36-60 Hamilton Ave (at Conover)

Indian Wharf was at the northern end of the Atlantic Basin.

The 1869 map of Brooklyn shows R W Adams Lumber and coal yard at the corner of Hamilton and Conover backing on India Wharf. This is where the Atlantic Sugar Refinery later stood. In 1869 R. W. Adams is also shown to have a lumber yard between Imlay and Van Brunt and Summit and Bowne. The location is listed a "Lumber Yard" on the 1886 map. The location was listed on the 1880 map as "Sugar Refinery" and on the 1886 map as "India Wharf Storehouse". In 1889 it was the home of the India Wharf Brewery. No longer standing. See Sugar Refineries, India Wharf - India Wharf Brewery -

Russell W. Adams Lumber and Coal

There was a coal yard at 34 Hamilton Ave. at the Atlantic Docks in 1855 when the yard, fixtures, coal, carts, and 8 horses, were up for auction.

1861: R. W. Adams was listed at No 34 Hamilton Avenue in November 1861. He was advertising had wood especially black walnut.

1864: R. W. Adams was selling oak and mahogany veneer, wagon spokes and "felleys" [felly - exterior rim or part of the rim supported by the spokes]

In November 1866 Russell W Adams was sued for compensation for two years of storage of lumber at India Wharf and Hamilton Ave. Adams was said to have occupied the space in 1862, '63 and '64. The wharf did allow for temporary storage of good but the accusation against Adams was that he stored his lumber for extended periods of time. It was stated that R. W. Adams had a small office and shed on Hamilton Ave. but took advantage of the public wharf without paying the required fees.

Adams also had a lumber yard between Imlay and Van Brunt, Summit and Bowne.

In July 1863 R. W. Adams was looking for his large bay horse that had run away from his stables at 34 Hamiton street.

1874: There was an "elevator" at Adams lumber yard.

1875: A 10 year old boy was caught carry a large board he had taken form Adams Lumber on Van Brunt street. He was arrested by James Crawley the foreman of the yard.

1877: Adams lumber gave there employees time off to vote in the primary elections.

1884: $160 was stollen from the safe of R. W. Adams lumber on Van Brunt near Hamilton. W. J. C. Brigham was the book keeper at Adams lumber, when two men came in and asked Brigham to go out for a drink, which he did. When he returned the money was missing. William Kain was another employee of the lumber yard who testified at the trial.

1885: A man claiming to be a carpenter went to W. R. Adams lumber yard at Van Brunt and Bowne and selected some walnut lumber to be sent to 475 Hicks street. When the lumber was unloaded the the carpenter gave the driver a check for $53.62. The carpenter immediately loaded the lumber in another wagon and drove away. The check was a forgery.

1889: John Moloney was employed at Adams Lumber Bowne and Van Brunt.

See R. W. Adams below.

Adams Lumber Employees

Russell W Adams (c 1824-1888) Lumber dealer

There were a lot of reported cases of lumber stolen from the Adams lumber yard on Van Brunt.

Russell W. Adams was born circa 1824 in Madion Co. New York

In 1916 it was stated in the Brooklyn Eagle that W. R. Adams & Co. lumber Bourne and Van Brunt streets was established in 1856 by Russell W. Adams on Hamilton Avenue near the Ferry.

1850: 1st Ward, Brooklyn, Russel W Adam M 26 New York, merchant, Lydia A Adam F 22 Pennsylvania, Albert M Waterman M 27 New York, clerk, Mary J Waterman F 22 New York, Mary Martin F 20 Ireland

1860: R W Adams M 36 New York, $18,000, $5,000, no occupation, Ledia Adams F 33 New York Wm B Adams M 9 New York Julia Adams F 15 New York Francis P Adams M 4 New York John Adams M 2 New York Isa Bell Adams M 0 New York Bridget Kennedy F 30 Ireland, servant, Mary Cully F 36 Ireland Johana Hervey F 60 Hamburg Herman Hervey M 30 Hamburg

1868 to 1883 dealer in lumber 710 St. Marks Place

1875: Brooklyn Ward 24, brick $75,000, Russel W Adams 51, born Madison county, lumber dealer, Lydia Adams 48, born Broome county, Willie Adams 23 Frank Adams 19 John Adams 18 Ida Adams 17 Jane Adams 10 Mary Adams 8 Belle Adams 4 Maria Kearney 25, Ireland, Betsey Kavanagh 25, Ireland, Patrick Ledwith 27, Ireland, Kate Ledwith 28, servant's wife, Lizzie Ledwith 0

1878: Russell W. Adams and Charles E Rogers Brooklyn lumber merchants were in financial trouble to the tune of one million and a half dollars. He resided at St. Marks Place and had a lumber yard at 3rd ave and 22nd street. His situation was complicated by the fact that his mill at Clinton, New York burned down. There were insurance disputes as a result of the fire. His debts were said to be secured by real estate and stock holdings. One of his creditors was William R. Adams Van Brunt corner of Broome.

AN EMBARRASSED LUMBER FIRM.; THE HOUSE OF R.W. ADAMS & CO. CRIPPLED LIABILITIES LARGE AND ASSETS NOT READILY CONVERTIBLE AN EFFORT TO BE MADE TO SAVE THE FIRM OTHER FAILURES.

New York times February 17, 1878

R. W. Adams Lumber was considered to be the third largest lumber company in the country. He became a partner with Charles E Rogers about 1868. The firm had immense yards in South Brooklyn at 25th and 26th street where the lumber is bonded. They also had a smaller yard on Van Brunt "where a very large stock of lumber is also stored."

1879: By February 1879 Mr. R. w. Adams of south Brooklyn "who suffered severe pecuniary reverses, has recovered from his business troubles, to the great satisfaction of his many friends"

1880: 710, St Mark Ave., R. W. Adams 55, dealer, in lumber, Lydia Adams 53, William R. Adams 29, lumber dealer, Ella L. Adams 26, boarding, Frank P. Adams 23, partakes in father's business, John O. Adams 22, clerk with father, Ida L. Adams 20, at school, James W. Adams 15, at school, May Adams 13, at school, Isabel Adams 8, at school, Russell O. Adams 2, Clara B. Adams 8m

1885: Lydia Adams Birth Year: abt 1827 Age: 58 Death Date: 19 Jul 1885 Death Place: Kings, New York, USA Certificate Number: 8787

1888: Died, Apr 1888 buried Greenwood.

1919: January 27, Frank Pearne Adams of the retail lumber business in Brooklyn died at his home at 152 Lefferts Place of pneumonia. He was 62. He was the son of the late Russell W. Adams and a brother of the late, William R. Adams. Survived by his widow, Lucy Burton and tow daughters, Maud B and Florence W.

1900: Head Wm R Adams M 49 New York, lumber dealer, Wife Ella L Adams F 46 New York Son Russell Adams M 22 New York, salesman lumber, Daughter Clara B Adams F 20 New York, Daughter Ella L Adams F 18 New York, Housemaid Delia Mc Neeve F 32 Ireland, Cook Bridget Mc Neeve F 28 Ireland,

1900: Head Frank P Adams M 44 New York, salesman lumber, Wife Lucy F Adams F 36 New York, Daughter Maude B Adams F 15 New York, Daughter Florence W Adams F 13 New York

R W ADAMS 7 CO WHOLESALE LUMBER MERCHANTS ATLANTIC DOCKS BROOKLYN OFFICE VAN BRUNT NEAR HAMILTON AVENUE R. W. ADAMS, A. H. LOVE

A. H. Love lumber Brooklyn, 1867, 1868, city directories

Fredrick W. Starr, lumber

1922:

Golden Wedding Anniversary

October IS, Frederick W. Starr of Brooklyn and his wife celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage. It was in the nature of a surprise wedding party for them at that. They had gone up to the Inn at Buck Hill Falls, Pa., quietly to spend a few days, but the hotel people, with whom they have been holiday making every summer for some years, got up a dinner party of friends, all unbeknown to them in advance, and Russell T. Starr and his family also made a special trip up from Brooklyn to join them.

More than fifty years ago, Mr. and Mrs. Starr were school children together up in New York State. He came to the metropolis in 1866 and started with R. W. Adams & Co. as a tally boy, as so many beginners in the lumber business were accustomed to do in those days. He started on his own in 1870. The style remains Frederick W. Starr to this day, Russell T. Starr, his only child, being associated with him for many years in the business.

The New York Lumber Trade Journal, Volume 73 By John W. Long, Arthur R. Carr