Benjamin F. Jewett

[jon hynes]

JUDGE WILLARD

was again heard in explanation. He said he did not wish to be understood as holding out a general impeachment against the remonstrants, but simply as in opposition to the misrepresentations used in working against the proposed park, Why did the previous speaker purchase a residence recently on a fine park ? Was it to have a place to whip carpets in ? No, he purchased it for the site. If not for the site, he could have purchased as much land on Steel's hill far less, or perhaps gift. The law of the Charter is constitutional till decided otherwise.

SPICE

Mr. Miller rose to explain in regard to his recent purchase, that he intended to pay for it himself, and he didn't ask for assistance.

Judge Willard - The point lies in the fact that he purchased his residence long after he park was established, and of course the park cost him nothing. [Applause]

[jon hynes]

METCALF'S MOVE

Ald. Metcalf offered a resolution that the required legal notice be published that the land referred to is to be taken for the park, and also stating the district to be taxed.

SHELDON'S VIEW

Ald. Sheldon offered a resolution as an amendment that as the owners of property fronting on the proposed park are willing to pay one-half the cost, they do so, and the city pay the other half.

CLOGHER'S IDEA

Ald. Clogher offered as an amendment to the amendment a resolution that A. K. Culver, Grove W. Bagg and John Carton assess one-half the expense of the proposed park on the property fronting thereon, and the other half on the other property in the district, that each property-owner might know what the expense would be to him, then, if tax-payers numbering a majority of the foot frontage decided in favor of the proposed park, it should be ordered made by the Council.

Aid. Clogher supported his amendment. He had come to the conclusion that the course defined in the resolution would be the best after hearing both sides of the question from petitioners and remonstrants.

[jon hynes]

DISCUSSION

Ald. Johnson said the charter gives no power to assess the expense of the proposed park. The Recorder has the sole power to appoint freeholders. Aid. Sheldon's amendment is out of the question, from the fact that the charter gives the Council no power to raise over $40,000 a year by tax. He thought, the issue was as to whether the improvement is a public improvement or not. One important point is that fact that seven streets open at this point, and two more probably will. It would make no difference whether either of the amendments were adopted or not, being illegal.

Ald. Everts liked Ald. Clogher's plan with the exception of the majority of foot frontage clause.

[jon hynes]

ACTION

Aid. Clogher's amendment was adopted by the following vote:

Yeas - Ald. Clogher, Donaldson, Edmonds, Everts, Fass, Faulkner, Hirt, Lux, McCall, Sang, Sheldon, Williams, Wilsey, and the Mayor - 14.

Nays-Ald. Case, Johnson, Metcalf, Quinn, Thomas, White, D. I. And White N. A. - 7.

The resolution as amended adopted by the following vote:

Yeas - Ald. Clogher, Donaldson, Everts, Fass, Faulkner, Hirt, Lux, McCall, Sang, Sheldon, Thomas, Williams, Wilsey and the Mayor - 10.

Nays - Ald. Case, Johnson, Metcalf, Quinn, White, D. P., and White, N. A. - 6

[jon hynes]

TIME FOR WORK

It was decided that the subject be postponed until a week from Friday evening, to give the appraisers time.

After the transaction of considerable other and minor business, the Council at 10:40 adjourned.


Daily Observer 1872

[jon hynes]

THE ONEIDA PARK

Ald. Faulkner presented a resolution providing for the purchase of Mr. Dobson's and Dr. Watson's property at the junction of Genesee and Oneida streets, the former for $15,000 and the later for $20,000, the same to be used for a public park, the expense therefor to be assessed in accordance with the 86th section of the City Charter.

Ald. Sheldon suggested that if the property named was purchased at once, the city or parties assessed would be obliged to pay the assessment for the paving of Genesee street above Oneida Square. He favored the park, but did not want to pay for the pavement.

Ald. Clogher said he would like to be clear as to whether the expense could be legally assessed upon property fronting on the proposed park, and collected.

Ald Metcalf reported that the property named could be sold for $5,500 leaving $20,500 to be assessed. Report received and filed until the other question was disposed of.

Ald. Clogher favored the proposed Park, but wished to proceed cautiously. He moved to refer the subject to the Committee on Legal Proceedings and the City Attorney. He did not wish to block the proposition.

Ald. Johnson said that this question had been brought up week after week, for months. It seemed to him that Alderman should be posted upon thirds subject at once.

[jon hynes]

THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OPINION

The City Attorney said this was a matter between the Charter and the Constitution of the State of New York. If the Charter is followed, the proposed course in regard to the purchase of the property for the park is all right. The Charter is evidently constitutional until it is declared unconstitutional. If the city takes this property before the assessment for paving is made, the city will have to pay the local assessments. Upon the question of the legality of the proposed assessment, different counsel who have been interested as attorneys in the matter are in doubt.

Ald. Williams raised some technical points.

Ald. Sheldon wanted a provision introduced into a resolution so as to provide that the present owners of the property will pay the expense for improvements already made and to be made.

Ald. D. P. White hoped the Council would carry out the provisions of the charter and have that part of the city beautified some time next year. He did not believe that Ald. William's technical points were pertinent to the question at issue.

Utica Daily Observer 1872

[jon hynes]

Eleemosynary and Charitable Institutions

From History of Oneida County Vol 1. by Henry Cookinham Chapter XXVIII

_{Transcribed by B. McCulloch}

Utica Orphan Asylum - In 1826 a society was formed among the influential ladies in Utica known as the Female Society of Industry, the object being to procure funds for the establishment of an orphan asylum. A charter was granted January 7, 1830, and in the same year a building was procured on the northeast corner of John and Catharine Streets. Later the establishment was removed to the southeast corner of Chancellor Square. In 1842 a citizens’ meeting was held in the interest of the institution, and it was decided to apply for an amendment to the charter by which children, who had one parents, might be accepted at the asylum. In 1845 the asylum was on Broadway, and in 1846 the lot was purchased at 312 Genesee Street, upon which a building was constructed and the institution was located there until 1861. Benjamin F. Jewett donated three acres of land on the corner of Genesee and Pleasant Streets and a new building was constructed on this lot in 1861 and upon this lot the building now stands. The institution has received from time to time gifts by will and otherwise, until it has a substantial endowment. The last gift of importance was that of Mrs. Lydia Francis, which was received by the institution through the will of Mrs. Francis, and amounted to about $65,000. With a portion of this fund a hospital separate from the other building was erected, and was completed and occupied about a year since. The last report of the institution, which is for the year 1911, shows that 17 of the older boys are in attendance at the public schools; it also shows that the children of the institution are instructed in kindergarten work, in Sunday school, physical exercises, and at time the older boys have received military drill. The girls are instructed in cooking and sewing. The balance sheet shows that the receipts during the last year were $29,069.67, and the disbursements slightly over $600 less than the receipts.

[jon hynes]

St. John’s Orphan Asylum (Utica) was established in 1843. Its object then was, as it is today, the care and maintenance of parentless, neglected or destitute girls from Oneida and adjoining counties. In May, 1834, three Sisters of Charity were selected by the Superioress of the Community of Sisters of Charity of Emmitsburg, Maryland, for the new mission petitioned for by the residents of Utica. The following letter, written a few months after the arrival of the Sisters, cannot fail to be of historic interest to the readers of this sketch: “To the Rev. Walter Quarter, Utica, NY Dear Sir: We beg leave to call your attention and that of the congregation of St. John’s Church to the establishment of the Sisters of Charity, located on John Street, Utica, and will observe the many advantages growing out of the institution. Introducing them as a religious community, their utility is universally acknowledged by non-Catholics as well as Catholics. Abandoning what the world considers its comforts and conveniences, and devoting themselves exclusively to acts of piety, the education of the young, attending the deathbed of sickness in times of general distress, and in fact communicating the divine principles of Jesus, and looking to the joys of another world as a remuneration for all the privations in this. Surely the destitute little children, intended by Providence to bring into action the consummation of religion and virtue, will not want support. (Signed) J.C. Devereux.”

Minutes of the first recorded meeting: At a meeting of the trustees of St. John’s Church, in the city of Utica, held on the 24th day of September, 1838, John C. Devereux was elected president. There were present John C. Devereux, Nicholas Devereux, Owen O’Neil, James Barry, Michael Doyle and Michael McQuade. The following resolution was adopted: Resolved: That independent of the amount of two hundred dollars, to be contributed by John C and Nicholas Devereux, equally, we pledge ourselves, as trustees, to contribute four hundred dollars a year toward the support of Saint John’s Asylum.

[jon hynes]

The asylum was incorporated March 28, 1849, pursuant to chapter 319 of the laws of 1848 of the state of New York. Between 1849 and 1863 the following acted as president: Rev. Joseph Stokes and Francis Kernan. Since 1863 the institution has been under a board of directors, the Superioress being the president.
The institution is under the charge of the Sisters of Charity. It receives girls of every race and creed; educates them; instructs them in religion and morals, and gives them the technical training necessary to fit them for self-support. The age of the present building will make any thinking mind conscience of the fact that its shortcomings are so serious that only a new structure will remedy the defects. The building is 78 years old; its unfitness and dilapidation are evident, and it has long been overcrowded. The asylum has been fortunate in receiving from Matthew A. Carton the gift of an ideal site of 22 acres on upper Genesee Street, in the locality where many of Utica’s leading charities are situated. For the proper and safe housing of so many children a fireproof building is indispensable.
Now a new home is imperative, to build it $150,000 is needed. Of this amount $17,000 has been secured in the last three years. This home will accommodate 300 inmates, and the projected plans comprise of an orphan asylum and a technical school. The latter is a need surely felt in central New York. Its scope is to fit the orphans, after they have been discharged from county maintenance, which is generally at fourteen or fifteen (the critical age at which a girl is so ill-qualified to cope with the difficulties of life), to earn a respectable livelihood. The technical school is a self-supporting institution where the girls are instructed in dressmaking, millinery, cooking and trained service, thus making them self reliant members of society, a charity which all will concede to be most deserving.

[jon hynes]

St. Joseph’s Infant Home (Utica)- The first records of St. Joseph’s Infant Home show that it commenced its good work in caring for sick children, and that the infants were kept by different women, evidently in charge of the institution when the home was under lay management. It is said to have been first located on Cottage street, next on Rutger, and finally at the present site. The certificate of incorporation was obtained December 26, 1893, the first members being Rt. Rev. J.S.M. Lynch, N.J. Quinn, Miles O’Reilly, William Kernan and James J. Dwyer. In March 1894, a new house east of the viaduct on Rutger Street was leased for forty dollars per month to be used by the managers for the purposes of the institution. February 20, 1895, three Sisters of Charity from Emmitsburg, Maryland, took charge of the children, who were still under lay management. February 1, 1897, the property on Green Street was leased, and it was later purchased by the institution. The Sisters carried on the work under the board of managers until January 23, 1899. Having the approval of the Rt. Rev. Bishop and consent and support of the officers of the community of Emmitsburg, a transfer of the property was made, in consideration of the paying of all debts, liabilities and obligations of the corporation. At this time the property was mortgaged and the institution heavily in debt. There were then about 40 little children in the institution. The Sisters experienced many inconveniences, but with the support of numerous friends and good people of the vicinity, and by the holding of fairs and benefits they succeeded. Finally in 1905 they undertook the construction of the present building, as it was imperatively demanded. The institution is having it fair measure of success, and children from one day to seven years of age of all creeds and color are received. During the existence of the home it has cared for more than 1,400 children of very tender age. During the past year it sheltered and cared for 258, and at this date there are in the institution 148. To care for these are seven Sisters of Charity, three of whom are children’s nurses. There are also kindergarten teachers, and a number of other helpers sufficient to carry on the work in a proper manner. The present accommodations are of modern construction, bright and airy. There is also a beautiful chapel where services are held for the inmates, which are attended by the priests of St. Patrick’s parish.

[jon hynes]

Benjamin F. Jewett donated these three acres of land on this corner of Genesee and Pleasant Streets for the Utica Orphan Asylum

[jon hynes]

I'd like to thank Dave for his help doing OCRs on some of the old newspaper articles I find for here and in other areas. It helps quite a bit even if sometimes they don't come out to good. I have to look at the keyboard to type every letter which makes my typing v-e-r-y s-l-o-w, so every little bit helps. - Thanks Dave!

[fiona]

This is very interesting. When was this park proposed ? I think the remarks about the " fear of more tenemant " buildings being constructed ( like the Genesee flats or the Kanatenah) is very telling. .The maps are hard to read, though. Someone told me that this house was a farmhouse at one time to which I replied- "it's an awfully fancy farmhouse. I don't think so." The the maintinance man told me it was built in 1855 but the style is Queen Anne and Richardsonian Romanesqe, definately a style of the late 1880's, not the 1850's. It was interesting, though, to see all the farmland. The inside of this house must have been fantastic. The hardwood floors are all inlaid greek key parquet, the wood work and the volumes of the rooms are marvelous, the hall has a beautiful banister of mahogany with barley spooled turns, there are several stained glass windows and a steam heat system with an internal chimney. The pillars outside are all red Italian marble and the curved Romanesque arches add serene beauty to the entrance. The siteing of the house, back from the street on a little hill gives it a regal air. From the third floor you can see the whole of the parkway, which was then Steele's Hill. I would love to know who built it and who lived here. Can you help me out with this, Jon or Dave? Obviously you've run a search on Benjamin Jewett. I also recently read about the life of Addison Miller. He was quite wealthy, a mover and a shaker in Utica.

[fiona]

Obviously, this park was never built on the corner of Clinton and Oneida or Benjamin and Oneida. Am I correct in assuming so? Have you found such a park on any map?