B.B. Fowler — ‘Going Right Up!’

“Ho! For the Horse Cars! ‘Going Right Up!’” the advertisement exclaimed in anticipation.

Construction of the downtown Glens Falls section of the horse-drawn railroad trolley system had begun on Warren Street, and it would not be long before the tracks would be extended to Glen Street.

B.B. Fowler, owner of a dry goods store at the corner of Exchange and Glen streets, was beyond enthusiastic.

“The work is being rapidly pushed forward on the new road and it will now be but a short time before the cars will empty their loads at the mammoth dry goods establishment of B.B. Fowler,” he gushed in an advertisement in The Morning Star of Glens Falls on Sept. 17, 1885.

“While Fowler’s store will not be the actual terminus of the line, yet it will be the ‘jumping off place,’ so to speak, of all wide awake people in search of the many bargains they know await them at his popular store,” the ad continued.

“We regret that the line is not in running order this week that our friends might be better enabled to attend our great sale of cloaks, shawls and blankets commencing this morning. However, we have faith to believe that everybody will come when they understand the many inducements we offer.”

Customers could still walk to the store, if they preferred.

“There are many means of locomotion, and, as a last resort you always have shank’s horses.”

Fowler was a regular advertiser in The Morning Star.

On Oct. 27, 1885, he went beyond his usual budget and purchased a full-size ad, much to the delight of the publishers, who added two additional pages of content.

“Mr. Fowler is of those who fully understand the value of printer’s ink, and, of course, seeks the most popular medium when he wishes to attract the attention of his patrons,” the local morning daily newspaper editorialized.

“Mr. Fowler’s establishment is too well known throughout Warren, Washington and Saratoga counties to require any fulsome praise at our hands. It is sufficient indorsement of his business methods to state the fact that wherever he acquires patronage he always retains it.”

Click here to read my most recent previous B.B. Fowler history post.