The National Guard formally came to Niagara Falls in 1885 with formation of the 42nd Separate Company during a ceremony at the Prospect Park pavilion.
Robert Barr, a native of Ireland, was a charter member of the company and served as its armorer for more than 30 years. He reminisced about the military outfit in a 1914 newspaper article.
"It was on a Wednesday evening, Nov. 20, 1885 that the 42nd Separate Company was mustered into the state National Guard at the Prospect Park pavilion by Col. Thomas H. McGrath, asst. Inspector General of the state, assisted by Lt. Col. S.M. Welch of the 65th Regiment, Buffalo," he recalled.
The troopers, he said, were "very enthusiastic" about attending the drills held three times a week during 1885 and 1886. As a result of their diligence, Barr noted, they became "an excellently drilled body of soldiers."
The state furnished the uniforms and equipment. The company made its first public appearance on Sunday, May 30, 1886, when the men marched en masse to services at St. Peter's Church, where the company chaplain, Rev. George F. Rosenmuller, presided.
Barr said, "Practically the entire village of Niagara Falls was lined up on Falls, Second and Union streets to watch the soldiers make their initial public appearance."
He added, "Their handsome and soldierly appearance in their new uniforms brought many compliments."
The first out-of-town trip came at a Fourth of July celebration in Lockport in 1886, when Sprout Post No. 76, G.A.R., of Lockport, hosted the company. Barr said, "The 42nd boys that day made a great hit with the folks of the county seat."
Barr came to this country from Ireland with his parents when he was 12 years old. The family first went to Buffalo in 1862, and then to Niagara Falls in 1864. He learned how to roll cigars and operated a cigar shop on Falls Street for many years.
The group made its home in the Prospect Park Pavilion until April 22, 1886, then moved to the old skating-rink building in Canal Street, later renamed Riverway.
Barr said, "In 1887, the company took possession of its own quarters in an armory built for it by the county at Sixth Street and Walnut Avenue."
Later the current armory on Main Street was constructed and the 42nd moved there.
The old armory became a convention hall and was used for various meetings for many years. The 42nd later became Company E, Third New York Infantry.
Being in the National Guard was not all work.
Barr said, "In the early years of the 42nd Company, when it was in the Prospect Park Pavilion and in the old skating rink in Canal Street, there were no athletic meets but many a grand time was held in their drill halls in the way of balls and entertainments."
The men also got in plenty of time on the rifle range with old Springfield rifles and became good marksmen, Barr noted.
"During the year 1886," he said, "according to the quarterly reports of the Fourth Brigade, the 42nd Company gained percentage of 54.52 in its rifle practice among the national guard organizations of the brigade in which were represented the military regiments and separate companies of 14 cities. It was a high percentage above those of eight other cities."
Barr's skill as armorer was noted in the article with this comment, "The next time Company E, Third New York Infantry marches through the streets under arms, take note of the fact that every gun every soldier boy shoulders glistens and gleams spotless without the slightest suspicion of rust. Ask any member of the company to show you the bore and mechanism of his gun and he will reveal to you a weapon in perfect working order."
Original officers when the company was first formed were Charles B. Gaskill, captain; N.W. Pettebone, first lieutenant; M.B. Butler, second lieutenant; E.H. Griswold, surgeon; and George F. Rosenmuller, chaplain.
| Niagara Falls Reporter | www.niagarafallsreporter.com | Dec. 28 2007 |