Known as the "Father of Astoria," Stephen Halsey moved to Hallet's
Cove in 1835 and conceived the idea of founding a new village with dwellings,
stores, factories, schools, and churches. After obtaining a village charter
from Albany in 1839, he started a ferry to Manhattan, and created Astoria
Blvd. and Vernon Ave. He named the village 'Astoria' after fellow fur
merchant John Jacob Astor.
The following is a Stephen Halsey Bio from Rootsweb
freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~dav4is/people/HALS546.htm
HALSEY, Stephen Alling [1798-1875] – American entrepreneur
"Mr. Halsey might be called the "Father of Astoria." In
the year 1835 Mr. Halsey purchased a large tract of land situated around
the ferry or what was then called Hallett's Cove. Shortly afterwards he
settled in the place, and was universally marked as a man of energy and
progressiveness.
At that time less than twenty houses stood in the neighborhood, and about
the first work undertaken by him was the laying out of streets and avenues
through his property. He was at this time engaged in the fur business
in New York City. His next move was the erection of a number of handsome
and commodious buildings, many of which stand to this day and will continue
to rear their stately eminences as monuments of their builder for generations
to come.
Mr. Halsey evidently thought the neighborhood was worthy of having some
recognition and importance, and accordingly he procured the passage of
a bill by the Legislature incorporating it as a village, the name "Astoria"
being adopted after John Jacob Astor of New York, an old friend of Mr.
Halsey's. About 25 years ago in company with the late Byram K. Stevens
and Henry L. Riker, he bought several farms and laid through them streets
and avenues. This property has ever since been constantly improving. It
is bounded by Broadway, Grand street, Second avenue and The Crescent.
He donated a tract of land, 100 by 200 feet, extending from Academy street
to First Avenue, for school purposes. A commodious school house was shortly
afterwards erected on this site, which is to-day used by the Fourth Ward
school. He invested in other property, in almost every instance showing
his progressive spirit by laying out streets, grading them, &c. The
ferry (then running to 86th street) was owned by him up to 1860, and he
it was who placed the first modern ferryboat on the line.
He was a great lover of horticulture, and in the garden in front of Capt.
Monson's house on Fulton street may be seen some of the largest Magnolia
trees on Long Island, 75 feet in height, planted by him. He had a particular
admiration for shade trees which he gratuitously gave to parties desirous
of planting shade trees in front of their property. The fine Elms on Washington
street and Perrot Avenue still stand as specimens of his planting.
Mr. Halsey was a gentleman who all through the last forty years of his
eventful life took an active interest in the welfare of the village, having
served for many years as one of the Trustees and President of that Board.
He was ever advocating improvement and probably did more than any other
one man to build up the place. For generosity in public as well as in
private affairs he was always noted. He donated the site upon which the
Presbyterian Church stands and erected that sacred edifice. When the Astoria
Catholic Church was being built on Newtown Avenue he furnished gratis
the necessary stone for the foundation.
But our space will not permit us to further enumerate his acts of liberality.
We cannot help saying, however, that in his death the poor man will lose
his best friend. In the days when wages were low and living somewhat precarious,
he never paid his laborers less than a dollar per day, even when others
in the neighborhood paid but seventy-five cents. Workingmen in straightened
circumstances who rented or purchased property from him were never oppressed
when their payments became due. Such large-hearted men are rare and their
loss is always a public calamity."
[Halsey & Halsey, op cit]
