Horace B. Silliman
Compliments of the Spindle City Historic Society of Cohoes
Researched & Written by: Robert W. Langley Jr.
|
Silliman Memorial Church, Horace B. Sillimans Greatest and Most Prominet Achievement.
Horace B. Silliman. A man who had the greatest pride and faith in the City of Cohoes.
Horace Silliman was the son of Levi and Clarissa Silliman and was born in 1825. He was there 6th and only child; all of his previous brothers and sisters had died shortly after birth. He attended Public Schools and graduated from Union College, in the class on 1846.
He was later honored by both Union and Hamilton College with a degree of LL.D. At one time, Dr. Silliman was offered the presidency of Hamilton Collage, but he refused. Following his graduation from Union, Mr. Silliman became a druggist and had a place of business on Remsen St. in Cohoes. Later, he opened an insurance office and eventually embarked in the Mill supplies business, in which he was remarkably successful. By his shrewd business foresight and executive ability, he accumulated a large fortune. He gave generously to his community and organizations. Other buildings that Horace B. Silliman built and or established besides the Silliman Church are:
Additions to Hamilton Collage in Northfield Mass.
Silliman Lodge in New Jersey, a home for invalid girls.
Silliman Memorial Institute in the Philippines, which was devoted to
The Silliman Institute University
Horace B. Silliman was also active in the work of securing the present water service for Cohoes. He was elected the first president of the Young Men's Christian Association when it was organized in Cohoes, September 29, 1858 and later served as Vice President. In February 1872, when Cohoes Hospital was established, Dr. Silliman was on of its first doctors. In later years, his splendid generosity found expression in another gift of many thousands of dollars, which permitted he erection of two large additions to the Cohoes Hospital.
Horace B. Silliman was chosen first president of the C.H. Adams Steam Co., which was organized June 17th 1867 and served several terms.
During the Civil War, Dr. Silliman, as one of Cohoes' foremost citizens, took a prominent part in the war meetings and the raising of troops attendant upon that great struggle and was active in the work of soldiers relief.
Dr. Silliman was one of the first officials in 1870 and was Trustee of the Waterworks Sinking Fund. Prior to that, he was one of the foremost leaders in the organization of the Public School system of Cohoes in 1850. From March 1, 1849 to August 1851, Dr. Silliman was associated with Chauncey Stow and Stephen C. Miller in the founding and publishing of a village newspaper known as the "Cohoes Cataract". The firm later became Silliman and Miller before it was dissolved. In 1895 he was also on the Cohoes City Hall committee, he helped to organize, fund, and construct the Cohoes City Hall, which still stands today, as a beginning to the city of Cohoes. He was the one appointed to give the ceremonial speech.
An issue of the old Cohoes News, which covered the ceremony in detail, quoted the main address given at the dedication my Dr. H.B. Silliman. He was described as an outstanding community leader. He this advice to the citizens of Cohoes then and now which had represented the attitudes of him, and is still wise counsel many great Cohoesiers before today.
He told the citizens to:
1. Cultivate a spirit of patriotism toward your city.
2. Make sacrifices for it.
3. Have courage to support the good and antagonize the bad.
4. Subordinate in city affairs party spirit and affiliation.
5. Do not support the fortunes of reigning leaders.
6. Insist upon enforcement of the law.
7. Let it be understood that obtaining money from the public money, without an equivalent, is stealing, and everyone who assists in the transaction is a party of crime.
8. Watch out for leaving debts to posterity.
These were the words of H.B. Silliman, a great community leader who contributed more to Cohoes than the average citizen; this is a man who contributed financially to Cohoes. A man who dedicated his life to assuring that the citizens forever hold pride in their city through good times and bad.
He'll always be remembered as a millionaire philanthropist and benefactor of churches, collages, and public institutions.
He donated several thousands of dollars in to the Community of Cohoes.
His greatest and most Prominet project was the building of the Silliman Memorial Church, in memories of his loving mother and father in 1896.
Horace B. Silliman Married his first wife in 1851 and gave birth to his first daughter Clara, after 10 years of marriage his first wife died, leaving him with his only daughter who tragically died 4 years later at the age of 14. But Horace Silliman married again and had another daughter Laura. But he lost his second daughter at the age of 19. And shortly after that his second wife died leaving Horace Silliman alone.
Horace Silliman himself died May 4, 1910 at the age of eighty-four. As you can see Horace B. Silliman, the builder of the Silliman Memorial Church was a very wealthy man and built many buildings and contributed to many Cohoes organizations, but his most worthy and best creation was the Silliman Memorial Church. His parents started the church in their home then in a vacant factory, but after he made his millions, although his parents were dead he built the Silliman Church, the Silliman family finally had a chapel of their own.
The Creating of the Silliman Memorial Church.
Horace B. Sillimans Greatest & Most Prominet Achievement
The Presbyterian Church of Cohoes was first organized in the home of Levi and Clarissa Silliman, the mother and father of Horace. B. Silliman, builder of the Silliman Memorial Church. The date of the first meeting was August 10, 1839, with the Reverend Chamberlain appointed as Stated supply, and included the following members:
Levi Silliman
Timothy Bailey
Mrs. Clarissa Silliman
Joshua Bailey
Joshua Bailey Jr.
Mrs. Almira Bailey
Ashel Goff
Augustus J. Goss
Mrs. Lucy Goff
Mrs. Melinda Goodsell
Mrs. Mary Howell
Mrs. Eliza Ann Tremain
Miss. Fanny A. Hamilton
For several years, worship services were held in the Silliman home. From here, the church held services in a vacant factory near the junction of Mohawk and Remsen streets. The first church building was a frame structure, erected on the Northeast corner of Remsen and Factory (Now Cayuga st.)
In 1849, the second church, which was a brick building, was erected on the site of the present building on Senaca st. It was built at a cost of over $5,000. In 1865 a lecture room was built just east of the church. Also, in the year 1865 the parsonage at 98 Mohawk St. (Rectory address of Silliman) was purchased from William G. Caw for $6,000. At this time, the membership of the Silliman Church was 400 and the membership in the Sunday school was 420.
In 1869, the brick church, which was erected in 1849, was enlarged. In 1877, the building of a two-story addition in front enlarged the lecture room (Manse). Ultimately with various stages of construction by 1896 the complete Silliman Memorial Church was finished This was built as a gift by Horace B. Silliman in memory of his two daughters Clara and Laura and of course for his Mother and Father. On April 27, 1896, the Silliman cornerstone of the church building was laid on the corner of Mohawk and Senaca st. Horace Brainsmade Silliman donated the lots. He also paid for the erection of the church building, it furnishings and the rebuilding of the enlargement of the organ by the Hook and Hastings Company also in memory of his parents, Levi and Clarissa Silliman.
In 1956, the sanctuary of the Silliman Memorial Church was renovated, consisting of re-leading the stain glass window, church painting and new lights installed.
In 1957, a mural of the Good Shepherd, which was painted by George Wood, was presented to the church by George Wood and J. Harold Wood in memory of their parents. In 1994 the City of Cohoes had started arranging the demolition of the Silliman Memorial Church. A group of people got together to embark on a mission to prevent the destruction of a historic landmark. It was the beginning of a 3-year dispute and intense controversy on weather or not the Romanesque Gothic Revival structure should be preserved and restored or demolished.
That's when the Spindle City Historic Society was established. There membership grew greatly as many Cohoesiers and outsiders wanted to see this city landmark preserved and to show respect for it's great builder Horace B. Silliman, who over 100 years ago helped to establish Cohoes and make it what it is today.
But in November of 1997, despite the 3-year battle, the city sold the Silliman Memorial Church and it's property to a demolition contractor who over the next 7 months stripped and demolished the historic structure.
However, during the removal of the Cornerstone, which was donated to the First Prespertarian Church of Cohoes, a time capsule was found. This time capsule contained photos of the Silliman Family, Announcements for the grand opening, and a special dedication letter written by Horace B. Silliman himself. These items are now under preservation by the Riverspark Visitors Center of Cohoes.
 |