Downtown 1887 — Shade trees
Nehemiah Sheldon planted the first shade tree in downtown Glens Falls around 1830, on the property at the corner of Ridge and Maple streets where Morgan & Co. restaurant is now located, The Morning Star of Glens Falls reported on Nov. 30, 1887.
A couple of years later, Dr. Bethuel Park transplanted a sapling from the forest to property in downtown where The Glens Falls Times offices and printing plant were located in 1887.
“Dr. Holden, the local historian, says that when he came here in 1836, the tree (that Park transplanted) … was then of good size.”
The sapling had grown into a “monarch of the forest,” so much that it took three men to fell it, when the tree was cut down on Nov. 29, to the regret of at least some residents.
“Yesterday afternoon, as a Star reporter walked up Glen Street, he heard the sound of axes, and, looking up the street, saw the huge elm tree, which stood so long in front of the Times building, sway, and then come down with a crash to the ground,” The Morning Star reported.” The removal of this tree takes away every vestige of shade on the west side of Glen Street from Park Street as far as the Fowler’s building.”
The tree felling was among the downtown Glens Falls news published in The Morning Star in October and November of 1887.
Coolidge & Bentley clothing store came up with another “novel advertising scheme,” a few days after the retailer exhibited live lambs in its display window, The Morning Star reported on Oct. 25.
At The Boston Store a few weeks later, it was beginning to look like Christmas.
“The large selection of dolls in one of the Boston Store windows reminds us that the holiday season is at hand,” The Morning Star reported on Nov. 15.
Dolls would take over prime space on shelves of downtown retailers in the coming days.
“A statistician estimates there are 4,000 dolls on sale in the various stores in town,” The Morning Star quipped on Nov. 30.
On Nov. 2, The Boston Store advertised in The Morning Star its “Great Annual Book Sale” with about 10,000 volumes on sale for one-third of publisher’s suggested prices.
Oh for a book store with that many volumes again.
The Rochester Clothing Store at 132 Glen St. held a one day “working man’s suspender sale” on Nov. 26.
“Five cents will buy a pair of thirty-five cent suspenders today. Remember, this suspender sale is for one day only, and only one pair will be sold to each person.”
This downtown infrastructure was simpler to design than a parking garage.
“Farmers coming to Glens Falls with teams will now find a watering trough located on South Street, opposite the Mansion House,” The Morning Star reported on Oct. 29. “This will prove a great convenience, as many farmers stop for the day in that location.”
Baudette’s & Bazinet blacksmith shop on Glen Street shoed 188 horses the last week of November, including 42 horses on Nov. 28, The Morning Star reported on Nov. 30.
Click here to read my most recent previous downtown Glens Falls history post.
