The Apostrophe Era — Terra Cotta at Glens Falls

Use of terra cotta ornamental brick was becoming more common in Glens Falls.

“A new style of architecture is being inaugurated in this place resulting from the establishment of the Terra Cotta works here,” The Glen’s Falls Republican reported on Oct. 1, 1880. “The ornamental bricks are being used in the handsome front of Mr. H. Russell’s new stores and are also employed in remodeling Union Hall and in the construction of Dr. (George) Little’s elegant mansion on Ridge Street.”

In other news collected from the 19th century era when many newspapers still used an apostrophe in the village’s name:

• “The Democrats may be said to have made up a good deal of time at their meeting last night,” The Daily Times of Glen’s Falls reported on Sept. 10, 1880. “A noticeable feature of the local companion has been the superior activity of the Republicans in effective work.”
• “A young lady in this village was recently questioned as to the population of Glen’s Falls,” The Glen’s Falls Republican reported on Nov. 23, 1880. “She said that she didn’t know exactly, but she thought it was mostly lime and lumber, shirts and collars.”
• “Mr. C.M. Steenberg has just started a factory at French Mountain for manufacturing all kinds of spools for cotton and woolens. We hope that the enterprise will meet with full success,” the Glen’s Falls Messenger reported on Nov. 26, 1880.
• It was a not-so-grand opening for a new grand hotel at the corner of Glen and South streets in downtown Glens Falls.

“The opening of the New American House Hotel took place without flourish of trumpets or any kind on Monday of last week,” the Glen’s Falls Messenger reported on June 29, 1880. “Very few hotels anywhere possess more of the essential elements which go to make up the ideal traveler’s than does this house, and the proprietor and owner, Mr. (George) Pardo, deserves not only congratulations, but the thanks of the public for having given Glen’s Falls another so fine and thoroughly first-class hotel as all visitors agree the house to be.”

• No need to go to Maine to purchase a fine Portland cutter sleigh when you could find one at Joubert & White carriage makers on Warren Street in Glen’s Falls.

“The Portland cutters made at Joubert & White are equal in all respects to the best made at Portland,” The Glen’s Falls Republican reported on Dec. 7, 1880. “They have a large stock on hand, and those who inspect it with a view of purchase are pretty sure to suit themselves.”

• It’s said that the process of making sausage is hard to watch.

But the taste after it’s made can be tremendous.

“Gourley, the Glen Street marketman, not only keeps excellent meats of all kinds, but keeps up the reputation as the compounder of delicious sausage, not excelled, if equaled, anywhere,” The Glen’s Falls Republican reported on Dec. 14, 1880

• The Glen’s Falls Times was planning to shift from a morning to an afternoon daily newspaper on or around July 6, The Commercial Advertiser of Sandy Hill reported on June 30, 1880.
• Finch, Pruyn & Co. was constructing a new building between the company’s saw mill and the Hudson River bridge for use as a planing mill and barrel and stave factory, The Glen’s Falls Republican reported on May 11, 1875.
• The Glen’s Falls Cornet band was set to hold a concert, followed by “a hop,” at the Glen’s Falls Opera House on Feb. 13, The Glen’s Falls Republican reported on Feb. 7, 1873.

“The proceeds of the entertainment will be devoted to liquidating the debt incurred in refitting of the bandroom, and on the purchase of new and much-needed instruments. The object is worthy of patronage, and we trust that our citizens will turn out en masse and give ‘the boys’ a rousing benefit, for they are deserving of a liberal recognition for their past services.”

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