Thanksgiving 1890

There was ample supply of turkeys for Thanksgiving at Glens Falls in 1890.

But it was unclear how far into the winter the supply would last.

“Many farmers came to town yesterday with produce. Turkeys, fowls and chickens were brought in large numbers, and the markets are well supplied for the Thanksgiving trade,” The Morning Star of Glens Falls reported on Nov. 26, 1890. “Some dealers say, however, that there will be a shortage later in the season, and that for Christmas and New Year’s, many will have to go without the turkey, as the farmers become somewhat discouraged over the crop the past two seasons, and this year did not go so extensively in the business.”

A mere apple was not sufficient to show the level of Thanksgiving gratitude for these teachers.

“Some of the pupils of the Glens Falls Academy gave their tutors a pleasant surprise yesterday morning by bringing to the school room two fine turkeys and a fat little pig, all dressed and nicely prepared for the oven,” The Morning Star reported. “Professor Far will enjoy the stuffed porcine ‘squeaker’ for his Thanksgiving dinner, while Professor Gunn will dissect on of the turkeys and Professor Williams the other.”

D. L. Fitzgerald served free fried oysters on Thanksgiving day and evening to celebrate the renovation of his oyster house restaurant at 9 Ridge St. in downtown Glens Falls.

“The employees of the street railroad were agreeably surprised yesterday morning when a nice ten-pound turkey was delivered at the residence of each of the thirteen men, with a card attached: ‘For your Thanksgiving dinner, with the compliments of Superintendent Brayton,” The Morning Star reported on Nov. 27.

Thanksgiving was a night off for local newspaper men.

“That they may better enjoy their Thanksgiving, The Star force will rest from their labors tonight. As a consequence, no paper will be issued from this office tomorrow,” The Morning Star reported on Nov. 27.

In other Thanksgiving news collected from historic newspapers of the region:

• There was great demand for the free Thanksgiving turkeys that this Granville retailer offered.

“Joseph Green, the clothier, has a novel advertisement in the way of a display of turkeys and ducks in one of his plate glass windows which he offers as a Thanksgiving present to those who trade in the amount of $10 worth of goods in his store,” The Granville Sentinel reported on Nov. 27, 1893. “His first supply has run short, and he has ordered 100 more turkeys.”