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Post by jon hynes on Aug 31, 2009 21:06:30 GMT -5
THE CORPORATION, like Colgate University, was established with the magic figure "13" - the number comprising the board of managers.
(Colgate was founded By 13 churchmen who had 13 dollars and 13 prayers and a constitution of 13 articles.)
The first managers were, Theodore S. Faxton, William J. Bacon, William D. Hamlin, Edward S. Brayton, Charles. C. Kingsley, Samuel W. Fisher, Philemon H. Fowler, Ashbel G. Vermilye, Henry H. Hurd, Alfred S. Patton, George H. Thomas, Edward Curran, and G. Clarence Churchill.
What the women's group did not know was that Theodore Faxton had already provided in his will for such a home.
His bequest was for $20,000. In addition, secured and furnished a brick house on upper Whitesboro Street near Utica State Hospital. Soon there were nine aged women guests there under the care of a matron.
The 13 men joined forces for the purpose of making valid the bequest in Faxton's will.
Soon after the home was established the corporation requested its executive to map a plan by which the women who were conducting the home could become associated with the institution to be known as the "Home for the Homeless.
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Post by jon hynes on Aug 31, 2009 21:07:47 GMT -5
A COMMITTEE representing both groups then met and reached an agreement. The men were to serve as trustees of the property and funds and the women were to conduct the administration as managers. This was on Nov. 2. 1868, nearly two years after the men first met and incorporated.
The women, however, soon afterward, made a direct appeal to Faxton to turn his will into immediate action. He acted at once. He said the $20,000 promised would be available at any time when a like sum was pledged by other contributors. The women got busy. By Jan. 11, 1869. the group had raised $24,324. The trustees Immediately met and named a building committee.
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Post by jon hynes on Aug 31, 2009 21:08:52 GMT -5
MEANWHILE Faxton also was busy. He had acquired a site for the home on a portion of the Jewett Farm. He offered this as an installment on his contribution. The offer was accepted.
Construction of the building to shelter 50 persons got under way. It was ready for occupancy by Dec. 26, 1870.
Faxton who through the years contributed generously to
worthwhile projects in Utica then another benefactor XXXXXXX the entire cost of the building in addition to the site.
Another benefactor Benjamin F. Jewett, who with his two sisters, presented a deed for four lots adjoining the property.
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Post by jon hynes on Aug 31, 2009 21:10:41 GMT -5
THE FAXTON Street Home is self-supporting and wholly dependent on its entrance fees and bequests from interested friends to meet the operating expenses.
The first of these legacies was from a will of a sewing woman. The amount was not large, but it inspired others to give. Her attorney, Jason F. Cox, became so interested that he made the home the residuary legatee of his own will, which eventually brought $35,000 to the endowment fund.
Another large legacy was that from the estate of Joseph F. Barton. Town of Marshall, which amounted to more than $60,000. Mrs. Lydia F. Francis, Remsen and Utica, left $35,000. This was used in part for the construction of an infirmary that was opened on June 8, 1907.
There have been many other bequests since.
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Post by jon hynes on Aug 31, 2009 21:11:41 GMT -5
THE HOME has Individual rooms for 67 guests. In the main building, in addition to residents' rooms, is a reception room, a chapel, the large Maynard Living room and an elevator to service all four floors.
More recently a beauty parlor and a new laundry were installed for use of the residents.
Each year the board of managers gives a tea at the home, when residents entertain personal friends. Special events, such as Christmas and Halloween, are celebrated with parties.
Monthly entertainment - music, illustrated travel talks, movies, parties and games - is provided by many local groups.
Weekly church services and prayer meetings are conducted in the chapel with local clergy participating.
The board of managers also has established a motor corps to assist the ladies for medical appointments, civic events and funerals.
The infirmary has new hospital type beds, tables and wheel chairs. All were donations.
Since 1953 the entrance plan to the home has been changed to give several choices to prospective guests. The original entrance fee was $100. It was raised to $140 In 1874 when the amount included burial costs.
The fee was raised to $200 in 1903, to $300 in 1913, to $400 in 1918, to $500 in 1923, to $1,000 in 1925, to $1,500 in 1946, to $3,000 in 1948 and to $2,500 in 1952.
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Post by jon hynes on Aug 31, 2009 21:13:13 GMT -5
PRESENT OFFICERS are president, Palmer Cutter; vice-president J. Kenneth Balad; treasurer: Frederick B. Griffin, and secretary: N Pearson Mason. Trustees: Baird Cutter, Griffin Mason, Henry M. Brown, Robert J. Bullwinkle, Edwin M. Fisher, Douglas J. Grant, Heber E. Griffith, Kenneth S. Hurd, William H. Krieger, Henry W. Millar and George N. Seybold.
The board of managers comprises: president, Mrs. Richard Hurd; vice presidents, Mrs. Howard Wiley, Mrs. Morgan Bisselle, and Mrs. Richard Sheldon, treasurer, Mrs. Clifford Benjamin, and secretary, Mrs. William Buxton.
Also on the board of managers: Mrs. Keene Abbott, Mrs. Lester Amtsberg, Mrs. Miles Bickelhaupt, Mrs. Henry Brown, Mrs. John Crego, Mrs. Fremont Dickins, Mrs. Paul Dorn, Mrs. Edwin Fisher, Mrs. John F. Folley, Mrs. Charles Gorton, Mrs. Charles Griffin, Mrs. P. Newell Hamlin.
Mrs. D. Walter Herpy, Mrs. Moses Hubbard Jr., Mrs. Arthur J. Lux Jr., Mrs. Fordyce Lux, Mrs. Robert Morris, Mrs. Frederick Odell, Mrs. Norman Peiletier, Mrs. Leon Platner, Mrs. Elmer Roberts, Mrs. Robert Roberts, Mrs. Peter Samson, Mrs. Royal Schwartz, Mrs. Norman W. Seiter, Mrs. Charles Severn, Mrs. Robert Sloan, Mrs. Leslie Stewart, Mrs. Harry Swancott, Mrs. W. Ario Sylvester, Mrs. William Tidd and Mrs. Willard Willis. Mrs. Seymour L. Hatfield Sr., maintains permanent residency as the home's matron.
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Post by jon hynes on Aug 31, 2009 21:17:04 GMT -5
[ PICTURE is too poor quality to post ]
Carrying On a Century-Old Idea
Many prominent names appear on the roster of the home's board of trustees. Theirs is the responsibility of carrying on an idea born 100 years ago to provide "protection, assistance and support, wholly or in part, to respectable, aged, indigent of infirmed women, who are unable to support themselves without assistance." Heber Griffith, left, a trustee, is with Palmer Cutter, president
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Post by jon hynes on Aug 31, 2009 21:19:52 GMT -5
[ PICTURE is too poor quality to post ]
Three Generations of 'Caring'
Among Faxton's board of managers is Mrs. Peter C. Samson, left, whose years of service at the home add up to 40. Her mother, Mrs. George Whiffen, was also on the board, as were her paternal grandmother, Mrs. Isaac Whiffen, and material grandmother, Mrs. Charles Reed (both were charier members). From the left, next to Mrs. Samson: Mrs. Charles A. Griffin, Mrs. P. Newel Hamlin, Mrs. Miles H. Bickelharpt and Mrs. Leon W. Platner, also board members.
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Post by jon hynes on Aug 31, 2009 21:25:41 GMT -5
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Interests Are Many
Faxton Home's residents enjoy any number of bobbles. Here, Mrs. Ethel Hurd, left, and Mrs. Frances Fesenger busily tend to their window plantings on thr homes sun porch.
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Post by jon hynes on Aug 31, 2009 21:27:50 GMT -5
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A Lady and Her Leisure
Mrs. Fesenger - whose moments are not always taken with green-growing things (photo above) finds prattle and puzzles another pleasant pastime.
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Post by jon hynes on Aug 31, 2009 21:29:37 GMT -5
[ PICTURE is too poor quality to post ]
A Lady and Her Work
Mrs. Seymour L. Hatfield Sr., the home's matron, keeps an orderly house and a busy schedule. It's always time to share a smile and friendship.
Utica Observer Dispatch - 1966
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Post by fiona on Aug 31, 2009 22:49:34 GMT -5
OK. I think I know what corner Jon is talking about- it is right across the road from me, the large red brick house that belonged to Sunny Jim Sherman and which he used as a guest house. That is on the north east corner. It is set way back from the street and is now empty. there is a sad story about that house- what I know- long after Sherman died and his brick home on Genesee Street, where the A&P was and where Rite Aide's is now, was torn down, the guest house remained. In the 1930's I heard it was a speakeasy. I don't know how true that is. I know it was a party house in the early 1970's. About 15 years ago Mayor Ed Hanna ochestrated a deal whereby it was sold to the owners of the Heidelberg Bakery for a "song:". There were people living there for years who had homesteaded and were slowly fixing it up. they bid on it, but were underbid by Heidelberg. The new owners have never lived there. They began to fix it up and abandonded the project, after gutting the house of all it's woodwork, mantals, ect. No one lives there now. The house is abandonded. Someone comes by to mow the lawn in the summer and that's about all. The yard is a mess, a litter of grass, weeds, tree limbs, tires, ect. No one ever shovels in the winter. It is for all intensive purposes an absentee landlord property. It breaks my heart every day. I am sure it was part of the Jewett property just as Jon says.
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Post by fiona on Aug 31, 2009 23:01:24 GMT -5
I vaguley remember this building on Faxton Street as still standing, empty and open, in the early 1970's. They of course torn it down to build housing for the elderly. An apt complex is there now. i think it is the Margret Knamm Apts.
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Post by jon hynes on Sept 7, 2009 23:49:05 GMT -5
Legal Notices
NOTICE OF SALE, Real Property
Sheriff's Sale County of Oneida
By virtue of no executions issued out of the Supreme Court in the County of Oneida, New York to me, the Sheriff of Oneida County, directed and delivered against H. Roberts Agne the Judgment debtor, herein named and upon and against any property now or formerly owned by him against which said judgment is now or may become a item I have seized all the right, title and interest which the said H. Roberts Agne had at the time of the entry and docket of said Judgment respectively of in and to the following described premises which I shall expose for sale and sell as the law directs at the Public Sales Room, Oneida County Court House, in the County of Oneida, City of Utica, New York on the 14th day of June, 1934, at 10:15 o'clock in the forenoon of that day. Daylight Saving Time, to wit:
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Post by jon hynes on Sept 7, 2009 23:50:11 GMT -5
All that tract or parcel of land situate in the City of Utica, County of Oneida and State of New York, designated on a map of Benjamin F. Jewett's Farm, made by Ira Edwards in 1883 and filed In Oneida County Clerk's Office, August 4, 1885 in Lots Nos. two (2) and forty-nine (49) in Block two (2) as laid down on said map. Said lots are each sixty-five (65) feet front and rear and two hundred (200) feet deep, and are situated on the easterly side of Genesee Street between Jewett Place and Faxton Street.
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