“Sieg Illch, Tailor, No. 130 South Pearl Street. – In a review of the commercial enterprises of Albany it will be observable that some houses possess advantages over others in the same line of business, the result in some cases of longer experience and in others of a greater natural aptitude for the particular trade. This house was established in 1854. Previous to 1887 the firm name was Simon Illch & Son. After that date the son and present proprietor, Mr. Sieg Illch, succeeded to the business, which is one of the oldest established and most reliable tailoring establishments in the city. Mr. Illch’s long experience, and thorough knowledge of what constitutes symmetry and elegance of design in wearing apparel, has given him a proficiency attained by few of his compeers, and the truth of this statement is exemplified in the high reputation which the productions of this house have enjoyed. The work of manufacturing clothing for the patrons of this house, gives employment to from fifteen to twenty skilful hands, and Mr. Illch personally attends to the cutting of all garments. He has unrivalled facilities for carrying on the business and is in a position to guarantee to his patrons a perfect fit in every instance, reliable goods, and workmanship not excelled by that of any other contemporary house in the county.”
– The Empire State, Its Industries and Wealth, 1888.
Sieg Illch (“Sieg” was short for Siegmond) was also a director of the Equal Rights Benefit Association of Albany, a life insurance and reserve fund. 130 South Pearl Street would be just south of Madison in the Pastures.