F \ AA- Old-Time Days in Newark and a Half Century of Si. Mark's Parish IMOGBN RUSSELL Class A LC Book Copyright N° COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. The Old Church No. 1 West Miller Street ©Id-Time Days in Newark AND A Half Century of St. Mark's Parish By IMOGEN RUSSELL WW • NEWARK, N. Y. JOHN H. TELLER, Publisher. 1902. TtfFT.fBRAftY OF CONGRESS, TwoCowe* RK3»vec AUG. 13 1902 C0l»VW0HT SHTHV ICLASS ^ XXa No. INTRODUCTORY I T is not the intention of the writer of this sketch to give a detailed account of the foundation of Newark, with all its attendant circumstances, a task of more difficulty than she cares to attempt, but rather to narrate reminiscences gathered here and there from old residents in whose memories the events of former years have lingered, cherished remembrances of the time when, to them, the opportunities and activities of life were just unfolding and all the world was young. To those enjoying a well-earned rest after long and busy years of toil, it is a pleasure to recall the happenings of a period when nothing seemed impossible and when the discouragements which wait upon experience were still unknown. And it may not be unprofitable for the younger people, accustomed to the advantages of the twentieth century, to be reminded of more prim"it;v£ times. F^Jjij if Society, we**ej>erhaps less cultured than it is now" it* wa*s,*at ieaat, abuhjajit Jn those acts of sympathy and*u?is^lfi^iaess.,wJiij3h. are the truest graces that can adorn comm^jnrtrss.a? # V^\]. , a? tn;dwiduals. ..' •* * :: -L R. Copyright, 1902 By IMOGEN RUSSELL ©Id-Time Days in Newark ccording to an original map, carefully preserved by the late Joel H. Prescott, the village of Newark or ''Miller's Basin," as it was sometimes called, was laid out by Captain Joseph Miller in 1819, the land which was platted being part of 100 acres purchased by Mr. Miller of Jacob Lusk. There are different opinions as to why the name of Newark was chosen for the little settlement. It is stated that James P. Bartle, who was the first man to engage in business here, while traveling east by stage, passed through Newark, New Jersey, and was so impressed by its beauty that he gave this village the same name, doubtless without thinking of the trouble that express companies and mail clerks would inflict on future generations. Some have thought, however, that the name was derived from one of the parties to an ancient deed belong- ing to the Peirson family, a copy of which appeared in the Arcadian Gazette several years ago. This deed was made June 6, 1815, and conveyed to Silas 3 Peirson, the father of Henry R. and George Peirson, 78i acres of land situated in Hydesville, now the farm of Frank Welcher. Two of the grantors were English noblemen : Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, and Charles Herbert Pierrepoint, ' 'commonly called Viscount Newark." This sec- tion of country was then included in Ontario county, and the New York attorney chosen by the Englishmen to attend to the transfer of the title designated Joseph Fellows of Geneva as his agent. The consideration was $314., Newark, N. J., was begun in 1666 by a colony from New England. The Rev. Mr. Pierson of Branford, in the New Haven colony, migrated, with most of his flock, to the young settlement in New Jersey and named it Newark in honor of his Eng- lish home. So it seems, in any case, that the name of our village came across the sea, and all the mis- haps suffered by our citizens on account of it can be cheerfully laid at the door of the mother- country. At first only four streets were opened in Newark. What is now known as Main street was then called Vienna street because it was the road leading to Phelps, which village was then called Vienna. This road had been laid out at an early period. Palmyra street was so named because it led in the direction of Palmyra, and Willow avenue was known as Sodus street, and is thus laid down on an old map, because it led toward Sodus. Union street was first called Bartle street and later Canal street. The land along Willow avenue was swampy, and portions of the street were made passable by placing logs across it, forming what is called in pioneer settlements "corduroy roads." The hill on which now stands the Custodial Asylum was covered with forest trees, and the land south of the Bartle farm- house, the present home of Marion Moore, now devoted to rose culture by Charles W. Perkins, was then a red willow swamp. There were woods north of the canal and also adjacent to the village in other directions. Mrs. Lydia Sherman recalls gathering beechnuts, when a child, from trees then standing in the park. In an article written twenty-two years ago for a Newark paper by B. F. Jenkins, he gives some interesting reminiscences of the village when it was a mere hamlet. He resided here in 1828, and states that there were then thirty buildings here all told. Mr. Jenkins was an apprentice of Caleb Finch, a builder, and helped build the house of the Rev. Roger Benton as early as 1820 on the land where Mrs. J. W. Benton now resides. In a copy of the "Wayne Standard" dated October 17, 1840, edited by David M. Keeler and published in this village, the population of the town of Arcadia, according to a census taken the same year, is given as 4,981. In 1842 the population of Newark is said to have been about 1,200. 5 The southwestern part of the present village was farming land, sold at an early period by Lucas Van Deusen to Abel Blackmar, and was laid out in lots by his son Esbon in 1839, as is shown by an old map. The first lot that was sold for a dwelling house is that now occupied by the residence of Dr. McDonald. Lucas Van Deusen arrived in Newark with his family and household goods in May, 1834. He came by canal, landing where Mr. Luce's store and that occupied by Fortmiller & Proseus are now situated, then a canal basin. The farm he after- wards purchased, and which he sold to Abel Black- mar, came up to the lot now occupied by Richard Palmer's house, near the site of Daggett &Bartle's machine shops. This firm manufactured steam engines, boilers and the carding machines used in woolen mills, did a large business and employed over one hundred men. Many of the young men of the village learned the trade of machinist in these shops, and among the number was William Wright, who is now owner of a large manufactur- ing plant at Newburgh in this State. Mr. Wright manufactured machinery used in the construction of ironclads during the Civil War. The Daggetts were very prominent in the affairs of Newark at the time of their residence here, but removed many years ago to California, where the youngest son of Mr. Daggett was afterward elected to the high office of lieutenant-governor of the 6 Farmhouse of Joseph Miller The Oldest Dwelling in Newark State. Few of the large family are now living. In 1819 the land north of the canal and east of Willow avenue belonged to the farm of Edmund T. Aldrich ; later it became the property of Esbon Blackmar who set out on it a pear orchard of twenty acres. A map dated 1841 shows the land laid out in village lots, but the plans of the owner did not meet with a speedy fulfillment for, as is well known, comparatively few years have elapsed since this portion of the village was cultivated as a farm by Dr. Siegrist. On the original map of Newark the land southwest of the village is noted as owned by Col. Bailey. West of Main street, and south from the building now occupied as a drug store by John E. Wiser, was then a farm formerly owned by Joseph Miller, afterward by his son, Joseph A. Miller. The origi- nal farmhouse is now the home of the Misses Lay, and is said to be the oldest dwelling in Newark whose exterior has remained unchanged. The house, when built, faced Main street, but was moved to its present site on the opening of Miller street. The farm owned by James P. Bartle, the father of Andrew C. Bartle, was in the western part of the village, and the substantial and imposing old man- sion just west of Stephen N. Keener's residence was the Bartle farmhouse. West Miller street, as originally laid out, turned in an angle at the Bartle homestead and ran northwest to Canal street. In 1822 Jacob P. Groat, the father of the present Postmaster of Newark, R. P. Groat, came from Columbia county, traveling in a covered wagon drawn by two horses, bringing with him his family and household goods, and settled south of the vil- lage at a point called Ninham's Corners, after- ward known as Groat's Corners. The journey must have been long and wearisome, as the country was new and the roads were often bad. However, country taverns were frequent along the route, affording very welcome, if somewhat primitive, accommodations to weary travelers and breaking to some extent the fatigue of a long journey. Philip Lusk, who owned a large farm near the 1 'Corners, ' ' opened a general store in a small wooden building, and Mr. Groat set up a carriage and blacksmith shop. A schoolhouse was also erected there at an early day, in which Mr. Crommett, the father of Mrs. Egbert Landon, taught school. Hiram Aldrich also taught there, and Frederick Rew, the father of Henry C. Rew, was at one time teacher at the "Corners." The little settlement at Groat's Corners was at first expected to be the center of the future town, but the completion of the Erie canal in 1825 made the location undesir- able, and defeated the ambitious plans of the founders of the little hamlet. Eighty years ago the southeastern part of the village was a farm owned and occupied by Dr. Cyrus S. Button. This farm included that owned 8 in recent years by Henry Colton who pur- chased it of Horace Blackmar. Dr. Button was a man of affairs and combined the practice of medi- cine with the successful management of a farm. He was a strict temperance man in a time when total abstinence was very rare and most unfashion- able, and when even ministers were accustomed to purchase liquors for their own use. In the old account books found in the building which was torn down to make way for the Pioneer Block, are many entries of rum and whiskey sold by James P. Bartle to the clergymen resident here at the time. The same custom doubtless prevailed here then as in New England, where it was considered a breach of hospitality not to set out a well-filled decanter when the minister called. Portions of his farm were sold by Dr. Button for building purposes, the lot on Williams street ad- joining the home of Mrs. Tabor and Miss Lois Allerton being purchased by Ruel Taylor for the sum of $25. One quarter of an acre where Dr. James Martin resides was offered to Mr. Hayes, the husband of Mrs. Martha Hayes, for the same price but was indignantly rejected, Mr. H. afterward telling his wife that he wondered k 'if Dr. Button thought he would build a house in a sheep lane." Dr. Button kept sheep on his farm, and no streets east of Main street had then been opened in that part of the village. The house now occupied by Mrs. Tabor was originally the farmhouse of Dr. 9 Button, although it has been materially changed since his day. Some time after the death of the doctor his farm was purchased by Esbon Blackmar, by whom it was transferred to Horace Blackmar, who subsequently laid -out a portion of it in vil- lage lots, and opened Williams and Grant streets. East avenue was opened by him after the old schoolhouse was built. In 1844 the houses on Mason street were few and scattered. The old Baptist parsonage was built about that time, and was perched on stilts the first winter after its erection, the cellar not being dug until the following spring. It was built and occu- pied by Benjamin Rynders and his family. The street was unimproved and grass-grown like a country road ; and a path led through what is now High street, by means of which the residents of that locality made their way through the dilapi- dated sheds adjacent to the old Methodist church, which then blocked the entrance to Main street. Where Miss Galusha's house stands was then a pond where the boys and girls of sixty years ago skated merrily in the winter season. On the lot now occupied by the library stood the home of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Revv, the parents of Henry C. Hew. James P. Bartle opened the first store in Newark in the building recently torn down to give place to the Pioneer Block. As an entry is found in an old account book of Mr. Battle's of a sale of goods 10 made in May, 1822, it is very probable that the building was erected prior to that year. In those days although the style of building was much more simple than at present, the labor connected with it was greater. The timber* had to be procured from the woods by the builder, and much of the work was then done by hand that is now done by ma- chinery. One end of Mr. Bartle' s building was used as a warehouse, and, when the Erie canal was built, a basin was made just east of the warehouse where boats could receive or discharge freight or lay up over night. When the canal was enlarged, 30 feet were taken from Mr. Bartle's premises. The ground now occupied by the Sherman Opera House block was Mr. Bartle's boat yard. James P. Bartle was a man of uncommon busi- ness ability, as is evident from the extent of the business which he conducted here for many years, and the variety of his undertakings. Shrewdly considering that it might be better for the village to have two stores instead of one, he built that now occupied by A. E. Williams and put in two of his clerks, Joseph A. Miller and his brother, to run it in the name of Miller Bros. Mr. Bartle owned canal boats built in his boat yard, and also owned a steamer, ''The John Jay" which towed his boats, laden with grain and flour shipped from his warehouse, down the Hudson river to New York. The firm of Bartle, Norton & Co. operated flour mills at Phelps, and many loads of flour came daily from the mills and 11 were delivered at the Bartle warehouse here. Mr. Bartle was also a politician and served one term as Member of Assembly from this county. The opening of the Erie canal had given a won- derful impetus to business of all kinds in the vil- lages along its route. The means it afforded for transporting the produce of the farmer to a large market like New York, and returning to him the manufactured goods he needed in his home, stimu- lated commercial activity to a remarkable degree. Newark, while only a straggling, ill -kept settle- ment, became a great wheat market, and large quantities of grain were bought here. Farmers drew their wheat from points as far distant as Sodus, and the old residents remember when it was not an uncommon thing to see a line of loaded wagons extending from the canal to Charles W. Stuart's residence, each waiting its turn to be un- loaded. Several firms were engaged in the business of grain-buying in 1841, among them that of Ford & Grant, who also conducted a general store. Eliab T. Grant, who came here in 1836 and was at one time a partner of Mr. Bartle, succeeded him in the mercantile business in the same building. The Miller Brothers, on the opposite corner, were followed successively by Esbon, Ransom, Horace, Abel and Orrin Blackmar. Esbon and Ransom Blackmar came to Newark as early as 1826, the other members of the family arriving later. The Blackmars were prominent in business here at an 12 :«; /.;'. • ■ * •• 27ie Blaekmar House Built by Esbon Blaekmar in 1834 early day, especially Esbon who engaged exten- sively in grain-buying. It is said there was never a man in Newark who commanded the confidence of the community in a greater degree than did Esbon Blackmar ; and the financial reverses which came upon him just before his death drew forth the sincere sympathy of his business associates. These reverses were caused, in a great measure, by his inability to dispose advantageously of the western lands which he had bought in large quantities at tax sales. Mr. Blackmar served one term in the Assembly of this State and one term in Congress as member from this district. Orrin Blackmar was a school boy when he arrived here in 1834, his parents, like most settlers of that date, moving by canal. After leaving school he was employed by his brother Esbon as clerk, sub- sequently engaging in business with Horace Black- mar and afterwards for himself. He was an active and highly respected business man here until his death in 1898. The house on Palmyra street, for so many years his home, was built by Esbon Black- mar. Edwin Blackmar and J. W. Hankenson were partners in a clothing store on Palmyra street at an early date, Mr. Hankenson subsequently continuing the business on his own account for many years in his store on Main street. Dr. Richard P. Williams, the father of Fletcher and Stephen K. Williams, was the first physician to settle in Newark. He removed from Benning- 13 ton, Vt., in 1823 and remained here, a practicing physician, until his death. He built the house on the corner of Main and East Miller streets, known in later years as the "Pomeroy Homestead," which he occupied for some time. He afterward built the original part of the house now the home of Dr. Landon, removed there and there spent the rest of his life. While in the Pomeroy house Dr. Williams set out some poplar trees around his premises and, as the neighborhood cattle were then in undisturbed possession of the streets, he built a high board fence around the trees to insure their safety. Village im- provement societies were not then in vogue in West- ern New York, and but little attention was paid to making the surroundings of village homes attractive. Whether this attempt of Dr. Williams to beautify his home was considered by some an affectation of superiority, or whether it aroused a feeling of envy in a rival practitioner it is impossi- ble to say, but one morning the doctor's protecting fence bore this inscription : "Dickie's Horticultural Garden." These trees were the first set out in the streets of the village and produced, by example, the abundant harvest of finely shaded streets for which the village is now noted. For many years the business men of Newark did their banking with the old Bank of Geneva, an in- stitution which was established in the village of Geneva and held in great esteem in the com- mercial circles of this locality. Orrin Blackmar, 14 while a young clerk in the employ of his brother Esbon, used to drive in a gig the long distance through the woods to that village, and return with money to disburse among the farmers in payment for grain and other products. Probably ' 'knights of the road" were not numerous in this locality at that time, for there is no account that Mr. Black- mar was ever molested on these trips. Fletcher Williams was the pioneer banker of Newark. He bought the charter of the Palmyra Bank January 1st, 1850, of Pliny Sexton and, retaining the name, began the business in the house where he lived, which is the one standing on the east side of Willow avenue, just south of the West Shore tracks. In July he removed the business to a brick building owned by Rockwell Stone, which occupied the site of the Ford block. Here the bank remained until about 1852, when, the brick build- ing on Main street being finished, Mr. Williams re- moved his bank to its present quarters and changed its name to Bank of Newark. On April 1st, 1864, after fourteen years of existence as a state bank, dur- ing which it passed safely through the panic of '57, it was reorganized and became the First National Bank of Newark. Mr. E. T. Grant, who has been connect- ed with the bank for forty-two years, has in his pos- session a note payable at the Palmyra Bank, dated 1852. It was cancelled by being struck with a hammer whose head had a rough edge which cut the paper at intervals. This was devised by Mr. 15 Williams and was in use for a great many years. Mr. Williams was the first man in Newark who paid special attention to architecture. The house now the home of Dr. Landon, and Mr. Williams' later residence on East avenue, were modeled from the designs of Mr. Upjohn, a New York architect. During his long and busy life Mr. Williams always took an active interest in all public measures re- lating to the improvement of the village, and aided them most generously. The late Joel H. Prescott, during the active period of his life, one of Newark's most useful and influential citizens, came here nearly sixty years ago. He conducted a general store here for about ten years, after which he became Secretary of the Wayne County Mutual Insurance Co., which office he held until it discontinued business. He then engaged in the real estate and insurance business on his own account, having his office in the Rock- well stone building before mentioned. For a great many years he was identified with public affairs here, and was especially interested in educational matters. To the church of which he was an official member for half a century his services were inval- uable. Mr. Prescott's courteous aud dignified manners, like those of Orrin Blackmar and Fletcher Williams, were indicative of ' 'gentlemen of the old school" — a class that is now fast dying out. Orville Hurd Allerton came to Newark in 1842 and, in connection with William Tabor, opened a 16 general store in a building which he erected on the corner where Mr. Hanks' drug store now stands. Mr. Allerton's building was peculiar in one respect, the first story being of wood and the second of brick. There were then five or six stores here, presumably all prosperous, as they drew their cus- tomers from points as far distant as Sodus. The great fire which visited Newark on the night of January 18, 1859, burned all the buildings from the hardware store of Miller & Cronise to that now occupied by Samuel D. Smith. Mr. Allerton re- placed his store by the present brick block. Aller- ton & Tabor continued business here until the death of the latter — a period of twenty- live years. The general stores which supplied the people of Newark in its early days were of a multifarious character. In the same stock might be found mil- linery and hardware, broadcloth and molasses, kid gloves and candles. Really, merchants needed to be "all round" men sixty years ago! And, indeed, they seem to have been versatile, for fre- quently the man who sold goods was also engaged in grain-buying and, in some instances, carried on farming and found time also for active participa- tion in politics. All sorts of produce were received by the merchants in exchange for goods, and, as nearly all the business men of that day seem to have been engaged in store-keeping at one time or another, the occupation must have been very profitable. 17 The Blackmars, Hnrd & Sherman, Danielson & Doane and Ford & Grant had general stores. The latter firm bought grain and sold ''Ladies' Florence Bonnets." Mighells & Soverhill were tailors; Samuel R. Tracy was a carriage maker; S. G. & H. Rogers operated the Newark Mills ; M. H. Tuttle and Kenyon & Brown kept drug stores. Albert F. Cressy opened the first hardware store. Later, Miller & Cronise built the store now occupied by Lyell Mattisoa and there carried on the hardware business for many years. Reed & Barney sold dry goods where John Pulver's store now is. Peter P. Koher and the firm of Finch & Babcock were build- ers here at an early date. The latter built the second M. E. church, now the Village Hall. Osman Robinson's house was built by Deacon John G. Kanouse. Doolittle & Brown were tanners, cur- riers and shoemakers. The early medical practitioners of Newark were Drs. Richard P. Williams, C. S. Button, Terry, A. W. Marsh, E. H. Rockwood and Dr. Coventry. Dr. Charles G. Pomeroy, probably the most emi- nent physician Newark has ever had, came here in 1845, and during his long life was influential in public affairs as well as a leader in his profession. Dr. William Vosburgh was at one time associated with him. George W. Scott and Lyman Sherwood were the early lawyers here; Judge Middle ton, Stephen Culver, Stephen K. Williams, and Judge Norton were later practitioners. 18 Stephen Fish, the father of Mrs. Lydia and Mrs. Durfee A. Sherman, was one of the early residents of Newark, and lived in a house then standing on the site of Mr. Gaslin's. Henry L. Fish, the younger son, left Newark while a young man and settled in Rochester where he became a popular and very prominent citizen, holding various impor- tant municipal offices, among them that of mayor. Clark Phillips is an old resident of this locality, having come here with his parents in 1835. Mr. Phillips was postmaster of the village five years, and one of the commissioners of the Sodus Point branch of the Northern Central Railroad for thirty years. Associated with him in this capacity at different times were Orrin and E. Blackmar, A. W. Hyde, J. G. Pitts and P. R. Sleight. A^ early as the year 1800, Nicholas Stansell had settled in the vicinity of what is now East Newark, acquiring the ownership of 600 acres of land. In 1817 the land on which the village is built belonged to William Stan- sell, the son of Nicholas, who built and resided in the house which was long the home of the late Dr. Kelley. Mr. Stansell was a mill-wright and erected the first saw-mill in that neighborhood. Thomas Lamoreaux, the father of Mrs. Reuben Berry and grandfather of David Lamoreaux, moved into the neighborhood prior to 1815. Mr. Lamo- 19 reaux was a carpenter and, after the Erie canal was finished, he and his sons built canal boats for James P. Bartle in the latter's boat yard. The completion of the first boat was celebrated by a free excursion to Palmyra — a treat which must have been liberally accepted, for it is said that when the party arrived at its destination and applied at the hotel for dinner the larder proved insufficient for the demand, and a sheep had to be killed and dressed before the meal could be prepared. At an early date Lockville, as the east village was then called, was a busy, thriving place, much more promising than its western neighbor, and it was confidently expected by its citizens that it would become the permanent business center of this locality. In this they were disappointed, Newark, for some reason, proving more attractive to business interests. Lockville was formerly also a very lively place socially, and there was much dancing and merry-making going on, especially in the winter season when the boatmen, many of whom resided there, were at home. Nathaniel Horton was one of the early settlers, moving there in 1828 from Chester, New Jersey. His son, Theodore F., was engaged in the drug business there for forty-six years, and lived in the old homestead. Another influential business man and old settler in East Newark was Daniel Kemper whose son, Major John H. Kemper, was a veteran of the Civil War. The firm of Cronise & Kemper 20 had a general store there. The Lusks were also old and well known families there. The house now occupied by Perry Price was the home of Peter Lusk. Stephen D unwell, the grandfather of Judge Dunwell, and Leonard L. Whitbeck, a car- riage maker and blacksmith, were among the early residents of the village. About 1840 Jesse Owen & Co., J. S. Crosby, L. L. Rose, Roderick Price, George Mills and Williams & Mesick were storekeepers in Lockville and most of them grain buyers as well. Mr. Rose was en- gaged in farming also and active in politics. Pre- vious to his study of the law, Judge Norton taught school in the east village. But the most prominent man in Lockville in its early and prosperous days, a man enthusiastic in its interests, and who bent all his energies toward making it the business center of the town, was Rod- erick Price. Mr. Price built a liour mill, bought grain and had a store in the same building with his warehouse. Although his large business claimed much of his time, he took an active part in public enterprises, and when the plan of establishing a Baptist College on the hill now occupied by the Custodial Asylum was proposed, Mr. Price gave four acres of land for the site. He afterwards put many thousand dollars into the work, which finally resulted in failure, his heirs receiving only a small return for the large amount he had expended. 21 The first church built in Newark was erected by the Methodists on the northwest corner of the cemetery, near the home of the late John Wesley Benton, the land on which it stood being part of his father's farm. Roger Ben- ton, who was one of the early Methodist preachers, with Jeremiah Lusk, the families of Luce and Stansell, Henry Cronise, and Messrs. Winters and Aldrich were its builders. The church was dedi- cated on the 22nd of June, 1816, with the Rev. Daniel Barnes as pastor, was used as a church for about twelve years, then removed and now stands on the corner of Willow and Stuart avenues where it is occupied as a dwelling. It is said that the eccentric Lorenzo Dow preached in this church on one occasion. A church building was afterwards erected by the Methodists on Main street near the site of their present church. High street was not then opened, and the church sheds extended across to the lot now occupied by O. H. Allerton's resi- dence. As the sheds became dilapidated those living in the vicinity of Mason street found means of egress through to Main street, and finally they were torn down and the church building itself re- moved to Union street, where it is now in use as the Village Hall. The Presbyterian church society of Newark was organized in 1825, and a house of worship built two years later on the site of the present church. The building was of wood, and the lot on which it stood 22 was adorned by a solitary tree, under which the neighborhood cows gathered for repose and shelter from the midday sun. The present park was set oat by Stephen Culver and Clark Mason. Al- though Mr. Culver was a lawyer, it is evident that he devoted much time to the general improvement of the village, for he also laid out Willow avenue cemetery, assisted by Fletcher Williams, who gave special attention to the selection of the trees. The Baptist church society was organized at Lockville about 1834. Many years afterward a removal and reorganization of the society took place, and their present church building on East Miller street was erected. The first organization of the Christian church occurred at Marble town, also in 1834, and thirty years afterward a new church society was formed here and a. house of worship built. The Universalists dedicated their first church in October, 1838. It was built of brick, and stood on East Miller street near the Northern Central Rail- road. The Dutch Reformed Church of Arcadia was erected in 1842. Solomon Van Auken and Leonard L. Whitbeck were members of the building com- mittee, and Abram DuBois was one of the Church Consistory. The German Evangelical Association Church of Newark was organized in 1845 with twenty-seven 23 members. Many years later a house of worship was erected on Miller street. In July, 1851, the legal institution of St. Mark's Church occurred, and four years later the Roman Catholics established their church society with about forty members. lthough the school system of seventy years ago was not as well organized as at present, the then citizens of Newark were not at all indifferent to the education of their child- ren. A schoolhouse was erected at an early date by Joseph A. Miller, jast east of Mr. Grant's house on East Miller street, and was named Marvin Hall. It was two stories in height, the lower floor being used for school pnr poses and the upper part for a Masonic lodge room. Mrs. Egbert Landon attended school there and among her schoolmates were An- toinette Bartle, Mary Grant, Daniel and Wellman Kenyon, Rodman H. Robinson, uncle of Osman Robinson, and Hannah Vanderhoof, now Mrs. Crosby of Phelps. The building was afterward removed to Main street, remodeled, and is still in existence as the old store recently vacated by S. B. YanDuser. Subsequently, a two-story cobblestone house was built on the site occupied by the present Union School building, and this served until it made way for the wooden building which was the immediate 24 predecessor of the present brick structure. There was also a schoolhouse in early times at Ninham's or Groat's Corners, and in 1844 there were four common school districts and buildings within the limits of Newark, one being situated near the New York Central Railroad station, and the others in various parts of the village. As for the select schools, if their name was not exactly Legion, they were at least numerous enough to afford abundant opportunity for the youth of that day to be well tutored in deportment and polite accomplishments. It is said that there were five select schools here at one time. In the Wayne Standard of 1840, a gentleman announces that he has "opened a Select School for ladies and gentle- men in the basement of the Baptist Meeting house in Arcadia Village." In addition to the common English branches he taught Latin and Greek. Miss Sarah Adams Stow, afterwards Mrs. Fred- erick Rew, kept a select school in the old Methodist church on Main street, now the Village Hall. Miss Stow's pupils sat in the pews, and those that be- came troublesome were called forward to the front seat where they were directly under the eye of the teacher. In revival seasons this seat was known as the "anxious seat," and one of Miss Stow's old- tiine pupils, now a resident of Newark, admits that he was a great frequenter of the "anxious seat'' in his youthful days. Mrs. Egbert Landon was a pupil of Miss Stow. 25 In a house west of where Dr. Nutten resides a select school was kept by Miss Babcock for many years. There are probably many of her pupils still living in this vicinity. Another select school for girls was kept by the Misses Root and Edson, who so far expanded their regulations as to allow the ad- mission of a solitary boy. Lyman Sherwood, to their ranks. There were three hotels in Newark in 1840. The American Eagle — "General Stage and Packet- boat House'' — kept by Vincent G. Barney, father of the late William Barney, occupied the corner where Vary & Sleight's bank now stands; the Newark House, kept by S. Nichols, was on Canal street; and the Newark Exchange, kept by Andrew Vanderhoof, stood on the site of the present New- ark hotel, only it was much lower, being on a level" with the tow path. Previous to the enlargement of the canal, there was such a descent in the grade of Main street between Miller street and the bridge that it afforded a fine place for coasting for the boys of that day. At the middle lock in the east village was the Clinton House, kept by Jacob Whit more. The Wayne County Mutual Insurance Company, doing business here in 1840, had as its president the Hon. William Sisson ; vice president, Henry 26 Cronise ; treasurer, Eliab T. Grant ; secretary, Theo- dore Partridge and, for its attorney, George H. Middleton, an able lawyer. Among the directors were Milton S. Brown, Daniel Kenyon, Ashley G. Danielson and Abram Fairchild. Judge Middleton lived in the house now the home of Osman Robinson. Milton S. Brown car- ried on a shoe factory in the Courier building, em- ploying a number of men. A t an early date Luther P. Hutchinson set op a livery stable here and ran a line of stages to Geneva, carrying the mail. In 1841 William Payne was associated with him. Luther Finley, who has been connected with the stage business in this village since boyhood, came to Newark sixty-nine years ago, his home on the Stebbins farm having been broken up by the death of both his parents in the same day of smallpox. When sixteen years of age he drove a stage from here to Geneva, carrying mail and express packages. The stage was drawn by four horses and its arrival, often filled with passengers, was the event of the day. On the completion of the railroad from Rochester to Auburn, Phelps became the southern terminus of Newark's mail route, and though this lessening of the distance was a great gain, at times the trans- portation of the mail was still a difficult matter, for 27 one great disadvantage with which the early settlers of this locality contended was bad roads. Ob- structed in many places by the roots of forest trees, they were rough at all times and, in bad weather, nearly impassable, the traveler's vehicle often sink- ing to its hubs in the mud. One of the old resi- dents recalls the time when, in company with other young fellows, he accompanied the stage driver to assist in shoveling snow, and the trip to Phelps and return occupied the entire day. Mr. Finley ran the first omnibus to the New York Central station, and has preserved his first mail contract, dated 1853, in which he agreed to carry the mail eighteen times a week for the sum of $150 a year. mono the old houses in Newark is a yellow building now standing on Stuart avenue, which formerly stood near the home of Mrs. Lydia Sherman, and was the farm- house of David Bostwick. The house on Willow avenue recently sold by Mrs. Cozzens is an old house, once the home of Sheriff Hudson. On the corner north of Harry Miller's in early times stood an inn kept by Orrin Aldrich, and in the field back of the house were held the "General Trainings." The house on the east side of Willow avenue, just south of the West Shore tracks was, soon after it was built, the home of Aaron Ford, the father-in - 28 Farmhouse of James P. Bartle Built about 1836 law of Fletcher Williams. Mrs. Hankenson and Mrs. Egbert Landon recall attending a large recep- tion there, given in honor of Mr. Williams' first marriage. This house continued to be the home of Mr. Williams for several years, and was the birth- place of his son Ford and Mrs. Battershall. The house in which E. T. Grant resides was built at an early period and was the home of James P. Bartle. Andrew C. Bartle and one of his older sisters were born there. Mr. Bartle afterward built the sub- stantial old mansion on West Miller street, now the home of Marion Moore. When the Masonic order had fallen into general disgrace on account of the Morgan affair, and Masons dared not go openly to their meetings, Mr. Bartle finished off two rooms in his attic for their accommodation. Sixteen, who remained faithful to the order, came across the fields under cover of the darkness and there held their meetings. Mr. Bartle was Master of the lodge and Almerin Dunwell, the father of Judge Dunwell, was the tyler. The house removed a few years ago from the corner adjacent to Mr. Pitts 1 residence, and placed farther west on the same street, is an old house and was, after his marriage, the home of Stephen K. Williams. Mr. Williams subsequently purchased the house by the West Shore tracks of his brother Fletcher. The house in which Dr. Nutten resides was built by Stephen Culver in 1842, who there brought home his bride. The original part of Dr. 29 Thatcher's house was built by Mr. Bristol, and was for several years a boarding house kept by Mrs. Bristol. [ewark celebrated the 4th of July, 1838, by a parade in which twenty-six young ladies represented the different States of the Union. The girls were dressed in white, with red and blue sashes, and were placed on seats arranged in circular form in a large wagon, the Goddess of Liberty being perched high in the center of the group. Mrs. J. P. Hankenson, then Miss Goodwin, was one of the company, as was also Mrs. Lydia Sherman. A printed invitation to a "Rural Tea Party" to be held on July 4th, 1839, at 3 p. m., " in com- memoration of our National Independence" is now in the possession of Mrs. J. W. Hankenson. The tea party was held at the "Pavilion" which, ac- cording to Mrs. Lydia Sherman's recollection, was an impromptu name given, for the occasion, to the new sheds adjacent to the Presbyterian church, which had just been erected and had not then been used. These were trimmed with evergreens and made as attractive as possible and there the tea party was held. Mesdames E. T. Grant, J. D. Ford and L. Sutherland were among the ladies on the committee of arraugements. 30 Another invitation dated Feb. 21st, 1840, an- nounces that a ball will be given at Mr. Barney's hotel "to commemorate the Day that gave birth to the Illustrious Father of our Country," and the hour set for the assembling of the guests is four o'clock in the afternoon. Truly, if the boys and girls of those days began dancing at that hour and kept it up till morning they must have had robust physiques. But it is presumable that they dis- persed at an early hour. Among the names of the managers of the ball appear those of C. C. Hyde, John Price, H. H. Morse, H. L. Fish, L. L. Rose and James Van Deusen. Mrs. Lydia Sherman at- tended the ball. letter written to the Newark Union long A ago, by Nathan W. Taylor, gives an inter esting account of a lecture delivered in the old Presbyterian church about 1843 by the great temperance orator, John B. Gough. An ad- mission fee of ten cents was collected at the door and, though many had said they wouldn't give ten cents to hear Gough, for they didn't believe he was much of a lecturer, when the night came the church was packed to the doors. "Then wagons were drawn up beside the windows and filled with peo- ple eager to hear. ' ' Mr. Gough spoke for over two hours, and his hearers were so impressed by his eloquence that nearly all in the house and some of those outside signed the pledge. 31 Afterwards, some young ladies and gentlemen of the village planned a present to be given Mlate. The Prayer Book and Bible originally used in St. Mark's Church were given by A. D. Polhamus of Lyons. Mrs. Lucy L. Williams gave the first communion set. Subse- quently, in 1866, the gift of a communion service by J. Moreau Smith, then of Albany, N. Y., form- erly a vestryman of St. Mark's Church, is thank- fully acknowledged in the old journal. 58 List o! Subscribers to Building Fund of St Mark's Giiurcii, Februaru, 1851. Ladies' Sewing Society . $ 150 00 Fletcher Williams . . 300 00 Esbon Blackmar 300 00 David Mandeville . . 50 00 Joel H. Prescott . . 50 00 Clark Mason ... . 25 00 George Parkins . . 25 00 John Daggett ... 25 00 B. F. Rynders 25 00 William 0. Hayes . 25 00 A. W. Marsh . 10 00 Miss Lucy L. Williams . . , 25 00 Solon Taylor .... 10 00 Mrs. Sophia B. Stone 25 00 E. Z. Morse ... 25 00 Ebenezer Cressey . . 20 00 Hiram Clark 5 00 Stephen W. Russell . 5 00 E. H. Rockwood 25 00 H. Prescott . . 10 00 Peter McGregor . 5 00 Theodore Dickinson . 10 00 59 C. Baffin , . 6 00 John Sisson ..... 3 00 E. Dickinson . ... 5 00 C. G. Pomeroy 15 00 E. T. Grant . . . . . 25 00 J. P. Bartle . . . . . 25 00 M. S. Brown .... 25 00 Z. N. Landon . . 5 00 George Patterson ... 5 00 Mrs. Sophia Blackmar . . . . 10 00 George C. Mills . . 2 00 Charles Cull 15 00 William C. Carpenter . . 2 00 Eli Nokes . 2 00 H. C. Gardner . . 5 00 From Lyons . . . . 17 25 John Harris 2 00 Ruel Taylor 5 00 Albert Aldrich ... . 3 00 Stephen Aldrich .... 5 00 A. Vanderhoof . 5 00 Several of the above subscriptions were materially increased later as necessity demanded. 60 List, of Rectors with Terms of Service Rev. Charles W. Hayes . 1852-1854 Rev. Charles W. Homer 1854-185? Rev. William C. Gorham 1857-1859 Rev. John H. Rowling 1859-1862 Rev. P. Teller Babbitt . 1862-1867 Rev. W. J. Piggott 1868-1870 Rev. John Leach . 1870 Rev. D. A. Bonnar 1871-1874 Rev. J. S. Seibold . . 1874-1878 Rev. J. P. Foster 1878-1881 Rev. E. H. Edson . . 1881-1885 Rev. J. E. Goodhue 1885-1893 Rev. Louis B. VanDyck . . 1893-1895 Rev. Alfred Brittain 1895- 61 TflE NEW CHURCH The new church on the corner of Main and Williams streets is not only a practical ex- ponent of the courage and faith of those who erected it, but it is also typical of the growth of Newark and the progressive spirit of its citizens. To undertake such a work with the slender resources at command, seemed indeed a serious matter to the handful of people who must assume the responsibility, but, after carefully weighing the project in all its aspects, it was decided to go forward, and the result thus far has justified such decision. In May, 1901, ground was broken for the new edifice, on the 17th of June the corner stone was laid by the Bight Rev. W, D. Walker, Bishop of Western New York, and on the 25th of November following, Bishop Walker set apart the building as a house of worship. The dedicatory sermon was preached by the Rev. Mr. Towsonof Palmyra. On the previous evening the bishop preached from the text. 4k Thou hast been faithful over a few things. I will make thee ruler over many things/' Matt, XXV., 23 ; and an address was made by the rector, the Rev, Alfred Brittain, who reviewed in an in- 62 teresting manner the work of the parish and spoke of its aims and objects. The visiting* clergymen present were the Rev. Mr. Webbe of Lyons, the Rev. James P. Foster of Geneva, the Rev. Thomas Duck of Branchport, the Rev. Edmund C. Bennett of Sodus and the Rev. Mr. Towson of Palmyra. The building is constructed of rock-faced Medina stone and split boulders ; and the plans adopted were furnished by Architects Walker & Briggs of Roch- ester. Messrs. Guenthner & Schattner had charge of the mason work, and the carpenter work was done by Ernest Krabbenschmidt. The building com- mittee was composed of the Rev. Mr. Brittain, Stephen P. Sherman, James M. Pitkin and George C. Perkins. The work so courageously undertaken in the face of many difficulties is now finished, but only the rector and the vestrymen who have so ably seconded his efforts, know how laborious has been the task from inception to completion. There are still ob- stacles to overcome, but with earnest and united effort and the blessing of God they may be con- quered. Let us hope and pray that the new church may be a worthy successor of the old one; that as long as one stone remains upon another it may stand for •* Whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report ;'' and that from it may radiate a spiritual influence which shall be, through all the years to come, a blessing to this community. 63 Articles Deposited in tne Gorner-stone of tue New 6Hurcn Pictures of Exterior and Interior of the old church. Photographs of the Rev. Alfred Brittain, Messrs. Joel H. Prescott, J. M. Pitkin, Joseph Gilbert, S. F. Sherman and Miss Esther Brittain. Historical Sketch of this Parish, written by Miss Russell. Sentence of Consecration of old church by Bishop DeLancey in 1852. Altar Service and Prayer Book used in the old church from 1852 until 1893. Coins, Stamps; the first bill issued from the First National Bank, Newark. List of Subscribers to the new church. List of present officers of St. Mark's Parish. Copies of the Newark Courier, Newark Union, Arcadian Gazette, Newark Herald, Hammer and Pen, Spirit of Missions, Our Church Work, The Worker, The Living Church, The Church Standard, The Normal News, New York Times, St. Mark's Church Bulletin and the Easter Envelope used in 1901. 64 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS