19th Century Luzerne — 1895 racing season

At Lake Luzerne, racing season was heating up as temperatures were cooling down.

“There will be trotting races on the ice of Lake Luzerne January 9 and 10,” The Morning Star of Glens Falls reported on Dec. 27, 1894. “The events will include 2:35 and 2:26, free-for-all, and named races.”

The race was postponed several times, but finally was held.

“Watching the horses speed over the ice at Luzerne yesterday was a rather chilly sport,” the Luzerne correspondent reported in The Morning Star on Jan. 25, 1895. “And yet, there was a large number of horsemen in attendance, and most of them seemed to enjoy the fun.”

A Washington County horsemen fared well at a subsequent meet.

“Eugene Wilcox has returned from Luzerne and Corinth with his trotters, Mattie C and Disappointment,” the Middle Granville correspondent reported in The Granville Sentinel on Feb. 8, 1895. “He was unusually successful, having secured first place with Mattie C in every race that she started in, and second money with Disappointment. Mr. Wilcox has the most promising young horse in this section in Disappointment.”

In other 19th century Lake Luzerne news collected from historic newspapers of the region:

• “Five more booths are being constructed for election, which, with the seven on hand, will be sufficient to accommodate all who desire to vote,” the Luzerne correspondent reported in The Morning Star on Nov. 3, 1894.
• “The Silver Lake Quartet gave an entertainment at the open house Tuesday evening, which was pronounced excellent,” the Luzerne correspondent reported in The Morning Star on Dec. 22, 1894.
• “The ice harvest has commenced, and a number of teams are engaged in hauling ice,” the Luzerne correspondent reported on Jan. 25, 1895.
• “The Ariel Club held a banquet in the dining room of the club house Thursday evening. At half-past seven o’clock the glee club struck up an old familiar song, after which the club warbler rendered a solo, which was loudly applauded,” the Luzerne correspondent reported in The Morning Star on Feb. 2, 1895. “At this juncture, supper was announced. The tables fairly groaned under the load of good things, and everybody did ample justice to the spread.”
• “H. J. Cole, barber, will return to Ballston in the spring and resume business there,” the Luzerne correspondent reported on Feb. 9, 1895.
• “The Gavnar tannery at Luzerne is being operated with only a part of its force owing to a lack of orders. Some of the workmen who were laid off on account of the slackness have found employment at Conklingville and are Battchellerville, and are removing their families to those places,” the Luzerne correspondent reported in The Morning Star on March 23, 1895. “A revival of business of Luzerne is hoped for, as the tannery has been one of the leading industries.”
• “S. V. Morton’s house, known as ‘The Lodge,’ is being thoroughly overhauled and reconstructed, and, when finished, will be occupied by Will Butler and family,” the Luzerne correspondent reported in The Morning Star on March 30, 1895.
• “Dr. Johnson will soon commence to erect a fine mansion on Lake Avenue. The work will be done by C. H. McMaster,” the Luzerne correspondent reported in The Morning Star on March 30, 1895.

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