Charles Wesley Hallett, Sr.: Astoria’s Pillar of Legacy, Civic Duty, and Community Spirit
When exploring the layered history of Astoria, Queens, few names gleam as brightly as Charles Wesley Hallett, Sr. An entrepreneur, Civil War veteran, civic leader, and descendant of one of the area’s oldest settlers, Hallett’s life story embodies resilience, public service, and a steadfast devotion to community. His journey (interwoven with triumphs and trials) offers a captivating perspective on the making of modern Astoria and the lasting power of local legacy.
From Colonial Roots to the Rise of Hallett’s Cove
Charles Wesley Hallett, Sr. was born July 16, 1831, in New York City and orphaned at just eighteen months old. Raised by his maternal grandparents in Astoria, his early life was imbued with a sense of history and community pride. The Hallett name itself is inseparable from the land: his ancestor, William Hallett, settled, which would become Hallett’s Cove in 1659. This stretch of Queens witnessed profound transformation in the centuries that followed.
By the early 19th century, Hallett’s Cove was evolving beyond its colonial roots. Affluent New Yorkers flocked to the area around what is now 12th and 14th Streets, constructing grand residences in a neighborhood known as Astoria Village (now Old Astoria). In 1839, fur merchant Steven Halsey officially established the area as a recreational resort, drawing Manhattan’s wealthy to its picturesque riverfront as a fashionable retreat from the bustling city; an early sign of the neighborhood’s enduring allure.
Interestingly, the renaming of Hallett’s Cove to Astoria in the mid-1800s was part of a bold move to attract investment from John Jacob Astor, America’s richest man at the time. Local leaders, Hallett family members included, hoped Astor would contribute $2,000 to help the fledgling village thrive. Though he ultimately invested just $500 (and never even visited) the Astoria name stuck, thanks to determined lobbying from friends and residents. This playful but persistent rebranding reflected a spirit of ambition and transformation that defined the era.
Family and Personal Life: Building Foundations
On March 19, 1857, at Manhattan’s Seventeenth Street Methodist Church, Charles married Christina Crawford Ellison. Their union, spanning more than fifty years, brought six children into the world; many of whom would carry forward the Hallett tradition of civic engagement. The couple’s golden wedding anniversary in 1907 was a highlight of Astoria’s social calendar, drawing friends and notables from across the community to celebrate a life of shared purpose.
From Astoria to the Battlefields: Civil War Service
During the Civil War, Hallett served with distinction as a Private in Company K of the 137th New York Infantry. Mustered into service in 1862, he participated in some of the most pivotal engagements of the war (Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Atlanta Campaign, and Sherman’s March to the Sea) before his honorable mustering out in 1865. His journey from Hallett’s Cove to the battlefields of the Civil War reflected a commitment to duty and country, just as deep as his devotion to Astoria.
A handwritten “History of the Three Colors or Flags Used - 137th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment” can be accessed at the New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center website. The site also features a display of one of the regiment’s preserved flags, along with fascinating facts about its history. A collection of original documents there weaves together the remarkable and ferocious history of the regiment’s actions (explaining how they earned the nickname “Ironclads.”)
There is a monument honoring their heroic efforts at the Battle of Gettysburg, which remains a prominent feature on the battlefield today. You can easily find detailed information about this stunning monument and its plaque online.
WSKG-TV, a PBS station in Binghamton, New York, highlighted a remarkable Civil War photograph in one of their segments. The image, found in the Library of Congress, captures a soldier from the 137th New York Infantry, believed at the time, to be Charles Hallett of Company K, a fact later confirmed by the Hallett family. This photo was taken shortly after the Battle of Gettysburg.
Professional Endeavors and Civic Leadership
After the Civil War, as Manhattan and Astoria began to flourish once more, so did Charles’s career. To meet the needs of the growing population, he founded hardware and funeral businesses (some of which are still operated by his family today.)
Committed to supporting the expanding working-class community, he eventually returned to school and graduated from Columbia University with the Class of 1883. He went on to become a respected accountant and banker in New York, earning deep trust in the community through his honesty, energy, and prudent business practices. He was a trustee of the Long Island Savings Bank, affectionately known as “The Poor Man’s Best Friend”, for its investment educational systems and reasonable loaning practices.
Hallett’s influence extended far beyond entrepreneurship:
Trustee of Long Island City Savings Bank, guiding finance for years
Two-term member of the Common Council, shaping local policy
Member of the Board of Water Commissioners, helping develop vital public utilities
He was active in both fraternal and religious organizations, including Astoria Lodge No. 155 (I.O.O.F.) and raised to Master Mason in Advance Lodge No. 635 (F.&A.M.), which was well known for assisting with medical expenses, burials for the local poor, and supporting struggling businesses during the economic hardships of the late 1800s. He was also a prominent member of the Astoria Presbyterian Church. Through his leadership and community relationships, he helped strengthen the social and civic fabric of the growing neighborhood.
A Lasting Legacy in a Dynamic Community
When Charles Wesley Hallett, Sr. passed in 1914, he left more than a successful business and a proud family. He left a legacy of civic spirit in a neighborhood that itself had grown from colonial outpost to elite resort to a vibrant and diverse urban community. The evolution of Hallett’s Cove, Astoria Village, and modern Astoria tells a uniquely American story: families, like the Halletts, laying deep roots while welcoming (and creating) change.
Today, the story of Charles Wesley Hallett, Sr., and his connection to the landscape and people of Astoria remains woven into the very identity of the neighborhood, inspiring new generations to value service, leadership, and community.
