  
|
Mayor Cornelius Burns by Mike Esposito Area historian H. Irving Moore referred to Connie Burns as Troy's most colorful and personable mayor. In this year, the 60th anniversary of the death of Cornelius "Connie" Burns it is appropriate to recall his life and devoted service to the people of Troy, as a prominent businessman, and civic and political leader. Cornelius F. Burns was born in Troy on November 4, 1860 to John W. Burns and Ellen Gorman Burns. He received his early education in Troy public schools, St. Peter's Parochial School and LaSalle Academy. Following his father's death in 1881, he worked with brothers John, David and James in the undertaking business started in 1835 by their grandfather John Burns, an Irish immigrant. John and David died less then two years after their father's death in 1883 and Connie continued the family business with James (later our city postmaster, 1914-1922). His sister, Nellie M. Burns, the youngest of the five children died in 1960. At the age of twenty Connie Burns became a volunteer member of the Troy Hook and Ladder Company No. 3. In 1897 during President William McKinley's visit to Troy, Burns disbursed a large and boisterous crowd surrounding the McKinley party from atop a horse in such a friendly and careful way that he immediately attracted the attention of the President who later referred to him as "Little Napoleon". Burns, a lover of horses since childhood, was president of the Troy Driving Association, an early group that promoted harness racing, and the first president of the Troy Riding Club. He was elected President of the Troy Chamber of Commerce in 1906. As Chairman of the Executive Committee's of the Chamber sponsored "Old Home Week" celebration in 1908 and the Hudson-Fulton celebration in 1909, his efforts resulted in "two of the most memorable events in Troy history, wonderful exhibitions of civic pride" according to historian Rutherford B. Hayner. In 1911 Burns, a Democrat and a newcomer to politics, defeated incumbent Mayor Elias P. Mann by 1,892 votes. He won the next three mayoralty elections defeating Marshall Barnes, Hiram C. Gordinier and George T. Morris. Burns returned to the family business in 1920 but reentered local politics in 1927 defeating popular incumbent, Mayor Harry E. Clinton by 2,888 votes. With his sixth term in 1929 he received his greatest plurality, 6,359 votes, over Russell D. Meredith, and won two additional terms defeating Joseph B. Mulholland and Joseph F. McLoughlin. He was a prime mover in establishing the New York State Conference of Mayors and was elected its President in 1916. In the same year Connie Burns and the mayor of New York City were selected as the "Best Mayors" in New York State. He was recognized as "an expert in the art and practice of municipal politics and was a leading figure among the mayors of the state". His slogan "Troy for All and All for Troy" was typical of his intense devotion to his native city. On several occasions Burns declined to be considered for nomination for higher elected office: in 1922 for State Comptroller, later as United States Senator and in 1932 for Lt. Governor. In 1921 he received the endorsement of the Rensselaer County Democratic Party as candidate for Governor of New York State. Burns had such a reputation for hard work that when he finally took a holiday it made a headline in a September 24, 1935 Times Record story "Mayor to Take First Real Rest in Quarter Century". A 1938 article in The Troy Observer Budget referred to him as "the master builder of Troy' recognizing his contributions during sixteen years as mayor for major improvements to the water system and the river front and harbor, the motorization of the Fire Department and the replacement of volunteers with paid members, laying the groundwork for Troys first municipal airport, his efforts in establishing the coke plant in South Troy, and his direct support and personal lobbying for the Menands Bridge. Burns was proud of his record as mayor and instituted a "pay-as-you-go" system, reducing the city's bonded indebtedness. An Observer Budget article stated "it was due largely to Burns' perseverance and hard work that the Ford Motor Co. established one of their largest branches in Green Island". After several years of poor health Cornelius "Connie" Burns, died on May 23, 1938. His funeral service was attended by representatives from every area community from Poughkeepsie to Glens Falls. Thousands of area residents lined Fifth Avenue from Broadway to Hutton Street and St. Peter's Church. He was buried in the family plot in St. Peter's Cemetery in Troy. On May 6, 1983 the Burns Senior Apartments on Federal Street was dedicated to his memory. George McLoughlin, the buildings first tenant and a nephew of Burns secretary, John McLoughlin, remembered the mayor leading all Troy parades atop his high spirited horse, "Red Flash". Another Burns secretary, Catherine Sweeney said the mayor didn't approve of vacations and they had to work on Saturdays. One of the proudest moments in his life may have occurred in the Spring of 1919 at the conclusion of World War I as Troy prepared to welcome its heroes of the 105th Infantry. The story is recounted in the Troy Record on March 8, 1919 by a Private Dwyer of Sixth Avenue: "We sailed past Miss Liberty into New York Harbor. A big tug, with one big sign that said "TROY" was sighted. When the tug drew nearer we saw somebody on the forward part who looked familiar and just then somebody shouted "it's the Mayor". If we shouted before, we howled then and cheered Connie Burns until we were hoarse". Burns biographical information from Troy and Rensselaer County, New York: A History by Rutherford B. Hayner, and obituaries and articles in The Troy Observer Budget, The Times Record, and The Troy Record and a scrapbook maintained by Cindy Pashley of the staff of Burns Apartments. In cooperation with Troy United Ink Corp., a not-for-profit corporation 
|
|||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
