New-York tribune., 1900-01-14


near Grand-st~ purchased. Before it could
be used for the purposes for which it had been
purchased the cholera broke out in the city and
the building was turned into temporary hos
pitaI The historian of the society says Of this
period
In the following October, after the building
was repaired and fitted up the library, the
school and meeting rooms of the society were
removed from the Chambers building which
was leased for offices, the society continuing in
receipt of the income until 1881, when the prop
erty reverted to the city. The society," to obtain
an entrance from Broadway to its CrOsby-st.
building. purchased in November 1915 the ad-
joining house and lot (No. 472) on that thor
oughfare. After the slight alteration requisite
the Hammer and Hand again appeared on
Broadway. This was an important epoch in the
progress of the society, unexpected source
of income accrued by the leasing, very fa-
v0rable terms, of the lecture to the original
Christy Minstrels who continued for over TWEEN
ty-hVe years as tenants, Notwithstanding their
entertainment was regarded with dsfavor by
some members of the society.
In 1877 the society purchased the suydam
home, No. IS East Sixteenth-st. and there it
made its home until the fine quarters in Forty
fourth-st were secured from Columbia Uni
Versy
The society maintains scholarships in the
New-York Trades School which "are awarded
annually to such deserving applicants by
their position in life would be materially bene-
fitted by acquiring a knowledge of a skilled
trade" 1t also founded the Mechanics Bank
The members of the society had a prominent
place in the Washington funeral procession in
1799 in the peace celebration in 1914, in the
Croton water celebration in 1912 and the cen
tennial of Evacuation Day, in 1888. During the
Civil War the society manifested its loyalty to
the country by presenting a beautiful stand of
rolors to the 1st New-York Volunteer Engi-
Leers and opening its library and reading rooms
10 soldiers and sailors.
The present quarters of the society include on
the main floor handsomely furnished assembly
room decorated with the portraits of some Of
the early members, the old flag which car
red by the society at public functions and an
artistic tablet with the and hammer, the
emblem of the society, and the names of the
founders. From the office of the secretary one
may look down upon the great library On the
upper floors are the classrooms. where free in
struction is impaired in drawing, modelling, etc,
by competent men.
At the 114th meeting of the society, which
took place January 3, Richard T. Davies,
secretary of the society, read the following let
Ser from Abram S. Hewitt:
have the honor to acknowledge the receipt
sf your formal invitation to attend the opening
and dedication of your new building on WedneS-
day of next week. / had already reserved this
evening for the reception, to which you are
kind enough to bid me- but thus far l have not
been able during the present winter to make or
keep any engagements which require me to go
out in the evening. l fear therefore, that II
will be impossible for me to be present, but
l will come if | can because, you well know,
l very early enjoyed the benefits offered by the
society, of which my father early MEM
ber, and with which l have the honor to
be associated
The history of the institution is of great
beneficence, and at time has its work been
valuable to the community, both in its
library and its classes, than the present. l am
quite that the late Peter Cooper derived
portion of his ideas from his connection with
the Society of Mechanics and TradeSmen and
that he based the instruction departments of
the Cooper Union upon the experience which |
he had gained in your schools You will be glad
to learn, therefore. that still greater extension
of instruction in the mechanic arts will soon be
naugurated by the organization of a day school
at the Cooper Union, covering the same ground |
the night classes, but intended for the gradu- |
ateS OF the public schools and the other youth |
of the city who may be qualified for such ad- |
Vanced instruction. The ability to open this |
school is due to the munificence of of your
members Mr.. Andrew Carnegie who has given
endowment of S300,OOO for the purpose of
placing this school upon permanent fOunda- |
tion. l glad to add, therefore, that the |
prospects for the rising generation to secure |
such education will fit them for the prac- |
teal work of life never better in this city,
where the demand for intelligent mechanics is |
80 large, and is increasing rapidly.
Mr.. Davies announced at the same meeting !
fhat Andrew Carnegie had placed in his hands |
The sum of $4,000, Ito be used in thoroughly |
fitting the Mechanics Institute for occupancy"