Hoboken News 1847 NY Evening Post‏

"Hoboken -- its Increase -- Ship-Yard, &c. Every body who has visited New York knows where Hoboken is, because they must have crossed one of the ferries and traversed its beautiful serpentine walks to the Elysian fields and sipped lemonade, or partaken of its ice creams, &c. It is a charming retreat from the heat, noise and bustle of the city for the jaded and weary citizen, who in a few minutes can plunge into as secluded a spot as if he were a hundred miles from New York. If it is delightful in the heat of summer to recline under its shades and inhale the pure and balmy air that passes from the ocean over our magnificent bay and the noble Hudson, so even in October it has its beauties to those who perambulate its grounds and witness the variegated foliage as it undergoes the successive changes incident to an autumnal season. A few days since, as I rambled through its charming avenues, I was forcibly struck with the changes which had taken place since my last visit. The old tavern on the hill, and even the hill itself, had disappeared, and on it erected a splendid hotel and other buildings connected with the ferries which centre at this spot. There are three ferries in New York from which boats constantly start for Hboken, viz: at Barclay, Canal and Christopher streets, so that the citizens up town as well as down may enjoy the pleasure of visiting the Elysian fields. The only drawback in the price of the ferriage; and I am persuaded that if the fare was reduced to * three* cents, the proprietors would find, that, ultimately it would yield them a greater revenue than at the present price. They have acknowledged that they realize more profit at 6 cents than when they charged 12. . . . *** I learned also in my rambles, that building lots are held at a very high rate, so much so as to discourage many from building. *** There has, however, been considerable increase and improvement in the character of the building, and Hoboken begins to wear the appearance of a thriving country town. There are now three churches, and a large number of hotels, which are necessary to accommodate the vast number of visitors who resort to it in the summer months. There are several blocks of handsome brick houses, a number of stores, and some manufactories. But that which particularly attracted my attention was the ship yard, recently established there by Mr. Barclay, the son of Anthony Barclay, Esq., the much respected British Consul of this port. Here I found two ships on the stocks, one of which is nearly completed, and will be launched in a few weeks. This ship is about 800 tons, a fine model, and excellent workmanship, the owner of which is so well pleased with her that he has engaged Mr. Barclay to build another for him as soon as this one is off the stocks. [Barclay's biography] He will yet show to his friends and acquaintances who sneered at his project, that a gentleman can be a mechanic, and a mechanic a gentleman. " 

[signed BB] Evening Post (N. Y.), October 2, 1847, p. 2, col. 4

Art Critic Marion Filler of the Daily Record, NJ saw the recording eye of Carroll Jones III.  His work, Separate Dreams, was a record of an old building that had stood across the waters of Lake Champlain nearly 200 years.  I've done a lot of research, but am unable to determine the age of this door, but it might have been around in 1847, it's unobtrusive demeanor escaping the eye of most passer's by, as it was located in the same area as the old Emile Dupont Building in Separate Dreams.  Again, Spring stands as testament to his vision even in the early days.  It was completed and used a as a poster for a one man gallery exhibition at the Stevens Technical Institute in 1983.

 

From correspondence:

"That was 30 years ago when I made the poster (83). I had a show (successful too...) at Steven's when I lived there. Opening day it rained harder than ever before in New Jersey. I thought the show was going to be a total bust. Steven's is high up on a rocky hill and the streets going down to the regular streets were like rivers. Still a lot of people came and I sold a few drawings, including Hoboken Still Life and Antique Christening Dress. Several people days later told me they tried to come but the roads coming into Hoboken were under 5 feet of water. What a day! "

Written by Rose Walker, Simple Gifts Galleries of Georgia.  The North and South of it...