PART II.

[Illustration: C. C. Hine In 1895. “There may have been men of greater

and more beautiful character than his, but I never knew any and never

read of any. I count it one of the most fortunate things of my life to

have been for so many years so closely associated with him. While it

(the portrait) does not do full Justice to the subject (I do not think

any photograph could), it is a face I am glad to look at and it recalls

some of the pleasantest memories of my whole life and some of the things

which, I am sure, have been of the utmost value to me in many ways. He

left nothing but a trail of good wherever he went. My memory is of a

_life_ rather than of episodes; I only wish I could describe it as it

was lived. The only two absolutely unselfish people I ever knew were Mr.

Hine and my own mother.”]

C. C. HINE AND HIS TIMES.

This second part is intended to cover as well as may be the period of

time beginning with the opening of Woodside as a residence section.

During these years Mr. Charles Cole Hine took such an active interest in

the welfare of the neighborhood and was so wrapped up in and identified

with its best interests that its history is his biography, consequently

I feel that it will be proper to give here a brief outline of his life

previous to the year 1867, when he settled in Woodside.

When women could lift their little children up to “take a last look at

the best friend they ever had”, as was done while the people passed by

the coffin of Mr. Hine as it lay in the church, such as did not come in

direct contact with the man may to some extent understand what a feeling

of love he inspired in those who knew him.

For me he had a living reality that death has never removed; it was

years before I could accept the situation. Concerning no one else have I

ever had the same feeling. Death has removed others and I have accepted

the condition as final, but for a long period after the death of my

father I had a feeling amounting to momentary conviction that he had

opened the office door and was coming toward me, and have looked up from

my desk many a time to welcome him. This could not have been a matter of

local association, for I was occupying an office which he never saw.

What it was I do not know.

“Thy voice is on the rolling air,

I hear thee where the waters run;

Thou standest in the rising sun,

And in the setting thou art fair.”

CHARLES COLE HINE.

Charles Cole Hine was born in New Haven, Conn., December 21, 1825. When

six years of age his parents removed to Hornellsville, N. Y. His father

was a carriage builder, but of nomadic tendencies, and the boy had small

opportunity for schooling, though as a matter of fact he went to school

all his life; he had an instinct for acquiring knowledge that could not

be suppressed, and as a result those who knew him best in after life

took it for granted that he was a college-bred man.

With the versatility of many another self-made man he turned his hand to

many things in his youth while finding himself. He once went on a

concert tour with three other young men, driving from town to town

through Ohio and western Pennsylvania. At one time he turned to art for

a living and actually did support himself, after a fashion, for a brief

period, painting portraits. Mr. Hine’s father moved to Massillon, Ohio,

in 1837, and there the boy grew up and cast his first vote. Once when

clerking in a store in Massillon, among the commodities of which was a

line of books, the proprietor, who was of a kindly disposition, allowed

the young man to read as he liked, and as a result he read every book in

the place, including an encyclopædia, some six hundred volumes in all.

When the telegraph was young he became interested in that and

established lines through parts of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois,

contracting for poles and their erection, selecting the local operators

and teaching them the Morse alphabet, and doing any other missionary

work that was needed. That he was something more in this than ordinary

is evidenced by the fact that in Reid’s “History of the Telegraph in

America” Mr. Hine’s name is frequently mentioned, and always in

complimentary terms. While in charge of the office in Louisville, he

invented a transmitter to repeat messages in order to save the time of

an operator, for in those days the electric fluid only carried a message

so far, and long distance messages must needs be repeated by hand. Later

some one invented and patented the same thing and made, I believe, a

fortune by it.

An operator in the early days of telegraphy was a more important

personage than at present. Mr. Hine has told how, when he was stationed

in St. Louis, 1848-9, P. T. Barnum was taking Jenny Lind around the

country and, upon reaching St. Louis, he insisted on getting inside the

telegraph office and making the acquaintance of the operator. As a

result he took Mr. Hine riding with him and gave him two tickets for

each concert, no mean gift when tickets were selling at $20.00 each.

The year 1849 was the year of the cholera and of the “great fire” in St.

Louis. “The city was a charnel house; funerals were the principal events

and the chief business of the hour; hearses went on a trot when they

could not go faster.” Mr. Hine was convalescing from the disease and had

been carried from a room at Olive and Main streets to his boarding

house. That same night the “great fire” started on the levee. Four

hundred buildings in the business heart of the city, which included

Olive and Main streets, were destroyed.

While living in St. Louis Mr. Hine met Mary Hazard Avery, whose parents

had also removed from Connecticut, and was married to Miss Avery in that

city July 4, 1853. Before that time he had established himself in New

Albany, Ind., where in due course he represented the Adams Express

Company, and was secretary of a plank road, notary for two banks and

agent for several insurance companies, fire and life.

While living here the New Albany Theological Seminary removed to

Chicago, leaving a splendid set of buildings vacant, and Mr. Hine

thought he saw the opportunity of his life in the establishment of a

girls’ seminary. The property was easily obtained, and he spent all the

money he had and all he could borrow fitting up the place but, as he

once put it, “the New Albany Female Seminary opened simultaneously with

the great panic of 1857”. He lost every cent he had and came out of the

crash many thousands of dollars in debt.

When Mr. Hine wished to enter active business again he bought up the

outstanding notes against him in order to protect himself and, although

his former creditors had no claim on him thereafter, he gradually paid

back every dollar of indebtedness with interest. In this he followed the

somewhat unique method of ascertaining who among his old creditors were

most in need, and paying these first.

As an insurance agent Mr. Hine had represented the Ætna Insurance

Company, whose western general agent had said to him: “Mr. Hine, if ever

you should want to go into insurance again, please let me know first”,

and after the crash Mr Hine promptly sent word to the headquarters in

Cincinnati that he wanted a position and as promptly got it. Thereafter

he was connected with the western office of the Ætna until he removed to

New York in 1865. Mr. Hine was brought east by the offer of the

secretaryship of the International Insurance Company, but the methods

adopted not being to his liking he resigned. He was then practically

offered the position of Superintendent of the Insurance Department of

the State of New York, but preferring to be his own master and

delighting in editorial work, he purchased the Insurance Monitor in

March, 1868, and that became his life work.

MR. HINE IN SEARCH OF A HOME.

As soon as his work would permit he began to look about for a home, and

ultimately decided on Woodside, which was then beginning to be exploited

as a residence section for toilers in the city. In this connection it

can do no harm to tell a little story which he often told of himself.

As a young man he spent many of his leisure hours painting, and in 1844

painted much with a certain man in Massillon, Ohio, who was something of

an artist, and during this time painted the man’s portrait, but he had

completely lost sight of his friend for more than twenty years.

In 1866, when looking for a home site, Mr. Hine answered, among others,

an advertisement of a Mr. M., in Morrisania, and while inspecting the

house saw a portrait which he recognized as that of his artist friend of

1844, and one which he had seen many times, but which the lady of the

house told him was Mr. M., an entirely different name.

When the gentleman himself arrived Mr. Hine recognized him, but neither

gave any indication of the recognition and an appointment was made for

Mr. M. to call at the New York office of his prospective customer the

next day.

[Illustration: Home Of Mr. Henry J. Winser. House erected in 1866.

Situated at 201 Washington Avenue. In the foreground stands the old

apple tree that was used as a talking point by Mr. Ananias.]

In the meantime Mr. Hine got out his old portrait of the man and placed

it in his office where the caller would see it, expecting a good time in

resuming the old acquaintance, but Mr. M. never came, and inquiry showed

that he had disappeared suddenly, leaving no address, and that his house

was vacant and in the hands of an agent.

Mr. Hine’s portrait of the man hung for many years over a door in the

dining room at No. 209 Washington avenue, and he was fond of relating an

entirely new supposition accounting for the mysterious disappearance of

the gentleman, which was advanced by his pastor who, on a certain

occasion, was dining at the house when the story was told, and who

“looked up from his plate, gazed at the picture a moment, and then

looking me square in the eye said, in a calm, deliberate voice: ‘Maybe

he was afraid you would paint him again.’”

MR. HINE FIRST VISITS WOODSIDE.

Mr. Hine first visited Woodside in August, 1866; the house at 201

Washington avenue was for sale, having been erected by a Mr. Babbitt,

who was unable to occupy it. Mr. Hine concluded it could be made to meet

his requirements, and immediately closed the bargain; but it seems that

Mr. Henry J. Winser had before this discovered the house and, being

attracted by the great trees growing on the place, secured the refusal

of the property for a few days, and it was before this time had expired

that Mr. Hine made the purchase.

Here was a state of things which was unpleasant for all except Mr.

Babbitt, who had his money, and he referred Mr. Winser to Mr. Hine, thus

dismissing the matter so far as he was concerned. Mr. Winser as city

editor of the New York Times was then investigating the Tweed Ring and

could not attend to personal matters, hence it devolved on Mrs. Winser

to open the negotiations which resulted in a sale to Mr. W. and the

purchase of property adjoining on the north by Mr. Hine.

THE FIRST HOUSES ERECTED ON WASHINGTON AVENUE.

The Winser family moved in on September 1, 1866. At this time there were

five detached houses on this (east) side of what was then Belleville

avenue; these were occupied by Messrs. Winser, Best, Baldwin, Neumann

and Daniel F. Tompkins. On the west side were six houses, occupied (from

south to north) by Messrs. Sommer, an artist; Shannan, Mrs. Van Wyck,

James Gamble, George B. Callen and John P. Contrell. Between Elwood

avenue and Carteret street the foundations for four houses were laid,

and on the hill above Carteret street Mr. Charles D. Morrison who, with

Mr. John I. Briggs, composed the firm of Morrison & Briggs, builders,

was erecting his own dwelling. Below these groups on the south there was

no building until we came to the spacious house, embowered in trees, of

Mr. Horace H. Nichols, and across Washington avenue from Mr. Nichols, at

the point, the house built by Mr. A. P. Scharff, later occupied by Dr.

MacKie, Mr. James A. C. Van Rossam and one Flavel.

THE FIRST HOUSES ERECTED ON LINCOLN AVENUE.

On what was then known as the Back road were the houses of Colonel Buck,

Messrs. Samuel Royce, Miles I’Anson, E. A. Boyden, John Scharff, John C.

Bennett; the first house of C. D. Morrison, present corner of May street

and Summer place; the old Phillips farm house and the house of James

Swinnerton, Jr., on the northeast corner of Elwood avenue, which was

then Berkley street.

HOUSES ERECTED IN 1866-7.

Within the year there were built the houses of Mr. Hine, Mr. Harlan, C.

D. Morrison, Miss Teel, Mr. Pratt, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Faitoute, Mrs.

Jackson, Mr. F. F. Mercer, Mr. Blackwood, Mr. McDonald and Wm.

Chippendale, the latter a son of Richard Chippendale, who came to this

country on account of the Chartist troubles in England, and about this

time the house of Mr. Horace Carter on the Gully road was built.

Several new houses were built on the River road near Grafton avenue, and

were occupied by Mr. Webster, Mr. Oliver Gordon, formerly of Brooklyn,

who had a large business with China and was a colleague of the Lows; and

Benjamin Brigg, son-in-law of Mr. Gordon and the representative of the

Brigg woolen mills in Huddersfield, England.

HOMES OF AN EARLIER PERIOD.

Of the old settlers there were the houses of Sandford, Munn, Melius,

Colonel Cumming, Stimis, John McDonald, Coeyman and Weiler, on the River

road; Mr. Alfred Hardwick Gibbs on the high ground north of the Gully

road, known as “Thornhill”; the “Cedars”, built by Frank Forester (H. W.

Herbert), which had been bought by Mr. Sanchez y Dolce, and was then

occupied by him, and also a group of houses about the junction of

Washington and Grafton avenues and Halleck Street, which is treated of

elsewhere.

On the west side of Belleville avenue near Second river was the

interesting old house occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Bird and Mrs.

Bird’s two sons by a former marriage, Lewis and George Ashmun. This was

a most delightful house, and the hospitality of the Birds was renowned.

Mrs. Bird was a daughter of the Rev. Dr. Strong, of Massachusetts, and

inherited her gracious manner and charm of conversation from a long line

of ancestors who were among the best people of New England.

They entertained with the grace of the early part of the nineteenth

century, before the advent of that class of plutocrats that brought

ostentatious pomp and more or less bad manners into society. Mr. Bird

was a gentleman of the old school, and Mrs. Bird one of the most

gracious and beautiful of women. It was always a delight to attend their

evenings at home. One was sure of meeting all the charming people of the

surrounding country and Newark, and there was no lack of brilliant

conversation. When the gatherings were not too large and the company

could assemble around the hospitable board the table-talk was sparkling

with wit, while matters of graver import were freely discussed.

It is impossible to say when this old house was erected; it bears every

evidence of having been a very fine place in its day. One informant

recalls having heard Mrs. Bird state that the house was built before the

Revolution by an Englishman who sympathized with his king and was

consequently compelled to leave the country when war was declared. This

information Mrs. Bird secured from a daughter of Harry Coeyman, who had

received it from her father. Presumably this is Henry M. Coeyman, a son

of Minard, who is said to have served in the Revolution, and the son

would thus have come on the scene early enough to know the facts.

The records do not go beyond 1790. On July 5, 1790, James H. Maxwell

conveyed the property to Alexander McComb who, on May 21, 1792, conveyed

it to Daniel McCormick who, on July 18, 1792, conveyed to Thomas

Bennett. The next transfer is a sheriff’s deed dated June 24, 1812, to

Jacob Stout, and on April 9, 1825, his widow, Frances, conveyed to the

President and Directors of the New Jersey Bleaching, Printing & Dyeing

Company. On September 10, 1829, a sheriff’s deed conveyed to Samuel

Wright et als. Then follow the names of owners as follows: Andrew Gray,

Bolton et als., Edward Dwight et als., American Print Works, 1835; James

K. Mills, 1853; George Bird, 1853, and Jonathan Bird, 1859.

During the time that the house was occupied by Mr. Bird the place was

approached from Mill street by a bridge across Second river just above

the present Washington avenue bridge.

INTRODUCING MR. ANANIAS.

After the many years of unclouded friendship that have existed between

the families of Hine and Winser it is difficult to realize that there

could ever have been any other state of feeling, but at the outset

conditions were just the reverse and the cause of it is rather an

interesting little story.

Both homesteads were situated within what was once a Stimis apple

orchard and each contained several magnificent apple trees that were

probably over one-hundred years old, and it was one of these trees and

an unruly tongue that caused the trouble. The tree in question was a

picturesque old giant that stood on the Winser premises near the street

and near Mr. Hine’s line.

A neighbor of both families, whom we will call Mr. Ananias, took a

dislike to Mr. Hine, even before his house was finished, and undertook

to make trouble for him. Knowing that both families admired and valued

the trees which adorned their places he pitched on this particular apple

tree, and first called on Mr. Winser and during a conversation managed

to introduce the subject of the new neighbor, incidentally remarking

that Mr. Hine, who was a new-rich upstart from the west, had taken a

dislike to the Winser family and, having learned of its love of trees,

had announced that he was going to have that apple tree down, Winser or

no Winser, under the pretense that it interfered with his view.

Having planted and properly watered the seed of discord he proceeded to

sow tares in the next field by informing Mr. Hine that the Winsers had

expressed themselves in a very disparaging way concerning him and his,

proposing to annoy him in any way they could and, having heard of his

admiration for this great apple tree, intended to cut it down to spite

him.

After this it was quite natural that the families should pass by on the

other side—in fact the one turned its back on the other in so pronounced

a fashion that there was no overlooking it.

The Winsers saw the family move in and noted that it consisted of one

gentleman, two ladies and three children, and concluded that the slender

lady, who was in black, was a widow, and that the slender boy was her

son. And thus matters stood until one morning there was a bad accident

in the Hine kitchen and Miss Avery, the supposed widow, came over for

help. The cook had been burned and Mr. Hine, in beating out the flames,

had had his hands burned until the skin hung from them in shreds.

Carron oil was wanted and a doctor was wanted, and Mrs. Winser, who was

home alone at the time, did all in her power to assist the distressed by

sending her horse for the doctor and coming to offer personal help. When

she first saw Mr. Hine he was sitting with hands extended to avoid

contact with anything, and when she expressed a wish to help he gladly

accepted, but voiced his surprise that, feeling as she did, the offer

should be made. This led to a prompt retort, and almost before they knew

it the situation was explained and the eyes of both opened, and

thereafter there was a well-worn path between the two houses. During the

ten days or more that Mr. Hine was confined to the house Mrs. Winser

took down any matters he wished to dictate and made frequent journeys to

his New York office in his behalf.

Much might be told in regard to the sayings of Mr. Ananias, but possibly

one or two more of his pleasantries will suffice:—

Mrs. Winser recalls her first visit to Woodside and the swarms of

mosquitoes in the horse cars that were on hand to greet her: they were

the real Jersey mosquitoes of well-defined propensity. It was August,

and as she and Mr. Winser alighted in front of the house, which was then

building, and which later became theirs, they were met by Mr. A., and to

him voiced their opinions of the pests, but he waived it off with the

casual remark that Woodside only had mosquitoes for a week or ten days

during the middle or latter part of August, and while they were bad

then, it was only for a brief period.

In July, 1867, Mr. Winser sailed for Europe on the destroyer

“Dunderburg”, built by Mr. Webb, but finished too late for use in the

Civil War, and which had been purchased by the French government. The

trip was considered dangerous, as the vessel had been intended merely

for coast defense, and the traveler not only made his will, having been

warned that he was going to a watery grave, but left the most minute

written instructions to help Mrs. Winser over the rough places.

What was Mrs. Winser’s astonishment when, as soon as her husband was out

of reach, “the Woe of Woodside” (our friend Ananias) came to her with a

memorandum saying that Mr. Winser had pledged himself to pay $300 toward

the erection of an Episcopal church in Woodside. This was news to her,

and she searched the book of written instructions in which all claims

and all money matters had been entered by Mr. Winser without being able

to find that he had made such a pledge as was claimed.

When she made this announcement to Mr. A. he promptly answered: “Well,

if this amount is not paid by you, your husband’s honor will be at stake

and you will be the cause”. Imagine the feelings of this wife of fifteen

months when told that she must pay this moral (!) obligation or cover

her husband’s name with dishonor. Finally, without consulting any one

versed in the ways of the world, Mrs. Winser paid over the money and,

according to Mr. A., the name of H. J. Winser was put down on the

subscription list with others, but some weeks later she learned that the

name was not down among subscribers, but headed the list, and was used

as a means of extracting money from other Episcopalians in the

neighborhood.

The Winsers had brought their letters to Christ Church in Belleville,

and had had no thought of making any change; hence, on the return of Mr.

Winser, and the facts being known, he was filled with wrath. It was too

late, however, to do anything. The reason for this conduct on the part

of Mr. A. is supposed to have been purely monetary, as he expected to

profit by the work involved in the erection of the proposed church

building.

Thus when one acquainted with all the circumstances once remarked that

“the church was conceived in sin and born in iniquity” the statement is

thought to meet the situation with a fair degree of accuracy.

Mrs. Winser was later appointed treasurer of the church guild, and had

great satisfaction in making Mr. A. toe the mark when his part of the

work was not properly done.

ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

Until the building was under cover services were held in Morrison’s

Hall, Washington avenue, opposite Elliott street, and the Lenten

services, morning and evening, in the Winser house; but, as I understand

it, when the church was organized some of the first services were held

in Mr. Hine’s house, as witness the following:—

“At the first regular meeting of the Vestry of St. John’s church of

Woodside, N. J., the following resolution was offered by Mr. E. A.

Condit and unanimously adopted:—

“Resolved, that the Vestry of St. John’s Church, Woodside, hereby tender

their acknowledgments to C. C. Hine, Esquire, for his numerous acts of

kindness and courtesy in their behalf, and especially for the free use

of his house as a place of public worship during the past summer.

“Resolved, that the Secretary communicate this resolution to Mr. Hine

and record the same in the minutes of the Vestry.

“E. A. CONDIT,

”Secy. of the Vsty.“

On September 15, 1868, St. John’s Church was dedicated, the church

building having been in use for some time previous to this. The annals

of the parish pass this service over. Bishop Odenheimer and some twenty

odd clergymen were present.

Rev. Mr. Lounsbury was the first rector; he remained only a short time

and Rev. Samuel Hall succeeded him in February, 1868.

The following notes are from the parish register:—

“First meeting to organize, September 2, 1867.

“Cornerstone laid, November 29, 1867.

“Rev. Samuel Hall, rector, February 8, 1868, to February 8, 1873, when

he resigned to become rector of the Church of the Redeemer, Morristown.

“Rev. H. H. Barbour, rector from April 17, 1873, to November 1, 1875.

“November 1, 1874, rectory occupied. Rev. Francis A. Henry, rector from

April 29, 1876, to October 2, 1876.

“Rev. I. B. Wetherell, rector from November 29, 1876, to April 18, 1877.

“Rev. I. H. McCandless, rector from April 18, 1877, to November 1, 1877.

“Rev. George C. Pennell, S. T. D., rector from January, 1878, to January

15, 1880.

“Rev. Arthur B. Conger, rector from March 28, 1880, to April 1, 1882.

Resigned on account of illness.

“Rev. A. L. Wood, rector from September 11, 1882, to September 1, 1891.

“Rev. Frank Albion Sanborn, B. D., rector, September 1, 1891.”

He was followed by Rev. George W. Lincoln, who was succeeded by Rev.

Rowland S. Nichols, the present incumbent.

A WOODSIDE MOLASSES JAR.

That the women of Woodside were unusually attractive there is no

denying. Of one of them it is told that she found herself in Newark

rather late one evening after the cars had ceased to run and, being

alone and unable to secure a livery team (for Newark was as primitive in

its way forty years ago as was Woodside) she applied at the police

station for help and an officer was sent with her on the walk home. They

evidently had a very pleasant trip, for it was not more than three days

later that the officer appeared at the lady’s home, dressed in his best,

only to find that she was married. An introduction to the husband

somewhat cooled his ardor.

CAPT. KIDD IN THE WINSER BACK YARD.

There is a tradition that Captain Kidd buried treasure at a point in the

Winser back yard where an ancient apple tree flourished when we were

young, and the following facts seem to show good foundation for the

belief:—

We are told that oft during the quiet of the night (this was before the

day of the trolley and its outrageous roar) the sound of a pick being

driven vigorously into the earth could be heard from the direction of

the old tree, but when the hearers gazed out into the dark no one could

be seen. Those watching with the sick frequently noted such sounds, and

as there were no visible diggers and the following morning no

indications that the earth had been disturbed, it seems impossible that

the work could have been done by other than the shades of the departed

pirates. What, indeed, is to prevent our supposing that the ghost of the

pirate captain himself was on hand, superintending the work in his old

burying ground?

Then there were the snakes that guarded this old apple tree—great black

snakes of a peculiarly ferocious and menacing aspect—which, as is well

attested by the most reliable witnesses, were known to deliberately

simulate crooked sticks which, when about to be picked up by some

unsuspecting human, would dart out a fiery tongue and with a terrible

hissing sound drive the too venturesome explorer to the uttermost parts

of the Winser lot.

MORRISON & BRIGGS.

Morrison & Briggs were the chief builders of the first Woodside houses.

As nearly as can now be learned it seems probable that it was they who

induced Messrs. Parker & Keasbey to purchase land here about 1865, open

streets and lay out sites for residences. The builders at first had a

very small shop on Berkley street (now Elwood avenue) immediately

adjoining the house of Mr. Swinnerton, but it was not long before they

erected a two-story woodworking establishment on Washington avenue, just

north of Elliott street.

Charlie Morrison, of the firm, was a curious specimen, good natured to a

degree it would appear, for he was seemingly so unwilling to disappoint

any one that he would promise the impossible without a blink. His

fondness for moving was epitomized by his better half (very much better)

once when she remarked that if he died first she should have his coffin

put on wheels, as he would never be content to rest in one place long.

Morrison & Briggs had not been exactly trained in the art of building

but they managed to bungle it through in one way and another. The house

at 209 Washington avenue is an example: this was built in 1866-7, and my

recollection is of hearing that the cellar wall must needs be torn down

twice before it would pass inspection. When the last payment on the

house was due it was necessary to furnish the builders with a list

(quite a long one) of those things left undone with a gentle intimation

that the final check would be forthcoming when the deficiencies were

supplied. There was then a very good feint at something doing, when

another list, somewhat shorter than the first, was handed to the

builders, and so by a gradual process of elimination, as it were, the

house was pronounced complete.

THE SAD FATE OF THE WINSER HORSE.

During the winter of 1868 the Winser horse came to a bad end. It seems

that a brother of a certain General S. had rented a house on Halleck

street, and as the General was an old friend of Mr. Winser it was taken

for granted that the Major, his brother, was of the same standing, and

he was immediately taken into the Winser bosom.

About this time the Winsers, having small use for their horse, had

arranged to board it for a period in Westchester County, but when the

Major heard of this he suggested that he take the animal, and that then

if they wanted it at any time it would be near by. This was more than

agreeable to the owners, and “Nelly” was soon installed in the Major’s

stable.

In the course of ten days Mr. Winser dropped in to see how his favorite

was coming on, and was told by a stableman that his master had driven

her to Pamrapo where he was superintending some road building. This

seemed reasonable, but when a second visit some two weeks later elicited

the statement that the Major had shipped “Nelly” from Pamrapo to

Maryland, and it was found that the Major’s house was closed and that he

would not return until January, it seemed about time to move in the

matter.

The case was laid before a well-known lawyer in Newark, who would not

touch it because the Major and he were on the same Republican Committee.

It was then given to Mr. Runyon, later Chancellor and Ambassador to

Berlin, and he, not being of the same political faith as the Major, took

the case with great gusto.

The Major turned up in Newark in the course of time and the case was

heard before Judge Depue. The Major said that “Nelly’s” bones were

bleaching on the Eastern Shore of Maryland; that she was absolutely

valueless, and that he had taken her out of pure pity to save her from

ill-treatment. He had but one witness, who declared that he had driven

with the Major, and had no hesitation in saying the horse was lame, half

starved and not fit to be put in harness.

Mr. Runyon demolished this testimony by proving that this witness had no

knowledge of the points of a horse, by showing that he was indebted to

the Major for his position at that time and that he had not seen the

horse until she had been in the Major’s possession for some time. The

Major was inclined to be flippant with the Court and, finally, when

asked how he stood in regard to certain transactions, he answered that

he “stood in his shirt and trousers”. The judge warned him that he would

have to answer for contempt of court.

After ten minutes’ deliberation the jury returned a verdict against the

defendant for $400 for the value of the horse and also assessed the

costs on him, but it is needless to say that he never paid either

amount, being a politician of note. The Republican party in Newark has

certainly been loaded with a hard lot of citizens, first and last.

THE OPENING OF WASHINGTON AVENUE.

It will now be necessary to go back a bit in our chronology in order to

get at the beginnings of the Woodside we know.

The opening of Washington avenue, about 1865, was the beginning of a new

era for the neighborhood, for then Parker and Keasbey purchased a

considerable tract in the vicinity of Washington and Elwood avenues and

cut it up for suburban dwelling purposes and Morrison & Briggs,

contractors, appeared on the scene.

To be sure “the opening of the new highway consisted merely in setting

the fences back and making a narrow cut through the hill just north of

Carteret street, the earth from which was used to fill the ravine

further north”. A single car track was then laid from the cemetery to

Second river, and Woodside was open for business.

But it was not Woodside in those days. The first name attached to the

locality, and which appears to have come into use about 1863, was

Ridgewood. There was, however, a post office of this name already

established in the state, and when the town was set off from Belleville

the name was changed to the present form.

In 1865 this was a part of Belleville, but it was not long before

efforts were made for a separation, as the following documents

indicate:—

ASSEMBLY—NO. 498. STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

An Act to set off from the township of Belleville, in

the county of Essex, an election district, to be

known as Woodside.

1 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and General Assembly

2 of the State of New Jersey, That all that

3 part of said township of Belleville, lying and being

4 south of the Second river, be set off from the

5 township of Belleville, and made and constituted

6 an election district to be known and called Woodside.

1 2. And be it enacted, That Alfred Keen,

2 Charles D. Morrison, and Charles Akers be and

3 are hereby appointed inspectors of election with

4 power to elect and appoint a clerk for said election,

5 at the annual town election to be held in April

6 eighteen hundred and sixty-eight, at Woodside

7 polling district in the public hall known as Woodside

8 hall, and who are hereby required and authorized

9 to perform all duties required of inspectors

10 of election, in and for said district, and shall

11 preside at said first town meeting in said district,

12 as inspectors of election.

1 3. And be it enacted, That at the election to be

2 held in April, anno domini eighteen hundred and

3 sixty-eight, and at each succeeding April, three

4 persons shall be elected as judges of election for

5 such election district for the term of one year, who

6 shall possess the powers, be required to perform

7 the duties, and be subject to the liabilities as other

8 judges or inspectors of elections, according to the

9 general laws of the State of New Jersey, as they

10 now are or may hereafter be, and said judges so

11 elected shall act as judges of all elections to be

12 hereafter held in said district, no ballot for this

13 purpose shall contain more than two names; in

14 case more than two names are voted for, the ballot

15 shall only be void as to said judge, and the

16 three persons who receive the highest number of

17 votes shall be deemed and taken to be elected

18 judges of election, in case two persons shall have

19 received an equal number of votes, the first person

20 named on the ballot for judge of election shall be

21 elected, and the said judges and clerk shall receive

22 two dollars per day for their services, and the said

23 judges of election shall procure a proper box for

24 said district, of which place and time of holding

25 elections they shall give at least two weeks’ notice

26 in five of the most public places in said district,

27 and the said board shall have power to appoint

28 a clerk, who shall perform such duties as is

29 required in the act to which this is a supplement.

1 4. And be it enacted, That all acts or parts of

2 acts inconsistent with this act be and the same are

3 hereby repealed.

1 5. And be it enacted, That this act shall take

2 effect immediately.

ONE DOLLAR EACH.

“Woodside, 13 Mar. 1868.

“Gentlemen—At a meeting of the citizens of Woodside, held last evening

to consider the matter of a new Township it was resolved that the

passage of the Bill now before the Legislature was desirable and Major

Sears and Mr. Alfred Keen were appointed (with power to select three

associates) to proceed to Trenton and urge the passage of said Bill.

“It was also resolved that the means to defray the expenses of these

gentlemen be provided by a contribution of one dollar each from the

signers of the Memorial, and I was appointed to collect such

contribution. It being impossible for me to spare the necessary time to

call upon you all, I request that you will hand the amount to my son,

the bearer.

“Respectfully yours,

”C. C. HINE,

“To Messrs. C. D. Morrison, Lorenzo Hart, Wm. A. Wauters, A. Bigelow,

Edw. Carrigan, Jonathan Bird, E. Coeyman, Sam’l Royce, J. S. Gamble,

Louis Dovell, T. H. Blake, E. B. Smith, Geo. W. Harlan, H. McFarlin, B.

Dodd, T. A. Roberts, E. F. Higgins, P. Smith, J. P. Contrell, Dan’l F.

Tompkins, N. Caughlin, Edw. Morrison, Jas. Swinnerton, Jr., J. C.

McDonald, H. E. Joraleman, Geo. Ashmun, John H. Meeker, Wm. Dixon, Geo.

T. Teel, A. Van Riper, J. P. Fowler, Alfred Sears, John I. Briggs, Geo.

B. Callen, A. C. Neumann, W. J. Harlan, B. R. Sage, D. Evans, Geo. W.

Keen, Owen Carroll, C. C. Hine, B. F. Baldwin, H. J. Winser, Wm.

Jacobus, Stephen Joraleman, G. W. Cumming, E. G. Faitoute, Aaron H.

Keen, Anthony Epworth, E. Charlier, Henry Farmer, Geo. W. Gore, Patrick

Brady.”

If there were more names than these they were on another sheet which has

been lost.

The separation was effected apparently without much difficulty, and

thereafter for a brief period Woodside was independent. For the gobbling

of it by Newark see the early pages of this book.

REMINISCENCES BY MR. SWINNERTON.

The following items are taken from the “Reminiscences” by Mr. James

Swinnerton, which were read before the Woodside Sunday School on the

occasion of its twentieth anniversary, 1887.

“At first a single stage which ran every hour was the only public

conveyance between Newark and Belleville. This region was then a very

primitive neighborhood. Early comers recall the fact that Washington

Irving and his friends roamed over these beautiful hills and wooded

vales with gun and dog. It was a veritable Sleepy Hollow, and Irving,

had he been a resident, instead of an occasional visitor, might easily

have rendered the Passaic and its valley as famous as he did Tarrytown

and the Hudson. The hill above Carteret street through which Washington

avenue was cut was then a well known spot to sportsmen, quail,

ground-doves and rabbits being the chief game as now recalled.

“The infusion of new blood in Belleville quickened the old, a direct

avenue to Newark was demanded and a horse railroad determined upon.

Farmers and others gave their time and the use of their teams to break

through the ridge north of Carteret street, and a rough pathway was made

over the hills to the bluff on this side of Second river. Those

traveling further north must do so on foot after descending the bluff by

a steep flight of steps and crossing the river on a rickety foot bridge

of logs.”

THE WOODSIDE OF 1867.

“The early settlers found a country beautiful to behold, but with the

usual discomforts of a new place. There were no stores, when short of

provisions neighbor must forage on neighbor; there were no schools,

Sunday or secular; there were no churches, there were no Sunday horse

cars—ride to church we could not. There were no sidewalks, but there was

a superabundance of mud—walk, therefore, we dared not. Those who were

bold enough to do so found mud over shoe and usually arrived at the

church door in a state of mind. Mud in Woodside at this time came early

in the fall, stayed the winter out and lingered through the spring.

Goloshes were at a premium and blacking brushes at a discount.

“A Woodsider of the period has been compared to a duck standing on one

foot, with the difference that the duck stands thus from instinct, the

Woodsider for the reason that he had no spot on which to place his other

foot.

“During the day the horse-cars ran on twenty and forty-five minutes’

headway and seldom ventured out after dark, owing largely to the

peculiar facility with which they ran off the track and the difficulty

of setting them in the straight and narrow way again.

“Your present get off, cross over and wait for the bob-car arrangement

is an improvement on the past, decidedly; as such it may afford you some

consolation and hope for the future”. (Mr. Swinnerton thus wrote in 1887

when there was loud and prolonged indignation over the “bobtail” car

service furnished Woodside).

These with other discomforts made life in Woodside interesting and will

serve to show the situation during the first year. We were without the

bread of life—often short of the bread that perisheth.

As there were no sidewalks the middle of the road was used as a foot

path by those too early for the next car. “One day”, writes Mr.

Swinnerton, “in the middle of the road, and in the spring of 1867, I met

and was introduced to Mr. Hine. After the usual civilities Mr. Hine

declared his purpose to start a Sunday school just as soon as he had

moved into the settlement. This was good news, but I wondered how the

ways and means were to be provided. Many of us had spent our last dollar

when moving in, and there was not a spare room in the hamlet large

enough to accommodate a Sunday school.”

“Several months before this the residents met under an old apple tree

before the door of a small carpenter shop (Morrison & Briggs’s) to

consider church and other interests, but the carpenter shop had

disappeared and the apple tree promised little comfort beyond shade.

[Illustration: Home Of Mr. C. C. Hine, 209 Washington Avenue. In this

house three churches have been organized, Presbyterian, Episcopalian and

Dutch Reformed.]

“When I ventured to ask ‘where?’ Mr. Hine’s reply ‘In my own house’

afforded me a new experience. The notion of any one inviting the

children of a neighborhood to his home for religious instruction was

novel.”

THE SUNDAY SCHOOL OF JUNE 16, 1867.

“Business engagements prevented my attendance at the first session of

the school, but its praises were sung by the bairns at home and on the

second Sabbath I went over, expecting to find a few scholars and a

teacher or two arranged around an out-of-the-way room. To my surprise

teachers and scholars in crowds were pouring into the house by the front

door. On entering I saw chairs and benches in the parlor and the room

occupied by the larger children; the library held the infant department,

and there was provision for a Bible class in the hall.

“The school was in full swing—children singing—Mr. Hine leading and

thumping a melodeon vigorously with one finger and a thumb—his practice

when no five-fingered player was at hand.

“This show of life and activity was contagious. I fell into line at once

by offering to fill the position of librarian. Mr. Hine’s reply to my

offer, ‘we will look no further, but you must find your own library’,

was characteristic of the man and the school. Money and books were in

hand by the following Sunday.”

Church services were also held in the parlor of Mr. Hine’s house. The

Rev. Mr. Scofield, pastor of the Central Presbyterian Church, Newark,

preached the first sermon from the text, “What think ye of Christ?”

Several city pastors filled the pulpit—or, rather, stood at the table,

propping up the Bible with a pile of books.

Invitations to preach were frequently extended in this form: “We shall

be very happy to have you come, but there will be no fee and you must

bring yourself as there are no cars, and not a horse in the whole

congregation.” Ministers from a distance came Saturday nights and

“boarded round”. Theological students accepted invitations, bringing

their first sermon, and glad enough of an opportunity to try it on a

real congregation.

The following letter from Mr. Swinnerton, found among some of Mr. Hine’s

old papers, is inserted here as it is interesting in this connection:—

“Newark, N. J., July 16, 1867.

“Mr. Hine:—

“Dear Sir—Send this just to let you know how we got along with the

meetings on Wednesday and the Sabbath and, I am happy to say,

first-rate. At the prayer meeting there was a fair attendance. Mr. and

Mrs. Boyden led the singing. Messrs. Teal, Bennett, Pettit, Teal Junior

and myself took part in the exercise.

[Illustration: The Front Door At 209 Washington Avenue. Through which

the Sunday School teachers and scholars streamed each Sabbath for

eighteen months beginning with June 16, 1867.]

“The Sabbath school attendance was 56 against 57 Sabbath previous. Mr.

Taylor gave us a new chapter in Sunday school experience. Singing good.

“Mr. Dixon preached at night; the service very interesting; good

singing. Mr. S. was not very well but remarked on Monday morning that it

had done him more good to come up and preach for us and breathe the

country air than if he had stayed at home. We had a full house. We

filled the aisle with chairs and there were, besides, nearly a dozen

persons in the hall. Mr. Pettit led on Wednesday. I report progress with

books—bookcase painting.

“Shall see about preaching for next Sunday to-day.

“Yours truly,

”J. SWINNERTON.“

A CHURCH BELL IS PROCURED.

Occasionally an expected supply would fail to come, and those who

gathered for the services were then disappointed. To meet this Mr. Hine

purchased a bell and hung it in the tower of his house and this, by

clangor or silence, gave notice to all the country side. There were no

street lights, and those attending evening service on moonless nights

have been likened unto swarms of fireflies as they ranged over the

fields toward the house, every man with a lantern in hand.

Building up a congregation without the help a pastor can give, and

raising money for a church edifice, are no light tasks. Several of the

families held cherished church connections in Newark which they were

loath to give up; others were indifferent.

FAIRS, CAKE SALES AND LECTURES.

The few especially interested worked with varying experiences. Fairs

were held, the ladies baked cakes and gave them to the fair, the cakes

were purchased by their husbands and carried home again.

In October Mr. Henry J. Winser gave a lecture for the benefit of the

church in the house of Mr. Hine, his subject being his recent trip

across the Atlantic in the Dunderberg. As showing the capacity of the

house, a circular issued at the time states that “about 200 persons can

be seated”.

[Illustration: Fair Of The Woodside Presbyterian Church, In The Basement

Of The Dutch Reformed Church Market Street.]

The basement of a Newark church was secured for a midwinter festival

(see copy of poster); we were snowed under, and with difficulty reached

our firesides.

An auction of choice engravings and Prang’s chromos was attempted in the

third story of a desolate building in Newark near the Market one

Saturday night. Few people attended the sale and none purchased the

pictures. At a similar attempt in Belleville chromos to the value of

$1.25 were sold and, on counting the cash, it was found to be

thirty-seven cents short.

THE RETREAT FROM BELLEVILLE.

“Moscow to Napoleon was a trifle compared to our retreat from Belleville

that wintry night. Silently we carried our goods through that

long-drawn-out village. Looked at through the mist of time this appears

like a trifling incident, but then the giant Despair loomed above us,

and it was only the splendid courage of Mr. Hine and his indomitable

energy and perseverance which kept us going. Family interests he

sacrificed for the common weal. To every objection there came but one

reply: ‘I have enlisted for the war, and until a permanent building is

erected my doors will stand open.’”

“They did stand open for eighteen months, or until January 3, 1869, when

the second building erected for church and Sunday school purposes in

Woodside opened its doors—the Woodside Presbyterian Church—St. John’s

Church having been opened some months previous.” (Here ends Mr.

Swinnerton’s very interesting paper).

THE ERIE RAILROAD.

One of the advertised inducements to settlers in Woodside was direct

railroad connection with New York. The Erie had leased the Paterson,

Newark & New York Railroad, which was opened in 1868 and connected with

the Newark & Hudson Railroad to Jersey City, also leased to the Erie.

This promised blessing was slow in coming, for at least three years

elapsed before the New York connection was made, and in the meantime

those whose business called them to the greater city must take the

occasional horse car or walk to the D., L. & W. (which in those days

stood for “Delay, Linger and Wait”).

The Erie has ever been to a Woodsider as a red rag to a bull. The

extremely limited service of the “Newark Branch” and the absolute

indifference of the management toward the convenience of travelers have

been so pronounced as always to give the impression that the road

regarded passengers as a necessary evil, to be endured but not

encouraged and, as a result, hundreds in the old days turned from it in

disgust and went elsewhere. It is safe to say that the Erie was the

chief factor in holding the growth of this section in check, while

to-day its foul breath blackens the heavens and desecrates the landscape

as its engines vomit vast clouds of smudgy soft coal smoke with a

villainous impudence that can nowhere be equaled. The Erie is the only

railroad with more than one stop in Newark that charges more to one

station than to another, and no other gives so little or so poor

service. Such is its uniqueness.

THE MAKING OF A SUNDAY SCHOOL.

Mr. Hine took up his abode in Woodside on April 1, 1867. The following

circular shows how prompt he was in starting the Sunday School:—

SUNDAY SCHOOL IN WOODSIDE.

There will be a Sunday School at the house of Mr. C. C. Hine, on

Belleville Avenue, on Sunday June 16, 1867, at Half-past Two

o’clock, p. m. All who feel an interest in this work are cordially

invited to be present at that hour. Arrangements have been made for

good singing and plenty of it. This SUNDAY SCHOOL is intended to be

permanent.

In the Evening, at Eight o’clock, Rev. Mr. Scofield, from the

Central Presbyterian Church of Newark, will preach on “THE

PRECIOUSNESS OF CHRIST.”

On Wednesday Evenings, at Eight o’clock, until further notice, there

will be Social Prayer Meetings.

All these Services are intended to be permanent.

A “BEFORE-THE-WAR” STORY.

Mr. Hine’s love for the Sunday school is so well known that no one will

be surprised to learn that as a young man, and while traveling, he once

taught a class in an Atlanta (Ga.) Sunday school.

This was before the war, and Mr. Hine used to tell as a good joke on his

self-esteem, how adults gathered about his class to listen, until they

outnumbered the scholars. This naturally made him feel somewhat elated

until he found later that his auditors, learning that he was from the

North, had gathered to ascertain whether he would inject any abolition

talk into his teaching. The young man, however, was too wise to try

anything of that sort, and was more than thankful that he had been when

he discovered the true cause of his popularity.

THE MAKING OF A CHURCH.

Even before the Sunday school Mr. Hine had inaugurated church services

in his dwelling, as is evidenced by this second circular:—

Presbyterian Church in Woodside.

Since the 9th of June public worship has been held in a private

house in Woodside, the Presbyterian ministers of Newark officiating.

A weekly Prayer Meeting has also been sustained since the same date.

A Sunday School was organized on the 16th of June, and its roll now

includes 84 names.

Application was duly made to Presbytery, and a committee of

Ministers and Elders was appointed to visit Woodside and organize a

Church, which duty they performed on the evening of Monday, Sept.

23d. Seventeen members united at that time, seven others have

signified their intention of doing so, and it is thought the number

will soon be increased to thirty.

An eligible lot of nearly a half acre has been secured, and

subscriptions, sufficient to pay for it, made by the residents. An

appeal is now made to the Newark Churches for means with which to

build a Chapel. $4,000 or $5,000 will be needed.

The rapid growth and flattering prospects of Woodside are well known

in this community, and the importance of FIRST occupying this

promising field can hardly be over estimated. Generous encouragement

promptly extended will, under God’s blessing, result in the speedy

up-building of a much needed place of worship.

[Illustration: Presbyterian Church, Carteret Street. The first church

organized in the house of Mr. C. C. Hine.]

THE FIRST CHURCH OF WOODSIDE.

The following “Annals of the First Presbyterian Church of Woodside” are

copied from memoranda in Mr. Hine’s handwriting:—

“Woodside, Essex County, N. J.

“June, 1867.

“The first Public Worship held in Woodside was at 8 o’clock on the

Evening of Sunday, June 9, 1867, in the house of Mr. C. C. Hine on

Belleville avenue.

“Rev. Wm. C. Scofield of the Central Presbyterian Church, Newark,

preached a stirring discourse from the text, ‘What think ye of Christ?’

“After the sermon it was announced that a Sunday school would be

organized in the same place at 2-1/2 o’clock p. m. on the following

Sabbath; and on a vote to establish and maintain a Social prayer meeting

twenty hands were raised pledging attendance.

“At this date the village of Woodside is a mere suburban settlement,

containing some forty houses that have all been built within the past

sixteen months (this, of course, refers to the Washington avenue

neighborhood). The want of Church privileges has been deeply felt, and

this movement is designed to supply that want, draw the people of Christ

together and build up a Church wherein and whereby He may be honored and

souls saved.

“Saturday, June 8th, was a rainy day. The storm continued furious over

night and until after midday Sunday. At sunset it was fair. Notice had

been inserted in the Newark evening paper, and on Sunday afternoon

forty-one houses were visited (by Mr. Hine himself) and personal

invitation extended. About one hundred people assembled and the

accommodations were crowded to their utmost capacity.

“Wednesday Evening, June 12, 1867.

“Twenty-five persons attended the first prayer meeting to-night. Messrs.

Hine, Teal, Bennett and Pettit prayed—in the order written, and with

singing and remarks and reading a part of Luke 12th the hour was

profitably spent.”

MR. HINE’S HOUSE THE FIRST CHURCH BUILDING.

The parlor of Mr. Hine’s house was left unfurnished; it was a room 15x25

feet and the arrangement was such that the hall and the “library” across

the hall could be used as an overflow. He purchased benches for the main

room and placed a speaker’s table at the front end of the room, so that

it commanded the hall and beyond, as well as the parlor. A bell so heavy

that it shook the entire house, when in use, was hung in the tower, and

his eldest, who, though young, was a husky lad, recalls with many a

smile how he used to shift those long, heavy benches to meet the varying

requirements of the day, displaying a species of muscular Christianity

at this time which greatly pleased his sire, and how he would sit on the

tower stairs and study his Sunday school lesson while he rang the bell

for church or school.

But not all were of so becoming a disposition, for I am told that Mr. A.

P. Scharff, who taught a class in Sunday school, called his scholars a

“Band of Hope”, as that was the only thing he could do for them.

I very clearly recall being a member of the infant class—Class No.

9—under Miss Hannah Teel of blessed memory, and seating myself with

other infants on the ledge of a book case in the library. If ever there

was a good woman and a faithful one, it was Miss Teel, who watched over

that infant class for many years, and who was wholly unconscious that

she was doing anything more than her plain duty. That kindly face is

indelibly impressed on the memory of many grown-ups who were once

children of the infant class.

Of Miss Teal an old-time neighbor says: “Her memory is dear to all who

were children in the early seventies. She was a woman of much executive

ability and, in addition to her Infant Class in the Sunday school, she

had a school for young children. Her sway was mild, but firm, and she

delighted in teaching the little girls not alone the four necessary

branches and sewing, but also many gems of poetry suitable for their

young minds. In her home she was the mainstay of the household.”

Three churches were organized in this house, which can truly be called

the First Church of Woodside: the Presbyterian, St. John’s Episcopal,

and the Dutch Reformed, the latter being formed after a split in the

Presbyterian congregation.

A SPLIT IN THE PRESBYTERIAN CONGREGATION.

In organizing the first church the majority favored the Presbyterian

denomination, and funds were collected for a church building, which was

duly erected on Carteret street. The first minister was one Clarence

Eddy, and he proved so very unsatisfactory that he was soon invited to

resign. I believe that the governing body of the Church had had occasion

to censure the reverend gentleman for something, and later found that

the minutes containing the censure had been tampered with. This was the

last straw, and Mr. Eddy was given an easy opportunity to vacate, as the

following letter indicates:—

“Woodside, N. J.

”June 15, 1870.

“Rev. Clarence Eddy.

“Dear Sir—The undersigned, members of your congregation, beg

respectfully to express the belief that a dissolution of your connection

with the church is, under existing circumstances, desirable.

“We, therefore, earnestly request that you will take early steps to

consummate the separation; and this we do in a spirit of kindness to

yourself and of regard for the church. We entertain no sentiment of

personal hostility towards you and desire the separation to be made in

such a manner as shall least disturb your own feelings and interests,

both professional and private, and best conserve all the important

relations involved.”

This letter was signed by forty-six members of the church, including the

families of Messrs. Hine, Nichols, Halsey, Swinnerton, Beach, Dovell,

Blackwood, Harlan, Briggs, Smith, Snowdon, McDonald, Whitehead, Coeyman,

Boyden, Slater, Maclure, Carter, Snyder, Baldwin and Tompkins.

Mr. Eddy refused to accept the gentle hint and it then became necessary

to take the matter before the Newark Presbytery, which held several

highly spiced meetings, and which finally decided that “we must support

the poor minister”, as one of the other “poor” ministers incautiously

stated in public, and there was nothing left for those who had organized

the church and erected the church building but to resign.

The following, taken from a newspaper clipping, shows what the

separation meant to the church. The writer, who merely signs with the

initial D, states that of the $5,000 already paid on the church, less

than $450 were paid by those who remained, while some $4,500 were raised

and paid by those “who, from self respect, have been obliged to leave

it”, and more than two-thirds of the current expenses of the church were

also paid by them. Personally I am just enough lacking in Christian

charity to be pleased at the hole the Eddyites found themselves in, but

that has long been a thing of the past and the bitter feeling then

engendered is so completely forgotten that one who was in the front rank

of the Eddyites can now say that “Mr. Hine was Woodside”.

A PARTISAN.

Mr. Daniel Halsey, who resided on Carteret street, at one time did

business in Petersburg, Va., and it became the custom to have Mr. Halsey

send to Petersburg for a colored girl when any of his neighbors desired

such help; thus there was gradually formed a small colony of Southern

negroes, who were usually intensely loyal to their employers. One of

these, a large, husky negress named “Milly”, was employed by Rev. Mr.

Eddy and thereby hangs a tale, as the story books say.

Shortly after the split in the Presbyterian Church, and when the feeling

was very bitter and the entire neighborhood was divided into “Eddyites”

and “Hineites”, Mr. Hine had occasion to call on Mr. Eddy for some

purpose and was conducted by that gentleman upstairs to his study.

Two or three times during the interview Mr. Eddy, who was an extremely

nervous man, thought he heard some one on the other side of the closed

door and, excusing himself, got up to look out into the hall, but,

seeing no one, resumed his seat. The conference over, Mr. Hine was shown

out, and as Mr. Eddy returned to his study he saw standing in a niche

near the head of the stairs his colored Milly, with a flat-iron in

either hand and, as he approached she brandished her weapons, shouting

as she did so: “Ah was ready for him! Ah was ready for him!” expecting,

of course, there was to be a fight and recognizing her duty to her

employer. Probably Mr. Hine never knew how close he came that day to a

broken head.

Milly was one of the impulsive sort and, so far as her lights went, she

lived up to them. Mrs. Perry tells how, when she used to stand on the

corner of Lincoln and Elwood avenues, hesitating to engage the sea of

mud which lay between her and home, and which was usually over

shoe-top—the real, red, Jersey mud—Milly, when she happened to spy her

beloved Sunday school teacher in this predicament, would rush from the

Eddy back door to the corner, pick up the little woman, tuck her under

her arm and carry her across the street as a child might carry a doll.

It was of no use to resist; Milly was as large as a man and as strong as

two.

PIONEERING IN WOODSIDE.

In these crude times many were the emergencies that arose, and much

ingenuity was called into play to meet them, for between the Erie

Railroad and that farce known as the street car, Woodside was almost as

isolated as an island in mid ocean. Thus the making of a mistake that in

these days would be a trifle was sometimes momentous in its

consequences.

This gave a certain pioneer flavor to the situation and made of the

community one great family where neighbor was dependent on neighbor, and

thus brought out and developed character that the present easy times do

not call out, and men and women loomed large or small as they actually

deserved.

One of the small-sized emergencies which arose had to do with a certain

Sunday morning communion service in the Presbyterian Church, and the

situation was like this:—

Mrs. Cumming had made objection to the use of wine at the communion,

claiming that its very smell was intoxicating and its influence bad, and

the discussion that followed led to a resolve to try unfermented wine,

which was then just beginning to be introduced. As a consequence Mr.

John Maclure, at whose house the vessels used in the service were kept,

and who had charge of the preparations for the service, made a special

journey to New York to purchase a bottle of the unfermented wine.

Mrs. Margaret Perry, a daughter of Mr. Maclure, tells how on the Sunday

morning of this particular communion service, while she was practising

the morning’s music on the church organ and her father was preparing the

communion table, she heard an exclamation of surprise, and looked up to

ascertain the trouble.

Mr. Maclure was a Scotch Presbyterian, and was necessarily limited in

his Sunday morning vocabulary, and there he stood in a momentary daze,

and wholly unable to fit words to the situation, with a quart bottle in

his hand which, instead of containing, as he had supposed, unfermented

wine, was full of Carter’s best black ink. The clerk in New York had

wrapped up the wrong bottle.

Imagine the desolation of the situation when, after inquiring of Mr.

Hall, rector of St. John’s, it was learned that he had only just enough

for his own communion service, and there was no other where to turn, for

there was probably not a bottle of wine of any sort in the small

community.

But here was demonstrated the pioneer readiness to meet and conquer the

unexpected. Mr. Maclure gathered his family about him and all repaired

to his garden, where the grapes were just beginning to ripen, and while

some gathered others pressed the fruit, and by straining the mass

through cheesecloth enough “unfermented wine” was secured to meet the

situation and save the day.

PASTORS OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Following Mr. Eddy came Dr. James Evans, who served for five or six

years; then the Rev. James A. Trimmer, four to five years; the Rev. Jos.

W. Porter, five to six years; the Rev. Henry C. Van der Beek, who served

nineteen years; during his pastorate the church was moved to Forest

Hill. The present incumbent is the Rev. Frederick W. Lewis.

SUNDAY SCHOOL IN THE ELLIOTT STREET SCHOOLHOUSE.

Mr. Swinnerton writes that Mr. Hine did not favor the suggestion that

another Sunday school be started when the subject was first proposed, as

he was not willing to do anything that would appear like opposition or

that might cause damage to his first love, but there were sixty-odd

children among the families that had left the Presbyterian Church, and

they were soon clamoring for Mr. Hine. In the meantime the trustees of

the public school which had just been erected on Cottage, now Elliott,

street, Messrs. Albert Beach, John C. Bennett and James Swinnerton,

offered the use of the building for Sunday school purposes, and though

Mr. Hine hesitated, they kept on with the work of organization and, when

he fully appreciated the feeling, he yielded and, once his mind was made

up, took hold in good earnest.

FORMATION OF CHRIST CHURCH OF WOODSIDE.

The Sunday school was naturally followed by a church organization, and

the services of the Rev. John M. Macauley, who was then living in

Belleville, were secured, Mr. Hine and Mr. E. A. Boyden being appointed

a committee for this purpose. As a burned child dreads the fire, it was

but natural that the first thought was for a church organization

independent of all denominational control but, this not appearing

feasible, it was later decided that the Reformed Dutch Church would

satisfy the larger number, and that denomination was adopted.

The following, taken from the church books, shows the method of

procedure and gives the names of those who were active:—

“Woodside, N. J., May 16, 1871.

“At a meeting held at the house of Mr. Charles C. Hine, and composed of

representatives from thirteen families of the neighborhood, it was

resolved to organize a Church Society.

“After reading of the scriptures and prayer being offered by Revd. Dr.

Macauley and Messrs. C. C. Hine and H. H. Nichols, the meeting was

formally organized by the election of Horace H. Nichols as Chairman and

Jas. Swinnerton, Jr., as Secretary.

“It was then voted to organize without a denominational name or

connection, and on the standard of belief of the Presbyterian Church,

and it was also decided, by a full vote, to call the Society ‘Christ

Church of Woodside’.

“A committee composed of H. H. Nichols, C. C. Hine, E. A. Boyden and

Jas. Swinnerton, Jr., was appointed to post the legal notice and arrange

a meeting for the election of officers, etc.

“The meeting then closed with prayer by Dr. Macauley.

“The persons present at the above meeting were:

“Revd. Dr. Macauley,

“Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Hine,

“Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Nichols,

“Mr. and Mrs. A. Beach,

“Mrs. Callen,

“Mr. L. Dovell,

“Mr. Stent,

“Mr. Warnock,

“Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Higgins,

“Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Boyden,

“Mr. and Mrs. B. G. Blackwood,

“Mr. Jno. I. Briggs,

“Mrs. Miller,

“Mr. Dowling,

“Jas. Swinnerton, Jr.

“JAS. SWINNERTON, Jr., Secretary.

“The following is a copy of a notice posted pursuant to vote of meeting

held the 16th inst.:—

“NOTICE!

“Notice is hereby given that a meeting will be held at 8 o’clock on the

evening of Tuesday, May 30, 1871, at the house of Mr. Chas. C. Hine, in

Newark, Essex Co., N. J., to complete the organization of a church to be

known as ‘Christ Church of Woodside’, and to elect officers for the same

and to transact such other business in connection therewith as may be

necessary. Persons desirous of uniting are requested to present their

letters at that meeting.

“H. H. NICHOLS,

”C. C. HINE,

“JAS. SWINNERTON, JR.,

”E. A. BOYDEN,

“Committee.

“Woodside, May 18, 1871.

“Woodside, May 30, 1871.

“Pursuant to notice given, a meeting was held at 8 o’clock p. m. this

day at the house of C. C. Hine, Esq.

“After prayer by Rev. Dr. Macauley, the meeting organized by the

election of Mr. H. H. Nichols as Chairman and E. F. Higgins as

Secretary.

“The notice calling the meeting was then read by the Secretary and,

after some discussion, a paper was drawn up and signed by those persons

present willing to unite in the proposed Church organization.

“The following is a copy of said paper and signatures:—

“We, the Undersigned, hereby organize ourselves as a Christian Church,

to be known as ‘Christ Church of Woodside’, Essex Co., N. J., to be

governed by such standards and regulations as may be hereafter adopted.

(Signed by)—

“H. H. NICHOLS,

”MARY C. NICHOLS,

“AMELIA F. NICHOLS,

”C. C. HINE,

“MARY H. HINE,

”JANE A. AVERY,

“B. G. BLACKWOOD,

”R. T. BLACKWOOD,

“E. A. BOYDEN,

”JANE D. BOYDEN,

“LOUIS DOVELL,

”MRS. LOUIS DOVELL,

“ALBERT BEACH,

”MARIA A. BEACH,

“MRS. G. B. CALLEN,

”JAS. SWINNERTON, JR.,

“ELIZABETH E. SWINNERTON.

“Messrs. C. C. Hine and E. A. Boyden were appointed a committee to

secure additional signatures.

“It being thought desirable not to proceed further in the organization

until the report of the committee had been received, the meeting

adjourned to meet at the same hour and place on Tuesday evening, the 6th

day of June, 1871,

“ELMER F. HIGGINS,

“Woodside, June 6, 1871.

“An adjourned meeting was held at 8 o’clock p. m. at Mr. Hine’s house

and, after prayer by Rev. Dr. Macauley, the officers of the last meeting

presiding, the minutes of the first and second meetings were read by the

secretary and approved.

“Mr. Nichols reported having conferred with the Gentlemen interested in

the Reformed Church, who stated that they did not intend to locate in

Woodside.

“Mr. Boyden for Committee to secure additional signatures, reported

having seen several persons who stated that they would attend this

meeting if possible, and that some were present.

“Mr. Hine then read a form of covenant which was referred to a committee

of three, consisting of Dr. Macauley and Messrs. Beach and Blackwood,

for revision or amendment, who at once retired and, after about fifteen

minutes, returned.

“Dr. Macauley reported that the committee thought the paper remarkably

well drawn up, but that they would suggest that the clause reading ‘that

repentance to-ward God, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and assistance

from the Holy Ghost are sufficient to cleanse us from our sins and

restore us to fellowship with our God’, be altered slightly in its

phraseology, which alteration would not materially effect or change the

meaning, as follows: ‘That through repentance towards God, and faith in

our Lord Jesus Christ, by the grace of the Holy Ghost, we may be

cleansed from our sins and restored to fellowship with our God’, which

amendment being accepted by Mr. Hine, this paper as amended was adopted

and reads as follows:—

“In the fear of God and with a sincere desire to promote the cause of

Christ and our own growth in the divine life, we do now enter into

covenant with God and with one another in the formation of a Church to

be known as ‘Christ Church of Woodside’, the following being a brief

summary of our belief. We take the scriptures of the Old and New

Testament as the only rule of faith and practice; we avouch the Lord

Jehovah to be our God and portion and the object of our supreme love and

delight; the Lord Jesus Christ to be our Saviour from sin and death, our

Prophet to instruct us, our Priest to atone and intercede for us, and

our King to rule over, project and enrich us, and the Holy Ghost to be

our Sanctifier, Comforter and Guide.

“Unto this Triune God—Father, Son and Holy Ghost—we do without reserve

and in a covenant never to be revoked, give ourselves to be his willing

servants forever, and in humble reliance on the Lord Jesus Christ we

promise to discharge our several duties, in the closet, in the family

and in the community, and also to attend upon the stated means of Grace,

the preaching of the Word and the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s

Supper.

“We do humbly confess the total depravity of our natures, the enmity of

our hearts against God and the manifold transgressions of our lives, but

we believe, nevertheless, that through repentance toward God and faith

in our Lord Jesus Christ, by the grace of the Holy Ghost, we may be

cleansed from our sins and restored to fellowship with our God; and as a

further expression of our faith and belief we adopt the creed commonly

known as the Apostle’s Creed.

“We do bind ourselves by covenant to this Church, to watch over it in

the Lord, to seek its peace and edification, to submit to the discipline

of Christ as here administered and to strive together for the support

and spread of the gospel of our Saviour in all ways as opportunity may

be given us, relying only upon Him who is able to keep us from falling

and to present us faultless before the presence of his glory with

exceeding joy.

“On motion of Mr. Beach, Messrs. H. H. Nichols, C. C. Hine and B. G.

Blackwood were elected as Elders for one year.

“Messrs. A. Beach, E. A. Boyden, E. F. Higgins, Jas. Swinnerton, Jr.,

and L. Dovell were elected as Trustees for one year.

“After prayer by Dr. Macauley the meeting adjourned.

“ELMER F. HIGGINS,

”Secretary.

“Christ Church, Woodside, Newark, N. J., from which the First Reformed

Church of that place was organized, held its first service of public

worship in the schoolhouse on the corner of the old Belleville road and

Cottage street, on the 19th of February, 1871, Rev. John M. Macauley, D.

D., officiating. In the following month—March 12, 1871—Dr. Ray Palmer

and Rev. Mr. Strieby preached; with this single exception Dr. Macauley

continued to preach there for two years. During this time a call, signed

by every member of the church not absent from home at the time, was

tendered to Dr. Macauley to become the regular pastor of the church.

“In September, 1872, the question of a denominational connection was

decided in favor of the Reformed (Dutch) Church and application was made

to the classis of Newark for admission. This application met favorable

consideration and a committee consisting of Revs. E. P. Terhune, D. D.,

J. P. Strong, D. D., C. E. Hart, and Elders A. C. Wheaton, James Browe,

was appointed to visit Woodside and organize the church in accordance

with the regulations of classis.

“Woodside, October 30, 1872.

“The committee appointed by classis to organize a Reformed Church at

Woodside assembled for that purpose Wednesday evening, October 30th, at

the schoolhouse. The exercises were opened by religious services. Rev.

Dr. J. P. Strong preached a sermon from Psalm lxxxvii., 3d verse.

“After these services the committee proceeded to receive the members,

thirty-two in number, applying to be organized as a church.

“The organization was completed by the election of Horace H. Nichols,

Charles C. Hine and Baxter G. Blackwood as Elders, and James Swinnerton,

Jr., Louis Dovell and E. A. Boyden as Deacons.

“The following resolutions were adopted:—

“Resolved, That the ordination of officers take place on Sabbath,

November 17, 1872.

“Resolved, That the title of the church be ‘Christ Church, The First

Reformed Church, Woodside’.

“November 17, 1872, after morning service, and in pursuance of previous

action, the ordination of the officers elected October 30th was taken

up, Dr. Macauley officiating. Mr. Boyden having declined to act as

Deacon, Messrs. Dovell and Swinnerton were duly ordained to that office,

and Messrs. Blackwood, Nichols and Hine as Elders.”

[Illustration: Christ’s Church, Washington And Delevan Avenues. The

first building of this congregation and the third church to be organized

in the house of Mr. C. C. Hine. Note the horse cars.]

During the summer of 1872 arrangements had been made for the erection of

a neat chapel on an elevated piece of ground on Washington avenue and

work on the same commenced. The building was completed during the

following Spring and worship was begun therein on the 2d day of March,

1873. The house was dedicated shortly afterward (March 9th), Revs.

Terhune, Strong, Abeel, Hart and the pastor, Dr. Macauley, taking part

in the services. The stained glass used in this building was a Woodside

production, made by George Laerter in a small place in the neighborhood

of Washington avenue and Halleck street.

DR. MACAULEY THE FIRST PASTOR OF CHRIST CHURCH.

On the 5th of March, 1873, at a meeting attended by all the elders and

deacons, it was resolved to repeat the call to Dr. John M. Macauley, to

become the settled pastor of the church. A committee was then appointed

and instructed to proceed with that duty in conformity with the usages

of the Reformed Church. The call was duly drawn up and, on the 31st of

December, 1873, a meeting, moderated by Rev. Dr. J. P. Strong, of

Belleville, was held, at which the instrument was completed and signed

and ordered to be placed in Dr. Macauley’s hands for approval prior to

presentation at the next regular meeting of classis.

DR. JOHN M. MACAULEY.

On May 3, 1874, Dr. Macauley was installed pastor of the church. The

Doctor was a man of rare education, a delightful companion with a

brilliant mind and a forceful and graceful method of speaking; a pulpit

orator of the old school, trained in gesture, word and manner as well as

mind. Will Cumming, of the River road, then a young man studying law,

and himself unusually clever, used to come regularly to the Sunday

morning service in order to study the Doctor’s polished manner and

language. The Doctor was one of the very few who could preach a long

sermon and hold the close attention of his audience to the last word.

TWO UNMENTIONABLES.

After the Doctor came two who covered a period extending from 1881 to

1894, and concerning whom little that is agreeable can be recorded.

However a search of the church records shows that on December 8, 1888, a

bill for fertilizing the church lawn was submitted by the pastor and

ordered paid; thus we see that his labors were not all in vain. During

this period the church building was moved from No. 215 Washington avenue

to the present location and a parsonage was erected in the rear.

REV. ISAAC VAN WART SCHENCK.

As is well known it is easier to get an old man of the sea on one’s back

than to get rid of him, but the spell was finally broken when, on August

13, 1894, a call was extended to the Rev. Isaac Van Wart Schenck, who

proved to be the opposite in every respect of his two predecessors. Mr.

Schenck was a whole-souled man who always gave his best to the church

and he was greatly beloved by Mr. Hine.

It is interesting to note that the first trolley car ran through

Woodside on the first Sunday that Mr. Schenck preached in the church.

REV. HENRY MERLE MELLEN.

Mr. Schenck was succeeded by the Rev. Henry Merle Mellen in September,

1900, and, under his administration, the present church edifice was

erected, the success of this enterprise being largely due to Mr.

Mellen’s exertions.

[Illustration: Christ’s Church, Washington And Delevan Avenues. The

second church edifice of this congregation. Erected 1906-7.]

On December 6, 1903, the mortgage of $1,900 on the old church property

was burned and the church cleared of all indebtedness.

February 4, 1904, the question of erecting a new church edifice was

publicly discussed by the congregation, and the minister was instructed

to appoint a building committee of twenty members.

March 10, 1904, the building committee met and organized with Judge

Alfred F. Skinner as chairman, William B. Abbey as secretary, and George

S. Bruen as treasurer. It was decided to limit the cost of building and

furnishings to $25,000.

April 29, 1905, Charles G. Jones of Belleville was selected as

architect.