19th century Fort Edward — ‘A pretty little boat’

There was a new nautical vehicle at Fort Edward.

“The kerosene launch Mary Jane, owned by parties in this village, is a pretty little boat of its kind,” the Fort Edward correspondent reported in The Morning Star of Glens Falls on Aug. 1, 1895. “The owners, with their friends, enjoy the frequent trips made down the river to Fort Miller and return. The carrying capacity is five persons.”

In other 19th century Fort Edward news collected from historic newspapers of the region:

1895

• “Hand organs with a monkey along in capacity of cashier are plentiful this season,” the Ford Edward correspondent reported in The Morning Star on July 27.
• “Broadway is being greatly improved by a liberal sprinkling of gravel,” the Fort Edward correspondent reported on Aug. 27.
• “Artists Hunter and Gainsford are engaged in painting the front of DeForest’s store,” the Fort Edward correspondent reported on Sept. 7.
• “James G. Kinne has commenced the work of remodeling the old Wells livery stable, recently damaged by fire, and it will be used by him for a storehouse,” the Fort Edward correspondent reported on Sept. 9.

1887

• “The walking match fever has finally struck Fort Edward,” The Morning Star reported on Oct. 25. “James Dunn, formerly of Glens Falls, and William Yohn on the Washington County Fair Ground track on Friday of next week for twenty-five dollars a side and gate receipts.”

Correction

“The race between William Yohn and James Dunn a week from next Friday on the fairground will be a running race, not a walking match. The distance is 300 yards,” The Morning Star reported on Oct. 26.

1880

• “Fort Edward has an organized a club called the ‘Tough Club’ which meets every night. Most of all of the inhabitants are tough enough to belong,” the Elizabethtown Post & Gazette reported on Jan. 15.

1861

• “B. Hawks has opened a barber shop in Haney’s building, second floor. Hawks is a good workman and deserves a liberal patronage,” the Fort Edward Ledger reported on Jan. 25.
• “The Subscriber has taken the old stand near the Canal Bridge, west of Canal Street, where he intends to keep constantly on hand a variety of cakes, crackers, pies, bread, sponge cake, pound cake, fruit cake, citron cake, frosting and ornamenting done at the lowest price,” the Fort Edward Ledger reported on Feb. 1. “Pastry and sugar cookies always on hand. Boston bread fresh every morning.”
• “The Post Office has been removed to the corner room at Middleworth’s new building. Mr. Cronkhite, our new and popular postmaster, has fitted up the office in good taste and is now one of the finest in the state,” the Ledger reported on Feb. 15.

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