News from 1902 (October)

October 1 - The marble-walled home of the Buffalo Historical Society was dedicated last night, and in spite of a hard downpour of rain that strewed the ground with sodden leaves, about 400 persons attended the exercises in the Historical Society's building on the northern shore of Park Lake.
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George Alfred Stringer, acting president of the Society in the absence of Andrew Langdon who is in Europe, reviewed the history of the Buffalo Historical Society from its foundation in 1862 with Millard Fillmore as its first president. Its library now, he stated, numbers 21,000 volumes, including the Lord and Fillmore collections, 25,000 pamphlets, together with a fine gallery of portraits, photographs and a museum rich with mementoes of Buffalo's Past.

Reuben Gold Thwaites, secretary of the Wisconsin Historical Society, delivered an address upon the "Functions of a Historical Society." Among these he set forth the inculcating of a love for history in the young. He also referred to the wealth of picturesque tradition and romantic story that lies behind the growth of this great commerical center...

Hon. Daniel N. Lockwood concluded the dedicatory exercises, speaking of the history of the constuction of the building as the home of the board of managers of the New York State exhibits at the Pan-American Exposition.

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October 2 - The Councilmen took up a "sleeper" of great age and looked at it at their session yesterday. It had whiskers and recalled the tale of the immortal but shiftless Rip.

A long time ago the Assessors mad a claim for taxes on the land leased by the Rumseys for Exposition purposes prior to the opening of the Exposition. John G. Milburn always contended that the intent of the law relieving the land from taxation was to make such relief begin at the time the Exposition company secured the land for its purposes.

Corporation Counsel William H. Cuddeback took the same view of the subject and allowed the Rumseys to take judgment against the city cancelling the taxes.

When Charles L. Feldman came into office, however, he concluded that the city had a valid claim for the taxes and sent a communication to the Alderman recommending that the judgment be reopened. The majority of the Aldermen sided with him and the matter went to the Councilmen on July 2 last and has remained on the table ever since. Yesterday Councilman Fleischmann moved that the matter be disapproved.

"This matter has been thoroughly discussed before this body," said he, "and I see no reason why all this old ground should be gone over again. It iw will known that we have utterly no hope of getting this money."

"It seems to me that in a matter of this kind we should consult the Corportation Counsel," said Mr. Stoddart. Accordingly it was tabled for one week.

The taxes, which amount to $10,000, would have to be paid out of the sum appropriated by Congress for the relief of the Exposition creditors. It is practically sure that Mr. Milburn, the trustee of the money, would not allow the claim, and the Washington authorities would not if he did.

October 8 - In its recent notices of women commissioners representing New York State at the St. Louis Exposition, the name of Mrs. Norman Mack has been omitted owing to her not being in St. Louis at this time, especially as she was appointed by the president of the New York State Board, Mr. E. H. Harriman, to be present last week for the purpose of selecting the site for the New York State Building. Mrs. Horton and Miss Helen Gould are National Commissioners while Mrs. Mack if the only New York State woman commissioner, a position of which she may feel justly proud and which she will fill with grace and the intelligence gained while serving on the Board of Women Managers of the Pan-American Exposition.

Mrs. Mack is at present at Colorado Springs recovering from a slight throat trouble....

October 13 - Lafayette L. Grove, who recently acquired fame by a legal fight against the Chicago Wrecking Company, Pan-American Exposition and others, to acquire possession of property inside the Exposition grounds, which he bought on mortgage foreclosure proceedings, made another application in this endless chain of litigation last week. The application was made before Justice White in Special Term by Attorney F. F. Williams, representing Mr. Grove.

Mr. Williams asked the court to order Charles S. Wilbur and Edward Candee, receivers of the defunct Anglo-American Savings and Loan Association, to render an account of the rents they have collected from some of the property obtained by the foreclosure which has caused all the trouble. From February to June last they collected the rents under order of the court. They took in about $4500. Mr. Grove wanted this $4500.

The receivers, by counsel, opposed the motion and claimed that, though they have not turned over to Mr. Grove the identical $4500 they collected as rent, they have already paid him something like $18,000 in one way or another and this sum ought to be considered as including the rent. It was admitted that Mr. Grove had received some money from the receivers, more than $4500, so Justice White dismissed the application.

 

 

 

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