Downtown 1889 — Sharing the catch

It might be true that it is better to teach a man to fish rather than give a man a fish.

But these two downtown Glens Falls entrepreneurs were too busy with business pursuits to catch their own fish — at least judging by the number of times that L.K. Warner is mentioned in news reports over several years as “traveling on business.”

“(Hotel owner) J.H. Madden and L.K Warner (of Warren Street) were recipients of two handsome trout yesterday weighting eight and ten pounds,” The Morning Star of Glens Falls reported on May 23, 1889. “They were caught in Schroon Lake, and were presented to Messrs. Warner and Madden with the compliments of Eugene Leavitt and John Wells of Pottersville.”

In other 1889 downtown Glens Falls news:

• Perhaps the temperance movement was winning out in downtown Glens Falls.

“In about a month, only two persons have been in the lockup for drunkenness,” The Morning Star of Glens Falls reported on May 13, 1889. “This speaks volumes for the morals of the town. The people say they never saw the town so orderly.”

• A promotional stunt at the Coolidge & Bentley clothing store was expected to be popular.

“Next Friday afternoon the firm will give away 500 caps to youngsters. There will probably be a lively scramble for the better pieces of headgear,” The Morning Star reported on May 7.

• The Rochester Clothing Company took its promotional stunt to the roof.

“A flying top is the latest novelty introduced in Glens Falls by the wide-awake Rochester Clothing Company. Next Saturday morning, between ten and eleven o’clock, a large supply of these tops will be thrown down from the roof of the store. Each boy securing one of these novelties will receive a handle and string to fly it upon by calling at the store,” The Morning Star reported on May 15.

• Ames & Baldwin drug store advertised on May 14 that it had the exclusive downtown Glens Falls rights to sell a refreshing summer beverage.

“Whipped cream soda is one of the most delightful of warm weather drinks. It is better than milk shakes or any of the other beverages of he day. It seems to infuse new life into the fagged out mortal.”

• May flowers were on display among the equine-drawn vehicles of Glens Falls.

“The love of the beautiful was quite evident among drivers of trucks, delivery wagons and other vehicles about town yesterday, as they had decorated their horses with lilac blossoms, tulips and other flowers,” The Morning Star reported on May 15.

• The Chip and Chatter Club of Church of the Messiah was set to hold a “merchant’s carnival,” which combined the features of a church social with a fashion show.

“From twenty-five to thirty young ladies will each represent some local merchant, and exhibit on their person some of his wares,” The Morning Star reported on May 24. “The carnival will open with a march performed by the young ladies, led by a portion of St. Mary’s Band, after which they will sell ice cream, strawberries, cake and other good things to eat.”

Dr. George Little, known for his cultivation af rare orchids, provided flowers from his Ridge Street greenhouses to decorate the storefront windows.

“He has most generously loaned a collection of orchids, which, alone, will be well wroth seeing,” The Morning Star reported on May 29.

The carnival raised about $75 — the equivalent of about $2,414 in 2022 dollars.

“It was decidedly novel, and many of the costumes of the young ladies, who represented business houses, were stunninly original, and in many instances very handsome,” The Morning Star reported on June 1, 1889.

George Wells led a three-piece orchestra that performed.

“The affair was such a success that it is worthy of a repetition on a more extensive scale.”

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