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 SYRACUSE 
 
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 VILLAGE 
 
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 EARLY DAYS 
 
 TAKEN FROM 
 
 VILLAGE RECORDS 
 
 IN THE 
 
 CITY CLERKS OFFICE 
 1915 
 
Wh 
 
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 SYRACUSE 
 
 was a 
 
 VILLAGE 
 
 SNAP SHOTS 
 
 of 
 
 EARLY DAYS 
 
 Taken trom 
 
 VILLAGE RECORDS 
 
 in the 
 
 CITY CLERK'S OFFICE 
 1915 
 
 C^Cr 
 
 ''Inc^ 
 
SsSsa 
 
 TO THE 
 
 ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION 
 
 IS DEDICATED 
 
 This collection of notes showing early official 
 moves and methods in the making of Syracuse, 
 in the hope that it will prove of interest, and per- 
 haps of use, to those who are concerned in the 
 preserving of a kno\^ ledge of our hometown history. 
 
 JOHN N. ALSEVER, 
 
 City Clerk. 
 
 Syracuse, N. Y., November 20, 1915. 
 
 *>. •f y. 
 
 ;UL 14 19,9 
 
This record of some of the early events of Syracuse that seemed 
 most divergent, either in method or purpose, from present up-to-date 
 city affairs, was made incidental to a search by this office of the 
 books of the village Board of Trustees in the preparation of a public 
 utility franchise index of both village and citv. 
 
 The examination of the village records for this purpose was 
 made by John G. White, from whose supplementary notes the fol- 
 lowing pages were prepared. 
 
 They are intended to show in brief form, without attempt to pro- 
 duce a running narrative, some things whi:h now appear strange, 
 even amusing, and others which serve to recall the men who, now 
 generally forgotten, laid the foundation, nearly a hundred years ago, 
 of the present municipality. 
 
 Care has been taken, in quoting the records, to reproduce the 
 spelling, punctuation, capitalization and paragraphing, even when 
 faulty, as was not infrequently the case. Words italicized in the fol- 
 lowing pages were underscored in the records. 
 
 The marginal date is, in each case, that on which the event is 
 recorded in the village books. 
 
"An Act to Incorporate 
 
 the 
 
 VILLAGE OF SYRACUSE" 
 
 was passed 
 
 April 13, 1825. 
 
VILLAGE OF SYRACUSE 
 
 YEAR 1825 
 
 Date of Record 
 
 At a meeting of freeholders and inhabitants of the village of May 3 
 Syracuse, "held pursuant to notice at the schoolhouse," Tuesday, 
 May 3, 1825, the following officers were chosen : 
 
 Trustees — Joshua Forman, Amos P. Granger, Moses D. Burnet, 
 Heman Walbridge, John Rogers. 
 
 Assessors^James Webb, Alfred Northam, Thomas Spencer. 
 
 Clerk — ^John Wilkinson. 
 
 Treasurer — John Durnford. 
 
 Poundmaster — Henry Young. 
 
 Constables — Jesse D. Rose, Henry W. Durnford. 
 
 Overseer, Highway District No. 1, Henry Young. 
 
 Overseer, Highway District No. 2, John Garrison. 
 
 That the above were elected in pursuance of the act to incorpor- May 3 
 ate the village of Syracuse is certified in the record by Daniel Gil- 
 bert, Justice of the Peace, presiding. 
 
 Joshua Forman chosen President of the Board of Trustees. May 4 
 
 The record of a meeting of the village Board of Trustees shows 
 the following: 
 
 Resolved that Othniel H. Williston, George W. 
 Tanner, Hiram C. Woodworth and James Mann 
 are severally fit persons to be licensed as tavern 
 keepers in said village and that Certificates to 
 that efifect be issued to them respectively. 
 
 Resolved that a book be procured for record- 
 ing the proceedings of the Board of Trustees and 
 their accounts. And that a seal for the Corpora- 
 tion be procured with the words "Syracuse Vil- 
 lage" on an oval of lYz inches with some suitable 
 device. 
 
 Second meeting of board recorded as having been held "at the May 8 
 .jffice of M. D. Burnett" 
 
 Ordered 
 
 that the following Licenses made on application 
 of the parties to keep groceries in the village be 
 handed to the Treasurer to be by him delivered 
 on the execution of the bond required by Law and 
 the payment of the sum of twenty five dollars 
 
each towit Joseph Thompson, Henry Newton, 
 Stephen W. Cadwell, Paschal N. Thurber, Joel 
 Owen, Peter Van Olinda, Henry W. Dumford, 
 Hayden Rice, William T. Arnold, Ambrose 
 Kapon, Bush J. Vase, and Andrew N. Vanpatten 
 and Ralph Waldby. 
 
 May 9 Resolutions: 
 
 Resolved that the Safety of the village re- 
 quires that immediate Measures be taken to pro- 
 cure a good fire engine * * * 
 
 Resolved that this board hold a regular meet- 
 ing on Monday evening of each week at seven 
 o'clock * * * 
 
 May 10 No guns, crackers, or other fire-works to be fired "within the 
 
 populous part of the village of Syracuse, except by persons under 
 arms on public days by permission of their officers." Fine, $1. 
 
 No hogs "to run at large in the streets." Any found doing so 
 "to be driven to the village Pound, and there detained by the pound- 
 keeper, until a penalty of twenty-five cents for each hog" is paid in 
 addition to penalty and fees fixed by town law. Pound-keeper may 
 sell hog if fine is not paid within three days. 
 
 Persons "licensed to keep grocery shops, vitualHng houses, oyster 
 houses or other shops or houses" and "to retail spiritous liquors to 
 be drank therein" are required to close on Sunday and at 11 P. M. 
 on week days. Sunday penalty, $5 ; week-day penalty, $2.50. 
 
 May 12 Resolution : 
 
 Resolved that the Treasurer give Bonds in the 
 sum of one thousand dollars * * * 
 
 May 13 Name of Genesee Street given to "Seneca Turnpike" (spelled 
 
 Gennessee). Other streets namd : Salina, described as "running 
 north and South across the Stone bridge, Warren, Clinton, Water, 
 Washington and Fayette. The street-naming resolution concludes 
 as follows: 
 
 The street leading east out of the Public 
 Square Foot Street. The next Street north par- 
 allel to the Canal Church Street. The Street run- 
 ning from the Turnpike to the Canal next west of 
 Gififord's house with its continuation South 
 Franklin Street. And the Street leading there- 
 from to the Mill race north of the Canal thence 
 along the same to the Seneca Turnpike Mill 
 Street. And the Street west of the Onondaga 
 Creek from the Turnpike to the Canal — named 
 on the State map of the Village "Apple Street" 
 shall be called "West Street." 
 
 May 16 Salary of John Wilkinson as Clerk of the Board of Trustees 
 
 fixed at $25 a year. 
 
 6 
 
Resolution : 
 
 Resolved that an advertisement be published 
 tor proposals to light and trim the four lamps 
 now put up in the village and such others as may 
 hereaiter be put up by order of this board or a 
 vote of the village and that persons applying 
 shall state the price that they will charge per 
 lamp to be lighted only dark nights. 
 
 May 24 
 
 Resolution : 
 
 Resolved that Joshua Forman & Moses D. 
 Burnett be a committee to ascertain the State 
 of the waterworks & report a system of regula- 
 tion for the same. 
 
 May 26 
 
 Henian Walbridge was paid $35.97 for erecting a pound. 
 
 June 13 
 
 At a meeting of "freeholders and taxible Inhabitants" of the vil- June 25 
 lage, held at the house of James Mann, a tax of $125 was unani 
 mously authorized, for purchase of a "village pall" and building a 
 fence around the burying ground. It was arranged that notice of an 
 adjourned meeting be published in The Syracuse Gazette. 
 
 "Meeting of freeholders and inhabitants." Unanimous action July 7 
 taken authorizing the village Trustees to accept a loan of $1,000 from 
 the Albany Insurance Company, "to be used in the purchase of a 
 good and sutlicient tire engine with proper implements to extinguisli 
 tires," the loan to be secured by a four-year bond, bearing no inter- 
 est for the tirst two years and three per cent for the remainder of 
 the time. 
 
 Also the raising of $150 was authorized for "building an engine 
 house" and "purchasing hooks and necessary ladders." 
 
 "Joshua Forman reported that he had engaged an engine fa^ hose for Oct. 11 
 the sum of $925 in New York pursuant to the resolution for that 
 purpose." 
 
 Resolution : 
 
 Resolved that Thomas B. Heermans be appointed 
 captain of a Fire company in this village with 
 power to raise thirty five men who shall be ap- 
 pointed firemen under the seal of the Corporation. 
 The first enlisted of whom shall be the persons 
 exempt from military duty, any vacancy among 
 whom shall be filled by the persons next in order 
 on the list. 
 
 Loan authorized for purchase of fire engine being found impossi- f^ov. 28 
 ble on terms specified, payment of seven per cent per annum, for 
 four years, was authorized. 
 
YEAR 1826. 
 
 Jan* 3 Warrants authorized to Thomas B. Heermans as captain and the 
 
 following as firemen : John Dumford, Stephen W. Cadwell, Paschal 
 Shurber, Linnaeus P. Noble, Agrippa Martin, Thomas I. Field, 
 Thomas Spencer, Edward Chapman, Joel Owen, William C. Shope, 
 Henry Van Hoosen, Harman Van Hoosen, Russel Hibbard, Zopher 
 Adams, Humphrey Mellen, Samuel Mead, Theodore Ashley, John 
 Wall, Volney Cook, Archibald L. Fellows, Seth K. Akin, Henry 
 Gifford. 
 
 Jan. 23 The Board of Trustees accepted an offer of John Rogers "to 
 
 build an Engine House to be 16 feet by 22 feet with 8 foot posts, to 
 be shingled and sided with good planed siding and to be furnished 
 with a good plain box stove and pipe, and to be done within one 
 month for the sum of one hundred and twenty dollars." 
 
 June 6 Resolution: 
 
 Resolved that Benjamin F. Janes be paid for 
 ringing the Bell three times per day at the rate of 
 Fifty Dollars per Annum and at that rate if rung 
 four times per day. 
 
 Sept. 13 A petition was presented by Ambrose Kasson and others "for 
 
 the purpose of suppressing Vice & Immorality in this Village." 
 
 Resolutions : 
 
 Resolved that A. Northam & H. Young be a 
 committee to provide a hous^or room to be oc- 
 cupied as a Watch house. 
 
 Resolved that a Subscription be circulated for 
 the purpose of raising a fund to enable the 
 Trustees to organise and keep on foot for One 
 Month a Village Watch to consist of not less than 
 four persons * * *. 
 
 Dec. 12 One dollar paid to The Syracuse Advertiser for publishing a 
 
 notice of a village meeting. 
 
 YEAR 1827. 
 
 Dec. 3 Meeting held over to later date "inasmuch as the meeting of the 
 
 Inhabitants noticed for this evening cannot be held on account of 
 their being a prayer meeting at the School House." 
 
 Dec. 14 Resolutions : 
 
 Resolved that the following named persons 
 viz. 
 
 William Malcolm, Hiram Judson, George Ar- 
 cher, Othniel Williston, H. Chamberlain, Henry 
 Newton, Thomas Bennet, Stephen Smith, George 
 Hooker, Alfred Northam, — Cruger & Scuyler 
 Strong, 
 
are hereby appointed a protection Company, 
 whose duty it Shall be to protect such goods as 
 must necessarily be removed at a fire and to 
 direct in the packing & moving the same. 
 
 Resolved that the Trustees shall each Carry 
 a Staflf at fires (such as shall be designated by a 
 majority) as an insignia of Office of fire Wardens 
 for the purpose of Compelling such as are un- 
 willing to render due assistance in all cases of 
 
 fire. 
 
 Resolved that all the Officers of the Corpora- 
 tion Engine Company — Hook and Ladder Com- 
 pany — Protection Co. Constables — Pound Keeper 
 &c. be invited to assemble * * * to make such 
 arrangements with regard to the village interests 
 as the time and place may suggest 
 
 Resolved that each member of the Protection 
 Co. be provided with a good and sufficient Bag 
 which he shall carry with him to all fires for the 
 purpose the more safely of packing and moving 
 goods 
 
 YEAR 1828. 
 
 "All gaming, raffling or playing of Cardes, or dice" in "Grocery Jan. 8 
 Shops, or Cellars, including Houses, or other Shops, which are li- 
 censed for the retailing of spirituous liquors to be drank therein" 
 prohibited. Penalty— $10, to be sued for and recovered pursuant to 
 the act incorporating the village. 
 
 John C. Field was allowed $20 "for his Services as Clerk during Apr. 15 
 the past year." 
 
 "Crying or ringing of a Bell in the Streets or Elsewhere" for July 29 
 auction sales prohibited. 
 
 Harry Newton and A. P. Granger on the North Side and Jno. Dec 22 
 Watt and Jos. Slocum on the South Side appointed to examine 
 chimneys and stovepipes. 
 
 YEAR 1829. 
 
 Bill of John Wall for $4, "for money paid to H. Van Heusen for Mar. 9 
 repairing the Church Bell," allowed. 
 
 Also bill of Levi Chapman for $4 "for taking a Census of the 
 Village." 
 
 South Salina Street sidewalks twelve feet wide ; no steps to en- June 10 
 croach more than four feet, "but this ordinance is not to extend to 
 or be in any wise applied to the Syracuse House." 
 
 Payment of $7.06 to Cadwell Si, Thurber ordered "for refresh- July 15 
 ments for the Salina Engine Company after the Globe Factory fire." 
 
 9 
 
YEAR 1830. 
 
 Mar. 4 Warrant ordered issued appointing Columbus Bradley wood in- 
 
 spector for the village. 
 
 July 12 Resolutions : 
 
 Resolved that the sum of Ten Dollars be re- 
 quired of W. C. Cook for the rent of the office 
 under the White Bridge from the 10th. day of 
 May 1830 to 10th. day of May 1831. 
 
 Resolved that the Engine house be painted a 
 Straw Color. 
 
 Aug, 9 Ordinances provide : "The Village Pound-Master shall not di- 
 
 rectly or indirectly pay to any person or persons any compension or 
 premium, for the driving of any Hog or Hogs to the Pound" * * *. 
 Also : "Good leather Buckets, to be used for extinguishing fires," 
 were required to be procured and kept by owners as follows : "The 
 Syracuse House and the two three story Taverns, four Buckets each ; 
 every three story Store, and two story Dwelling-house, two Buckets ; 
 and every other Store, Shop or Dwelling-house, one Bucket each ; 
 which Buckets shall be of good quality, and marked with the name 
 of the owner suitably painted thereon." 
 
 Also : "No person or persons shall fly a Kite in any Street or 
 Public Square." Penalty, $1. 
 
 Dec. 2 Ordinance: 
 
 Be it ordained, that no person or persons shall 
 Carry or Convey any fire from one Building to 
 another, or in any Street in the Village without a 
 Suitable Fire pan with a cover under penalty of 
 Five Dollars for Each oflfence to be Collected ac- 
 cording to law. 
 
 Dec. 11 Fifty dollar tax authorized, at "meeting of the Inhabitants of 
 
 the Village" at the Syracuse House, "for paying Costs (so far as 
 the same will go) in the suit J^illage of Syracuse vs. Saml Larned." 
 
 YEAR 1831. 
 
 ^P"^- 2 Accounts audited as follows : G. W. Smith, $9.36 : Israel Shoudy, 
 
 $3.75 ; H. Van Heusen, $3 ; "all for work & repairs to Village Bell." 
 
 S. A. Gould ordered paid $12.50 "for ringing bell One quarter." 
 
 Twenty dollars ordered paid to Village Clerk "for his Services 
 the present Year." 
 
 Ordinance adopted prohibiting dogs running at large and provid- 
 ing that "it shall and May be lawful for any person or persons to 
 Kill any such dog," the ordinance to "remain in full force and effect 
 untill the first day of July next." 
 
 June 1 Resolution. 
 
 10 
 
Resolved, that Two thousand days Labour be 
 assessed upon the Inhabitants * * * to be 
 worked out upon the Roads and Streets" * * *. 
 
 ATeeting of "Freeholders & Inhabitants" at the Mansion House. Aug. 3 
 Village Trustees unanimously "Authorized to make a Contract for a 
 Town Clock." A tax of $50 authorized "upon the person & property 
 of the Citizens of Syracuse to meet the first instalment therefor." 
 
 Accounts audited as follows : Daniel Elliott, $49.50, "for Lumber Nov, 11 
 building Pest Houses &c" ; Wm. Coppernoll, $21, "for attending upon 
 the Small Pox"; Luther Bentz, $13.75, for same; C. & D. Bradley, 
 $32.51, "for Provisions &c for Small Pox." 
 
 YEAR 1832. 
 
 Meeting of "Freeholders & Inhabitants." at the Mansion House, June 20 
 for "taking into Consideration and adopting the best means to be 
 pursued with regard to the anticipated Plague that is expected soon 
 to be amongst us." 
 
 Trustees "authorized to Station Two suitable persons at (Teals 
 Locks so called) ♦ * * to examine every Boat from the East- 
 ward" and to have any sick found aboard examined by physicians. 
 
 The physicians of the village were constituted a Board of Health. 
 
 Resolution : 
 
 Resolved, That the Village be divided into four 
 Wards and that they be intersected by Salina 
 Street, and the Erie Canal 
 
 That the North West be Ward No 1. South 
 West Ward No 2 South East, Ward No 3, 
 North East, Ward No 4. 
 
 Resolved that E. B. Wicks and Silas Ames, for 
 Ward No 1 ; Henry Raynor and Theodore Ash- 
 ley for No 2 W. H. Alexander and Daniel Corn- 
 stock for No 3; Paschal Thurber and Benjamin 
 C. Lathrop for No 4 be a Committee of Inspec- 
 tion, to Carry into effect the Village Ordinances ; 
 that they Cause a Suitable quantity of Lime to be 
 Kept in each ward, at all times, and that they 
 present their bills to the Trustees for any neces- 
 sary expenditure, within their respective wards. 
 The committee will recommend a liberal use of 
 Lime, where they may deem it necessary. 
 
 June 23 
 
 Trustee meeting at 9 A. M. Regulations adopted "in pursuance June 25 
 of Authority to us given by proclamation of the Governor" to pre- 
 vent the introduction of "the Cholera a disease commonly Called 
 the Asiatic Cholerea," which "exists in Quebec and Montreal in 
 Canada." Canal boats to be quarantined one mile from village for 
 fifteen days, if carrying sick or suspects, "or until Doct George 
 
 11 
 
Hooker, a Physician hereby appointed for that purpose, or any 
 Other resident Physician of said Village. Shall Certify that no such 
 Cholera patient is on board, and that such patient has been properly 
 disposed of." 
 
 To detain and examine suspects and aid the physician appointed, 
 the following were named : Amos P. Granger, H. W. Van Buren, 
 Oliver Teal, Stephen W. Cadwell, Henry Newton, Daniel Dana and 
 Samuel Copp. 
 
 Ordered : 
 
 That the Health Officer, in Case of any Chol- 
 era or other malignant disease, be directed to re- 
 port to the President of the Village, every Morn- 
 ing at 9 O'clock the State of the health of the vil- 
 lage. 
 
 "Doct. Jonathan Day" deputed to go to Canada to study cholera. 
 Application to Governor Enos T. Throop, that he "appoint and com- 
 mission" the Syracuse physician to make the trip, made by "the 
 Board of Health regularly Organized in and for the Village of Syra- 
 cuse" and signed by George Hooker as President of the Board of 
 Health and Hiram Putnam as President of the Board of Trustees. 
 
 July 3 Resolution: 
 
 Resolved that Philo N Rust be and is hereby 
 appointed weighmaster for said village the current 
 year in the room of Samuel Jacobs Resigned 
 
 July 23 Account of Samuel A. Gould, of $5.15, allowed, "for repairing 
 
 Hearse House and taking care of Town Clock at One Dollar per 
 Month." 
 
 "The Board of Health heretofore formed having resigned," the 
 following were named as a new board: John Wilkinson, M. D, 
 Burnett, V. Cook, Daniel Dana, Joel Owen and H. Putnam. 
 
 Aug. 17 Resolution : 
 
 Resolved that Two ladders be procured for the 
 use of the Village 
 
 Aug. 20 Account of Daniel Elliott, $22.71, "for Materials & Labor in put- 
 
 ting up Town Clock," allowed. 
 
 The following were "appointed Firemen to be attached to Engine 
 No 2" : Parley Bassett, William S. Campbell, Alfred Daumas, 
 Henry Davis, Jr., Thos. B. Fitch, William M. Fitch, Esra Foster, 
 Jr., I. A. Hall, L. P. Hall, Solomon R. Howlett, A. A. Hudson, Benj. 
 C. Lathrop, Chas. L. Lynds, Jas. Manning, Horace Pemberton, Jacob 
 Raynor. Willctt Raynor, Chas. T. Stanton, Joseph H. Starin, R. H. 
 Yoe, William K. Lothrop and Gardner Lawrence. 
 
 Sept. 14 Meeting of "Freeholders and inhabitants." Tax of $250 ordered 
 
 "upon the persons & property of the Citizens," "for improving the 
 
 12 
 
road through the Swamp leading to Onondaga Hollow, on the east 
 side of the Onondaga Creek." 
 
 Also it was resolved "that the Village build two Engine Houses," 
 a tax of $300 to defray the cost. The houses were to be 28 by 16 
 feet in size, with 10-foot posts. 
 
 Location of new engine houses "fixed at the west end of the pub- Sept. 26 
 lie Square in the Center of said Village, One on Each side of the 
 Canal immediately contiguous to the bridges." 
 
 This action, taken at a "meeting of the Citizens," is recorded as 
 "Carried in the affirmative 12 to 6." 
 
 YEAR 1833. 
 
 Resolution: 
 
 Resolved That Mess W. & H. Raynor be au- 
 thorised to repair the Engine House on the South 
 Side of the Canal, by making the underpinning 
 more secure 
 
 Mar. 28 
 
 Resolution : 
 
 Resolved that the account of C. L. Elliott for 
 Three Dollars for drawing map of the Center of 
 the Village be allowed * * *. 
 
 Apr. 17 
 
 II. A. Deming as Clerk gives notice by printed sheet that Elam Apr. 22 
 Lynds and Harvey Baldwin are appointed as Chief Engineer and ('■»•«''*) 
 Assistant Engineer respectively of the Fire Department, concluding: 
 "Said Engineers are required to wear a conspicuous badge, that they 
 may be recognized and obeyed at Fires." 
 
 The following were made Fire Wardens: Joseph I. Bradley, Da- 
 vid Stafford, Jr., Daniel Elliott, John White and Amos P. Granger. 
 Their duty was specified as, "at times of fire, to command the citi- 
 zens to form lines, and compel them so to do, under the existing 
 ordinance, making it a penalty of Five Dollars for any refusal to 
 assist at a fire : Also, to examine cliimncys, stove pipes, &c. and see 
 that every house is supplied with a sufficient number of buckets, and 
 to do all things that Fire Wardens are required to do." 
 
 "At the Annual Meeting of the electors of the Village of Syra- 
 cuse held at the School House," among taxes voted were : $100, "to 
 pay the two Instalments due for the town Clock" ; "a Sum of Money 
 not exceeding" $25, "to pay for the Hose Cart attached to Engine 
 No 2 in this village" ; $125, "for the purpose of furnishing the Hook 
 & Ladder Company with all the Implements necessary for said Com- 
 pany." 
 
 The Path Master was allowed one dollar and 12i/2 cents per day 
 for his services, and he was required to give bonds "for the faithful 
 performance of his duties." 
 
 May 7 
 
 David S. Colvin, having refused to take the office of Assessor, to June 3 
 which he had been elected by the Trustees, paid a fine of $10 for 
 
 13 
 
non-acceptance of the position, and Joel Owen was named in his 
 place. 
 
 Aug. 3 "Proposal of Mr. Phelps" accepted, "to build Two Brideges at 
 
 $1025 — located one on Franklin St. and one on Lock St." 
 
 Amount of fine for refusing to accept office at the hands of the 
 Board of Trustees was increased to $20 on the occasion of the ap- 
 pointment of Thomas Bennett as Assessor in place of Josiah Wright, 
 who refused to serve. 
 
 After increasing the bounty "for driveing Swine to the pound" 
 the Trustees appointed Vivas W. Smith "Hog Reeve in and for the 
 Village of Syracuse for the current year." 
 
 Aug. 27 The trouble in getting appointees to serve as Assessor continued. 
 
 Thomas Bennett declined, and William H. Alexander was named. 
 
 The board then remitted the $10 fine that had been paid by David 
 S. Colvin for refusing to take the office. 
 
 Two dollars was ordered paid for "legal Servises". Nicholas P. 
 Randell was the lawyer to whom the fee was paid. 
 
 YEAR 1834. 
 
 Jan. 27 Andrew N. Van Patten permitted to build a packet boat office "at 
 
 South East Corner of the New Bridge on the public Square," paying 
 to the village $20 a year for the privilege. 
 
 Feb. 10 "At a meeting of the Freeholders & Taxable Inhabitants 
 
 held at the Presbyterian Meeting House" it was 
 
 Resolved that M. D. Burnett John Wilkinson & 
 B. D, Noxon together with Stepen Smith H. 
 Putnam E. W. Leavenworth L. H. Redfield H. 
 Baldwin and Henry Davis Junr. be a committee 
 to revise the present charter & to print 100 Copies 
 of the proposed Amendments thereto. 
 
 May 26 Ordinances (in part) published, for the Board of Trustees, over 
 
 the signature of B. Davis Noxon, President, and J. C. Hanchett, 
 Clerk: 
 
 Be it Ordained, by the Trustees aforesaid, 
 that wherein they, or any of them, shall direct 
 and notify the occupant of any building, that an 
 alteration is necessary in his chimney or stovepipe, 
 ^ or in any part of the building connected with, or 
 
 adjoining to the fire in the same, that it shall be 
 the duty of the said occupant to make the altera- 
 tion within three days thereafter * * * 
 
 The Meat Markets shall be closed on Sundays, 
 from nine o'clock in the morning, to seven o'clock 
 in the evening * * * 
 
 And be it further Ordained, That the sextons, 
 who shall be severally appointed by the Episcopal 
 14 
 
and Presbyterian Societies, sTiall have the charge 
 of the Village Burj'ing Ground, and shall at all 
 times, when severally required so to do, dig all the 
 necessary Graves and attend the Burial ; and the 
 Sexton, who shall be so required, shall receive, 
 for digging the Grave and attending the Burial of 
 every Adult, one dollar and tifty cents, and for 
 every child, under the age of ten years, one dollar, 
 to be paid by the applicant * * * 
 
 And be it further Ordained, That no person 
 shall suffer his, her, or their sheep, swine, cows, 
 or other cattle to be in the burying ground * * * 
 
 In order to secure his penalties on impounded and unredeemed 
 swine the pound-keeper was, under these ordinances, to sell the ani- 
 mals at public auction, advertised by him "by posting up a written 
 notice in a conspicuous place at the Syracuse-House, the Mansion 
 House, and also at the pound," and turn back to the owner all pro- 
 ceeds in excess of the penalty. 
 
 The ordinances regulated the number of fire buckets required on 
 any premises as follows : "Every dwelling house, store or shop, 
 having one smoke, shall have one fire bucket, and for every addi- 
 tional two smokes, they shall have an additional fire bucket." 
 
 A twenty-dollar fine stood in the way of selling "wines, or any 
 spiritous liquors, either by wholesale or retail, in any street, square, 
 basin, canal or other public highway" ; "but this prohibition," con- 
 tinue the ordinances, "is not intended to prevent the retailing of 
 liquors from the bars of packet-boats on the canal and to be drank 
 therein." 
 
 "The special business of the meeting having been finished," says June 14 
 the record of a board meeting, "The Trustees took up the account of 
 Daniel Thompson amounting to five dollars, for winding Town 
 Clock, cleaning Meeting House, & mending Church yard fence, ex- 
 amined, audited and drew order on Treasurer for Same." 
 
 That the village, like the city into which it grew, had its troubles July 24 
 with encroachments on streets is indicated by an extract from a vil- 
 lage ordinance providing that : 
 
 "All Fences or Steps, now obtruding upon the public highway, on 
 the south side of Water Street, shall be moved or set back on a line 
 with the fence in front of the block of brick dwellings owned by W. 
 & H. Raynor * * *, that the fence in front of the house and lot 
 now occupied by H. W. Starin, in Clinton Street, shall be moved or 
 set back to the line of said street * * *," and more of the same. 
 
 A sidewalk ordinance has street references as follows : "Wash- 
 ington street, from the mill-pond to Genesee street ; Clinton street, 
 from Water street to the brow of the hill south of Willit Raynor's 
 dwelling house ; Fayette street, from the mill-pond to Mulberry 
 street," also "Genesee street, from the Red Mill to Mulberry street." 
 
 15 
 
YEAR 1835. 
 
 Apr. 6 Monday moi-ning meeting of Trustees for action on mad dog 
 
 scare of previous day; animal had been killed after biting several 
 others. It was declared lawful for anyone to kill any dog at large, 
 between April 7 and May 7. 
 
 June 22 Account of Hoyt & Phelps, "for mending Hearse to the amount 
 
 of $1.50," audited. 
 
 YEAR 1836. 
 
 July 7 "At a meeting of resident freeholders" at the Mansion House, 
 
 Moved & Seconded that a committee of three 
 be appointed to measure the fence around the 
 burying ground estimate the expense of building 
 the same & that they report to this meeting im- 
 mediately 
 
 Moved & Seconded that Messrs Peck, Kirk 
 & George be such committee — 
 
 The said committee respectfully report that 
 they have examined the said fence & have esti- 
 mated the cost at $83.88 * * * 
 
 On Motion Resolved that the sum of $83.88 be 
 raised for the purpose * * * 
 
 Aug. 25 "At a meeting of the resident freeholders * * * Si owners of 
 
 real estate held under contract" at the Syracuse House a tax of $300 
 was voted for "digging a well on the square formed by Genessee 
 Water & Warren Streets & covering the same with cut stone & en- 
 closing the same with an iron railing & for the purchase of a 
 pump." 
 
 Oct. 18 Payment of $45 ordered to Jonathan Courtney "for digging ston- 
 
 ing & cleaning well in Hanover Square." 
 
 Nov. 7 Payment of $5 ordered "in favor of John Hand & Parker," "for 
 
 burying Hathaway out of the contingent fund." 
 
 Bill of Thos. Spencer for $138.12 audited "for removing the en- 
 gine houses." 
 
 YEAR 1837. 
 
 Feb. 14 Reward of $1,000 "offered for the apprehension and conviction of 
 
 the person who set fire to the store of Barker & Gilmore." 
 
 Apr. 17 Resolution: 
 
 Resolved that the proportion of the penalty to 
 be paid to the Trustees of the village in impound- 
 ing the hogs belonging to Widow Gushing be & 
 the same is hereby remitted 
 
 Apr. 24 Annual election called, to be held "at the Village School House in 
 
 Church Street." 
 
 16 
 
Time for regular meetings of the Board of Trustees fixed at May 4 
 "Saturday Morning of Each Week at 8 OCIock." 
 
 "Market, for the purchase and sale of produce generally," estab- May 23 
 lished, bounded as follows: "North by the north line of Clinton 
 square and of Foot St., East by the east line of Warren st., South by 
 the south line of Genesee st. and Clinton square, and West by the 
 west line of said square." 
 
 "Permission Was given to Purdy Welch McComber & Co to ex- May 30 
 hibit their 'Menergerie of Animals &C' in this Village." 
 
 "Permission Was granted to Mr Whipple to exhibit 'Ross Self Jnne 10 
 Moving Machine' or Perpetual Motion'." 
 
 Trustees now meeting at "Trustees Room," or "Corporation June 12 
 Room." John G. Forbes appointed attorney to the board. 
 
 Resolution : Jnly I 
 
 The Syracuse and Utica Rail Road Company 
 having located the line of their Rail Road 
 through Washington or Second South Street for 
 the Whole length of the Same and Now present 
 through John Wilkinson their Attorney an appli- 
 cation to the Trustees of this Village asking them 
 to approve Such a grade of Snid Street as shall 
 be conformable to the Grade of the other Streets 
 of the Village and assenting to the use of the 
 Street for said Rail Road Company it is there- 
 fore on Motion of Wm Jackson 
 
 "Resolved" that the Syracuse & Utica Rail 
 Road Company be authorised to Grade Washing- 
 ton or Second South Street Conformably to the 
 Grade of Lock, Genessee and Salina Streets as 
 they may be fixed upon by the Trustees to be 
 ascertained by the Survey of Mr Lee now making 
 — and that the Said Rail Road Company may lay 
 down their Rails in Said Street and use the same 
 as the line of their Said Rail Road but they shall 
 not Exclude the public use of Said Street the 
 Same remaining a public Street of Said Village 
 With the permission hereby granted to Said Rail 
 Road Company — they keeping the Streets Except 
 the Side Walks in proper repair — Also 
 
 Resolved That the Clerk make a transcrip of 
 these Resolutions and deliver the Same to the 
 Said Company — 
 
 Bill of George Geddes for $5 audited "for measuring Embank- July 8 
 
 ment on East Side Mill Pond." 
 
 17 
 
July 20 A notice of a village meeting ordered published in The Syracuse 
 
 Whig. 
 
 July 27 A Night Watch ordered established, to be organized by a commit- 
 
 tee consisting of M. S. Marsh, G. W. Parsons and C. L. Lynds. 
 
 Aug. 19 Resolution : (Three of the five members being present, Trustees 
 
 Phillips, Huff and Dickinson) 
 
 Resolved that a fine of Twenty five Cents 
 shall be imposed upon each & every member of 
 the Board who Shall not be present at Every 
 meeting of the Board Within ten minutes of the 
 time appointed for Said meeting — for the Contin- 
 gent Expences of the Board 
 
 Sept. 2 Resolution: 
 
 Whereas Hiram Putnam Was on the 2d day 
 of May last Elected an Assessor for the Village 
 of Syracuse and neglected to qualify Within ten 
 days of Said election and Was appointed by the 
 Trustees an Assessor on the 20th day of May 
 last and neglected to qualify as Such Assessor 
 Within ten days from Said appointement and 
 
 Whereas Lewis H Redfield Was on the 20th 
 day of June last appointed an Assessor to fill the 
 vacancy occasioned by the resignation of David 
 Stafford Jr and neglected to qualify Within ten 
 days of Said Appointment 
 
 Therefore Resolved that Hiram Putnam and 
 Lewis H Redfield be reappointed assessors for 
 the Village of Syracuse — 
 
 Sept. 25 J. I. Bigelow allowed fifteen cents per yard "for the Filling of 
 
 Genessee Street from the East side Warren Street to the West line 
 of Lock Street." 
 
 Nov. 29 Account of P. N. Rust of $10.26 audited "for Refreshments fur- 
 
 nished Village Watch." 
 
 YEAR 1838. 
 
 Apr. 27 Levi L. Chapman allowed $50 for services as Village Clerk. 
 
 May 1 "At the Annual Election for Village Officers held at the District 
 
 School House in Church Street" about 600 votes were cast. 
 
 May 7 Elias W, Leavenworth elected President by the Trustees. Sam- 
 
 uel Larned made a committee to examine streets and order necessary 
 work thereon. 
 
 "The following persons were recommended to the board of Ex- 
 
 18 
 
cise as proper persons to receive Licenses as Tavern Keepers in the 
 
 Village of Syracuse. 
 
 "Philo N. Rust Syracuse House 
 
 "Daniel Comstock Mansion House 
 
 "William B. Kirk Kirks Tavern 
 
 "Thos. S. Keeler Keelers Tavern 
 
 "William Downs Oldline House 
 
 "Nicholas Cook Centre House 
 
 "John Smith Onondaga House 
 
 "William A. Robinson Eagle Tavern 
 
 "George Bramsby Lock St House 
 
 "Benoni F. Partridge & Union House 
 
 "John Teckney Railroad House" 
 
 Resolution: July 2 
 
 Resolved that the President of this board is 
 requested to employ Six men as a Village Watch 
 for the term of One Week at a Compensation of 
 One Dollar each pr. night * * * 
 
 Resolution: Sept. 3 
 
 Petition presented from Levi Lewis agent of 
 the Auburn & Syracuse Rail Road Company, 
 praying in behalf of said Company, liberty to 
 construct a depot in Washington St. . Whereupon 
 Resolved that the Auburn and Syracuse Rail 
 Road Company have liberty to Erect a Car House 
 on Washington Street, between Messrs. Wilkin- 
 son & Malcolm's lots, to be 18 feet wide, provided 
 they shall fix the street on either side, So as that 
 teams may pass by the same ; and also that it 
 shall be removed within One year. 
 
 "Oct. 24, 1838, at a public sale according to advertisement Wm Oct. 24 
 Jackson Auctioneer Sold The lot on Which stands the Episcopal 
 Church described in advertisement as follows viz : 'For paving, 
 grading, flagging and curb stone, on Genesee St. and flagging on 
 Warren St. in front of block known as the Episcopal Church Block 
 — assessed to the Episcopal Church: Tax & interest $422.67 
 
 Advertising & int 21.92 
 
 $444.59 
 
 Sold to Thomas B. Fitch for Nine Hundred and Ninety Nine Years 
 for the above amount — " 
 
 Village Public Meeting, E. W. Leavenworth presiding. Dec. 26 
 
 Trustees directed to request the School Commissioners of the 
 town of Salina "to divide this school district into four districts." 
 
 Trustees authorized to borrow $15,000 "for the purpose of Erect- 
 ing a Market and town House." 
 
 Trustees "authorized to apply to the Legislature for a City Char- 
 ter." 
 
Apr. 
 
 1 
 
 Apr. 
 
 15 
 
 June 
 
 24 
 
 The following were named "to draft a City Charter and report at 
 a future meeting": "Mess. Wilkinson, Redfield, Teal, Forbes, Put- 
 nam & Leavenworth." 
 
 "On motion of Capt. Hiram Putnam it was unanimously Re- 
 solved, that the Syracuse and Utica Rail Road Company be and 
 hereby are permitted to Erect their passenger Depot building in 
 Washington Street, between Salina and Warren Streets about 49 ft. 
 wide and to continue the same during the existence of the Corpora- 
 tion," subject to certain conditions. One was that the thoroughfare 
 be widened and paved at the expense of the company. Another was 
 "that the said Company shall within one year from this time, set out 
 a row of suitable and proper shade trees, on each side of said Rail 
 Road from the west line of said Road to the Bridge over the Rail 
 Road in Beach Street in Lodi — not over two rods a part" and re- 
 place them in case of "death or distruction." A third provision re- 
 lated to extension of a stone drain from Salina Street east, "not ex- 
 tending farther than a point this side of Academy Hill where the 
 Yellow Brook Crosses the Rail Road tract, and of the same dimen- 
 tions with the part already made." 
 
 Dec. 31 "AH sliding, on sleds, boards or otherwise" on bridges or bridge 
 
 embankments prohibited. 
 
 YEAR 1839. 
 
 Forman Square declared a public square. 
 
 Street signs ordered and President directed to designate streets 
 where they should be placed. 
 
 Street Commissioner "directed to remove the negro Shantee on 
 Sixth South Street." 
 
 In general ordinances re-enacted, published over the signatures of 
 E. W. Leavenworth, President, and S. D. Day, Clerk, the Village 
 Clerk appears to have held a second position, for the ordinances pro- 
 vide "that Samuel D. Day be measurer of wood for this village, and 
 every person ofifering for sale any fire wood in said village, shall, in 
 case the seller and buyer cannot agree in the measurement thereof, 
 procure the same to be measured by a measurer appointed by the 
 Trustees, under a penalty of ten dollars for each and every refusal 
 so to do, to be collected of each one oflfendinf^. The measurer may 
 be required to give a certificate of the quantity measured. The 
 measurer's fee shall be three cents for each cord measured by him. 
 and the same sum for a less quantity; one half to be paid by the 
 purchaser and one half by the seller." 
 
 Railroad problems appear in one of the concluding ordinances, 
 which provides "that any person who shall leave a Rail-Road car of 
 any kind in Washington street, east of the creek, to remain over six 
 hours, shall incur a penalty of ten dollars; and after this penalty is 
 
 20 
 
incurred, such car may be removed from said street under the direc- 
 tion of the Trustees or any one of them, and sold at public auction 
 to pay the expense of removal." 
 
 Samuel D. Day appears to have had other public activities, for July 8 
 Lyman Walker was appointed Assessor in place of Mr. Day, "who 
 was disqualified from acting not being a freeholder." 
 
 YEAR 1840. 
 
 Ordered that D. H. Orcutt be required "to move the Salt Kettles June 15 
 & other property belonging to him to the north side of Hickory 
 Street." (One of the few references in the record to the industry 
 which for years made Syracuse the Salt City.) 
 
 Resolution: Sept. 14 
 
 Resolved : That a watch be appointed for 
 three nights & that Messrs Baldwin & Thurber be 
 a committee to employ twelve men as such watch. 
 
 Resolution: Dec. 14 
 
 Resolved That none of the bells of the village 
 churches shall be rung or tolled on occasion of 
 deaths or burials under the penalty of ten dollars 
 unless in case of services performed in the 
 Church 
 
 YEAR 1841. 
 
 Resolution: Jan. 13 
 
 Resolved : That it is not expedient to apply for 
 a city charter at the present cession of the legis- 
 lature — 
 Thos. T. Davis, John Wilkinson and David S. Colvin were named 
 as a committee to act with the Trustees "to prepare & report to a 
 future meeting Such amendments to the Charter as Shall give to the 
 village a more vigerous police." 
 
 Bank of Syracuse mentioned. jj^„_ 25 
 
 Resolution: M^y jO 
 
 Whereas the President of the United States 
 has recommended Friday the 14th day of May in- 
 stant to be observed by the people of the Union as 
 a day of fasting and prayer in consequence of the 
 death of the late President IVilliam Henry Harri- 
 son : and whereas, under such national bereave- 
 ment, we deem it highly proper to unite with our 
 fellow citizens in observing that day according to 
 the aforesaid recommendation — Resolved there- 
 fore that we respectfully suggest and recommend 
 to the citizens of this village to abstain, on that 
 day, from their ordinary occupations, and that the 
 places of business during the day be closed 
 
 21 
 
May 11 
 
 May 18 
 
 May 27 
 
 June 4 
 
 June 7 
 
 June 14 
 
 Adjourned session of board held "in the fourth Story of the 
 new Banking House." 
 
 At a meeting of the taxable inhabitants the levj' of a tax of $800 
 was authorized, for payment of "one third of the costs of building a 
 good covered stone culvert in Sixth South Street and Onondaga 
 Street from Yellow Brook to the Onondaga Creek" ; it was resolved 
 "that the Syracuse & Utica Rail Road Company be & they are hereby 
 requested to pay another third part" and "that John Townsend Esq. 
 and others composing the Syracuse Company, be requested to pay 
 another third part." 
 
 May 24 Application by "Mr. Mesmer" made "for the office of Scavenger 
 
 for the village." 
 
 "Selling powder after sun set, or by Candle or other artificial 
 light," prohibited. 
 
 June 19 
 
 Resolution adopted providing "that a deed be executed to Oliver 
 Teall, pursuant to an act of the Legislature of the State of New 
 York, entitled — 'An act to supply the village of Syracuse with whole- 
 some w^ater' passed March 27, 1821," and amendments thereof. 
 
 "John M. Weeting * * * appointed Village Surveyor, at a 
 compensation of three dollars per day for the time he is actually 
 employed." 
 
 Napoleon B. Reiley "appointed Village Scavenger at a compensa- 
 tion of $200 per Annum." 
 
 The taxpayers in session voted a tax of $200 for improvement of 
 a new village cemetery, the purchase of about twenty-two acres of 
 John H. Johnson having been previously authorized, and a tax of 
 $100 "for the purchase of a new hearse." 
 
 President of Board of Trustees directed to execute "deed of con- 
 veyance of certain water in the village of Syracuse to Oliver Teall." 
 
 Application "made by the Agent of 'The Packet and Steamboat 
 Co. of Oswego & Syracuse' for the privilege of erecting a Sign and 
 bell on the dock in front of Marsh, Wheaton & Co's Store" granted, 
 for the bell only, "the bell to be erected under the direction of the 
 President of the Board of Trustees." 
 
 Bond of N. B. Reiley approved, 
 made Village Scavenger.) 
 
 (He had not long before been 
 
 Published ordinances provide, in part : "That it shall not be law- 
 ful for any person to light a fire in any of the streets or lots in the 
 village after twelve o'clock at noon" ; "that any person who shall 
 disobey the trustees present at any fire" shall be fined $10; "that it 
 shall not be lawful for any person to suffer his, her or their cows, or 
 other cattle, to run at large in the streets from the fifteenth day of 
 December, to the 15th day of March in each year." 
 
 22 
 
While the "parking of cars" had not then become a civic problem, 
 a $10 fine awaited the person who left a "wagon, carriage, cart, stage 
 ■coach" or other vehicle "in any lane, street or square" over night. 
 
 It was unlawful to sell fruit or other wares on any bridge or em- 
 bankment thereof. 
 
 Wood allowed to be sold from wagons in Clinton Square, on each 
 side of the canal, "between the travelled part of the roads and said 
 canal." 
 
 "No person" permitted to "turn or suffer to be turned into Fay- 
 ette Park, any horse or cow or other animal capable of doing injury 
 to the trees, grass or shrubbery therein." 
 
 "Both the village papers" referred to. 
 
 June 22 
 
 No fireworks "on the approaching anniversary of our National June 28 
 Independence" allowed except "on Prospect Hill." 
 
 Proposals accepted, "to improve Water Street from Lock Street June 29 
 to the Stone Mill in Lodi." 
 
 "A Meeting of the Taxable inhabitants * * * was held in the July 19 
 public room over the Bank on Salina Street." One purpose specified 
 in the call was "to take into consideration the propriety of laying a 
 String of logs from the Locks, near Almond Street, through Almond 
 and Fayette Streets, to Supply the village with water in cases of 
 fire." Adjourned without action. 
 
 "The Board did not meet according to adjournment in conse- Aug. 
 quence of the late calamity occasioned by the explosion of 25 kegs of 
 gunpowder, which killed 25 persons, and wounded many more" — 
 
 23 
 
 In special session the Trustees issued the following call for a Aug. 26 
 public meeting: 
 
 Whereas the Trustees of this village have been 
 informed, and believe, that there is now in our 
 midst, a large number of gamblers and evil dis- 
 posed persons, ready for the commission of dep- 
 redations and crime ; and whereas our fellow citi- 
 zens have desired some public and vigerous action 
 to drive such persons from among us. or to bring 
 them to punishment, the Said Trustees do there- 
 fore give notice that a public meeting of the citi- 
 zens of the village vill be held at the Syr c use 
 Mansion House, to lake in'.o consideration juch 
 measures as may be proposed to accomplish the 
 objects aforesaid. On Saturday the 28th day of 
 August inst. at 3 oclock P. M. 
 
 The said meeting will also take into consid- 
 
 23 
 
eration measures for the entire and absolute sup- 
 pression of the horse races designed to be held in 
 September next, as the Said races are in violation 
 of law. and tend to the injury of public morals, 
 and the endangering the property of our citizens. 
 Syracuse Augt. 26. 1841 
 
 By order of the Board 
 W. M. Clarke, Clerk Hiram Putnam President 
 
 Resolution : 
 
 Resolved That an efficient watch be estab- 
 lished in this village, to be continued till after the 
 races which are designed to be held in Sept. next. 
 
 Aug. 28 IMeeting of inhabitants, "Hiram Putnam in the chair." 
 
 After reading of the notice for the meeting, adjournment was 
 taken "to meet forthwith in the Presbyterian Church." 
 
 "The laws relating to gambling. Horse racing, vagrants & disor- 
 derly persons, were, on Motion, read" 
 
 The following committee was named "to report to the meetingr 
 resolutions upon the subjects contemplated in the public notice: viz 
 H. Rhoades. Z. T. Newcomb. H. Sheldon. O. Teall. P. Dickinson. I. 
 F. Sabine. Lewis H. Redfield." 
 
 The Trustees were "requested to appoint three additional consta- 
 bles to hold their Office until the Middle of October next." 
 
 "The Committee on resolutions, reported the following which 
 were accepted and adopted" : 
 
 Resolved. That the municipal authorities of the 
 town and county of Onondaga, of the town of 
 Salina. and also of the village of Syracuse, owe it 
 to themselves and the Community over which 
 their jurisdiction extends, to take fearless and 
 prompt measures for the prevention of horse 
 races and that we hereby pledge ourselves that we 
 will do every thing in our power to sustain and 
 aid the authorities in the faithful discharge of 
 their duty for Such purpose. 
 
 Resolved that all officers concerned in the ad- 
 ministration of justice in the County of Onondaga 
 and the town of Salina, and also in the village of 
 Syracuse, shall be requested and instructed to at- 
 tend at the place where the Coming races are 
 advertised to be held, and there give notice of the 
 illegality thereof, and endeavor to prevent Such 
 races, by dispersing the people Collected for the 
 purpose of attending the same ; and that they shall 
 issue warrants for the immediate apprehension of 
 all persons offending against the provision of the 
 act for preventing the racing of Animals. 
 
 24 
 
Resolved. That the Overseers of the Poor of 
 the town of Onondaga be requested and in- 
 structed to attend at the time and place where the 
 Coming races are advertised to be held, in Said 
 town, and there commence Suits against the own- 
 ers, in whole or in part, of any animal that shall 
 be used or employed by his permission or privity, 
 in racing Contrary to law, and also against every 
 person concerned in laying bet or wager upon the 
 event of Such racing or in contributing to the 
 Stakes to be awarded, upon any Such event. 
 
 Resolved That the law relating to horse-racing, 
 be published in handbills, together with the reso- 
 lution of the Trustees of the village of Syracuse, 
 declaring their intention to put the law vigerously 
 in force in every violation of such law, which 
 shall come to their Knowledge 
 
 Resolved, That we will also unite our best ef- 
 forts with those of the Civil Magistrates, not only 
 in bringing to punishment and driving out from 
 among us numerous black-legs, gamblers, and in- 
 cendiaries by whom we are Said to be infested, 
 but also in uprooting the infamous dens and re- 
 sorts in our town, in which they are made. Sus- 
 tained and concealed, whether existing under the 
 names of Groceries, Billiard-rooms," Ball-alleys or 
 Brothels. 
 
 Resolved. That the late terrible calamity which 
 has befallen us. and which has taken from our 
 midst, in an instant so large a number of our 
 friends and fellow citizens, admonishes us, by the 
 respect we bear to the memory of our murdered 
 neighbors, and by all the obligations we owe to 
 our families and to each other, as members of 
 the Same Social Community to see that this work 
 of purgation is now begun and carried to the end 
 fearlessly and effectually, without regard to any 
 other consideration, than the full and complete 
 extirpation of Such nuisances. 
 
 Resolved. That a copy of these resolutions be 
 signed by the Chairman and Secretary, Shall be 
 served personally on all the Judges of the Court 
 of Common Pleas of Said County and Justices of 
 the peace, residing in either of the towns of Onon- 
 daga or Salina. 
 
 On motion of R. Hebbard, it was 
 
 Resolved, That a committee of fifty or more 
 be appointed, to be denominated a Committee of 
 Vigilance, whose duty it Shall be to hold them- 
 selves ready on all occasions, to assist the legal 
 
 25 
 
authorities in the execution of the Statutes for 
 the suppression of vice, and that this meeting 
 pledge themselves to sustain the Said Committee. 
 
 "The Object of the last resolution was carried into effect by more 
 than 200 of the most respectable citizens volunteering as members of 
 Said Committee." Then : 
 
 Resolved. That the proceedings of this meet- 
 ing be signed by the Chairman and Secretary and 
 published in the papers of this village, and in the 
 Albany Argus and Evening Journal. 
 
 Sept. 3 Resolution : 
 
 Whenever in the Course of human events it 
 becomes necessary to impose heavy and burden- 
 some taxes upon the people it is not only their 
 right but their duty to ascertain as near as may 
 be, the causes which call for such heavy burdens, 
 in order that they may avert the Same as far as 
 possible. Therefore 
 
 Resolved That a Committee of Seven be raised 
 to ascertain Such Causes and report the Same to 
 this meeting 
 
 The following were chosen : James Noxon, Oliver Teall, Elihu 
 S. Phillips. James Hough, Volney Cook, Hiram Putnam and William 
 Barker. 
 
 The following report of another committee was then received 
 and adopted : 
 
 1st Your Committee are informed and be- 
 lieve and have no doubt of the fact that there are 
 about seventy five Establishments within the 
 Corporate limits of the village of Syracuse in the 
 trafic of intoxicating drinks which instance of it- 
 self would call for extraordinary measures for 
 the protection of the lives and property of the 
 good people of Syracuse 
 
 2d The Contemplated Horse races, advertised 
 to take place at the end of this month, calls es- 
 pecially at this time for great exertions on the 
 part of the public Authorities. And the prompt 
 aid of the citizens to prevent 
 
 3d The Many gaming houses in this village 
 have also a Strong tendency to disturb and mo- 
 lest the good people of this village 
 
 4th The increase of Crime and the thousand 
 loose Characters that flock about this Centre of 
 one of the richest Counties in the State render it 
 highly expedient for our own personal security 
 to carry out the measures proposed. 
 
 5th The Many fires that have burnt the prop- 
 erty of the Citizens of Syracuse and which have 
 
 26 
 
been clearly the work of incendiaries, are mo- 
 tives that Strongly induce us to recommend the 
 establishment of a Night Watch. 
 An expenditure of $600 was authorized by the Trustees "to de- 
 fray the expense of a Night Watch." 
 
 Henry Gifford, William A. Cook and Russel Hebbard appointed Sept. 6 
 as village constables. 
 
 Nathan W. Rose, Joseph Flick, Joseph Mesmer, James Burrell, Sept. 7 
 Charles A. Huntoon and Thomas Griffith were "appointed Watch- 
 men of this village at a compensation of one dollar per night." 
 
 Nathan W. Rose was "appointed Captain of Said watch with an 
 additional compensation of fifty cents per night." 
 
 Resolution: Oct. 12 
 
 Resolved, That it be recommended to the Trus- 
 tees of the several Churches in this village having 
 bells, to prevent the ringing of the Same, on occa- 
 sion of any services during the week, and also 
 that on Sunday the Said bells Should not be rung 
 more than four minutes, for each Service, be- 
 lieving that for ordinary services the tolling of 
 the bells will answer all useful purposes. 
 
 At "a meeting of the taxable inhabitants * * * at the City Dec. I 
 Hotel," "on Motion of Oliver Teall, it was Resolved. That the 
 Night Watch be discontinued." 
 
 YEAR 1842. 
 
 A petition received and laid on the table "for an appropriation Feb. 28 
 for the purchase of muskets to arm a Military Company." 
 
 Salary of W. M. Clarke as Clerk made $100. ~ Apr. 29 
 
 "On motion, The following preamble and resolution was unani- May 9 
 mnusly adopted" : 
 
 Whereas, this board agree in opinion with the 
 Hon John C. Spencer, the Hon John Savage & 
 Chancellor Kent, that any person may without li- 
 cence establish and Keep a "Temperance House" 
 for the entertainment of the travelling public. 
 And whereas, in the opinion of this board, the 
 common use of intoxicating liquors is destruc- 
 tive of the best interests of the community and 
 especially of those who become the victims of in- 
 temperance, and their families. Therefore 
 
 Resolved That this board will not recommend 
 any person or persons whatever, to the board of 
 Excise of this town as suitable persons to vend 
 intoxicating liquors as a beverage. 
 
 27 
 
May 23 The Clerk was directed to "procure a Camphine Gas Lamp for 
 
 the use of the Board of Trustees." 
 
 May 30 "Permission was given to erect a liberty pole on the north side of 
 
 Clinton Square." 
 
 Salary of Street Commissioner fixed at $1.50 per day. 
 
 June 6 Permission granted to Horace Butts to fence in the point of land 
 
 at the southwest side of the junction of Onondaga and Montgomery 
 Streets. 
 
 July 4 Ordinance : "No fire balls shall be thrown by any person or per- 
 
 sons." 
 
 Dec 19 Thirty-one citizens petitioned for a public meeting in regard to 
 
 the sale of intoxicants, stating that "there are about seventy places 
 in this village where intoxicating liquors are sold, thereby causing 
 three fourths of all the pauperism crime taxation and premature 
 deaths in said village." The petitioners were : Wm. Barker, Oliver 
 Teall, John Mayo, E. Walter, J. G. Holden, A. Burt, A. W. Stowell, 
 Michael Phillips, Henry Agnew, J. K. Barlow, E. J. Foster, John 
 Wilkinson, R. B. Williams, Horace Butts, E. H. Sherman, Wing 
 Russell, M. V. B. Burt, Hiram Putnam, E. W. Leavenworth, Philo 
 D. Mickles, W. M. Clark .Thomas B. Fitch, William Malcolm, C. T. 
 Longstreet, D. P. Phelps, J. L. Bagg, Ham'l White, A. H. Hovey, 
 Hervey Rhoades, C. A. Wheaton and Abner Bates. 
 
 Dec. 22 The public meeting petitioned for was held. A formal published 
 
 report, included in the record, signed by Charles A. Baker, Chair- 
 man, and Charles A. Wheaton, Secretary, calls it "a numerous and 
 crowded meeting, held at the Temperance House, (kept by H. A. 
 Chase,)." On motion of Major Cook, resolutions prepared by a 
 committee consisting of H. Putnam, Montgomery Merrick, Aaron 
 Burt, D. G. Stafford and Jason C. Woodruff were adopted declaring 
 that the "more than seventy places" doing a liquor business in the 
 village were "prolific sources of pauperism, crime, litigation, taxa- 
 tion, and premature death, and aught not to be sanctioned by law, 
 nor suffered to exist in a civilized community," declaring also "that 
 the Legislature aught immediately to repeal that part of the excise 
 law which authorizes the granting of licences to sell intoxicating 
 liquors" and "that it is the duty, not only of temperance men, but of 
 all well-wishers to society to encourage, by their patronage, such 
 establishments as do not keep or sell intoxicating liquors." 
 
 The President of the village was requested, in the resolutions, to 
 transmit copies thereof to the county's members of the Legislature, 
 to be presented to the Legislature. 
 
 YEAR 1843. 
 
 May 8 A room belonging to Larned, Granger & White was secured at 
 
 28 
 
$50 a year for a meeting place for the^Board of Trustees. 
 
 Report and resolution: 
 
 Report from W A Cook, Chief Engineer he 
 states that he found powder on the Premises of 
 John Cushney & W Hinman more than the ordi- 
 nance of the Village allows. 
 
 Resolved that the Village Attorney be directed 
 to prosecute the Said Hinman & Cushney for Vio- 
 lation of said ordinance 
 
 Nov. 27 
 
 YEAR 1844. 
 
 At a taxpayers' meeting at the Trustees' office, John Wilkinson, 
 H. Putnam, O. Teall, M. D. Burnett, I. G. Forbes, Geo. F. Comstock, 
 I. G. Tracy, C. A. Baker and W. Raynor were made a committee, to 
 report later, on "the Subject of a City Charter." 
 
 "On Motion of O Teall Resolved that James R Lawrence D. D. 
 Hillis E W Leavenworth & H T Fellows be Employed by the Village 
 to prosecute those engaged in the riot on the Evening of Monday 1st 
 January under the direction of the Trustees" 
 
 By resolution the Legislature was urged to enact a local option 
 liquor law, outlined in the resolution. 
 
 A resolution "offered by C. A. Wheaton in relation to the recent 
 riot & Disturbances" was referred to the committee named to con- 
 sider applying for a city charter. 
 
 Jan. 4 
 
 Adjourned meeting of taxpayers. "The Committee to whom was Jan. 8 
 refered the resolution as ofered by C. A. Wheaton at the last meet- 
 ing, report as follows" 
 
 Whereas the late disgraceful and vitous out- 
 rage which occured in this Village during the last 
 week involving not only considerable loss of 
 property but severe personal injuries together 
 with other ruffianism of a minor character which 
 has frequently taken place within the last Two 
 Years fully demonstrate as well the existence of 
 an apathetic and corrupt public sentiment by 
 which such offences are indirectly encouraged by 
 the neglect to bring the guilty parties to speedy 
 and condign punishment — as also the necessity 
 now and at once of a adopting efficient measures 
 for the repression of these repeated acts of Vi- 
 lonce in future. 
 
 Therefore resolved that as Citizens of the 
 Village desirous of and claiming for ourselves the 
 protection of the law in behalf of our own per- 
 sons and property — we are determined and here 
 by pledge ourselves that we will hereafter by 
 every means in our power prosecute and bring to 
 Justice every offence of this description com- 
 
 29 
 
mitted against any persons or class of Citizens 
 
 Resolved that in our Judgment a large portion 
 of the excesses which have occured may be at- 
 tributed to the light punishment inflicted on of- 
 fenders presented for violation of law and by a 
 general looseness in the administration of criminal 
 Justice 
 
 Resolved that we call upon every Ministerial & 
 Judicial officer within our Corporate Limits as 
 well as every good Citizen to lend their prompt & 
 efficient aid in every case of the violation of public 
 order or the criminal infringement of private 
 right whenever perpetrated speedily unformily 
 and without regard to person or the fear of inju- 
 rious consequences to themselves and that we will 
 act in concert upon these cases when they arise 
 and suffer nothing to remain undone by which 
 this object can be eflfected. 
 
 Resolved that the acts of Violence are the 
 legitimate results of the Sale and use of intoxicat- 
 ing liquors as a beverage And this meeting ear- 
 nestly solicit all persons engaged in Such Sale and 
 use, for the sake of Suffering Humanity, and for 
 the Honor of our Village (which at this moment 
 embraces within its corporate limits about 80 Liq- 
 uor Selling Establishments) to abandon the busi- 
 ness, and thus contribute very largely to our fu- 
 ture preservation from the recorrence of Such 
 disgracefull Scenes. 
 
 Resolved that the above resolution be signed 
 bv the president & Clerk and published in the pa- 
 pers of the Village— 
 
 The committee on city charter recommended "application to the 
 Legislature for a City Charter with limited & Restricted powers." 
 
 A "committee to draw a city Charter" is listed as follows : J. 
 Wilkinson, M. D. Burnett, L G. Tracy, H. Putnam, L G. Forbes, G. 
 F. Comstock, C. A. Baker, W. Raynor, D. Pratt, A. P. Granger, 
 Lewis H. Redfield, C .A. Wheaton, W. B. Kirk and Zebulon Ostrom. 
 
 fe**' 5 Resolution: 
 
 Resolved that a Committee to Consist of Chief 
 Engineer Asst Engineer and the Foreman of each 
 Fire Company to make arrangement for the ring- 
 ing of the different Church Bells in such manner 
 as they deem most advisable for the Interest of 
 the Village & of Fire Department and to procure 
 a Key for each Church which has a Bell and 
 designate an alarm Bell which shall be rung dur- 
 ing the existence of Any Fire. 
 
 30 
 
An ordinance was unanimously adopted making it unlawful to May 27 
 "keep or maintain" "any Ball Alley, or apparatus, alley, machine, 
 building, or enclosure, constructed or used for the purpose of playing 
 thereon or therewith, at the game called or known by the name of 
 nine pins or ten pins, for gain, hire, reward or emolument of any 
 kind or in any manner whatsoever," and permitting the game "for 
 any stake, wager, bet or chance" was subject to a penalty of $10. 
 
 A like restriction was placed on the playing of billiards and pool. 
 
 Fifty dollars appropriated "to repair the Hearse House." 
 Seventy-five dollars appropriated "for the purpose of purchasing 
 
 a waggon for the vise of the Bucket Company hereafter to be 
 
 formed." 
 
 Four "resovoirs" ordered, to cost $150 each, to l)e constructed "in 
 different parts of the village at the discretion of the Trustees." 
 
 June 5 
 
 Citizens advised to deliver their tire buckets to the recently June 17 
 formed Bucket Company. 
 
 The Syracuse Cadets were given "permission to Encamp on the July 1 
 north side of Clinton Square on the 4th of July inst." 
 
 Record made of agreement by which the village took over from 
 the Seneca Road Company "that part of the Seneca Turnpike Road 
 that now is or may hereafter be included within the limits of the 
 Corporation of Syracuse," the village, or succeeding city, to take it 
 "under their charge and direction forever" ; the company agreed to 
 "establish no gate between Said village of Syracuse and the village 
 of Geddes." 
 
 YEAR 1845. 
 
 "On motion of William Barker Resolved that the Village pay two May 26 
 hundred & seventy five Dollars for cleaning the streets for one year." 
 
 Resolution: 
 
 Resolved that we pay the Western State Jour- 
 nal &L. Onondaga Standard four shillings each, per 
 week for publishing the proceedings of the Board 
 
 Resolution : 
 
 Resolved that we pay Henry E. Brewster $10 
 when he shall have expended $20 in improving 
 Almond Street near his Brewery 
 
 "No runner or Stage Driver or other person" permitted, under 
 ordinance of this date, to "solicit passengers travellers or other per- 
 sons in any of the public streets, Rail Road Depot or public place or 
 any rail road or any wharf or on board of any boat or stage or Rail 
 Road car within said Village to travel in any stage or on any Rail 
 Road or boat or directly or indirectly to go to any public Inn or 
 Tavern." 
 
 June 9 
 
 June 30 
 
 31 
 
Ju'y 19 At a meeting of "the Freeholders & Taxable inhabitants," called 
 
 for "the large Hall, in the 4th story of the Larned and Granger 
 Block," for a vote on the proposition of buying land and placing on 
 it "a Market and other Public Buildings" action was taken which led 
 lo the acquiring of the site of the present City Hall. 
 
 It was voted "that the Trustees be authorized to purchase the Lot 
 on the East side of Alontgomery Street running from Washington to 
 Water Street for a Market Lot provided the owners thereof will 
 make the size of the Lot sixty feet East & West with a road or 
 alley in the rear from Washington to Water Street forty feet wide 
 provided farther that the Lot can be purchased for five thousand 
 Dollars." 
 
 The Trustees were authorized to raise $3,500 with which to build 
 a market structure on the north end of the lot. 
 
 J 1 21 Purchase of the above mentioned property from the Syracuse 
 
 Company was voted by the Board of Trustees. There had long been 
 advocated the providing of a Village Hall and Public Market. 
 
 Aug. 4 The LaFayette Guards were voted $25 "towards paying the rent 
 
 of their Armory." 
 
 P. N. Rust, Chief Engineer, and Haml White, Assistant Engi- 
 neer, made application for an appropriation of $100 for each of the 
 companies in the Fire Department ; these were five engine com- 
 panies, one hook and ladder company and one bucket company. 
 
 Aug. 1 1 Declaring that "the selling & giving of intoxicating liquors to the 
 
 Indians in this Village produces an intolerable nuisance & is subver- 
 sive of good morals & quietness," the Trustees requested "immediate 
 & strict attention" to the matter by "the Indian Agent W. W. Teall 
 Esq & the Police officers of this Village." 
 
 "All challenges for testing or trying fire Engines between the fire 
 Companies of this Village or the acceptance" of such challenges 
 were "strictly prohibited" unless authorized by the Trustees. 
 
 Sept. 8 ^o "minor apprentice or Servant" permitted to play in any nine- 
 
 pin or ten-pin alley in the village. Fine $10, payable by keeper of 
 the alley. 
 
 Nov. 3 B. R. Norton and others petitioned "for the appropriation of $125 
 
 to the Syracuse Band for the purchase of musical instruments to be 
 owned by the Village of Syracuse." 
 
 Nov. 25 At a meeting of freeholders and taxable inhabitants it was, on 
 
 motion of John Wilkinson, 
 
 Resdlved That it is not competent either for 
 the Trustees to appropriate funds for the pur- 
 chase of musical Instruments or for any meeting 
 of Inhabitants to raise any sum of money by tax 
 to be appropriated to such object. 
 
 32 
 
Tn observance of December 4 as Thanksgiving Day the people Dec. I 
 were urged by resolution adopted by the Trustees "to abstain from 
 alj unnecessary labor & recreation." 
 
 Petition was made by Isaac J. Minard as captain of the Syracuse Dec. 15 
 Citizens Corps for an appropriation of $25 to that company "towards 
 paying the rent of their armory." 
 
 YEAR 1846. 
 
 Resolution : 
 
 Resolved That the Albany & Buffalo Telegraph 
 Company be permitted to set their Telegraph 
 posts through this Village on each side of the 
 Rail Road Alternately provided they set good 
 well finished posts painted white. * * * 
 
 Feb. 2 
 
 A petition, previously received, "from the 1st. Baptist Society of Mar. 16 
 Syracuse for relief from damages done to their Church Bell while 
 used for the Village as a fire Bell was taken up & on motion it was 
 resolved That we have no power to grant the prayer of the petition- 
 ers." 
 
 Resolution: 
 
 Resolved that the ordinance or Resolution 
 giving One Dollar to the person who rings the 
 first fire bell on the occurrence of a fire be re- 
 pealed 
 
 Proposition presented in resolution form by J. Lathrop, engineer, Apr. 20 
 for changes in block numbers and certain street names, Salina 
 Street south of the Erie Canal to be Main Street and Genesee Street 
 north of the Erie Canal to be Seneca Street. Tabled for one week. 
 
 The resolution referred to above "was amended by striking out Apr. 27 
 'Seneca Street' & inserting in its place 'Broad Way' & passed." 
 
 Trustees met, apparently for the first time, "at their Rooms in May II 
 the Market Place." 
 
 H. Van Buren, Henry Gifford, J. Huntington "& others," "a com- May 15 
 mittee appointed by members of a new Presbyterian church," peti- 
 tioned to be allowed to "rent the Market Hall for the purpose of 
 public worship." Petition, at a later meeting, "referred to E. W. 
 Leavenworth Esq." 
 
 Heman Hovvlett petitioned "for numbering the houses of the Vil- June 8 
 lage in reference to a Village Directory being made." 
 
 Petition : 
 
 One from Abner Bates. John Stephens & oth- 
 
 33 
 
 June 22 
 
ers for $50 remuneration for damage done to the 
 2d Presbyterian Church & Lecture Room by can- 
 non fired near the church on the eve of the Anti 
 War meeting 
 
 June 29 Petition received "Of H. T. Fellows & others" "praying that it 
 
 may be inquired into, whether Capt Teall has complied with the law 
 requiring him to bring in wholesome water." 
 
 Petition granted "Of Managers of Orphan Assylum to be allowed 
 to occupy the ground about the pump on Clinton Sq — for the pur- 
 pose of exposing articles for sale on the next fourth." 
 
 Ten dollars allowed Engine Company No. 1 "for trimming En- 
 gine on next 4th July." 
 
 Invitation accepted "to join in procession of Sons of Temperance 
 on 4th July." 
 
 Description given for 12-foot gravel walk, petitioned for: "On 
 the west side of Salina St from the South east corner of the old 
 Orphan Assylum to the swamp on a line from said corner to the 
 monument near the brewerv." 
 
 July I Petition granted "to have word Syracuse erased from front of 
 
 Market House." 
 
 July 13 Petition received "in relation to the slaughter house on Onondaga 
 
 street." 
 
 Aug. 3 Petition of "Mr. Huntington, to be allowed to make fire in the 
 
 street for the purpose of setting wagon tire, in front of his shop; de- 
 nied. 
 
 Aug. 31 Petition granted : "Of Russell Hebbard for use of the Market 
 
 Hall for the purpose of holding the next Agricultural Fair." 
 
 Sept. 14 Resolution : 
 
 Resolved that Salina St be opened six rods 
 wide south from Adam. St — 
 
 Sept. 21 Use of Market Hall granted on petition of Daniel Dana "for the 
 
 sitting of the democratic convention." 
 
 YEAR 1847. 
 
 Jan. 5 Meeting of citizens, held at Market Hall, with E. W. Leaven- 
 
 worth as chairman and John F. Wymari as secretary, to consider 
 "the expediency of applying to the Legislature for a City Charter." 
 
 William B. Kirk moved that application be made for the city 
 charter, "which shall embrace within its limits the village of Salina." 
 
 The record says: "An animated debate ensued, in which many 
 of our oldest inhabitants took a part." 
 
 The proposition was unanimously carried, and various subsidiary 
 projects were put over to another meeting. 
 
 34 
 
Adjourned meeting of citizens. By Thomas McCarthy, who with Jan. 12 
 Noah Wood and Ira H. Williams constituted a committee, resolu- 
 tions were presented which had been adopted at a meeting of the 
 citizens of the village of Salina. These resolutions approved the 
 plan of making Salina a part of the proposed city, on the following 
 conditions : 
 
 That we compose a Ward, embracing all the 
 territory in the village of Salina on the north- 
 westerly side of Union Place and Elm street, to 
 be set off and denominated the Salina Ward ; 
 
 That the location of the Bank of Salina is to 
 remain in this Ward ; 
 
 That the Post Office at vSalina be not discon- 
 tinued, nor the canal and salt offices removed 
 from this Ward. 
 
 By resolution offered by Gen. J. R. Lawrence the proposition to 
 apply for a city charter, to include in its scope the two villages, was 
 approved. 
 
 H. Baldwin renewed effort made by him at the earlier meeting to 
 have the village of Geddes included. His resolution, "after an inter- 
 esting and eloquent debate," was adopted. 
 
 A resolution offered by George Stevens and seconded by Harvey 
 Baldwin "that we also invite the village of Liverpool to join in such 
 application" was adopted "after an animated debate." 
 
 In accordance with a motion made by Dr. Lyman Clary the 
 chairman named the following committee of thirteen to draft a 
 charter and report back at another meeting : 
 
 John Wilkinson, M. D. Burnet, Hiram Putnam, George F. Com- 
 stock, J. R. Lawrence, Amos P. Granger, Harvey Baldwin, Chas. B. 
 Sedgwick, Hamilton White, Lyman Clary, Thomas McCarthy, Noah 
 Wood and Warren H. Porter. 
 
 Capt. Oliver Teall then offered the following : 
 
 Resolved, That whether the annexation of Sa- 
 lina takes place or not, the inhabitants of the vil- 
 lage of Syracuse will hold a day of public rejoic- 
 ing, thanksgiving and praise to Almighty God, as 
 soon as that most debasing and degrading custom 
 of furnishing Wine at our social parties shall 
 have taken its departure from our beautiful vil- 
 lage, no more to spread its withering and dele- 
 terious influence throughout our community. 
 
 This was seconded by Wm. B. Kirk, and carried "unanimously." 
 (Note — The italics are in a printed summary in the record.) 
 
 Resolution ; 
 
 Resolzcd That Mr Van Heusen be appointed to 
 obtain the necessary balls & chains for the prison- 
 
 Mar. 15 
 
 36 
 
ers in the jail preparatory to setting them to work 
 for the Corporation — 
 
 July 9 Resolution: 
 
 Resolved That the County Superintendent and 
 Poor Master of the Town of Salina be permitted 
 to erect a building to be used as a hospital, on 
 such lot on or near the East line of the Corpora- 
 tion as the Trustees may designate 
 
 July 12 The Syracuse and Oswego Telegraph Company was required to 
 
 change the location of "their posts in Salina St." 
 
 July 13 Order: 
 
 Ordered that Salina St. be opened from Castle 
 St. to Burt St. six rods wide according to a Sur- 
 vey made by Benj. F. Green 
 
 July 27 "Village Meeting held at Market Hall." A committee reported 
 
 in detail in regard to the Fire Department, saying in part : "At the 
 first organization * * * many of our most prominent citizens 
 attached themselves to the Fire Companies, and performed the requi- 
 site service in such a manner as to establish the conviction that the 
 system was efficient, useful and creditable to the town. 
 
 "At a subsequent period, the Fire Companies seemed to have 
 been composed of a considerable portion of new members, and the 
 former rigid discipline was in some measure relaxed. The comfort- 
 able Engine Houses that were built by the Corporation, became the 
 resorts of the vicious, and an entire want of confidence in the De- 
 partment, or in a considerable proportion of it, became so thor- 
 oughly established, that we believe all the Companies but one volun- 
 tarily disbanded" * * *. 
 
 A rearrangement was proposed and unanimously approved, under 
 which specified defects were apparently to be remedied and in addi- 
 tion "all the stimulous to strife, to contest, and to jealousy would be 
 withdrawn." 
 
 The citizens assembled recommended Hamilton White for Chief 
 Engineer and Nathan Cobb for Assistant Engineer. They were sub- 
 sequently appointed. 
 
 Aug. 3 ^^ ^^^ village meeting above noted the citizens had, without pub- 
 
 lic notice of intention of such action, voted in favor of a motion "to 
 remit the fine imposed on Wesley Hicox, for tempering morter on 
 the side walk." The Trustees, meeting with this citizens' procedure 
 before them for "action thereon," resented the "directing" of them 
 "to remit the fine" for the "obstruction" of the sidewalk and de- 
 fended their dignity in resolutions, offered by A. McKinstry, which 
 were in part as follows : 
 
 Resolved as the opinion of this board that the 
 power to impose ^ remit penalties for the viola- 
 
 36 
 
tion of Village Ordinances belongs exclusively to 
 the Trustees — That sucli power is derived not 
 from the Citizens but from the Legislature under 
 the Charter of the Village And that in the discre- 
 tionary exercise of that power the Action of this 
 Board is not Subject to the control or Authority 
 of any public meeting of the Village 
 
 Resolved as the opinion of this Board that if 
 the power to remit penalties belonged to the Citi- 
 zens in public meetings no binding resolution 
 could be passed by such meeting unless covered 
 by notice calling such meeting 
 
 Resolved that we consider it derogatory to our 
 own dignity as public officers as well as subver- 
 sive of the good order and government of the 
 Village to yield our own views of propriety And 
 duty in matters over which we hold permanent 
 and exclusive jurisdiction to the sympathies or 
 the passions of a public meeting acting in ignor- 
 ance of facts And without the semblance of Au- 
 thority; And that no board possessing self re- 
 spect will pass restrictive ordinances or Enforce 
 the penalty of Violation if their proceedings are 
 held subject to review and reversal by any public 
 Assembly of Citizens 
 
 Resolved That this Board do not deem it their 
 duty to remit the penalty imposed on said 
 Hickox And that the same be duly Collected by 
 the Village Attorney 
 On this declaration Trustees McKinstry, Leonard and Agnew 
 voted in the affirmative and Trustee Cleveland in the negative, 
 President E. W. Leavenworth apparently not voting. 
 
 "Application of Richard Raynor to have the Oswego freight Aug. 9 
 packet prohibited from unloading Emigrants and paupers on the 
 Packet landing in front of the Townsend block. Laid on the table" 
 
 E. Welch ordered to "place his fence at the south end of Salina Aug. 16 
 St. on the west side of the same on the line of the Street According 
 to a Survev made bv B. F. Green." 
 
 "E. W. Leavenworth presented a memorial on the Subject of a Sept. 6 
 City Charter which was unanimously adopted & ordered to be pre- 
 sented to the Legislature at their next Session" 
 
 Resolution adopted at meeting of citizens: Sept. 10 
 
 Resolved, That we believe the mill pond in the 
 west part of the village of Syracuse is a nuisance. 
 That it has been the cause of a great part of the 
 sickness that has prevailed in the place during the 
 past summer, and that the future health and 
 
 37 
 
prosperity of the village require that it should be 
 suppressed. 
 
 Resolved, That a Committee of five be ap- 
 pointed verbose business it shall be to see the case 
 properly presented to the next Grand Jury in this 
 County, and if a bill shall be found, to adopt such 
 measures as they shall deem most advisable to in- 
 sure a speedy trial. 
 
 Oct. 4 Application of V. W. Smith granted "for the use of the Town 
 
 hail for the Whig State Convention on Wednesday Oct. 6th — " 
 
 Nov. I Petition granted for calling of a public meeting "to take measures 
 
 to secure the removal of the Madison University to this place." At 
 the meeting later the following were made a committee "to investi- 
 gate the matter and report" : Rev. Mr. Raymond, Gen. Grange. 
 John Wilkinson, Oliver Teall, W. B. Kirk, C. T. Hicks, M. D. Bur- 
 net, Horace White and P. S. Stoddard. 
 
 Nov. 4 Citizens' meeting, called by Board of Trustees. Resolutions 
 
 were reported by a committee, consisting of D. D. Hillis, C. M. 
 Brosnan and S. D. Dillaye, of which the following was the pre- 
 amble: 
 
 Whereas, Our friends and fellow townsmen, 
 Brig. Gen. E. D. Hopping and Capt. E. Kirby 
 Smith, of the U. S. A., have lately fallen in Mex- 
 ico — the former a victim to the uncongenialities 
 of a foreign climate, while in command of the 
 Camp of Instruction at Mier, in the service of his 
 country, and before he was offered an opportu- 
 nity of exhibiting the qualities of a soldier in the 
 battle field, which we all knew him to possess — 
 the later a distinguished soldier, born in the camp 
 and bred to arms ; having marched with General 
 Taylor from Corpus Christi ; having participated 
 in the glorious achievements of Palo Alto, Re- 
 seca, Vera Cruz, Contreras, Cherubusco, ana fin- 
 ally having fallen gallantly at the head of his 
 battalion, while leading the charge before the 
 walls of Molino del Rey, 
 
 It was thereupon resolved, after certain expressions of esteem 
 and condolence, "that the citizens of this village will send for the 
 bodies of their deceased friends, but declining to receive the public 
 funds for this object, we prefer to raise them by private subscrip- 
 tion." 
 
 The following committee of ten "to circulate a subscription" was 
 appointed: "Messrs. Hillis, Brosnan, Jas. Noxon, Gen. Granger, 
 Timothy Cheney, Benson, Mlnard, P. N. Rust, W. W. Teall, and J. 
 L. Bagg." 
 
 Nov. 17 It was resolved that an offer of J. H. Tomlinson of certain court 
 
 38 
 
quarters "be accepted & that this board do hereby designate & pro- 
 vide the north end of the Empire Block as the place for the holding 
 of the Courts mentioned in" a legislative act passed Oct. 16. The act 
 provided that any court of record thereafter to be held in this 
 county, "not requiring the attendance of a Grand or Petit Jury, in- 
 stead of being held at the Court House in tlic village of Syracuse, 
 may be held at such other places in said village, as the Corporation 
 thereof shall provide for that purpose." 
 
 Mr. Tomlinson's offer gave "free of rent, for at least five years," 
 a first-floor court room, with permanent fixtures, "with the entrance 
 from Salina street and wholly separated from and disconnected with 
 the Public House kept in another portion of said block," and two 
 rooms connected with the court room "for a Public Library or other 
 purposes connected with the said Court aforesaid." Mr. Tomlinson 
 went farther : 
 
 "The said Court room shall be lighted from the South, West and 
 North, and the windows on the West shall look out upon a yard, in 
 the rear of said block; the barns to be removed, and the yard sown 
 to grass, shrubs, &c." 
 
 ■'.-\n .-Vet to incorporate the City of Syracuse" was passed by the Dec. 14 
 
 gislature. 
 
 "Petition of Mr Potter for Market Hall to be converted into a Dec. 28 
 theater. Denied" 
 
 YEAR 1848. 
 
 Notice was published in the Daily Journal and the Daily Star, Jan. 6 
 by V. W. Smith as County Clerk, under date of January 5, and such 
 publication of the notice was continued daily for four weeks, to the 
 effect that on the date of first publication (Jan. 6) the "act of incor- 
 poration" of Syracuse as a city "becomes a law" by reason of the 
 following recited facts: 
 
 An election had been held Jan. 3 in each of the villages of Syra- 
 cuse and Salina, each village giving a majority vote for the cit\ 
 charter, as follows : 
 
 Syracuse Salina Totals 
 Total vote 1,843 424 2.267 
 
 "Charter" 1,072 385 1,457 
 
 "No Charter" 771 39 810 
 
 Majorities for charter 301 346 647 
 
 The combined majority for the city charter was therefore 647. 
 Syracuse, with its larger voting population, contributed only 301 of 
 this, or 45 less than Salina; Salina gave 346, only 39 Salina voters 
 opposing the charter. 
 
 39 
 
Jan. 13 Citizens' meeting. The following were made a committee "to 
 
 draft resolutions expressive of the sense of the meeting": "D. D. 
 Hillis, M. D. Burnett, Wm. W. Teall, Edward Cooper, Cha's Rust." 
 On their report the assembly unanimously adopted resolutions of 
 which the following was the preamble; 
 
 We, the citizens of Syracuse, deeply deploring 
 the loss of our fellow townsman, Capt. E. Kirby 
 Smith, who fell while bravely leading his com- 
 mand in the battle of El Molino del Rey, on the 
 8th of September last; and highly appreciating his 
 character as a citizen and soldier which rendered 
 him equally an ornament of society and an honor 
 to his country ; and cherishing a high sense of 
 those noble qualities which led him to seal his de- 
 votion to his country with his life, do hereby ex- 
 press our admiration of his character as an officer 
 and a citizen and acknowledge our gratitude to 
 him for associating the name of our city with his 
 own in the imperishable renown he has won on 
 the battle field ; 
 
 Thereupon the citizens resolved to have "appropriate funeral ob- 
 sequies," the following committee of ten to act with the Trustees in 
 arranging for the occasion: "H. Baldwin, M. D. Burnett, Horace 
 White, W. W. Teall, P. N. Rust, I. T. Minard, D. D. Hillis, P. Out- 
 water, jr., W. A. Cook, Edward Cooper." 
 
 Feb. 15 "Ordered that the polls for the election of city officers be held in 
 
 the following places in the 2d 3d & 4th Wards viz — 
 In the 2d Ward at the Empire house 
 " " 3d " " Thomas J. Keelers tavern 
 " " 4th " " Market Hall" 
 
 March 7 
 
 March 9 
 
 First municipal election. 
 
 The last Trustees of the village of Syracuse, having canvassed 
 the vote cast in the several wards, certified to the election of the 
 following city officers : 
 
 Mayor — Harvey Baldwin. 
 
 Justices of the Peace— Hiram Judson and Ciiarles S. Giles. 
 
 Overseers of the Poor — John Durnford and Roger Bates. 
 
 Collector — Heman Huntley. 
 
 Street Commissioner — Jefferson Phillips. 
 
 Marshall — John Hurst. 
 
 Treasurer — Perry Burdic. 
 
 D. P. Wood, the last Village Clerk, closed the village record with 
 the following list of ward officers elected for the new city of Syra- 
 cuse: 
 
 First Ward 
 
 Aldermen— James Lynch and Elizur Clark 
 
 40 
 
Supervisor — Coddingtoii B. Willjams 
 Assessor — Isaac R. Quereau 
 Constable — ITarvey W. Freeman 
 
 Inspectors of Election — P. Cooney, Alonzo Crippin, Warren H. 
 Porter. Appointed. 
 
 Second Ward 
 
 Aldermen — Alexander McKin.stry and John R. Burnett 
 Supervisor — Lewis J. Gillett 
 Assessor — George Stevens 
 Constable — Adam W. Good fellow 
 
 Inspectors of Election — Hiram Judson, Grove Lawrence, Isaac T. 
 Minard. Appointed. 
 
 Third Ward 
 
 Aldermen — Gardner Lawrence and William H. Allexander 
 Supervisor — Hiram Putnam 
 Assessor — John C. Hanchett 
 Constable — Sylvester House 
 
 Inspectors of Election— Philander W. Fobes, Charles F. Willis- 
 ton, Cornelius Shirley. Appointed. 
 
 Fourth Ward 
 
 Aldermen — Henry W. Durnford and Robert Furman 
 Supervisor — Zebulon Ostrom 
 Assessor — Smith Ostrom 
 Constable — Joseph Kenyon 
 
 Inspectors of Election— Henry D. Hatch, John G. Kendall, David 
 Ronta. Appointed. 
 
 41 
 

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