Glen’s Falls in the Apostrophe Era — Organ grinders, street vendors and wrestlers

This is the latest in an occasional series of posts based on local 19th century news reports before Glen’s Falls dropped the apostrophe from its name.

Publisher H.M. Harris was euphoric about the weather.

“The late rains have added a beautiful color to the fresh grass, carpeting the earth with green, and set the buds upon the trees bursting with gladness,” he wrote in the May 13, 1873 issue of The Glen’s Falls Republican. “In a few days nature will have on her best clothes.”

Yet he was curmudgeonly in his commentary about downtown street life in spring.

“Two street peddlers held forth to a small audience Tuesday evening and met with limited success. They generally appear about the time hand organ serenaders disturb us and are about as unwelcome visitors,”

Sure enough, Captain Jenks the organ grinder showed up in Glen’s Falls the next day, his appearance an annual rite of spring.

“He came on Wednesday — we mean the long-looked-for organ grinder — and treats us to a serenade — which we didn’t appreciate, however. We know we should have no warm weather nor any considerable amount of sunshine till he has put in an appearance. But we don’t pine for any repetition of his visits. One dose a year of ‘Captain Jinks’ is a genteel sufficiency.”

Publisher Harris was more enthusiastic about street wrestling.

“Two old men on Thursday amused quite a crowd of spectators opposite our office by a wrestling match. To see old age and white locks indulging in the sports of younger years was novel indeed, but they shared a skill which we have not seen equaled for a long time.”

In 1875, two organ grinders showed up in Glen’s Falls the week of May 3.

“It seems that instead of growing beautifully less, these dealers in harmony are increasing in number every year,” The Republican reported on May 11. “This class of musicians will never become extinct — at least so long as they can grinder a cent out of the juvenile population , in which they always find a appreciate audience.”

Click here to read the most recent previous post in the series.