History threads — Ide Collar Co.

This is the latest in an occasional series of posts about the history of the garment industry in Warren, Washington and Essex counties.

The Fort Edward Merchants Co-operative Association conducted a public campaign in 1920 to recruit a branch factory of the George P. Ide Collar Co. of Troy, which was looking to expand.

George P. Ide Collar Co., at the time, was regarded as one of the two largest collar companies in the world.

“There is no doubt but that the village has as many advantages to offer manufacturers to locate here as in any other town in the state, and in the opinion of those who are conversant with labor conditions, it would be possible to supply ample labor,” The Post-Star reported, regarding Fort Edward.

But it was Glens Falls, apparently working quietly behind the scenes, that landed the jobs.

In March 1920 , about a month after Fort Edward launched its campaign, The George P. Ide Collar Co. leased the second and third floors of the Ginsburg and Lavine building at 89–91 Glen St., in the general vicinity of what is now Cool Insuring Arena, to open its branch factory.

“The factory will give employment to a large number of hands,” The Post-Star reported.

On Oct. 30, 1920 the company held a masquerade dance for employees at Parish Hall in Glens Falls.

About 40 couples from Glens Falls and about 20 couples from Troy attended.

“The hall was tastefully decorated in keeping with the season, corn stalks and pumpkins being arranged in one corner of the hall about the punch bowl. On each side of the stage was a black witch with a jack o lantern.”

The Glens Falls branch factory operated for at least three years.

In October 1925 the company leased space for a branch factory in Granville for one year, with an option to renew, on the top floor of a glove factory in the Washington County village.

“The company plans to start operations this week,” The Greenwich and Fort Edward Advertiser reported. “According to reports the company will make the shop a permanent one and will employ about one hundred girls.”

The company closed its main plant in Troy in 1933 and liquidated its assets.

Annual revenue had declined from $3.5 million, at its peak, to just $100,000.

“This is said to be in line with the general decline in the collar trade,” the Associated Press reported.

The company was founded as Ide & Ford Co. in 1865.

Sources: The Post-Star Feb. 23, March 27, Nov. 1, 1920; March 3, 1923; June 6, 1933; Glens Falls Times June 6, 1933; The Greenwich and Fort Edward Advertiser Oct. 28, 1925; The Washington Times, Washington, D.C., June 30, 1920

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