Downtown 1890 — Circus parade

The crowds lining the streets of downtown waited patiently for the circus parade, which started two hours late.

The performance turned out to be sub-par, but any level of circus talent was entertaining in 19th century Glens Falls.

“As early at ten o’clock, the streets in the central part of downtown presented an unusually lively appearance, the gathering consisting primarily of women and children,” The Morning Star of Glens Falls reported on June 20, 1890.

The parade, advertised to begin at 10:30 a.m., did not get underway until 12:30 p.m.

“Many of those who came in to see the grand street parade waited patiently until noon, spending the time alternately in viewing the attractive sights to be found in the various store windows and wandering eagerly up and down Glen Steet.”

The unnamed circus performed in the afternoon and evening.

“Although the show was not a legitimate circus in many respects, there were some good features to the entertainments, the school of trick horsemanship being especially worthy of comment. As the price of admission was but ten and twenty cents, there was really no occasion for dissatisfaction, so far as obtaining the worth of one’s money.”

Following is more 1890 downtown Glens Falls news collected from historic newspaper of the region:

• On May 23, workmen removed the fence in front of the home of lumber baron and philanthropist Henry Crandall.
• Ames & Baldwin, a local tobacco dealer, advertised in The Morning Star on May 27 that it ordered 10,000 Key West Cabinet brand cigars instead of its usual order of 1,000.

“It is seldom that a retail dealer has an order of this size for one brand, but we are certain that it will be the leading cigar in town.”

• Employees of Joubert & White carriage makers on Warren Street enjoyed a night out.

“Twenty-three of the employees in the Joubert & White carriage works enjoyed a pleasant moonlight excursion down Lake George Saturday night,” The Morning Star reported on June 30. “The party left here early in the evening and drove to Caldwell, where they boarded George W. Conkey’s steam yacht ‘Camera,’ which had been chartered for the occasion, and sailed down the lake as far as Sabbath Day Point, making several stops along the way. They returned to Glens Falls about four o’clock in the morning Sunday.”

• John S. Powers, the Warren Street grocer, added a second location.

On July 10, The Morning Star reported that Powers bought the stock, fixtures and good will from Stephen A. Barrows in the grocery stored at the “Beehive” on South Street.

“Mr. Powers will take possession of the same on Monday next, and will continue the business in connection with the Warren Street store.”

Barrows was negotiating to buy C.A. Hovey’s fruit, vegetable and confectionary store on Glen Street.

Hovey planned to move to New York City to open a wholesale fruit business, if the local sale materialized.

• A public-private downtown beautification initiative was working well.

“Our merchants filled their weekly street cleaning engagement last evening. Commissioner Dowd will have their little piles of dirt carted away this morning,” The Morning Star reported on July 12. “This is reciprocity in municipal matters, and gives our business center a clean and inviting appearance.

Click here to read my most recent previous downtown Glens Falls history post.