Downtown Glens Falls — May 1895

Maury Thompson
4 min readJun 19, 2024

Telephone service was becoming more common in downtown Glens Falls in May 1895.

“A telephone has been placed in the store of R. O’Brien & Son at the Glen Street canal bridge,” The Morning Star of Glens Falls reported on May 1.

“A telephone has been placed in the furniture warerooms at C. O. Howe, Crandall Block,” The Morning Star reported on May 4.

In other May 1895 downtown Glens Falls news collected from historic newspapers of the region:

  • “The police have received their new uniforms. They were furnished by Coolidge & Bentley,” The Morning Star reported on May 6.

Soon they would have a new station.

“The new police headquarters in the Holden Building, Glens Street, are ready for occupancy,” The Morning Star reported on May 21. “Suitable furniture, including a roll-top desk, was put in yesterday, and today the room will be provided with electric light and a telephone.”

  • “A large ice wagon is being completed for R. O. Brien & Sons at the shops of Nelson LaSalle, Glen Street,” The Morning Star reported on May 2.

The completed wagon was “very substantial as well as ornamental,” The Morning Star reported on May 23.

“It has a capacity of four tons. The new vehicle will be put into use at once.”

  • How sweet it sounded.

“Have you tried any of the ‘Immense’ chewing candy manufactured and offered for sale daily in front of 124 Glen Street, Ferris & Viele buildings?” The Morning Star reported on May 22. “It is something entirely new and warranted strictly pure. All flavors — vanilla cream, banana, lemon and old-fashioned molasses. … You can buy a whole yard of any of the above flavors for ten cents (the equivalent of $3.73 in 2024 dollars).

  • “A new sign was erected in front of the People’s Restaurant, Warren Street, yesterday afternoon. It will be illuminated by electricity at nights,” The Morning Star reported on May 17.
  • “Eugene Reeves has leased for four years the blacksmith shop of Jeremiah McCarthy on Glen Street Hill. Mr. Reeves will also conduct his Pitcher Shop at the foot of Lime Street until the expiration of the lease in June,” The Morning Star reported on May 3. “Mr. McCarthy retain the general jobbing shop in the rear of the Glen Street horseshoeing establishment and will add a carpenter shop to his jobbing outfit.”
  • “The new mirrors which have been placed in the display window of Day & Simpson’s shoe store, Glen Street, attracted the attention of all passersby,” The Morning Star reported on May 4.
  • “Frank Miller, an expert mechanic, has opened a shop in the Pardo building on Ridge Street, where he is prepared to do all kinds of blacksmithing and woodwork in the carriage line, repairing as well as new work.”
  • “Henry D. Judd of Gowanda has become a partner of L. C. Manley of the Glen Park Hotel. The new firm will conduct the under the style of Manley & Judd,” The Morning Star reported on May 7.
  • “St. Mary’s Band will give their first open-air concert of the season at The Rockwell House piazza tomorrow evening at 7:30 o’clock,” The Morning Star reported on May 9.
  • “Fountain Square was crowded last evening with promenaders who listened with delight to the very excellent concert program rendered by St. Mary’s Band,” The Morning Star reported on May 11. “Bandmaster Holcomb and his musicians were never heard to better advantage than in the eight selections so sweetly played on the Rockwell House piazza last evening.”
  • “The Delaware and Hudson Company, in placing their tracks on the street crossings, have done an excellent job. The improvement is appreciated, especially by those who have to cross the tracks with heavy loads,” The Morning Star reported on May 13.
  • “Smith the tailor has the exclusive sale of the new bronze green suiting. He also makes bicycle suits and guarantees a savings of ten percent,” The Morning Star reported on May 13.
  • “S. Friedenberg will open the store at 105 Glen Street in a few days with a stock of stationery, toys, etc.,” The Morning Star reported on May 16.
  • “Daniel Sturdevant yesterday shipped from his quarry seven canal boats in constructing the piers across the Harlem River in New York,” The Morning Star reported on May 17.
  • “Street commissioner Bitley and his gang are grading Jay Street hill with the intention of making the thoroughfare,” The Morning Star reported on May 21.
  • “L. H. Leighton has sold his People’s Grocery store, 14 Warren Street, to F. B. Lincoln of Castleton, Vt.,” The Morning Star reported on May 25. “Mr. Leighton will devote his entire attention to the manufacture of the lamp chimney rack recently patented by him.”
  • “The Mohican Rod and Gun Club has secured grounds for trapshooting and will soon be in position to enter into contracts with out-of- town clubs,” The Morning Star reported on May 28. “The new grounds are on the east end of Dr. R- G. Streeter’s farm, and but a short distance from the racetrack.”
  • “John Donohue has leased the McGarry building, Ridge Street, and will open a restaurant and bar as soon as the present occupant vacates,” The Morning Star reported on May 29. “Mr. Donohue ran the Trout Pavilion, Lake George, last season.”
  • “The front of the City Hotel, Warren Street, is being treated to a fresh coat of paint. … Mrs. L. B. West has moved her dressmaking room from 57 Park Street to 7 New Pruyn Street,” The Morning Star reported on May 30.

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

--

--

Maury Thompson

Freelance history writer and documentary film producer from Ticonderoga, NY