"

LONG ISLAND SUNDAY PRESS, MAFCH 6, 1938. aaeaSftl

P*CTP3

H M i

'*#m\*w? .»>5p*. ••• * -•• w

COl REFLECTIO J • b j I t K T L A K €f»

A yanishecl Landmark METHODIST STRUGGLE

Church Endured M a n y Discour­aging Years in Jamaica

Although Methodist meetings were held In Jamaica before the Revolution, led by Captain Thomas Webb, an English army officer who was one of the first Methodist!

preachers In America, the sect suf­fered an hiatus during the Revo­lution.

The patriots thought that Meth-dials were Troy in their sympathy and »s a result. Bishop Francis As-bury. who took over Webb's work, was forced Into retirement.

As soon as peace was declared, the Mtthodlsts worked to convert the people and In 1784 Jamaica was recognized as a preaching charge on the Long Island circuit having as its minister Philip Cox. For many years services were maintained but the ministers were changed fre­quently. I troops in the World! War. Indeed,

Almost * score of ministers served , n e Sanitary commission may be re­in the Jamaica parish during the . 8 * r d ' d ' h e P a n f n t ofgan.zation of year. 1785 to i m Of them, Ben- | ' * ! **? ?<>**•'*/ } H " w h " e *« r£ J?*11'. M r s - Halsey, Misses Wyckotf, <.™i« Ahhnt* - . - . H - H L if* M * n u * f o r l t h * Sanitary Carnngton. Wilson. Mills. Black-jamin Abbott was the most re- , Commission that ClarkvBarton eon-nowned. He was an eloquent speak- ceived the idea of tile Red Cross. •r known through New England j Early in December] 1863, it was and Long Island. At times he wouid ] determined to hold a lair in Brook-get so excited and wrought up over lyn. designed for the purpose of the sermon that he would faint in affording material aid to the sick

FAMOUS

Richard Ludlow L a r r e m o r e O w n e d Large • M M ) - , .Tin

Farm

IRON FISTED RELIGION

Post Revolu t ion-a r y C h u r c h e s Wielded W i d e Authority

Ye Olden Tavern

The present lite of, the parochial It Is almost impossible for us who

Carpenter's Tavern, which until a few years ago stood at the corner of Jamaica, avenue and 185th street, existed from long before the Revolution. Prom this place General Nathaniel Woodhull fled after the Battle of Long island to be captured In a nearby field. Records show that the tavern existed as long ago as 1710. George B. Goets was the last proprietor. The place was really a victim of prohibition.

ORIGINAL RED QROSS During the Civil war the United

States Sanitary Commissibn aided soldiers of the ynlonl Army as the American Red Cross [did for U. S.

<*-

regrettable that only the last names of, these women are given, but any­one familiar with the history of Long Island will recognize In these names the oldest and most "dis­tinguished of Long Island families).

"From Astoria were Mrs. Black-

the midst of his talk. and wounded of the Union Army The Methodist congregation was j through the Sanitary Commiission.

started in 1807 and in 1809 the first This fair, which opened at the effort was made to build an edifice. Brooklyn Aacdemy of Music on Feb. Pledges amounting to $700 were 122. 1864, was known fa the Buook obtained, according to the records A site was taken on Division street and the first building was erected In 1811. Men entered by one door and women by another. During worship they sat on opposite sides of the auditorium.

The church remained for 32 years without regular pastors being de pendent on Methodist rulers."

Joseph Henson was appointed pastor in 1843 with a quarterly al­lowance of $25 and board. By 1844 there were 93 children In the Sun­day school and the church had a membership of 100.

The Rev. M. E. Willing was the pastor in 1944 and was most suc­cessful in converting people to the church. John M. Reid M747-1848» was the most eminent pastor and ecclesiastical affairs rapidly.

lyn and Long Island Fair. It Con­tinued through March 5 off that year. •, j \

Among the more precious of the archives of the Long Island Collec­tion of the Queens BdVough Public Library is a pamphlet printed In 1864 which is a "Report of the Com­mittee on Long Islajid Contribu-

circuit I tions for Queens and Suffolk Coun­ties. I

"The towns of Queens and Suf­folk counties have worked with a spirit and vigor, and contributed with a liberality whldh challenges the admiration of the) entire com­munity," says the report. "Not a village or neighborhood but has aided by its gifts.

""The sale of fancy goods was in the auditorium of jthe Academy of Music and buildings adjacent,

progressed greeted for the purpose. The Long Island (1. e , .Queens and Suffolk)

In 1845. G. W. Collard was ap- tables occupied the mfost conspieu-pointed pastor. During the last j n u * end agreeable position in the quarterly meeting of his pastorate, Academy, bemg placed across the April 27, 1846, plans were made for extreme rear of the stg.ge. overlooK-a new church building as the old >ng the entire auditorium. one was considered inconvenient "The Long Island tables were st­and not large enough. tended by the following ladies to

The new building cost $705. It whose efficient servic^ Is due the was located at Jamaica and New successful sale of the s>oods and the York avenues and when completed thanks of this committee. (It is 1 was used for a lecture room and —"— — l

In 1856 a great revival spread O U E E N S N A M E S through Long Island. This revival ~ started in a little cottage owned by Samuel Fredericks in South Ja­maica. ^ B y 1873, a new and commodious church and more comfortable par-

well, Mulligan and O'Reilley. From Newtown were William Knox. Mrs. Ayress, Miss Van Alst. the Misses Goldsmith. Miss Palmer, Miss Moe, Mrs. Rapelye* and Miss Rapelyea. From Flushing and North Hemp­stead were Mrs. Cox, Misses Fuller, Darling, Hillyer, Wells, and Van Zandt.

"From Hempstead were Mrs. Har­old, Mrs. Erving, Misses Rushmore, Cortelyou, Clowes, and Carman. From Jamaica were Mrs. William J. Cogswell. Misses Phoebe Hagner, Ludlum, Nichols King, Andreau, On-derdonk, and Crossman.

"The committee from Jamaica were headed by James Rider and included John Alsop King, William J. Cogswell and Lewis FosdicK. Contributions included cash by gen­eral collection $518.53; fancy goods by the Jamaica Soldiers' Aid Society $292.06; Hospital goods by tho same organization $23.40; beautiful variety of cut flowers by John Alsop King $20; Vegetables from the same person $6; a total of $859 for the town. ?

"The Women of Queens (Village^ gave cash amounting to $107.25 and* hospital clothing valued at $14.20. Women of Woodhaven gave cash of $150.40 fancy goods 05:01; cash $48.30; and by Mrs. John R. Pitk'n of the same town, fancy goods val­ued at $3. !

"Queens County In all gave In cash and merchandise $11,325.85 and Suffolk's contribution amounted to $8,693.13. These contributions from the two couhties together with a miscellaneous $210, made the tribute of Long Islapd, outside of Brook­lyn, amount to $20,238.98."

school of St. Gerard of Majella's R. C. Church was, at 185th street near Jamaica avenue. In the time of the Civil War, the Larremore fann, country home of Judge Richard Ludlow Larremore of the Court of

{ IComrnlpn Pleas of New York City. The history of that court by

James Wilton Brooks, published in 1896, contains the following sketcn of this former resident of Jamaica:

"Richard Ludlow Larremore, 16th judge of the Court of Common Pleas, was born near Astoria, L. L, on Sept. 6, 1830, and died in this city (Manhattan) on Sept. 13, 18U8. His descent in the maternal was from the early Dutch settlers of New Netherlands. On the paternal side his ancestry was English but long resident on Long Island. He was graduated from Rutledge col­lege in 1850.

"He studied Jaw with the firm of Betts and Robinson (William Betts, head of this firm lived in Jamaica almost ail his life) and on his admission to the bar became a partner of Scoles and Cooper who were leading members of the ad-miralty bar at the tint*.

"The law of real property wa3 the branch of the law to which young Larremore especially devoted his attention, and soon he became the counsel of the Dry Dock Sav­ings Institution and of other clients who made loans on real estate se­curity. It may be truthfully said

live in the present day to realize the extent of the duties and author­ity of the elders of the churches in the period thai Immediately fol­lowed the American Revolution.

A rough Idea of the grip the church held over its people in that period may he found in a chapter, "Church Government In Old Times" in the "Histgry of the First Presby­terian Chufch of Babylon" by James W. Eaton. This book is a recent accession to the Long is­land Collection of the Queens Bor­ough Public Library.

"Most of their (the elders) time was taken up in investigating the conduct of their church members." says Eaton. "Petty quarrels among church members were generally laid before the session for consider­ation,

"Again tattling among, church members was as common as among crikdren. L

"Spying upon the conduct of their neighbors wans another amusement and it seemed to be their bounden duty to report it to the session (meeting of the elders). The spirit of being much better than your neighbor wag cultivated in the high­est degree.

"It was regarded as an especially heinous crime for a person belong­ing to one church to attend the ser­vices of another church. It was considered a sin to attend service at a Roman'Cathoulic Church. As there was no church of this de-

The Fountain House stood from 1760 to 1914 on the corner of Main street and Northern bomevard. Flushing, the site of the present RKQ Flushing Theatre. This hostelry harbored many famous men of nhte and within walls the early town meetings of Flushing were

held. Jacob Haubiel was the last proprietor.

BRITISH GUNS SEIZED • -

that he never lost a client and that nomination in Babylon until 1878,

ARE VARIED It is Interesting to npte when the

various communities in the present sonage had. this was on Jamaici | Borough of Queens were first settled gvenua at Puntlne street. The new a n d how they got theit names. This church was dedicated in 1874 bv the K— k<..„ ,*!#>;.,,,i* •-

has been difficult in some cases, as several just seem, like Topsy, to

Rev. W. T. Hill and. the Rev W. P. Kates. The old property was sold in 1878. The old lecture room was moved to Puntlne street and set up In the rear of the church.

The Rev. C. S. Williams was pas­tor for one year in 1879. His pastor­ate marked a period of discourage­ment.

The official members of the

have "growed up." Id these cases history does not record, nor does the proverbial "oldest inhabitant" remember.

Flushing and Maspfth (original­ly Mespat) seem to hjave been the first settlements In What is now Queens Borough to hjave arisen to

church were so discouraged In the i the dignity of a namei Jamaica and beginning of April. 1883. that thty determined to ask for the appoint­ment of an unmarried preacher, to reduce expenses.

John B. Hopkins, leading mem­ber of the church and farmer from Jamaica South, secured the appoint­ment of John Parker. After three years of Parker's pastorate church waa again on Its feet.

Successful endeavors were made to raise money for the building of churches, paying off of debts, of the support of the poor and in the mis­sionary cause. A chapel used tor

Newtown (then Middleburg) were not far behind. One historian says the first settlement wjas near what is now North Beach. }

ARVERNE—Laid oi|t about 1899 by Remington Vermah, the name being made up of his first initial and the first syllable of his last

he name. t ASTORIA — Formerly Pa l l e t s

Cove, back in the 18th| century, out later named Astoria. It is believed that the name was given in honor of the elder John Jacob Astor who had his summer homje across tne

of its loca-

the Sunday school and as a social | river, opposite Hell Gate, where center was erected in the rear of Washington Irving wrote his great the church on Puntine street. work "Astoria."

The Rev. William T. Pray sue- EDGEMERE—A pari of the Rock ceeded Parker in 1886. In 1889, Pray j aways, laid oout about "" was succeeded by J. C. McBride. In and so-called because 1880 Thomas L. Poulson enters I 1 tion on the edge of thei sea. the ministry at the Jamaica church ELMHURST—Formerly part of where he served for five years. \ Newtown, and developed and named During the fourth year there were J40 years ago by the late Cord 100 conversions. When he left the j Meyer. The name means "a grove of Presbyterian* and the Reformed j elms." churches united with the Methodists FLUSHING—Settled \ by the Qua­lm bidding him farewell kers in 1639 who came here to

A new pipe organ was installed escape religious persecution in their

side of the hills forming the "ha*h-bone" of Long Island.

HOLLIS—Laid out and developed by Frederick W. Dunton, in the 80"s, who gave it the name of his home town in Connecticut. »

HOWARD BEACH—On Jamaica Bay, originally a farm belonging to a family named Howard. There was a boat landing on the property and a hotel conducted .by a man named Howard.

JACKSON HEIGHTS — Named for Jackson avenue and the high ground on the south. Jackson ave­nue took Its name from John Jack­son, president of the Hunterspoint and Flushing Turnpike Company, chartered in 1859. %

JAMAICA—Settled in 1655 by English families who came there from Hempstead, under from Goveronr Stuyvesant

every client became his friend for life.

'The estimation in which he was held may be leraned from the fact that he was frequently solicited to act as guardian and executor, posi­tions that he firmly refused to ac­cept.

"For many years he was an ac­tive member of the Board of Edu­cation and for three years was pres­ident of that body. His firmness prevented the board from falling under the control of the Tweed ring, and effectually stopped a bold at­tempt to apply to the purchase of the school supplies the methods that obtained in the building of the (New York) county court house.

"In 1867 he was elected to the Constitutional convention by a very flattering vote, and he took a prominent part In the debates, especially well qualified to speak on all question affecting the system of popular education.

"In 1870 when the judicial force of the court of common pleas was increased he was elected to the bench of that court in company with Hamilton W. Robinson and Joseph F.Daly. Charles H. Van Brunt, who had been previously appointed to fill a vacancy was elected a judge of the common on the same ticket.

He was" chosen chief justice of the common pleas by his associates in 1885. In 1869 the degree of LL.D. was conferred upon him oy the Uni­versity of the City of New York.

BLIZZARD NOTES

Through the courtesy of Charles R. Doughty, secretary-treasurer of the Jamaica Savings Bank, the fol­lowing notes on the Great Bliz­zard of 1888, made at the time by the late William A. Warnock, one time village president of Jamaica, under-sheriff of Queens County and secretary of the Jamaica Savings

Nt ' w a s B a n k ' a r e P r , n t e d :

first called "Rusdorf* and later "Jameco," which, in 1680, was changed to Jamaica. The First Presbyterian Church in the county was built there in-1662.

KiSSENA PARK—So called by its developers, Paris A MacDougall, in 1905, because of Its location on the shore of the lake by that name. Where the name "Kissena" origin­ated is not known, the lake having been so-called at least a century back.

KEW GARDENS—Developed by the heirs of the late Albon P. Man. who came here from London in 1866; named for Kew Gardens in

«-„ . ,,. _ London, where the Royal Botanical £> j ears a*o » G a r d ( , n s a r e l o c a t e d ,

LITTLE NECK—Settled in the 17th century and named to distin­guish it from the "Great Neck.' Was a favorite haunt of the In­dians, because of the abundance of clam shell which they used for wampum.

The blizzard began early on the evening of Mrch 12, 1888, and War-nock's first notation is of conai-

Jamaica the following

on Fulton

m the church in 1895 by the Rev. H. H, Beattys.

The Rev. L K. Moore became pastor in 1900. He paid off the debt of the church and Its first *bell was presented to the church by the Rev.

Saves Boy's Life But Loses Own

A boy who was leaning out the the window of a Long Island Rail­road express train was responsible for the death of Paul Ronton, a

home land. Named fof Vlissengen, m Holland, and 'a'er changed to Flushing.

FAR ROCK A WAY AND ROCK AWAY BEACH — Deeded to the whites by Chief Tacjtapousha, of

George E. TJlley in memoroy of his I the Rockaway Tribe of Indians, to I guard, on Aug. 1. 1923. Captain George H. Tilley. 'who j John Palmer. The nanke Rockaway! As the train traveling at high killed in the Philippines. \ is a corruption of "Reclconwacky." a speed, was passing the Ill-fated

The church proved prosperous J name given it by the Indian and and was enlarged in 1905 by Dr. A', meaning "Place of our own pec-la, Dadson. Dr. Saul O. Curtice was pie." or as another historian re­

lates, the original name was "Re-kanawahaha," meaning} T h e place of laughing waters.'*

FOREST HILLS—First named "Whltepot," because the land hsd

receiving a salary of $2,000 in 1910. Dr. P. D. Walter served two years in the church but due to ill health 1st retired in 1915, to he succeeded by Dr. George Fort

fv"hen Dr. Forst came to Jamaica originally been purchased from the he found the town was growing inta {Indians for three white clay pots. a metropolis. In 1930 he purchased Later known as Hopedjale. Changed e> i ite for a parsonage on Clinton (in 1906 by Cord Meyer %o Forest

Union Course crossing on its way to Brooklyn, Rontoii noticed the boy's head stretched unusually far out the window. :,

Knowing there was a signal at the creasing and fearing that the boy might be struck, Rontoii leantd out between the cars and shouted to Jthe lad to pull in his head. His call was in time hut the guard him­self was hit by the signal of which

tions in morning:

"March 13, Snowbanks/ street (Jamaica avenue) and side­walks 15 feet high. A tunnel dug through the bank in front of (Bern-hard) Faber's shoe store (northwest corner of Jamaica avenue and 161st street, to the opposite side of the street by Philip H. and Leander B. Faber (who recently retired as Supreme Court Justice), was hign enough for a medium-sized man to walk through. Men with teams ard on hoseback are trying to break passage ways through Fulton street, but no passage has yet been made for wagons in front of the Town Hall.

March 14—One track (on the Long Island Railroad) between Jamaica and Long Island City is open for travel. No trains to or from Brooklyn nor the east. No vehicular travel on Fulton street west of Rockaway road.

March 15— No railroad communi­cation with any point on the main

few persons had a chance to com­mit this sinl

There were persons who some­times drove! their servant to Bay Shore to attend the Catholic serv­ice there, bpt, it is not on record, whether any of them had the curios­ity to'peek Inside of the church.

"Some idea'of the trials and trou­bles in the early history of the First Presbyteriaif Church of Islip and Huntington South (old name? for Babylon) ropy be gained from the following quotations from the old records.

"One Gilbert Heartt in March 1799 was brought before the ses­sion and confessed that he had been guilty of dlinking. In October of the same yopr he was ^again an of­fender. The pext summer additional charges wege lodged against him, viz.:

" That some time about last November about the time he killed his hogs hit was intoxicated with spirituous liquor some time near the first of March last, at a time that he and Selah Howell went in a wagon together to mill—the last charge was jior being concerned or aiding at a horse race on the first of April, la«L near Ketcham Terry's taxern? \

"William Garret was a similar of­fender and his case was before the session several times.

"One of the most curious deci­sions rendered by the session was in the case Of Temperance Jackson against whom on June 12, 1802, Jesse Ketcham brought the charges of 'imprudent and inconsistent conduct in her saying that she would not be confined to any chudch or society and had acted ac­cordingly in going to other meet­ings.

"Thomas Wiggins was a witness against the woman. The session held that the charge was proven. Temperance, apologized and th<* session restored her to good stand­ing in church membership. Jesse, the complaisant, was not satisfied with the decision and the .ses­sion gave 1< him permission 'to stay back from the next commu­nion of the church in partaking of the Lord's Supper in order to ob­tain further satisfaction.'

"This seems to show that Jesse still harbored a feeling in order to find his Christian spirit. Also it would seem that the session might have punished Jesse if he had stayed from the Communion with­out permission.

"Gilbert Heartt seems to have been an o i l offender for he was again beforf the session who re­ferred the gnatter to the Presby­tery and 'ilj recommended upon his confessing and sorrow that they re­ceive him one time more.'

'There w X a report laid before the session that 'William Garrett and Sarah, his wife, had made to free use of liquors they were noti­fied to stayj away from the commu­nion until the session could verify the report.

"They were notifed several times to attend the session but gave as a reason that they had no horse, and the distance was too great. Finally thew yer excluded from the com­munion." ^

— ^ ^

Marinus Willett, born in Jamaica on J | ly 31, 4740, was the hero or I t h e w s ; * T

wory • l d e r m a n - who a

. .„. , , , » . , \ , . iyear later became mayor of New a brilliant exploit in New York ; y o r k b y British appointment. step-City, j early in the Revolution, ac- | ped up and defended the right of cordijig to "Tthe History of the City i , n e troops to carry extra arms with of N*w York,)' by John W. Leonard. | ! h e m ' b u t W 1»ett held his ground published in 1910. Single handed and unarmed^ Willett captured five cartloads of £uns from the Britisn.

"Oil May 26, 1775, the H. M. S., Asia.! 64 gun$, under the command of Captain George Vandeput, ar­rived off the Battery, with orders that I the Royal Irish Regiment, whicn was at the Upper Barracks, should go oh board, and arrange­ments were rhade also with the civil authorities for the removal of the regimental laundresses, with their belongings, to Governor's Island," says ] Leonanjl.

'TJie departure of this regiment, on JUne 4, tq the place of embarka­tion,] was the! occasion of one of the most daring! of the deeds of the Revolution. The regiment was car­rying with jt not only the arma­ment for its; men, but also a con­siderable number of spare gum, which they loaded on carts.

'The order to permit the British to rjfctire with their arms and ac­coutrements was not much relished by some of the more radical of the patriots, and; one of these, Marinus Willett, deerhed it his ;duty to take a h$nd in regulating matters. So as the profession, coming down Broafd street] reached the corner of Beaver street, he ran into the road and i stopped the horse ^hat was dravfing the front cartload of arms, thusi halting! the march. X? «

"Major Hamilton, commanding the Regiment, came forward to dis­cover the cadse of \he halt, and Wil­lett ^old him! that he had halted the colupin to prevent the spare arms frorrj being (carried off, as the au­thorization pt the committee cov­ered; no armis except those the sol-dler| carried on their backs.

"Ajt this juncture, David Mat-

He was rather staggered when Gou-verneur Morris, of whose patriot­ism there was no question, sided with Matthews as to the authority of the* troops to move the guns.

"Just then John Morin Scott, who besides being one of .the committee of 100, was one of the leading law­yers of the city, came on the scene and backed up Willett's argument. Thereupon Willett turned the front cart to the right, ordering the cart-man to drive up Beaver street, and the others to follow,

"Willett jumped on a cart and addressed the soldiers, saying that if it was their desire to repeat tne bloody business going on in Boston (The Boston Massacre had happened only a few weeks previously), that the people of New York were ready to meet them; but If they felt a repugnance to the unnatural work of shedding the blood of their coun­trymen and would recover their arms and march forward they would be protected."

"Just then one of the soldiers at the front shouldered his musket and began to march followed by nis comrades and the cheers of a throng of citizens who had gath­ered during the preliminary alter­cation.

"The five carts, loaded with-chests of arms, went out of Beaver tsreet up Broadway to a large yard, where the arms were deposited, to after­ward form a part of the equipment of the first New York troops raised under the orders of the Conti­nental Congress.

"This audacious exploit is com­memorated by a bronze tablet on the wall of the building on the wall of the buildings on the northwest corner of Broad and Beaver streets, Manhattan, the scene of the affair."

COUNTY BORN 25}* Y|ARS AGO

tile Queens celebrated, a year its 25th'birthday as a borough ew Yorl^'City, it can now ob­

its 254th anniversary as a :y of New York, imas £>ongan, who was ap­

pointed Governor by the Duke of Yqrlf, instituted the long desired Colonial Assembly which permitted the Inhabitants of the province to participate ih legislation. The rep­resentatives [of the settlers In New

York took ago,Ion Octoser 14 atts, one sion of New

their seats/ 254 years • s e a i s 17, 1685\ and passed

of which was the divi-York into 12 counties.

Queens County, named after Queen Catherine of England, was one of the 12 counties. This Colonial As­sembly met {twice in Jamaica, once in 1702 and again in 1753.

Queens County, as organized by the JiAct of November 1, 1683, had an area of 396 sqiiare miles, includ-

PATIENCE WAS REWARDED

"Sister Anne, Sister Anne, do you see anyone coming?"

The cry of Old Bluebeard's fian­cee was again the password at the James A. Fagan Democratic Club outside their headquarters at 287 Baldwin avenue, South. Ozone Park, on the night of July 31. 1923.

The 500 odd persons were wait­ing eagerly for the two brand new buses which an organization known as the South Jamaica Tran­sit Company were to begin that night operating between Linco.n avenue and Jamaica avenue.

But the buses refused to arrive. The meeting divided into groups discussing the bus situations and other civic matters generally. The machines were due at the meeting place at eight o'clock. But evident­ly they believed not in punctuality and it was after midnight before they made their appearance. -

In the more than four interven­ing jail of What Is now known as . ing hours tense excitement reigned Nasiau County. The county *vas in various sections. Every time a

he had warned the boy to be aware ] yesterday.

line of the Long Island Rail rod nor , _ ., wit|\ Brooklyn.,No travel by road | S a m I T i y T r e a d w e l l S outside of the village.

March 16—First train from Hemp­stead arrived this morning. Trains commenced running to Brooklyn. Long Island Railroad east of Min-eola. still closed. The main road be­tween Jamaica and East New York is not yet open west of Fleet's Boulevard Hotel (Hillside and Kaplan avenue).

March 27—Electric care are run-avenue > between Jamaica and East New York for the first time since March 11.

the snow sappeared

later divided into six principal cor­porations,, of towns, namely. New-

chug chug was heard the cry of "Here Tehy Come" was heard. But the vehicles that were the place of

towsh Flushing, Jamaica, Hemp- I o r j g } n 0f the chug chug noises even steap, North Hempstead and Oyster Bay

At the election held November 6, 1 wit: vot Qu vot lata tan N pro,

the question of consolidating the C|ty of New York was

upon by the residents of ns County. The majority of

in favor came from the Long d City j section whose inhabi-, because of their proximity to York, had been in favor of the t for many years.. The west­

ern I part of the county therefore became pari of the City of New

cou4ty was (erected Into a separate

April 9—The last of which tell March 12 4

•venue where rf the church now Park and is the'highest point m and his head was almost severed — ^ ^ m t m m .

for 133.000. that neighborhood. The contract for the new church j HAMMEL AND HOLLAND ~

was let for S250.000. On August 31. j .Both In the Rockaway i; developed

from his body. Shouts from the fear stricken j

passengers reached the ears of Con-

SCHOOL BUILT C« 11W Long Island City's first school

was built in 1721 on a plot of! James Clark who "hung out h

•Retort Superb' The following comment is from

the Long Island Democrat of April, 1, 1884: 'Thf condition of political matters in our town reminds us of the position once held by Sammy Treadwell in the early days of tne Democrat, a distinguished politician of Queens County. Fault being found withjjiim for his vote on a party quespm at Albany, he at­tempted toiplenee all objection by declaring, ffhere ain't no Demo­crats or \$higs any more—we're ' extending westward, from the east all sons of tSplumby."

— FIRST IHKTO» IN QUEENS

The firstj doctor in Queens, of whom there is sny record was

dently had no sympathy with the meeting for they went on their way, leaving the disappointed 500 rig hi where they were^—still waiting.

Nine o'clock came but no buses. Then ten o'clock and s^ll the hoped for sign had not been heard. Ten-thirty, then, eveien, and finally, midnight cut the night in twain and no smoky gas snd oil fumes to cheer up the" fast dwindling spirits of an even faster diminishing crowd.

Those at the meeting were sick

BIRTHDAY OF 'FARMER'

Daddy of Long I s l and D a i l y Press Was Born March 1,1898

On March 1. 1898. Jamaica at* tained the dignity of hav4ng a daily newspaper to reporr Its activities. This was the Long Island Farmer which later became known as the Long Island Press and Farmer.

Unfortunately, no/copy of that first issue is in the possession of The Press nor is one on file at the Queens Borough Public Library. There is, however, a copy of the weekly Democrat of that date.

Lewis M. Wood was publisher and proprietor of the Democrat, which was later absorbed into The Press. The Democrat of that Issue was a 14-page paper with no local news on the front page. This front page con­sisted of four columns of adver­tising and not quite three columns of reading matter cut Into by ad­vertisements.

The Jamaica Savings Bank had an ad which gave a list" of its of­ficers . and Time of office houis. Aaron A. Degrauw wa^ its presi­dent. Another advertisement was from the Bank of Jamaica, located at Jamaica avenue and 161st street. John H. SUtphin was president and Willim L. Wood was cashier.

B. Faber and Sons and A. B. Gil-mour advertised their shoe shops, while Elijah Raynor, Adolph Her-zog and Andrew Kammerer an­nounced they were cigar merchants. Gus H. Fertsch was a furniture dealer with a store at Jamaica a\ -nue and Ray street. Among the grocers were J. and T. Adikes, John H. Brinckerhoff, Brown Brothers, George Durland, and Beers and Coi-nell. Two dentists to ad\ertise were Dr. Charles H. Stevens and Dr. Eugene" F. Beers. Isaac C Hendrick-son was in the lumber, coal and wood business with a yard on 168; h street on the site of the present 104th Field Artillery armory.

Other advertisements in the Dem­ocrat of that day proclaimed Car­rie A. Wood of 74 Union avenue, Ja­maica, as a dressmaker, "to go out by the day." Jiflus Laube was a sanitary plumber, while Dr. Beldln announced "Croup, the only medi­cine known that will cure mem­branous croup, or any kind of croup, sore throat, enlarged ton­sils, etc. It has never failed to cure any kind of croup. Sold by all drug* gists. Price, 50 cents, per box. Dr. Beldin Proprietory Company Rem­edy."

The reading matter on page one consisted of a column article on California sardines, another on 'Then and Now" devoted to the history of the education of women, and a column of jottings of interest. You opened your Democrat to get at the local news.

The leading editorial on page 2 was entitled "Is It Peace or War?" The U. S. S. Maine had been sunk two weeks before. Editor Wood concluded his editorial by express­ing the opinion that there would be no war.

News of the day Included notice of the funeral of Charles H. Har­ris, the first telegrapher to be sta­tioned at Jamaica. He was an of­ficer of the Dutch Reformed Church where his funeral was held.

A tribe of Red Men was insti­tuted in Fraternity Hall on 161st street with Theodore P. Archer at its head; the annual meeting of the supporters of Jamaica Hospital to elect*three trustees had been held and those elected were Mary R, Gale from the Episcopal Church, Mrs. Henry L Nostrand from th* Dutch Reformed Church and Mrs. Philip H. Remsen from the Presby­terian,

Among other items of news in that issue were

"Ex-Mayor (Charles E.) Twombly has ordered an electric wagon and in a few days we may look for him doing the town in it. He and h*s wife returned from Florida on Sat­urday."

"Boss Carpenter Valentine Ban-gert has started to build the new addition to the electric light and power house, a structure 50x80 with an extension of 70 feet. In all, 50x150. The business of the company has increased so as to force the company to increase their facilities. Bangert built the present power house about two years ago.

I ? ? S f f i ^ W S l K M «red of the call of "Here Th -y ougS. while j the eastern part of the S L ^ . ^ ^ „*.„, . .* tw. „K ' Come." They changed the chorus ™., JtC ir„„£„ .« v . .—, , JTiri,.. ! °f * popular song of that day to courfty. known as Nassau, taking | ^ H a v t N o B u g # g / W f a < m its fame from the early name for Long Island

t part of Queens County com­prehended ih the consolidation com­prised Lonk Island City, (First Ward), the tbwns of Newtown (Sec­ond Ward), Flushing (Third Ward),

they became tired of those phrasei, they replied to reports of the im­minence of the buses That's* a lot of boloney."

It was like the old fable of Uie boy and the wolf. They refused to

Jamgica (Fourth Ward), and that * * •** attention to the crlee that

ground was broken for tne before the Civil War, and named due tor Charles Noll, who signaled ground donated by Joseph Hallett: edifice. In the Spring of 1934 , log prominent families by those j Motorman William Price who stej.- The plot was situated on the old

plant was complete* and the pr«>- names residing there. ! ! ped the tsain with all possible speed, j Newtown Road, in Middletbwn. just «et church waa dedicated toy ; HILSIDE (Jamaica) — Named Rontoli's death was said to have east of where the Astoria Casino

Williams. j because of Itg location on the sou .a I instantaneous. |now stands.

portion of the town of Hempstead ! t h * b u a € * w * r * .«••»*«•. The mem­bers of the Democratic Club went

ern limits of the Incorporated vil- \ h o m « i n disgust. lagelof Far Rockaway. to Rockaway ! Finally, when it was about 12:30. Beadh Inlet; now known as the t h * f4?w remaining members of tr.e Fifth Ward, its territory comprised midnight vigil were rewarded. The jeraL Cadwallader Colden. wrote to

is , aiyarea of 117 square miles and in- two buses did arrive but there was j Attorney General John Jay in 1799 !S i eluded therein were eight ineor- jnot enough spirit left in the crowd that T h e Court of Queens County

Pity the Poor Editor In Times Like These

Ih 1683 when Queens was organ­ized as one of the counties of the Colony of New York, there were on­ly 90 families in what is now com­prised in the First and Second Wards, There were no newspapers in those days to publish news of a housing shortage, but there were likewise no railroads, automobiles or airplanes, no payroll holdups, no movies, and many other of today* sources of news—so what would the poor editor have found to print?

Sellers, Drinkers Blocked Court House Entrance

Court days were holiday* two centuries ago and the farmers gath­ered there and apent the day. Those were the days when all gentlemen drank, and far be it from the sher­iff to deprive them of that pleasure Liquor was so much in evidence that the Assistant Attorney Gen-

shingle" in i lespat (Maspeth) Kills I porated villages besides Long Is- for a cheer.

4 » I

as early as 1645 He probably took his pay in garden truck, etc, as money waa a scarce commodity In those days.

r

/

land City. nAmely: Hushing. Col- The buses were newly built at a lege Point, Whitestone. Jamaica, ! coat of I6J00 each. They had a Richmond Hill. Far Rockaway, Ar- seating capacity ef 10 persona for verne and Rockaway Beach. each.

is at all tides the least orderly cf any. court I was ever in. The entry of the Court House is lined en court days with the stalls of dram sellers and filled with drunken people"

•

-¥ ,.,,;.. , ^

; |