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Frederick W. Wurster (April 1, 1850 – June 24, 1917) was a Republican Party politician who served as the mayor of the city of
Wurster was not active in politics until his predecessor as mayor Charles A. Schieren appointed him Fire Commissioner. He defeated Democrat Edward M. Grout (who would become Brooklyn's first Borough president in 1898) in a close mayoral election of November 1895. As Wurster took office in January 1896, the City of Brooklyn's expansion to encompass all of Kings County was completed with the annexation of Flatlands.
The '' Brooklyn Eagle'' obituary of Wurster described his administration "as precisely what might have been expected from a straightforward business man of good judgment, who had never had any training to develop political initiative. He dealt with matters as they came up and he was both conservative and energetic in his objection to wasting the city's money." Wurster opposed consolidation with New York City, but believed it was inevitable, and as mayor supported a plan to have trolley cars installed on the Brooklyn Bridge. The first trolley crossed on the evening of December 31, 1897, a few hours before the City of Brooklyn ceased to exist, with Wurster on board.
When consolidation occurred, Wurster addressed a reception at Brooklyn City Hall and commented: "We have come to the time of the passing away of this great city .... To some this may appear a mournful occasion, to others it may appear all for the best, but all owe it to the memory of the City of Brooklyn to make the borough of Brooklyn grow great ..." After leaving office, he returned to his business interests.
Frederick W. Wurster (April 1, 1850 – June 24, 1917) was a Republican Party politician who served as the mayor of the city of Brooklyn
Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...
, New York, between 1896 and 1897. He was Brooklyn's final mayor before it was consolidated with New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...
on January 1, 1898.
Early life and business
Wurster was born inPlymouth, North Carolina
Plymouth is the largest town in Washington County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,878 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Washington County. Plymouth is located on the Roanoke River about seven miles (11 km) upr ...
in 1850 to German immigrants. At age 7, his family moved to Brooklyn and attended Public School No. 16. He later went to work at his father's iron and spring factory. Eventually he had his own spring and axle factory on Kent Street and an iron foundry, and he also became involved in the banking industry.
Politics
Wurster was not active in politics until his predecessor as mayor Charles A. Schieren appointed him Fire Commissioner. He defeated Democrat Edward M. Grout (who would become Brooklyn's first Borough president in 1898) in a close mayoral election of November 1895. As Wurster took office in January 1896, the City of Brooklyn's expansion to encompass all of Kings County was completed with the annexation of Flatlands.
The '' Brooklyn Eagle'' obituary of Wurster described his administration "as precisely what might have been expected from a straightforward business man of good judgment, who had never had any training to develop political initiative. He dealt with matters as they came up and he was both conservative and energetic in his objection to wasting the city's money." Wurster opposed consolidation with New York City, but believed it was inevitable, and as mayor supported a plan to have trolley cars installed on the Brooklyn Bridge. The first trolley crossed on the evening of December 31, 1897, a few hours before the City of Brooklyn ceased to exist, with Wurster on board.
When consolidation occurred, Wurster addressed a reception at Brooklyn City Hall and commented: "We have come to the time of the passing away of this great city .... To some this may appear a mournful occasion, to others it may appear all for the best, but all owe it to the memory of the City of Brooklyn to make the borough of Brooklyn grow great ..." After leaving office, he returned to his business interests.
Personal and death
Wurster married Emily Scheig in 1874, and they built a house at 170 Rodney Street. The couple had six children. Subsequent to his first wife's death in 1899, he married Annie D. Hoffman in 1904. Ill from strokes suffered in the prior year, Wurster died at his summer home inBelgrade Lakes, Maine
Belgrade is a New England town, town in Kennebec County, Maine, United States. Its population was 3,250 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. However, its population approximately doubles during the summer months as part-year residents re ...
on June 24, 1917.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wurster, Frederick W. American people of German descent Mayors of Brooklyn New York (state) Republicans People from Belgrade, Maine People from Williamsburg, Brooklyn Politicians from Brooklyn People from Plymouth, North Carolina 1850 births 1917 deaths 19th-century American politicians