On the Contrary, I am Quite Sincere: The Real-life History of The Gilded Age in NYC, Season 3 Episode 2

Much of the joy that comes from watching The Gilded Age involves figuring out which actual historical events provide the background to the intrigue and drama that surround the characters. Sometimes this comes in the form of a pithy remark, and other times it fills up the screen, but no matter what it’s always fun to see how it all comes together in such an entertaining way, as it does neatly in Season 3 Episode 2, “What the Papers Say.”

A scene on Wall Street in the midst of the panic, looking towards Trinity Church. People feared a repeat of the disastrous panic that had occurred in 1873. From Harper’s Weekly, May 24, 1884.

The Panic of 1884

The Panic of 1884 was a bank panic that occurred in May of 1884. There had been a recession for the preceding two years, and in early May 1884 the panic was precipitated by the failure of the Grant and Ward brokerage firm (President Ulyses S. Grant’s son was a partner). In short order, three banks had issues, including the Marine National Bank, Second National Bank, and the Metropolitan National Bank.

Suspension of the Metropolitan Bank, May 1884. From Frank Leslie’s Popular Monthly.

The Metropolitan National Bank was temporarily suspended as allegations of fraud circulated that its president, George Seney, was speculating in railroad stocks. These allegations were later found to be false, but a small panic occurred on Wall Street, and many smaller banks and firms failed. A larger crisis was avoided when the New York Clearing House determined that the Metropolitan National Bank was solvent. They directly assisted the bank with loans and following this the bank was reorganized.

J.P. Morgan and the Morgan Library

J.P. Morgan in his office. Despite his gruff demeanor and headstrong temperament, he was one of the world’s greatest collectors of art. From Harper’s Weekly, August 24 1895, Volume 39, Issue 2018.

John Pierpont Morgan, the son of a dry-goods merchant-turned banker, followed in his father’s footsteps in the years before the Civil War, successfully running his own firm and speculating during the war before joining into a series of eminent partnerships, including one with Anthony Drexel. A tremendously skillful businessman with considerable connections in Europe, Morgan was a confident leader who was making over a half a million dollars a year by the early 1880s, a phenomenal sum that made him one of the leading financiers in the world. His firms specialized in both government and railroad finance, and Morgan served on the board of the New York Central Railroad.

J.P. Morgan’s Library along 36th Street (top) and his house facing Madison Avenue (bottom). Morgan later demolished the house for an annex to the library. From The Life Story of J. Pierpont Morgan by Carl Hovey.

Morgan was a trustee of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a founder of the American Museum of Natural History, and a patron of the Metropolitan Opera House. A collector of art, books, and autographs for much of his life, he kept an extensive library, where he also negotiated and closed important deals; in 1882, his home in Murray Hill was the first private residence to be lit by electricity. In 1900, he commissioned Charles McKim to design a dedicated library for his collection, and when it was finished in 1906 he hired Belle da Costa Greene as his private librarian. When Morgan’s son incorporated the John Pierpont Morgan Library in 1924, Belle was its first director. Now the Morgan Library and Museum, it is an excellent place to visit and has amazing and engaging exhibitions.

The magnificent interior of the Morgan Library. FromThe Pierpont Morgan library, a review of the growth, development and activities of the library during the period between its establishment as an educational institution in February 1924 and the close of the year 1929.

Temperance in New York City

Examples of temperance pledges that were issued by the National Temperance Society in the 1870s. From The Woman’s Temperance Movement by Reverend W.C. Steel.

Emerging in the early 19th century, the temperance movement was largely localized in its early years, and focused more on moderation rather than total abstinence. However, this changed in the 1820s as membership in temperance organizations boomed, assisted by preachers and clergymen who urged their flocks to join up and engage in total abstinence (this gave rise to the nickname “teetotaler” for the T in “total”).

In New York alone, one could join the New York State Temperance Society, New York City Temperance Society, the American Temperance Union, the New York Washington Benevolence Society, the Martha Washington Society, or any other number of fraternal societies dedicated to the cause. Members would ask interested folks to sign a total abstinence pledge to give up liquor, beer, wine, and ale.

The movement offered a unique opportunity for women to become involved in one or more of the hundreds of temperance societies that emerged in the antebellum period. They were able to take on some leadership roles, working closely within their communities and organizing to influence politicians and decision-makers on a scale that had not been seen before. Although the movement slowed around the time of the Civil War, it had a resurgence in the 1870s, including the creation of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union in 1874. By the 1880s, the organization had doubled in size under the leadership of Frances Willard, and members also became involved in other causes such as universal suffrage.

Temperance Fountains and Alternatives

The James Fountain in Union Square Park. Folks could use the cups attached to the base of the fountain to quench their thirst. From The James Fountain, the proceedings at the presentation, Union Square, New York, Tuesday, October 25, 1881.

One of the important considerations for adherents was to provide an alternative to alcoholic drinks. This could be difficult to do during times when milk was often adulterated and Croton water was not always readily available. Despite this, temperance advocates raised money to build public fountains and placed them in strategic areas. They also funded carts that brought free water and lemonade to people on hot days, opened up popular soda fountains and tearooms, and operated lunch wagons that operated at all hours across the city to tempt people from going to saloons.

The Owl, an all night lunch wagon that was carted around the city, offering food and non-alcoholic beverages. From Shepp’s New York city illustrated, 1894.

Two temperance fountains still stand in New York. One was erected in Union Square Park by wealthy merchant Daniel Willis James, whose cousin was president of the National Temperance Society. Dedicated in 1881, it was sculpted by Karl Adolph Donndorf and features a Biblical allegory. The other fountain was funded by Henry D. Cogswell, who served as the president of the Moderation Society. Designed by sculptor Albert Bertel Thorvaldsen and unveiled in 1888, it is crowned by a sculpture of the goddess Hebe and features four virtues Cogswell held dear: Temperance, Hope, Charity, and Faith.

Temperance Communities

A view of the area that would later become Prospect Park, c. 1860. The area was still heavily rural, and speculative real estate ventures like Temperance Village would portend rapid development after the end of the Civil War. From Pictorial history of Brooklyn, issued by the Brooklyn Daily Eagle on its seventy-fifth anniversary, October 26, 1916.

In the late 1840s, a small community was established on the outskirts of Brooklyn, known as Temperanceville or South Brooklyn Temperance Village. “Temperance men” could subscribe to buy a lot in the area, which grew to consist of 30 small frame houses. Advertisements mentioned that interested parties could seek out George Hall, who was the first Mayor of Brooklyn after it was incorporated as a city in 1834 and later ran on a temperance ticket but lost. Brooklyn had numerous temperance societies in the years leading up to the Civil War.

The Boulevard in Prohibition Park, looking towards the University Temple. From Prohibition Park, by the National Prohibition Park Company, 1899.

The temperance movement took hold in earnest in Staten Island after the war, and in the 1880s the National Prohibition Campground Association bought plots of land in the Westerleigh neighborhood. Temperance-minded folks could buy houses in the area, and visitors were encouraged to camp there and enjoy recreational activities beginning in 1888. The organization built a 4,000 seat theater known as University Temple where people could gather at political rallies in support of prohibition, listen to lectures, and attend church services. The park could be reached via the Port Richmond and Prohibition Park Electric Railroad Company, which was the first electric trolley line on Staten Island. By the turn of the 20th century, fewer visitors were going to the park, and it became a fully residential neighborhood.

Catch up on all of The Gilded Age posts from Season 3: