The Historical Society of Rockland County 20 Zukor Rd., New City, New York 10956
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published by The Historical Society of Rockland County 20 Zukor Rd., New City, New York 10956 Vol. 21. No. 2__________________________________________ April-June 1977 WILLIAM W. SNOW. IN MEMORIAM Mrs. Tyro. R. Chapman BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE Mrs. Frank deNoyelles David Parker James A. Collishaw Lillian R. Perry Dorothy G. (Mrs. Richard) Lyman Margaret S. Dodge LIFE MEMBERS Anne Gugler Mary Ellen Schou Paul Werther ELDER MEMBERS Ellen Ferretti OFFICERS FOR 1977-78 John R. Zehner, pres. Dr. George R. Sharpless, treas. J. Erwin Perine, 1st v.p. Harriet Hasbrouck, corr. sec. Mrs. Joseph G. Dodge, v.p. Gwendolyn Rudell, rec. sec. Richard W. D. Jewett, v.p. Isabelle K. Saveli, sr. historian Daniel deNoyelles, Sr., v.p. NEW MEMBERS OF THE ON NOMINATING BOARD OF TRUSTEES COMMITTEE WERE Dorothy Green Edwin R. Langer, ch. Robert P. Lewis Jean Davidson Robert Franklin Daniel deNoyelles, Sr. Daniel deNoyelles, Sr. Louis W. Evans John F. Hopf, Jr. In bis annual report for the building committee. Chairman James F. Stoner was enthusiastic about reaching the proposed opening date for the new museum building—July 4, 1977. With most of the outdoor work near completion, the committee is concentrating on loose-end details and seeking funds {some $7P ,000) to cover wind-up costs. Expectations are that the acoustical ceilings, lighting fixtures and carpeting will be installed and the exhibit room ivalls painted by the end of June. Chairman Larry Steve (623-7123) needs volunteers to assist with YANKEE PEDDLER DAY. Collections for the Leland Rickard Meyer Memorial Fund for the colonial kitchen total over $3,000, including $230 recently contributed by the Soroptimist International of Rockland County. Contributions to the Children's Flagpole reached $321.43 by April 18, 1977. Needed is $2,300. The endowment fund, with investments handled by a committee (Dr. George Sharpless, treas., Earl Crum and Dr. William FI. Eland) has assets of $68,687.10 as of Mar. 31, 1977. COVER PICTURE: This portrait of Mr. Snow is from Tompkin s HISTORICAL RECORD. © 1977 by The Historical Society of Rockland County Acting Editor: Mariruth Campbell Printed by Executive Editor: John R. Zehner PRINT SPRINT 2 MY LIFE by William Wait Snow (part two) My trip to Alexandria reminds me of a former trip during the war to the same place. I was in a sleeping car and during the night dreamed that I went to Alexandria, went on board a train to go to the front to see the soldiers, and while going we were held up by Mosby’s Cavalry. We were taken prisoners and sent South, where we remained for several months. After visiting B. P. Lamison, the master car builder, I went to the superintendent’s office, which was my usual custom, and after finishing my call I started to go, when he said to me, “Snow, don’t you want to go to the front.-'” I said, “Yes, I would like very well to go out and see the troops.” So he gave me a railroad pass and I went to the door to take the cars, and on looking up I saw the same train in the same position as that which I had seen in my dream the night before. I did not go, but strange to relate, I watched the papers and saw that the very train I was to have taken to Fairfax was captured by Mosby’s Cavalry and all the inmates were sent South. Now that was a case of my good angel watching over me, and so it is all the way through life. There is some influence that guides one’s thoughts and actions, call it what you will. I arrived at Jersey City and found a letter from George Coffing, asking me to meet him at the St. Nicholas Hotel and talk over the subject of getting a larger place or shop where we could make a greater quantity of wheels. I told him of a conversation I had had with the president of the Erie R. R., and it was decided that we go to Ramapo and have a talk with Henry L. Pierson, who was a prominent director of the Erie R.R. Company at that time. We went, and decided we would locate at Ramapo. This was in the year 1866, before Jim Fisk and Jay Gould got possession of the road. Here comes another episode in my life which may be of interest in the years to come. We were furnishing the road with all their car wheels and all at once they stopped purchasing wheels from us. This was after they moved their office from West St. to 23rd St. Not receiving any orders for wheels and our freight bills getting very large, I called at the office in 23rd St., to ascertain the reason why they had stopped ordering wheels. 1 called first on Mr. Fisk and stated the case to him. He said, “Why should we buy wheels from you?” I said, “Our freight bills are getting very large and we owe the Company about $50,000.” He said, “The H--- you do!” and calling a boy said, “Tell Mr. White to come here.” Mr. White was the treasurer. When Mr. White came in Mr. Fisk said, “This man says his Company owes the Erie R. R. $50,000.” Mr. White said, “I think he is correct.” Fisk then said to him, “Why in H—- don’t you collect it?” Mr. White replied that the railroad company was generally indebted' to the Ramapo Wheels & Foundry Company to a larger amount than I had mentioned, and he supposed they would continue to do so. Mr. Fisk said, “That is all Mr. White,” and turning to me said, “Snow, I will give you an order for 400 wheels and that will pay our company all you owe them.” Strange to say, on going to his hotel that same afternoon, Mr. Fisk was shot on going upstairs by a man who had been waiting there for him to come home. So I did not get the order. I then went to see Jay Gould, the president of the road, and after two or three interviews with him finally got an order for 200 wheels, which paid about one-half of the amount we were then owing the road. I kept on urging for more orders and finally got more. Next came another change which 1 made in our business. We had been buying castings from many shops in New York and Jersey City and it occurred to me that if we 3 owned a soft iron foundry it would be better and we would save money by making our own castings instead of buying them from others. With this idea I prevailed on our people to let me build a soft iron foundry near our Ramapo wheel foundry and make our own castings. They agreed to do this and I bought 20 acres of land from Mr. Suffern and built a foundry for making our own castings and to supply others. We named the new company the Ramapo Iron Works. After building the foundry, we built 20 dwelling houses and a store which furnished the people all they needed for supplies and was the beginning of the Village of Hillburn, while at that time had a greater population than the Village of Suffern and was the first to be incorporated as a village. Now comes the most important event of my life. After the death of George Coffing, I divided my real estate and stock among my children, giving each a part. I will now go back in my history to say that when we started our business at Ramapo it was partly owned by the stockholders of the Richmond and Salisbury Iron Works. Among them was George Church, a man in whom I never had much confidence. Mr. Coffing thought very highly of him and I acquiesced in his judgment, believing and hoping it might turn out all right. Mr. Church, being a stockholder in the Ramapo Iron Works, wanted his say in all things done. It was here we came to a disagreement. This occurred about the year 1888, after we increased the capital stock from $60,000 to $ 125,000. The Ramapo Iron Works was incorporated about the year 188 1. The disagreement in the course of events led to a proposition to buy or sell out at some given price all the stock owned by the Snows and Churches, and the Snow interest became the owner of the stock in the Ramapo Iron Works. This circumstance, together with some other reasons caused me to leave Ramapo and settle at Hillburn, where I built a fine home, and where I expected to end my days. When we increased the capital stock of the Ramapo Iron Works from $60,000 to $125,000, myself, family and R.J. Davidson became the owners of over one-half of the capital stock. This led to much jealousy from the Church interest and they, claiming the increase was illegal, prosecuted me to prevent my holding, with my friends, a majority of the stock. To settle the matter amicably an agreement was drawn up for the Church interest, by a lawyer by the name of Stimson. It was very one-sided but in order to keep in harmony with my associates in business I signed the agreement. This led to a very serious condition. My three children, Fred, Nora and Clara, united to prosecute me and the Ramapo Iron Works. The case was taken to the highest tribunal and the Supreme Court of New York State decided the case in favor of my children.