape possi-
ble to imagine. For equestrianism this
route is especially agreeable. The
Boulevard at the intersection of Madi-
son and Western avenues also points
the way to the well-known Shaker
road, via West Albany, and to the
drives of Newtonville, that most pros-
perous and beautiful of Albany sub-
urbs. The Troy road, once the fash-
ionable drive of two cities, is no longer
popular. In dry weather it is merely
a cloud of dust, and during the damp
season the mud is ankle deep. Another
boulevard, however, constructed by the
Van Rensselaer estate, and running
parallel with the old road, affords a
splendid drive and a matchless view of
the river as far down as Castleton.
Upon this boulevard the new residence
of Emmet, the actor, is located. The
drives on both sides of the river are
among the most beautiful in the State,
and are largely frequented by Alba-
nians who are the happy owners of
horses. The road below Kenwood,
past the Corning farm, and as far south
as Coeymans, is excellently kept and
singularly attractive, as is the one which
from Kenwood goes up the§ hill and
bending to the west intersects with the
southerly extremity of Delaware ave-
nue. Over the river the drives are
of rare and bewitching beauty, especi-
ally the Ridge road, running from the
hills back of Greenbush to Castleton.
From every point on this noble drive
the view is one of exceeding charm.
To the east is a glorious landscape,DUD
72
suggestive of peace, contentment and
prosperity; to the south the Hudson,
like a silver thread, glides along its
winding pathway to the sea, while to
the west the city of Albany, with its
signs of bustle and thrift indicates the
activity, energy and intelligence' of the
people. This drive is probably the
most thoroughly delightful of any near
the city. Of course during the winter
months these roads are not frequented
for pleasure driving, the sleighing being
Dudley Observatory, The, is lo-
cated in the northern part of the city,
near the line of the Central railroad.
The grounds on which it is placed are
the highest in Albany, and are 200
feet above mean tide. They are about
eight acres in extent, and are planted
with trees and shrubbery. The build-
ings consist of the Astronomical, the
Meteorological, and the Physical observ-
atories, and a large dwelling house,
the official residence of the director.
DUDLEY OBSERVATORY.
confined to the park, Western avenue
and the canal. A city ordinance allows
the speeding of horses on the avenue
during the sleighing season; therefore,
on a bright winter afternoon the scene
,is one of sparkle and animation, when
the wealth and fashion of the town goes
sleighing and blooded trotters come
flying down the road to the merry
music of the bells, and the excited
cries of the throng which usually
gathers on the sidewalks to witness the
vigorous winter sport.
The Astronomical Observatory is a
handsome structure of brick and free-
stone, in the general form of a cross,
80 by 70 feet. It is surmounted by a
large revolving turret, which contains
the great equatorial refractor of 13
inches aperature, and 15 feet focal
length. In the west wing of the Ob-
servatory is a large and excellent tran-
sit instrument, which is among the
latest productions of the celebrated
firm of Pistor & Martins, of Berlin. In
the east wing is the great Olcott Mer-73
DUD
idian Circle, one of the largest and
finest of its class. This instrument is
also the work of Pistor & Martins. Its
optical qualities are not exceeded by
any similar instrument in the world.
The object-glass is eight inches in
diameter, and the telescope is about io
feet in length. The mounting of this
instrument is specially massive and
costly. Its principal feature consists
in three enormous monoliths of lime-
stone, of which one, weighing several
tons, forms the cap-stone of the main
pier, while the other two, weighing
each nearly eight tons, rest upright
upon this and serve as the direct sup-
ports of the instrument. In the same
room is a variety of delicate and costly
apparatus, auxiliary to the principal
instrument, which is in constant use
for the most refined operations of as-
tronomy, and employs the chief activi-
ties of the observing corps. Among
other remarkable instruments belong-
ing to the Observatory are the Sheutz
tabulating engine, the Clark comet
seeker, the disc and printing chrono-
graphs, astronomical clocks, self-re-
cording meterological instruments, etc.
The Observatory also possesses an
astronomical library of about 2,000
volumes, besides numerous pamphlets
and charts.
This institution was founded by the
munificence of Mrs. Blandina Dudley,
and leading citizens of Albany. The
act of incorporation was secured in
1852. The Observatory building was
formally dedicated to astronomy in
August, 1856, under the auspices of
the American Association for the Ad-
vancement of Science (which, that
year, held its annual session in this
city), and in the presence of many dis-
tinguished men of science from abroad.
Geological Hall had been opened on
the previous day. The address com-
memorating the inauguration of the
Dudley Observatory was delivered in
the Academy Park by Edward Everett,
6
and has since become celebrated as a
fine specimen of American oratory.
Previous to the delivery of the address,
an additional gift of $50,000 to the
Observatory was unexpectedly an-
nounced from Mrs. Dudley; where-
upon Prof. Agassiz, who was seated on
the platform, arose, and, delightedly
swinging his hat, proposed, in trumpet
tones: “ Three cheers for Mrs. Dud-
ley ! ” It is needless to say that the
audience was electrified, and warmly
responded to the summons.
The total donations to the Observa-
tory up to the present time exceed
$200,000. Of this sum, Mrs. Dudley
gave $105,000. More than $100,000
have been expended in buildings and
equipment, and about $100,000 is safe-
ly invested as a permanent fund for
the support of the institution.
Since 1878, the astronomical opera-
tions of the Observatory have experi-
enced a- new impulse, in the zone
work, which has been undertaken in
co-operation with European observa-
tories, under the general direction of
the International Astronomical So-
ciety. In aid of this enterprise, con-
siderable donations have been made by
citizens of Albany and others.
From the normal clock of the Ob-
servatory, standard time is furnished to
the various railroad and telegraph
offices in this vicinity. At 9 A. M. and
9 P. M. the fire bells of the city are
struck in coincidence with a signal
from the Observatory clock, by the
Fire Alarm Telegraph service. At
noon, each day, the standard time of
the Observatory is transmitted over the
lines of the Delaware and Hudson
Canal Company’s system of railroads,
and also over some of the Western
Union telegraph lines. There is also
a system of clocks controlled electric-
ally from the Observatory. (See Time
Service.)
Among the distinguished astrono-
mers who have been in charge of thisDWE—ELE
74
Observatory are Dr. B. A. Gould, now
Chief Astronomer of the Argentine
Confederation, S. A.; Professor O. M.
Mitchel, who afterward died in 1862,
Major General of U. S. Volunteers,
and Dr. Brunnow, since Astronomer
Royal of Ireland.
The Observatory is opened on Tues-
day evenings, when visitors are admit-
ted in limited numbers. Cards of ad-
mission should be obtained by previous
Samuel B. Ward, Frederick Townsend,
Rufus W. Peckham. Secretary and
Director—Lewis Boss.
Dwellings.— According to the cen-
sus of 1880, there were 13,259 dwell-
ings in Albany; average number of
persons to a dwelling, 6.85.
East Albany is part of the village
of Greenbush, and is reached by the
ELM TREE CORNER, N. PEARL AND STATE, IN l8oO.
application, either to the director of
the Observatory or to any one of the
sixteen trustees, to whom the manage-
ment of the institution is entrusted.
The present organization of the Ob-
servatory is as follows:
Board of Trustees — John F. Rath-
bone, pres; Isaac W. Vosburgh, Dud-
ley Olcott, Joseph H. Ramsey,. Erastus
D. Palmer, Charles B. Lansing, Clar-
ence Rathbdne, John M. Crapo,
Thomas Hun, Eliphalet N. Potter,
middle bridge, or by the ferry at the
foot of Maiden lane.
Electric Light, The, is among the
great improvements of the age, and in
no city in the country has it been so
largely adopted by the municipality as
in Albany. The Albany Electric Illumi-
nating Co., which uses the Brush light,
was organized in April, 1881; office
and works, 71 Trinity place; W. F.
Hurcomb, pres., Walter Dickson, vice-ELM—EMP
75
pres., J. Irving Wendell, treas., Ed-
ward A. Maher, sec. and gen. man-
ager. It has a contract to light the
streets for five years from June 21,-1881,
at 50 cents per lamp, per night. The
lights number 431; they are burned on
an average, io£ hours. Besides these
about 100 other lights are supplied to
private parties at 50 cents a night, but
are not to burn over seven hours.
There is no expense for putting in, or
for fixtures, where the light is used
permanently. These lamps are reached
through eight circuits and 70 miles of
wire. The power is supplied by five
engines aggregating 650 horse power.
A system of storage batteries is also in
use in connection with the Swan in-,
candescent light. These batteries sup-
ply from five to forty lights according
to capacity, for four hours each. Sev-
eral firms in town use the Edison
light, which is supplied by their own
power. The Capitol is also lighted by
electricity, but by an independent
system.
Elm Tree Corner.—The name by
which the Tweddle Hall corner was
known for many years, because of an
ancient, crooked elm which stood there
till the widening and improvement of
N. Pearl st. 1877. Our cut gives a
view of the spot as it appeared when
the Lydius house (see Old Houses)
stood opposite. The Vanderheyden
palace is also shown with another tree
in front of it. The following verses
by Mr. W. D. Morange, celebrate one
peculiarity of the spot, which has not
yet wholly passed away :
It don’t appear that the Old Elm Tree
Was a slippery elm, you know;
But nevertheless it will doubtless be
Set down in the records so.
That place of broken skulls will be
By many a frantic mourner,
Set down in the town geography,
As the “ Slippery Elm Tree Corner.”
Employments.—According to the
census of 1880, the employment of
32,153 of the inhabitants of Albany
was as follows :
Agricultural laborers................
Farmers..............................
Gardeners, etc.......................
Stock raisers, drovers...............
Barbers..............................
Boarding-house keepers...............
Clergymen............................
Clerks and copyists..................
Dentists.............................
Domestics............................
Hotel and restaurant keepers and em-
ployes ..............................
Journalists..........................
Laborers.............................
Laundry employes.....................
Lawyers..............................
Livery stable keepers and employes....
Musicians and music teachers.........
Government officials.................
Physicians...........................
Teachers.............................
Clerks in stores.....................
Commercial travelers, peddlers, etc....
Bankers, brokers.....................
Insurance..............................
Saloon keepers.......................
Traders and dealers..................
Draymen, hackmen.....................
In express companies.................
In railroad companies................
*On street railroads.................
Telegraph companies..................
Steamboats, canals, etc..............
Apprentices..........................
Bakers...............................
Blacksmiths..........................
Bookbinders..........................
Boot and shoe makers.................
Brewers and malsters.................
Masons, stone cutters................
Brick makers.........................
Butchers.............................
Cabinet makers.......................
Carpenters...........................
Carriage, car makers.................
Cigar makers.........................
Clerks and book-keepers in manufac-
tories...............................
74
H
176
20
207
52
94
171
441
61
4,130
258
211
129
148
441
181
448
2,362
547
105
iti
434
1,889
73i
5i
750
39
85
204
266
352
370
136
1,217
208
965
82
323
195
1,127
101
424
62
When the snow congeals on the slanting grade,
Where the Elm Tree went to rot,
And scores of broken heads have made
Their mark on the sacred spot,
*Note.—Manifestly incorrect. The editor of
the Hand-Book presents these figures without
vouching for them in any particular. The
United States government paid to have them
correct, and they are the best we have.ENG—EPI
76
Coopers.............................
Cotton and wool mill operatives........
Employes in manufactories not specified,
Engineers and firemen.................
Fish and oystermen....................
Jewelers..............................
Harness makers........................
Iron and steel..........................
Leather...............................
Lumbermen.............................
Machinists............................
Manufacturers.........................
Factory operatives, not specified.....
Millers...............................
Miners................................
Painters..............................
Paper mill operatives.................
Plumbers and gas fitters..............
Printers..............................
Saw mill operatives...................
Ship carpenters.......................
Tailors, dress makers, milliners......
Tinners...............................
Wheelwrights..........................
”3.
16
216
337
6
84
95
932
79
383
266
40
12
2
553
101
153
513
39
3i
2,003
142
29
English Sparrows were introduced
into Albany in 1865. They were con-
sidered then a great novelty and a
greater blessing. They are not re-
garded in either light nowadays.
Episcopal Churches.—In Novem-
ber, 1716, the first English church west
of the Hudson was opened for divine
service. It was a stone building, 58
by 42 feet, standing a short distance
from the site of the present St. Peter’s,
in the middle of State st., at the base
of the hill, which was afterwards cut
is 136x68 feet, and 64 feet from floor
to ceiling. Seating capacity, about
1,000. The tower, one of the richest
specimens of French Gothic in this
country, was completed in 1875 by the
munificence of the family of the late
John Tweddle. The chimes of eleven
bells were presented by Mr. George
down to the gradual slope which leads
to the Capitol, but which at that time
was crowned with the English fort.
(See cut, p. 87.) Rev. Thomas
Barclay, chaplain to the fort, was the
rector.
St. Peter’s was the title under which
the church was incorporated in 1769.
The first edifice was taken down in
1802, and a second, built where the
present edifice stands, was consecrated
Oct. 4, 1803. This lasted till 1858,
when it was razed-to make way for the
present elegant structure, consecrated
Oct. 4, i860. It is built of Schenec-
tady blue stone, with New Jersey
brown stone trimmings. The interior
ST. PETER’S CHURCH.
Tweddle, and cost $6,000; A bell,
mistakenly known as Queen Anne’s
bell, bearing date of 1751, is used only
to ring in the new year. It is said to
have been the bell that first proclaimed
independence in this city. A com-
munion service, the gift of Queen
Anne to a projected chapel among the
Onondagas, which was never built,
was given to this church at the frontier
post in 1716, and has been in use ever
since. It consists of seven pieces of
solid silver, each of them bearing the
royal arms and a curious inscription.ALL SAINTS CATHEDRAL.EPI
77
The vault in the vestry room of the
church also contains the ' parchment
conveying the original grant of land
by George I. and the charter of the
parish given by George III. The me-
morial windows of the church, of
which there are a great number, are
very fine specimens of English deco-
rated glass. The parish house on
Lodge st. was built in 1875, at a cos^
of $24,000. Whole value of church
property, $230,000. Number of com-
municants, about 500. Sunday services
at 10:30 and 4; Wednesdays and Fri-
days, 10.30. Rector, since Aug. 1,1874,
Rev. Walton W. Battershall, D. D.
The following rectors have preceded
him:	Thomas Barclay, 1708 to 1728;
Mr. Miln, 1728 to 1737; Henry Bar-
clay, 1737 to 1746; John Ogilvie, 1748
to 1760; Thomas Brown, 1764 to 1768;
Harry Munro, 1768 to 1774; Thomas
.Ellison, 1784 to 1802; Frederick Beas-
ley, 1803 to 1809; Timothy Clowes,
1810 to 1817; William B. Lacey, 1818
to 1832; Horatio Potter, 183310 1855;
Thomas Clapp Pitkin, 1855 to 1862;
William F. Wilson and William Tat-
lock, 1862 to 1866; Wm. Croswell
Doane, 1867 to 1869; William A.
Snively, 1869 to 1874.
The Cathedral of All Saints, in
the city and diocese of Albany, was in-
corporated by act of Legislature in
March, 1873. Its own statutes and
by-laws were adopted in the following
year, and in 1877 it was formally and
fully recognized as part of the organic
life and law of the diocese by a nem
con. vote of the convention. The
chapter consists of the Bishop as its
official and ex-officio head; of four
“principal persons,” the dean, pre-
centor, chancellor, and treasurer; cer-
tain minor canons being unmarried
clergy, and six laymen, holding office
for two, four and six years, elected by
the “ greater chapter.” The greater
chapter represents all the elected offi-
cers and bodies of the Diocesan Con-
vention, (standing committee, board
of missions, deputies to convention,
arch-deacons, etc.,) and the rectors of
St. Peter’s and St. Paul’s churches in
Albany.
The scheme of the cathedral is
adopted from the statutes of the Eng-
lish Cathedral of the First Foundation;
with the marked exception (which is
an admirable characteristic of the
American church) of the introduction
of lay communicants to the governing
body. The idea of the cathedral is to
establish in 'Albany a free church,
with frequent services, choral worship,
constant preaching, and institutions of
learning and charity. Every member
of the diocese has his own right and
place in the congregation, and has a
voice, through his elected representa-
tives, in the choice of the clerical and
lay members of the chapter. The
present building, cor. Hawk and Elk
sts., is only the chapel of the cathedral
church. The pupils of St. Agnes
school (which see) and the members
of the Sisterhood worship in it, besides
a congregation, filling the building.
The Cathedral Church is to be begun
at once; the laying of the corner-stone
being fixed for Tune 3d, 1884. The
new building, designed by Mr. R. W.
Gibson, architect, of Albany, is a very
noble specimen of Gothic architecture.
It will cost, when completed, about half
a million of dollars. The portion of it
to be built now, at a cost of $150,000,
omits the eastern, the western towers,
and the outside ornamentation. But it
secures the whole seating capacity for
1,800 worshippers, and will be a com-
manding structure with a very dignified
interior. It is hoped to finish this pro-
visional building in three years. The
seats, by the act of incorporation, are
forever free. There are no endow-
ments, and the support comes wholly
from the free-will-offerings of the con-
gregation. Rt. Rev. Wm. Croswell
Doane, Bishop; Rev. G. W. Dean,EPI
78
chancellor; Rev. E. T. Chapman, treas;
Rev. T. B. Fulcher, minor canon.
St. Paul’s.—Lancaster st. above
Hawk. Rev. J. Livingston, Reese,
D. D., rector. Organized Nov. 12,
1827. The first church edifice was in
S. Ferry st., consecrated Aug. 24, 1829.
After the sale of this building to the
Catholics in 1839, the theatre on S.
Pearl st. was bought by the parish, and
at an expense of some $10,000 was
transformed into a church, and conse-
crated Feb. 22, 1840. At that time
the Rev. Wm. Ingraham Kip, now
Bishop of California, was rector. After
the election of the Rev. Dr. Kip to
the Episcopate, the Rev. Dr. Starkey,
now Bishop of Northern New Jersey,
was rector for four years. The present
edifice was intended for a new congre-
gation, belonging to the Dutch Re-
formed Church, and was known as the
Dudley Church. When partly com-
pleted, it was sold, on account of debt,
to the vestry of St. Paul’s, who com-
pleted the building and added a chan-
cel. It was used for the first time for
public service Sept. 21, 1862. The
Rev. Dr. Rudder, afterwards of St.
Stephen’s, Philadelphia, was then rec-
tor. The present rector entered on
his duties in June, 1864. In October,
1877, the semi-centennial of the parish
wg£ celebrated. In the summer of
1883 a Parish House, connected with
the church was built as a memorial to
Mrs. John. H. Van Antwerp, and fur-
nished completely as a memorial to
Mrs. Samuel Schuyler. This has given
all needed room and facilities for
parish and Sunday-school work. The
church has 600 communicants; 720
children and 80 teachers in its Sunday-
school; a large and flourishing mission
chapel on Madison ave. below Pearl*
where services are held twice a Sun-
day, under the care of the assistant
minister. No mortgage nor floating
debt.
Trinity.—Trinity place. Organized
Sept. 4, 1839. The parish was small,
but managed to build in 1841-2, cor.
Franklin and Herkimer sts., an edifice
holding about 300. Jan. 1, 1844, Rev.
Edward Selkirk became rector, and
remained such till 1884. Present
building consecrated Jan. 21, 1849.
Seats about 500.
Holy Innocents.—North Pearl st.
cor. of Colonie. Rev. Ralph Wood
Kenyon, Rector. This was the fifth
parish organized by the Episcopal
Church in this city. The edifice was
erected as a memorial to his four chil-
dren by Mr. William H. De Witt, who
gave the site and defrayed the entire
cost of the building. Built in the early
English style of architecture, it is per-
fect in all its appointments. The date
of its consecration, Feb. 3,1850, makes
it the earliest specimen of the style in
Albany. It seats 350, and the pews
are all free.
Grace.—Cor. Robin st. and Clinton
ave., was organized in 1846. The
Rev. Mansell Van Rensselaer, D. D.,
LL. D., was the first Rector. Under
his ministrations services were held in
an upper room cor. State and Lark sts.
From here they moved to a larger
room in Spring st., where services were
conducted until the present building
was erected cor. of Lark and Washing-
ton ave. in 1850. In 1873 the building
was moved to its present location. In
1875 the rectory was built at a cost of
nearly $9,000. There have been eight
rectors since its organization: Rev.
Mansell Van Rensselaer, D. D., LL. D.;
Rev. John Alden Spooner; Rev. John
Radcliff Davenport, D. D.; Rev. Theo-
dore M. Bishop, D. D.; Rev. Philander
K. Cady, D. D.; Rev. Edwin B. Rus-
sell; Rev. James Hutchings Brown;
Rev. David Louis Schwartz. The pres-
ent number of communicants, 250.
The seats are free, and the church de-
pends entirely upon the offertory for
support. The services: Morning prayer
and sermon, 10:30 A. M.; Sunday-EVA—EXE
79
school, 2:30 p. M.; evening prayer and
sermon, 7130 p. m.
Evangelical Churches.—These are
entirely German organizations, services
being conducted in that language :
Evangelical German Association.
— 8 Elm st., north of Grand, Rev.
Jacob Eberling, pastor; Charles See-
man, supt.
German Evangelical Protestant
Church. — Clinton cor. Alexander.
Rev. Paul L. Menzel, pastor; organ-
ized in 1850; comprises 156 families.
Excursions.—The traveller who has
exhausted sight-seeing in Albany, or
the resident who wishes to go a
pleasuring, may, in the summer time,
take his choice of a number of short
excursions at small expense.
By Boat.—The Albany and Troy
line of steamers afford a pleasant river
glide of six miles and return for 20
cents, and on Saturdays for 10 cents.
The boats, the Whitney and Sanders,
leave every hour from the foot of
Maiden lane. Their Sunday patronage
is large. Small boats run down
the river as far as New Baltimore,
touching at the pleasant villages of
Cedar Hill, Castleton, N. Coeymans,
and Coeymans. For $1 one can spend
the day on the river, going as far as
Rhinebeck by the Day line, and re-
turning the same way. This affords a
view of the upper Hudson and the
Catskill mountains. During the season
there are, almost daily, river excursions
of Sunday-schools and associations of
various kinds.
By Rail.— The trip to Troy can be
made on this side the river by the’D. &
H. C. Co.’s railroad from Union depot.
Fare, 15 cents. Round trip tickets
good on day of issue on either side of
river, 25 cents. Cars leave every hour.
In this way one sees the Lumber dis-
trict, has a charming view of the Hud-
son, the villas on the Troy road, the
Rural and St. Agnes Cemeteries, Fair
grounds, Erie canal, the great iron
works, and a comprehensive view of
Troy itself. Trains also go to Troy on
east side of the river from the Union
depot about as often, but the views are
not to be compared with the other
route. For C§hoes and Cohoes falls
take the D. & H. C. Co.’s trains; fare,
25 cents. Cohoes is a perfect bee-
hive of industry, and the falls are an
object of great interest and beauty.
Other excursions which can be made in
one day on this line of roads are to
Howe’s Cave (which see); fare one
way, $1.20; to Sharon Springs, fare
one way, $1.77; to Cooperstown, al-
lowing four hours’ stay, fare, $3.08; to
Round Lake, fare 85 cents (during
camp meetings, excursion tickets at
reduced rates); to Saratoga, fare $1.20;
through Lake George to FortTiconde-
roga and return via Whitehall, fare for
the round trip, $6; tickets good for
two days, and affording rides by cars,
and steamboat. The great Hoosac
tunnel may also be visited from here in
one day.
Executive Mansion. — On Eagle
st., south of Elm; stands well back
from the street on a commanding and
beautiful site; was bought by the State
in 1877.
Former Governors’ Mansions.—
Mr. Jonathan Tenney has kindly per-
mitted the use of the following interest-
ing record in advance of publication
elsewhere:
“ The Legislature of the State fixed the
seat of government at Albany in 1797.
Its session that year was held in the
Stadt Huis, commencing Jan. 3d, and
ending April 3d. The law making
Albany the State capital dates March
10th. John Jay was then Governor.
He occupied ‘ Mr. James Caldwell’s ele-
gant house in State street,’ situated
where Walsh’s hat store is now located.EXE—EXP
80
George Clinton, who was the first Gov-
ernor of the State, from j 777 to 1795,
was again elected, and followed Mr.
Jay from 1801 to 1804. The same house
occupied by Gov. Jay was occupied by
Gov. Clinton and family. I do not
find where Morgan Lewis (1804 to
1807) had his mansion. Gov. Daniel.
D. Tompkins (1807 to 1817) resided a
portion of his term, if not the whole of
it, at 99 Washington avenue, where
George B. Steele now resides. De Witt
Clinton (1817 to 1823 and 1826 to
1828) had his residence cor. of North
Pearl and Steuben streets, on the site
now occupied by Johnston & Reilly’s
store. Here he died Feb. 11, 1828.
Martin Van Buren (1828 to 1829) re-
sided at 92 State street, the site of J.
H. Simmons’ auction rooms. Enos T.
Throop, who filled out the term of Gov.
Van Buren, (who resigned March 12,
1829, to become Secretary of State
under Andrew Jackson,) and was after-
wards Governor from 1831 to 1833, had
his mansion at No. 1 Elk street, where
the late Harmon Pumpelly resided.
William L. Marcy (1833 to 1839) oc-
cupied No. 2 Elk, where Gen. Rufus
H. King now resides. The Kane man-
sion, on the site of the Ash Grove
church, was the mansion of William
H. Seward during his gubernatorial
career (1839 to 1843). William C.
Bouck (1843 to 1845) was at ll9
Washington avenue, now the residence
of Gen. John F. Rathbone. Silas
Wright (1845 to x^47) resided at 133
North Pearl street. John Young
(1847 to I^49)> at 111 State, where
now resides Mrs. JohnTweddle. Ham-
ilton Fish (1849 to 1851), at 15 Elk,
street, the residence of the late Hon.
John V. L. Pruyn; Washington Hunt
(1851 to 1853), at 1 Elk street, as
also did Horatio Seymour (1853-
1854) during his first term, the same as
formerly occupied by Gov. Throop.
Gov. Seymour, during his second term
(1863-1864), had his executive man-
sion in * Dudley Row,’ 65 Hawk street.
Myron H. Clark (1855-1856) occupied
132 State, where now is the Christian
Brothers’ Academy. John A. King
(1857-1858), 881 Broadway, corner
North Ferry, now St. Peter’s Hospital.
Edwin D. Morgan (1859 to 1862),
and Reuben E. Fenton (1865-1868),
four years each, made 144 State, late
residence of Dr. S. O. Vanderpoel,
their home in this city. John T. Hoff-
man (1869 to 1872) made the old Con-
gress Hall, east of the New Capitol, his
residence. John Adams Dix (1873-4),
123Washington ave., north of the New
Capitol. Samuel J. Tilden (1875 to
1877), Lucius Robinson (1877-1879),
Alonzo B. Cornell (1880-1882), and
Grover Cleveland, present Governor,
have resided in the Executive Mansion,
138 Eagle, bought by the State of the
late Robert L. Johnson.”
Exempt Firemen’s Association.
— Michael J. Gorman, pres.; William
Hill, vice-pres.; Thomas Hogan, sec.;
Visscher Ten Eyck, treas. Board of
Managers meets quarterly, first. Tues-
day in Jan., April, July and Oct., at
City Building. The income of a small
invested fund and the fees for mem-
bership are distributed among the indi-
gent members of the Association.
Membership, $1. Limited to the old
department.
Expresses.— Packages and parcels
may be sent from Albany via American
Express Co. (office cor. Broadway and
Steuben st.), over the Boston & Al-
bany, Central-Hudson and Harlem,
and through their connections over
40,000 miles of railroad and to 5,000
different offices; via National Express
Co. (office Maiden lane cor. Dean st.)
over the R. & S. division of the Dela-
ware & Hudson Canal Co.’s road, the
West Shore, and the Hoosac Tunnel
road as far as North Adams; via U.
S. & Canada (office with American),8i
FAM—FEA
over the Susquehanna road and Hoosac
* Tunnel route.
Baggage Express. — Baggage is
transferred in this city conveniently
and at small expense to the owner.
Wygant & Co.’s agents pass through
the principal trains approaching Al-
bany, and collect checks, delivering
t>aggage to all the steamboats and
depots, and to the hotels and private
houses. They also call for baggage,
and may be summoned by telephone
or by leaving orders upon call-books in
the baggage rooms at the different
depots; Huested’s, cor. Eagle st. and
Hudson ave.; and Clement & Rice’s,
cor. Clinton ave. and Broadway. The
regular charge inside of Lark and
Arch sts. and Livingston ave. is 30 cts.
for a single piece of baggage, and 25
cts. for each additional piece. Beyond
these limits, charges according to the
distance. Special rates are made for
amusement combinations.
Families.—According to the census
of 1880, there were 18,297 families in
Albany; average number of persons
in a family, 4.96.
Farms and Farm Products in Al-
bany co. According to the census of
1880 there were in Albany co. 3,325
farms ranging in size from 2 acres to
1,000 acres, there being only one of a
thousand acres; average size, 92 acres;
total acreage, 306,257, of which 254,-
521 acres are improved, 43,307 acres
forest and woodland, and 8,429 not
woodland, and not improved. Value
of farms, including land, fences and
buildings, $19,898,866; value of farm-
ing implements and machinery, $1,-
047,171; live stock, June 1, 1880, $1,-
589,181; cost of repairing and building
fences in 1879, $89,788; cost of fertil-
izers purchased in 1879, $50,407; esti-
mated value of all farm products in
1879, $2,783,028.
Wool, Spring clip of 1880...... 115,847	lbs.
Milk sold.................   .1,390,662	gals.
Butter made...................1,154,969	lbs.
Cheese “	  6,560	“
Acres.	Bushels.
Barley.............. 1,077............ 17,952
Buckwheat........... 14,774...........211,225
Corn................ 11,845...........296,145
Oats..............  30,169............787,520
Rye................. 14,7IQ...........158,600
Wheat............... 1,652	  23,128
Beans.............................. 2,178
Potatoes............ 6,537........... 495,402
Canada Peas..........................   9,290
Tons.
Hay................ 86,738............ 95,137
Pounds.
Hops.................. 243	  123,182
Broom Corn..........................   56,204
Honey...............................   64,267
Beeswax...............................  1,689
Poultry, barnyard,................... 118,348
“ other,.......................... 16,024
Doz.
Eggs................................. 627,374
Orchard products.....................$138,881
Market garden products...............$208,420
Wood, 25,249 cords................... $7I,6s8
(See also Animals, Domestic.)
Fearey Manufacturing Co. — Boot
and shoe manufacturers. Established
1844; incorporated 1882. This factory
has become one of the institutions of
Albany. It furnishes employment to
600 operatives, besides those engaged
in making boxes and other supplies.
A thirty-horse power engine and forty-
horse power boiler supply the power
and heat. Improved machinery is
used wherever practicable. Bottoms
are fastened on by McKay sewing ma-
chines, Goodyear sewing machines and
a Standard screw-wire machine. The
old style hand-sewed and hand-pegged
work forms an interesting feature for
those not accustomed to see the various
processes. Hand-made work has be-
come so popular again that this firm
have difficulty in filling their orders.
“ Medium-grade goods for the masses”
are specialties, but three grades of
goods better than medium grade are
manufactured by machinery, besides
the highest grade of hand-sewed work.FEM—FER
82
The products of this factory are noted
for their good fitting and wearing qual-
ities. Sales are made all over the
country by agents to the retail shoe
dealers and general stores. The total
capacity of all departments is 2,000
pairs a day.
Female Academy.—The oldest
educational institution in the city, was
founded by Ebenezer Foot in 1814, as
“ Union School, in Montgomery st.”
THE FEMALE ACADEMY.
In 1821 it was incorporated by act of
legislature. The present rather impos-
ing looking building on N. Pearl st.
was opened May 12, 1834, and cost
$30,000. “The front faces the east,
and is ormamented with a beautiful
Hexa-style portico of the Ionic order.
The proportions of the columns, capi-
tals, bases and entablature, are taken
from the temple on the Uissus, the
most beautiful example of the Ionic
among the remains of antiquity.” The
old Albany library, of several thousand
volumes, was stored here, and finally
became the property of the institution.
(See Freemasonry.)
Present Condition.—The academy
has recently been put upon a new
basis, with the most satisfactory results.
It now combines the features of both a
day and boarding-school, pupils from
out of town being received into the
principal’s own home. The sanitary
condition of the building is perfect,
especially as regards those first great
requisites, light and air. The course
of study extends from the Kindergarten
through a post-graduate course, and
pupils are therefore received at all
ages and stages of development. The
importance of this prolonged tuition,
under one system, cannot be over-esti-
mated. The corps of professors and
teachers, with Miss Lucy A. Plympton
as principal, is full and efficient. The
art department, under Prof. William
P. Morgan, is unexcelled in the city,
as the work of the pupils conclusively
shows. French is taught by Mile.
Anais Gory, a lady who has already
made herself well-known in the city
by her personal excellence and consci-
entious thoroughness of instruction.
Herr C. A. Meyer, whose reputation
has long been established as a success-
ful instructor in his own language and
literature, teaches the classes in Ger-
man, and conducts the German re-
unions. The department of choral
music is in charge of the well-known
teacher, Mrs. Bentley. The standards
of scholarship and deportment are
both high, and pupils are incited by
all appropriate means to reach them.
Discipline, though enforced with kind-
ness, is strict. In short, the Academy
has never been in a more prosperous
condition than now, and the present
indication is that its future will be suc-
cessful and brilliant.
Ferries.—A ferry was established
across the river at this point in 1642,
and has been in operation ever since.
It is the oldest in the United States.
In 1807 the scow which was used was
swamped, and thirty-three persons wereFIR
83
drowned. Three boats are now run,
one from the foot of North Ferry st. to
Bath; one from Maiden lane to East
Albany, (fare 2 cents), and one small
one from the foot of State st. to Green-
bush and Bath, (fare 5 cents.) The
right of regulating ferry on both sides,
between the original four wards of the
city and Greenbush, is vested in the
city by the charter.
Fire Department, The, as at pres-
ent organized, was established by chap.
197 of the Laws of 1867; amended
Feb. 19, 1872, and June 30, 1882.
Five commissioners with the Mayor, ex
officio, president of the board, have
entire charge of all its affairs. They
are chosen by the common council for
a term of five years, one going out of
office every year, on the first Monday
in June. With the exception of the
one who acts as secretary (for which
he receives $1,000 a year), they serve
without pay. The rooms of the board
and of the chief engineer are in the
City building. See Appendix for names.
Engineers.—The chief engineer has
sole command at fires, makes daily ex-
amination of the affairs and property
of the department, and makes full re-
ports of the fires to the board. Salary,
$3,000 per annum.
The assistant engineers attend all
fires, and in case of the chief’s absence,
the first one at the fire assumes his
duties. Salary, $400 per annum.
Engines and Trucks.—The appa-
ratus is stationed at the various houses,
as follows:
Steamers:	No. I, 236 Washington
ave.; No. 2, 157 Livingston ave.; No.
3, 895 Broadway; No. 4, 69 Hudson
ave.; No. 5, 289 South Pearl st.; No.
6, cor. Swan and Jefferson sts.; No. 7,
cor. Ontario st. and Clinton ave.; No.
8,	cor. Broadway and N. First st.; No.
9,	(reserve), house of Engine 6; No.
10,	(reserve), house of Engine 3.
Trucks:	No. 1, 57 Westerlo st.; No.
2, 126 Clinton ave.; No. 3 (reserve),
house of Engine ‘7. Insurance Patrol,
41 Hudson ave.
Hose Depot.—One of the most ad-
mirable features of the department is
its hose and supply depot, running
from Plain street to Hamilton street.
Here the hose is kept, together with
extra wheels, tenders, etc., fuel and
other supplies. After a fire, the hose
is taken to the depot, and after being
thoroughly washed is hung up and
dried, a sufficient quantity, that is clean
and dry, being kept on hand to replace
all that is wet. The depot is in charge
of a superintendent and an assistant.
The steamers, with the exception of
the reserves, are all of the Amoskeag
pattern, and with their tenders, or
hose-carts, are valued at $5,150 each;
the trucks, $2,250 each. They are
drawn by about thirty horses, worth
$300 each. The department property
is valued at $301,780.
The Companies consist of a fore-
man, salary, $300; 8 members at $200
each. The Truck companies have 12
members each, at $200. The perma-
nent employees are an engineer ($1,-
080), fireman ($720), driver ($720),
to each engine; and a tillerman ($720),
and driver ($720),, to each truck.
Total force, including telegraph de-
partment, etc., 145.
The annual expense of running the
department is about $85,000, and for
efficiency it is not excelled by any de-
partment in the United States.
Relief Fund.— A fund for the re-
lief of disabled firemen has been in-
corporated (chap. 173, Laws of 1^83),
the Mayor, the Fire Commissioners and
the Chief of the fire department con-
stituting the body corporate. All fines
paid by firemen are turned into this
fund, and it is hoped that it will be
largely increased by voluntary subscrip-
tion. It now amounts to over $1,500.FIR
84
The Alarm Telegraph.
The fire alarm in use is known as
Gamewell’s American Fire Alarm Sys-
tem, and was first put in operation in
this city June 1, 1868. The office is in
the upper story of the City Building;
supt., salary, $1,500; asst., salary, $1,-
040. Seventy-seven alarm boxes, seven
church bells, the City Hall bell,
and the engine and truck houses,
are connected with this office by 70
miles of wire, divided into eight cir-
cuits. and operated by means of a 300
cup battery. The keys of the boxes
are in charge of persons living near by
and policemen, and are so made that
they cannot be withdrawn from the
lock, after turning it, till they are re-
leased by some one from the telegraph
office. Each key is numbered and re-
ceipted for. With this restriction, false
alarms have become unknown, although
injudicious alarms are sometimes sound-
ed. The place where the key is de-
posited is plainly indicated near the
box. To sound an alarm, all that is
necessary is to pull a hook. This strikes
a bell in the office, in accordance with
the number of the box. As soon as
an operator (one of whom is on duty
constantly) knqws certainly which box
is indicated, he places machinery in
motion which strikes the same number
on a gong in each of the engine houses
and on the eight church bells. For in-
stance, if box 29 is palled the bells
strike twice and then,'after an interval
of seven seconds, nine times; this is
repeated every twenty seconds till
every one in the city who has a list of
signal boxes knows, or may know, that
the fire is within the vicinity of the cor-
ner of . Maiden lane and Broadway.
One blow indicates that the fire is out.
The hammers and striking machinery
in the various church towers are en-
tirely independent of the regular
tongues and ropes, and are so arranged
that they will strike a given number of
strokes before they must be wound up
again. Each stroke is registered, and
they are attended to accordingly. Ob-
servatory time (see Time Service) is
transmitted to the office every 10 min-
utes, and at 9 a. m. and 9 p. M. one
stroke is given on all the bells and
gongs connected with the telegraph.
This not only serves to regulate the
time-pieces of the whole city, but is a
test whether or not the striking machin-
ery is in order. The wires are tested
every 20 minutes in the 24 hours. This
is done by passing a currrent over each
wire, and the result is registered inside
of a watch-clock on a revolving disc,
which also indicates the time when the
trial is made, and, of course, whether it
is made at all, or not; thus not only
testing the wire, but the operator. In
short, a perfect system of registrations
prevails in this department, from one
end to the other.
Messages are sent over the wires by
the Morse system, when necessary, and
there is also an elaborate telephone
service by which all the engine houses
are reached.
The fire alarm boxes are located as
follows:
\ S. Pearl and McCarthy ave.
2	| S. Pearl and 3d ave.
i Green and 4th ave.
3	( Green and Arch.
\ Broadway and 4th ave.
4	/ Broadway and S. Ferry.
5	Green and Herkimer.
6	Broadway and Madison ave.
7	Hamilton and Union.
8	Broadway and Hudson.
9	State and Green.
i Delaware and Clinton.
2 I S. Pearl and Schuyler.
! Elizabeth and 3d ave. h
Morton and Grand.
Morton and S. Swan.
14 S. Pearl and Westerlo.
15 S. Pearl and Madison ave.
16 Madison ave. and Philip.
17 S. Pearl and Plain.
18 Grand and Beaver.
19 S. Pearl and State.
21 DeWitt and Montgomery.
23 Canal bridge and N. Ferry.
24 Broadway and N. Ferry.
25 Railroad Crossing, Broadway.
26 Livingston ave. and Water.FIR
27	Broadway and Clinton ave.
28	Broadway and Columbia.
29	Broadway and Maiden lane.
31	N. Pearl and Van Woert.
32	N. Pearl and Livingston ave.
34	Monroe and Chapel.
| Orange and Lark.
35	\ Orange and Swan.
36	Canal and Hawk.
37	N. Pearl and Canal.
38	Lodge' and Pine.
39	Eagle and State.
41	Washington ave. and Hawk.
42	Lancaster and Hawk.
43	State and Swan.
45	Lancaster and Dove.
46	Washington ave. and Dove.
47	State and Lark.
48	Hudson ave. and Willett.
51	Central ave. and Knox.
52	Washington and Lexington avs.
53	Bradford aud Robin.
54	Central ave. and Perry.
56	Clinton ave. and Quail. _
J Central ave. and Ontario.
57	| Central ave. and Watervliet.
58	Ontario and Third.
59	Railroad Shops, W. Albany.
61 Eagle and Hudson.
, i Eagle and Elm.
2 ( Eagle aijd Park ave.
63	Hamilton and Hawk.
64	Madison Ave. and Swan.
65	Jefferson and Dove.
71	Madison ave. and Lark.
72	Penitentiary.
73	Alms House.
74	Ontario and Madison ave.
81	Clinton ave. and Ten Broeck.
82	Second and Swan.
83	Livingston ave. and Swan.
84	Third and Lark.
85	Second and Knox.
86	Clinton and Lexington avs.
91	Hawley’s mill, Lumber Dist.
92	Slip 24, Lumber Dist.
93	Mohawk and N. Pearl, North Albany
94	South and Broadway.
96 Sacred Heart Kenwood.
The first alarm is given by striking
three or more rounds; the second by
striking ten blows. The alarms are
struck upon the State street Presby-
terian church; Fourth Presbyterian
church, Broadway; Third Reformed
church, South Ferry and Green sts.;
St. Ann’s church, Fourth ave.; Sixth
Presbyterian church, Second st.; St.
Patrick’s church, Central ave. and
Perry st.; Sacred Heart church, North
Albany; steamers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
85
and 8; trucks 1 and 2; insurance
patrol; chief engineer’s office, hose
depot, and on the new City Hall bell,
which is seventy inches in diameter at
the mouth, fifty and a half inches in
height; thickness of sound bow, five
and one-tenth inches; weight, 7,049
pounds. The alarm sounded from this
bell is heard anywhere within the fire
limits of the city.
The Insurance Patrol, or Protec-
tives, act with the department, but are
supported by the Insurance companies
doing business in this city. Their ob-
ject is to protect property from both
fire and water. The superintendent
has under him seven men. The supt.
receives $1,200; the others $720 each.
The auxiliary force consists of four
call-men, who receive $200 each. The
patrol is under the management of the
Board of Underwriters. (See Under-
writers, Board of.)
Fires.—Nov. 17, 1793, twenty-six
houses and several stores between what
is now State st., Broadway and Maiden
Lane, were burned; loss, $25,000.
Pomp, a slave, and two female slaves
were hanged as incendiaries. Aug. 4,
1797, about one thousand persons were
rendered homeless, by a fire which
consumed 96 dwellings on Steuben,
Montgomery and Columbia sts., and
Broadway. A fast was proclaimed for
this, but nobody was hanged. April
24, 1848, twenty buildings were burned
on Church, Westerlo, Dallius and
John sts., and the same night twenty
more were burned near the corner of
Green and Beaver. But the great fire
of ’48 was Aug. 17, when 37 acres
were burned over, the fire starting cor.
Broadway and Herkimer sts., sweeping
both sides of Broadway and Church
st., then to the Pier as far as Maiden
Lane. The burnt district extended 700
feet west from the river on Herkimer,
350 on Dallius, 900 on Union, 300 east
on Hudson, and 1600 on Quay st.FIR—FOR
86
About 600 houses were burned; loss,
nearly $3,000,000. New York city
contributed over $12,000 to the
sufferers.
Fire-works.—Except on Fourth of
July, the firing of rockets, crackers,
pistols, etc., is punishable by a fine
of $2.
First Railroad.—The first railroad
in the State was begun in Aug., 1830,
and called the Mohawk and Hudson.
It was from Albany to Schenectady.
The first train over the whole line ar-
rived here May 14, 1832, and was re-
ceived by a large assemblage of citi-
zens, and the firing of cannon. The
road had been in partial operation be-
fore this, and in Oct. 1831, was carry-
ing 387 passengers a day. Sept. 24th
of that year a famous excursion was
made, a lithograph of which has been
extensively circulated.
First Steamboat.—Robert Fulton’s
steamboat, the Clermont, arrived at the
foot of Madison ave., Sept. 5, 1807,
thus completing the first steamboat
trip of any length ever made in Amer-
ica. The rate of speed was about five
miles an hour; fare from New York,
$7. (See Steamboats.)
Foreign Born.—According to the
census of 1880, of the 90,758 popula-
tion in Albany, 23,765 were born in
foreign lands. Following are the
figures:
Atlantic Islands................... x
Australia........................   3
Austria, proper................... 51
Belgium........................... 16
Bohemia....................'-- 20
Canada......................... 1,012
British America................... 57
China............................   5
Cuba..............................  6
Denmark........................... 10
Europe (not specified)............ 12
France........................... 149
German Empire.................. 6,648
England........................ 1,866
Ireland.......................... 12,575
Scotland............................. 572
Wales...............................   27
Great Britain (not specified)......... 12
Greece................................. 1
Holland.............................. 356
Hungary............................... 19
India.................................. 7
Italy................................  77
Luxemburg............................. 34
Mexico................................  2
Norway................................. 4
Poland................................ 61
Russia................................. 9
Sandwich Islands....................... 3
South America.......................... 1
Spain.................................. 1
Sweden..............................   26
Switzerland........................... 93
Turkey................................. 6
West Indies..........................   5
Born at sea........................... 14
Fort Frederic, “ the fortress of the
crown,” while New York was a colony
of England stood on what is now State
st., south of, and occupying in part the
position of St. Peter’s church* It is
supposed to have been named in honor
of the House of Hanover. (See
cut, p. 87.)
Fort Orange.—One of the names
by which Albany was known in its
early history. (See A Bit of History.)
Fort Orange Club.—Organized
Jan. 31, 1880. Pres., Erastus Corning;
vice-pres., Grange Sard; secretary,
William Kidd; treas., James D. Was-
son. The design of the club is to
establish and maintain a library, read-
ing and assembly rooms, and to pro-
mote social intercourse among its
members. The number of regular
members is limited to 200. Admission
fee, $50; annual dues, $50.
The Club House is at 110 Wash-
ington ave., and is very handsomely
fitted up for the purpose. It was
erected in 1810 by Samuel Hill, a
hardware merchant, and was one of
what were for some time the only three
.houses on the hill; the others being
occupied by the Governor and theFRE
87
Mayor, respectively. It was in this
house that Aaron Burr boarded in
1824, while engaged in some legal
business in this city. The club bought
the house for $30,000 and have spent
$15,000 or $20,000 in repairs and fur-
nishing.
Free Masonry.—The first organi-
zation of free-masons existing in Al-
bany after its settlement, was Lodge
No. 74 (Registry of Ireland), com-
posed of officers in the Second bat-
talion Royal, holding a warrant from
members to continue the meetings.
February 21, 1765, the Provincial
Grand-Master George Harrison, grant-
ed tbem a warrant under the name of
Union Lodge (now Mount Vernon.)
Henry Andrew Francken came from
the Island of Jamaica, and on the 20th
of December, 1767, instituted Ineffable
and Sublime Grand Lodge of Perfec-
tion. The original charter of the body
is still in its possession, and has been
its only authority from that time to
this. Grand Council of Princes of
Jerusalem was organized at the same
the Grand Lodge of Ireland dated
October 26, 1737. There is every
evidence that they were scholars and
gentlemen, as they brought with them
and kept up a large and valuable
library of rare books, which they left
here when the battalion was ordered
away. Many, if not all the volumes
are now in the library of the Albany
Female Academy.
In April, 1759, the battalion having
been ordered to some other post, left
the city. Several citizens had been
admitted to the lodge during the stay
of the battalion, and the officers of the
lodge left authority for the resident
time. March 5,	1768, Provincial
Grand-Master George Harrison, grant-
ed a warrant to Masters’ Lodge No. 2
(now 5.)
Masters Lodge purchased from the
city a plot of ground on the N. W.
corner of Lodge st. and Maiden lane,
and the city having donated an ad-
joining piece of ground, a lodge-house
was erected by Masters Lodge and the
Ineffable, the corner-stone of which
was laid with ceremony, May 12, 1768.
This was the first lodge-house in
America. The building after comple-
tion was occupied by the two bodies
for some years, but the records fail toFRI—GAR
88
show at what time it was vacated,
The ground is still the property of
Masters’ Lodge, and has been leased
to St. Peter’s church for a term of
years. The rectory of the church
stands upon the ground.
Temple Lodge No. 53 (now 14)
was organized November 11, 1797.
Temple Chapter, No. 5, R. A. M., and
Temple Commandery No. 2, K. T.,
were instituted the same year. There
were no additions to the number of
bodies until 1824, when Albany Sov-
ereign Chapter of Rose Croix, and
Albany Sovereign Consistory were in-
stituted. Washington Lodge No. 85
was instituted in 1841; Mount Moriah
Lodge No. 143, now Ancient City
Lodge No. 452, in 1852; and Wads-
worth Lodge No. 417, in 1856; De-
Witt Clinton Council No. 22, R. & S.
M., in 1861; Capital City Chapter No.
242, R. A. M., in 1870; Albany Con-
clave No. 8, Knights of the Red Cross
of Constantine, in 1872; Guttenberg
Lodge No. 737, German, in 1873;
Temple Tabernacle No. 5, U. S. A. K.
T. P., in 1878. The growth of the
order has been all that could be de-
sired, each of the bodies making a
small percentage of gain each year.
That they are established on a solid
basis is evidenced by the fact that all
bodies instituted, whether more than
a century ago, or recently, still live and
have a following. The returns made
May 1, 1849, show the membership to
have been 117; May 1,1884, the mem-
bership was 1,359.
The meetings of all the bodies are
now held Jn the granite building owned
by the Albany Savings Bank, situated
on the north-west corner of State and
Chapel sts. There are two lodge
rooms, a library, an armory, waiting
and reception rooms, all of which are
handsomely furnished and admirably
adapted to the uses of the fraternity.
The Grand Chapter of Royal Arch
Masons of the State meets in Albany
annually on thex first Tuesday in Feb-
ruary, and have done so since 1798.
For many years the meetings were
held in the building on the south-west
corner of Broadway and Steuben st.
A removal was made in 1861 to 41 and
43 North Pearl st., in the building oc-
cupied by W. M. Whitney & Co. The
removal to the present place of meet-
ing was made in 1875. Previous to
the occupancy of the present hall, a
public parade was made, and the hall
formally dedicated. The fraternity
have publicly paraded, and laid the
corner stones of the New Capitol,
U. S. Custom House, Court House and
Post Office, and the new City Hall.
Friendly Few, The, composed of
the male members of the first four
classes which graduated from the High
School. Organized Feb., 1878; meet
annually; Robert Imrie, pres.; JohnF.
Montignani, sec.; JohnC. Laing, treas.
Fruit and Flower Mission, in
charge of the ladies auxiliary board of
the Albany City Tract and Missiouary
Society. Chairman of the committee,
Mrs. Adrian Safford, 64-South Hawk
st.; treas., Mrs. John E. Bradley, 242
Hamilton st.: secs., Miss Mary W. 01-
cott, 2 Columbia pi.; Miss Esther
Mayell, Greenbush. A committee is
in attendance from 9 to 12 every Tues-
day and Saturday, in the lecture room.
Geological Hall, to receive gifts of
flowers, growing plants, fruits, ice
cream, biscuit, eggs, and sick room
delicacies; also illuminated cards and
reading matter.
Garbage.—For . a long time, hogs
were considered the best possible scav-
engers Albany could have, and were
allowed to run at large; a custom which
N. P. Willis alluded to as “ more Dutch
than decent,” thereby bringing down
scathing- denunciations on his own
head. On the 9th of April, 1832,THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING.GAS—GOV
after much discussion, a law was passed
restricting swine in their accustomed
liberties, but it soon became a dead
letter, and so remained till within com-
paratively a few years. Garbage is
now collected by persons who make a
regular business of it, and it is said find
it profitable. According to the ordin-
ance, garbage must be removed at least
once a week in January, February,
March, April, November and Decem-
ber; twice a week in May and October,
and three times a week in June, July,
August and September.
Gas.—The city, north of Steuben
and Canal sts., above Eagle st. and
Central ave., is supplied with gas by
the People’s Gas Company, office 664
Broadway: south of those streets, by
the Albany Gaslight Company, office
corner of State and Chapel sts.
The Albany Gaslight Company
was incorporated March 27, 1841, and
the streets were first lighted with gas
Nov. 10, 1845. This company has now
a capital of $250,000. Its officers are
H. H. Martin, pres.; A. Van Allen,
vice-pres.; S. W. Whitney, sec. and
treas.; Isaac Battin, supt. It owns
and controls about 45 miles of pipes.
The gas furnished, when burned at the
ordinary pressure in a burner con-
suming five feet per hour, is expected
to give a light equal to that of 19
sperm candles. The price of gas is
$2.50 per thousand feet.
People’s Gas Company.—Organized
March 1st, 1880, and is essentially a
continuation of the People’s Gaslight
Company, which was organized in op-
position to the old company, in 1872.
In a short time, however, a compromise
was arranged, and the city divided
between the two. The works on the
Troy road, near North Albany, are
much larger than are required for the
share of the business wdiich fell to the
lot of the new company, and the in-
vestment failed to pay. In October,
7
1879, the property was sold under fore-
closure of mortgage, was purchased by
the mortgagees, and the present com-
pany formed. Its officers are George
A. Woolverton, pres.; Geo. L. Sted-
man, vice-pres.; H. Q. Hawley, treas.;
Gideon Hawley, cashier. Capital,
$50,000. Bonded debt, $350,000. The
company has 22 miles of pipe. The
price of gas is $2.50.
Geological Hall.—(See Museum
of Natural History, State.)
Government Building, The, by
which title the U. S. Custom House,
Court House and Post-office is popu-
larly known, was authorized by act of
Congress, March 12,1872, which limit-
ed its cost to $350,000, but made no
appropriation, and required the site to
be given by the city of Albany. The
Exchange Building, which covered the
block bounded by Broadway, State,
Dean and Exchange sts., was pur-
chased by the city at a cost of $100,000,
and presented to the Government for a
site upon which to erect the new build-
ing. The site being deemed inad-
equate, the act of March 3, 1873, ap-
propriated $150,000 for the purchase
of the Mechanics’ and Farmers’ Bank
property, on the north side of Exchange
st„ to be added to the site. Subse-
quently the act of June 23, 1874, ap-
propriated $5,000 additional for the
site, making cost of site to the city and
Government, $255,000. The original
design of the building was an elaborate
Gothic structure, estimated to cost
$750,000. The work of demolishing
the Exchange building and clearing the
site was begun in December, 1875, and
continued until March, 1876. Congress
having passed an act that no money
available should be expended or further
appropriations made for public build-
ings until a limit had been set to the
total cost of construction, and having
failed to set a limit upon the cost ofGRA
90
this building, work was suspended.
The act of March 3, 1877, limited the
cost to $500,000. The following June
work was resumed and carried on with-
out intermission from that time until
November, 1883, when the appropria-
tions having been exhausted the work
was stopped. The limit set upon the
cost necessitated a new plan, the style
of which is Italian Renaissance, treated
to utilize air and light to the necessities
of the various offices.
The building is of granite, 113 feet
on Broadway, 150 feet on State and
Exchange sts., and 126 feet on Dean
st.; three stories high, with Mansard
roof; the towers on each corner being
carried up an additional story, and the
-gouth-west or main tower, cor. Broad-
way and State st., the highest point. A
high basement under all is used for
heating apparatus, bonded warehouse,
and receiving and shipping mail mat-
ter. The first floor is devoted to post-
office uses; second to offices for the
customs and revenue service, and the
third to the U. S. Courts and officers
connected therewith. The building
was first occupied in December, 1883,
by the revenue officials, and the other
Government officers took up their
quarters there before Jan. 1, 1884.
The total cost to Jan. 31, 1884, was
$524,978.56. The corner stone of the
building was laid with Masonic cere-
monies, May 7, 1879. The superin-
tendents of construction have been
resident architects. An appropriation
of $55,000 is needed to complete the
approaches, put in elevators and finish
the interior. The work of construction
is expected to be completed by Jan. 1,
1885.
Grand Army cf the Republic,
The, composed of soldiers and sailors
who served their country in the war of
the rebellion, is quite strong in this
city, numbering between 700 and 800.
The three Posts are Lew Benedict
Post, 5, organized Jan. 30, 1867; meets
Thursday evenings at Grand Army hall,
Green, c. Beaver; Lewis O. Morris Post,
121, meets every Monday evening, 480
Broadway; Geo. S. Dawson Post, 63,
meets third Tuesday in each month, at
the same place. (Headquarters of
the department, 132 Pearl st., New
York City; Dept. Commander, Ira M.
Hedges, Haverstraw, N. Y.) There is
also Frederick Townsend Post, No. 1,
Sons of Veterans; and an ex-Prisoners
ot War association.
Grave Yards—When the First
Reformed church stood in State st., the
grave yard belonging to it was where
the old Second Reformed church stood
on Beaver st., between Green and
Pearl; and the early settlers are said
to have been buried there three deep.
The present site of St. Peter’s was once
a grave yard; so was the land east of
the cor. of Hudson and Grand; also
the land south of the cor. of Howard
and South Pearl; also the s. w. cor. of
Hamilton and Pearl (the Hallenbeck
family lot removed in i860.) In 1789
the lot west of Eagle, between State
and Lancaster, was appropriated for a
common burying ground, the churches,
previous to that time, having had sep-
arate places of interment. Still later,
a portion of what is now Washington
park was used for burial purposes;
and there was also a place of sepulchre
on Arbor Hill, between Second and
Third sts., west of Ten Broeck st., the
land being given by the Patroon to
the inhabitants of the town of Colonie
for burial purposes. St. John’s ceme-
tery (the old one) on Delaware ave.,
south of Morton st., was purchased for
burial purposes Aug. 28, 1841. (See
Cemeteries.)
Gray’s Book Store, on State st.
(Nos. 42 and 44). Almost opposite the
new Custom House and Post-office
stands the four-story granite building9i
GRE— HAC
owned by S. R. Gray, and occupied by
him on the first floor as one of the
largest and most attractive book stores
outside of New York city. The house
was first established by Mr. Daniel
Steele, who came from Hartford, Ct.,
in 1793, and opened a book bindery
on State st., which was burned with its
contents the following year. The busi-
ness, however, was soon resumed on
an enlarged scale with the addition of
stationery, Bibles, testaments, and other
books, and from the beginning of the
present century the general book and
stationery business has been in success-
ful operation by the firms in succession.
Until the year 1850 the business was
conducted by the family of the founder,
when it passed from the hands of Mr.
Daniel Steele Durrie to the new firm
of Gray & Sprague, who continued the
trade until 1855, since which time Mr.
Gray has conducted the business in his
own name, adding materially to the
various depar ments and aiming to
represent the best class of literature, as
well as giving special attention to
printing, bookbinding and the manu-
facture of blank-books. It is here the
depository of the Bible Society (which
see) is kept and its publications dis-
tributed throughout the country. The
building was erected in 1874-5 and
covers an area of 35x100 feet. Being
on the principal thoroughfare to the
new State Capitol, it naturally attracts
the attention of strangers visiting the
city, and is a favorite location for busi-
ness. The Signal Service (which see)
occupies part of the upper story.
Greenbush was called Tuscameatic
by the Indians, but derived its present
appellation from the Dutch “ Greene
Bosch,” or “The Pine Woods.” It
was erected into a township by act of
Legislature, passed April 10, 1792.
The village was incorporated April 14,
1815; population, 3,295; of the town,
6,743; is reached by the new Albany
and Greenbush bridge. East Albany
is part of Greenbush. About a mile
from the bridge is the site of barracks
erected as a rendezvous for troops in
the war of 1812. Provision was made
for 6,000 soldiers, and there Gen.
Dearborn, commander-in-chief of the
United States army, had his head-quar-
ters for some time. On the same spot
Abercrombie and Amherst collected
their troops preparatory to the capture
of the French fortress on Lake Cham-
plain.
Green Street was early spoken of
as the Vodden market, that is, the Rag
market; and later as Cheapside. It
received its present name in honor of
Gen. Greene of the Revolution, but the
final e has been dropped.
Green Street Theatre, erected in
1812, and opened Jan. 18, 1813, under
the management of John Bernard; was
dedicated as a church Jan. 1, 1819;
reopened as a theatre July 5, 1852.
Sudsequently became a concert hall,
and here Adah Isaacs Menken first
appeared in her afterwards famous role
of Mazeppa. The building was after-
wards used as a pork-packing estab-
lishment, but of late has been a
variety theatre. (For its full history
see Players of a Century; a Record of
the Albany Stage. Joseph McDonough,
Albany, publisher.)
Hack Fares.—Hacks may be found
standing on Broadway, between State
st. and Maiden lane. Prices estab-
lished by city ordinance, are as follows:
For each passenger, any distance
within the paved streets, not exceeding
one mile, 50 cents (omnibuses, 25
cents); over one mile, and not exceed-
ing two miles, 75 cents; over two
miles, and not exceeding three miles,
$1; to the Alms-house and back, with
privilege of detaining carriage at Alms-
house one hour, $2; to PenitentiaryHAL—HAR
92
and back, with privilege of detaining
carriage at Penitentiary 30 minutes,
75 cents; attending funeral from any
part of the city east of Robin st. to any
public cemetery, $2. In other cases,
for every hour detained, $1; for the
first and every additional hour, 75
cents; or from 8 A. M. to 6 P. M., $8.
For 128 lbs. baggage, the same rate as
for a passenger. A card, with “ Li-
censed Hack ” and number and name
of proprietor, must be conspicuously
displayed inside the vehicle. The re-
strictions upon hackmen are many.
Halls.—Albany is without any large
public hall suitable for state conven-
tions and other great assemblages.
The need of it is apparent every year.
(See Bleecker Hall.)
Harbor.—The port of Albany ex-
tends from two miles north of the city
to two miles south. The depth is from
600 to 900 feet, the east side being
shallow.
The Harbor Master is nominated
by the Governor, and confirmed by the
Senate. It is his duty to regulate and
station all vessels within the limits of
the port; to prevent them from ob-
structing the passages to the basin,
etc. He is paid by fees of one and
a-half cents per ton per annum; and
there are also fees for settling dis-
putes. Charles H. Winne holds the
office at present.
Hardware.—The hardware store of
Maurice E. Viele, Nos. 39, 41 and 43
State st., is one of the busiest places in
Albany, inasmuch as his assortment of
this kind of goods is as large and com-
prehensive as any in the entire state,
not excepting New York city, no single
house in the metropolis carrying so
many departments. Mr. Viele began
business in 1845, having, in connection
with the late Alexander Davidson, in
that year bought out the old and well-
known firm of M. Van Alstyne & Son,
then doing business cor. State and
Green sts. In 1851 Davidson & Viele
bought the stock of Humphrey & Co.,
another old hardware house, and moved
to Nos. 41 and 43 State st., where
Humphrey & Co. had carried on the
business for many years. The firm of
Davidson & Viele was dissolved in
1859 by the death of Mr. Davidson.
Shortly after, Mr. Viele associated with
him Messrs. Coles and Woodruff, and
for four years the firm was known as
Viele, Coles & Woodruff. The two
latter retired in 1865, since when Mr.
Viele carried on the business alone
until 1881, when James O. Hovey,
Charles H. Turner and William B.
Wackerhagen, whose energies and
diligence have so largely helped to
make the business what it is, became
and are now partners in the house.
Mr. Viele purchased the large stock of
Cantine Tremper, who was doing busi-
ness cor. of State and James sts., in
1870; that of Van Santford & Anable
in 1874, and that of L. Pruyn & Son in
1875.	he leased the premises
No. 39 State st., and the firm now oc-
cupies all the buildings stated. They
are five stories, the first being devoted
to retailing; on the second are samples
for the wholesale trade which is a
prominent department, several sales-
men being constantly upon the road
taking orders for this house in this and
adjoining states. The upper stories
are devoted to storage, and besides,
Nos. i, 2 and 4 Norton st. are stocked
with bar and sheet iron, tin, etc. The
many really oeautiful articles now em-
braced in the hardware trade make at-
tractive the large show windows in
which the display is constantly chang-
ing. The aggregate of the transactions
of the 40 years in which Mr. Viele
has been in business is very great;
millions of dollars worth of hardware
and metals have been bought and sold,
and many hundreds of thousands of93
HEA—HOR
dollars paid to the numerous employes.
To properly and successfully conduct a
business so wide in its scope, requires
constant industry and vigilance, and
Mr. Viele is notably one of the busiest
men in Albany, yet he still finds time
to further the interests of several of
the most praiseworthy public enter-
prises of which the city can boast. Very
few are now in active business in Al-
bany who began before Mr. Viele.
Health, The Board of acts under
a general state law (Chap. 431, Laws
of 1881) which makes it the duty of
the common council to appoint six
persons, not members of the council,
two for one year, two for two years,
and two for three years, one to be a
competent physician; successors to be
appointed for three years. The Mayor
is ex officio president of the board.
The board appoints a health officer
(who shall be a physician), a secretary
and three inspectors. They attend to
the sanitary condition of the city. Re-
ports of births, marriages and deaths
are made to the Board. (See Vital
Statistics.)
Helderbergs, The, seen apparently
to the west of the Catskill range, are
a northern extension of the formations
constituting the base of these moun-
tains, and abound in lakes, caves, and
scenery of great natural beauty. The
Indian Ladder and Thompson’s Lake,
attract many visitors.
Herdic Coaches run from Green-
bush to the Kenmore hotel, between
7 A. m. and 7 p M., every ten minutes:
fare to Greenbush, 6 cents; in the city,
5 cents. The line was established
in 1882,
Holidays.—Upon legal holidays,
the banks and the public and govern-
ment offices are closed by law. Notes
coming due on these days must be met
the day previous. The names and
dates are: Christmas, Dec. 25; New
Year’s, Jan. 1; Washington’s Birthday,
Feb. 22; Decoration, May 30; Inde-
pendence day, July 4; Election Day,
the first Tuesday after the first Monday
in November; and Thanksgiving Day,
usually the last Thursday in November.
Horse Cars, The, in this city, are
run by two companies : The Broadway
and the Lumber district roads by the
Watervliet Turnpike and Railroad Com-
panies; all the others by the Albany
Railway Company.
Albany Railway.—Organized Sep-
tember 24, 1863. Ground was broken
for the State st. route Nov. 2d of the
same year. Cars began running Feb.
22, 1864, and May 9th ground was
broken for the Pearl st. road to Ken-
wood. Offices, 3 and 5 N. Pearl st.
John W. McNamara, pres, and treas.;
Robert C. Pruyn, vice-pres.; James H.
Manning, sec.; Alfred Egerton, supt.
The road owns nine miles of track,
much of which is double; 38 passen-
ger cars and 187 horses. Its stables
are on Central ave., and at the lower
end of South Pearl st. The uniform
fare is 6 cents for a single ticket, but
five tickets are sold for 25 cents. Pas-
sengers carried last year, 2,427,617.
There are four lines :
The West Albany cars start from
Broadway and State st. at 7 A. M., and
every half hour till n p. m., go up
State past the New Capitol, up Wash-
ington ave. to Central (leaving passen-
gers for the park at Knox st.), pass
near the reservoirs, and reach West
Albany in 45 minntes from starting.
Cars run over the same route to Ontario
st. every ten minutes, from 8 A. M. to
11 p. M., except Sundays, when all cars
run through to West Albany, starting
every 15 minutes.
Hamilton st. line: Leave Tweddle
Hall for Quail st. at 6, 7, 7.40, 8, 8.40,
9 A. m., and every 20 minutes after 9HOS
94
A. M. until ii p. M. Leave Quail st.
at 6.30, 7.30, 8.10, 8.30, 9.10 A. m., and
every 20 minutes after 9.10 a. m. until
11.30 P. m. Leave Tweddle Hall
and Knox st. every ten minutes from
10 A. M. until 9 p. M. This is the direct
route to the park, and persons who
have not the time or strength to walk
through it will get a fine idea of its
beauties by riding past on this line.
Pearl st. line: Through cars leave
Van Woert st. at 7, 7.30, 8,8.30 a. m. to
9 P. M., leaving State st. for Kenwood
every 15 minutes after time of starting
from Van Woert st. Leave Kenwood
for city 7.20, 7.50, 8.20 A. m., to 8.20,
8.40,	9.10, and 9.40 p. M. The 8.40,
9.10 and 9,40 P. M. cars from Kenwood
connect with cars to Van Woert st.
Pearl st. cars leave 1st ave. for Van
Woert st. at 7.10, 7.40, 7.50, 8.10, 8.20,
8.40,	8.50, a. M.,. etc., to 10.20 p. M.
Leave Van Woert st. for 1st. ave. 7.40,
8.10, 8.20, 8.40, 8.50, 9.20 a. m. etc., to
10.50 p. M.
Watervliet Turnpike and Rail-
road.—Office at North Albany. Chas.
Newman, president; James B. Jer-
main, vice-president; T. P. Way, treas-
urer and secretary; M. C. Foster, su-
perintendent. Chartered April 15,1862.
Cars began running in 1863. There
are two routes — one branching from
Broadway into the Lumber district (fare
6 cents); the other continuing to West
Troy; through fare, 8 cents; in city
and to cemetery, 5 cents; time for
whole trip, 70 minutes; number of cars,
27; of horses, 143. North Albany,
Cemetery, Old Men’s Home, Island
Park and Watervliet arsenal are reached
by this route.
Hospitals, Dispensaries, etc.—Al-
bany is well supplied with institutions
of this sort, as will be seen by the
following:
Albany Hospital, Eagle st., cor. of
Howard, incorporated April 14, 1849,
was founded by private subscription,
and first occupied the buildings cor.
of Dove and Lydius sts. The present
building (formerly the county jail)
was remodeled at a cost of $21,135.69,
besides a payment to the County
Treasurer of $8,395. It was occupied
in Aug., 1854. In 1872 a large addi-
tion was built, with all the latest im-
provements, at a cost of over $30,000.
The wards will accommodate 75, and
the private rooms, 50 patients. The
De Witt ward for children has 6 beds.
The whole hospital, through the in-
terest taken by different churches and
the beneficence of its friends, is fitted
and furnished like a home. The
medical and surgical staff is composed
of 18 of the best physicians in the city
—two of whom are in attendance every
day—besides three resident physicians.
Patients taking private rooms may be
attended by their own physicians, and
have the advantages of careful nursing
and diet. The charge for ward pa-
tients is $4 to $6 per week, and for
private rooms from $9 to $15. The
total number treated last year was 767.
Charity patients are admitted by per-
mits from the overseer of the poor,
or upon application to the officers of
the hospital. The management is
composed of a board of fifteen govern-
ors, who are elected annually by the
members of the corporation. A gift of
$50 entitles the donor to a vote for
life. During year ended March 1,
1884, the city paid the hospital $3,883
for the care of its sick, at $4 per week
per patient, while the average cost
is $6.
The present officers of the Board of
Governors are, Rufus W. Peckham,
pres.; Henry Kelly, sec.; Edwin Saf-
ford, treas.
The Albany Hospital Dispensary
is under the immediate control of the
Governors, and care of the medical
staff of the hospital. From March 1,
1883, to March 1, 1884, 5,976 patients
were treated, and most of them pro-95
HOT
vided with medicine one or more times
without charge.
St. Peter’s Hospital, cor. of Broad-
way and North Ferry st.; in charge of
the Sisters of Mercy. The building
was erected by the Patroon, for his son
Stephen Van Rensselaer, who occu-
pied it for many years. It was enlarged
and opened as a hospital in November,
1869, the family of Peter Cagger, de-
ceased, contributing largely towards the
enterprise. No one is excluded on
account of religious belief or unbelief.
Those who are able, pay according to
the accommodations furnished. A cer-
tain number of free beds are also main-
tained. The proximity of the hospital
to the railroad causes many cases of
accident to be taken there.
St. Peter’s Dispensary, at St. Pe-
ter’s Hospital. Opened in 1869, since
which time over 20,000 persons have
been treated gratuitously.
Child’s Hospital.— Hawk below
Elk; in charge of the Sisters of the
Holy Child Jesus. Opened March 26,
1875. Can accommodate 75 patients.
Any suffering child that can be helped
by hospital treatment mav be admitted.
Number of patients May 1st, 69;
supported by contributions from indi-
viduals and churches, an appropriation
from the common council, and a small
amount from outside towns and coun-
ties. The hospital had its beginning
in a very small way, nine years ago,
and has grown from the two crippled
children with which it started, and from
the small and uncomfortable house,
rented from month to month, to its
present proportions. It occupies two
excellent buildings, built for the pur-
pose, one of which has been enlarged
to double its original size. The Sisters
have charge also of a Child’s Convales-
cent Home in Saratoga, and of a Child’s
Nursery for Babies under a year old,
and of sick babies, with a free dispen-
sary for children. This institution is a
part of the Christian work undertaken
by the Cathedral of All Saints (see
Episcopal Churches) under the di-
rection of the Bishop. The Diocesan
Sisterhood have the care and nursing
of the children, but the hospital is
under the management of a board of
ladies representing many congregations.
The services of the doctors and sur-
geons have been gratuitous. Over 150
children have been treated during the
past year, and many, of them saved
from being life-long cripples, or from
total blindness.
Swinburne Dispensary.^—At No.
123 Beaver street. Established in 1878
by John Swinburne, M.D., for treatment
of poor patients, and has been carried
on by him without a dollar of outside
aid. Up to May 1, 1884, it is estimated
that 80,000 patients had been treated,
60.000	of whom were indigent. Over
10.000	injured persons have received
aid. The institution is now under the
management of Drs. Paris and Bowen.
Albany City Homoeopathic Hos-
pital, 123 North Pearl street; char-
tered in 1872, was consolidated in
1875 with the dispensary (incorporated
in 1868). Supported by voluntary
contributions and some aid from the
city. The medical staff includes the
leading homoeopathic physicians of the
city. Amos P. Palmer, pres.; Nathan
B. Perry, vice-pres.; E. A. Groesbeck,
sec.; J. H. Ten Eyck, treas. Trustees,
W. L. Jenison, Edgar Cotrell, J. H.
Ten Eyck, Geo. W. Gibbons, B. C.
Gilbert, F. E. Griswold, R. W. Thacher,
E. DeL. Palmer. A. J. Bond, M. D.,
resident physician. Mrs. S. Denmead,
matron.
Hotels.—The Delavan was erected
in 1844-5, and started as a temperance
house, the owner, E. C. Delavan, being
a famous apostle of temperance. Stan-
wix Hall stands on the site of the
house where was born Gen. Ganse-
voort, the hero of Fort Stanwix, and
was erected in 1833 by his son. It wasHOW—IND
96
first used for business offices, but in
1844 was converted into a hotel. The
Kenmore, erected in 1878, was run till
the time of his death by Adam Blake,
a colored man, long the landlord of
Congress Hall, which stood in front
of the New Capitol.
Howe’s Cave, 39 miles from Al-
bany, on Susquehanna division D. &
H. C. Co. R. R., is one of the most re-
markable natural curiosities in the
United States; for beauty, variety and
extent it.is only equaled by the Mam-
moth Cave of Kentucky, while it has
the advantage of being more conveni-
ent of access, as the entrance is im-
mediately at the railroad station. The
cave is lighted by gas from the mouth
to the lake; visitors are furnished with
costumes and torches, and are accom-
panied by guides; the temperature of
the cave is about 60 deg. Fahr., the
year through.
Hudson Avenue. — One of the prin-
cipal avenues leading to the park; is
paved with granite block, the Nichol-
son pavement put down several years
since having proved a failure. The
easy grade makes it a favorite route
for teamsters going up the hill. The
valley through which it runs was once
the course-way of the Rutten kill.
From 1844 to 1847, from 5° to 250
persons and 60 teams were employed
in filling up the ravine from Hawk to
Lark sts., which was 300 feet broad
and 50 feet deep. It was here that
the last public execution in Albany
took place, Aug. 24, 1827, when Jesse
Strang was hanged for the murder of
John Whipple. Over 30,000 people
gathered on the hillsides to witness the
tragic scene. The Hudson Avenue
Methodist and First Baptist churches
are on this street, and cor. of Eagle st.
is the picturesque State Armory. At
the cor. of Broadway, now occupied
by the Commercial Building, once
stood the old Stadt Huis (which see.)
This avenue, from Broadway to Pearl
street, was widened and straightened
at a cost of $74,965 in 1881-2.
Hudson River.—This, the most
beautiful of rivers, has been known by
many names. Beside its various In-
dian appellations, it was called by
Hudson himself, Great River of the
Mountains; by the Dutch settlers,
Great North River of the New Nether-
lands (to distinguish it from the South,
or Delaware river), and the North
river it is still sometimes called. The
Dutch also called it the Mauritius, or
Prince Maurice’s river, after Maurice
of Nassau, Prince of Orange, and it
was known as such till the English
changed it to its present title, Hudson
having been an Englishman.
At Albany. -The mean-tide at Al-
bany is 2.46 feet above that at Govern-
or’s Island; the mean rise and fall is
2.32 feet. At mean low water, boats
can carry an average of nine feet, the
channel depth from State st. bridge to
a mile south varying from 9 to 18 feet.
At Van Wie’s point, four miles be-
low the city, where the observations
were taken, the tidal current is a little
less than two feet a second in mid
stream; the mean velocity of the entire
river is three-fourths of a foot a second,
ebb tide estimates. About $30,000 is
annually appropriated by the legisla-
ture for dredging the river between
Coxsackie and Troy. See Navigation.
Industrial School, The, on Beaver
st., near Daniel, is under the care of
the Children’s Friend society, which
was organized in 1856, and incorpor-
ated April 7, 1863. The managers
seek to gather into the school vagrant
children who, from poverty or vice of
parents, are unable to attend the pub-
lic schools, and to instruct them in
morals, industry and the elements of
learning. Girls are received between97
the ages of 4 and 15; boys, 4 to 14.
They are given one good meal a day.
The articles of clothing, etc., made by
them in learning to sew, are distributed
as rewards for good behavior. The
school is supported by individual and
church contributions and sales of arti-
cles. Number of scholars, 160. The
new building cost, including ground,
$15,500, was completed and dedicated
in the spring of 1884, and is free from
debt. Mrs. John L. Winne, Mrs. S. H.
Freeman, directors; Miss Agnes Pruyn,
treas.; Miss Monteath, sec.
Inspectors of Steam Vessels,
Local, district of Albany, office in Gov-
ernment Building; Inspectors, Charles
S. Harvey, Leonard Brainard. They
inspect hulls, engines and boilers and
licence masters, mates, pilots and en-
gineers. The district comprises the
upper Hudson above Milton; in all,
passenger, towing and freight, about
200 steamers, not including those of
the People’s line, which belong to the
New York district.
Internal Revenue, U. S.— The
headquarters of the 14th district United
States Internal Revenue is in the Gov-
ernment Building, James W. Bentley
collector. The district comprises the
counties of Albany, Schenectady, Sara-
toga, Schoharie, Montgomery, Fulton,
Hamilton, Green, Ulster, Orange, Sul-
livan and Rockland, the last named
five counties having been added to the
district Aug. 1, 1883, when the number
of districts in the state was reduced to
seven. The average yearly collections
are about $600,000. Nine deputies,
three clerks and six gaugers are em-
ployed.
Island Park.—A race course on the
east of the Troy road.
Italians.—The Italian colony in Al-
bany consists of some twenty-five
INS—JEW
families. They are a quiet, inoffensive
people, the most of them poor, but
some are well-to-do. Services are held
especially for them in the Church of
Our Lady of Angels, and they have
a benevolent society. (See Benevolent
Societies.)
Jail, The, 74 Maiden lane, east of
City Hall, and connected to that build-
ing by a bridge, was first occupied by
prisoners June 2, 1853. One week
later, the grand jury condemned it as
being an unsafe place of detention for
expert rogues, a verdict which exper-
ience has often verified. The jailor,
appointed by the sheriff, receives a sal-
ary of $1,500 and house rent.
Jews. —There are about 3,000 He-
brews in this city, most of them German,
although a few are Bohemians, a few
Poles and a few French. With the
exception of the limited number who
worship at Beth El Jacob in Fulton st.,
they are mostly the Reformed Jews, that
is, they conform in most things to the
ideas of the present age; all, however,
observe the right of circumcision (in
males), the day of atonement; and
most of them are careful to eat no
pork nor any meat not killed in the
Jewish method, which is by cutting the
jugular vein in the first place, not after
the animal is knocked down. In this
way all the blood is drained from the
carcass, and many besides Jews con-
sider such meat more wholesome. The
killing is done by a slayer, who also
examines each animal carefully, and if
diseased or blemished it is rejected.
The Hebrew Sabbath begins Friday
night and lasts from even to even.
Public services are held in the syna-
gogues Friday night and Saturday
morning. Most of the Jews read
Hebrew, although all do not speak it.
As citizens, they are very orderly, the
appearance of one in the police court
being an unusual sight. They care forKEN—KIT
98
their own poor, and among themselves
are very sociable and domestic in their
habits. (See Adelphi Club.)
They maintain a benevolent society
which collects and distributes about
$1,500 annually, and there is a Jewish
Home association with a membership
of 250, and a fund of $2,200. The in-
terests of this fund and the dues of the
members serve to give a home to the
indigent, old and infirm in some fam-
ily. The erection of a permanent
home is postponed until the funds
will allow it.
Synagogues.
Anshe Emeth. — South Pearl st.,
opp. Herkimer. Rev. Max Schlesin-
ger, pastor. This is the largest and
handsomest Hebrew place of worship
in the city. The society was organized
in 1850, with Dr. Isaac . M. Wise as
rabbi, and now embraces about 150
families. Services held here consist of
prayers, reading of the law, music and
a sermon, the latter in English or Ger-
man, the prayers and reading in He-
brew. A Sunday-school is held on
Sunday.
Beth El.—South Ferry st. cor. of
Franklin. Rev. Adolph Friedmann,
pastor. Partially organized in 1832,
but did not take the name till 1838,
when a building was procured on Her-
kimer st. The society is, therefore,
the oldest of the sect in this city. It
was without a rabbi till 1854, when
Sampson Falk officiated as such. In
1864 the South Ferry Street Methodist
Church was bought, dedicated Jan. 20,
1865, and has since served them as a
synagogue. They were considered as
orthodox, till, under the ministration of
Rev. Louis A. Son, they adopted the
Minhag ritual of Rev. Dr. Wise.
Bbth El Jacob.—The synagogue
of the orthodox Jews, in Fulton st.,
above Madison ave. Rev. Destillator,
pastor. This society is very small, but
the traditions of the race are observed
here more carefully than elsewhere.
The women sit apart from the men,
and each member, during the service,
wears around his neck a woolen scarf
called the Talitth. The pastor is also
the “ slayer,” before mentioned, and
not only kills animals in certain slaugh-
ter-houses, but chickens, turkeys, etc.,
for private families, having a regular
route for that purpose.
Kenwood.—At the southern termi-
nus of the South Pearl street railroad,
on the Normans kill, about two miles
from State street. The convent of the
Sacred Heart is near here.
King’s Arms. — A tavern which
stood, in colonial times, north-west cor.
of what are now Green and Beaver
streets. The sign which bore the
effigy of King George, was torn down
in an outburst of patriotism and burnt
in State street.
Kitchen Garden.—In charge of a
committee of the ladies’ auxiliary board
of the City Tract and Missionary So-
ciety. Mrs. A. Rathb sn, supt.; Mrs.
Wm. L. Learned, sec. and treas. Holds
sessions at City Mission rooms, No. 9
North Pearl street, Saturday afternoons,
at 4 o’clock. Is preparatory to the
Cooking School (which see). Num-
ber of pupils, 50. Their tuition, $2
each, is paid by benevolent ladies, and
also covers a course of instruction in
the cooking school. They are taught
the duties of the household with minia-
ture utensils.
Law School, The Albany, a branch
of Union University. On State street
above Swan. Was organized April
21, 1851. W. L. Learned, pres.; Rufus
W. Peckham, vice-pres.; Charles J.
Buchanan, sec.; Horace E.Smith,dean.
More than three thousand students have
attended the school since its organiza-
tion, and its graduates number many
eminent men in the legal profession.THE BEVERWYCK BREWERY.99
LAG
Lager Beer.—Twenty years ago
lager beer was almost unheard of out-
side of Germany. To-day it may be
called the national drink of America,
so generally is it consumed by those
who use alcoholic beverages of any
kind. For many years Albany had
been noted for its ale, but it was not
till 1878 that it became equally famous
for lager. True, the drink had previ-
ously been made here in a small way,
but that year saw the completion of
the Beverwyck, which is unquestion-
ably the model lager beer brewery of
the United States, if not of the world.
Its reputation as such is wide spread,
and attracts hundreds of visitors from
all over the country.
The partners in the Beverwyck
Brewing Co. were experienced in the
manufacture of ale and porter, of
which they had made, and (under the
style of Quinn & Nolan) still make,
large quantities; but quick to respond
to the demand for a lighter and more
sparkling beverage, they erected the
colossal structure on North Ferry street
for the production of lager beer only.
The accompanying cut makes a de-
scription of the exterior unnecessary,
save to say that, architecturally, it is
altogether the finest building devoted
to manufacturing purposes in the city
— the imposing belfry and clock-tower,
and the heroic statue of “ Gambrinus ”
attracting special attention. Inside,
everything has been arranged appa-
rently without regard to cost, but with
the sole view to utility and the perfec-
tion of detail. The first floor, used as
the engine and pump-room, is paved
with Vermont slate, purple and green,
and from it the centre is open like the
grand hall of some great hotel or li-
brary, while the handsome balustrades
give the effect of galleries rising tier
upon tier to the lofty roof. Directly in
the centre is an artesian well 230 feet
deep, from which water is drawn to
supply the coolers. Pumps of the most
approved patterns for pumping beer,
air, ice-water, and for the boilers, etc.,
are arranged around the room; all the
machinery being nickle-plated, and
shining like a service of silver. Per-
fect neatness, order and discipline pre-
vail everywhere. Two great copper
kettles in which the beer is brewed,
holding 180 barrels each, and alone
costing $20,000, extend from the sec-
ond to the third stories, and are double
hammered and polished, as is all the
copper-work about the concern. This
affords some idea of the magnitude
upon which the establishment is con-
structed, but an elaborate description
cannot here be given. Two boilers,
each of 100 horse-power, and furnish-
ed with every protection known to
science against accident, are detached
from the main structure in an iron
building. The storage capacity is 60,-
000 barrels; the brewing capacity of
the establishment, 90,000 barrels per
annum. The sale of Beverwyck lager
is very extended and constantly in-
creasing. Its distribution about the
city is by means of a well stocked
stable of forty horses of the finest
Kentucky, Ohio and Wayne county
(N. Y.) stock, with wagons and trucks
corresponding in strength and dura-
bility. Such a concern as this must
have some inspiration and guiding
spirit, and both of these are found in
the president and treasurer of the Bev-
erwyck Brewing Company, Hon. M.N.
Nolan, a man whom the world calls
“ lucky; ” and so he is, but it is the
luck which comes, and comes only,
from a combination of indomitable
purpose, resistless force, and superior
executive capacity. Mr. Nolan has
served two terms as Mayor of Albany,
having been re-elected by an over-
whelming majority. During his second
term his great popularity led to his
being chosen Representative from this
district to the Forty-seventh Congress
of the United States, and he served inLAW—LEG
ioo
the capacity both of Mayor and Con-
gressman at the same time, the only
instance of the kind on record. Mr.
Nolan is ably assisted by Mr. M.
Schrodt, a native of Altheim, Hesse-
Darmstadt, who has been for many
years connected with the business; five
years as secretary of the company. Jan.
i, 1884, he was elected to the responsible
position of General Manager, the vacan-
cy in the secretaryship, caused by his
promotion, being filled by Mr. Augustus
Kampfer, of long experience and well-
tried ability as head book-keeper in the
concern. The cost of the Beverwyck
brewrery was $350,000. It was built
by the celebrated architect and mill-
wright, Mr. Charles Stoll, of Brooklyn,
N. Y., and reflects great credit both
upon him and upon the supervising
architect, Mr. Walter Dickson, of
Albany.
Law Books.—A large business is
done in Albany in the publication of
law books. The leading firm is Banks
and Brothers (David and A. Bleecker),
473 and 475 Broadway. This house
was founded by the father of the pres-
ent proprietors in 1804. At the time
of his death, in 1872, he was the oldest
book seller in the United States. The
ware-house and sales rooms in this city
have a total floor space of nearly
80,000 square feet. There is another
large store belonging to the firm at 144
Nassau st. New York, and has been
occupied by them since 1835. No ^rm
in the United States engaged in this
business is better known. The cata-
logue of law books published exclu-
sively by Banks Bros, is one of the
most extensive and contains works of
greater value than almost any other
that can be named. Their publications
are to be found in nearly all the large
libraries in the country, and are sold to
the legal profession in all parts of the
world. Mr. A. Bleecker Banks is the
present mayor of Albany.
Legislature, The, meets annually
on the first Tuesday in January, at the
Capitol. The senate consists of 32
members, elected biennially; the as-
sembly of 128 members, elected annu-
ally; salaries, $1,500. Albany county
constitutes the 17th senatorial district,
and sends four members to the assem-
bly:	First dist., 1st, 2d, 3d and 15th
wards of Albany, and towns of Bethle-
hem, Berne, Coeymans, Rensselaerville
and Westerlo; Second dist., 10th, nth,
14th, 16th and 17th wards of Albany,
and towns of Guilderland, Knox and
New Scotland: Third dist., 4th, 5th,
6th, 7th, 8th, 12th, 13th and part of the
9th wards of Albany; Fourth dist., the
remainder of the 9th ward of Albany,
Cohoes and Watervliet. Adjournments
of the Legislature have been as fol-
lows :
1831	.......April	26 | 1858.April	19
1832	......July	2 j 1859.April	19
1833	......April	30 j i860.April	17
1834	........May	6 j 1861.April	16
1835	...... May	11 ! 1862. April	23
1836	......May	26	1863.April	25
1837	...... May	16 |	1864.April	23
1838	......April 18 j 1865........ April 28
1839	......May	7	j	1866. i........April	20
1840	......May	14	J	1867...........April	20
1841	......May	26	|	1868............. May	6
1842*.......April	12	|	1869...........May	10
1843	......April	18	i	1870............ April	26
1844	...... May	7	j	1871...........April	21
1845	...... May	14	I	1872...........May	14
1846	......May	13	1873.May	30
1847!.......May	13 ;	1874.April	30
1848	......April	12	1875.May	22
1849	......April	11 ,	1876.May	3
1850	......April	10	877I j....... May	24
1851^.......April	17 ;	1878.May	15
1852........ April	16	1879. May	22
i853§.......July	21	1880.May	27
1854	...... April	17 !	1881.July	23
1855	......April	14;	1882.May	2
1856 .......April 9 j 1883................ May 4
1857 .......April 18 1884................May 16
* An extra session was held from August
12th to September 7th, to rearrange the Con-
gress districts under the census of 1840.
t Recess to September 8th, when the Legis-
lature reconvened for the transaction of regular
business, and was in session until December
15th.
X The session was suddenly terminated by
the resignation of twelve Senators, on accountIOI
Leland Opera House.—Stands on
the site of the theatre erected in 1824-
5, on S. Pearl st., between Beaver and
Hudson ave., and opened May. 13th of
the latter year, under the manage-
ment of Charles Gilfert; turned into
a church in 1839, (see Episcopal
Churches.) Opened as a theatre in
1863, (see Academy of Music;) re-
built by Lucien Barnes, and opened
Dec. 30, 1869. It is well arranged
both for actors and audience. Seating
capacity, 1,298. For further history
see “ Players of a Century; a Record
of the Albany Stage.” Jos. McDonough,
Albany, publisher.
Present Management.—The pres-
ent manager is Mrs. Rosa M. Leland,
who for the past three seasons has
demonstrated perfectly that a woman
can run a theatre successfully in every
respect; provided she has the tact, en-
terprise, and necessary experience.
Mrs. Leland (prior to her marriage),
was a successful actress, and in that
capacity acquired a knowledge of what
is neccessary for proper stage effect,
attainable in no other way. Her wide
acquaintance with the profession, and
that which is best in it, added to
natural executive ability, has had much
also to do with her success. The uni-
form opinion of press and public
has been that never has Albany had
a better theatre than under her man-
agement. Plays of the best order,
actors of the highest rank have been
seen at the Leland in quick succession.
The season opened in September and
closed, in May, presents a continued
rount* of attractions; and strangers in
of opposition to a certain canal measure. The
vacancies thus created having been filled by
special elections, an extra session was called
by the Governor to complete the unfinished
business, for June 10th, which was concluded
July 11.
'§ A recess was had from April 15 to May 24.
|| The Senate sat at Saratoga Springs from
July 18 to August 18 for the trial of Bank
Superintendent Ellis.
LEL—LIT
town tind nowhere pleasanter enter-
tainment, or more courteous treatment
than at the Leland opera house.
Liberal Association, Albany.—
Meets Sunday afternoons and evenings
in Van Vechten Hall, No. 119 State st.
Sunday-school in the afternoon, (Mrs.
Iliohan, supt.) followed by social meet-
ing. In the evening, lectures and dis-
cussions upon scientific, social and
theological questions, upon a free plat-
form. Wm. H. Williams, pres.
Libraries.—The only public libra-
ries in Albany are the State library,
the Y. M. A. library, the Albany In-
stitute library (see separate heads),
and the Public School library. The
latter is in the High School building,
and numbers about 5,500 volumes.
It is free to all; but certificates to use
it have to be obtained from the board
of public instruction.
Licenses.—Heretofore very little
money has been turned into the city
treasury for licenses except from the
liquor business. Under the revised or-
dinances, theatres may pay $25 a year,
travelling shows $5 a day, circuses, etc.,
$100 a. day, but the Mayor may reduce
these at his discretion. Bill-posters
and vendors are also to be licensed,
but the rates have not yet (May, 1884)
been fixed by the common council.
Literary and Scientific Societies.
—Among the literary and scientific so-
cieties of the city are the following:
Beck Literary Society, composed
of students of the Albany Academy,
and occupies rooms in that building.
Founded Dec. 11, 1857. Regular
meetings, Friday afternoons. Officers
elected three times a year.
Dana Natural History Society.—
Meets first Tuesday of every month, in
Female Academy. Organized Nov. 19,
1868, by 62 ladies; object, study ofLIT—LUM
102
nature, and collecting a library and
cabinet to aid in this study. Papers are
read, scientific subjects discussed and
recent discoveries in science presented
at every meeting. Classes in special
topics of study are formed in the win-
ter, and occasional courses of lectures
are given. Field meetings are held in
summer and autumn. The successive
presidents have been: Miss Lottie Tit-
comb, elected 1868; Mrs. David A.
Thompson, 1869; Mrs. Wm. Barnes,
1870; Mrs. Daniel J. Pratt, 1871-2,
Mrs. Arthur Bott, 1873; Mrs. John E.
Bradley, 1874-5; Mrs. Jonathan Ten-
ney, 1875-81; Mrs. Robert D. Wil-
liams, 1882-3. Present officers: Mrs.
R. D. Williams, pres.; Miss Hattie E.
Ludington, rec. sec.; Miss Anna Mc-
Naughton, cor. sec.; Miss Julia S.
Hoag, treas.; Mrs. J. B. Jump, curator
of cabinet; Mrs. E. M. Millard, libra-
rian; Mrs. J. Tenney, chairman execu-
tive committee. Annual meeting, last
Tuesday in November. Present mem-
bership, about 50. (See Albany In-
stitute.)
Literature.—Albany has contribu-
ted something to literature as well as
Art (which see). Bret Harte, whom
the glorious climate of California ripen-
ed into a poet and sketch writer of rare
genius, was born in Albany. And if
Henry James, Jr., was not, his father
was. John G. Saxe, although a native
of Vermont, has long resided here.
Alfred B. Street, a poet as minute in
detail as painters of the Dutch school,
passed all his literary life here. Here
Amos Dean wrote his History of Civil-
ization, and William B. Sprague his
Annals of the American Pulpit. Leon-
ard Kip and Philander Deming, both
pleasing story tellers, reside here, as
does J. Irving Browne, who possesses
the rare gift of turning even law into
literature.
Lumber District.—Albany is prob-
ably the oldest lumber market in the
United States. The towns on the
banks of the Hudson, after exhausting
the timber in their vicinity, sought the
upper portions of the river for supplies.
Saw mills were there erected, and
boards and scantling were rafted down
to this place, hauled out of the water
and piled on the bank, thus forming
the first lumber yards in Albany. One
of these was below South Ferry st.,
and the other near the foot of Quack-
enbush st., and between that and
Lumber st., now called Livingston ave.
The sloops, which were the only crafts
that plied the river, hauled in as close-
ly as possible to the shore, and to load
them, men carried out the lumber on
their shoulders, through the water or
over cribs of timber. When the Erie
and Champlain canals were completed,
all this was changed; lumber was
brought down on boats (then carrying
but thirty to fifty thousand feet), the
Albany Pier and the wharves which
were built for the Albany Basin afford-
ed storage room enough for the lum-
ber, which was then principally received
from the northern and central portions
of the State. Soon the extension of
the trade to Canada and the western
lakes required more room, and as the
canal ran nearly parallel with the river,
slips were excavated from the canal
towards the river, and the spaces be-
tween became lumber yards. As the
business increased these were contin-
ued until they now reach 15 miles from
canal lock No. 1, having an average
distance between the river and canal
of about 1,000 feet and forming the
Lumber District. The length of dock-
age including the river front is about
ten miles. Here the pine of Canada
and the spruce and hemlock of north-
ern New York, first meet the pine of
Michigan and the hardwoods of the
west, giving a full assortment, and
vessels carry it to the east and south,
from Maine to Florida.103	LUM
Advantages.—Although the rail-
roads are competing for the trade east
and south, and the larger canal boats
(carrying 150 to 200 M.) freight a con-
siderable quantity through to New York
and vicinity, the unequaled facilities
for storage till seasoned, for handling
and selecting into sizes and qualities
and the complete assortment of all
kinds found here, with the capital,
capacity and character of the dealers,
have enabled Albany to hold the
greater part of the trade, and it is the
largest lumber mart east of the Alle-
ghanies.
In addition to the lumber received
here, the Albany dealers sell large
quantities which go through direct,
without breaking bulk, to New York,
New Jersey, etc., which are not inclu-
ded in the reported receipts at Albany,
but are embraced in gross receipts at
tide-water. Besides the receipts by
canal, a large amount of lumber, and
particularly of shingles and clap-boards,
are received here by rail; but there is
no data from which the precise amount
can be obtained. The sales of lumber
shipped by rail, after the close of river
navigation, are increasing every year
and now reach large proportions.
By a vote of the citizens of the State,
the canals were in 1883 made hereafter
free from tolls. Railroads were com-
peting for the transportation of the pro-
ducts of the great West, and this mea-
sure was necessary, if New York was
to maintain her position as the largest
commercial State of the Union. The
result has justified the anticipation of
the people. Notwithstanding the low
rates which contending railroads gave
their customers, the receipts of lumber
by canal show an increase over those
of former years; and the stability of
Albany’s position as the largest lumber
market of the East is still maintained.
The sales in 1883 were 457,189,308 ft.
of measured and tally lumber, which
with shingles, lath, pickets and clap-
boards, give an estimated value of
$10,250,000.
The conveniences for doing business
in the district are unrivalled. A street
railroad runs to and through it; tele-
graph and telephone lines afford im-
mediate communication; large planing
mills are ready to quickly dress lumber
in every way and to any amount, and
good, clean dining halls await the wants
of customers. Hydrants at regular in-
tervals, with a full supply and heavy
head of water, and hose for immediate
use, are ready for the extinguishment
of fires. It is a remarkable fact that
during the last fifty years the damage
by fire in the district, north of Ferry
street, has not exceeded $6,000, and
yet there is no place in the world
where so large an amount of lumber in
contiguous piles can be found. The
view of the district from the Shaker
road, the boulevard, or the hills oppo-
site the city, is one of the sights of
Albany.
The Board of Lumber Dealers
was organized in 1863; incorporated
May, 1869; has an arbitration commit-
tee with power to settle disputes be-
tween members and upon the award a
judgment of the supreme court shall
be rendered, which shall not be re-
moved, reversed, or modified. It is to
the honor of the dealers that these ex-
traordinary powers have never been
required nor exercised. Twenty-five
firms belong to the board. Officers
elected annually. Following are the
names of the presidents since 1863:
Henry Q. Hawley, Wm. N. Fassett,
Wm.-H. Ross, Benjamin A. Towner,
Douglas L. White, Wm. G. Thomas,
Oscar L. Hascy, James O. Towner,
Ezra G. Benedict, Charles P. Easton,
James E. Craig, Eli C. Clark, Jr., Henry
S. Van Santford, James B. Kelly, Dean
Sage, Joshua Rathbun, Lemon Thom-
son, John C. Hubbell, Charles B.
Nichols, Samuel B. Towner.
Present officers: John McDonald,LUT
104
pres.; C. W. Easton, vice-pres.; Wal- First Lutheran, cor. Lodge and
ter G. White, treas.; Win. N. Fassett, Pine sts., Rev. George W. Miller, D.
sec.; James E. Craig, Oscar L. Hascy, D., pastor. Next to the Reformed
Austin E. Kibbee, managers; Samuel Dutch, this is the oldest church organi-
B. Towner, E. G. Benedict, John C. zation in the city, and the Albany Lu-
theran congregation is
the oldest of that de-
nomination in America,
although the precise date
of its establishment can-
not be ascertained. The
first edifice was built in
1668 or ’70, on the site
of the present City Build-
ing, S. Pearl st., and was
paid for, the old record
says, “ the first penny
and the last.” The first
minister was Rev. Johan-
nes Fabritius. The Epis-
copalians worshipped in
this church part of the
day in 1714 (See Epis-
copal Churches), and
in 1784-6, the two con-
gregations had a minister
in common. The society
was incorporated in 1784,
and in 1787, another
church built on the Pearl
st. lot in the centre of
the present st. In 1816,
a third church, 40x60,
was erected on the site
of the present edifice,
and cost $25,000; Philip
Hooker, architect. The
church owned real estate,
bounded by Eagle, Lan-
caster, Hawk and State
sts., upon which they
erected houses. In 1843,
Rev. Henry N. Pohlman,
D. D. became pastor, and
in 1868 was followed by Rev. Sam-
uel Sprecher. During his pastor-
ate in 1871, the present church
edifice was erected. It is 69x126 feet,
and cost $85,000, exclusive of the
FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH.
Hubbell, Robert L. Fryer, H. S. Van
Santford, arbitration committee.
Lutheran Churches. — With one
exception, the Lutheran churches in
this city are German This is the
ground. In 1872 the Rev. Irving Ma-MAD—MAR
105
gee, D. D., took charge and remained
with success until September, 1882.
The church was then without a pastor
until Feb. 17th, 1884, when the Rev.
Geo. W. Miller, from Plymouth, Ohio,
took charge. In 1873 the parsonage
was built, at a cost of about $10,000.
The official board is constituted as fol-
lows:	Elders, Joseph Kennedy, Si-
mon Vine and Sylvester Shaffer; dea-
cons, Chas. E. Carhart, M. B. Mathews,
Geo. Bouton; trustees, J. Van Wormer,
A. S. Draper, H. E. Pohlman, David
Caswell, C. E. Jenkins, Geo. N. Collier,
Fred Cook. The Sabbath School, of
which S. Shaffer is superintendent, has
429 members. It meets at 9 A. M.;
church services at 10^ and 7^. Prof.
Geo. Noyes Rockwell is organist and
choirmaster. During the earlier years,
no record of the members was kept.
There have been however, enrolled up
to the present time, 1,224 members;
present number entitled to communion,
338.
First German Evangelical.—
Fourth ave., cor. Franklin; Rev. Wil-
liam A. Frey, pastor. Organized in
1854. A week day parochial school
under Prof. J. Miller has a daily at-
tendance of 140 children. A new and
spacious church is soon to be erected.
St. Paul’s Evangelical.—Western
ave., near Lexington; Rev. G. Fr.
Stutz, pastor. The congregation sep-
arated from the First Lutheran, when
services there were held in English.
The former place of worship was on
State st., now the Law school. Moved
into present church in 1872: number
of families, .158; average attendance
at Sunday-school 230; parochial school
has 2 teachers and 115 pupils.
St. John’s Evangelical.—Central
ave.; Rev. Ernest Hoffman, pastor.
Organized 1857; building erected in
1859, when the present pastor was
installed. 130families: Sunday-school
350 scholars and 36 teachers. Day-
school, 125 scholars. Mr. H. Bosch,
teacher. Cemetery on the Sand Creek
road, and a mission chapel, 30 families,
50 Sunday-school scholars and 12
teachers.
German Evangelical Trinity.—58
Alexander st.; Rev. Conrad Kuehn,
pastor.
Madison Avenue. — Originally
Lydius st.; so named after Rev.
Johannes Lydius, and said to be the
only street so called in the Union.
Foolishly changed to Madison ave.
May 20, 1867.
Maiden Lane.— A narrow street
extending from the river to Eagle st.,
and the shortest and steepest route
from the depots to the Capitol. At its
foot is the Boston & Albany Railroad
ferry to East Albany. Near its foot is
the Saratoga depot. The Union depot
also discharges passengers into this
street. From Broadway to Pearl the
street is an important business thor-
oughfare. The jail is on this street,
near Eagle, and at the corner of Eagle
is the new City Hall. An ivy
growing to the rear wall of St. Peter’s
church, on this street, is worth seeing.
Market, State Street.—Is a prom-
inent, but not wholly unobjectionable
feature of Albany. Here farmers,
butchers, etc., in the morning, draw
their wagons up in line on both sides
of the horse railroad tracks, and with-
out license, fee or restriction of any
kind, vend their wares. Sometimes
the wagons extend round into Eagle
street. There is, of course, not the
slightest protection from the weather,
and the business is carried on in the
most primitive method imaginable.
The only thing to be said in its
favor is, that here consumer and pro-
ducer meet without the intervention of
middlemen or the payment of any
license, and that consequently Albany
is victualed cheaper than any otherMED—MES
106
city in the country. But this could
just as well be done in some less con-
spicuous place, and the removal of the
market is only a matter of time. It
was at one time ordered by the com-
mon council, but the action was recon-
sidered. So noble an avenue should
cease to be a nuisance.
Medical Associations.—The fol-
lowing are societies instituted and con-
ducted by physicians for their own
benefit and that of medical science :
Albany Academy of Medicine; Al-
bany County Eclectic Society, 22 mem-
bers; Albany County Homoeopathic
Society, has about 25 members; Al-
bany County Medical Society (allo-
pathic); organized July 29, 1806; 130
members. There is also the Albany
County Pharmaceutical Association.
Medical College. —The Albany
Medical College, on Eagle st., between
Jay and Lancaster, is the medical de-
partment of Union University (which
see). The building was erected by the
common council, at a cost of $24,000,
as a free school on the Lancasterian
plan, and opened with ceremony, April
5, 1817. The school lasted till 1834,
when it was superseded by the com-
mon school system of the state.
The Medical College was founded
by Drs. Alden March and James H.
Armsby, and was organized in 1838,
succeeding a medical class taught by
Dr. March since 1821. The old build-
ing was leased, rent free, by the com-
mon council to the college, the trustees
at once expending $5,000 in repairs.
The title to the building was purchased
in 1877, and now rests with the board
of trustees.
The first course of lectures was be-
gun Jan. 3, 1839, and the institution
was incorporated Feb. 16, following.
Since then, 4,652 students have attend-
ed its 50 sessions, and 1,657 have
graduated. Over 24,000 lectures have
been delivered. In April, 1873, it be-
came a part of LTnion University, re-
taining its original rights, and separate
existence and powers. Its faculty in-
cludes 20 members. It owns a highly
valuable library, much of which was
selected by T. Romeyn Beck. Its
laboratories are extensive and complete.
Its museum is the finest in all depart-
ments, of any medical collection in
America, and is unsurpassed, if equalled,
in Europe, and is so regarded by physi-
cians throughout the land. It is open
daily, and is visited by thousands, who
gaze with wonder, if not with admira-
tion, upon its countless specimens. Oth-
er advantages which the college
presents, are: Abundance of clinical
illustration afforded by the intimate
relations existing between the college
and the hospitals; and, through
the wise policy of the manage-
ment, a sufficient supply of anatom-
ical material, thus meeting every requi-
site of a medical college of the first
class. That it is of the first class is
demonstrated by its standard, which
insists upon preliminary examinations,
a graded course, and the absolute re-
quirement of three terms instead of
two. These regulations are made pos-
sible through the liberal financial policy
adopted by its staff which places the
college upon the basis of a funded
institution, independent as to whether
it has few students or many. It is a
notable fact, however, that since the
standard w7as raised, the attendance
has increased, and that the present
class is one of the largest ever entered.
The college is patronized largely by
the alumni, who have an association
organized Jan. 20, 1874, numbering
I,	061. Its annual meeting is held on
commencement day. The trustees of
the college have for president, Amasa
J.	Parker; treas. and sec., Joseph W.
Russell (See Pharmacy, College of) .
Messenger Service, The, has be-HUDSON AVENUE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHMET
107
come one of the necessaries of life in
the city. It began here in 1876 under
the American District Telegraph Co.
Each subscriber was furnished with a
signal box. By the pulling down of a
crank the number, peculiar to that box,
was recorded in the company’s office
on a self-acting register, and a uni-
formed messenger answered the call.
The system is still in vogue, although
in part superseded by the Telephone
(which see). The Commercial Tele-
phone Company, are now the owners
of the American District Telegraph
Co. Central office, 468 Broadway;
branch offices, 68 Washington ave.,
and S. Pearl cor. Hamilton st. From
40 to 60 boys are employed, the rates
being for 30 minutes or less, 10 cts.;
30 to 45 minutes, 15 cts.; 45 to 60
minutes, 20 cts.; each continuous hour
after the first, 15 cts. Boxes are placed
where there is any chance for business,
free of cost; the subscribers paying
only for service. The boys are used
for all sorts of work, and distribute
hundreds of thousands of invitations,
circulars, wedding cards, etc., etc.
Methodist Churches.—Following
will be found brief accounts of all
the Methodist churches in the city:
Hudson Avenue.—Located at the
cor. of Hudson ave. and Philip st.
A noble Gothic structure, purchased in
the summer of 1883, of the First Pres-
byterian Society. The original cost of
the property was $116,000. It was
purchased of the Presbyterians for
$25,000, and about $5,000 has since
been spent for repairs and improve-
ments, so that it is now more beautiful
than ever before. It was formally
re-opened in November, 1883, Bishop
Simpson preaching in the morning,
and Rev. C. N. Sims, D. D., in the
evening. The abandoned edifice of
the society still stands. It is a few
hundred feet east of the one now
occupied. It is a j>lain, old-fashioned
structure, but has had an interesting
history: was dedicated Sept% 27, 1844,
Rev. John Newland Maffitt preaching.
In 1865-6 the edifice was closed for
extensive improvements, and March
27, 1866, formally re-opened, Bishop
Simpson delivering the sermon. This
is the oldest Methodist Episcopal so-
ciety in the city. In 1765 or 6, Capt.
Thos. Webb, of the British army,
stationed in Albany as barrack-master,
began holding family services at his
own house, to which his neighbors
were invited Conversions occurred,
and a small society was formed. In
1790, a circuit, including this society,
was formed, with James Campbell as
circuit preacher. In r79i, a house of
worship was erected, south-east cor. of
Orange and Pearl sts., where it still
stands. When the Methodists left it,
in 1813, the Baptists for a time occu-
pied it as their first house of worship
in the city, and subsequently the Scotch
Presbyterians. In 1798 the city of
Albany was made a station. In 1813
the society erected a church on Division
st. In 1816 a Sunday-school was es-
tablished, one of the first in the city.
The Division st. church was occupied
by the society till the building of the
abandoned edifice in 1844. The follow-
ing is the list of the pastors from 1798:
Rev. Messrs. Joel Ketchum (1798),
Cyrus Stebbins, John Crawford and
Gideon A. Knowlton (1799-1804),
Elias Vanderlip (1805), William Phoe-
bus (1806-7), Truman Bishop (1808),
Daniel Ostrander (1809-10), Lewis
Pease (1811-12), Samuel Marvin
(1813). P. P. Sanford (1814), Thomas
Drummond (1815), William Phoebus
(1816), Truman Bishop (1817), Joseph
Crawford (1818-19), Samuel Marvin
(1820), Phineas Rice (1821-2), Tobias
Spicer (1823-4), Josiah Bowen (1825-
6), James Young (1827-8), J. C.
Green (1829-30), Samuel Luckey
(1831), J. B. Stratton (1832-3),
Charles Sherman (1834-5), A. M.MET
108
Osborn (1836-7), Truman Seymour
(1838-9), Noah Levings (1841-2),
Henry L. Starks (1842-3), Z. Phillips
(1844), Allen Steele (1845-6), Andrew
Witherspoon (1847), John Clark
(1848-9), Henry L. Starks (1850-51),
Stephen Parks (1852-3), Robert Fox
(1854), Stephen D. Brown (1855-6),
L. D. Stebbins (1857-8), B. O. Meeker
(1859-60), Mark Trafton (1861-2),
C. F. Burdick (1863), Ira G. Bidwell
(1864-5-6), Jesse T. Peck, now one of
the bishops of the M. E. Church
(1867-8-9), Merritt Hulburd (1870-
1-2), D. W. Dayton (1873-4-5), Philip
Krohn (1876-7), W. H. Meeker
(1878), E. McChesney (1879-81).
Present pastor, Rev. J. H. Coleman.
Sunday-school supt., Harvey Wendell.
St. Luke’s.—Clinton ave. corner of
Lexington ave. A beautiful and com-
modious Gothic structure, dedicated in
June, 1884. The Sunday-school and
lecture rooms were opened on Sunday,
Feb. 24, 1884, Rev. J- E. C. Sawyer
preaching on the occasion. Value of
the property, $40,000. The St. Luke’s
church was formed by the union of the
Garrettson Station and Central Avenue
societies. The Garrettson Station
church was organized in August, 1828.
It was for one year connected with the
Watervliet Circuit. The first place of
worship was an old building called
Mechanics’ Hall, then standing corner
Chapel and Columbia streets. The
first stationed preacher was Rev. John
J. Matthias, during whose pastorate of
two years the membership rose from
about ioo to 437. In 1829 the old
circus property, now 89 N. Pearl st.,
north of Columbia, was purchased, and
during the following winter and spring
was fitted up for church purposes, and
in June, 1830, was dedicated, the Rev.
Messrs. Samuel Merwin and John New-
land Maffitt preaching on the occasion.
This structure was rebuilt in 1851-2.
The Garrettson Station church was
served by the following pastors: John
P. Newman (1856-7), C. W. Cushihg
(1858-9), N. G. Spaulding (1860-1),
J. E. Bowen(1862-3),G. S. Chadbourne
(1864-6), Dexter E. Clapp (1867-8),
W. G. Waters (1869-70), W. J. Heath
(1871-3), S. McLaughlin (1874-6), J.
W. Thompson (1877-8). Rev. G. A.
Barrett then became pastor, and during
his administration the St. Luke’s church
was organized. He was succeeded in
the spring of 1882 by Rev. T. C. Pot-
ter, the present pastor. John A. Cox,
Sunday-school supt. The Central Ave.
Society, during its separate existence,
had the following pastors; P. P. Har-
rower (1871-2), Charles Reynolds
(1873), D. R. Lowell (1874-5), J. S.
Bridgford (1876), J. C. Russum (1877-
78), Rufus Wendell (1879), Hiram
Blanchard (1880).
Ash Grove.—Located on an ample
and beautiful lot cor. Ash Grove place
and Trinity place. Corner-stone laid
in August, 1864; dedicated July 6,
1865; seats 1,100; cost of church and
adjoining parsonage, including lot,
$100,000. No debt on church edifice;
about $1,000 on parsonage. In May,
1834, some 40 members were set off
from Garrettson Station Church and
organized under the name of Wesley
Chapel Church. Their first house of
worship was a building cor. Dallius
and Bleecker sts. In 1835 they Pur~
chased a lot on Herkimer st., between
Franklin and Pearl. A church was
built on this lot and dedicated in Sep-
tember, 1837. On April 20, 1839, it
was destroyed by fire. The society
then worshipped for a time in a build-
ing formerly occupied by the Uni-
versalists in Herkimer st. In 1842
this place of worship having been sold
to the Jews, the society was disbanded,
May 22, and Wesley Chapel ceased to
exist. But the Sabbath school teach-
ers immediately met and resolved to
hold their ground in the south part of
the city. A small room was hired in
John st., and the first Sabbath-school109
MET
was held there on May 29. On June
20, 1842, the little company was incor-
porated as a new society under the
name of the Ferry Street M. E. Church.
A church was erected cor. Ferry and
Franklin sts., and dedicated Dec. 4,
1842. In 1863 the membership having
become too large for the old church, it
was also sold to the Jews, and the
beautiful property known as Ash
Grove, lying on Westerlo, Grand and
Broad sts., purchased at a cost of
$24,000, and the present edifice built
and dedicated, Bishop Simpson preach-
ing the sermon. In the old mansion
which formerly occupied the site of the
church, Wm. H. Seward lived when
Governor of the State. The following
are the names of the ministers who
have been the regular pastors of this
society: Revs. Hiram Meeker, Daniel
F. Page, S. Remington, William
Griffin, Alfred Saxe, Timothy Bene-
dict, Lyman A. Santford, John Fraser,
A. A. Farr, Charles Devol, Hiram
Dunn, ]E. H. Foster, C. F. Burdick,
W. R. Brown, Stephen D. Brown,
W. P. Abbott, S. McChesney, S.
M’Kean, H. Graham, J. E. C. Sawyer,
and J. W. Alderman. Present pastor-,
J. W. Eaton, D. D. Number of mem-
bers about 350. The present supt. of
the Sunday-school is Byron M. Child.
Trinity, cor. Lark and Lancaster
sts. Corner-stone laid Oct. 10, 1875;
dedicated Dec. 28, 1876. The tran-
sept was erected in 1867. Cost, in-
cluding lot, $75,000. The parsonage,
closely adjoining on Lancaster street,
cost $8,000. This church is a beauti-
ful English Gothic structure of brick,
with stone trimmings. The auditorium
seats 800, and the transept 480; spire,
175 feet.
In 1835 three Methodist Episco-
pal churches in Albany, viz.: Division
street, Garrettson Station and Wesley
Chapel, jointly resolved to establish
another church further up town, and
unitedly rented a building on State st.,
originally erected and occupied by the
Primitive Methodists. The Law School
is on the site formerly occupied by this
building. At the next session of Troy
Conference, Rev. Charles T. Clarke
was appointed pastor over this new
charge. Their membership rapidly in-
creased, and in 1836 they were organ-
ized as the West Station M. E. church.
In 1850 they erected a larger edifice,
cor. of Washington ave. and Swan st.
Here they continued till they moved
into the transept of the present struc-
ture, in 1867, when they took the name
of Trinity church. The following is a
list of the pastors since i860: Revs.
M. Bates (i860), S. M. Merrill (1861-
62), A. J. Jutkins (1863), Bostwick
Hawley (1864-5), Richard Meredith
(1866, 1867-8), T. A. Griffin (1869),
Charles Reynolds (1870-1-2), W. H.
Rowsom (1873-4), Thomas Kelly
(1875-6-7), J. F. Clymer (1878-9), S.
M. Williams (1880-1), D. W. Gates
(1882-4). Present pastor, F. Widmer.
The membership is about 500. Con-
nected with the church is a large and
flourishing Sunday school, of which
Charles Gibson is supt.
Grace, cor. Ten Broeck st. and Liv-
ingston ave., is a beautiful structure of
unique design, which cost with lot
about $25,000. (See cut, p. no.) The
adjacent parsonage on Ten Broeck st.
cost $4,000. The corner-stone of the
church was laid Sept. 21, 1880, Rev. J.
E. C. Sawyer, Presiding Elder of Al-
bany District, delivering the address.
It was dedicated a few months later,
Bishop Foster preaching on the occa-
sion.
On May 3, 1869, the two churches
formerly known as the Broadway and
Arbor Hill M. E. churches, were con-
solidated, and the new society thus
constituted took the name of Grace
M. E. church. The present site was
immediately purchased, and in the fol-
lowing autumn work was begun on a
large wooden structure intended toMET—MOR
no
serve as a house of worship for a- few
years. Till this was completed, services
were held in the old buildings of the
two consolidated societies. This edifice
was dedicated Dec. 19* 1869, the Rev.
Samuel Meredith preaching. Early in
the year 1880 it was determined to
erect a more sightly and substantial
structure. On Sunday, April n, ap-
propriate closing services were held in
the old building, conducted by the pas-
GRACE M. E. CHURCH. ,
tor, Rev. H. D. Kimball. During the
following week it was demolished, and
the grading of the lot for the new
church was begun.
The following is a list of the pastors
of this society: Revs. J. W. Alderman
(1869-71), Homer Eaton (1872-4),
B. B. Loomis (1875-7), H. C. Sexton
(1878), H. D. Kimball (1879-81).
Present pastor, Rev. S. V. Leech, D. D.,
who is also chaplain of the State Senate.
South Mission, on Benjamin street.
Has done a good work for the last
twenty-five years. No regular pastor
until the spring of 1883, when Rev.
W. O. Tower was appointed. He was
succeeded in April, 1884, by the pres-
ent pastor, Rev. George A. Kerr. Wm.
M. Cox, Sunday school supt.
Methodist Preachers’ Meetings
are held every Monday morning in the
Hudson Avenue Methodist Church,
except once in every two months, when
a union meeting of the Albany and
Troy preachers is held in one of the
two cities. Papers on religious or
theological topics are read and dis-
cussed.
Military Associations.*—Besides
the National Guard (which see) Al-
bany boasts of at least two famous in-
dependent companies. The oldest of
these is the Burgesses Corps, organized
Oct. 8, 1833. Armory, Bleecker Hall,
529 Broadway. Oscar Smith, com.;
Galen R. Hitt, Pres.
The Albany Jackson Corps was
organized Aug. 13, 1868. Armory in
Beaver st., the old lecture room of the
Middle Dutch Church. James McFar-
lane, major, commanding.
Morse’s Geography.—The fifth
edition of Morse’s Geography, and his
Gazeteer of 1797, both have the fol-
lowing notice of Albany:
“ The city and suburbs, by enumeration in
1797, contain 1,263 buildings, of which 863 are
dwelling houses, and 6,021 inhabitants. Many
of them are in the Gothic style, with the gable
end to the street,” etc.
Mr. Munsell, in attempting to vindi-
cate the doctor’s English, quotes from
two earlier editions, but curiously
enough, it is those which came after,
that located the inhabitants of Albany
in such an extraordinary manner.Ill
MUS
Museum Corner.—The north-west
corner of Broadway and State st. The
Museum was erected by Thorp &
Sprague, and opened as a place of
MUSEUM CORNER.
amusement Jan. i, 1831. It was used
as such till April 28* 1855, and then
converted into offices, etc. For a score
of years it was the leading theatre. It
has been damaged by fire several times.
Museum of Natural History, The
State, as its name implies, was intend-
ed primarily to embrace an exhibition
of the natural productions of the State
of New York in the several depart-
ments of Botany, Zoology, Geology
and Mineralogy; and this intention
has constantly been kept in view in its
subsequent management. The exist-
ence of the State Museum, organized
in 1836, is directly due to the geologi-
cal survey of the State, and the foun-
dation of its collections was derived
from the same source. In 1840, Gov.
Seward recommended that the collec-
tions of this survey be placed in the
Old State Hall (then about to be va-
cated by the State officers) for “ safe-
keeping.” This recommendation was
accepted; a legislative enactment fol-
lowed, and the State Hall, which was
erected in 1797, was made the deposi-
tory of the then existing collections;
and at a later period the State Agricul-
tural Society was authorized to occupy
a part of the building. The want of
sufficient accommodation for the two
organizations induced the legislature
to make appropriation for a new build-
ing to be erected in place of the old,
and the collections, libraries, etc., of
the State Cabinet and of the State Ag-
ricultural Society were transferred to
the new building in 1858. In 1865
the legislature passed resolutions recog-
nizing the importance of making the
State Cabinet of Natural History a mu-
seum of scientific and practical geology
and comparative zoology. In 1870
the legislature passed a law organizing
“The State Museum of Natural His-
tory,” and providing an annual appro-
priation for its support.
The present building has long been
inadequate for the proper arrangement
and exhibition of the collections and in
1883 the legislature passed an act giv-
ing to the museum the State Hall as
soon as the same shall cease to be oc-
cupied fur State offices, and also pro-
vided for the fitting up of the building
for the requirements of the museum.
This will make one of the finest mu-
seum buildings in the country and in-
sure the preservation of the collections.
The staff of the museum consists of
James Hall, director and geologist, and
three assistants; J. A. Lintner, ento-
mologist, appointed July 29,	1881,
under Chap. 377, Laws of 1881; office
Room 27, Capitol, fourth floor, north;
Charles H. Peck, botanist.
Geological Hall.
The present building is of brick, four
stories high, fronting on State street, at
the corner of Lodge, with a wing of
three stories in the rear, devoted to. a
large lecture-room on the ground floor,
and the museum of agricultural imple-
ments and products in the stories
above. On the lower or basement
floor, and on the same level as the lec-MUS
112
ture-room, at the east end of the main
building, are two rooms occupied with
the work of cutting and preparing thin
sections of fossils of minute structure,
for the purpose of microscopic study
in the museum. The machinery and
appliances for this work are of superi-
or character, and the results are of
great importance and interest to the
museum and to science.
GEOLOGICAL HALL.
The First Floor of the main build-
ing is occupied by the offices and li-
braries of the State Museum and of
the State Agricultural Society; and in
the rear of the former a large working-
room is furnished with about 300
drawers for the reception of collections
in process of preparation and arrange-
ment. The main entrance hall exhib-
its a collection of dressed blocks of
granite, marble, freestone, etc., the
products of New York and adjacent
states.
The Second Floor is occupied by
the collections illustrating the Geology
and Palaeontology of the State. The
wall-cases, and a single series of table-
cases around the room, are occupied
by the rock specimens, whether fossil-
iferous or otherwise, and are arranged
in such order that in going from left to
right they show the geological super-
position of the formations, each right-
hand case containing specimens of the
rock or formation lying next above the
one on the left. This is supplemented
by a colored geological section extend-
ing around the room above the cases,
and so arranged that each formation
shown in the section is represented by
characteristic specimens in the case be-
low. Besides this illustration, there
are enlarged figures of the character-
istic fossils placed in the upper part
of the case above each formation. The
entire arrangement is simple and in-
structive, and easily understood. The
collection of fossils (Palaeontology) oc-
cupies the table-cases in the central
portion of the floor, and also a large
number of drawers beneath the table-
cases. This collection is arranged in
the same simple and systematic order
as the geological formations; and un-
der each formation there is a natural
history arrangement of the genera and
species of the fossils. This collection
of rock specimens, and of fossils, pre-
sents the most complete geological se-
ries of the older rocks, to the base of
the coal measures, of any in the
world, the older or palaeozoic rocks of
the state of New York being more
complete and less interrupted in their
order of succession. Also along the
west side of the room, are arranged a
series of large blocks of magnetic iron
ore representing the principal mines of
Northern New York and Orange coun-
ty.
The Third Floor is occupied by
the collections from geological forma-
tions above the coal measures, both
American and European, and by the
Mineralogical collections. The fossil
series represent the period from the
New Red Sandstone to the Pleistocene.MUS
ii3
The Pleistocene of North America is
represented by the Cohoes mastodon
skeleton, and other remains of masto-
don and fossil elephants from different
points; the Pleistocene of South Ameri-
ca by the casts of the gigantic Mega-
therium and other forms of that age;
and the same of Europe, by the skele-
ton of the Megaceros Hibernicus. The
wall-cases are, in part, occupied by a
collection of the minerals of the State,
and, in part devoted to a general col-
lection of minerals from all parts of
the world.
Thr Fourth Story is occupied by
the Zoological collection, representing
the fauna of the State of New York,
and to some extent other portions of
the world. The western part of the
room is devoted especially to the New
York fauna, which is represented in its
mammals, birds, reptiles, fishes, crusta-
ceans, and shells. The eastern part of
the room is occupied, in part, by a case,
containing a large collection of birds,
with some mammals, which were pre-
sented to the Museum as a special and
separate collection, by Mr. de Rham,
of New York, and is known as the De
Rham collection. Other cases at the
extreme east end, and partially on the
south side, are devoted to the skins and
skeletons of fishes, and to a general
collection of skeletons of mammals,
birds, reptiles, etc. The Ethnological
and Historical collections occupy some
wall-cases upon the north side of the
room, and the central-north side by
cases containing chiefly corals and
echinoderms. The centre of the room
is occupied by two double ranges of
table-cases, containing the Gould col-
lection of shells, of 6,000 species, and
more than 60,000 specimens; and in
the area, near the east end of the
room, a double range of table-cases
contains the Mazatlan collection of
shells, presented to the Museum by the
late Philip P. Carpenter.
Since 1866, the collections of the
Museum have been more than doubled
in every one of the departments, while
in some classes, as in the shells, the
increase has been more than fifty fold.
At the present time, every available
space in the Museum is filled with spe-
cimens; and in Geology and Palaeon-
tology the collections, for which no
room can be found, are more than
twice as great as those already ar-
ranged. All the collections are ar-
ranged for study and comparison, and
the Museum is strictly an educational
institution, which is made available by
thousands of students and by the pub-
lic, and its influence is gradually per-
vading the entire community.
Being a State institution, the Mu-
seum should be considered as cosmo-
politan. Its intentions are to cover the
whole field of natural research, and to
be a centre for the dissemination of
a technical and popular knowledge of
the products, fauna, and flora of the
entire State. With this view, it should
be an object of interest for the remote
portions of the State, as well as the
immediate locality.
Music Hall.—S. Pearl st., cor. Bea-
ver. Erected in 1870. Is the largest
hall in the city. Many very fine per-
formances have been given here. Has
scenery, curtain, dressing rooms, etc.
Will seat 1,306, but often holds very
many more. Is now used as a museum
or popular place of amusement; ad-
mission 10 and 20 cents, and it is as-
tonishing how much is given for so
little. Living wonders and curiosities
of all sorts are displayed in one depart-
ment, and variety performances, min-
strels, and even comic operas are given
afternoon and evening for the one
price. F. F. Levantine, manager after
August 1, 1884, having leased the hall
for five years. The performances are
attended by ladies and children, in short,
it is a family resort for the people, at
prices which everybody can afford to pay.MUS—NAT
114
Musical Societies.—Considerable
attention is paid to music in Albany,
and amateur opera has been given
here with great completeness and suc-
cess. The Albany Musical Association
meets every Monday evening at Fe-
male Academy. Has a chorus of over
100 voices. Visitors admitted on ap-
plication. R. G. Wilbur, pres.; R. F.
Macfarlane, vice-pres.; D. Whittle,
treas.; J. G. Parkhurst, conductor; E.
Parkhurst, accompanist. There are
also several German societies, including
the Manner Quartette, the Eintracht,
the Cecelia, the Apollo and others.
Names of Streets. —Albany streets
have had their names changed fre-
quently, and not always lor the better.
Many of the following changes have
occurred since 1805:
Kilby to Hamilton.
Bone lane to Division.
Cow lane to Union.
Grass lane to Liberty.
Nail to Lutheran.
Lutheran to Howard.
Barrack to Chapel.
Market to Broadway (north.)
Court to Broadway (south.)
King to Lion.
Lion to Washington.	.
Washington st. to Washington ave.
Queen to Elk.
Boscawen to Swan.
Capitol to Park.
Mark lane to Exchange.
Middle lane to James.
Howe to Fox.
Fox to Canal.
Vreelinghuysen to Franklin.
Jonkers to Prince.
Prince to Deer.
Deer to State.
Dock to Dean.
Bass lane to Bleecker.
Store lane to Norton. *
Warren to Dove.
Johnson to Lark.
Swallow to Knox.
Schenectady to Snipe.
Snipe st. to Lexington ave.
Schoharie to Duck.
Pitt to Otter.
Sand to Laiayette.
Otter to Wolfe.
Wolfe to Lydius.
Lydius to Madison ave.
Wall to Hare.
Hare to Orange.
Van Driesen to Green.
South to Gansevoort.
High to Ten Broeck.
Hallenbeck to Grand.
Preaudieux to Buffalo.
Buffalo to Hudson.
Hudson st. to Hudson ave.
Mink to West Ferry.
West Ferry to Myrtle ave.
Malcomb to Broad.
Embargo alley to Dennison.
Whitehall road to Whitehall ave.
Whitehall ave to Second ave.
Van Vechten to Third ave.
Delaware Turnpike to Delaware ave.
Elizabeth to Second.
John to Third.
Orchard to North Pearl.
Bowery to Central ave.
Patroon to Clinton av6.
Van Schaick to Monroe.
Tiger to Lancaster.
Lumber to Livingston ave..
Part of Perry to Lake ave.
Names of streets cannot under the
present charter be changed, except by
unanimous vote of all members elected
to the common council and approved
by the mayor, and streets shall not be
named “ after or with the name of any
living person.”
National Commercial Bank.—
No. 38 State st. Chartered March 30,
1825, Joseph Alexander, G. W. Stan-
ton, Alexander Davidson and David
E. Gregory having given notice Nov.
19. 1823, of application to the legisla-
ture for an act of incorporation. Its
early days were not peaceful. The
stock books having been opened the
last of May, 1825 for a subscription of
$300,000, they were closed three days
after, when the amount subscribed was
found to exceed $1,500,000. The stock
not having been distributed to the sat-
isfaction of all the subscribers, an in-
dignation meeting was called at the
Capitol, which was largely attended.
The ground of complaint seemed to be
that the bank was petitioned for by men
of small means, but the stock had
been taken by capitalists. The direct-
ors of the bank were* for a time en-NAT
JI5
joined from opening, but Aug. 29,
1826, the chancellor decided that the
bank might go into operation so far as
to issue bills and discount notes, but
prohibited any transfer of stock, or
making any loans or pledges on stock.
The following persons were present at
the first meeting of directors held at
Knickerbocker Hall, May 23, 1826:
Joseph Alexander, Willard Walker,
John Townsend, Seth Hastings, Ira
Jenkins, Asa H. Center, Lewis Bene-
dict, Joshua Tuffs, Robert Gilchrist,
David E. Gregory, George W. Stanton,
Richard Marvin. Joseph Alexander
was elected president and Henry Bar-
tow, cashier. The bank began busi-
ness Sept. 5, 1826, with a capital of
$300,000, and continued until the expi-
ration of its charter on the 1st July.
1845, and under an extension of its
charter until July 1, 1847, when it was
reorganized under the general banking
law of the State. Feb. 1, 1855, the
capital stock was increased to $500,000.
Aug. 1, 1865, the bank was reorgan-
ized and began business under the act
of Congress as a national institution.
The capital stock was reduced to $300,-
000, June 10, 1875, the amount of the
reduction being paid to the stockhold-
ers. Mr. Alexander was succeeded in
the office of president by the following
persons, who were elected at the dates
given: John Townsend, June 7, 1832;
John L. Schoolcraft, Aug. 31, 1854;
Ezra P. Prentice, June 13, i860; Robt,
H. Pruyn, Nov. 24, 1875; Daniel Man-
ning, March 4, 1882.	v
The several cashiers have been:
Henry Bartow, July 13, 1826; James
Taylor, Nov. 2, 1835; Andrew White,
March 17, 1854; Powers L. Green.
June 16, 1855; Vischer Ten Eyck, July
7, 1858; Eliphalet Wickes, Aug. 11,
1862; James Martin, Feb. 24, 1866;
Edward A. Groesbeck, April 30, 1873.
This bank has been the custodian of
the public funds during the greater
part of its existence, and has rendered
very valuable service to the State in
the safe-keeping of its moneys and in
making large advances to its various
departments whenever needed. It is
also the depository of the city and
county funds. It deservedly stands in
the first rank among the banks in the
vicinity, enjoying the confidence of
the community as a safe and prosper-
ous institution. Present capital is
$300,000; surplus and profits, $475,000;
deposits, $4,700,000. Board of direct-
ors :	Daniel Manning, Maurice E.
Viele, Abraham Lansing, Simon W.
Rosendale, James E. Craig, Robert C.
Pruyn, Nathan B. Perry, James M.
Warner, Grange Sard. The building
was erected in 1816; remodelled in
1851, and again in 1876.
National Guard, State of New
York.— Headquarters at the office of
the Adjutant-General, in the Capitol.
Fifth Brigade, Third division, has
headquarters at 42 Willett street. Gen.
Robert Shaw Oliver commanding.
Tenth Battalion, four companies,
has headquarters at State armory (see
Armory). Lieut.-Col. Wm. E. Fitch
commanding.
Armament: Remington rifles and
one Gatling gun. Calibre .50.
Feb. 17, 1881, Companies A, B, D
and K of the Tenth Regt. were de-
tached therefrom and organized as the
Tenth Battalion, the Tenth Regt., with
its remaining companies, being then
disbanded.
A company was organized as an in-
dependent company about June 7,
i860, and is known as the Albany
Zouave Cadets; joined the National
Guard and Tenth Regt. Dec. 29, i860;
was mustered in United States service
as A company, 177th N. Y. Vol., Nov.
21, 1862, for nine months; mustered
out Sept. 10, 1863; was engaged in
U. S. service at Ponchatoula, Scivique’s
Ferry and Port Hudson: in the State
service in the summer of 1865 in theNAY—NEW
116
“ anti-rent war,” and in July, 1877,
during railroad riots at West Albany;
during the war furnished for the armies
of the United States nearly seventy-
five commissioned officers. Present
commander,----------------------. Ar-
mory, 80 and 82 State street. An Old
Guard was organized Dec. 7, 1883.
John H. Reynolds, pres.; George H.
Stevens, vice-pres.; James H. Man-
ning, sec.; Harry C. Cushman, treas.
B company, Washington Continen-
tals, was organized as an independent
company July 4, 1854; joined the
militia as a company of light artillery
attached to 76th regt., Aug. 28, 1856;
assigned to 29th regt., Dec. 26, i860;
became the nucleus and B company of
10th regt., Dec. 29, i860; mustered in
and out U. S. V. with A company (see
above), and has seen the same service.
Furnished U. S. Vols. with 60 officers.
Present commander, Capt. and Brevet
Maj. Horatio P. Stacpole. Armory,
108 and no State st. (See Military
Associations.)
Navigation, Opening and Closing
of.—The following table of the open-
ing and closing of navigation on the
Hudson river and the canals is pub-
lished officially in the “ Red Book ”
(Legislative Manual) :
River.	Canal.
Open. Closed.		Open.		Closed.	
1824 March 3 Jan.	5	April	3b	Dec.	4
1825 March 6 Dec.	13	April	12	Dec.	5
1826 Feb. 25 Dec.	13	April	20	Dec.	18
1827 March 20 Nov.	25	April	22	Dec.	18
1828 Feb. 8 Dec.	23	March	27	Dec.	20
1829 April 1 Jan.	14	May	2	Dec.	17
1830 March 15 Dec.	25	April	20	Dec.	17
1831 March 15 Dec.	6	April	16 Dec.		1
1832 March 25 Dec.	21	April	25	Dec.	21
1833 March 21 Dec.	13	April	19	Dec.	12
1834 Feb. 25 Dec.	15	April	*7	Dec.	12
1835 March 25 Nov.	3°	April	15	Nov.	30
1836 April 4 Dec.	7	April	25	Nov.	26
1837 March 27 Dec.	14	April	20	Dec.	9
1838 March 19 Nov.	25	April	12	Nov.	25
1839 March 25 Nov.	18	April	20	Dec.	16
1840 Feb. 25 Nov.	5	April	20	Dec.	9
1841 March 24 Nov.	19	April	24	Nov.	30
1842 Feb. 4 Nov.	28	April	20	Nov.	28
River.	Canal.
Open. Closed.		Open. Closed.		
1843 April 13 Dec.	10	May	1 Nov.	30
1844 March 18 Dec.	17	April	18 Nov.	26
1845 Feb. 24 Dec.	3	April	15 Nov.	29
1846 March 18 Dec.	14	April	16 Nov.	25
1847 April 7 Dec.	25	May	1 Nov.	3®
1848 March 22 Dec.	27	May	1 Dec.	9
1849 March 19 Dec.	26	May	1 Dec.	5
1850 Mareh 10 Dec.	*7	April	22 Dec.	11
1851 Feb. 25 Dec.	14	April	15 Dec.	5
1852 March 28 Dec.	23	April	20 Dec.	16
1853 March 23 Dec.	21	April	20 Dec.	20
1854 March 17 Dec.	8	May	1 Dec.	3
1855 March 27 Dec.	20	May	1 Dec.	10
1856 April 11 Dec.	14	May	5 Dec.	4
1857 Feb. 27 Dec.	27	May	6 Dec.	15
1858 March 20 Dec.	17	April	28 Dec.	8
1859 March 13 Dec.	10	April	15 Dec.	12
i860 March 6 Dec.	14	April	25 Dec.	12
1861 March 5 Dec.	23	May	1 Dec.	10
1862 April 4 Dec.	19	May	1 Dec.	10
1863 April 3 Dec.	11	May	1 Dec.	9
1864 March 11 Dec.	12	April	30 Dec.	8
1865 March 22 Dec.	16	May	1 Dec.	12
1866 March 20 Dec.	15	May	1 Dec.	12
1867 March 26 Dec.	8	May	6 Dec.	20
1868 March 24 Dec.	5	May	. 4 Dec.	7
1869 April 5 Dec.	9	May	6 Dec.	10
1870 March 31 Dec.	17	May	10 Dec.	8
1871 March 12 Nov.	29	April	24 Dec.	1
1872 April 7 Dec.	9	May	13 Dec.	1
1873 April 16 Nov.	22	May	15 Dec.	5
1874 March 19 Dec.	12	May	5 Dec.	5
1875 April 13 Nov.	29	May	18 Nov.	*3°
1876 April 1 Dec.	2	May	4 Dec.	1
1877 March 30 Dec.	3i	May	8 Dec.	7
1878 March 14 Dec.	20	April	15 Dec.	7
1879 April 4 Dec.	20	April	8 Dec.	6
1880 March 5 Nov.	25	April	16 Nov.	*21
1881 March 21 Jan.	2	May	12 Dec.	8
1882 March 8 Dec.	4	April	11 Dec.	7
1883 March 29 Dec.	15	May	7 Dec.	1
1884 March 27				May	6 		
Newsboys’ Lodging Room. —
Under the charge of the ladies’ auxil-
iary board of the City Tract and Mis-
sionary Society. Located in the old
mission building on Rensselaer st.
Mrs. Hamilton Harris, 722 Broadway,
chairman. Is supplied with beds, toi-
let and bath room, wardrobe and libra-
ry. Terms, 10 cts. a night.
News Company, Albany.—512
Broadway, John W. Robe, manager.
The institution through which Albany
* By ice.NEW
i]
and the surrounding country is in a
great measure supplied with newspa-
per and periodical literature, besides
large quantities of stationery and other
goods usually kept at news stands and
stores. The company was organized
on the nth of April, 1870, Mr. Robe
having, at that time, had several years’
experience in the business. Its success
was immediate, and is visibly increas-
ing every month. Within a few years
it has more than trebled, and now
three stories, running through from
Broadway to James st., are not suffi-
cient to fully accommodate the trade.
Scarcely a passenger train leaves Al-
bany in any direction that does not
carry with it wares from this establish-
ment. Almost every news stand, from
Pittsfield on the east to Buffalo on the
west, from Poughkeepsie on the south
to Lake Champlain on the north, and
southwest to Binghampton, is supplied
from this great depot. By special ar-
rangements made with the American
News Company, the various monthly
and weekly publications are placed in
the hands of this company on sale sim-
ultaneously with their appearance in
New York. Dealers in this vicinity,
therefore, find it quite as much to their
advantage to deal with Mr. Robe as to
go further away from home. Every-
thing in the book-seller’s and station-
er’s line is furnished, from a bottle of
ink to the last new novel. The latest
books are received on the day of pub-
lication and others are readily sup-
plied. As many of the news rooms,
especially in the country, are tobacco
and cigar stores as well, these goods
have within a few years been added to
the assortment, and full lines are kept
constantly on hand. The cigars, cigar-
ettes and tobacco of the Albany News
Company’s brand are among the most
popular in market, and the promptness
with which such and all other orders
are filled is always gratifying. In the
season of ball and croquet playing,
7
lawn tennis, etc., the trade in games is
a great feature. Recently the jobbing
trade in fireworks has been made a
specialty, and for a few weeks prior to
our great national holiday the amount
of powder and patriotism sent out from
this establishment is remarkable. Price
lists of newspapers are sent free on
application of dealers, and quotations
on books and stationery are always
furnished cheerfully.
Newspapers and Periodicals.—
The first newspaper printed in Albany
was the Gazette, issued probably in
November, 1771, by Alexander and
James Robertson. It was not a success
and was soon discontinued. The N.
Y. Gazetteer, or Northern Intelligencer,
was started in 1792 by Solomon Balen-
tine and Charles R. Webster, and
lasted a year or so. On the 28th of
May, 1784, Webster started another
Gazette, which existed till 1845, when
it was the oldest in the State. The
first daily paper in this city was the
Advertiser, established in 1815, and
subsequently united with the Gazette.
Newspapers of To-day.
Albany Argus.— Established Jan.
26, 1813, as a semi-weekly; was issued
daily on arid after Oct. 18, 1825.
United with the Atlas Feb. 18, 1856.
Now published daily, semi-weekly and
weekly — Sunday edition established
May 13, 1877; Democratic; the county
and city paper; office, Beaver st., cor.
Broadway; Argus Co., proprietors.
Albany Evening Journal.—Estab-
lished March 22, 1830, as a political
anti-masonic organ, by B. D. Packard
& Co.; Thurlow Weed, editor. Now
published as a daily, semi-weekly and
weekly; Republican; official county
paper; office, 61 State st.; The Journal
Co., proprietors.
Albany MornIng Express.— Es-
tablished May 4, 1857, by Stone and
Henly; Republican; the State paper;NOR
118
published daily, including Sunday;
office, Green st., cor. Beaver; Albany
Morning Express Co., proprietors.
Albany Times.—Established as a
morning paper, April 21, 1856, by
Stone & Co..; consolidated with the
Evening Courier, March 1, 1861. First
issued as an evening paper, Sept. 25,
1865. In 1871 it became a member of
the Associated Press. Democratic in
politics; official city paper; has pub-
lished a weekly edition since 1872;
office, 401 Broadway; Theophilus C.
Callicot, editor and proprietor.
Press and Knickerbocker.— The
Sunday Press was first issued May 15,
1870, and for several years was the
only Sunday paper in Albany. Feb.
26, 1877, the proprietors issued the
Daily Press, and Aug. 13 of the same
year, bought and consolidated with it,
the Knickerbocker, established in 1843;
The Press Co., proprietors. They also
publish the Weekly Press. Office, 18
Beaver st.
Evening Post.— Established Oct.
23, 1865. Office, 7 Hudson avenue.
M. & E. Griffin, proprietors; R. M.
Griffin, editor.
Evening Union.—Established as a
labor organ. One of the three official
city papers.
Freie Blaetter.— Daily German
paper, established in 1852. Office, 44
Beaver st. A. Miggael, editor and
proprietor.
Albany Daily Herold. — Daily
German paper. Jacob Heinmiller,
proprietor. Office, 87 Westerlo st.
Albany Law Journal.—Published
weekly by Weed, Parsons & Co. Es-
tablished in 1870.
Cultivator and Country Gentle-
man.—Published at 395 Broadway, by
L. Tucker & Son. The oldest agricul-
tural weekly in the country. The
Genesee Farmer was started at Roches-
ter in 1831, by Mr. Tucker; the Culti-
vator, at Albany, in 1834, by Judge
Buel. They were consolidated in 1840,
and took the present title in Jan. I,
1853-
Poultry Monthly.—Published by
the Ferris Publishing Co., at 481
Broadway.
The Work at Home.—Official or-
gan of the Albany City Tract and
Missionary Society; also a record of
the general church work of the city.
Edited by Rev. Charles Reynolds and
George Sanderson, Jr. Office, 9 North
st. Circulation, 3,000 copies monthly.
Subscription, #1.
The Voice. — Published monthly.
Edgar S. Werner, 59 Lancaster st.,
editor and proprietor; specialty, voice
culture and the cure of vocal defects.
The only journal of its kind in the
world; $1 a year.
New York, West Shore & Buffalo
R. R.—(See West Shore R. R.)
Normal School, The State, was
established May 7, 1844, as a five
years’ experiment (David P. Page,
principal), and was made permanent
in 1848. The building cor. of Lodge
and Howard sts. was first occupied
OLD NORMAL SCHOOL.
July 31, 1849. Previously, sessions
had been held at 119 State st., in theNEW NORMAL SCHOOL, WILLETT ST.—-[Ogden and Wright, Architects.]NOR—ODD
119
building erected as a depot by the Mo-
hawk and Hudson railroad. The
Lodge st. edifice is four stories and a
basement; 120 feet by 78, and has a
hall 46x98; cost $25,000. The presi-
dent, E. P. Waterbury, A. M., Ph. D.,
took charge of the school in June,
1882. The design of the institution is
for the instruction and practice of
teachers of common schools in the
science of education and the art of
teaching. The pupils, who come from
all parts of the state, receive tuition
and the use of text-books free. Males
are admitted at eighteen and females
at sixteen years of age.
The New Building, in process of
erection from designs by Ogden &
Wright, architects, will be ready for
occupancy in May, 1885. It is situated
on Willett st., near Madison ave., and
fronts on Washington park. It is
built of the free-stone of the old Capi-
tol and Philadelphia brick; 128 by 160
feet, court in centre 50 by 90; will ac-
commodate 670 pupils, including 400
normals, 200 in the model department,
50 in Kindergarten and 20 in object
class. The roof over the lower front
portion will be used as a botanical gar-
den. The great hall in the rear will
contain a $5,000 alumni memorial win-
dow (16 by 30), shown in cut. The
southwest corner will be the residence
of the president. Cost, with ground,
exclusive of furnishing, $140,000.
Normanskill.—Flows into the Hud-
son below the city. Named after Al-
bert Andrissen Bradt de Noorman,who
settled here in 1630 and died in 1686.
(See Yale of Tawasentha.)
Odd Fellows, The Independent
Order of, has four supreme grand
lodges. One each in the United States,
the German Empire, Australia, and
New Zealand. In certain respects the
Sovereign Grand Lodge of the United
States has jurisdiction over the order
in all these countries. In the United
States there are 51 subordinate grand
lodges, 42 grand encampments, 7,650
subordinate lodges, and 1,878 subordi-
nate encampments. Besides these there
are 1,031 Rebekah degree lodges, com-
posed of Odd Fellows of the Scarlet
degree, their wives and daughters.
The total membership of the order in
this country is 515,320. Amount ex-
pended by the order throughout the
country for relief in 1883 was $2,-
000,000. Total revenue 1883, $6,000,-
000. Total membership in New York
State, 43,500.
The first regular Odd Fellow’s lodge
in the United States was Washington
Lodge, instituted in Baltimore, April
26, 1819. The first lodge regularly in-
stituted in this State was Shakspeare
lodge, located at No. 17 Fair st., now
135 Fulton st., New York.
In September, 1827, a charter was
granted to Past Grand Russell Watts
and Brothers John Snyder, John Os-
borne, Isaac L. Welch, and Peter H.
Snyder, to open a lodge in Albany,
and Nov. 7th of that year Philanthrop-
ic Lodge No. 5 was instituted in reg-
ular form. This lodge has for many
years been extinct, as has also Union
Lodge No. 8.
In 1828, three of the six lodges in
the State were located at Albany, and
that year the Grand Lodge of the State
was removed from New York to this
city, and remained here until 1836.
Among the representative Albanians
who were members of the order at
that time, were John O. Cole, John
Van Ness Yates, Joseph Barton, Wm.
L. Osborn, Daniel P. Marshal, Chr.s.
Dillon, Jacob Henry, Richard Starr,
Alex. Cameron, Wm. Lelachure, Mal-
colm McPherson, and P. H. Snyder.
There are at present fourteen subor-
dinate Odd Fellows lodges in this city,
as follows: Hope Lodge No. 2, insti-
tuted April 24, 1826; reinstituted July
15, 1844; Clinton Lodge No. 7, insti-ODD
120
tuted Jan. 9, 1829; reinstituted Aug.
26, 1846; John O. Cole, father of F.
W. Cole, was its first Noble Grand.
German Colonial Lodge, No. 16, insti-
tuted Feb. 13, 1835; Jacob Henry,
first Noble Grand. American Lodge,
No. 32, instituted Dec. 5, 1837; rein-
stituted Feb. 11, 1840; O. A. Kingsley,
first Noble Grand. Firemen's Lodge,
No. 19, instituted Jan. 4,1838. Phoenix
Lodge, No. 41, instituted Oct. 3, 1840.
Samaritan Lodge, No. 93, instituted
Aug. 4, 1843. Mount Hermon Lodge,
No. 38, instituted June 18, 1847. Scho-
negh-ta-da Lodge, No. 87, instituted
Dec. 1, 1850. Mount Carmel Lodge,
No. 76, instituted Dec. 1, 1850. Beav-
erwyck Lodge, No. 261, instituted Dec.
9, 1870; H. A. Anthony, first Noble
Grand. Mountaineer Lodge, No. 321,
instituted May 14, 1872. Albany City
Lodge, No. 385, instituted April 6,
1874. Capital City Lodge, No. 440,
instituted Sept. 23, 1875; L. DeBlaey,
first Noble Grand. These 14 lodges
have a total membership of 1,735.
Albany has also two encampments
which are composed of Odd Fellows
who have passed through the five de-
grees in the subordinate lodges: New
York Encampment No. 1, instituted
1829; reinstituted Sept. 23,1846. (This
was the first encampment in the State,
and for a time was endowed with Grand
Encampment powers.) Albany En-
campment No. 58, instituted Aug. 23,
1871.
Among the prominent men who
have been connected with the order
since its first inception in this city, in
addition to those already named, are :
Robert H. Pruyn, Eli Perry, Rufus
King, John O. Cole, Hooper C. Van
Voorst, Gen. John Groesbeck, R. G.
Beardslee, Jacob Henry, John R. Tay-
lor, Thomas W. Van Alstyne, H. D.
Curran, Cornelius Ten Broeck, Albert
H. Brown, John Morgan, Warren S.
Low, Stephen Van Schaick, S. G.
Courtney, J. H. Van Antwerp, Wm.
N. Strong, Geo. B. Steele, Joel Mun-
sell, John R. Vernam, A. P. Palmer,
Wm. A. Young, Wm. A. Wharton,
Wm. A. Rice, R. H. Waterman, Lewis.
Rathbone, Jas. W. Cox.
Albany has furnished* the following
Grand Masters and Grand Patriarchs
for this State; Grand Masters, Jetur
Gardner, Cornelius Glen, Wm. Lacy.
Grand Patriarchs, John R. Taylor,
Horace D. Curran, Cornelius Glen,
Frapcis Rogers.
Fred. W. Grant is the present Dis-
trict Deputy Grand Master of Albany
District, and E. E. Richmond, District
Deputy Grand Patriarch.
There is a Funeral Aid Association
connected with the order which at
present numbers 372 members. Upon
the death of a member, the surviving
members each pay $1.10 into the treas-
ury, $1.00 of which from each goes to
the family of the deceased.
The Grand Committee of this dis-
trict is composed of all Past Noble
Grands in good standing. The com-
mittee has stated meetings quarterly to
legislate in the interests of the order.
Francis Rodgers, sec.
For eight consecutive years, com-
mencing with Wm. A. Rice in 1846,
and ending with Gilbert L. Wilson in
1853, the Presidents of the Young
Men’s Association were taken from the
membership of Hope Lodge No. 2.
Besides these, five other Presidents of
the Association, commencing with
Robert H. Pruyn in 1838, and ending
with Robert L. Johnson in 1859, were
members of this lodge, making thir-
teen in all.
About five years ago a movement
was made by F. W. Cole (then Dis-
trict Deputy Grand Master) and a few
energetic members of the fraternity, to
secure a hall where all the lodges could
meet, and Perry Hall, North Pearl st.,
was leased and three suitable lodge
rooms fitted up. All the lodges, ex-
cept Beaverwyck No. 261, now meet121
OLD
there; the hall being dedicated June
ii, 1879, since which time the order
has flourished finely.. Three city papers
devote much space each week to Odd-
fellowship, the department in two of
them being in charge of Daniel H.
Turner, and the third is edited by D.
A. A. Nichols.
Old Books.— To persons of genu-
ine literary taste, there is a charm
about old book stores which the places
where only fresh wares are on sale do
not possess. An old book store is
always a mine of concealed possibili-
ties, where we may dig up at any time
a literary treasure, worth, to us, its
weight in gold. New books are all
very well, but any one who has money
may buy them. Old books are to be
had only for the searching. Then, one
is free to spend hours in handling over
and peering into second-hand books—
a liberty which cannot be taken with
new ones. Again, the antique book-
seller, to be successful, must know
books thoroughly inside and out, and
is generally almost as glad to talk
about his wares as to sell them. Nat-
urally his store becomes a sort of head-
quarters for the literary guild, who
meet to talk over their favorite authors
and editions. Such, at least, is the
case with the store of Joseph McDon-
ough, 30 North Pearl street. Its pro-
prietor has gradually increased his
business from a few shelves to a store
75 feet deep and 16 feet high, lined to
the top and rear with all sorts of books
from a New England Primer to Bayle’s
Critical Dictionary. He is buying sec-
ond-hand books constantly, and an
ordinary private library is as completely
absorbed in this mammoth collection
as the Buddhist’s dew drop, when it
— “ slips into the shining sea.”
Of late, Mr. McDonough has attended
the trade sales to pretty good purpose,
and his shelves and counters show
many new books, all marked below
the regular rates. His trade in new
and second-hand school books is some-
thing remarkable. His catalogues,
published frequently, are sent free to
any person of a bookish bent who may
apply for them, and are much sought
after. His store is an Albany institu-
tion well worth visiting.
Old Capitol, The, which stood at
the head of the widest part of State st.,
directly in front of the New Capitol,
was torn down in the summer of 1883.
Its corner-stone was laid April 23,
1806, and a year or two after it was
ready for occupancy, having been built
at a cost of $110,68842, of which the
State paid $73,488.42; the county,
$3,000, and the city, $34,200.
Old Houses.—One of the most in-
teresting features of Albany is its old
houses, of which the most noteworthy
are hereafter mentioned:
The Staats House, cor. State and
Pearl, is regarded as the oldest edifice
in the city. It is one of two which stood
there when South Pearl was a lane,
entered by a gate. When the street
was widened, the upper house, known
as Lewis’s tavern, was taken away.
There formerly ran across the front of
these two houses, under the eaves, in
iron letters, the words Anno Domini,
and below, over the upper Story, the
figures, also in iron, 1667. When the
upper house was taken away, the word
Anno was left on the house still stand-
ing, and is there yet.
Pemberton House, cor. Columbia
and North Pearl. When constructed,
no two adjoining rooms were on the
same level; the ceilings were not
plastered, but the beams and sleepers
were polished and waxed, and the
jambs of the fire-place faced with
porcelain, ornamented with scripture
scenes. In earlier days this house was
occupied by the Widow Visscher. ItOLD
122
was especially distinguished as the
lodging place for Indians when they
came to Albany for the purpose of
trading their furs, too often for rum
and worthless ornaments. Here many
stirring scenes transpired, when the
Indians held their pow-wows, and be-
came uproarious under the influence of
strong drink. At such times the widow
would use her broomstick freely. It was
a potent sceptre in her hands in
restoring order, for the most stalwart
Indian who had once felt its power,
looked upon it with awe.
Vanderheyden Palace stood on
Pearl st., on what is now the site of
Perry building. The “ palace ” was
built in 1725 by Johannes Beekman.
The bricks were said to have been im-
ported from Holland, and the house
was one of the best specimens of Dutch
architecture in the state. It was occu-
pied by Mr. Beekman as his family
residence until his death in 1756, after
which his two daughters resided in it
until a short time previous to the Rev-
olution. In 1778 the mansion was
purchased by Mr. Jacob Vanderheyden.
The dimensions were fifty feet front by
twenty feet in depth, having a hall and
two rooms on a floor. (See Elm Tree
Corner.) The edifice was so antique
that it arrested the antiquarian fancy of
Washington Irving, and is described
by him in the story of Dolph Heyliger,
in “Bracebridge Hall,” as the resi-
dence of Herr Antony Vanderheyden.
The weather-vane, a horse under great
stress of speed, now glitters above the
peaked turret of the portal at Sunny-
side, Mr. Irving having secured that
relic to adorn his country seat.
The Lydius House stood till 1832
on the northeast cor. of State and
Pearl. (See Elm Tree Corner.) It
• was built expressly for a parsonage.
The bricks, tiles, iron and woodwork
were all imported from Holland. They
came over with the church bell and
pulpit in 1657. The partitions were
mahogany, and the exposed beams
ornamented with carvings in high re-
lief, representing the vine and fruit of
the grape. To show the relief more
perfectly, the beams were painted
white. Balthazar Lydius was its only
occupant for many years. He was an
eccentric old bachelor, and was the
terror of all the boys. He was a tall,
thin Dutchman, with a bullet head,
fond of his pipe and bottle, and gloried
in celibacy until his life was in the
“sere and yellow leaf.” Then he
gave a pint of gin for a squaw, and
calling her his wife, lived with her as
such until his death, in 1815.- When
his fine old mansion was demolished it
was believed to have been the oldest
brick building in the United States.
The Van Rensselaer Mansion, at
the head of N. Broadway, was erected
in 1765, and is a fine piece of architec-
ture. It is commonly known as the
“ THE PATROON’S.”
Patroon’s, and until lately was occupied
by his descendants. The front door
opens directly into a spacious hall,
upon the walls of which is paper of
most curious and elaborate design, put
on when the house was built, having
been imported from Holland expressly
for the purpose. It is still in good
condition.123
OLD
The Van Rensselaer Mansion in
Greenbush stands about opposite the
blast furnace, and is supposed by some
to have been built by Johannes Van
Rensselaer (see Patroon) as early as
OLD HOUSE IN GREENBUSH.
1663, perhaps earlier. It is of brick
brought from Holland. An addition
was built in 1740. The original build-
ing was used as a fort, and some of the
stone port-holes are visible in the walls.
In the newer part are 40 or 50 curious
tiles, representing Scripture scenes. A
short distance below the house is the
old burying ground of the Van Rens-
selaer family. (See article by L. B.
Clover in Scribner’s for Oct., 1873.)
Schuyler Mansion, head of Schuy-
ler st., a little west of S. Pearl, is of
brick with a closed octagonal porch in
front. It was built by Mrs. S. while
her husband, Gen. Philip Schuyler,
was in England in 1760-1. (The old
family mansion, large and highly orna-
mented in the Dutch style, stood near-
ly upon the site of the present City
Hall, and was taken down in 1800.) In
this latter mansion Gen. Schuyler and
family dispensed a princely hospitality
for almost 40 years. When Gen. Bur-
goyne surrendered at Saratoga in 1777,
he and other prisoners were sent for-
ward to Albany, Gen. Schuyler writing
to his wife to give the English general
the very best reception in her power.
“The British commander was well re-
ceived,” writes the Marquis de Chas-
tellux, “ and lodged in the best apart-
ment in the house. . An excellent sup-
per was served him, the honors of
which were done with so much grace
that he was affected even to tears, and
said with a deep sigh: ‘ Indeed, this is
doing too much for the man who has
ravaged their lands and burnt their
dwellings.’” In 1781 a plan was laid
to capture Gen. Schuyler and take him
to Canada. A party of Tories, Cana-
dians and Indians surrounded the house
for several days, and at length forced
an entrance. The family collected in
an upper room, forgetting to take with
them an infant child sleeping in the
nursery. The mother was flying back
to the rescue when the General pre-
vented her, but the third daughter
(afterwards the wife of the last of the
Patroons) rushed down stairs, snatched
her sister from the cradle and bore her
SCHUYLER MANSION.
5323484848532348535323532353OUT
124
off in safety. As she sprang up the
stairs an Indian hurled a sharp toma-
hawk at her, which cut her dress within
a few inches of the infant’s head and
struck the stair rail at the lower turn,
where the dent is still pointed out.
HISTORIC STAIR-CASE.
The assailants were frightened from
their purpose and fled to Canada, car-
rying with them much of the General’s
plate, but not the General. In this
house Lafayette,Count de Rochambeau,
Baron Steuben, Aaron Burr, Benjamin
Franklin, Charles Carroll of Carrollton,
and many other notable personages
were entertained. Dec. 14, 1780,
Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth
Schuyler were married in this house,
and another notable wedding that took
place here was that of Mrs. McIntosh
(who owned the property) to ex-Presi-
dent Fillmore.
Out-door Sports are keenly en-
joyed in Albany, and various clubs are
organized for their promotion. The
fashion, however, changes from year to
year, and base-ball and rowing, which
have both had an enthusiastic follow-
ing, are now somewhat neglected.
. Rowing.— For what Albany has
achieved by the oar, see an article in the
Hand-Book for 1881, contributed by
Mr. Henry W. Garfield. At' present,
the only clubs are the Mutual and the
Albany Rowing Club. The Mutual is
officered as follows:	President, Wm.
G. Janes; vice-pres., George L. Thom-
as; sec., Chauncey P. Williams, Jr.;
capt., Chauncey P. Williams, Jr.; lieut.,
Peter Snyder; trustees, Charles Piep-
enbrink, Henry W. Garfield, Edward
Miggael, Matthew Duggan, Robert
McCann.
The Albany Yacht Club was or-
ganized in 1870, has a membership of
65, and nine of the fleetest boats on
the Hudson, viz., Cynthia, Breeze,
Artful-Dodger, Albani, Psyche, Hi-Pi,
Carrie Blanchard, Aimee and Mary
Alice. The club-house is situated in
East Albany, and was built on shares.
Meetings are held the first Monday of
each month, and the annual meeting
the first Monday in May, when officers
are elected. Dues, $9 a year; initiation
fee, $5. Annual regatta in September,
open to all boats between Catskill and
Lansingburg. Commodore, C. S. Bab-
cock; vice-commodore, A. J. Shaffer;
sec., A. R. Lynd; treas., G. H. Wag-
goner.
Ridgefield Athletic Club.—In-
corporated April, 1884. Capital stock,
$7,500, divided into $25 shares. The
dues for active members are $10; con-
tributing members, $5; junior mem-
bers, $5. Grounds belonging to the
Harper estate on Partridge st. have
been leased, and are likely to become
the scene of athletic sports of many
kinds. Trustees, Geo. W. Van Slyke,
Edward Bowditch, Ledyard Cogswell,
Wm. H. McNaughton, Joseph M.
Lawson, John L. Van Valkenburgh,
George Story, Chas. L. Pruyn, John B.
Marsh, Albert H. Scattergood, Richard
L. Annesely, John W. McNamara, Ed-
ward J. Wheeler and George H.
Stevens.
Albany Bicycle Club, The, was125
OVE—PAT
organized Aug. 24th, 1880, with thir-
teen members, and was soon added to
the League of American Wheelmen.
May 1st, 1884, it was incorporated
under the laws of 1875, with a mem-
bership of 113;	37 applicants are
awaiting election, and it is expected
that in a month or two the membership
will reach the limit of 200. Officers
for the year ending Feb. 1885 : Pres.,
D.	W. Shanks; vice-pres., Howard
Martin; sec., A. J. Gallien; treas., E. J.
Wheeler; correspondent, D. M. Kin-
near; captain, A. H. Scattergood; 1st
lieut., F. B. Holdridge; 2d lieut., G.
Paddock; standard bearer, E. Vine;
bugler, C. H. Rose; surgeon, G. F.
Brooks, M. D.; trustees, Pres. D. W.
Shanks, ex officio; L. W. Pratt, F. B.
Hubbard, F. L. Ames, F. Lathrop, C.
E.	Countryman, J. G. Burch, Jr., W. H.
McNaughton, G. F. Brooks, N. Chase.
The elegant mansion owned by E. D.
Brainard, situated cor. Lark and Lan-
caster sts., has been leased for a term
of years. In the rear and attached to
it is a commodious out-building for the
storage of machines, of which at the
present time the club has in its pos-
session about sixty. The uniform is
navy blue throughout with white sun-
helmet or blue cap. Colors are red
and white. The privileges of the park
are open to the club till 9 a. m., but
efforts will be made to have the same
privileges accorded the bicycle as are
granted to any other wheeled vehicle.
The Caledonian Club organized in
January, 1874, enjoys a field-day once
a year. The Albany Turn Verein, a
German association, was incorporated
in 1869; meets at 393 Washington ave.
The Albany Athletic Association has
rooms, and holds meetings through the
year. The Albany City Curling Club is
composed largely of Scotchmen. The
Tennis Club have a large building at
Jay st., cor. Swan. A Canoe Club is a
late institution, and there are one or
two gun clubs.
Overslaugh, from over slag. A bar,
in the marine language of the Dutch.
Bartlett says, in his “ Dictionary of
Americanisms”: “The overslaugh in
the Hudson river, near Albany, on
which steamboats and other vessels
often run aground, is, I believe, the
only locality to which this term is now
applied among us.”
Parks.— Albany has one spacious
and beautiful park (see Washington
Park) , but most of the others are sim-
ply better than no parks.
Academy Park. — See separate
head.
Clinton Park.—West of N. Pearl
street and south of Clinton ave. Has
been pretty much destroyed by a broad
walk crossing it diagonally. Area,
16,415 square feet.
Delaware Square.—South of Mad-
ison avenue and east of Lark street.
Area, 64,000 square feet.
Capitol Park.—In front of the Old
Capitol, on Eagle street. Area, 99,000
square feet.
Townsend Park. — Area, 20,700
square feet. See separate head.
Hudson Avenue Park.— A little
breathing spot between Union and
Liberty streets, on Hudson avenue.
Area, 10,851 square feet.
Bleecker Park. — Area, 16,275
square feet. See separate head.
Beverwyck Park.—Five acres be-
tween Washington avenue, Ontario,
and Partridge streets.
. Van Rensselaer Park.—West of
Ten Broeck, north of Second street.
Area; 42,400 square feet.
St. Joseph’s Park.—West of Ten
Broeck, north of First street. Area,
42,900 square feet. The total area of
the small parks of the city is about 14
acres. They are all, with the excep-
tion of Capitol park, in the hands of
the Park Commissioners.
Patroon.—The Charter of PrivilegesPAY—PAW
126
and Exemptions, by which the feudal say that Killian came here, but re-
system of Patroonship was instituted in turned to Holland, and died at Amster-
America, was passed by the Assembly dam; and that his son Johannes also
of the XIX and Commissioners of the came here and built the old mansion
States General, June 17, 1629. By this still standing in Greenbush. (See Old
charter, as first constituted, all members Houses.) The first Patroon became
of the West India Company who plant- very lordly in his pretensions, which
ed a colony of 50 souls over 15 years were contested vigorously by the Am-
of age were to be acknowledged Pa- sterdam Chamber of the West India
troons of New Netherlands. They Company, and it was through these
were allowed to extend their bound- quarrels that the land on which this
aries 16 miles on the shore of a city stands was finally rescued from
navigable river, or 8 miles on both feudal tenure. Not so the land in the
sides; the extent into the interior being vicinity. Subsequent modifications or
uni mited. They possessed absolute the charter restricted the Patroon’s
title to the soil; had a monopoly of civil powers, but confirmed the re-
fishing, ■ hunting, and grinding, of all lations between landlord and tenant,
mines and minerals, and a pre-emption and from those have arisen Anti-
right of buying the colonist’s surplus Rentism (which see, also, A Bit of
grain or cattle; their courts had juris- History.)
diction in civil and criminal cases, in The last Patroon, Gen. Stephen Van
the latter even to punishment by death; Rensselaer, fifth in the succession from
colonists could not leave the colony Killian, died Jan. 26, 1839. His son
without written permission, and after Stephen (in his youth called the young
their terms of service were fulfilled, Patroon, but the entail ceased with his
they were compelled to return to Hoi- father’s death), died May 25, 1868,
land. They were, in fact, little better aged 80.
than serfs. Killian Van Rensselaer,
a pearl merchant of Amsterdam, availed Pavement. — Forty and one-half
himself of the privileges offered by the miles of the streets in Albany are
company (of which he was a home paved with cobble-stones; 5.75 miles
director), and acquired title to land 24 with granite block; 1.15 with Telford
miles up and down the river, and un- macadam; in all about 47.40 miles of
der the Dutch grant 8 miles each way,- paved streets. The average cost of
east and west. Under the English cobble-stone pavement per lineal foot,
government, this was extended in width $7; average cost of granite block per
to 24 miles each way from the river, square yard, $2.26; average cost of re-
making the tract 48 by 24 miles in ex- pairing exclusive of granite block, 17
tent. In 1640 the charter, which cents per square yard,
allowed all the privileges enjoyed by
the feudal barons of Europe, was modi- Pawnbrokers are under no restric-
fied, there having arisen a controversy tions in this city in regard to rates of
between the Patroons and the directors interest, but can charge whatever they
in regard to the fur trade and other like. They are obliged to take out a
matters. Some authorities say that $25 license annually, and to report
Killian Van Rensselaer never came to daily to the chief of police all articles
this country, nor did his son Johannes, received by them with-descriptions 'of
who succeeded him at his death, in the same. Ten and twelve per cent a (
1648, but the affairs were administered month is frequently charged for money. ■[
by agents called schout-fiscaals. Others Pawn tickets are made out in the shape x127
PEA—PHA
of a bill of .sale; that is, if you pawn
a hundred dollar gold watch for $20,
you receive a paper signed by the
broker stating that he has bought a
gold watch from you for $20 and
agreeing to resell it to you for $22, if
applied for within one month; if, in
that time, you do not redeem your
pledge, the watch, according to this
paper, is his. Profits of the business
must be enormous; but it is trading on
the necessities of the poor. There are
four licensed brokers in the city.
Pearl Street is divided by State st.
into North and South Pearl sts. South
Pearl is really the Bowery, or Cheap-
side of Albany. It is narrow, and
many of the buildings (with some no-
table exceptions) are low and poor.
But it is a busy spot, especially on Sat-
urday night, and at the lower end re-
minds one on Sundays of a foreign
city. It was called Washington st. for
a time, because when the Father of his
Country visited the city he walked
through it with Gen. Schuyler, from
his residence at the Schuyler Mansion
(see Old Houses), to dine with Jere-
miah Van Rensselaer in North Pearl
street. Somehow the name did not
stick.
North Pearl st., until within a few
years a place of residences, has been
widened and greatly improved, and is
now the business street of the city.
Penitentiary.—Knox st., south of
Madison ave. (Take Hamilton st.
horse cars.) Situated in a park of 12
or 15 acres in extent, fronting upon a
magnificent tree-lined avenue, and oc-
cupying a commanding situation, this
“ castle on the hill ” bears little exter-
nal resemblance to a prison. Its erec-
tion was begun in 1845, w°rk of
construction being done principally by
prisoners, who were marched from the
jail and back again each day. The
south wing was first completed, and
was made ready for the reception of
inmates in April, 1846. Amos Pilsbury
was its first superintendent, and to him,
in a great measure, is due the system
which has given the institution its high
reputation throughout the Union.
When the state prisons were sinking
many thousand dollars, the Albany
Penitentiary was a source of abundant
revenue to the county. What is known
as the silent, or Auburn system, was
adopted from the start. The convicts
eat and sleep in their cells. They are
marched to and from their work in
lock step, with averted faces, and are
not permitted to speak to each other.
The discipline that prevails seems al-
most perfect. They are kept at work,
most of them, in the shoe shops, al-
though some brushes and a few chairs
are made. One great secret of the
financial success is that for many years
prisons have been received from the
United States courts, and from other
counties in the state, for whom board
has been paid. These men have been
set at work, and their labor let out to
contractors at small, but under the cir-
cumstances, remunerative wages. On
the death of Gen. Pilsbury in 1872, he
was succeeded by his son, Louis D.
Pilsbury, afterwards appointed general
superintendent of all the state prisons.
He was succeeded in March, 1879, by
John McEwen. The Penitentiary had
originally only 90 cells; now it has
625 cells. It has been enlarged to
more than five times its original size;
new shops have been built, and a wall
built inclosing the entire yard of the
prison. Visitors are allowed to go
through the institution every day, ex-
cept Sundays and holidays, on payment
of 25 cents each. The average num-
ber of convicts is between 800 and 900.
Pharmacy, College of.—The Al-
bany College of Pharmacy was created
by act of the board of governors of
Union University at their annual meet-PHO—POL
128
ing held June 21, 1881, and constitutes
the Department of Pharmacy of Union
University. It was incorporated as
the “ Albany College of Pharmacy,”
under the laws of the State of New
York, August 27, 1881, and its first
course of lectures opened October 3,
1881.
The exercises of the college are held
in the Albany Medical College build-
ing. The lecture rooms and labora-
tories of this commodious and well-
arranged building are perfectly adapted
to the needs of the College of Phar-
macy, and furnished to the faculty at
the outset the very best facilities for
imparting instruction. The lectures
are delivered in the chemical lecture
room on the first floor, adjoining which
is the large and well-flttdd chemical
laboratory, where instruction is given
.to the classes in practical chemistry.
The collections in the different de-
partments afford the professors ample
facilities for the illustration of their
lectures.
The annual course ’ of instruction
consists of six lectures each week during
a period of five months, beginning the
first Monday in October of each year,
together with practical laboratory work,
etc. The course is graded and ex-
tends over two years; students being
divided into junior and senior classes,
consisting of first and second year
students respectively.
The diploma of the college confers
the degree of Graduate in Pharmacy
(Ph. G.). Applicants for this degree
must be at least twenty-one years of
age, of good moral character, have
attended two full courses of lectures;
have had at least four years’ practical
experience with some reputable phar-
macist; have presented to the faculty
an original thesis and passed a satis-
factory examination.
Though recently established, the Col-
lege of Pharmacy is growing rapidly.
It had 21 students the first year, 32 the
second and 37 the third; and it is evi-
dent that it fills a want long felt in this
section of the State. It has already
an Alumni Association, holding annual
meetings. Joseph W. Russell is presi-
dent of the trustees; Dr. Willis G.
Tucker is president of Faculty; Dr. A.
B. Huested is secretary.
Photographs.—(See Veeder.)
Pier, The, was built in 1825. Is
nearly 4,400 feet long, 80 feet wide
and 20 feet high. ■ It encloses a basin
of 32 acres which makes a harbor for
1,000 canal boats and 50 vessels of a
larger class. It cost $130,000. The
sale of lots on the pier took place in
the July following its completion, when
122 lots brought $199,410. Although
the pier is now nearly forsaken, the
company is out of debt, and enough
wharfage is collected to pay for re-
pairs. Chauncey M. Depew, president.
The opening in the pier at the foot of
Maiden lane was authorized in 1836.
Pinkster.—A negro festival which
used to be celebrated on Capitol hill
when slavery existed in the State. It
began on the Monday following Whit-
sunday or Day of Pentecost, and lasted
a week. The ground was laid out in
the form of an oblong square, enclosed
on three sides by rude booths, and here
the dancing and merry-making took
place. “ Charley of the Pinkster hill,”
an old African negro, was king of the
revels. After his death the festival
was not so much observed, and fell
into disrepute. In 1811 the common
council forbade the erection of stalls
on account Of the scenes of disorder
which prevailed, and so the custom
died out.
Police.—The ^head-quarters of the
police department are in the City
Building. The police board, which ex-
ercises entire control over the depart-129
POL—POS
ment, consists of the Mayor, ex officio,
president, and four commissioners, two
of each party, elected to serve four
years. With the exception of the one
who acts as secretary, for which he
receives $500, they serve without pay.
Precincts.—The city is divided into
five precincts, each of which is in
charge of a captain, two sergeants and
one roundsman.
The First precinct includes that part
south of Hamilton and east of Eagle,
extending to the river and south end of
the city. Force, 22 patrolmen. Sta-
tion, No. 59 South Ferry street.
The Second precinct line extends
along the river from Hamilton to
Quackenbush street, up Quackenbush
and Clinton avenue to Lark, through
Lark to Spruce, to Eagle, to Hamilton,
to the river. Force, 20 patrolmen.
Station, City Building.
The Third precinct includes all the
city north of Clinton and east of Lex-
ington avenues. Force, 22 patrolmen.
Station, 799 Broadway.
The Fourth precinct line runs from
Eagle through Spruce to Lark, thence
to Clinton avenue, to Lexington ave.,
and along the south line of the city to
Eagle. Force, 20 patrolmen. Station,
153 Lancaster street.
The Fifth precinct includes all west
of Lexington avenue. Force, 12 patrol-
men. Station, 284 Central avenue.
In all, the force consists of the chief,
salary, $2,500; five captains, salaries,
$1,200; 12 sergeants, salaries, $1,000;
91 patrolmen, salaries, $900; 5 detec-
tives, with captain; 5 station-house
keepers; 4 police court officers; one
property clerk; one police surgeon;
total, 126. The annual expense of
running the department is about $125,-
000. The number of arrests last year
was 4,893, of which 1,940 were for
drunkenness; 753 for assaults in the
third degree; 324 breaches of the
peace; 231 vagrancy, etc. Few cities of
its size are freer from crime than Albany.
Politics.—There are more politics
to the acre in the city of Albany than
almost any other locality that can be
named. To be sure the famous “re-
gency ” no longer exists, but Albany is
nearly as important a political centre
as ever. This will always be the case,
so long as it is the capital of the state.
In a square fight the city is democratic
by about 1,500. During the campaigns
many political clubs are organized,
only to disband when election is over.
The Grant club, “ stalwart ” republican,
and the Democratic Phalanx, demo-
cratic, appear to be perennial. (See
Regency.')
Population.—According to the offi-
cial censuses, Albany in 1790 contain-
ed 3,506 persons; in 1800, 5,349; in
1810, 10,762;	1820, 12,541;	1830,
24,238; 1840, 33,762; 1845, 42,139;
1850, 50,762; 1855, 57,333; i860, 62.-
367;	1865, 62,613;	1870, 69,422;
1875 (6 additional wards having been
erected), 86,013;	1880, 90,758 (see
Census of 1880). The population in
1884, estimated about 98,000.
Post Office, (Government Build-
ing, which see), cor. Broadway and
State st. William H. Craig, postmaster;
Isaac McMurdy, assist. Week days,
open from 7.30 A. m. to 7.30 p. m.
(registry and money order dept, open
from 9 to 5); on Sundays, from 9 to
10 a, m., and from 6 to 7 P. m. The
mail is delivered by 32 carriers, who
make two trips daily throughout the
city; also to Greenbush, Bath, East and
West Albany; to Menand’s, the ceme-
tery and to Kenwood. In the business
par of the city delivery is made five
times a day. Collections from the let-
ter boxes are made at the same time
that the mail is delivered. Extra col-
lections are made daily, except Sun-
days, from all boxes in that part of the
city bounded north by Clinton ave.,
south by Madison avenue, east by thePRE
130
river and west by Swan st; 1st collec-
tion beginning at 11 A. M. at Clinton
ave. and delivered at P. O. at 1 P. M.;
2nd collection beginning at 8 P. M. and
delivered at P. O. at 9.30; also at 7 p.
m. from boxes on State st., cors. Green
and Pearl, and on Maiden lane, cors.
Broadway and N. Pearl. An extra
collection is made daily, Sundays in-
cluded, from all boxes bounded north
by Clinton ave., south by Fourth ave.,
east by the river and west by Lark st.,
between n p, m. and 3 A. M. All
mails close on Sundays at 7 P. M.
Boxes are rented at $6 to $9 a year;
drawers at $12 a year. Albany is one
of the large distributing offices, and
about 30 clerks are employed.
Presbyterian Churches.—Presby-
terianism in Albany dates back to 1761
or 2.
The First church originally occu-
pied a building which stood on a lot
bounded by Beaver, William, Grand
and Hudson sts., but in 1796 moved
into a brick edifice cor. Beaver and S.
Pearl st. (see Beaver Block.) A
third edifice, cor. Hudson ave. and
Philip st., was opened March 10, 1850,
and with lecture room afterwards built,
cost $115,000. This was sold to the
Methodists (which see) in 1883, and
in 1883-4 the present beautiful edifice,
cor. State and Willett sts., facing
Washington park, was erected. It
was dedicated May 18, 1884. It is
built entirely of handsome brown stone,
from the quaries at East Longmeadow,
Mass. With its Venetian towers and
large Romanesque windows, the exter-
nal appearance of the church is strik-
ing. The dimensions of the interior
are 81x76. It contains 120 pews, with
a seating capacity for 700 persons.
The pews all face the east. The Sun-
day school room is on the south side,
separated from the church proper by
five large doors, containing glass win-
dows. These doors can be raised, and
the Sunday school room connected
with the church. Cost, $90,000, not
including the ground, which cost $28,-
000. The church has had 13 pastors,
including the present incumbent, Rev.
Walter D. Nicholas, D.D., who was in-
stalled Sept. 16, 1880.
Second.—Chapel st. between Maid-
en lane and Pine. Corner-stone laid
Oct. 11, 1813, and the building dedi-
cated Sept. 3, 1815; cost, $67,194. It
has been twice improved and refitted.
In 1865 a chapel was erected cor. Pine
and Lodge sts. at the cost of $30,000.
The ministerial succession has been as
follows:	Rev. John Chester, D.D.,
(1815); Rev. William B. Sprague,
D.D., (1829 to 1869); Rev. Anson J.
Upson, D.D., (1870 to 1880); Rev.
James H. Ecob, D.D., installed March
15, 1881. Membership, 500; Sunday
school, 250. Sunday services at io^
and 4; Sunday school at 12.
Clinton Square.—Cor. Clinton ave.
and North Pearl st. Corner-stone laid
July, 1844. Church dedicated Dec. 3,
1845; will seat 850. House and lot
cost $24,000; no debt. Organization
formed Feb. 5, 1817, by the union of
the Associate Reformed church (which
can be traced back to 1796) wijh a
number of members from the First
Presbyterian church. At first the con-
gregation worshipped in the building
on Montgomery street, known as the
Bethel; in 1845 ^ removed to its pres-
ent edifice. Pastors: Rev. Hooper
Cumming (1817-1823), Rev. Joseph
Hulbert (1823-1824), Rev. John Al-
burtiss (1825-1828), Rev. William H.
Williams (1828-1830), Rev. William
Lochead (1831-1833), Rev. William
James, D. D. (1834-1835), Rev. Ezra
A. Huntington, D. D. (1837-185.5),
Rev. Ebenezer Halley, D. D. (1855-
1875), Rev. Horace C. Stanton, in-
stalled Feb. 27, 1877. Robert Strain,
clerk of session; Wm. Deyermand,
president board of trustees; E. Hunt-
ington Marvin, treasurer. Sunday ser-PRE
131
vices, 10130 A. M. and 7130 P. M.; sing-
ing by .choir and congregation; Mr.
James H. Kelley, musical director.
Bible school at 2 p. m.; Alexander M.
Holmes, Sunday-school superintend-
ent. Lecture, Wednesday, 7 130 p. m.
Whole number of members enrolled
since organization, 1,275. Number re-
ported at close of last year, 300.
Fourth.—Broadway above Clinton
avenue. Rev. Charles Wood, pastor.
The church was organized in 1829,
and was a branch from the Second
church. The first edifice was erected
where, the present one now stands, in
1830. The first pastor was Rev. E. N.
Kirk, D. D., who served till 1838,
when he was succeeded by Rev. Ed-
ward D. Allen, and he in 1843 by Rev.
S. W. Fisher, D. D., Rev. B. N. Martin,
D. D. (1848-9), Rev. H. Mandeville
(1850-4), Rev. S. T. Seelye (1855—
63), Rev. Henry Darling, D. D. (1864-
81). November, 1881, the present
pastor took charge. The church edi-
fice was. dedicated Sept. 18, 1866, and
will seat 1,350. Present church mem-
bership is 708; Sunday-school, 500.
The average contributions for benevo-
lent and congregational purposes are
over $20,000 annually.
State Street.—South side, above
Swan. Rev. John McC. Holmes, pas-
tor. Corner-stone laid July 18, 1861;
house dedicated Oct. 12, 1862; is per-
pendicular Gothic, hi by 69 feet;
seats 1,000; total cost, including lot,
organ, etc., $59,626. Sunday-school,
Horatio N. Snow, supt.; numbers 975,
and is the largest in the city. Church
membership, 783. The building has
just been repainted inside and out, and
is very attractive. The first pastor was
Rev. A. S. Twombley. He was suc-
ceeded by Rev. Dr. Heckman, Rev.
Dr. James and Rev. Dr. Holmes.
Sixth. — Second st., below Lark.
Sprang from a weekly prayer meeting
begun in a private house, 276 Lumber
st., by the efforts of John S. Smith,
Dec., 1855. A mission Sunday-school
gathered by him the next year, at 166
Third st., soon required larger quarters,
and in March, 1858, with Wm. H.
Ross, he purchased Mount Zion Meth-
odist Chapel, now Primary School No.
23. This property was transferred in
1864, to a missionary society of the
Fourth Presbyterian Church, and the
Sixth Church was organized here Dec.
8, 1869, with 65 members, of whom 46
came by letter from the Fourth Church.
Rev. A. H. Dean, who had gathered
the congregation, was installed pastor
May 5, 1870. The present edifice was
erected in 1871, and cost, including
lot, about $50,000, of which about
$25,000 was .provided by the mission-
ary society of the Fourth Church;
a mortgage debt of $17,000 remained
upon the building. Rev. A. H. Dean
resigned in June, 1873. Rev. William
Durant was installed Dec. 9, 1873. By
the generous aid of the other Pres-
byterian churches in the city, the debt
was entirely removed March 24, 1880.
In October of the same year extensive
repairs and improvements were made
to the building. Rev. Wm. Durant
resigned April 30, 1882, and the pres-
ent pastor, Rev. J. D. Countermine,
was installed Dec. 20, 1882. Present
church officers:	Prentice Rodgers,
clerk of session; Wm. Ackroyd, treas.
of trustees; W. G. Winne, supt. of
Sunday - school. Organizations for
Christian work: Augustinian Society,
Robert Friday, moderator; Woman’s
foreign Missionary Society, Mrs. B.
W. Johnson, pres.; Dale Mission Band,
Miss Gussie Green, leader; The Earn-
est Worker’s Circle, Mrs. J. D. Coun-
termine, pres. Whole number of
church members enrolled, 562; present
number, 300; Sunday-school, 397.
Sunday services at io£ A. M. and 7^
P. M.; Sunday-school at 12 M.
United Presbyterian.*—Lancaster
st., near Eagle. The present edifice
was first occupied as a place of publicPUB
132
worship in January, 1861. It is a neat
and substantial building, 81x58. Cost,
including lot, $20,000 (ante bellum
prices). The congregation formerly
worshipped in the building cor. Chapel
and Canal sts., first occupied January,
1802. The first pastor of the con-
gregation was Rev. John McDonald,
who officiated from January, 1801, to
March, 1819. After his resignation,
the congregation transferred their ec-
clesiastical connection from the Pres-
bytery of Montreal to that of Cambridge.
Rev. James Martin, D. D., was the
next pastor, who served from May,
1824, until May, 1842, when he was
succeeded by Rev. R. J. Hammond,
from November, 1843, until September,
1844. The present pastor, Rev. S. F.
Morrow, D. D., was ordained and in-
stalled July, 1846. Sunday services,
10130 a. M., and 4 P. M. The Sabbath^
school, 3 p. M; Mr. William J. Patton,
superintendent.
West End.—Cor. Third st. and N.
Y. C. ave. Dedicated March 25,1877.
Cost, including lot, $8,250; no debt.
Will seat 550. June 3, 1878 a church
was organized, consisting of 45 mem-
bers; present membership, 130. Pastor,
Rev. Oliver Hemstreet; elders, Thos.
R. Blackburn, A. H. Wells, John
Bronk, David Downs; treas, James
Spoor; Sunday school supt., John
Blackburn. Services at 10^ A. M. and
7«k P. M.; Sunday school at 2 p. M.
Sprague Chapel.—State st., cor.
Lexington ave. Henry Patton, supt.
Public Instruction. —The Board of
Public Instruction is composed of
twelve members, and was created by
chapter 444, Laws of 1866. Four
members go out of office each year,
and their successors are chosen at the
aunual election—two democrats and
two republicans. The board has entire
control of the public schools; fixes the
grades of study, appoints teachers,
builds, maintains, and regulates school-
houses, etc. No salary is attached to
the office. The rooms of the board
are in the High School Building on
Eagle st., cor. Columbia, where meet-
ings are held on the first and third
Monday evenings in each month, ex-
cept August. President of board, Al-
den Chester; supt. of schools and sec.,
Charles W. Cole. .
Schools.—The public schools are
24 in number, with sittings for 11,840
pupils. The number of scholars en-
rolled is 13,914; the average attend-
ance 9,059. The schopls are located
as follows:
No. 1.—310 South Pearl st.; Julia
M. Janes, principal; 312 sittings; aver-
age attendance, 244.
No. 2.—27 and 29 Chestnut st.;
Lewis H. Rockwell; 600 sittings;
average attendance, 314.
No. 3.—6 Watervliet ave; Eleanor
F.	Dickson; 130 sittings; attendance,
121.
No. 5.—206 N. Pearl st.; John A.
Howe; 600 sittings; attendance, 432.
No. 6.—105 Second st.; Almond
Holland; 617 sittings; attendance,
588.
No. 7.—56 Canal st.; C. E. Frank-
lin; 211 sittings; attendance, 270.
No. 8.—157 Madison ave.; John E.
Sherwood; 448 sittings; attendance,
386.
No. 9.—South Ferry and Dallius;
Tennie Simpson; 210 sittings; attend-
ance, 119.
No. 10.—182 Washington ave.;
G.	H. Benjamin; 338 sittings; attend-
ance, 292.
No. 11.—409 Madison ave.; Josiah
H.	Gilbert; 686 sittings; attendance,
602.
No. 12—Washington ave. and Robin
st.; E. E. Packer; 786 sittings; attend-
ance, 732.
No. 13.—Broadway and Lawrence;
P. H. McQuade; 524 sittings; attend-
ance, 373.
No. 14.:—70 Trinity place; James L.THE HIGH SCHOOL.
[OGDEN AND WRIGHT, ARCHITECTS. ,133
QUA—QUI
Bothwell; 928 sittings; attendance, board is $800,000. Salaries of teach-
808.
No. 15.—Herkimer and Franklin;
Levi Cass; 944 sittings; attendance,
832.
No. 17.—Second ave. and Stephen;
Martha Winne; 448 sittings; attend-
ance, 415.
No. 18. — Madison and Western
aves.; Kate McAuley; 224 sittings;
attendance, 100.
No. 19.—54 Canal st.; Mary A.
Simpson; 224sittings; attendance, 195.
No. 20.—Mohawk st., North Albany;
T. S. O’Brien; 616 sittings; attend-
ance, 352.
No. 21.— 658 Clinton avenue; A. F.
Onderdonk; 764 sittings; attendance,
582.
No. 22.— Second street, west of Lex-
ington avenue; Jennie A. Utter; 504
sittings; attendance, 334.
No. 23.— 142 Second street; Lizzie
McCarthy; 300 sittings; attendance,
288.
No. 24.— 417 Madison ave.; Euretta
Crannell; 576 sittings; attendance,
506.
No. 25.— Morton above Hawk;
Mary L. Hotaling; 448 sittings; at-
tendance, 168.
High School.—Eagle and Steuben;
Prof. John E. Bradley, principal; 607
sittings; attendance, 527. In connec-
tion with the High school is a training
school for teachers; average number
of pupils, 41.
Finances.— The total income of the
board for the year ended Aug. 31,
1883, was $313,155.08, of which $164,-
700.00 was raised by tax, $87,048.37
was carried over from the preceding
year, and $47,354.67 was received
from the State; expenditures, $225,-
055-13-
The cost per pupil, based on total
expenditure and registered number, is
$16.17 (which includes new buildings).
The estimated value of lots and
buildings under the control of the
ers range from $1,800 to $350.
The principal of the High school re-
ceives $3,200. The net cost of pupils in
the High school, based on registered
number, is $38.28.
The High School Building, of
which a cut is given, was erected in
1875-6, on the lot formerly occupied
by the old reservoir, and has 85 feet
front on Eagle street, 135 on Steuben,
and 120 on Columbia. It is domestic
Gothic in style, and admirably ar-
ranged for the purpose for which it
was intended. Architects, Ogden &
Wright. Cost, $140,000. The High
school was first opened as the Free
Academy, at 119 State street, in Sep-
tember, 1868, and moved into its new
quarters May 4, 1876.
Quaker Meeting House, on Plain
st., below Grand, is an extremely
modest building standing well back
from the street. It was erected in
1835 >	36x42, and will seat about 400
persons. Cost, $5,000.
Quinn’s News Room and Stands.
—One of the best appointed and best
served news rooms and stationery
stores in the State is that kept by B.
Quinn, at 498 Broadway, second door
from Maiden lane (the street on which
both depots discharge their passengers,
and the shortest route to the. Capitol.)
The passer-by is almost certain to be
attracted by the display of novelties in
the show windows, for “ the latest ” is
always found there. No book, paper,
magazine, photograph, or anything else
in the trade, makes its appearance in
New York but what in twenty-four
hours it can be had at Quinn’s. His
display in the Christmas and Easter
card and valentine season is admired by
thousands. He seeks in every respect
to cater to refined taste, and his goods
of all sorts are on the average of a
much finer quality than can be foundRAI—REF
134
in an ordinary stock, although his
prices are always reasonable. Mr.
Quinn’s business is constantly growing,
and every year sees an increase of
stock and extension in variety. Par-
ticular attention is paid to fine sta-
tionery. No place in the city pretends
to keep so large an assortment of
theatrical literature, photographs, etc.
It is a favorite resort for ladies, who,
in their shopping expeditions, are sure
to find at Mr. Quinn’s something to
delight, amuse and instruct, while the
courtesy which is shown by the pro-
prietor and his assistants to every
visitor, makes it always a pleasure to
“drop in”; and to do this is to be-
come a customer.
Mr. Quinn also has two news stands,
one near the northeast and the other
near the southwest corners of State
and Pearl sts., always kept stocked with
the most desirable wares known to the
news vender’s trade; and large amounts
of goods are disposed of in these busy
resorts. In short, Mr. Quinn may well
be styled a model news-man.
Railroad Depots.—But two in the
city; the Central & Hudson River
and the Boston & Albany railroads
occupying the Union depot, just north
of Maiden lane and east of Broadway,
and the Rensselaer & Saratoga and
Susquehanna divisions of the Delaware
& Hudson Canal Co.’s road, having
their depot at the foot of Maiden lane.
The cars of the latter road run along-
side the steamboat landing, and during
navigation unload passengers there
also. The West Shore trains arrive
and depart from the depot foot of
Maiden lane. For railroads see Boston.
& Albany, Central & Hudson River,
Delaware & Hudson Canal Co., and
West Shore.
Reformed Churches.—-The Re-
formed Dutch was the religion of this
colony.
F First Church.—Cor. N. Pearl and
Orange sts., familiarly known as the
Two Steepled church. The organization
worshipping here is one of the two
oldest in America, the other being the
FIRST REFORMED CHURCH.
Collegiate Reformed Church of New
York. The first pastor was Rev.
Johannes Megapolensis, who was sent
over by the Patroon at his own expense
in 1642. The church was for some
time sustained by the public revenue,
and .in 1686 one hundred and fifty
acres of land were granted it. Children
of the colony were not allowed to be
baptized elsewhere. For more than
140 years (till 1782) services were con-
ducted in Dutch. The first edifice was
near Fort Orange, on what is now
Steamboat square; Church st., in that
vicinity, receiving its name for prox-
imity thereto. This building was 34x19,
and cost $32. . In 1656 a new edifice
was erected at the intersection of what
are now State st. and Broadway. The
dead were buried under this church,
and as late as 1852-3 coffins were ex-MADISON AVENUE REFORMED CHURCH
[with PROPOSED TOWER."!REG
135
humed. In 1715 a new building (see
Antiquities) was erected over this
<^e, and stood for 91 years, when the
site was sold to the city for $5,000, and
the materials worked into the Second
Church on Beaver st. The present
edifice was dedicated in 1799, but its
interior has been modified three times:
in 1820, 1850 and i860. It will seat
1,200. The organ, with 3,000 pipes, is
the largest in the city, and cost $12,000.
The bell, key D flat, weighs 3,656 lbs.
The ministerial succession has been as
follows: Johannes Megapolensis (1642
to 1649); Gideon Schaets (1652-74);
---Niewenhuysen (1675); Godfriedus
Dellius (1683-1699); Johannes Petrus
Nucella (1699-1702); Johannes Ly-
dius (1703-1709); Petrus Van Dries-
sen (1712-1739); Cornelius Van Schie
(1733—1744); Theodorus Frelinghuy-
sen (1746-1760); Eilardus Westerlo
(1760-1790); John Bassett (1787—
i8°5); John B. Johnson (1796-1802);
John M. Bradford (1805-1820) ; John
DeWitt (1813-1815); John Ludlow
(1823-1833); Thomas E. Vermilye
(1835-1839); Duncan Kennedy(i84i-
1855); Ebenezer P. Rogers (1856—
1862); Rufus W. Clark (1862-1883.)
At present without a pastor.
Madison Avenue, cor. Swan. Rev.
Wesley R. Davis,pastor. Until 1816, this
church, together with the First, consti-
tuted the one Collegiate Dutch church
of the city of Albany. At the time of
division into two separate bodies, there
were two houses of worship — the one
in North Pearl street, still occupied4by
the First church, the other in Beaver
street, which latter was replaced in
1881 by the present elegant edifice in
Madison avenue. The Beaver street
building was at first styled the South
church, but afterward the Middle
Dutch church, when an additional
structure had been erected in Ferry
street for a third organization. The
pastors in collegiate charge at the time
of separation were Drs. John M. Brad-
ford and John De Witt, of whom the
latter became the first sole pastor of
the new or Second congregation. And
the following has been the order of
ministerial succession, viz.: John De
Witt, D. D. (1813-1823), Isaac N.
Ferris, D. D. (1824-35), Isaac N.
Wyckoff, D. D. (1836-65), Joachim
Elmendorf, D. D. (1865-72), Dwight
K. Bartlett, D. D. (1874-81), and the
present pastor, Wesley R. Davis (1882.)
The present officers are as follows:
Elders, Stephen McC. La Grange,
Henry Proseus, Alexander L. Fryer
and J. Townsend Lansing; deacons,
Samuel S. Pruyn, George D. Fearey,
Percival N. Bouton and William A.
Smith; trustees, Stephen McC. La
Grange, William L. M. Phelps, Adrian
Safford, Vreeland H. Youngman, Jas.
A. Wilson, George W. Yerks, J. Town-
send Lansing, George W. Van Slyke,
Richard V. De Witt. Sunday-school
superintendent, Vreeland H. Young-
man.
Third.—Cor. Green and Ferry sts.
Rev. E. F. See, pastor. The corner
stone was laid, April 20, 1837, the
ground having been given by Stephen
Van Rensselaer. The church was
organized Dec. 19, 1834. Sept. 28,
1841, fire took in the cupola and de-
stroyed everything but the walls. It
was rebuilt and occupied the following
summer.
Fourth.—Schuyler, below S. Pearl;
Rev. J. F. Neef, pastor; Adam Liebel,
supt. (A German church.)
Holland.—153 Jay st.; Rev. H. K.
Boer, pastor; W. H. De Rouville,
supt.
Regency, The Albany.—A name
applied by Thurlow Weed to a junto
of Democratic politicians, including
Martin Van Buren, William L. Marcy,
Silas Wright, John A. Dix, Azariah
Flagg and Edwin Crosswell. These,
with a few others, regulated the poli-
tics of the state, and with the kitchenREL—RUR
136
cabinet in Washington and the junto
in Richmond, controlled to a great ex-
tent the politics of the nation. . Their
reign was from 1824 to 1837. The
Argus was their organ.
Religious Societies.—Nearly every
church in the city has connected with
it one or more societies for social and
religious purposes combined. They
are known as Young People’s associa-
tions, sodalities, guilds, etc. Then
there is the Bible and Common Prayer
Book Society, founded in 1811, of
which Bishop Doane is pres; the
Methodist Sunday School Union,
Henry Kelly, pres.; the County Sun-
day School Association, S. B. Gris-
wold, pres.; the Baptist Social Union,
etc., etc. Also several flourishing mis-
sionary societies, largely managed by
women. (See Bible Society.)
Rifle Association, Third Divi-
sion.—Organized in 1876; chartered
under the laws of the state. A range
for the use of the members and the
National Guard of the division district
was established at Grand View Park,
Rensselaer county, in 1877. June 24,
1880, the range was removed to Rens-
selaerwyck, on the Forbes estate, near
Bath-on-the-Hudson. The range has
become noted throughout the country
for the splendid records made there.
Monthly matches are shot on the
range, under the direction of the asso-
ciation. The principal events of the
year take place during the annual fall
meetings, when the division prize is
shot for by teams representing all the
organizations in the district. At pres-
ent only second and third class targets
are used upon the range.
Rogues’ Gallery.—A collection of
curiosities and relics pertaining to the
history of crime in this vicinity, includ-
ing a large number of photographs of
criminals and dangerous characters, in
a room adjoining the detectives’ bureau
in the City Building.
#
Rowing.-(See Out-Door Sports.)
Rural Cemetery.—This beautiful
resting-place of the dead is situated in'
the town of Watervliet, about four
miles north of Albany, and is reached
by the West Troy horse cars (the
Broadway line), but more directly by
the belt line leaving the N. Y. Central
depot; fare, 10 cents; trains every
hour. Visitors are admitted on foot at
all hours between sunrise and sunset,
except Sundays and holidays. Special
tickets obtained at the office near the
gate or of a trustee, will admit vehicles
or persons on horse-back. Lot own-
ers are given tickets which admit a
vehicle on Sundays and holidays.
Smoking, pic-nicing, dogs, and the
plucking of flowers or breaking any
tree or shrub, are strictly prohil^itec
History.— This cemetery, had its
origin in a sermon preached by Rev.
B. T. Welch, D. D., in the Plarl street
Baptist church, in December, 1840.
This sermon he repeated by request,
and as a result a public meeting was
held in the Exchange building Dec.
31, when it was resolved that a ceme-
tery be established and a committee of
thirteen appointed to carry the plan
into effect. An association was incor-
porated April 20, 1841, consisting of
Rev. Dr. B. T. Welch, Stephen Van
Rensselaer, John A. Dix, John Q. Wil-
son, James Horner, Anthony M. Strong,
Peter Gansevoort, Thomas W. Olcott,
Ezra P. Prentice, John Wendell, Ellis
Baker, Ira Harris, Archibald McIntyre.
Of these, the original trustees, only
Mr. Strong survives.
The grounds were consecrated Oct.
7, 1844. A procession, including the
firemen and three bands of music, was
formed in North Pearl street and es-
corted to the ground by the military.
The services consisted of singing origi-LODGE AT RURAL CEMETERY.137
RUR
nal hymns by a choir of several hun-
dred voices led by R. Packard, religious
exercises by the clergy, a poem by
Alfred B. Street, and an address bv
Hon. D. D. Barnard. These services
occurred at the place now occupied by
“ Consecration Lake,” in the center
of which is a beautiful fountain.
John Hillhouse, whose remains now
lie in the Hillhouse family plat, was
the first engineer and surveyor of
the cemetery. After it was laid out
by Maj. D. B. Douglass, upon his re-
tirement, Burton A. Thomas, father of
the present Superintendent, was ap-
pointed engineer, and faithfully filled
the position for over thirty-two years.
The first president of the association
was B. T. Welch; first sec. and treas.,
A. M. Strong; committee to locate and
improve the grounds, B. T. Welch,
Thomas W. Olcott. The present offi-
cers are: President, Erastus Corning;
sec. and treas., Dudley Olcott; trustees,
Erastus Corning, John F. Rathbone,
Isaac W. Vosburgh, Erastus D. Palmer.
Abraham Van Vechten, James B. Jer-
main, Charles B. Lansing, Robert
Lenox Banks, Rufus W. Peckham,
Dudley Olcott, Abraham Lansing,
John Boyd Thacher, Grange Sard,
supt. and surveyor, Jeffrey P. Thomas.
The first interment was made in
May, 1845. . The grounds originally
contained only 100 acres. They have
been increased at various times (re-
cently by a purchase of 48 acres on the
north), till the present area is 287^
acres, traversed by 22 miles of drive-
way. The total number of lots is
5,509. Total number of interments to
January 1, 1884, 28,061, and these are
being added to at an average rate of
850 yearly. Single graves, $8, for
persons under ten years of age, and
$10 for others, including interment.
Lots range from $25 to #256, or $1
per foot.
Description.
The visitor who takes the Broadway
10
horse-cars, will find himself left at the
entrance gate on the Troy road, from
which a noble tree-lined avenue nearly
half a mile long, leads to the cemetery.
In summer, a conveyance runs at in-
tervals, taking passengers to the office
for five cents, and through the grounds
for 10 cents more. The steam-cars
stop close to the cemetery proper.
A favorite way for carriages is the
sonthern entrance, approached by Lin-
den avenue from the Van Rensselaer
boulevard.
The Rural cemetery is well named.
It is an expanse of hill and dale, forest
and stream, bubbling fountains, sylvan
dells, rocky ravines, sparkling rivulets,
and peaceful sheets of water. There
is no cemetery that possesses so many
natural advantages as does the Rural.
One or two days’ wandering among its
quiet scenes would still leave many a
nook unvisited, many a path uiitrod.
The grounds are laid out in an intri-
cate labyrinth of walks and drives, but
nature has divided the area into what
are called the South, Middle and
North ridges, running east and west,
and separated by two streams of never-
failing water.
The South Ridge is the choicest
section, and visitors who have not time
to see the whole should select it in
preference to the others. Taking the
avenue Mount Way, which is at your
left, as you leave the office, is seen at
the right the most ponderous monument
upon the grounds: a massive shaft
ornamented with a medallion head, the
memorial of Joel Rathbone.
Bending northerly, the visitor sees a
low monument to Thomas Hillhouse,
who formerly owned the South ridge.
This was the first granite Structure in
the cemetery.
The memorial of Jared L. Rathbone
is designed as the counterpart of the
tomb of Scipio. Passing from Mount
Way, northeasterly, into the Tour, is
seen on Mount Olivet, a cottage monu-RUR
138
ment of Italian marble, with a medal-
lion head, by Palmer, representing
Lewis Benedict, the elder. Near by is
a granite sarcophagus to the memory
of the patriot soldier, Gen. Lewis Bene-
dict, killed at Pleasant Hill. On Mount
Olivet, also, is the tomb of the Van
Benthuysens. When the cemetery was
first laid out, the choice of lots was
sold at auction, and the first choice was
bid off by Mr. Obadiah R. Van Ben-
thuysen, the first man to success-
fully attach steam power to the print-
ing press of America. The last time
he went out of the house alive was to
avail himself of the privilege he had
purchased, and he selected this spot.
On the Pohlman lot, beneath a Latin
cross, lies the Rev. Dr. Pohlman, and
near him, under a soldier’s rustic me-
morial, Lieut. Wm. H. Pohlman,
wounded to death at Gettysburgh.
Close to the line of St. Agnes Ceme-
tery, in Forest ave., is the granite
monument to Lyman Root, the largest
single stone upon the ground, weighing
about twenty tons. It is set exactly
according to the cardinal points Of the
compass; the curiosity is that this was
purely accidental.
Turning southward, the lots are many
of them circular. Still further south-
ward, on Prospect hill, is an elaborate
memorial to Jas. A. Wilson, one of the
most costly on the grounds; a niche in
front shelters a figure of Faith. Still
further to the south is the Corning plat,
the largest in the cemetery. A monu-
mental cross to Gertrude Tibbitts Corn-
ing; a large bronze cruciform sarco-
phagus to Erastus Corning, and other
elegant memorials attract attention.
This is a .most commanding position,
and the view of river, mountain and
distant city is indeed charming. Near
the Corning plat is a Roman column
erected to the memory of Gen. Philip
Schuyler, the Revolutionary hero, who
sleeps beneath it. The lot was given
by the trustees of the cemetery, and
the monument erected by Mrs. W. Starr
Miller, a grand-daughter of the illus-
trious deceased. Near by, also, is the
King monument, well worth noticing,
and bringing to mind the greater me-
morial of this public-spirited citizen,
the King fountain, to be erected in
Washington Park (which see.)
The lot of Robert Lenox Banks,
west of the Corning plat, contains
“ The Angel at the Sepulchre,” by
Erastus D. Palmer. More strangers
are drawn to the Rural to see this one
work of art, than by all the other
attractions combined. The face and
form are of angelic beauty, although
there is in both enough of the human
to attract and hold our sympathy.
Seated upon the rock which he has
rolled back from the sepulchre, his
countenance like lightning, his raiment
white as snow, it is, alter all, less an
angel than a glorified human being,
gifted with eternal youth and God-like
strength — a face radiant with fulfilled
hope and the assurance of knowledge
impossible this side the veil. It is, in-
deed, a personification of the great
truth of the resurrection, implied in
the words, “ Why seek ye the living
among the dead? ” While the cost of
this memorial (said to be about $20,-
000) has been exceeded in some in-
stances, nothing approaching it in sen-
timent or execution is to be found in
any cemetery in the country. At the
east of the Corning lot we notice the
finely proportioned monument on the
plat of Henry Russell, and near by
the monuments of Nathan D. Wendell,
D. W. Wemple, Samuel Schuyler,
Capt. F. W. Vosburgh, Mrs. Joanna B.
Towner and Edward Douglass.
At the west, a short distance below,
is a pear-shaped bit of silver, known
as Cypress Water, in which is a minia-
ture island. On the way down the
slope is the Brumaghim lot, bn which,
besides the principal headstone, is a
marble tree-trunk entwined with ivy,139
RUR
upon which perches a dove. Near by,
also, is a soldier’s monument, erected
to Maj. George S. Dawson. Around
the lake are the beautiful monuments
of P. V. Fort, Oscar L. Hascy, E. D.
Brainard, Dr. R. Jewett, Walter R.
Bush, the late Michael McGarvey, and
Mrs. Helena Hinckel. A beautiful
granite cross is on the lot of Mather
and Gibbons; also the Godfrey monu-
ment, wdiich is surmounted by a group
called “ Consolation,” or religion con-
soling sorrow; and a short distance to
the west the massive sarcophagus of
Daniel Manning, and on the opposite
corner the large family plat of Weed
and Barnes, in which repose the re-
mains of the late Thurlow Weed,
whose wife and children preceded him.
From this point, also, may be seen the
handsome monument of W. H. Pitkin,
and opposite, one of Thomas V. Wol-
cott, and near by the handsome obelisk
of A. F. Fisher. At the right, in Ever-
green Wood, Gen. Rice, the hero of
twenty battles, the last of which proved
fatal, is buried. Proceeding on the
Tour, past Roseleaf and Spruce aves.,
Wooster’s noble figure of Hope comes
in sight, standing upon an. octagonal
pedestal, wrought in emblematic vines
and flowers.
Highland water is reached by Lawn
crossway, and is a pretty little sheet,
once alive with gold fish. On the right
of Lawn avenue is the tomb of four
generations of the Van Rensselaers.
Through Greenwood ave. to Roseland
way and we come to a much admired
memorial of Robinson and Howe, sur-
mounted by a statue of Memory, and
back of this “ Harry ” Meech, of the
old Albany Museum, is buried. Near
by is the massive monument of the late
Judge Ira Harris; also the Wallace
monument, both well worth noting.
A walk through the ravine and a visit
to Consecration lake are next in order.
Middle Ridge.— Leaving Conse-
cration lake, and going west by Ravine
sideway, facing Ravine bridge, on the
right, is the only polished shaft of
native granite on the ground. It is
seen at fine advantage, and com-
memorates the Orr family. Near by is a
lot of another branch of the Van Rens-
selaers, and here Gen. Solomon Van
Rensselaer is buried. He fought under
“Mad Anthony” at Miami, and re-
ceived what was thought to be a mortal
wound in the lungs, but lived to be
riddled with balls at Queenstown, and
finally died at 78. Passing west and
curving to the north, on the left of
Western ave., stand two brown stone
monuments, one of which was erected
by the citizens of Albany to com-
memorate the gallantry of Lewis N.
Morris, brevet-major, U. S. A., who fell
Sept 21, 1846, while leading an assault
at Monterey. Turning westward, we
come to Olcott’s monument, represent-
ing a mother rising toward her children ~
who have gone before. Opposite lies
Edwin C. Delavan, the famous tem-
perance reformer, who died in 1870.
His name is perpetuated in Albany by
the Delavan House, which he built.
In the same section, is the lot and
monument (containing a bronze medal-
lion and head, modelled by Palmer) of
the great financier, Thomas W. Olcott,
who for 31 years was president of the
cemetery association. For nearly sixty-
three years Mr. O. was in the Mechan-
ics’ and Farmers’ Bank, entering as
a junior clerk, and becoming its presi-
dent. Further along, on Western ave.,
is the grave of the famous surgeon,
Dr. Alden March. Down the ravine
at the right sleeps Indian lake, the
largest sheet of water on the grounds.
At the left is Tawasentha lake, and on
the other side rises the massive granite
monument to John Tayler Cooper.
At the western extremity of the lake,
on Hemlock ave., sleeps John C. Spen-
cer, the illustrious lawyer. Still further,
and on the left, the sarcophagus of
Quincy granite, supporting a large an-RUR
140
chor in relief commemorates Captain
Robert Townsend, who died in China
in 1866, while in command of the U. S.
steamer Wachusett. Facing the lake
is the tomb of M. N.« Mead, erected in
1880. Opposite may be seen the state-
ly memorial sarcophagus erected on
the family plot of William Apple-
ton. A few rods west of this point
brings One to the church grounds, where
are interred the dead which were taken
from the old Albany burying grounds,
and re-buried here. The old grave-
stones and their curious inscriptions,
afford an interesting study to the an-
tiquarian. Turning eastward, and
retraversing Western ave. to section
55, we find the grave of Gen. Peter
Ganesvoort, the hero of Fort Stan-
wix; also, those of his son and grand-
son. Crossing the Tour, and still
keeping on Western ave., we pass
the grave of the late Chancellor of the
University, John V. L. Pruyn, and
come to the sarcophagus of Egbert
Egberts, who was foremost in devel-
oping the steam knitting industry at
Cohoes. Here a number of the once
prominent men of West Troy lie
buried. Near the Tour, in section 62,
is the grave of the statesman, William
L. Marcy, marked by an unpretending
granite monument. Mr. Marcy’s
father-in-law, Benjamin Knower, for-
merly owned the land now forming
the central division, and the very spot
where Marcy is buried was a favorite
resort with him. His funeral was one
of the most impressive ever seen in
Albany. Mr. Knower was one of the
most prominent business men in the
city in 1825, and was for many years
president of the Mechanics’ and Far-
mers’ Bank. In Crescent way (and
we are not far from the eastern
boundary of the cemetery) is a stately
free-stone, sacred to the memory of
Chas. E. Dudley, and of his widow,
Mrs. Blandina Dudley, whose greater
monument is the observatory which
bears the name. Near by is a sym-
metrical and highly polished Quincy
granite cross to the memory of the late
Townsend Fondey. Beyond the turn,
and opposite the Dudley lot, is the tes-
timonial to John Van Buren — “ Prince
John ” — the son of the President,
who died at sea, Oct. 13, 1866. Turn-
ing northward is seen the hillside
tomb of the Burdens, one of the most
elaoorate sepulchres on the grounds.
Its sculptured dogs attract much atten-
tion. Its owner erected upon his
estate on the other side of the river,
an observatory, in which, when in a
contemplative mood, he could sit and
with a glass view his final resting place.
The monument of Ozias Hall, a com-
bination of brown-stone and marble, is
in singular taste. A few steps east-
ward lead to the main Tour.
North Ridge.—Moving northward
along the Tour, the Gothic chapel of
John F. Winslow and the Winslow
family will be easily identified. It is
much the most costly of any structure
on the ground. It is built of granite
and other materials. Following the
Tour, we come, on Landscape hill, to
the first monument erected in the
cemetery. It is to the memory of
David Strain. Ascending to Arbor
hill, we find the soldiers’ burial ground,
in which nearly 150 victims of the war
lie buried. The scenes yearly enacted
here on Decoration Day, under the
auspices of the Grand Army of the
Republic, are most impressive. Near
by the soldiers’ lot are the Hallenbake
(properly Halenbeck) lots and monu-
ment, where repose the dead who
were once buried in the family bury-
ing ground, southwest cor. Hamilton
and South Pearl sts. This property
was sold for taxes, and then re-sold
and a portion of the proceeds devoted
to the purchase of this lot and monu-
ment, the transfer being completed in
i860.
A little lake some ways to the west,SAF—SHA
141
is called Arbor water. In the north-
west portion of the cemetery are the
public lots, in each of which there is
only “ room for one.” A portion of
this ground is reserved for the inmates
of the Home for the Friendless.
On the way out, the receiving vaults
are noticed. The first one was erected
in 1858, the last one in 1883. They
are used for the reception of bodies in
winter, when the ground will not read-
ily permit of their interment. The
cascades occupy what was once the
site of Orient lake, and are a great im-
provement to the scenery. Choice
shrubbery and trailing vines have been
planted among the rocks, and a trio of
fountains sends up a beautiful spray.
The lots are cared for by the season, at
from $2 to $10, and upwards, according
to size. The trustees also receive con-
tributions, by bequest or otherwise, as
a perpetual fund, the interest of which
goes towards keeping lots of the con-
tributors in good condition. The num-
ber of lots thus permanently provided
for is 300. The Lodge, of which a
picture is given, was erected in 1882.
A chapel will be erected in 1884.
Safe Deposit and Storage Com-
pany, Albany.—Incorporated May,
1883. Fire and burglar proof vaults
in the basement of the Albany Savings
bank, cor. State and Chapel sts. Here at
trifling expense, may be stored bonds,
wills, coin, diamonds, plate,etc., in abso-
lute safety, for a day, year, or a life-time.
All that the ingenuity of man has de-
vised against fire and thieves, is made
use of; safes and vaults, into which
fire cannot penetrate; burglar alarms,
that set bells ringing in the police sta-
tion, in the district telegraph office and
elsewhere; time locks that open only
at certain hours. So perfect is the sys-
tem that even the treachery of employ-
ees is set at defiance, and the storer
of valuables rests content in the assur-
ance that his or her treasures are in
perfect safety. Those who leave their
homes in summer find this a comfort
worth a hundred times its cost. Furs
and valuable clothing are also prepared
for storage and insured against fire and
moth. The public are invited to visit
the premises. Edgar Cotrell, of the
well-known hat and fur firm of Cotrell
& Leonard, is the president of this
institution, and George H. Treadwell,
of Messrs. Treadwell & Co., the sec.
“Sand Plain Lots.”—In 1858 a
very elaborate map was published of
the property lying ten miles w'est of
the City Hall, and yet technically, by
the original charter, within the city
limits. These city lots, 860 in number,
although utterly worthless, looked well
on paper, and were sold and re-sold
by parties living at a distance, at as-
tounding prices. Quite frequently the
purchasers would come to look at their
acquisitions, expecting to find them in
the midst of the city. Their disap-
pointment on realizing the truth was
often hard to bear. The swindle was
repeatedly exposed in the newspapers,
but the sand plain lots are still in market.
Schools.—See Albany Academy,
Female Academy, St. Agnes School,
Public Instruction.
Secret Societies.—The principal of
these, Free Masons, Odd Fellows, and
Grand Army, are spoken of under
their respective heads. There are
also several lodges of the Knights of
Pythias, Ancient Order of United
Workmen, United Order of Foresters,
Temperance organizations, etc., in the
city.
Sexes, Distribution of.—In Albany
county, according to the census of 1880,
the number of males was 74,701; num-
ber of females, 80,189.
Shakers.—Eight miles from the footSHA
142
of State st., and at the terminus of the
Shaker road, which branches from
Broadway opposite the Van Rensselaer
mansion, is the original Shaker settle-
ment in America where Mother Ann
Lee, the founder of the sect, lies
buried. She emigrated from Manches-
ter, England, to the United States, in
1774, and settled on this spot, where
she died in 1784. The drive from
Albany, whether by the Shaker road
or by the way of West Albany, is a
favorite one, and many take it. The
settlement numbers less than 300 sin-^
cere individuals who, in nearly every-
thing, differ with the teachings of other
churches; even their amusements and
recreations are almost wholly of a re-
ligious nature. Their principles in-
clude celibacy as best for those who
are able and willing to live it, commu-
nity of property, non-resistance, peace
of households and of nations, and en-
tire separatiou of their church from
political or State connections. They
are thrifty farmers, gardeners and me-
chanics; known as the best of neigh-
bors, and of very hospitable disposi-
tions. They own several thousand
acres of fine land, and while much of
it is cultivated in an unequalled man-
ner, yet the tourist finds, just before
entering the village, the most beautiful
woods and heavily timbered plot in
the county of Albany. They are the
originators of the far-famed “ Shaker
Garden Seeds,” and “ Shaker Brooms,”
in which they still take pride. Their
live stock has been a noteworthy fea-
ture in years past, and their fruits and
flocks have attracted much attention.
They are currently believed to be very
wealthy; but their riches consist almost
entirely in real estate at home and in
other counties and States.
On Sundays, during the warm
weather, their Church is open to the
public, and many citizens and stran-
gers avail themselves of the beautiful
drives thither to witness the peculiar
forms of their worship: processional
marching, dancing, etc., accompanied
with singing by the whole body of
worshippers. An address upon their
peculiar tenets is always given, the
whole making their church a very
interesting resort during the season.
They publish a paper monthly — The
Manifesto — which contains essays and
contributions, mostly from their own
people, illustrating their religious
views; and each number contains a
piece of their unique, original music.
Their post-office in the village is
“ Shakers, N. Y.”
While open at all times to entertain
and interest candid inquirers after their
manner of life; and while making
welcome those who desire to visit their
homes and domains, the Shakers wish
it to be distinctly understood that they
are not a public institution, but are
privileged to the rights of their quiet,
personal homes and estates; and any
infringement upon these by those who
fail to consider that they have neither
hotels nor servants, is more than
frowned upon. Any hospitality, be-
yond the freedom to visit their grounds,
gardens, enclosures, etc., must be by
special invitation.
Three-fourths of a mile east of the
village Hills’ “ Shaker Hotel ” is loca-
ted ; and visitors to the settlement find
it a clean and elaborately furnished
house, and its genial proprietor, Mr.
John A. Hills, one of the most honor-
able, hospitable and popular of indi-
viduals, with “ always welcome ” on his
countenance.
The Shakers are divided into four
villages, called the Church, North,
West and South families. They rely
almost wholly upon the outside world
for converts to their system of life,
excepting that they have commonly
adopted a few orphan children, who,
at mature age, may of choice become
members or not. The Shakers, at
present, are declining in numbers,143
SHA—STA
which they attribute to the general
coldness of religious feeling, claim-
ing, that from genuine revivals, they
“ gather in ” their share.
Shaw, The Tailor.—The name of
Chester C. Shaw is familiar all over
Albany and vicinity because of the
thoroughness with which he has adver-
tised his business of tailoring, which
has been carried on for 18 years, in
one spot, except that his establishment
has increased in size and spreads over
far more ground than once it did. It
is on Washington avenue (No. 41),
directly opposite the capitol, and is
always noticeable for the fine display
of tailoring goods in the large, hand-
some windows. Mr. Shaw’s success is
due to the fact, first, that he advertises;
second, that he makes no promise to
the public that he does not keep. He
has special advantagee for doing good
work at low prices, and his patrons in-
clude those who find it necessary to
economise as well as those who only
care to have their clothes well and
fashionably made. Mr. Shaw’s suc-
cess in business is such as any man
may well be proud of.
Sidewalks belong to the public. .
Any merchant placing goods at a
greater distance than three feet from
his building, or more than four feet
above the pavement, is liable to a fine
of $3, provided the articles are not in
the course of transportation in or out
of the building.
Signal Service.—The United States
Signal Service has its office at 44 State
street, room 9, and is in charge of J.
O. Barnes, who takes observations at
7 A. M., 3 and up. m., and forwards
the report to Washington. Local ob-
servations • are taken at 11 A. M. and
7 p. M. He also prints and issues the
Farmers’ bulletin (Weather Indica-
tions), which is mailed to about 380
postmasters in this vicinity and to 30
business firms and other persons in
the city. Reports are received from,
about 56 stations, and these are fur-
nished to the newspapers for publica-
tion and posted up in various public
places about the city. The office is
open during the usual office hours, and
any information as to reports and the
work of the service is given to all who
may desire it.
Slaughter Houses,—The public
slaughter-house is situated on Brevator
st., nearly three miles west of the City
Hall. Slaughtering is prohibited (ex-
cept by consent of the Common Coun-
cil) within the limits of 160 rods west
of Allen st. on the west; Warren st.,
Delaware ave., Second ave and Ganse-
voort st. on the south; the city line
on the east; and North Ferry, Van
Woert sts., Lexington and Livingston
aves. on the north. The ordinance,
however, is not strictly observed, and
many of the butchers have their
own slaughter-houses. The question
whether the power given the city
government by the Legislature to regu-
late slaughter-houses, included the
power to prohibit them has been
raised, and decided in the affirmative
by the Court of Appeals. Violation of
the law is punishable by a fine of
$100.
Spires.—Following is said to be the
height of the tallest church spires in
this city: St. Patrick’s, 170 feet; Con-
gregational, 195; St. Paul’s Evangeli-
cal Lutheran, 176; Trinity Methodist,
173; Fourth Presbyterian, 186; State
State Presbyterian,. 166-3; Our Lady
of Angels, 120; St. Peter’s, 180;
Cathedral, 21.0; Holy Cross, 145.
Stadt Huis, The, was on the cor-
ner of Broadway and Hudson sts., now
occupied by the Commercial building.
Seven men, condemned to die, wereSTA
144
once incarcerated there. They barri-
caded the door, declared that they had
laid a train of powder to blow them-
selves up and all around. A crowd
had collected, and there was great
excitement. Some one thought of the
fire engine, which was brought, and
the place thoroughly drenched, powder
and all. Then a merchant, named
McDole, took a club, and a hole being*
made through the ceiling, he de-
scended, and laid around him till they
were vanquished. Then they were
dressed in white, and marched up
Slate st. to Elk, where they were
hanged.
Stages run to Berne, New Scotland,
and intermediate places, daily, at 2 p.
M.; to Clarkesville, Westerlo, Rens-
selaerville and intermediate places, via
Bethlehem Centre, daily, at 2.30 p. m.;
and to Guilderland Centre every after-
noon at 3 o’clock, from Avenue House,
74 Washington ave.; to Newtonville,
daily, from Broadway, cor. State st.;
to Nassau and East Schodack, daily, at
2.45 p. m., from Haswell House, 56
Madison ave.
St. Agnes Cemetery.—Devoted to
the interment of the dead belonging to
the Catholic church; adjoins the Rural
Cemetery (which see) on the south.
The association known as “ St. Agnes
Cemetery ” was incorporated by act of
the Legislature passed May 9, 1867,
the incorporators therein named being
Rt. Rev. John J. Conroy, Rev. Edgar
P. Wadhams, Peter Cagger, John Tra-
cey, William S. Preston, James Hall,
William Cassidy, Thomas Mattimore,
John Stuart, Joseph Clinton, Thomas
Kearney, Robert Higgins, John Mc-
Ardle, John Mullen and Henry Lueke.
The grounds were formerly the prop-
erty of Mr. Joseph D. Badgley, from
whom they were purchased by Peter
Cagger and conveyed to St. Agnes
Cemetery in 1867. The first meeting
of the organization was held May 10,
1867. Peter Cagger was elected presi-
dent May 14th, and on the same day
Peter Hogan, civil engineer, of Albany,
was selected to make a topographical
survey of the grounds.
The cemetery was consecrated May
19, 1867, in the presence of an enor-
mous crowd. The cars of the Water-
vliet railroad were unequal to the ac-
commodation of intending visitors.
Conveyances of every available kind
were brought into requisition both from
Albany and Troy, and vast numbers
walked to the grounds. In front of
the mansion then standing upon the
brow of the hill a platform had been
erected, and upon this were Rt. Rev.
Bishop Conroy, Rev. Fathers Wad-
hams, . Ludden, Bayard, Noethen,
Burke, Smith, Taney, and a number of
acolytes, the trustees occupying the
rear. After the prayers prescribed in
the Catholic ritual for occasions of the
kind, a procession headed by Rev.
Father Wadhams, and consisting of
priests and their attendants, together
with the different Young Men’s Catho-
lic societies of the city, and followed
by great numbers of the spectators
present, moved round the grounds, the
priests and acolytes chanting and re-
sponding. The ceremonies were closed
with the Pontifical benediction, and
were throughout most interesting and
impressive.
A general plan of the cemetery, pre-
pared by Messrs. William H. Grant
and Donald G. Mitchell, civil engi-
neers, of New York city, was at once
adopted, and the several plats having
been surveyed and subdivided into lots
by Mr. Peter Hogan, and a map made
by him, the sale of lots was very rapid,
and has so continued up to the pres-
ent. Soon after the death of Mr.
Cagger, in 1868, Mr. William Cassidy
became president, and so continued
until his death, in 1873. A seal was
adopted by the association in 1869,STA
145
showing the figure of St. Agnes, with
the insignia of the saint and the legend
“ St. Agnes Cemetery, 1867.”
Upon the death of Mr. Cassidy,
Bishop Conroy became president, and
upon his retirement Rt. Rev. Francis
McNeirny consented to occupy the
position.
The present condition and appear-
ance of St. Agnes Cemetery may be
success which attended the commence-
ment of the new school, secured ground
for a suitable building on Elk st., one
of the most commanding and beautiful
sites in the city. In March, 1871, an
act was passed by the legislature
creating a corporation by the name
and style of “ The Corning Foundation
for Christian Work in the Diocese of
Albany,” with ample powers for “ the
ST. AGNES SCHOOL.
regarded with just pride and satisfac-
tion not only by lot owners but by citi-
zens generally. The lots are kept in
admirable order, and many of the
monuments erected are very beautiful.
St. Agnes School.—The school of
St. Agnes was founded by the Right
Rev. Wm. C. Doane, Bishop of Albany,
in 1870. It was modeled upon St.
Mary’s Hall at Burlington, N. J., a
school founded 38 years ago by his
father, Bishop of New Jersey. The
late Erastus- Corning, in view of the
establishment, maintenance and man-
agement, in the city of Albany, of a
school or schools and other education-
al, religious and charitable works and
institutions, with a church or chapel
and other convenient buildings in con-
nection therewith; the same to be
maintained and conducted in accord-
ance with the doctrines, discipline and
worship of the Protestant Episcopal
Church in the said diocese of Albany.”
By the requirements of the charter the
Bishop of the said diocese, for the time
being, is made one of the trusteesSTA
146
and the president of the board.
The corporation was organized, funds
raised, plans for the new building com-
pleted, and May 8, 1871, ground brok-
en in the presence of the members of
the school and its friends and helpers.
The corner-stone was laid with appro-
priate services June 19th, and con-
tained a copper box, in which were a
copy of the Book of Common Prayer
and the Holy Bible, of the act of in-
corporation and’other documents con-
nected with the school, and on its top
was an engraved plate with the in-
scription :
In angulari lapide.
S. AGNETIS SCHOLTE,
Albaniensis.
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti,+
'	Amen.	'
Fundamenta ejus in montibus sanctis,
Filise corum compositae, circumornatae ut
similitudo Templi,
In XIII Calendas Quintiles, A. D. 1872.
The building was formally opened
on Halloween, 1872. At the thir-
teenth anniversary in June, 1884, the
records showed a list, of 200 pupils in
attendance during the year, and 22
teachers and lecturers, while 218 grad-
uates have gone out from the school.
It now occupies an honored position
as first among its equals, older or
younger, of American church schools
for girls. “Non nobis, Domine. Non
nobis; sed Nomini tuo da gloriam”
State B^nk.—The New York State
National Bank, at 69 State st., charter-
ed in 1803, is the third oldest bank
in the state, and while thousands of
other moneyed institutions have chang-
ed front, locality, and everything else,
the old State bank has for more than
eighty years preserved and maintained
n,ot only its unsullied repute as a high-
toned and honorable banking house,
but still occupies the very home in
which its well-earned reputation has
been made. The building was begun
in 1803 and completed in May, 1804.
May 2, 1880, it was damaged by fire to
such an extent that it had to be entire-
ly remodeled; and while the character
and style of the building were retained,
it was made into one of the most hand-
some and convenient suites of banking
apartments in the country, with fire
and burglar proof vaults of the most
approved construction. The first board
of directors were John Tayler, Elkan-
ah Watson, Peter Gansevoort, Jr., John
Robison, Gilbert Stewart, Thomas Til-
lotson, John D. P. Douw, Thomas
Mather, John R. Bleecker, Francis
Bloodgood, Richard Lush, Abm. G.
Lansing, Elisha Jenkins, of whom John
Tayler was elected president, and con-
tinued as such till his death, March 21,
1829. He was succeeded by Francis
Bloodgood (the last survivor of the
original board of directors), who died
March 5, 1840, when Mr. Rufus H.
King was unanimously elected to suc-
ceed him. When Mr. King died, July
9, 1867, he had been connected with
the institution as director, vice-presi-
dent or president for 49 years. Mr.
King was succeeded by his son-in-law,
Franklin Townsend, and he failing in
health, by the present president, Mr.
J. Howard King, son of Rufus H.,
July 21, 1879. The first cashier was
John W. Yates, who was succeeded by
his son, Richard Yates. The succeed-
ing four were Aaron D. Patchin, Jo-
siah B. Plumb, John H. Van Antwerp
(now vice-president), and the present
incumbent, D. W. Wemple. Present
directors:	J. H. Van Antwerp, Jere-
miah Waterman, Charles B. Lansing,
Frederick Townsend, Wm. M. Van
Antwerp, Jas. H. Pratt, Marcus T.
Hun, Henry K. McHarg, Samuel N.
Bacon, Rufus K. Townsend. Capital
$250,000; surplus and undivided prof-
its over $225,000. Under its present
management this ancient, and honor-
able institution fully maintains the
GROVER CLEVELANDH7
STA
standing which it has long had among
the soundest banks in the country.
State Government.—Albany be-
ing the capital of the State, most of the
State officers have their residence and
offices here.
Governor.—Grover Cleveland
(dem.), of Buffalo; term, Jan. i, 1883,
to Jan. 1, 1886; elected by a plurality
of 192,854; salary, $10,000 and house;
residence, Eagle st., south of Elm.
Office, Executive Chamber, Capitol.
Private sec., Daniel S. Lamont; salary,
$4,000.
Lieut.-Governor.—David B. Hill
(dem.), of Elmira; term of three years
expires Jan. 1, 1886; salary, $5 000.
Office, third floor of Capitol.
Secretary of State.—Joseph B.
Carr (rep.), of Troy; term of two
years expires Jan. 1, 1886; salary,
$5,000. Office, Capitol, second floor,
north side. Deputy, Anson S. Wood;
salary, $4,000.
Comptroller.—Alfred C. Chapin
(dem.), of Brooklyn; term of two
years expires Jan. 1, 1886; salary,
$6,000. Office in State hall, first floor.
Deputy, Thomas E. Benedict; salary,
$4,000.
Treasurer.—Robert A. Maxwell
(dem.), of Batavia; term of two years
expires Jan. 1, 1886; salary, $5,000.
Office, State hall, first floor. Deputy,
Edgar K. Apgar; salary, $4,000.
Attorney-General.—Dennis O’-
Brien (dem.), of Watertown; term of
two years expires Jan. 1, 1886; salary,
$5,000. Office, Capitol, second floor,
south side. Deputies, Isaac H. May-
nard, William A. Poste; salaries,
$4,600' each.
Engineer and Surveyor.— Elna-
than Sweet (dem.), of Albany; term
of office, two years; expires Jan. 1,
188.6; salary, $5,000; office, second
floor, State hall; deputy, Charles Hil-
ton, salary, $4,000.
Superintendent of Public Works.
— James Shanahan (dem.), of Tribe’s
Hill; appointed by Governor and Sen-
ate; term expires Jan. 1, 1886; salary,
$6,000. Office, Capitol, first floor,
north side.
Superintendent of Prisons. —
Isaac V. Baker, Jr. (rep.), Comstock’s;
appointed by Governor and Senate;
term of five years expires Feb. 16,1887;
salary, $6,000. Office, Capitol, first
floor, south side.
Superintendent of Banking. —
Willis S. Paine (dem.), of New York;
appointed by Governor and Senate;
term, two years; expires April 13,1886;
salary, $5,000. Office, State Hall, sec-
ond floor; deputy, Josiah Van Vran-
ken; salary, $3,500.
Superintendent of Insurance.—
John A. McCall, Jr. (dem.), of Albany;
appointed by Governor and Senate;
term of three years expires April 23,
1886; salary, $7,000. Office, Capitol,
first floor, south; deputy, Michael Shan-
non; salary, $4,500.
Superintendent of Public In-
struction. — William B. Ruggles
(dem.). Elected by Legislature for
three years; term expires March 14,
1886; salary, $5,000. Office, Capitol,
first floor, south. Deputy, James E.
Morrison; salary, $3,500.
Canal Board. —Consists of the Lieu-
tenant-Governor, Secretary of State,
Comptroller, Treasurer, Attorney-Gen-
eral, State Engineer and Surveyor,
Superintendent of Public Works.
State Assessors.—Staley S. Wood,
James L. Williams, John D. Ellis; sal-
ary, $2,500 each; appointed April 18,
1883, for three years. With the Com-
missioners of the Land Office they con-
stitute a State Board of Equalization.
State Board of Charities.—Wm.
P. Letchworth, pres.: John C. Dever-
eux, vice-pres.; Chas. S. Hoyt, Albany,
sec.; Jas. O. Fanning, Albany, assist,
sec. Office, State hall.
Regents of the University.—The
Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, Sec-retary of State, Superintendent of
Public Instruction, ex-officios, George
W. Clinton, Lorenzo Burrows, E. W.
Leavenworth, J. Carson Brevoort, Geo.
W. Curtis, Francis Kernan, John L.
Lewis, Henry R. Pierson, Martin I.
Townsend, Anson J. Upson, William
L. Bostwick, Chauncey M. Depew,
Charles E. Fitch, Orris H. Warren,
Leslie W. Russell, Whitelaw Reid,
William H. Watson, Henry E. Turner,
St. Clair McKelway. Officers of the
Board: Henry R. Pierson, chancellor;
Geo. W. Clinton, vice-chancellor;
David Murray, sec.; Daniel J. Pratt,
assist, sec.
Staff of Commander-in-Chief.—
Adjutant-General, Major-Gen. John G.
Farnsworth, Albany (salary, $3,000);
Inspector-General, Brig.-Gen. Philip
H. Briggs, Brooklyn ($6 per day for
actual service); Chief of Ordnance,
Brig.-Gen. Daniel D. Wylie, New
York ($2,500); Engineer-in-Chief,
Brig-Gen. George S. Field, Buffalo;
Judge - Advocate - General, Brig.-Gen.
Horatio C. King, Brooklyn; Surgeon-
General, Brig.-Gen. Joseph D. Bryant,
New York; Quartermaster-General,
Brig.-Gen. Myndert D. Mercer, Water-
loo; Paymaster-General, Brig.-Gen.
G. Barrett Rich, Buffalo; Commissary -
General of Subsistence, Brig.-Gen.
Austin Lathrop, Corning; General In-
spector of Rifle Practice, Brig.-Gen.-
Charles F. Robbins, New York ($1,-
500); Military Secretary, Col. Daniel
S. Lamont, Albany. • Aids-de-camp,
Cols. Charles H. Utley, Buffalo; Sam-
uel J. Tilden, Jr., New Lebanon;
Clarence H. Frost, Peekskill; Thomas
C. Miles, New York; Robert Town-
send, Oyster Bay; William R. Cassidy,
Albany.
Commissioners and -Trustees.—
The Board of Commissioners of the
Canal Fund consists of the Lieutenant-
Governor, Secretary of State, Comptrol-
ler, Treasurer and Attorney-General.
The Board of Commissioners of the
Land Office consists of the same, and
the State Engineer and Surveyor and
Speaker of the Assembly.
The Board of Trustees of Public
Buildings consists of the Governor,
Lieutenant-Governor and Speaker of
the Assembly. Supt. of public build-
ings, Ghas. B. Andrews.
State Survey.—William Dorshei-
mer, New York, pres.; James T. Gardi-
ner, director; Daniel J. Pratt, clerk.
Civil Service Commissioners.—
Augustus Schoonmaker, Henry A.
Richmond, John Jay. Silas W. Burt,
chief examiner.
Adirondack Survey.—Verplanck
Colvin, Albany, Supt.
Commisioners of Claims.—Lyman
H. North up, George M. Beebe, Henry
F. Allen; Edwin M. Holbrook, clerk.
Railroad Commissioners. — John
D. Kernan, chairman; John O’Don-
nell, William E. Rogers; William C.
Hudson, clerk.
Commissioner of Statistics of
Labor.—Charles F. Peck, appointed
May 4, 1883.
State Board of Health.—Edward
M. Moore, Rochester, pres.; Dr. Alfred
L. Carroll, sec.
State Hall, Eagle st., between Steu-
ben and Pine, is built of white cut
stone from the Sing Sing quarries, is
138 by 88 feet, and is 65 ieet high.
The ceilings of the basement and of
the two principal stories are groined
arches, and all the rooms, excepting
in the attic story, are fire-proof. The
basement and attic are each 19 feet,
and the two principal stories each 22
feet high. It was finished in 1842, at
a cost of $350,000. It contains the
offices of the Comptroller, Treasurer,
Bureau of Canal Affairs, State Engi-
neer and Surveyor, Supt. Bank Depart-
ment and State Board of Charities.
Open to visitors during business hours.
When vacated by removals to the
Capitol, the building will be used for149
STA
the Museum of Natural History
(which see.)
State Library.—The New York
State Library was founded by act of
the Legislature, passed April 21, 1818.
The Governor, Lieut.-Governor, Chan-
cellor and Chief Justice of the Supreme
Legislature, however, needed for con-
sultation works on political economy,
and books on such other subjects that
touched upon their legislative labor,
and thus the field for collection was
gradually enlarged. For thirty years
the library continued under the con-
trol of the officers above mentioned as
STATE
Court for the time being, were consti-
tuted a board of trustees, who were
directed to cause to be fitted up some
proper room in the Capitol “for the
purpose of keeping therein a publick
library for the use of the government
and the people of the State.” The
trustees at this period had mainly in
view the collection of an extensive
library of law books, and a great pro-
portion of the appropriations were ex-'
pended for this department. The
HALL.
trustees (to whom in 1824 were added
the Secretary of State, Attorney-
General and Comptroller), and its
magnitude and importance then made
it necessary that a more permanent
board of trustees should be intrusted
with its management. Accordingly,
on the 4th of May, 1844, the Legisla-
ture enacted that the Regents of the
University should be the trustees of
this library. Upon assuming this trust
they caused an inventory of the librarySTA
I5°
to be taken, and its whole arrangement
was reconstructed. One result of the
inventory was the discovery that 311
volumes were missing,—some of which,
however, were recovered by advertis-
ing. It was then determined to be
important to secure for the State every
historical work illustrating American
history, and especially the history of
New York. The growth of the library
has been a steady one, depending on
a moderate annual appropriation,
which,has been increased some years
for the special purchase of large col-
lections. Among such notably was the
Warden collection in 1843, made by
Mr. David B. Warden in Europe,
numbering over 2,000 volumes relating
to American history. In 1853 the
Legislature authorized the purchase of
the correspondence and other papers
of George Clinton, the first Governor
the State. These manuscripts have
been bound in twenty-three folio vol-
umes, and a calendar since added. A
copious index to all names mentioned
in these papers is now in preparation.
Enough of other Clinton manuscripts
have since been procured to fill ten
similar volumes. The papers found
on the] person of Major Andre, by his
captors at Tarrytown, were among the
Clinton manuscripts, and have been
framed and put under glass. The
papers of Sir William Johnson, cover-
ing a period of the history of Central
New York from 1738 to 1774, were
also purchased and arranged and
bound in twenty-two folio volumes.
In 1854 the library was removed to
a new building, west of the old Capitol,
constructed by the direction of the
legislature of 1851. It was intended
to be fire-proof, and was so considered
before the great fires of Chicago and
Boston. It was intended to accommo-
date 100,000 volumes—it had, before
the removal to the new Capitol, packed
and padded on the shelves over 125,-
000 volumes, besides scores of volumes
of atlases and thousands of duplicate
books for exchange. The duplicate
volumes are chiefly the reports of the
several departments of the State gov-
ernment and institutions, and books
presented to the library from time to
time by various persons. In order to
make room for preparing the approach
to the new Capitol on the east it was
decided to take down the building.
The library was removed during the
months of September and October,
1883, to the new Capitol, the law li-
brary occupying the well-known golden
corridor and the general library the
adjoining room, formerly prepared for
the Court of Appeals. This is inade-
quate to afford shelf room for all the
books, but nearly all are accessible to
the public. Ample rooms are in pro-
cess of preparation on the third floor
of the west side of the Capitol.
The library of to-day represents the
best thought of the human mind and
the record of human action for the last
six thousand years. While every de-
partment of letters is represented on
the shelves, yet the library is by far the
richest in works relating to American
history. Hundreds of books have
been printed in this country, in the
seventeenth and eighteenth centuries,
of the editions of which not twenty
copies remain undestroyed Quiet, un-
remitted watchfulness and care for the
past thirty years have, succeeded in
gathering in most of these publications,
so that few libraries on this continent
are richer in early Americana. The
library does not seek literary curiosities
as such; but when a book is offered
which is needed to complete the set of
laws, or illustrate the history of the
State, it is obtained, as when, in the
spring of 1880, $1,600 was paid at
auction for the first book of the Laws
of the State, of which but two or three
perfect copies are known to be in exis-
tence. The library contains, in addi-
tion to these rare or almost unique vol-STA—STE
IS*
umes, many illustrated volumes of trav-
els, of natural history, and of ancient
and modern art. Among these are
Kingsborough’s Mexican Antiquities,
the text of which is mainly in the
Spanish and Italian languages; the
great work on Egypt, in 12 folio vol-
umes, executed under orders of Napo-
leon I; Audubon’s Birds of America,
in four volumes, elephant folio, which
now bring at auction $1,000; and 20.
volumes illustrating the humming birds
of Central and South America. The
leading journals of France and Eng-
land are represented in almost' com-
plete files of the Moniteur and London
'Times. Sixty thousand pamphlets
have been preserved, to illustrate every
phase of human industry, eccentricity,
passion, patriotism, stupidity or genius.
The collection of American genealogies
is perhaps unsurpassed by any other in
the country. About 3,000 volumes of
specifications and drawings of English
patents are stored, on the shelves, be-
sides those of the United States, Can-
ada, France and Victoria. Hardly a
library-day in the year passes that one
or more readers do not ask to consult
some of these patents volumes. The
law library has but One equal in the
extent and value of its collections in
this country, and that is the Library of
Congress at Washington. Every book
and pamphlet in the library is cata-
logued under the author’s name, in
alphabetical order, and in addition to
this catalogue is a subject-index, in
which, under subjects presented in al-
phabetical order, are given the treatises,
in book or pamplet form, upon that
subject.
In addition to the books, other arti-
cles of value and interest have drifted
in as to a safe place of deposit for the
inspection of visitors. Among these
are a sword and pistol and the survey-
ing instruments of Washington; the
swords presented to Gen. Worth by
the United States, by New York State,
and by the city of Hudson, for brilliant
services in the Mexican war; busts of
some of the eminent statesmen of New
York; portraits in oil of many of the
Governors and Regents of the Univer-
sity, and- a numismatic collection of
considerable value. It is a reference
library, and only members of the legis-
lature, heads of departments of the
State government, and the trustees of
the library have the privilege of taking
books to their residences. There is
hardly a field of human industry that is
not represented in applicants for inform-
ation to assist them in their several
spheres of labor in office, workshop, or
out-door occupations.
The library is open daily from 9 A. M.
to 5 p. M., except Sundays and holi-
days, and from the 5th to the 20th of
August; during sessions of the legisla-
ture till 6 p. m., except Saturdays, when
it closes at 5 p. m. Henry A. Homes,
gen. librarian; Stephen B. Griswold,
law librarian; George R. Howell, ass’t
librarian.
State Street owes its great width to
the fact that in the early history of the
city most of the public buildings were
in the middle of that street. It is a
noble avenue, and when cleared of its
Market (which see) will form a fitting
approach to1 the Capitol.
Steamboat Landing, foot of Madi-
son avenue, was formerly called the
Watering Place, as there teams and
cattle had access to the river. The
South Market which stood there was
taken down in 1842, and the lot leased
to Isaac Newton.
Steamboats.—During the season of
navigation, steamers leave foot of Ham-
ilton street daily for Cedar Hill, Castle-
ton, Coeymans, New Baltimore, Stuy-
vesant, Coxsackie, Hudson, Catskill,
Rondout, Poughkeepsie, Newburgh,
and intermediate landings. There isSTM—STU
152
also a line to New Baltimore twice
daily. The Albany and Troy steamers
run hourly from foot of Maiden lane.
During the Saratoga season, there is a
day line to New York. The People’s
line runs boats to and from New York
every night except Sunday.
St. MichaePs Feast.— “ The feast-
day of St. Michael, the Archangel,’’
(Sept. 29) was designated in the Don-
gan charter as the time when the aider-
men should be elected and the cham-
berlain appointed. The succeeding
charters have perpetuated this anti-
quated notion, and the present charter
provides that the chamberlain and the
receiver of taxes shall be biennially
appointed by the common council on
the nomination of the mayor, on the
eve of the feast of St. Michael the
Archangel.
Storage. (See Auctions.)
Stove Trade.—It is not known why
it so happens that more stoves are
made in and near Albany than on any
other spot of the earth’s surface of the
same dimensions. Both the iron from
which the stoves are made and the
coal with which to make them come
from a distance, although it is true that
our moulding sand (of which there are
untold quantities) is as good as can be
obtained anywhere. Among the early
iron founders in Albany who made a
few stoves may be mentioned Warner
Daniels, Thomas Spencer & Co., Fran-
cis Low, Corning & Norton, and Spen-
cer Stafford & Co. Those who manu-
factured later and more extensively
were H. Nott & Co., Joel Rathbone &
Co., William V. Many, Gill Cooper &
Co., Thomas & Potts, Pratt & Tread-
well, O. G. De Graff & Co., Jacob H.
Shear, Ransom & Rathbone, Tread-
well & Perry, Vose & Co., McCoy &
Clark, Quackenboss & Wasson, Learn-
ed & Thacher, William Cobb, Shear,
Packard & Co. H. Nott & Co. (1832),
manufactured the celebrated coal-burn-
er invented by Dr. Nott, but soon re-
moved to New York. Thomas & Potts
(1835) were among the earliest to
make stoves from the pig in Albany.
Previous to this date most of the stoves
sold were made direct from the ore in
blast furnaces in N. J. and Penn. The
plates were mounted in Albany. Wil-
liam V. Many (1840) manufactured
stoves for Joel Rathbone & Co., and was
succeeded by Treadwell & Perry in 1843.
Previous to 1835 the leading stoves
were the six and nine plate:	Saddle
Bag, Horse Block and Three Boiler.
The Premium stove followed, and a
few are sold in the south to this day.
Soon after the Buck, the Hathaway
and other revertible flues (the fire
passing around the oven) were intro-
duced and remain the leading con-
struction for cooking stoves. Coal
stoves were not made to any great ex-
tent until 1845. There are eight stove
manufactories in Albany, employing
3,600 men, giving support to about
18,000 persons. The annual produc-
tion is estimated at 26,000 tons; the
annual sales at $3,000,000. They go
to nearly every state and territory in
the Union and many to foreign coun-
tries.
Street Cleaning is done under five
contracts, one for each police precinct,
and the captains of police are author-
ized to see that the work is properly
performed. If it is not, they have the
right to employ men and teams to re-
move the dirt, and the expense is
reported and charged against the con-
tractors.
Sturgeonville. — A derisive name
applied to Albany, from the fact that
many years ago sturgeon was bought
and sold here in large quantities.
Twenty-five years ago the trade here
amounted to $20,000 annually, but itSTU—TAX
I53
has declined so that now a good
specimen is quite a rarity. It is a
curious fact, that in spite of this, stur-
geon is known as Albany beef all over
the United States.
judge, to be scientific and effectual.
The results are most satisfactory. Af-
flicted persons come from all parts of
English-speaking North America to be
treated. Some most remarkable cures
have been effected. Success is guar-
Stuttering and Stammering have anteed when proper effort is made on
baffled medical skill to such an extent the part of the pupil. Mr. Werner is
that physicians for the past forty years also editor and proprietor of The Voice
have not attempted their treatment, (monthly, $i a year), now in its sixth
Hence sufferers, whenever they have year, the first and only journal in the
sought relief, have fallen into the world, making voice-culture and the
hands of incompetent and unprincipled cure of vocal defects a specialty. The
persons, whereby the very name of Voice has thrown much light upon the
“stutter-doctor” has become the syn- use, culture, restoration and preserva-
onym of charlatanism and swindling, tion of the voice in song and in speech.
When it is considered that there are, Mr. Werner is prepared to treat stut-
perhaps, 200,000 speech-sufferers in terers, stammerers, persons with
this country alone, the need of quali- squeaky or falsetto voice, weak or im-
fied speech-physicians is evident. To perfect articulation, etc., etc. The
the solution of this problem, Mr. Edgar pupil is not pledged to keep secret the
S. Werner has devoted himself for treatment; the principles of which
years. From early childhood he was are fully explained in a circular, sent
afflicted, at times becoming so bad that upon application. Address Edgar S.
for weeks he was forced to communi- Werner, 59 Lancaster street, Albany,
cate with others by writing, he being N. Y.
often taken for a deaf-mute. Mr.
Werner has been treated by every Swimming in the river near the
American speech* specialist, and has shores or wharves, between 6 A. M.
visited every institution of this kind in and 8 P. m., is forbidden by city ordi-
Europe. Several years were spent ex- nance. Still, if a man falls overboard,
clusively in treatment. The outcome he better swim if he knows how, rather
of this long, laborious and costly strug- than break the law and go to the bot-
gle is a method which its originator tom. The fine is only $1.
puts forth as the best in the world. It
is based upon physiological principles, Tax Rate.—The following table
and in its workings includes the whole shows the rate of taxation on a hundred
physical, mental and moral man. The dollars in the city of Albany from 1850
entire organism is wrought upon. As to the present time:
far as practicable, every individual res- ..................................$0 78^
piratory and vocal muscle-group is 1851..................................... 1 op
trained separately, and then joined ........................................ *
with the other groups involved in the 1854!*.............!!..!!!!...*!.*!!.! 1 24
vocal function; and all are drilled by 1855................................. 1 46
special gymnastics to work harmoni- 1856.................................... 147
ously (co-ordinately, as medical men Jg^g' [ * ] * * * *.’.*.*.* !!! 1 ” 1 ”!!!!!!”" 1 \ 58
say). This combination of right mus- 1859................................... 1 38
cular activity is, perhaps, the distin- .................................... 1 27
guishing feature of the method, which 1862!;!!!!!!!!!!!.!!...!!!.”.!!!!!! 180
is acknowledged by those competent to 1863.!.................................. 2 00TEL
154
1864		 1865				 j 		
1867.	 •rSAR.		
	
	
	
1872•«•••*•••••••••••	
		 2 68
10/J* . • •			
		 	 1875	 T . . . 			
*v/v			 0 tR^7. . . . . 						 0 90	
1878			 1870.................	
x88o		
!88i		\..	
x882		T 3"
1883				
The reduction during the last three
years is because of the increased valua-
tion, property having been since 1881
assessed at its full value.
Valuation.—The last valuation of
property in this city was as follows :
Real estate............... $60,750,120
Personal.................. 6,480,735
$67,230,855
For State and county purposes, the
valuation of real estate was equalized
at $50,816,548.
Telegraph.—Two telegraph lines
do business in this city. In messages
the “ body ” words of the message only
are charged for, the date, address, and
signature of messages being transmit-
ted free. Figures must always be
written out in words. Messages are
delivered in the city limits without
extra charge; and through the tele-
phone, messengers can be summoned,
who will also receive messages without
extra charge.
• Western Union.—Central office,
cor. of State and Broadway; branches,
Capitol, West Albany, Delavan House,
Union depot, Lumber district, People’s
Line office, D. & H. C. R. R. general
offices, foot of Maiden lane; in the
winter, at the Kenmore Hotel.
Bankers and Merchants.—Cen-
tral office, 444 Broadway; branch
offices, at the Mansion House and
Capitol.
Telephone.—The telephone in this
city is an outgrowth of the American
District Telegraph Company, which
was chartered in November, 1875, and
began operations in February, 1876, by
furnishing Messenger Service (which
see). In March, 1878, the American
•District Telegraph made a contract
with the Bell Telephone Company of
Boston for the use of the latter’s in-
struments; and oh May 22, 1878, es-
tablished a telephone exchange in
Albany. It was the third one in the
United States, or in the world; the
first being in New Haven, Ct., under
the management of Mr. Coy, the origi-
nator of the system; the second in
Lowell, Mass. Prior to these a system
of centering telephone wires in one
office had been in operation at Boston,
but communications Were sent to ope-
rators at the central office, who relayed
them to their destination; whereas, at
New Haven, the subscribers were put
in actual communication ; with each
other. The Albany Exchange began
with about 100 subscribers, and the
American District Company enjoyed a
monopoly of the business until July,
1879, when the Commercial Telephone
Company began operations within the
city. In November, 1880, the owners
of the Commercial Company obtained
control of the American District, and
in January, .1881, the two companies
were consolidated under the name of
the former. The Commercial Com-
pany now have a list of about 1,200
subscribers. The office of the chief of
police is in telephonic communication
with the different stations; the chief
engineer of the fire department with
steamer and truck houses. The total
number of telephones in Albany, Troy
and vicinity cannot be far from 3,500.155
TEM—TIM
Prices of telephone subscriptions
range from $4 to $12 per month, ac-
cording to distance of subscribers from
central office, which is at 468 Broad-
way. Branches at 68 Washington ave.
and corner South Pearl and Hamilton
streets.
The Hudson River Telephone
Company, with office also at 468 Broad-
way, controls all the territory from New
York city to Clinton county, as far east
as the State line, and fifty miles west
of the Hudson river. Communication
is had with points between and includ-
ing Croton Falls and Rutland, Vt., and
Pittsfield, Mass., and Fort Plain. This
circuit will soon be further extended,
connections being made through the
Utica company as far as Buftalo and
through the Central New York with
points in Schoharie and, Otsego coun-
ties. Another line is being extended
along the west shore of the Hudson to
Jersey City. The tariff for out of town
calls is from 10 to 25 cents.
Temperature.—The temperature in
Albany, as observed by the Signal Ser-
vice for the past ten years, has an
extreme range from 93 degs. above to
18 degs. below zero, and an average
yearly range from 92.5 degs. above to
11.8 degs. below zero. The mean for
the seasons is: Winter, 25.6 degs.;
spring, 45.6 degs.; summer, 70.5 degs.;
autumn, 51.2 degs.; average for the
year, 48.2 degs. The mean winter
isotherm passes near Oswego, N. Y.,
north of. Detroit and Grand Haven,
Mich., between Milwaukee and Chi-
cago, south of Davenport, Iowa, north
of Omaha, and near Denver; thence
southwest to lat. 37; thence north-
westerly to British America. The sum-
mer isotherm describes nearly the
same course, being somewhat farther
south along the lakes and farther
north from Milwaukee west to the
mountains.
Rainfall.—The average yearly
rainfall (which includes melted snow),
computed from ten years observation,
is 36.97 inches, and is distributed
throughout the year as follows: Win-
ter, 8.07; spring, 8.69; summer, 10.95,
and autumn, 9.26.
Theatres.— (See Leland Opera
House, Music Hall.)
Time Service.--The city fire bells
are struck morning and evening at 9
o’clock in accordance with electric sig-
nals received directly from the standard
clock of the Dudley Observatory.
Formerly jewellers and others also re-
ceived electric time signals. In 1882
the subject of accurate time for Albany
received increased attention. There
are now public clocks which are ac-
cessible to all who wish to consult
them for accurate time. One of these
clocks is located in the western corri-
dor of the Post-office; another is in
the vestibule of the City Hall; and
a third is found in the eastern entrance
of City Building on South Pearl st.
These clocks are electrically controlled
from the standard clock of the Dudley
Observatory in such a manner that
their pendulums, which beat seconds,
must swing in unison with that of the
standard clock on Observatory Hill.
This is accomplished by means of
electro-magnets placed near the pen-
dulums of the clocks to be controlled;
and the electric impulses are automati-
cally sent from the Observatory clock
by means of ingenious mechanism
specially designed for the purpose.
Each clock is provided with a means
for verifying its accuracy, or agreement
with the Observatory standard, which
means is fully explained in printed
notices conspicuously posted near the
clocks. Thus if the public clocks are
out of adjustment one can obtain the
true time by listening to the telegraph
sounder inside the case. There are
other clocks, similarly controlled, inTOA—TRA
156
the offices of the D. & H. C. Co. and
elsewhere. The Observatory time can
always be relied on within a second
and one-quarter, and on nine days out
of ten within one-third of a second.
“ Standard time,” now kept by these
clocks, is five minutes, one second slow
of local time, which was always used
in Albany previous to November, 1883.
All public and private clocks, together
with those of all the railroads and tele-
graphs in this part of the United States
are regulated to the new standard time,
which is that of the seventy-fifth mer-
idian, west from Greenwich.
Toasts. — At the reception given
Gen. Lafayette in this city, July 1,
1825, the General gave the first volun-
teer toast as follows:
“ Albany as I have known it, and Albany
as it is now — a comparative standard be-
tween royal guardianship and the sell-govern-
ment of the people; may this difference be
more and more illustrated at home and under-
stood abroad.”
By Daniel Webster, on the same
occasion:
“ The ancient and hospitable city of Al-
bany, where Gen. Lafayette found his head-
quarters in 1778, and where men of his prin-
ciples find good quarters at all times.”
Topography.—Albany, the capital
of the State of New York, its fourth
largest city, and the twenty-first largest
in the United States, is situated at the
head of sloop navigation on the west
bank of the Hudson river, 145 miles
from New York, and 374 from Wash-
ington, D. C., in latitude 42.39 and
longitude 73.45. Along the riverfront
the land is low, but a little distance
back it rises about 200 feet, and then
stretches away to the westward in a
sandy plain. The hill is divided by
four gullies running east and west,
which have been much modified by
grading, and within a mile of the river
disappear altogether. Still there are
points where the banks can only be
climbed by steps, and, therefore, are in-
accessible for teams. By the Dongan
charter, the limits of the city were
fixed at one mile on the river front,
and extending northwest the same
width 16 miles. In 1870 this generous
allotment was curtailed, and the west-
ern boundary of the city is now only
'about 4! miles from the river. Acces-
sions have, however, been made north
and south of the original grant, and
the river front is now about four miles.
The soil is underlaid with slate rock at
a depth corresponding with the bed of
the river; then comes gravel, and next,
as the ground rises, 150 to 250 feet of
blue clay; then yellow sand. The
soil on the slopes is this blue clay,
which becomes mixed with sand at the
top of the plateau, and west it is about
all sand.
Townsend Park, at the intersection
of Washington and Central avenues,
between Lark and Knox streets. When
first inclosed with a fence, in 1S33, it
was proposed to cail it Washington
Park and erect there a statue of the
Father of his Country; but he escaped
the honor.
Trade, The Board of, was organ-
ized in 1847, and incorporated in 1864.
It inhabits spacious and convenient
rooms at 40 State st., in what was once
Association Hall. It has 150 members
who pay yearly dues of $10. This
entitles them to the use of the room to
buy and sell in. The leading com-
mercial papers are on file, and occa-
sionally public meetings are held there.
Robert Geer, pres.: vice prests., An-
drew G. White, C. B. Tillinghast;
Jacob A. Smith, sec.; Thomas Austin,
treas.
Trade Unions.—Nearly all the
trades have their unions in this city,
among which the stonecutters, the
molders, the cigarmakers and theTRO—UNI
typographical unions are prominent.
They are said to number in all 7,000.
There is a central organization called
the Workingmen’s Assembly, which
acts in conjunction with the State
Workingmen’s Assembly. It has been
in' existence over two years. The
avowed object is to elevate the work-
ingmen and protect the rights of labor.
They have as yet taken no part as a
body in politics. There are also six
local assemblies and one district assem-
bly of the Knights of Labor.
Troy, six miles north of Albany, is
a city of 56,747 inhabitants, by the cen-
sus of 1880; chartered as a village in
1791; as a city in i8i6r Is reached
by rail, steamboat, or horse cars, and
will well repay a visit. Thirty or more
factories, employing over 6,000 hands,
manufacture shirts and collars. The
iron and stove interests are very large.
Tweddle Building, cor. State and
N. Pearl sts., stands partly on the site
of the home of Philip Livingston, a
signer of the Declaration of Indepen-
dence. It is said that he planted the
elm tree which once stood on the cor-
ner nearby. (See Elm Tree Corner.)
Tweddle Hall, which was opened June
28, i860, was burned between 7 and
12 a. m., Jan. 16, 1883, and the pres-
ent building was erected on its founda-
tions. It is used for stores and offices,
prominent among the latter being
Bull’s Insurance. The archaeological
committee of the Albany Institute have
recommended that at or near the cor-
ner wall of this building should be
placed a marble slab bearing this in-
scription :
17—Let Albany—76.
Remember with pride that
This ground bore the Dwelling of
Philip Livingston,
Born 1716, Died 1778,
Who with Jefferson and Franklin
Signed the Declaration of Independence.
Twins.—This event, for which none
of us are prepared, happened in 22
different Albany families during the
year 1883.
Underwriters, Albany Board of,
incorporated March 20, 1873. Object,
to inculcate just and equitable prin-
ciples in the business of insurance; to
establish and maintain uniformity
among its members in policies or con-
tracts of insurance, and to acquire,
preserve and disseminate valuable in-
formation relative to the business in
which they are engaged. The insur-
ance Patrol (see Fire Department)
is maintained by this board. Annual
meeting, third Tuesday in April.
Regular meetings, second and fourth
Tuesday in the month. G. D. Van
Vliet, pres.; A. Douw Lansing, vice-
pres.; F. B. Hubbard, treas. Rooms
at the Protectives’ house, No. 41
Hudson ave.
Union University.—(For the
medical department, see Medical
College; law department, see Law
School; see, also, Dudley Observa-
tory and Pharmacy, College of.)
The union of these institutions with
Union College was consummated in
April, 1873. While neither gained
nor lost anything in property or powers,
all were united under a board of gover-
nors, thus securing unity of action and
opinion. Rev. Eliphalet Nott Potter,
D. D., LL. D., pres.
Union College, located at Schen-
ectady, 14 miles from Albany, was
founded Feb. 25, 1795, and was the
first college chartered by the Regents
of the University. It has been an im-
portant factor in the intellectual growth
of the State and nation. Its presidents
and professors have been men of fore-
most ability as teachers, and have pub-
lished many works of world-wide repu-
tation. The following is the list of
presidents: John Blair Smith, D. D.;UNI—VIT
158
Jonathan Edwards, D. D., Jonathan
Maxcy, D. D., Eliphalet Nott, D. D.,
Laurens P. Hickok, D. D., Charles A.
Aiken, D. D., Eliphalet Nott Potter,
D. D. Of the 6,500 graduates, about
4,650 have been from the State of New
York. The college is well endowed
for special purposes, but needs a pro-
fessional endowment fund. There are
numerous scholarships, prize scholar-
ships and prizes. The present able
and efficient faculty insist on a high
standard of scholarship. There are
three libraries, large collections in
Natural History department, complete
sets of philosophical apparatus, and
the engineering department and chemi-
cal laboratory are well supplied with
models and apparatus. Military in-
struction is given by an officer of the
United States army. There are two
literary societies (The Philomathean,
founded 1793; The Adelphic, 1797)
and a theological society. These so-
cieties have had much to do with the
reputation of the alumni for forensic
ability. Degrees are conferred upon
graduates from the classical, scientific,
civil engineering, chemical and post-
graduate courses. Prof. Cady Staley
is Dean of the Faculty.
United States Officers, in Albany,
are mentioned under the separate heads
of Post-Office, Custom House, In-
ternal Revenue, • Inspectors of
Steam Vessels. Commissioners are,
W. Frothingham and J. Hampden
Wood; deputy marshal, James H.
Kelley, Government building; Board
of pension examining surgeons, Chas.
H. Porter, William H. Bailey, Herman
Bendell: masters and examiners in
U. S. Circuit and District Courts, Wm.
Lansing, J. Hampden Wood.
United States Custom House,
Court House and Post-Office, see
Government Building.
Universalist Church, Chestnut st.
above Dove. There is no settled pas-
tor. O. E. Wilson is superintendent of
the Sunday-school.
Vale of Tawasentha. — Indian
name for the valley of the Normans-
kill, in Albany county (see notes to
Longfellow’s Hiawatha). It was the
home of Nawadaha, the sweet singer:
“ In the vale of Tawasentha,
In the green and silent valley,
By the pleasant water-courses
Dwelt the singer Nawadaha.
Round about the Indian village
Spread the meadows and the corn fields,
And beyond them stood the forest,
Stood the groves of singing pine trees,
Green in summer, white in winter,
Ever sighing, ever singing.
“ And the pleasant water-courses;
You could trace them through the valley
By the rushing in the spring time,
By the alders in the summer,
By the white fog in the autumn,
By the black line in the winter;
And beside them dwelt the singer,
In the vale of Tawasentha,
In the green and silent valley,
There he sang of Hiawatha,
Sang the song of Hiawatha.”
Veeder’s Photographic Studio is
at 32 North Pearl street. Besides
doing a large portrait business, Mr.
Veeder pays special attention to out-
door work and publishes a great num-
ber of stereoscopic views of scenery,
buildings, etc. Particularly fine and
much sought after by tourists and
others are his views of the Capitol,
which he has in great variety and sells
at very low prices.
Vital Statistics.—According to the
reports made to the Board of Health
(which see), during the year ended
Jan. 31, 1883, the number of deaths in
this city was 2,167; births, 2,034; mar-
riages, 588. The death rate was 22.26
to every 1,000 inhabitants, estimating
the population at 97,344, which is upon
the rate of increase according to the
last census. Of the deaths, 366 were_______________I L WA5HMGTQM PARK
YATE s	___ ALBANY.WAS
159
from consumption; 732 were children
under five years of age.
Washington visited Albany August
4, 1783, when the citizens welcomed
him in an address, to which he re-
plied :
“ While I contemplate with inexpressible
pleasure the future tranquility and glory of our
common country, I cannot but take particular
interest in the anticipation of the increase in
prosperity and greatness of the ancient and re-
spectable city of Albany, from whose citizens I
have received such distinguished tokens of their
approbation and affection.’*’
The archaeological committee of the
Albany Institute have recommended
that a tablet bearing these words should
be placed in the new City Hall. It
has not yet been done.
Washington Park.—If there is any
one thing of which Albany has a right
to be proud, it is her beautiful park.
The Capitol, grand as it is, belongs to
the State, but the park is entirely a city
institution. The accompanying plan
explains more fully than words can do,
the way in which it is laid out. Fol-
lowing are the references to the points
of special interest:
1.	Swings.
2.	Croquet Lawn.
3.	Armsby Memorial.
4.	Rustic Shelter.
5.	Meadow.
6.	Refectory.
7.	Fountain Shelter.
8.	Terrace.
9.	Deer Paddock.
10.	Deer Paddock Outlook.
11.	Lake House.
12.	Site of proposed King Fountain.
13.	Lake.
14.	Foot Bridge.
15.	Overlook Hill.
The area of the park is 81 27-100
acres. It contains three miles of the
best possible drive-way and six miles of
walks. The lake is 1,600 feet long;
average width, 136 feet; area, five acres.
The park is reached by the State st.
line of horse-cars, which go within a
short distance of it (at Knox st.), but
more directly by the Hamilton st. line,
which run along Madison ave. directly
on the border. In the season for
flowers no one should miss seeing the
beautiful display of 40,000 bedded
plants, most of which are placed near
Willett st., between Hudson and Lan-
caster! A band plays in the cupola of
the lake-house nearly every week in
the summer, and is listened to by thou-
sands who walk or drive about the
beautiful grounds. In the skating sea-
son the lake is, of course, the great
place of resort; but at all seasons of
the year, when the weather will per-
mit, the park is frequented by hundreds
daily.
The special features of the park,
aside from the artistic manner in which
it is laid out, and the careful manner
in which it is tended, are its noble
trees, which were there when the
land was taken for park purposes;
and the scenery afforded by the dis-
tant Catskill mountains and the Hel-
derbergs.
There has, as yet, been little attempt
to adorn the grounds with works of
art; but this is a mere question of time.
Already a bequest has been made by
the late Henry L. King, leaving $20,-
000 for the erection of a fountain, the
site of which is indicated upon the
map.
While the park is of modern origin,
the ground forming its eastern portion
has been public property since it was
transferred to the city in 1686 by the
gift of His Majesty James II., being in-
cluded in the famous Dongan charter.
In 1802 a portion of the ground was.
set apart for the purposes of a powder
• house, and Oct. 6, 1806, the ground
between what is now Madison ave. and
State st. and Willett and Knox sts. was
dedicated as the Middle Public Square.
Three years later the fancy for chang-WAS
160
ing names of streets, etc., which has
prevailed in this city ever since, mani-
fested itself and extended to the square,
which was re-christened after the
father of his country, and it has been
known as Washington Square, Wash-
ington Parade Ground, and Washing-
ton Park ever since. The ground ad-
joining this section on the west was
made a public burial-place in 1800,
and was used as such for more than
half a century.
The project of a public park on an
extensive scale was not carried out
without great efforts. It was discussed
for years in the newspapers; the Al-
bany Institute passed resolutions, orig-
inated treatises and petitioned the com-
mon council in vain; but in 1869, after
opposition that did not cease till it had
followed the scheme into the executive
chamber, a law was passed under
which the present beautiful park exists.
The act creating the park commis-
sion, under whose charge it was con-
structed and is maintained, was passed
May 5, of that year, and set apart
what was then known as the burial
ground property and the old Washing-
ton parade ground; also the Peniten-
tiary grounds and the Alms-house farm.
By subsequent acts the powers of the
board were extended over the ap-
proaches to the park, and thus was in-
stituted a system of boulevards.
The first meeting of the commission
was held May 8th, following, the board
consisting of John Bridgford, Arthur
Bott, George Dawson, Dudley Olcott,
William Cassidy, John Fair, Rufus W.
Peckham, Jr., Samuel H. Ransom and
John H. Van Antwerp. The latter
was made pres.; Mr; Olcott, treas.,and
Wm. D. Morange, sec. The trustees,
as the commissioners were called, were
divided into three classes, three to
serve three years, three to serve six
years, three to serve nine years; their
successors to be appointed by the may-
or, and serve nine years.	,
The plans originally adopted by the
board were prepared by Messrs. Bo-
gart & Cuyler. The grounds embraced
by these were included in that portion
of the present park bounded by Wil-
lett st. on the east, Madison and Hud-
son aves. on the south, State st. on the
north, Robin st. on the west, for a dis-
tance of about 632 feet, thence run-
ning west a distance of about 132 feet,
and thence south to Madison ave.
The development of the plans was
from 1869 to 1872, under the super-
visipn of Mr. R. jl. Bingham, as chief
engineer, and William S. Egerton, as
assistant. In 1872 Mr. Egerton as-
sumed charge of all designs and super-
intendence.
Early in July, 1870, wrork was begun
and the Washington parade ground
was nearly completed, having been
fenced, graded, drained and the walks
and drive-ways laid out and graveled.
In 1871 that portion known as the
burial grounds was entered upon, and
the walks and drive-ways sufficiently
advanced to be thrown open to the
public.
In 1873 the development of the
plans was confined to that portion of
the lake section lying between Snipe
st., or Lexington ave., on the east, and
Robin st. on the west, and to the fur-
ther completion of the drives, walks
and lawn surfaces in other portions.
In 1874 the work of construction
was confined to that portion of the
park bounded by Madison ave., the
properties of Messrs. Hussey, Olcott
and King on the south, the present
Barnes and Brown properties on the
north, Perry st. on the west and Robin
st. on the east, embracing an area of
some 15 acres.
In 1875 the bridge spanning the
lake and the lake house were erected,
and gas was introduced around the
lake. (Electric lights were introduced
in 1881.)
In 1880, what is known as the Knoxi6i
WAT
st. property, comprising 9 4-10 acres,
was taken and improved.
In 1882 the Taylor and Hussey
properties, on Madison ave., were
added to the park, and in 1883 were
partially improved, the completion of
the plan of improvement being deferred
until the season of 1884. The garden-
er’s cottage, propagating houses and
storage houses were built in 1883 upon
a portion of the Alms House grounds
contiguous to the Lexington ave. en-
trance to the park.
Western Ave., under the control
of the commissioners, extends from
near the northwest corner of the park
to the toll-gate; is 8,200 feet in length,
99 feet wide, and paved to a width of
40 feet with granite block, curbed and
sewered. The sidewalks, 29 feet 6 inches
wide, are flagged to a width of 6 feet,
bordered with grass and shaded by trees
(or will be when they are grown),
40 feet apart. The location of the gas,
water and sewage service is between
the sidewalk and the house-lot line,
thus doing away with all disturbance
of the road-bed. In sleighing time
this avenue is alive with gay turn-outs
and fast horses. Although the im-
provement was conducted by the com-
missioners, the cost was assessed upon
the contiguous property and is not a
city charge. The work was begun
Nov. 16, 1876, and completed and
accepted Oct. 18, 1877.
The Northern Boulevard extends
from Western ave., east of the toll-
gate, to the intersection of Central and
Clinton aves., a distance of 5,525 feet.
From Western ave. to Washington
ave. it is 150 feet wide; from Wash-
ington to Main ave., 100 feet wide;
the remainder 66 feet wide. It is
paved with a combination of the Tel-
ford and Macadam systems, and is
greatly liked by pleasure drivers.
This work was begun in Jan., 1876,
and that part between Western and
Central aves.. completed in 1878. It
is the intention, eventually, to extend
this boulevard to the Dudley Observa-
tory, grounds, and thence by bridging
the tracks, to connect with the attrac-
tive drives, north of Tivoli Hollow, on
Rensselaer ave., and the Loudonville
and Shaker roads.
The total cost of the Washington
Park, including the Northern Boule-
vard, city parks, improved and main-
tained since 1881, and all lands bought
by the commissioners for cons ruction,
maintenance, etc., up to Jan. 1, 1884,
is $1,363,032.95. The real estate and
construction of Washington Park and
Western ave. cost $1,073,020.91. (For
park commissioners, etc., see Appen-
dix.)
Water Works.—The water supply
of Albany is controlled by a board of
commissioners, created by chap. 235 of
the Laws of 1850. They serve without
pay; vacancies are filled by a two-
third vote of the common council,
which has the power of removal;
office, 61 State street.
The Old System.—Previous to the
creation of the commission, the city
was supplied by a private stock com-
pany, organized Feb. 2, 1802. The
water was drawn from the Maezlandt
kill and from the Middle creek,* north-
west of the city, and distributed
through iron pipes and wooden logs.
In 1850, the water commissioners
caused examinations to be made of the
Hudson, the Mohawk, the Patroon’s
creek, the Normanskill, and the lakes
on the Helderbergs, and finally, with
Wm. J. McAlpine as engineer, a dam
was built, about six miles west of here,
where three streams met and formed
the Patroon’s creek, and thus was
created Rensselaer lake, covering,
when full, about forty acres, and hold-
ing from 100,000,000 to 200,000,000
gallons. From here the water was
* The “ Middle Creek ” supply has been cut
offWAT
162
conducted through a brick conduit,
egg-shaped, four feet high and nearly
four miles long, to Bleecker reservoir
(west of Ontario .street), holding 30,-
000,000 gallons. A little way this side
of West Albany, two other reservoirs
were constructed by dams thrown
across the Patroon’s creek, and called
the Upper and Lower Tivoli lakes, the
upper being for storage and subsiding,
and the lower for distribution. These
were supplied from the water that en-
tered the creek east of Rensselaer lake.
A 24-inch main, about 7,000 feet long,
was laid from the lower lake to the in-
tersection of Van Woert and North
Pearl streets, at which point the water
enters the distributing mains, Rensse-
laer lake supplying through Bleecker
reservoir all that part of the city west of
Pearl street; Tivoli lake, all east of
and including Pearl street. Meantime,
as the city grew westward, it was found
that no inconsiderable portion lay
above Bleecker reservoir, and was
therefore without supply. In addition
to this, the creek failed to meet the
consumption, and several water fam-
ines were the consequence.
The Present System.—After much
public discussion and several surveys,
the commissioners fixed upon the Hud-
son as the source of additional supply;
their recommendations were adopted
by the common council and their plans
carried into effect. The water is taken
from the river outside the pier opposite
Quackenbush street, where the chan-
nel current strikes. In the center of
the pier is a well-chamber, six feet in
diameter and 80 feet deep. Into this
the water, screened by copper wire 100
meshes to the square inch, pours
through a divert below low-water
mark. A tunnel five feet in diameter
and nearly 900 feet long, extends from
this well-chamber under the basin to
the pumping works cor. Quackenbush
and Montgomery sts. Here are two
engines capable of sending up to
Bleecker reservoir — 245 feet above
tide—ten million gallons every twenty-
four hours. The .force main through
which it goes is 30 inches in diameter,
7,723 feet long, and is laid under
Quackenbush street and Clinton ave.
The works were completed and pump-
ing began Sept. 14, 1875.
Still the more elevated portions of
the city received no benefit. Accord-
ingly, another reservoir with a capacity
of six or seven million gallons was
built on Prospect (or Powder-house)
hill, a sand-knoll north of Central ave.
and east of Colby street, 55 feet above
Bleecker reservoir, and 300 feet above
tide. A second engine was put into
operation Feb. 6, 1878, and through a
two-foot main, running to a well-
chamber, like that on the pier, pumps
the water from the Bleecker reservoir
to Prospect hill. It was now necessary
to divide the city into three services
instead of two : the upper service,
which from Prospect hill supplies all
west of Lark street; the middle ser-
vice, which from the Bleecker reser-
voir supplies Lark street and all east to
Pearl street; and the lower service,
which from the Tivoli lakes supplies
Pearl street and all east thereof. Thus
is insured an abundant and uninter-
rupted supply as unfailing as the Hudson
itself. Should the Tivoli reservoirs
run short, water can be sont down the
creek from the Rensselaer lake, or di-
rect from the Bleecker reservoir, into
which the pumps can send their ten
million gallons daily. Meantime, it is
designed to hold a reserve always in
the Rensselaer lake in case any acci-
dent should occur to both engines at
once, and to impound in each year in
February and March enough water to
supply the city when the river is turbid
with the spring freshets. When, at
other times, impurities appear in the
Rensselaer lake, the supply from that
source will be shut off entirely and
only the river water used.WES—WIL
163
The prejudice against water from
the river was at first very great, and is
not yet entirely overcome, but the com-
missioners point to the death rate as
showing conclusively that the health of
the city has not changed for the worse
since the river water has come into
use. They claim that no city in the
United States hfis a better or more
abundant, or more wholesome supply.
The quantity used is believed to amount
daily to 100 gallons for every man,
woman and child in Albany.
The Oll> Water-Works, which
were bought by the present commis-
sion, included a reservoir on the spot
now occuppied • by the high school.
The main through which the water was
brought from the Maezlandtkill is still
used, and from it consumers in North
Albany, and many upon Broadway
north of Clinton ave. and Pearl st.
from Clinton ave. to Columbia st.
are supplied. This water is very
hard.
Water Rents are collected in the
same way as taxes, and are assessed
upon all real estate fronting on streets
through which the mains are laid, and
which, in default of payment, may be
sold the same as for non-payment of
taxes. Vacant lots are assessed 5 cts.
per foot; private dwellings from 20 to
50 feet front, one story, $5 to $9; two
story, $8 to $12; three story, $11 to
$15; four story, $14 to $18; five story,
$17 to $21; stores, shops, private
stables, etc., two-thirds the above rates.
There is no extra charge for the first
bath-room or water-closet.
Finances.—The original works cost
^850,000; the additional supply, in-
cluding pumping works at the river
and at Prospect Hill, Prospect Hill
reservoir, the mains for the new ser-
vice, etc., $700,000; total, $1,550,000.
Of this the commissioners, besides
meeting for thirty years all the expense
of maintenance, additional piping, etc,,
will have paid up to May 1, 1884,
$460,000, leaving a debt of $1,090,000,
for which there is to show one of the
best systems of water supply in the
United States; and this, too, with rates
considerably lower than those of other
cities. By act of the legislature of
1884, the commissioners are authorized
to expend $400,000 more; and another
pumping engine is to be procured, and
means taken to increase the supply of
water with special reference to the
southern part of the city. (For water
commissioners, see Appendix.)
West Albany.— Just outside the
city limits on the Central railroad, and
where the large repairing shops of the
road and the cattle market are situ-
ated. Reached also by State street
horse cars. . (See Cattle Market.)
West Shore Railroad.—Properly
the New York, West Shore & Buffalo;
chartered June 14, 1881. Depot, foot
of Maiden lane, same as D. & H. C.
Co.’s. Opened from Weehawken to
Albany, for passenger business, July 9,
1883; opened to Buffalo, Jan. 1,1884.
This city is connected with the main
line by branch from Coeymans, twelve
miles south. Length of road to Buf-
falo, 407 miles. Number of locomo-
tives, 130; passenger cars, 60; freight
cars, 3,234. Average rate charged
passenger per mile through, 1.63 cents;
way, 2.31 cents.
Wilson. & Gross.—Clothing manu-
facturers, occupy premises located cor.
Broadway and Maiden lane, a five-
story brick building, 26x125 feet, erec-
ted by them with a view to perfect
adaptation to the manufacture of cloth-
ing, and embodies all the advantages
which ample means and a perfect
knowledge of the business could en-
compass. The first and second floors
constitute the retail department; the
third and fourth floors are devoted to
the wholesale, and the fifth floor to theYOU
165
brary, reading-room, literary and sci-
entific lectures, and other means of
promoting moral and intellectual im-
provement.” For twenty-two years it
sustained a debating society. It occu-
pied rooms in Knickerbocker hall, on
Broadway, where Nos. 451 and 453
are now, until 1846; in Exchange
building, where the new Government
building now stands, until 1852; in
the Commercial bank building, until
1870; in Music hall building until
September, 1877, when it came to its
present rooms, having leased the
Bleecker buildings on North Pearl,
Steuben and Chapel streets for ten
years, with right to release for ten years
longer. It has some valuable pictures,
a good variety of current magazines
and newspapers, and a well selected
circulating and reference library of
16,000 volumes. Its largest benefac-
tions have been $1,000 in books from
Dr. George Cooke; $10,000 in a be-
quest from Hon. Erastus Corning, and
$1,000 from Miss Catherine Quacken-
bush. All real estate and vested funds
are under management of a board of
trustees, of which Erastus Corning is
president, and William P. Rudd, sec-
retary and treasurer. The ordinary
affairs are managed by a board of
managers, 18 in number. Life mem-
bers, of which there are 180 living, pay
$50 at one time. Annual members,
male and female, pay $2. It will be
seen that 4 cts. per week pays for the
privileges here afforded, so that no one
living in or near the city can lack
facilities for access to the best and
freshest literature at the cheapest pos-
sible cost. This association deserves,
as it has, the strongest claims upon the
sympathy and support of the best men
and women of Albany. A catalogue
of 290 pages was published in 1880,
and a supplement of 42 pages in 1882.
Annual election occurs fourth Thurs-
day in March. Eugene Burlingame,
pres.; Albert L. Judson, sec.; Benj.
F. Avery, treas.; B. Irving Stanton,
Oscar D. Robinson, R. S. Annesley,
curators of the library; Cornelius H.
Chase, librarian; membership, 1911.
Young Men’s Christian Associa-
tion.— Rooms in Perry building, 20
North Pearl street. An organization
for the social, moral, intellectual and
spiritual improvement and enjoyment
of young men. Organized Feb. 24,
1857; incorporated April 24, 1867.
But reorganized on the plan of like
associations all over the world, about
June, 1881. The association keeps
open every week-day a free reading
room for young men; holdsjthree meet-
ings weekly for young men only; also
courses of lectures and practical talks,
receptions, entertainments, etc. Mem-
bership, 362. Current expenses about
$3,000 annually. The officers and
board of managers of the association
are: Charles H. Mills, pres.; Samuel
S. Hatt, 1 st vice-pres.; Robert Mc-
Roberts, 2d vice-pres.; Walter J. Eaton,
rec. sec.; Frank W. Ober, cor. sec.;
I. D. F. Lansing, treas.; V. H. Young-
man, John A. Howe, D. R. Niver, Ezra
H. Stevens, Oscar D. Robinson, George
Bouton, Dr. Henry March, John Tem-
pleton, A. M. Holmes.
The Railroad Y. M. C. A., having
for its mission the improvement of rail-
road employees, has an active branch
in this city, of which Geo. S. Weaver
is chairman of executive committee; J.
H. Hunter, sec. and treas.; Lemuel S.
Fish, sec. A reading-room, opened
May 4, 1880, is maintained in the yard
of the Union depot, between Columbia
and Orange sis., where' meetings are
held, entertainments given, etc. Mem-
bership about 180. Up to Jan. 1, 1884,.
33,856 persons had visited the rooms,
95 per cent oeing railroad men. Rooms
open daily from 8 a. m. to 9 P. M.
Library, 600 vols. A new building is
soon to be erected.WOM—YOU
164
cutting department. The firm employ
from twelve to fifteen cutters, and four
traveling salesmen are engaged solicit-
ing trade through New York and the
New England States. Three hundred
operators find occupation with the firm
in the manufacture of clothing—by far
the greater part of whom reside within
the limits of Albany. This firm origi-
nate styles, and do the leading business
in this section of the State.
Woman Suffrage Society. — A
small but active band of workers who
meet frequently to discuss the import-
ance of extending the right of suffrage
to women. Miss Martha Winne,
president; Miss Kate Stoneman, sec.
Woman’s Christian Temperance
Union.— Rooms, 69 South Pearl st.
Has a free reading room, and is doing
much to save the young from intemper-
ate habits; was active in securing the
passage of the law by the State legis-
lature, requiring instruction to be given
in public schools as to the effects of nar-
cotics and stimulants upon the human
system. Mrs. Ecob, pres.; Mrs. S. R.
Gray, Mrs. Jump, Mrs. M. A. Wyatt,
vice-presidents; Mrs. D.N. Kirk, sec.;
Mrs. J. Tenney, treas.; Mrs. Dr. S.
H. Freeman, Miss E. M. Jenkins, ex-
ecutive committee.
Women’s Exchange.—No. 65 N.
Pearl street. Organized November 15,
1881. Opened December 1, same
year, at 25 Steuben street. Removed
April 20, 1882, to 14 North Pearl street,
and on May, *883, to present location.
Object: to “ afford reduced or impov-
erished gentlewomen an opportunity of
quietly and unobtrusively earning
money to supplement narrow incomes.”
Any person paying $5 becomes a mem-
ber, and is entitled to enter the work
of three persons for one year. All
work is entered through numbers in-
stead of names. Tickets are issued
for $2 each, admitting the work of one
person for one year. Prices on all
articles are fixed by the persons enter-
ing the work. The society receives 10
per cent commissions on all sales.
Last year 318 persons were paid sums
ranging from 27 cents to $230. Lunch
is served from 11 to 3. Miss Lois M.
Viele, business manager; Mrs. C. P.
Williams, director; Mrs. D.K. Bartlett,
secretary.
Yankees.—The time has been when
“ Yankees ” were not regarded with
the highest favor in this old Dutch
city, and the term is even yet some-
times used in reproach, which, how-
ever, always amuses rather than en-
rages the “ Yankee ” who hears it. The
application of the word varies accord-
ing to locality. In the South, the re-
bellion conferred it, with the accom-
panying d—d degree, upon all residents
north of Mason & Dixon’s line. In
Canada, it is applied indiscriminately to
all residents of North America south
of the Dominion; while in Albany it
is restricted to those living east of the
New York State line. According to
the census of 1880, the number of
those of New England parentage resi-
dent here was as follows:
Maine...............................   62
New Hampshire..................       290
Vermont.............................. 280
Massachusetts.......................  842
Connecticut.......................... 421
Rhode Island.....................      63
Total........................... 1,958
Young Men’s Association, rooms,
cor. North Pearl and Steuben streets;
oldest institution of its character in the
United States. Founded, with a mem-
bership of about 750, Dec. 10, 1833.
Amos Dean, first president, elected
Dec. 13, and re-elected at first annual
meeting, Feb. 3, 1834. Incorporated
March 12, 1835. f°r the purpose of
“ establishing and maintaining a li-APPENDIX.
City Officers.—Following is a list
of the city officers. Terms expire, un-
less otherwise noted, on the first Tues-
day in May, 1886. (See City GoveRN-
ment)' :
Mayor.—A. Bleecker Banks, dem.,
elected by a majority of 250 over John
Swinburne, rep., who received 9,848
votes.
Recorder.—Anthony Gould ; term
expires first Tuesday in May, 1888.
Board of Aldermen.—Norman L.
Snow, M.D., pres.; Martin Delehanty,
clerk; assistant, James V. Viggers.
Aldermen-at-Large--Robt. H. Moore
(dem.), Norman L. Snow (dem.); First
ward, Augustus Whitman (rep.); sec-
ond, Jeremiah Kieley (dem.); third,
Thomas F. Corcoran (dem.); fourth,
James Lyons (dem.); fifth, Thomas
E. Dearstyne (dem.); sixth, Galen R.
Hitt (dem.); seventh, John Mullon
(dem.); eighth, Thos. J. Judge (dem.);
ninth, Patrick Cahill (dem.); tenth,
James Rooney (dem.) ; eleventh, Geo.
S. Tice (dem.); twelfth, Patrick Mc-
Cann (dem.); thirteenth, Samuel C.
Harris (dem.); fourteenth, David J.
Norton (rep.); fifteenth, James Thorn-
ton (dem.); sixteenth, Richard Hun-
ter (rep.); seventeenth, John H.
Adams (rep.) Demis. 15; reps. 4.
CoMMiTTEES.-Academies and schools
—Moore, Hitt and Norton.
Accounts.—Moore, Thornton, Dear-
styne, Judge and Hunter.
Applications to legislature.-—Kieley,
Cahill and Corcoran.
Docks and ferries.—Lyons, Cahill
and Mullon.
Fire department.—Tice, Lyons and
Rooney.
Land.—Mullon, Thornton and Ad-
ams.
Law.—Hitt, Harris and Norton.
Levels.—Cahill, Dearstyne and Hun-
ter.
Markets.—Rooney,Lyons and Judge.
Navigation, trade and commerce.—
Cahill, Hitt and Hunter.
Police.—Mullon, Judge and Tice.
Printing.—Tice, Lyons and Rooney.
Privileges and elections.—Harris,
Dearstyne and Whitman.
Public buildings.—President, Mc-
Cann, Mullon, Kieley and Corcoran.
Public celebrations and entertain-
ments.—Hitt, McCann, Kieley, Thorn-
ton and Whitman.
Railroads. - Judge, Rooney and Nor-
ton.
Relations of city and county.—Dear-
styne, Moore and Adams.
Streets, N. S.—McCann, Mullon and
Cahill.
Streets, S. S.—Corcoran, Moore and
Whitman.
Streets, W. S.—Thornton, Harris ahd
Adams.
Water; — Kieley, McCann, Harris,
Corcoran and Tice.
Member of Board of Finance.—Robt.
H. Moore.
Chamberlain. —Charles A. Hills;
term expires Sept. 28, 1884; deputy,
J. Y. Paige; term expires same
date.
Receiver of Taxes.—William J.
Maher; deputy, E. J. Giraty; terms
expire Sept. 28, 1884.
City Marshal.—Michael E. Hig-
gins.
Corporation Counsel. — Simon
W. Rosendale.CIT—COU
168
City Engineer and Surveyor.—
Reuben H. Bingham; deputy, John
J. O’Hara.
Supt. Alms House.—John McKen-
na; asst., Edward J. Fitzsimmons.
City Physician.—Lewis Batch, M.
D.
District Physicians.—T. P. Bailey,
ist dist.; F. D. Morrill, 2d dist.;
Henry Lilienthal, 3d dist.; Frank J.
Merrington, 4th dist.; Otto Ritzman,
5th dist; S. E. Ullman, 6th dist.
Overseer of the Poor. Richard
Parr; asst., John I. Burton.
Street Commissioner. —Owen Gol-
den; street supts., Lawrence Wetzel,
Michael J. Hayden; supt of lamps,
Thomas Powers.
Clerk of Board of Contract and
Apportionment.—Thomas J. Lana-
han.
Mayor’s Clerk.—Henry Lansing.
Janitor City Building.—Geo. B.
Conley.
Inspector Weights and Meas-
ures.—Thomas J. Gilooly.
Excise Commissioners.—Daniel J.
O’Brien, Jas. Quinn, E. T. Rice; clerk,
Thomas Hogan; terms expire May,
1885.
City Assessors.—Wm. J. Weaver,
term expires 1887; Wm. J. Flynn,
1866; Robert K. Oliver, 1885.
Dock Master.—Robert T. Sher-
man.
Trustees of the Sinking Fund.—
The Mayor, the Chamberlain and Vis-
scher Ten Eyck. Term of Ten Eyck
expires in Jan. 1887.
Board of Health.—Dr. S. B.
Ward, Dr. A. Vanderveer, Albert Gal-
lup, R. H. Bingham, Thomas H.
Dwyer, John McKenna. Hold office
for life unless removed. Health Offi-
cer, Dr. D. V. O’Leary; inspector,
Lawrence Carey; asst., W. D. Dicker-
man, James Rooney; clerk, Edward
H. Long.
Comm issioners.
Fire.—The Mayor, ex-officio, pres.;
Thomas Austin, term expires June,
1884; Thomas Willard (sec.), term ex-
pires 1885; Andrew B. Uline, term
expires 1886; John McEwen, term ex-
pires 1887; James H. Lyman, term
expires 1888. Lewis J. Miller, clerk;
chief engineer, James McQuade. Of-
fice, City Building.
Park.—Erastus Corning, R. Lenox
Banks, John G. Farnsworth, terms ex-
pire 1887; John H. Van Antwerp,
Dudley Olcott, Robert C. Pruyn, terms
expire 1890; Grange Sard, Charles J.
Buchannan, John H. Farrell, terms ex-
pire 1893. Dudley Olcott, pres.; W. S.
Egerton, sec. and engineer and sur-
veyor. Office, City Building.
Water.—Visscher Ten Eyck, Henry
H. Martin, Michael Delehanty, Erastus
Corning, John M. Kimball; terms for
life unless removed. George W. Car-
penter, supt.; Henry D. Keller, clerk.
Office, 61 State st.
Police.—The Mayor, ex-officio,pres.;
James McIntyre, L. C. G. Kshinka,
dem.; Richard B. Rock, James H.
Carroll, rep.; terms expire first Mon-
day in Jan., 1888. Chief, John Maloy.
Public Instruction (new board).—
Geo. B. Hoyt, Herman Bendeil, Douw
H, Fonda, Robert D. Williams, Henry
W. Lipman, John A. McCall, James
M. Ruso, Henry T. Sanford, Peter J.
Flinn, Edward J. Graham, Oren A.
Wilson, Edward A. Durant, Jr. Four
go out of office each year.
Congressman.—From the 16th dis-
trict, which consists of Albany county,
Thomas J. Van Alstyne, of Albany ;
term expires March 4, 1885. Salary,
$5,000 and mileage.
County Officers.—Following are
the names of the county officers, with
the dates when their terms will expire.
(See County Government) :
Board of Supervisors. Terms ex-
pire in May, 1885. Ansel C. Requa,
pres.; Thomas H. Craven,clerk; Elmer
E. Richmond, journal clerk; Joseph169	COU—LEG
Johnson, door-keeper. Albany mem-
bers : First ward, George J. Goetz
(rep.); second, Michael J. Nolan
(dem.); third, Wm. Casey (dem.);
fourth, Patrick Cuddy (dem.); fifth,
Peter J. McGowan (dem.); sixth,
Thomas C. Jeffers (dem.); seventh,
Marshal Tehbutt (rep.); eighth, Mich-
ael J. Hayden (dem.); ninth, Wm. F.
Reddy (dem.); tenth, Fredk. Stack-
man (rep.) ; eleventh, Meredith Burke
(dem.); twelfth, Jas. J. Wise (dem.);
thirteenth, Joseph C. Griffin (dem.);
fourteenth, Robert Geer (rep.); fif-
teenth, John T. Brady (dem.); six-
teenth, James Stackhouse (rep); seven-
teenth, George Holler (rep.) Cohoes
members—First ward, Marcus Ken-
nedy (dem.); second, Truman W.
Reynolds (dem.); third, Charles M.
Nadeau (rep.) ; fourth, John P. Weber
(dem.); fifth, George W. Smith (rep.)
Town members—Berne, Thomas J.
Wood (rep.); Bethlehem, John L.
Winne (rep.); Coeymans, Horace
Blodgett (rep.); Guilderland, Aaron
Fuller (dem.); Knox, Charles G.
Frink (dem.); New Scotland, Charles
Wood (dem.); Rensselaerville, Jacob
B.	Norwood (rep.); Watervliet, Nicho-
las T. Kane (dem.); Westerlo, Ansel
C.	Requa (dem.) Dems. 18; reps. 13.
Sheriff.—William H. Keeler; term
expires Jan. 1, 1886; under sheriff,
Isaac B. Cross; George R. Taylor,
jailor.
District Attorney. — D. Cady Her-
rick. Office, Douw’s building. Term
expires Jan. I, 1887. Asst., John A.
Delehanty.
County Clerk.—William B. Stre-
vell;, term expires, Jan. 1, 1887;
deputy, Thomas J. Dillon.
County Treasurer.—Albert Gal-
lup; term expires Jan. I, 1885; deputy,
Joseph B. Zeiser.
County Judge.—John C. Nott.
Office, cor. State and Green streets.
Term expires Jan. 1, 1890.
Surrogate. — Francis H. Woods.
Office, City Hall. Term expires Jan.
1, 1890. Clerk, Michael J. Grogan.
County Physician.—Dr. U. G. La
Moure; term expires in May, 1885.
Coroners.—James McCann; term
expires Jan. 1, 1885; Thomas Nolan,
Cohoes; term expires Jan. 1, 1886;
Michael H. Murray, Richard Scully;
terms expire Jan. I, 1887.
Coroners’ Physicians. - Drs. Jas.
P. Shevlin, Fred. L. Classen, Albany;
John W- Moore, Geo. H. Billings,
Cohoes. Terms expire Nov. 20, 1884.
Keeper of Penitentiary.—John
McEwen; term expires March, 1885;
re-elected May 13, 1884, to serve
another term, which will expire in
March, 1888. Salary, $2,500.
Justices of SEssiONS.-Peter Walker,
Albert E. Hinman; terms expire Jan. 1,
1885.
United States Loan Commission-
ers.—James W. Bentley, Isaac M.
Haswell (terms have expired; holding
over).
Legislature.—In the Legislature
Albany is represented as follows:
Senate.—John Boyd Thacher
(dem.), of Albany.
Assembly.—First dist., John Zim-
merman (rep.'I; second, Hiram Becker
(rep.), New Salem; third, Edward A.
Maher (dem.); fourth, James A. For-
syth, Jr. (rep.), West Troy.
Note.—olice Commissioners, in paragraph
on preceding page, for Jan., 1888, should read
June, 1888.
12LOCAL CHRONOLOGY.
1609.—The first boat up; manned
by five of the crew of the “ Halfmoon,”
aground forty miles south. (See A
Bit of History.)
1614.—Hendrick Corstiaensen built
a trading-house and fort on the island
below the city;. fur trade started.
1617.—Spring freshet damages trad-
ing-house; traders move up on the
hill near the Normanskill.
1623.—Fort Orange erected, near the
steamboat landing by West India Co.
1626.—Eight families resident in
Albany.
1629.	—Patroon system established.
1630.	— A brewery was in operation.
1634. Village called Beaverswyck,
or Beaver’s Fuyck.
1639. First recorded “fish story”:
two whales said to have come up the
Hudson; one grounded at mouth of
the Mohawk; his blubber covered the
river with grease for three weeks, and
the carcass could be smelt for two
(Dutch) miles. (See O’Callaghan’s
History of New Netherland.)
1642.—First clergyman arrived. (See
Reformed Churches.)
1661.—Schenectady settled.
1664.—The English change name of
village to Albany.
1686.—City incorporated. (See Bi-
Centennial.)
1690.—First massacre at Schenectady
by French and Indians Feb. 9.
1745.—Conference of Colonial Com-
missioners with Indians, Oct.
1748.	— Schenectady again taken and
a large number put to death.
1749.	—Peter Kalm’s visit to Albany.
Peter was not favorably impressed.
1754.—Congress of Colonial Commis-
sioners. (See Congress of i 754.)
1760.—First amateur dramatic per-
formance. (See “ Memoirs of an Amer-
ican Lady.”)
1769.—First dramatic performance by
professionals. (See “ Players of a
Century.’ )
1771.—First printing office and news-
paper established. (See Newspapers.)
1780.—Legislature first met here Jan.
27 to March 14, but not annually till
1797-
1782.	—Creditors of the United States
meet here.
1783.	— Washington visits Albany
Aug 4.
1784-Death at Nisqueunia of Mother
Ann Lee, head of the Shakers, Sept. 9.
Lafayette here on his way from Fort
Stanwix, Oct. 7.
1786.—Columbia Co. erected April
4. Caleb Gardner hanged in City Hall
for passing counterfeit money, Sept. 15.
Centennial celebration of the city char-
ter July 22.
1788.	—Albany Register started. Cele-
bration of the ratification of the U. S.
constitution Aug. 8.
1789.	—Name of Vanderheyden or
Ashley’s ferry changed to Troy Jan. 5.
179°-—First licensed auctioneer’s of-
fice established. First of many acts
passed for improvement of the Over-
slaugh April 2. Albany co. had a popu-
lation of 75,180—more than New York
(30,032) and Dutchess (42,235), the
two next largest, put together.
1791.	—Albany county divided, Rens-
selaer and Saratoga being erected.
Slight earthquake May 16.
1792.	—Bank of Albany opened July
16. Mineral spring at Bath discovered.I71	1793—1824
x793-—Albany Mechanics’ Society
organized. Stages started this year to
run to Canajoharie and Ballston, and
Northampton, Mass. A $250,000 fire
Nov. 17. (See Fires.)
1795.	—One thousand two hundred
sleighs passed through this city in three
days with emigrants to the Genesee
Valley. Streets first lighted.
1796.	—Whipping-post abolished.
1797*—Union college founded Feb.
25. Albany made the capital Mar.
10. One hundred and fifty families
burned out of house and home Aug. 4.
(See Fires.)
1798.—Present North Dutch church,
completed. Streets first paved and
houses numbered. Schenectady incor-
porated.
1801 .—Constitutional convention Oct.
13-27 ; Aaron Burr,-pres.
1803.	—State Bank (which see) in-
corporated. St. Andrew’s society or-
ganized Oct. 10.
1804.	—General Philip Schuyler died
Nov. 18.
1806.	—Corner-stone old capitol laid
April 23. Corner-stone Second Dutch
church (on Beaver st.) laid April 30.
The famous Pye robbery on Watervliet
road Dec. 21.
1807.	—Thirty-three persons drowned
by sinking of a scow at the ferry. Ar-
rival of the first steamboat Sept. 5.
1808.	—Tigers exhibited for first time
in Albany.
1809.	—The Gazette began reporting
the legislative proceedings. Albany
county reduced to its present limit.
John Cook’s reading-room established.
1810.	—Corner-stone of jail (now Al-
bany hospital) laid July 30.
1811.	—Pinkster (which see) abol-
ished April 28. First Albany steamboat
began running in July; first steamboat
race July 27.
1812.	— Legislature prorogued by
Gov. Tompkins, on the eve of passing
the charter of the Bank of America;
capital, $6,000,000, March 27. Lan-
casterian school incorporated. Steam-
boat Firefly began running between
Albany and Troy Sept. 25.
1813.—Green st. theatre opened Jan.
18. Albany Argus established Jan. 26.
Lieut.-Col. Mills killed at Sackett’s
Harbor May 29. Common Council
offer $1,000 for discovery of a coal
mine within five miles of the Hudson.
Commodore Perry, the hero of Lake
Erie, presented with a sword; and the
freedom of the city in a gold box
Nov. 8.
1814—Bridging the Hudson pro-
posed; Troy opposed it.
1815.	;—Town of Colonie made fifth
ward of Albany. Dutch Church di-
vided. Albany Academy built. First
daily paper (the Advertiser) started.
1816.	—Troy made a city April 9.
Great forest fire, extending to Guilder-
land and Watervliet, April 28 to May 1.
Frost within thirty miles of the city
every month in the year. Steamboat
Car of Neptune run with coal Sept. 1.
1817.	—Trowbridge museum lighted
with gas. Act passed March 31 abol-
ishing slavery in this state, to take effect
July 4, 1827. Act authorizing construc-
tion of the Erie canal passed April 15,
day of adjournment. Lancaster school
occupied its new building, now Medical
College, May 5. Twenty-one houses
burned on Washington street Nov. 8.
1818.	—Greatest freshet in forty years
March 3. Remains of General Richard
Montgomery received from Quebec,
with imposing ceremonies, July 4. Com-
mon Council proceedings conducted in
public Nov. 16 and after.
1819.	—President’s message delivered
in Washington Tuesday, published in
Albany Friday—a speed in news gather-
ing unprecedented.
1820.	—First savings bank opened
June 10.
1821 -Constitutional convention con-
vened Aug. 28; in session 75 days.
1824.—Albany Co. Medical society
endorsed vaccination. Lafayette visit-172
1825—1842
ed Albany Sept. 17; was here again
June n-13 and July 1, 1825.
1825.	—-South Pearl st. theatre opened
May 18. Sale of 122 lots on the new
pier, amounting to nearly $200,000,
July 27. Erie canal completed and
first boat through Oct. 26. The elder
Kean played Richard Dec. 5.
1826.	—North Pearl st. circus opened
Feb. 14; it surpassed every other edi-
fice of the kind in the country. Funeral
procession in honor of Adams and
Jefferson July 31; the greatest pageant
the city had ever witnessed. Present
alms house completed Sept. 20.
1827.	—John Whipple shot by Jesse
Strang May 7; Strang tried July 25;
hanged Aug. 24. (See Hudson
Ave.) Slaves emancipated July 4.
1828.	—Death of DeWitt Clinton
Feb. 11. (See Executive Mansions.)
The steamboat DeWitt Clinton, the
first entirely built in this city, made her
first trip Sept. 27.
1829.	—Corner-stone old City Hall
laid Aug. 31; (burned in iS^o.)
1830.	—Money raised to gild the
dome of the City Hall. David Wil-
liams, the surviving captor of Maj.
Andre attended the theatre and told
the story of the exploit. Evening
Journal started March 22. Public
schools provided for by act of Legisla-
ture April 17.
1831.	—Soup house opened Jan. 28.
During the year but two fires and seven
alarms. Steam ferry-boat run at the
South ferry.
1832.	—Flood in March damaged
buildings on the pier. Ordinance passed,
after much opposition, to prevent hogs
running at large in the streets. First
railroad train over the whole line from
Schenectady, arrived May 14.	400
deaths from cholera in July, Aug. and
Sept. First public school erected.
1833.	—Great freshet May 14-17.
Vegetation on the island destroyed.
Stanwix Hall, Female Academy, N.
Pearl st. Baptist church, and several
other fine buildings were going up.
Henry Clay given a reception and pre-
sented with a cloak of American cloth,
Nov. 14. Young Men’s Association
organized.
1834.	—Burgesses Corps made their
first annual parade July 4. “ Citizen ”
Edmond Charles Genet died July 14
at Prospect Hill, Greenbush. Charles
R.. Webster, founder of the Gazette,
died July 14. Funeral ceremonies in
honor of Lafayette July 25.
1835.	—City Tract Society organized
Aug. 4. Union Sunday school cele-
bration; 4,000 children gathered in
Capitol park, Sept. 8. Albany Trans-
cript, first penny paper started, Oct. 12.
1836.	—William Duffy, manager of
Albany theatre, fatally stabbed by John
Hamilton, an actor, Feb. 10. Lancas-
ter school closed (the public school
system having been introduced)
March 28. Corner-stone Albany Ex-
change building laid Nov. 1.
1837.	—-Eight school-houses erected.
1839.	—Death of Gen. Stephen Van
Rensselaer Jan. 26. Highest water
known except in 1857. Nearly the
whole square between Pearl, Lydius,
Rose and Hamilton, sts. burned
April 20. Henry Clay here Aug. 17-
19. Jesse Buel, founder of Albany
Argns died at Danbury, Ct., Oct. 6.
Anti-rent war Dec. 2-15.
1840.	—Log. cabin erected cor. Dean
st. and Maiden lane June 27. North
Market st. changed to Broadway
Aug. 3. A mayor first elected by the
people; they had hitherto been ap-
pointed by the Common Council.
1841.	—Death of Charles E. Dudley
Jan. 23. Workingmen’s meeting to
protest against prison contract labor
July 22. Meeting favorable to protec-
tion of American industry, at the Capi-
tol, Sept. 2, Thomas W. Olcott, pres.
First train through from Boston,Dec. 19;
celebration Dec. 28.
1842.	—Two hundred and fifty brick
buildings from two to five stories erected.173
1843—1854
1843.	—Fire cor. Green and Beaver
burned out several tradesmen, one
woman lost her life. John Quincy
Adams here Aug. 2. Common Council
abolished the State st. market Aug. 27;
it did not stay abolished.
1844.	—The Albany Medical College,
the Albany penitentiary and Albany
Hydrant Company incorporated. Col.
Mills’ remains buried in Capitol park
May 29; (dug up and transferred to
Rural Cemetery May 30, 1883). Stan-
wix Hall opened as a hotel June’ 10.
Delavan House building. DeWitt Clin-
ton’s remains removed from Swan st.
cemetery to New York June 21. Wil-
liam L. Stone, formerly editor of the
Daily Advertiser, died Aug. 15. Trains
of the Mohawk & Hudson R. R. first
passed down the present route by Tivoli
creek to new depot, at Maiden lane,
Sept. 30. Albany Rural Cemetery con-
secrated Oct. 7. State Normal School
opened Dec. 18.
1845.	—Wreck of the steamer Swal-
low near Athens; several lives lost.
Funeral ceremonies in honor of Gen.
Jackson June 30. Obadiah R. Van Ben-
thuysen died Aug. 15. The Hendrick
Hudson of the People’s Line arrived
Oct 9. Streets lighted with gas Nov. 10.
1846.	—Constitutional convention, af-
ter sitting 131 days, adjourned Oct. 8.
1847.	—Odeon theatre opened on
Broadway Feb. 1; destroyed in great
fire of ’48. First term Court of Appeals
held in this city, closed calendar of 40
cases, Sept. 27.
1848.	—Great fires. (See Fires.)
Corner-stone Catholic cathedral laid
July 2. A $1,700 sword presented to
General Wool at the capitol.
1849.	—Sewing machine exhibited
March 31. The city gave the legisla-
ture a complimentary dinner April 7.
Over 200 deaths from cholera in June,
July and August. Half a million dol-
lars had been expended in searching for
coal in this vicinity, without success.
1850.	—Ralph W. Emerson lectured
and Fanny Kemble read Shakspeare
the same evening before different aud-
iences, Jan. 10. Water commissioners
purchase the Patroon’s creek Aug. 23.
Great floods; the island inundated
eight times this season.
1851.	—Reuben A. Dunbar hanged
Jan. 31 for murder in Westerlo of the
two Lester children. Twelve senators
resign in April rather than sanction the
borrowing of nine million dollars to
enlarge the canals; the legislature ad-
journs in consequence. H. J. Hastings
starts the Knickerbocker June 8. Jenny
Lind sang in concert at the Third Pres-
byterian church July 9. Hudson River
railroad opened Oct. 8 ; train came
through in 3.55, or 3.24, running time.
Albany hospital dedicated Nov. 1.
1852.	—First train through on Harlem
.railroad Jan 19. Death of General
Solomon Van Rensselaer April 23.
Kossuth’s visits May 18-20 and June
5; he received $2,200 here. High
water from March 25 to May 22. Henry
Clay’s remains received here July 5. A
ferryboat capsized and ten persons
drowned Aug. 22. Gen. Scott’s visit
Oct. 16-18. Catholic cathedral dedi-
cated Nov. 21. Schools made free.
1853.	—Railroad opened to Cohoes
Apr. 9. Legislature adjourned Apr. 9 to
avoid action on impeachment of canal
commissioner Mather; was reconvened
by Governor Seymour next day at 10
A. M. Legislative excursion to Niagara
Falls by the consolidated railroads
June 4. Railroad communication with
Montreal, via Eagle Bridge, established
June 29. Boiler of the New World
exploded, killing four and scalding
others, July 1. Boiler of Empire of
Troy exploded near Castleton, killing
July 5- In August 28 died of the
heat in one week. Ground broken for
Susquehanna railroad Sept. 5.
1854.	—Woman suffrage convention
Feb. 14. John Hendrickson, Jr., of
New Scotland, hanged for the poison-
ing of his wife. The law against hogs174
1855—1863
running at large was enforced ; about
15,000 were captured during the cam-
paign. Cholera was again epidemic;
more than 100 deaths. Edwin Cros-
well retired from the Argus Aug. 18.
Death, Nov. 7, in New York, of the
widow of Alexander Hamilton, aged
97; she was born and married in the
Schuyler mansion. (See Old Houses.)
Old state hall, cor. State and Lodge
streets, taken down in December.
1855.	—First diocesan synod of the
Catholic see of Albany Oct. 7.
1856.	—The city had two mayors, Dr.
J. V. P. Quackenbush and Eli Perry.
Albany Times established April 21.
Corner-stone of St. Joseph’s church laid
June 1. Geological hall dedicated Aug.
27, and Dudley observatory the day
after.
1857.	—The highest flood known,Feb.
8 and 9; water was a foot deep in
stores west side of Broadway at
Maiden lane. Abolition convention ;
William H. Topp, colored, presided;
Susan B. Anthony, white, secretary.
Albany Express established May 4.
Death, July 4, of Wm. L. Marcy; 27
military and 7 fire companies, several
governors and two ex-presidents were
in the funeral procession.
1858-Celebration of the laying of the
Atlantic cable Sept. 1. Fireman’s jub-
ilee Sept. 29; 3,000 firemen from six
states present.
1859.	—Piccolomini sang in Associa-
tion Hall Feb. 14. The old St. Peter’s
church razed in Feb. and March; first
stone in new structure laid April 18;
corner stone June 29. Death of Sher-
man Crosswell, late editor of Argus,
March 6. Ladies admitted to member-
ship in Y. M. A. May 16. State ar-
mory dedicated May 16. Commerce
Insurance Co. began business June 1.
Michael O’Brien, of Cohoes, hanged
for wife murder June 1.
1860.	—Time ball dropped at the
Capitol by electo magnetism from Dud-
ley Observatory; the only other one
at that time was at Greenwich, Eng-
land. St. Joseph’s church dedicated
May 13, said to be the handsomest
parish church in the world. First steam
fire-engine brought to this city July 30.
Prince of Wales’ visit Oct. 16.
1861.	—Three skating parks were
well patronized. The river broke up
Feb. 13, the ice doing great damage.
President Lincoln welcomed to the
city Feb. 18. The 25th regiment left
for Washington April 22 (returned
July 28). In May four banks failed,
the Bank of Albany, Bank of the Capi-
tol, Bank of the Interior and National
Bank. The body of Col. Ellsworth in
state at the Capitol May 27. Boston
R. R. freight depot burned; loss half
a million, July 5. March of the 43d
regiment Sept. 16; march of Ellsworth
regiment (44th) Oct. 21.
1862.	—Martin Van Buren died in
Kinderhook July 24. The 113th, an
Albany county regiment, Lewis O.
Morris, colonel, departed for Wash-
ington Aug. 19. Recruiting offices
open on Sunday, Aug. 31; patriotic
addresses made in State street by
several clergymen. Rev. Daniel Waldo,
of Syracuse, preached in the Second
Presbyterian church Sept. 14; he was
100 years and 3 days old. Bells of the
Catholic Cathedral blessed Nov. 16;
rung Dec. 7. The 10th regiment left
for the seat of war Dec. 16.
1863.	Post-office re-opened in Ex-
change building Jan. 24. Thurlow
Weed retires from Evening yotirnal
Jan. 28. Albany Academy centennial
March 4. Mrs. Blandina Dudley died
March 6, aged 80. Mrs. Mary Hartung,
after five years imprisonment for the
alleged murder of her husband* set at
liberty. Gen. George B. McClellan
visited the. city May 23. Col. M. K.
Bryan killed at Port Hudson June 14.
Labor riot June 15-18. Broadway
horse cars began running June 22.
Return of the Tenth regiment Sept. 1.
John Taylor died Sept. 13; Joel Rath-i75
1864—1870
bone same day in Paris. The draft
Sept. 28 and 29. Work on the first
bridge over the Hudson begun Oct. 19.
Ground broken for State st. horse rail-
road Nov. 2. Explosion of the Isaac
Newton Dec. 5; several lives lost.
Academy of music opened Dec. 22.
1864.	Grand opera given for the
first time in Albany, Lucrezia Bor-
gia, Jan. 4. Army relief bazaar, held
in Academy park. The St. John ar-
rived March 17. Death of Rev. John
N. Campbell March 27. A steam fire
engine bought and arrived March 31.
Colonel Lewis O. Morris killed at Cold
Harbor June 4. Bishop McCloskey
(now cardinal) left Albany for New
York, after 17 years’ residence, July
23. Return of the 44th regiment
Sept. 28.
1865.	—Negroes admitted to mem-
bership in the Y. M. A. April 8.' The
body of President Lincoln brought
here April 26. Return of the 91st regt.
June 15; of the 43d, July 1. Ash
Grove church dedicated July 6. First
arrival here of the Dean Richmond,
July 26. Henry G. Wheaton, the law-
yer, killed by cars Aug. 25. Return of
the N. Y. Veteran Volunteers Sept. 1,
of the 81 st regt. Sept. 4. Death of
Dr. William Bay Sept 7. Corner stone
Fourth Presbyterian church laid
Sept. 12 (dedicated Sept. 18, 1867).
Steamer St. John exploded her boiler,
killing 15 passengers, wounding 17,
Nov. 29.
1866.	—Death, Jan. 29, of Rev. Eli-
phalet Nott. The upper railroad bridge
completed Feb. 22. National organiza-
tion of iron founders and stove manu-
facturers established here March 14.
Anti-rent troubles July 18; the Tenth
regiment called out. Death of Dean
Richmond Aug. 27. Andrew John-
son, president of the United States,
passed the night here Aug. 30. Boiler
in Rork’s lumber mill exploded, killing
12 persons Sept. 12. North Pearl st.
cars began running Sept. 17. Wheat
sold for $3.45 a bushel November 1.
1867.	—L. Harris Hiscox shot by Gen.
George W. Cole at Stanwix hall June
4. John M. Trimble died June 7.
Rufus H. King died July 9. Work
begun on the new capitol Dec. 9.
Constitutional convention June 4 to
Feb. 28, 1868.
1868.	—Amos Dean died Jan. 26.
Academy of music burned Jan. 29.
Richard V. DeWitt died Feb. 7. John
G. White’s malt-house burned March
23. Stephen Van Rensselaer (son of
the old patroon) died May 25. Fire
alarm telegraph completed June 1.
Peter Cagger died July 6. Center mar-
ket on N. Pearl and Howard demolish-
ed July 7. Very many deaths from the
heat in July; 23 members of St.
Joseph’s church in one week. Corner-
stone Congregational church laid Sept.
22. Paving of Broadway with wood
begun Sept. 30.
1869.	—Susquehanna railroad open
to Binghamton Jan. 12. First appear-
ance of the bicycle March 10. Death
of Rev. Dr. Wyckoff March 27. Water
fifteen feet over the docks April 22.
Death, June 17, of Dr. Alden March.
Resignation of Rev. Dr. Sprague Sept.
28. Division st. theatre opened Oct. 4.
City building completed in Oct. The
Cardiff giant exhibited November 27.
Trimble opera house opened Dec. 31.
1870.	—Parepa Rosa sang in opera
in Tweddle hall, Jan. 8. Post-offices
in Greenbush abolished and mail de-
livered from Albany office, March 1.
A free soup house, in nine weeks, fur-
nished 80,000 meals. Portions of
Bethlehem and Watervliet annexed to
Albany, April 8. Colored men voted
irrespective of property qualification.
Washington park bill passed; work
begun July 18. John Maloy appointed
chief of police, May 1. Fenian inva-
sion of Canada, May 24. George W.
Demers, editor of Evening Journal,
died May 25. Everybody was singing,1871—1877	176
“ Shoo Fly.” A one-minute earth-
quake, Oct. 20.
1871.	—New police force went on
duty Jan. 1. Thomas A. Halpin, ex-
press messenger, shot and robbed by
John I. Filkins, who was sentenced for
20 years to, but escaped from Clinton
prison in Sept., 1874, and was never
heard of. The New Hamburgh dis-
aster, by which 20 passengers were
burned to death, Feb. 6. Martin' hall
completed. Weed, Parsons & Co.’s
printing house burned; loss, half a
million, April 7. German peace cele-
bration, May 29, Corner stone of
Capitbl laid June 24. Eleven thousand
dollars raised in half an hour for the
Chicago fire sufferers. First train over
the Maiden lane bridge, Dec. 28.
1872.	- Nilsson sang Lucia at Martin
hall. Lands purchased at North Al-
bany for People’s gas works; work
begun in April. Death of Erastus
Corning, April 8. Eight-hour strike
of railroad employees, June 15 to 24.
A $100,000 fire in cars and shops at
West Albany, July 6. The Waterford
bank robbery; $308,000 stolen Oct. 14.
Twenty-four buildings burned in Green-
bush, July 13. Death of Amos Pils-
bury, July 14. Gas companies cease
opposition, Aug. 1. The Central rail-
road quadruple tracks laid this sum-
mer. Union depot opened Oct. 6.
The Charles H. Phelps defalcation
from State treasury; sentenced Oct.
20, 1874, to 15 years in Albany peni-
tentiary; died there. Loss of the
Ville du Havre, with Tudge Rufus W.
Peckam, Nov. 22.
1873.	—Constitutional convention as-
semble in January. Death of Dr. Geo.
Cooke Jan. 12. Death of William
Cassidy, editor of the Argus Jan. 23.
Legislative memorial exercises in honor
of Wm. H. Seward April 18; orator,
Charles Francis Adams. Agricultural
and Arts association purchase land on
Troy road May 9. Eighteen houses
burned in Canal and Orange streets
June 20.
1874.	—Mayor Thacher resigns Jan.
28. Lowenstein hanged for the murder
of Weston April 10. Waltz, the Cat-
skill murderer, kills his keeper the
night before execution April 30. The
“ Tom Collins ” joke. Death of Dr.
James McNaughton June 12. Freight-
house, bridge and 20 cars burned at
East Albany Sept. 7.
1875.	—Gov. Tilden gives reception
to Wm. Cullen Bryant Feb. 8. Gov.
Tilden begins his attack upon the canal
ring in March. Spelling matches all
the rage in April. Miss Mary Du Bois
made a member of the Albany Co.
Medical society June 8. First fast
mail; New York papers delivered at 8
A. M. Sept. 16. Opening of New York
and Canada railroad ; grand excursion
to Montreal Nov. 16, 17. Sinking of
the Sunnyside, 11 lives lost, Dec. 1.
Death of Ira Harris Dec. 2; Of Dr.
Jas. H. Armsby Dec. 3.
1876.	—Midnight parade in honor of
Centennial year Jan. 1. Hard times;
much destitution; “The Little Grocery
Around the Corner,” a relief depot
started Jan 31. High school dedicated
May 4. Death of Dr. J. V. P. Quacken-
bush Jan. 8. Death of Ezra P. Prentice
and Philip Phelps July 10. R. M.
Griffin nominated for governor on
Greenback ticket Sept 26. St. Peter’s
tower dedicated Sept. 29. Tickets to
Philadelphia and return, good for 15
days, sold for $4.50 in Nov. Charles
Fechter plays at the Leland Nov. 22.
1877.	—Child’s hospital opened Feb.
12 Tabernacle church dedicated Feb.
14. Morning Press started Feb. 26.
Failure of Hope bank and embarrass-
ment of Atlantic Mutual Life Insurance
Co. May 10. Gov. Robinson, in a mes-
sage vetoing capitol appropriation, calls
the building “ a great public calamity ”
May 17. Post-office removed from N.
Pearl st. to Delavan house May 26.
Old elm corner of State st. and Pearl177
1878—1882
cut down June 15. The railroad
riots at West Albany July 23-28. The
police telephone in working order Oct.
15. Nicky De Freest, the “ go slow
philosopher,” killed at the Broadway
crossing Nov. 1. Death of John V. L.
PruynNov. 21. Baby show atTweddle
hall Dec. 21.
1878.	—Death of John O. Cole, Jan.
4; death of Grenvihe Tremain, March
14; death of John Morrissey, May 1.
Telephone started in May. The Bill-
ings murder in Saratoga county, June
4. Death of Terence J. Quinn, June
18. Gale at West Albany, July 21;
gas works blown down. Death of
John Tayler Cooper, Aug. 13. Albany
City Mission building, dedicated Sept.
3. Death of Lyman Tremain, Nov.
30*
1879.	—New Capitol occupied by the
Legislature; grand reception in the
evening; expenses, $5,000, borne by
200 Albanians, Jan. 7. “Pinafore”
first sung at the Leland, Feb. 17.
William J. Hadley, the lawyer, fatally
stabbed by a client, John C. Hughes,
March 4. Death of Isaac Edwards,
March 26: death of Rev. Theodore
Noetheii, April 10. Corner stone of
Government building laid May 7.
National encampment, G. A. R., June
17, 18. Hilare Latrimouille murders
Catharine Dunsbach, in Watervliet,
April 5; found guilty June 27;
hanged Aug. 20. Janies Goold dies
Oct. 1. Episcopal church congress,
Oct. 20. Armsby memorial unveiled
in the Park, Nov. 25.
1880.	—Death of Joel Munsell Jan.
15. Reception to Charles Stewart Par-
nell Jan. 27. The Fifteen puzzle agi-
tates the community. City hall burned
Feb. 10. Chas. E. Smith leaves Even-
ing Journal for Philadelphia Press
Feb. 18. Death of Thomas W. Olcott
March 23; of Dr. Chas. A. Robertson
April 1. Fort Orange club-house open-
ed July 1. General Garfield passed
through Albany Aug. 2.
1881.	—Death of Rev. Dwight K.
Bartlett Jan. 11. Gen. and Mrs. Grant
the guests of Gov. Cornell Jan. 17.
Death of S. H. H. Parsons, for many
years pension agent, Feb. 6. The An-
neke Jans case finally decided in the
court of appeals in Feb. The 10th and
25th regiments disbanded. Closing
services in old Second Reformed
church March 6. Electric light intro-
duced March 25; streets first lighted
with it June 14. City property assessed
at its full value in April. Death of Eli
Perry May 12. The revised version of
the New Testament received May 21.
Death of Alfred B. Street June 2.’ The
Bradley sessions bribery case in the
legislature June 9. Farewell to Rev.
Dr. Darling, chosen president of Ham-
ilton college, June 10. End of the
Conkling-Platt senatorial contest June
22. Strange appearance of the atmos-
phere Sept. 6, known as the “ yellow
day.” City draped in mourning for
President Garfield Sept. 20. Governor
Cornell occupies the new executive
chamber Sept. 29. Corner-stone of
City hall laid Oct. 13. Death of Chas.
Van Benthuysen Oct. 19; of Col.
Hale Kingsley Oct. 22.
1882.	—Deadlock in the legislature,
which does not organize till Feb. 2.
Draw of Greenbush bridge worked Jan.
3; opened to public Jan. 24. Senator
Wagner and others killed at Spuyten
Duyvel creek Jan. 13. Farewell din-
ner to W. H. McElroy, who goes from
the Journal to the Tribune, Jan. 25.
Death of Robert H. Pruyn Feb. 26.
Prof. Merrill E. Gates elected president
of Rutgers college March 7. Mason,
who shot at Guiteau, brought to Albany
penitentiary March 16. Michael Davitt
speaks at Music hall June 21. George
Dawson retires from Evening Journal
Sept. 2; died Feb. 17, 1883. Peniten-
tiary used as a jail Nov. 24, and till the
law was declared unconstitutional in
Feb. 1883. Thurlow Weed died
Nov. 22.1883-84	178
1883.—Albani sang in Music hall
Jan. 15. Tweddle hall burned Jan. 16.
Dunlop elevator burned Mar. 3. Salvini
played the Gladiator March 5. Isaac
G. Perry made Capitol commissioner
March 30. Death of Thomas Spencer
Lloyd April 10. West Shore railroad
opened to Albany July 9. Death of
Dr. Jacob S. Mosher Aug. 13. Tele-
graph strike July 19 to Aug. 17. Death
of Hugh J. Hastings Sept. 12. Corner-
stone St. Luke’s Methodist church laid
Sept. 18. Steam tug explodes foot of
Westerlo st., and kills three men, Sept.
28. Two-cent letter postage Oct. 1.
West Shore road opened to Syracuse
Oct. 1. Burgesses corps semi-centen-
nial Oct. 8, 9. New standard time
adopted Nov. 18. Reunion of 177th
regiment Nov. 21. Remarkable sun-
sets in November. Fiftieth anniver-
sary Y. M. A. Dec. 12.
1884.—Court of appeals occupied
new chamber in the capitol Jan 14;
sat in silken gowns Feb. 25. Death
of Orlando Meads Feb. 11. Evening
Journal changes proprietors March 17.
Corner stone All Saints’ Cathedral laid
June 3. Albany Hand-Book pub-
lished.
Supplemental to the Alphabetical Arrangement
PAGE.
Adjournments of Legislature....... 100
Albany.—Where Albany is the first word
of a subject, look also for the second ;
as, Albany Medical college—see Medi-
cal college, Albany.
Albany Beef........................... 4
Annseley & Vint...................... 13
Army Relief Bazaar.................... 4
Arsenal—See Armory.
Banks—See National Commercial and
State bank.
Banks & Bro.—See Law books.
Beverwyck Brewery—See Lager beer.
Books—See Gray’s book store, News
Co., Albany; Old books, Quinn’s.
Business college.................... 7
Canal, Opening and closing of....... 116
Census —See also Employments, Farms
and Farm products, Foreign-born, Yan-
kees.
Charities—See Benevolent societies.
Clothing—See Shaw, the tailor; Wilson
and Gross.
College of Pharmacy—See Pharmacy.
Commercial Bank—See National Com-
mercial bank.
Death rate—See Vital statistics.
Depots—See Railroad depots.
Dickerman, John S.—See Auctions.
Dispensaries—See Hospitals.
Erie canal—See Canals.
Friends—See Quakers.
Governors—See Executive mansions.
Hats and Furs—See Cotrell & Leonard.
History.............................
Horse Cars—See pp. 93, 94. The Clin-
ton ave. line was accidentally omitted.
Cars leave Tweddle building 7, 7.45, 8,
8.30	a.m., and every 15 minutes till
10.30	and 11 p.m.
of Subjects, which should first be consulted.
PAGE.
Insurance—See Albany insurance co.,
Commerce insurance co.
Lafayette, Gen....................... 156
Livingston, Philip................... 157
McDonough’s Book store — See Old
books.
Military Statistics, Bureau of......... 52
News rooms—See Quinn’s; News co.,
Albany.
Officials—See State government, United
States officers, and Appendix.
Open Door Mission—See p. 19. (Mrs.
I. M. Felton is matron in place of Mrs.
Spensley, resigned. Officers are now
as follows ; Pres., Miss J. Anna Lans-
ing ; vice-pres., Mrs. Daniel H. Greg-
ory ; sec., Mrs. John B. Bradley;
treas., Miss E. A. Dempsey.)
Orphan asylums—See Benevolent socie-
ties.
Press—See Newspapers.
Railroads.—The statistics are from re-
ports to the railroad commissioners for
the last railroad year.
Rainfall—See Temperature.
River, Opening and Closing of........ 116
Schuyler Mansion......................123
Standard Time........................ 155
State.—Where State is the first word
of a subject, look also for the second ;
as, State Museum, — see Museum,
State.
Strasser & Co.—See Cigars.
Street names—See Names of streets.
3 Telegraph invented................... 6
Valuation—See Tax rate.
Van Rensselaer mansion — See Old
Houses.
Viele, Maurice E.—See Hardware.
Weather—See Signal Service.
INDEX.• TO • INVESTOR •
FIRST MORTGAGES ON IMPROVED
WESTERN FARMS.
HE basis on which these loans are made is from 25 to 40 per
cent, of the value of the security, and this value at a figure
which, according to the best judgment of experienced appraisers,
the property would bring under the hammer. Abstract title from Gov-
ernment down—coupon bonds—buildings covered by insurance in
favor of mortgagee. These loans are NEGOTIATED AND GUAR-
ANTEED BY THE WESTERN FARM MORTGAGE COM-
PANY of Lawrence, Kansas, one of the strongest and most popular
financial institutions in the West. This Company is composed of
prominent bankers, merchants and loan men. During an experience
of over nine years not a single investor has ever been put to a dol-
lar’s expense or an hour’s trouble on account of the insufficiency of
one of these securities. Every coupon and every bond has been
promptly paid on the day it was due. The interest is 7 per cent.,
semi-annual, principal and interest payable at Third National Bank
of New York.
These loans have a great advantage over loans of a similar char-
acter, for the reason that they are NEGOTIATED and GUARAN-
TEED by a responsible Company. They will take nothing but
that which is gilt edge, and which they are willing to become re-
sponsible for. In case a foreclosure becomes necessary, it is entirely
at the expense and trouble of the Western Farm Mortgage Company,
and not their investors.
Persons desiring to invest in choice securities are requested to
call and see us, or send for circulars giving scores of references,
testimonials, etc., from those who have invested in them. We can
furnish these bonds in different amounts, from $200 to $10,000 and
upwards.
FINANCIAL AGENTS,
Tweddle Building, - Albany, N. Y.Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Co.’s
Straight and Curved Needle
Sewing Machines!
Endorsed and recommended by all manu-
facturers for both cloth and leather The Best
in the World. Awarded the only grand
Prize for Sewing Machines, at Paris, in 1878
over 80 competitors. If you want a Sewing
Machine for family use or for any kind of
manufacturing, we have the most complete
line in the market, adapted to all grades of
work. Tailoring Machines, Shoe and Leather
Stitching Machines, Cylinder and Universal
Feed Machines,Wax Thread and Button Hole
Machines, and Book Sewing Machines.
Please call and examine before purchasing.
WHEELER & WILSON MFG. CO.,
28 N. Pearl Street,
Albany, N. Y.
NEXT DOOR TO THE WINDSOR.
J. T. JOHNSON,
* Merchant Tailor,*
35 & 37 MAIDEN LANE.
BUSINESS SUITS, $20 to $30.
Evening or Dress Suits,
FROM $30 TO $40.THE ALBANY ACADEMY.
[ESTABLISHED IN 1813.]
FOR BOYS AND YOUNG MEN.
TRUSTEES:
HENRY H. MARTIN.	The MAYOR of Albany \ ex-	ABRAHAM LANSING.
THOMAS HUN, M.D.	The RECORDER “	\ officio ERASTUS CORNING.
JOHN F. RATHBONE.	WM. L. LEARNED, LL.D.	D. MURRAY, LL.D.
Rt. Rev. W. C. DOANE, D.D. EDWARD P. WATERBURY.	ERNEST J. MILLER.
PAUL F. COOPER.	MAURICE E. VIELE, Treas.	JAMES M. CASSETY.
LEONARD KIP.
The Primary Department, in charge of ladies of experience, receives
boys at theyounges school age, and combines many features of the Kindergarten
with an introduction to the use of books. Its work is continued in
The Preparatory Department, for boys from 8 or io to 12 or 14 years
of age, which does most careful work in teaching boys to read, write and speak
the English Language correctly, and in Arithmetic and Geography. With this
work is combined a course of Oral Lessons by “ the Object-Method,” in Botany,
Zoology, and the useful arts. These lessons cultivate the boy’s powers of
observation and expression, and greatly add to the interest of school-life.
Instruction in Vocal Music. A Gymnasium specially fitted up for the
younger pupils.
THE ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT-Some Features of the School
1.	Attention to health — Gymnastics and Military Drill.
2.	Fullest preparation for the best colleges — more than is required in all
branches.
3.	A numerous and able Faculty - each teacher a specialist in his department.
4.	The study of Latin and Greek is made an educating process, not a parrot-
like repetition of rules and exceptions.
5.	The history of Greece, Rome, the United States and England, is studied
with a view to its lessons for our own time's.
6.	Careful and constant practice in composing and letter-writing.
7.	A full year’s work in English literature — studying the best authors in
their best works, not merely learning dates.
8.	A careful introduction to the Natural Sciences — Chemistry, Astronomy,
Botany, Physiology and Zoology. A two years’ course in Physics, with a
lecture-room specially fitted up for experiments in Natural Philosophy.
9.	French and German taught “ for use.” Constant practice in reading,
writing and speaking these languages.
10.	Mathematics, to Conic Sections and Analytical Geometry.
11.	Book-keeping, Political Economy and Commercial Law for the future
business-man.
12.	Five-minute talk with the school on Topics of the Time — “The Ques-
tion-Box.”
13.	The management of the school aims to inculcate Truthfulness, Christian
Principle, and habits of self-reliant work.
14.	Full apparatus — large collections of photographs, illustrative of Geogra-
phy, History and Art.
15.	A working laboratory, fully equipped, where each student performs every
experiment of the course in Chemistry. Address,
JAMES M. CASSETY, Ph. D., Principal, Academy Building, Albany, N. Y.MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF UNION UNIVERSITY.
1838---1884.
Regular Winter Sessions commence on the second Tuesday of September
in each year and continue till March.
The college building, situated on Eagle street, is well appointed in its lec-
ture rooms, laboratories, dissecting room, library and museum.
The aim of the faculty is to make the course practical and scientific. This
is done by combining with didactic lectures, clinical lectures, recitations and
practical work in the laboratories and dissecting room. Clinical instruction is
made an especial feature of the course.
The Albany Hospital, St. Peter’s Hospital, Eye and Ear Relief and the
County Hospital, together with the Eye and Ear Infirmary and the Dispensaries
connected with each, a!re, by the regulations of their governing boards, made
available for clinical purposes to the students.
FEES: — Matriculation fee, $5; Fees for the course, $100; Perpetual
Lecture Ticket, $150; Graduation fee, $25.
For information or catalogues, address,
REGISTRAR OF THE ALBANY MEDICAL COLLEGE,
4 Lancaster Street, Albany, N. Y.
The Albany College of Pharmacy.
DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACY—UNION UNIVERSITY.
FOURTH ANNUAL SESSION, 1884-85.
The exercises of the College are held in the Albany Medical College Build-
ing, on Eagle street. Next course of lectures begin October 6, 1884, and closes
March 3, 1885. Graded course of instruction, extending over two years, and
divided into Junior and Senior classes. Requirements for graduation same as
in other recognized colleges. Every advantage offered the student which
connection with a large university can give.
Various prizes are awarded at close of the term to students exhibiting the
greatest proficiency. For particulars concerning the same, see Catalogue.
FEES: — Matriculation fee (paid but once), $3.00; Lecture Tickets for the
course, $30.00; Laboratory course (one term required), $15.00; Graduation
fee, $10.00.
Cost of living in Albany less than in most other cities of its size. Students
desirous of obtaining employment will be assisted in securing situations, but
only if they apply in person. For annual catalogue or further information,
address, SECRETARY OF THE ALBANY COLLEGE OF PHARMACY,
77 Eagle Street, Albany, N. Y.ST. 7IGDES SCHOOL
ALBANY, N. Y.
The Rt. Rev. W. C. Doane, S. T. D.,	.	. Principal and Rector.
Sister Helen, .... Superior of the Sisterhood.
Miss E. W. Boyd, .	.	.	.	. Head of the School.
Miss H. E. Gavit,	.... Head of the House..
With Twenty Teachers and Lecturers.
The School provides a full course of study from the Kinder-
garten through a carefully prepared Post-Graduate Course, based
upon that required for the Oxford (Eng.) degree.
The departments of Music, Modern Languages, Drawing and
Painting, are under the charge of highly accomplished teachers, who
have gained a wide reputation for thoroughness and skill.
Special attention is paid to instruction in Prayer Book and
Church History.
TERMS:
Charge for the Year, .	.	.	.	.	.	$350.00
For new pupils the entrance fee,..................25.00
Music, .	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	$100 and 150.00
German (where French is also studied), .	.	.	30.00
Oil, Water Color, and mineral Painting, each, .	,	40.00
Tuition for Day Pupils.
In the Harvard Class, for the year, ....	$125.00
“	Senior	“	“	“	....	100.00
“ Middle “	“	“	75 .oo
“	Junior	“	“	“	....	5.00
“ Kindergarten Class for the year, .	.	.	30.00pOUGHTOfl, EJIFFLIN ^ GO.
4 Park Street, Boston, Mass.,
WILL SEND, POST-PAID, TO ANY ADDRESS, ON APPLICATION,
A PORTRAIT CATALOGUE
Of all their Publications, and including Portraits of several of their dis-
tinguished Authors, as follows:
Thomas Bailey Aldrich.
Hans Christian Andersen.
Bjornstjerne Bjornson.
William Cullen Bryant.
John Burroughs.
Joseph Cook.
James Freeman Clarke.
J. Fenimore Cooper.
Charles Dickens.
Ralph Waldo Emerson.
James T. Fields.
John Fiske.
Bret Harte.
Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Oliver Wendell Holmes.
William D. Howells.
Henry James.
Sarah Orne Jewett.
Lucy Larcom.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
James. Russell Lowell.
James Parton.
Elizabeth Stuart Phelps.
John G. Saxe.
Horace E. Scudder.
Edmund C. Stedman.
Harriet Beecher Stowe.
Bayard Taylor.
Alfred Tennyson.
H. D. Thoreau.
Charles Dudley Warner.
Edwin P. Whipple.
Mrs. A. D. T. Whitney.
John G. Whittier.
In addition to the Works of the above-named Authors, Houghton, Mifflin
& Co.’s Catalogue comprises those of the following Writers:
Professor Agassiz.	T. Starr King.
Lord Bacon.	George H. Lewes.
The British Poets, from Chaucer to Lord Macaulay.
Wordsworth.
Dr. John Brown.
Robert Browning.
Thomas Carlyle.
Alice and Phcebe Cary.
Richard H. Dana, Jr.
Thomas De Quincey.
J. L. Diman.
Johann Wolfgang Goethe.
Anna Jameson.
Montaigne.
Elisha Mulford.
Pascal.
Adelaide Procter.
J. C. Shairp.
Celia Thaxter.
George Ticknor.
Richard Grant White.
And Hundreds of Others.The Albany Female i^ademij
Offers superior inducements to all parents seeking a school for their
daughters. Course of study extended; instruction thorough ;
discipline strict without undue severity. Boarding pupils received
in the family of the Principal, as vacancies may occur. Kinder-
garten open to girls, between the ages of six and eight years.
Unusual facilities in Modern Languages and Music. Art instruc-
tion under Prof. Morgan unsurpassed. Pupils prepared to enter
Vassar, Wellesley, or Smith College. For Catalogue and informa-
tion, application should be made to the Principal.
LUCY A. PLYMPTON, Principal.
Hon. W. L. LEARNED, LL.D., President of the Trustees.
McArdle House,
Mils' tot ©tattoisi's
Nos. 6 and 8 JAMES STREET (two doors north of State).
This Establishment is one of the oldest and most centrally located o( any in Albany. All
the Delicacies of the Season, such as GAME, FISH, FRUIT, etc., served on short notice and
in excellent style. A well supplied Bar with Imported and Domestic Wines and Liquors. Im-
ported and Domestic Cigars of the Best Brands constantly on hand.
JOHN P. McARDLE, Proprietor.
GIBSON & PRETYMAN,
* Jlrcliilecl5 bJid	Decondor$, *
29 NORTH PEARL STREET, ALBANY, N. Y.
ARCHITECTURE, INTERIOR DECORATION AND STAINED GLASS.
Robert W. Gibson.	William Pretyman.BRANDOW & BARTON,
P_bJ^_ L P^Ll^jL-_____«,
15‘ NORTH PEARL STREET,
ALBANY, N. Y.
“THE ALBANY HAND-BOOK” IS FROM THEIR PRESS.
BROWER’S
LADIES’ AND GENT’S RESTAURANT,
39 Maiden Lane, , Albany, N. Y.
--NEW HAVEN OYSTERS A SPECIALTY.-
gig01 Ladies from out of town will find this a convenient place to leave Packages.
M, STRASSER & CO.,
ALBANY, N. Y.
FOR SALE EVERYWHERE.
Ogden & Wright
Jlrcliifects,
61
EDWARD OGDEN.
FRANK P. WRIGHT.CHARLES MUNSELL,
GENERAL
Boolj* Bindei1,
82 STATE STREET,
ALBANY, - N. Y.
BOOKS of ALL DESCRIPTIONS BOUND
IN ANY STYLE.
Extra half calf (marble edge) binding for
Libraries defies competition in reasonableness of
price and beauty of finish.
Designs & Samples for all works
issued in numbers.
Pamphlets in a neat and durable binding for
30 cts. per volume.
Law Books bound strong and cheap. Blank
Books of all sizes made to order.
Drawing and Engraving on Wood,
AT LOW PRICES, and in the BEST STYLE OB' THE ART.
Photo-Electro Plates£& Electrotyping.
HIRAM FERGUSON, ^
448 Broadway, Albany, N* Y«HARTSHORN’S SHADE ROLLERS.
LADIES, IN BUYING YOUR WINDOW DRAPERIES,
Be sure you get HARTSHORN'S SELF-ACTING SHADE
^ROLLERS. They have no cords or balances to tear out shades
and interfere with, window draperies, They carry Shades easily io
top of window, do not get out of order, and are sold by all respect-
able dealers. They are in use in the Capitol, White House, and
Public Buildings at Washington, THE NEW CAPITOL AT
ALBANY, the .Government and Municipal Buildings in N Y.
City, and in the better class of homes throughout the United States,
Dealers are requested to replace any rollers that fail to give entire
satisfaction.	v
5. HARTSHORN,
486 BROADWAY, REW YORK.
MILLER
LEADS THE MARKET ON
FINE CUSTOM SHIRTS.
6 Very Best Quality for -	-	$9.00.
6 B Quality for -	-	-	-	7.50.
6 C “	“	-	-	-	-	6.00.
COLLARS and CUFFS TO ORDER A SPECIALTY. SCARFS and TIES.
Underwear, Hosiery, Gloves, Umbrellas, Canes, Etc.
36 MAIDEN LANE.EASTERN GALLERY, ASSEMBLY CHAMBER.47
the galleries is a large and carefully
wrought chandelier made of bronze in
the corona form. The corona is a
broad, circular band of metal cut and
bent on the upper and lower edges
and having repousse and cut bosses at
intervals. Around this band are the
burners. It is suspended from the
ceiling by chains composed of long
tubes of metals alternating
with small spheres of the
same, to which the tubes aie
hooked, while the gas is con
ducted to the
burners by a
larger cen-
tral tube or-
name nted
with spheres
and melon-
shaped balls,
of metal.
These sur-
faces are pol-
ished and the
coronal band
is left as it
came from
the hands of
the workman wi
the hammer marks
to soften the sur-
face and give var-
iety of light and
shade. The Same
pattern of chan-
deliers prevails
through out the
southern portion
of the building.
The side-lights
about the room, which are
located upon the band di-
viding the onyx from the gold
above, are made from the same
metal and are formed of a
convex band fitted over the
stone and having a hammered
surface with repousse orna-
ment, from which spring
curved straps of metal arranged in.
a fan-like form and ending in scrolls,
which support the .gas tubing and
the burners.
The Court of Appeals.—Nine spa-
cious rooms are assigned for the Court
of Appeals, six in the third or princi-
pal story; three in the fourth or gallery
story, the two stories being connected
"//.."'”"■‘11’
UNDER THE LADIES’ GALLERY.WEST END ASSEMBLY CHAMBER.