19th century Luzerne — Economic optimism

Luzerne residents had hope of turning around a sluggish local economy in which numerous jobs had been lost.

“Marcus L. Garner returned on Tuesday from New York, where he has been on business relating to the proposed furniture factory, and reports everything favorable to the enterprise,” the Luzerne correspondent reported in The Morning Star of Glens Falls on June 22, 1895. “August is the date fixed to commence erection of the building, which is to be 50 by 600 feet and as high as necessary. About 150 men will be employed.”

There also was good news about an established industry.

“It is reported that the tannery will soon commence to run on full time again,” the Luzerne correspondent reported in The Morning Star on July 6.

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

1887

• “The Salvation Army found Luzerne last Tuesday evening and opened its batteries on the ramparts of sin,” The Morning Star reported on Oct. 19.

1895

• The long-debated bridge was about to be constructed.

The town officers of Corinth and Luzerne have awarded the contract for the new bridge across the Hudson River to the Owego Bridge Company for $14,585 (the equivalent of $545,505 in 2024 dollars),” The Morning Star reported on July 18. “The contract calls for the completion of the bridge within ninety days.”

• “Paul Coty, accompanied by Fred Shaw, L. E. Dayton, and W. D. Young, started for Lake Placid on Thursday morning. Mr. Coty took six horses and carriages and expects to run a livery business during the summer,” the Luzerne correspondent reported in The Morning Star on June 15.
• “A telegraph instrument has been placed in Martin’s meat market connecting with Saratoga and Northville,” the Luzerne correspondent reported in The Morning Star on June 29.
• “A free-for-all basket picnic across the lake was enjoyed by many on Tuesday,” the Luzerne correspondent reported in The Morning Star on July 6.
• “George Hall has opened the Kenyon Store with a stock of groceries,” the Luzerne correspondent reported in The Morning Star on July 13.
• “The Wayside Hotel has seventy-five guests,” the Luzerne correspondent reported in The Morning Star on July 20.
• “W. J. Kinnear of Luzerne received the third largest number of votes in the contest for The New York Press free trip to Europe. He is, therefore, one of the ten lucky ones who will sail across the Atlantic next week at the expense of The Press,” The Morning Star reported on July 23.

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