1830-1860 History of Albany, New York (1784–1860)

erastus corning, mayor of albany.

in 1834 erastus corning elected mayor common council. cholera breaks out again year, august 11 september 16, 19 people die. teunis van vechten, of dutch reformed faith, takes office of mayor in 1837. on november 9, 1837 albany evening journal displays on newspaper eagle stretching across top, used or loaned albany argus throughout next 50 years, still used today albany times union. in 1837 albany medical college founded , 29 elk street bought state first official governor s residence. jared rathbone elected mayor in 1839, first baptist mayor, last 1 chosen common council , first 1 elected popular vote in 1840. in first popular election mayor rathbone (whig party) defeats corning 322 votes. 1840 census shows breakdown of population of albany 15,729 white males, 17,021 white females, 378 black males, , 499 black females. teunis van vechten (whig) defeats gerrit lansing 110 votes in 1841. first synagogue in albany built in 1841, congregation beth jacob, located @ 8 rose street (later mosher street). barent staats (democrat) defeats john townsend (whig) 336 votes in 1842, next year doesn t run reelection, , friend humphrey (whig) defeats peter gansevoort 226 votes.

mayor humphrey defeats democratic candidate george stanton 630 votes in 1844. next several years see more expansion , new innovations in city. in 1844 new york state normal school established state, predecessor of university @ albany, suny, albany rural cemetery consecrated, , mohawk , hudson railroad moves tracks pass through tivoli hollow , new depot @ foot of maiden lane. 1845 sees first telegraph office in albany , completion of telegraph line utica , albany gas light company starts experimenting supplying residents gas @ home, 4 miles (6 km) of pipes used. in 1846 telegraph lines constructed new york , buffalo , city hall lite gas. in 1846 first united states naval vessel carry name uss albany launched sea, since 4 others have carried name.

mayor humphrey loses in 1845 38 votes john paige (democrat), mayor of dutch reformed faith. next year mayor paige loses william parmelee 592 votes. in 1846 roman catholic church creates diocese of albany john mccluskey bishop, later becomes first american cardinal.

in 1847 mayor parmelee reelected largest margin of mayor far, 2,920 votes more democratic nominee james goold. in 1847 rutten kill , associated ravine filled in , graded extension of hudson avenue between hawk , lark streets , telegraphic communication st. louis, missouri becomes longest distance telegraph can sent albany. in 1848 john taylor (whig) defeats thomas hun (democrat) 129 votes. in 1848 cornerstone of cathedral of immaculate conception laid @ corner of madison avenue , eagle street , railroad new york completed. on august 17 great fire burns 600 buildings on 37 acres (150,000 m) maiden lane in north hudson avenue south. friend humphrey elected mayor on thomas hun 217 votes in 1849. in 1849 older turnpikes planked , newer ones incorporated plank roads, such great western turnpike, old cherry valley turnpike, albany , mohawk plank road, , albany, rensselaerville, , schoharie plank road.

in 1850 franklin townsend (whig) elected on eli perry (democrat) 12 votes. next year eli perry defeats mayor townsend 366 votes. albany law school organized in 1851. in 1851 bleecker reservoir (today bleecker stadium) constructed , patroon s creek damned creating rensselaer lake (six-mile waterworks). mayor perry reelected year margin of 972 votes on thomas mcmullen, whig candidate. in 1852 constabulary police force replaced professional modern police department, 4 precincts, businesses closed on day of funeral of daniel webster out of respect, , cathedral dedicated.

albany seen ca. 1853

1853 busy , important year in transportation city. final piece of northern railroad between albany , cohoes finished in april , may waterford. end of june railroad connects eagle bridge connects railroad there rutland, vermont. various railroads between albany , buffalo consolidated in july new york central former mayor erastus corning. next month hudson river railroad new york absorbed well. albany , susquehanna railroad begun in september , first boat through enlarged erie canal reaches albany. in november northern railroad has first train vermont arrive in albany. in mayoral election william parmelee becomes mayor again third time, winning 381 votes on mayor eli perry.

in 1855 roman catholic see of albany has first diocesan synod. mayor parmelee dies on march 15, 1856 , charles godard (republican) appointed mayor common council fulfill rest of parmelee s term, godard first republican mayor of albany. eli perry (democrat) defeats john quackenbush 818 votes in april. in august american academy advancement of science meets in albany , state geological hall opens , dudley observatory dedicated. in 1857 folsom s business college established hb bryant , hd stratton, predecessor bryant & stratton. pioneer rowing club, first rowing club in albany, organized in 1857 , mayor perry wins reelection on john quackenbush 101 votes.