1851-1852. Holy Cross Church, organized by German Catholics, dedicated at the s. w. corner of Hamilton and Philip streets, by Very Rev. John Conroy, cost, $9,000, Nov. 23. Young Men's Association enters new rooms in the recently erected Commercial Bank building on south side of State street, Dec. 10. Dec. 14. River closed to navigation, official record, Robert Dunlop, eminent merchant of this city who had acquired a fortune, dies at his home in Watervliet, aged 75 years, having come here from Scotland in 1806, Dec. 15. Law Department of the University of Albany opens, Judge Amasa J. Parker delivering a course of lectures in the Y. M. A. rooms in the new Commercial Bank building, Dec. 17. William L. Marcy presides at a meeting in the Capitol before the friends of Louis Kossuth and Hungarian freedom, Dec. 19. Margaret Whetten widow of the late Captain Stewart Dean, the navigator of this city after whom the street was named, aged 95 years, dies in New York city, Dec. 21. Canal commissioners award large contracts for enlarging the Erie canal, Dec. 30. 1852. Rain causing high water, the ice sweeps down, bearing past the city a canal-boat with woman and child aboard, who cannot be rescued because of the swift current and water filled with huge cakes of ice; but at Castleton they are rescued, Jan. 1. Rev. W. W. Moore begins pastorate of South Baptist Church, corner of Herkimer and Franklin streets, Jan. 4. Jan. 7. The fair held for the benefit of the new Orphan Asylum at Bleecker Hall, No. 527 Broadway, nets $3,249, New North Methodist Church, erected on site of the old No. Pearl street circus, dedicated. Jan. 11. Hon. Eli Perry is sworn a second time as the Mayor of Albany, at his home because of sickness, having been chosen at the Charter election held on Nov. 4, 1851, when his majority as the Democratic candidate, over Thomas McMullen, the Whig candidate was 972 votes, Jan. 12. Charter election. Mayor, Eli Perry; Common Council: Thomas Leonard, John McEvoy, I. William P. Malburn, Richard Godley. II. Garret V. S. Bleecker, John A. Sickles, III. Jacob Hendrickson, Charles Gay, IV. Alfred Van Santvoord, 1852. Visscher Ten Eyck, V. William Eggleston, George Dexter, VI. John J. Jarvis, Thomas Higgins, VII. Elias Vanderlip, Richard Stafford, VIII. James D. Wasson, Thomas W. Valentine, IX. George M. Sayles, Philip Fredenrich, X. Election, Nov. 4, 1851; sworn in, Jan. 13. The first train on the Harlem Railroad, invited guests aboard, comes through to Albany and all dine at Congress Hall, Jan. 19. The Police Department succeeds the constabulary system. Third Police Precinct occupying building on Jackson street. Fourth Police Precinct station located n. w. Lancaster and Dove. Enormous procession of Temperance societies marches to the Capitol, but not all can be accommodated and some proceed elsewhere, John Gott, born in Vermont in 1786, removed to this city in 1799, and engaged in tobacco business, described as "a fine old gentleman," aged 68 years, dies, Feb. 2. Sylvanus J. Penniman, coming here from Lansingburg in 1823 and opening the drug house that was bought out by J. and Archibald McClure in 1832, which firm continued it under similiar name (McClure & Co.) for half a century, aged 71, dies, Jan. 28. Feb. 7. William Gould's (law-book seller) wife, Mary, aged 75 years, dies, Feb. 7. A posse of 22 policemen visit the scene of the anti-renters in the Helderbergs, where Mr. Fish had been tarred and feathered, returning with two prisoners, after being attacked with weapons, Feb. 23. The Bethlehem Washington Guards, attacked while on parade by a mob of young ruffians, necessitating the visit of police, March 6. Albany City Hospital's board of governors purchase the old jail at s. e. corner of Eagle and Howard streets for purpose of converting it into a hospital, March 20. March 20. River open to navigation, official record, April 13. April 17. After a session of 102 days the Legislature adjourns, Plain streets) commenced, April 20. Mount Moriah Lodge (Ancient City) No. 143, instituted. Gen. Solomon Van Rensselaer, a distinguished fighter and leader at the battle of Queenstown on Oct. 13, 1812, congressman, 1852. son of Gen. Henry K. Van Rensselaer. (b. Greenbush, in the old Genet Mansion) aged 77, dies at his Cherry Hill mansion south of the city, April 23. Funeral of Gen. Solomon Van Rensselaer attended by military honors, Louis Kossuth, the Hungarian exile of note, arrives by eastern train, is received by military bodies and escorted to Congress Hall (hotel) where he is addressed by Gov. Washington Hunt. April 26. May 18. Louis Kossuth makes an address at Third Presbyterian Church, May 20. Kossuth leaves by railroad for Niagara, having received a fund of $2,000 here to aid the Hungarians, May 21. Lots sold north of Madison avenue for opening Steamboat Square, May 27. Meeting of the trustees of the proposed Dudley Observatory, Thomas W. Olcott chosen president, plans of Mr. Downing examined and a building committee named, May 28. Louis Kossuth, on second visit to the city, addresses a large audience at Association Hall, stating that he was through traveling in this country. Rabbi Wise opening the exercises, June 5. Kossuth departs for New York aboard steamboat Alida, June 7. New express train starts running to Buffalo, making the trip in the fast time of 14 hours. June 14. New Steamboat, Francis Skiddy, built by George Collyer, 1,235 tons, 322 feet long, 38 feet broad, 11 feet deep, 71 x 168 in. engine, arrives for first time, making trip in 7 hrs., 24 minutes, record, June 21. Nail works of Erastus Corning, below Troy, burn with a loss of $50,000, June 27. The Freie Blaetter, a German newspaper, Aug. Miggael editor, No. 44 Beaver street, established. New steamboat Francis Skiddy makes record trip from New York, 6 hrs., 551⁄2 mins., deducting landings, June 30. James Stevenson, former mayor, lawyer, estimable citizen and ever working assiduously to advance the city's interests, a member of a number of large business interests, aged 65 years, dies, July 3. July 4. Independence Day celebrated, J. I. Werner the orator, Green Street theatre opened after being used by the Baptists as a church for 40 years, July 5. 1852. Remains of Henry Clay escorted to the railroad station by the July 6. by fire resulting from alcohol, July 23. Steamboat Henry Clay burned on its way to New York and nearly one hundred lives lost, July 28. New York & Erie railroad completed. First public procession of the Turn-Verein and Sing-Verein, Aug. 16. Ferry-boat capsizes and 20 of 25 passengers drown, Aug. 22. Steamboat Reindeer bursts a flue at Bristol (40 miles south of this city) and seven persons are killed, Sept. 4. City authorities take possession of the South Ferry, Sept. 7. barrels of beer, falls, doing great damage, Sept. 10. Akin & Schuyler take ferry rights, paying city $2,200 annually, Sept. 29. Steamboat Mary Powell first in commission. Normal School elects Samuel B. Woolworth its (3rd) principal, succeeding George R. Perkins who came into that office in 1848. Gen. Winfield Scott arrives here and is escorted to the Capitol by military bodies, where he is addressed by Judge John C. Spencer, General Scott departs for New York, Oct. 16. Oct. 18. Gen. Chauncey Humphrey, former prominent citizen, dies at Middlebury, Vt., Oct. 18. Albany City Volunteers organize, John Arts captain, Citizens assemble at the City Hall to express resolutions on the death of Daniel Webster, Oct. 21. Oct. 26. On Mayor Perry's recommendation, citizens close all places of business out of respect to Daniel Webster, at noon, during his funeral at Marshfield, Oct. 29. Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception dedicated by Archbishop Hughes, in presence and assisted by another archbishop, 5 bishops and 50 priests, with an audience of 4,000 persons, Nov. 21. Dec. I. Rev. A. A. Thayer installed at Universalist Church, Dec. 9. John Taylor's malt-house partly destroyed, loss $15,000, Dec. 10. Grace Episcopal Church dedicated by Bishop Wainwright, Dec. 14. 1852-1853. The steamboat Hendrik Hudson frozen in while going to New York, Dec. 22. River closed to navigation, official record, Dec. 23. New edifice of First Baptist Society, Hudson ave., Plain and Philip sts. first opened for service, Steamboat Isaac Newton, having been sheathed with iron, forces. her way to Coeymans, and liberating the Hendrik Hudson, brings that steamer to this city, Dec. 29. Dec. 26. 1853. Jan. 1. Horatio Seymour inaugurated Governor of New York, Legislature convenes, Jan. I. Jan. 4. In row at Green Street theatre policeman stabbed by bayonet in hands of one of a dozen who had forced entrance to take possession for Mr. Preston, Jan. 11. Anna Maria Saltus, wife of Lansing Pruyn, dies, Jan. 29. L. R. Brock appointed keeper of almshouse, vice Halliday, Jan. 31. city paper at this time, Feb. 1. Survivors of campaign of 1812 arrive from New York and are Feb. 3. Feb. 4. joined here by thirty-eight Albany comrades who parade under Col. Haight, escorted by Republican Artillery, Survivors of 1812, one hundred in number, joined by thirty-eight of Albany, addressed by Gov. Seymour at Capitol, Green Street theatre sold for 86,975 under sheriff's hammer, Feb. 8. Mr. Forsyth presents petition to Legislature for establishment of a House of Refuge at Albany, Feb. 18. Bill to consolidate the various railroad lines between Albany and Buffalo passed by Assembly, March 23. River open to navigation, official record, March 23. |