NYBROOKLYN-L Archives

From: "Miriam Medina" <>
Subject: [Bklyn] #9 New York City Historical Tid-Bits prior to 1900
Date: Sat, 2 Dec 2000 07:45:31 -0500

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Volume: X Page: 147

HOLLAND SOCIETY

A patriotic society, founded in New York City on April 6, 1885. Its
objects are to collect information respecting the early history and
settlement of the city and State of New York by the Dutch, and to discover
and preserve all existing documents, mementos, etc., relating to their
genealogy and history, as well as to publish material for a memorial history
of the Dutch in America, in which shall be particularly set forth the part
belonging to that element in the growth and development of American
character, Institutions, and progress. The society admits to membership
descendants, in the male line only, of a Dutchman who was a native or
resident of New York, or of the American Colonies, prior to the year 1675.
The insignia is an oval medallion with the head of William the Silent in
relief. The society has marked various historical localities in New York
City by inscribed brass plates: and publishes volumes containing historical
information. Its membership is upwards of 1000.

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Volume: X Page: 284

FREDERIC HUDSON

(1819-75). An American journalist, born in Quincy, Mass. After a
common-school education he went to New York City in 1836, and became
attached to the New York Herald, of which he soon became managing editor,
which position he held until 1866. His long experience and diligence in
collecting gave him abundant material for his Record of Journalism in the
United States from 1690 to 1872, published in 1873, which is perhaps the
most accurate and interesting history yet published of the rise and
development of the American Newspaper.

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Volume: X Page: 284

ERASMUS DARWIN HUDSON

(1843-87). An American physician, born in Massachusetts. He graduated at the
College of the City of New York in 1864, and at the College of Physicians
and Surgeons, New York City, in 1867. During 1867-68 he was house surgeon at
Bellevue Hospital. In 1869-70 he was health inspector of New York City; in
1870 was attending physician to the class for diseases of the eye in the
out-door department of Bellevue Hospital; was attending physician at
Northwestern Dispensary in 1870-72, and attending physician to Trinity
Chapel parish and Trinity Home in 1870-75. He was appointed professor of
principles and practice of medicine at the Woman's Medical College of the
New York Infirmary in 1872, and held that position for ten years; and from
1882 until his death was professor of general medicine and diseases of the
chest in the New York Polyclinic. He was the author of the following
professional works: "Report of Pulse and Respiration of Infants," in Eliot's
Obstetric Clinic (1872); Doctors, Hygiene and Therapeutics (1877); Methods
of Examining Weak Chests (1885); Limitations of the Diagnosis of Malaria
(1885); Home Treatment of Consumptives (1886); and Physical Diagnosis of
Thoracic Diseases (2d ed. 1887).

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Volume: X Page: 300

THE HUGUENOT SOCIETY OF AMERICA

An hereditary patriotic society, organized in New York City on April 12,
1883, and incorporated on June 12, 1885. Its objects are to perpetuate the
memory and to foster and promote the principles and virtues of the Hugenots;
to publicly commemorate at stated times the principal events in the history
of the Hugenots; and to collect and preserve all existing documents,
monuments, etc., relating to the genealogy or history of the Huguenots of
America. Membership is extended to descendants of Huguenot families which
emigrated to America or to other countries prior to the promulgation of the
Edict of Toleration, November 28, 1787, as well as to writers who have made
the history of the Huguenots a special subject of study. The insignia of the
society consists of a badge, pendent from a gold dove with spreading wings
surmounted by a rising sun, and worn on a watered-silk ribbon of white,
bordered with red, white, and blue. The badge itself is of Gold, surrounded
by a wavy, ornamental border, and bearing on the obverse the device of
Marguerite de Valois, a marigold turning toward the sun, and a ribbon with
the motto, "Non Inferiora Secutus," while on the reverse is the name of the
society, as well as the name of the member and number of the insignia. This
society has its headquarters in New York City, where a valuable library,
consisting of Huguenot books, manuscripts, et., has been collected. There
are branch societies in several States and cities, notably in Virginia,
Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and New Jersey. Its publications are known as
Collections of the Huguenot Society of America. In 1898 it celebrated the
tercentenary anniversary of the promulgation of the Edict of Nantes, at
which delegates from societies abroad were present, and a memorial volume
containing a full account of the exercises was published in 1900.

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Volume: IX Page: 566

HARLEM

A local name for that part of New York City above 106th Street between
the East and Harlem rivers and Eighth Avenue. Originally a separate
settlement, for many years it was a quaint Dutch village, mainly of private
residences surrounded by gardens and farms. It was noted for abundance of
shade-trees, and the sleepy quietness so quaintly described by Washington
Irving in the Knickerbocker's History of New York. The designation is often
applied, in a loose sense, to the entire northern portion of the city.

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Volume: IX Page: 566

HARLEM RIVER

A tidal channel about 500 feet wide, separating Manhattan Island, New
York City, from the mainland, and extending from the Hudson at Spuyten
Duyvil Creek seven miles southeast to the East River at Randall's Island. A
short ship-canal across the northern end of Manhattan Island, between the
Hudson and the Harlem, was opened in 1895. The Harlem is spanned by a number
of bridges, the finest being Washington Bridge and High Bridge, the latter
an aqueduct bridge. A magnificent roadway, known as the Speedway, has been
constructed along the western shore of the Harlem. On a lofty eminence on
the opposite shore are the beautiful buildings of New York University.

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Volume: IX Page:

WILLIAM VICTOR HARRIS

(1869---). An American song composer, born in New York. He was a pupil of
Charles Blumm, William Courtney, F.K. Schilling, and Anton Seidl. He was a
successful organist, and from 1889 to 1895 held important appointments in
Tuxedo Park, Brooklyn, and New York. He was for three years a teacher and
coach at the Metropolitan Opera, New York; for one season was conductor of
the Utica Choral Union, and served as assistant conductor under Seidl at
the Brighton Beach summer concerts (1895-96). He afterwards took up his
residence in New York, and established himself as a vocal instructor and
composer. He published compositions for piano, organ, and chorus, but is
principally known for his songs, whcih have been remarkably successful.

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Volume IX Page: 740-741

HELL GATE

A passage, called by the Dutch settlers of New York Helle Gat, being that
part of the East River between Long Island and Manhattan Island, also
between Long Island and Ward's Island, and between Ward's Island and
Manhattan Island. The reefs of rock in the main passage, some of which were
islands at low tide, caused with rising and falling of the tide numerous
whirlpools and eddies, which rendered navigation at times dangerous, always
difficult, and for large ships impossible, although the depth in the
tortuous channel might be sufficient. The East River receives the Sound tide
from the east and the Sandy Hook tide from the south. The times as well as
heights of these tides being different, additional force is imparted to
these treacherous currents. It was claimed that one out of every fifty
sailing vessels attempting to go through Hell Gate was more or less damaged
by the rocks.
A survey was made in 1848 by Lieutenants Charles H. Davis and David
Porter, of the United States Navy, and in their report they recommended the
destruction by blasting of Pot Rock, Frying Pan, and Ways Reef, which lie
between Long Island and Ward's Island.
The first attempts at removing the obstructions in Hell Gate were made by
M. Maillefert, with whom a contract was made by citizens of New York. He
commenced work in August, 1851, and by surface blasting operated upon the
most prominent surface of the rocks and reduced them to an average depth of
about sixteen feet. Congress in 1851, appropriated for the work $20,000 and
placed it under the direction of Major Fraser. The method was by surface
blasting, as had been practiced by M. Maillefert. The reefs in this channel
are largely composed of a stratified gneiss, and the layers, being tipped up
nearly perpendicular, were unevenly affected by the action of the water, the
softer parts being worn away and the harder parts left in vertical sheets or
points. In 1866 Gen. John Newton, of the United States Engineer Corps, was
ordered to make a survey, and proposed the construction of a drilling scow
which should be securely moored at the site of operations. The machine was
constructed, and put into operation on Diamond Reef, near the mouth of the
East River, in May, 1871. Coenties Reef was also operated on with this scow
in alternation with the work on Diamond Reef. These operations proving
satisfactory, the machine was taken to Hell Gate, where it was in operation
nearly three years, and effected a great improvement in the channel.
The first really important engineering accomplishment was the removal by
tunneling and blasting of Hallet's Point Reef, which extended from the
Astoria shore into the East River. By means of diverging tunnels and
transverse galleries the reef was thoroughly undermined and nitroglycerin in
cans was introduced into a large number of holes drilled in the pillars
supporting the roof and in the roof itself. After water was let into the
mine the nitrogen was exploded and the reef was destroyed, the debris being
removed by grappling and dredging, so that there was a depth of 26 feet at
low water over the site of the reef. The explosion at Hallet's Point took
place September 24th, 1876, and was followed by energetic prosectuion of
work on Flood Rock or Middle Reef, where similar tunnels were constructed.
After over 21,000 feet of tunneling had been constructed and holes
aggregating 113,192 feet had been drilled, 300,000 pounds of explosives were
put into the holes, and water was let into the tunnel. The result of the
explosion that took place October 10, 1885, and subsequent dredging, was to
provide a channel of uniform depth of 26 feet through Hell Gate.

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To be continued: #10 New York City Historical Tid-Bits prior to 1900.

Miriam Medina

The abovementioned articles in their exact word by word entirety were taken
from:
Source: The New International Encyclopaedia
Copyright: 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905
Publisher: Dodd, Mead and Company--New York
Total of 21 volumes

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• [Bklyn] #9 New York City Historical Tid-Bits prior to 1900 by "Miriam Medina" <>