A Little Taste Of History (20)

Topic: Clubs, Societies Pre: 1905 #1

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.

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 Huguenots; 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.

Independent Order of Free Sons of Israel

A Jewish fraternal and benevolent society, with headquarters in New York City, founded on January 10, 1849. It has three grand lodges and 103 subordinate lodges, distributed throughout the United States, and had in 1902 a total membership of some 11,000. At the same time it had a reserve fund of over $860,000 and had since its organization paid to widows and other beneficiaries $3,300,000 and by lodges for benefits $3,150,000.

Contact: miriammedina@earthlink.net or miriam@thehistorybox.com

A Little Taste Of History (19)

Topic: Wealthy Businessmen of NYC

William Backhouse Astor (1792-1875)

As a consequence of an inheritance of $500'000 from his uncle Henry Astor, a butcher on the Bowery, through generous gifts and business partnerships from his father as well as his own shrewd investments in real estate, William Backhouse Astor was worth $5'000'000 in his own right. Through his marriage to Margaret Livingston Armstrong, the only daughter of General John Armstrong and Alida Livingston of Clermont, William Backhouse Astor brought the Astor family into New York's High Society. at the time of his death, he owned more than 700 buildings.

Heber Reginald Bishop (1840-1902)

He had an interest in the Duluth & Iron Range Railroad and several other ironworks, including the Lackawanna Iron & steel Company. A much respected member of New York's financial community, Heber Bishop was a trustee of the Metropolitan Trust Company, the Metropolitan Museum of Natural History and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He was a member of New York's most exclusive clubs and a renowned socialite.

Henry A. Coster (Died 1821)

Henry A. Coster and his brother John G. Coster had a solid reputation of sagacious merchants and pillars of New York's financial community. Henry A. Coster was a director of the Manhattan Bank from 1801 to 1806 and of the Merchants Bank thereafter. He was also in the directorship of the Globe Insurance Company. He lived next door to the store until 1817, when he moved to more residential number 85 Chambers Street. He also had a country seat at what later became First Avenue, between 30th and 35th streets.

Stuyvesant Fish (1851-1923)

The youngest son of Secretary of State Hamilton Fish graduated from Columbia in 1874 with a Master degree. He started his career as a clerk in the New York office of the Illinois Central Railroad, a favorite investment of the City's old established families. In 1872, he became secretary to the president of the railroad : 'Colonel' Henry S. McComb. Through his grand-mother, Stuyvesant Fish descended from one of New York's eldest families and was predestined to inherit a large fortune made through appreciation of city real estate. But Stuyvesant Fish would not content himself to be an idle rich and took a position at Morton, Bliss & Company to learn the banking business. He left New York to work at the bank's English correspondent firm, Morton, Rose & Company, but returned in 1877 to become a director of the Illinois Central Railroad. Stuyvesant Fish rose in the Illinois Central railroad hierarchy, became second vice president in 1883, first vice president in 1884 and president in 1887, a position he kept for two decades. In his later years, Stuyvesant Fish lived the life of an upper class gentleman and assured his family's social position at the side of his socially talented wife "Mamie".

Contact: miriammedina@earthlink.net or miriam@thehistorybox.com

A Little Taste Of History (18)

Topic: New York City's Theatres Pre: 1911 #1

Abbey's Park Theatre

Nearly on the site of the old Buck's Horn Tavern, Abbey's Park Theatre stood in the seventies and eighties. The Stock company was one of the best in New York, containing several actors who later joined Daly's company. Between seasons many well-known actors appeared; among them, Mrs. Langtry, who made her American debut upon this stage.

The house was planned by Dion Boucicault, but he got into difficulties and was not its manager when it opened in 1874. It came under the management of Abbey on November 27, 1876,the actress Lotta being his financial backer. Among the plays first given here was "The Gilded Age" in which John T. Raymond appeared as the protagonist, Colonel Mulberry Sellers. The play was founded on Mark Twain's story of the same name. The house was destroyed by fire, October 30, 1882,several hours before the evening performance, and was not rebuilt.

Lester Wallack's Theatre

Lester Wallack moved into his up-town theatre at the northeast corner of Thirtieth Street in February, 1881, but the building was not ready for opening until January 4, 1882. The exterior of the building has never been completely finished. Here Wallack had an excellent stock company as before; but the house never became so famous or so popular as the old Thirteenth street theatre perhaps, because a new generation of theatre-goers had grown up and the actor-manager was getting old. He retired from active management, and the house opened as Palmer's Theatre on October 8, 1888, to become and remain Wallack's once more on December 7, 1896.

Banvard's Museum and Theatre

The oldest theatre in this neighborhood was originally Banvard's Museum and Theatre at 1221 Broadway, near Thirtieth Street. It was the first building in the city erected expressly for museum purposes, and was opened June 17, 1867. It became Wood's Museum and Metropolitan Theatre in 1868, and Wood's Museum and Menagerie in 1869. Very good plays with first-class actors were given under both managers, as I can personally testify. In 1877, it became the Broadway Theatre, and two years later it became Daly's remaining under the management of Augustin Daly until his death. It was the one theatre where the visitor could find the perfection of acting, management, and presentation, whether the play were a French or German farce or a Shakesperian revival. Ada Rehan, John Drew, Mrs. Gilbert, James Lewis, George Clarke, and others were known, admired, and loved by a generation of theatre-goers.

Contact: miriammedina@earthlink.net or miriam@thehistorybox.com

Chit-Chat Over Coffee Swirls (19)

Topic: My Trip To Ellis island Photo Gallery

On June 1, 2008 I was able to finally visit Ellis Island, for the first time, in person. What an unforgettable and rewarding experience. Thanks to my son, my niece Andrea and her husband Dan, that I was able to fulfill this long awaited wish. I am so grateful to Andrea for her camera skills in capturing the images that were displayed throughout the building and its exteriors which you will see here.

As an introduction to this photo gallery, I have included a little historical background on the reasons why so many immigrants came to America.

I hope you will enjoy the article. Click Here.

To Contact: miriammedina@earthlink.net or miriam@thehistorybox.com