The “C.M.” in C.M. Hawley, successor to Taylor & Hawley Book & Job Printers, was “Clara M.”
Parker’s “Landmarks of Albany County” in 1897 said, “Among the numerous printing establishments in Albany it would be hard to find one where prompt service and fair dealing more abound than in that owned by Mrs. C.M. Hawley. This business was originally established in 1871 by L.H. Burdick, for general job and newspaper printing, at No. 51 North Pearl street. Mr. Burdick continued to own and manage the business until 1878, when, having taken James Taylor into partnership, the firm became Burdick & Taylor. The plant was subsequently moved to Martin Hall and later to No. 481 Broadway, where the business was continued until 1893.
“In November, 1890, the partnership was dissolved and Lewis J. Roberts came into the firm, making the firm Taylor & Roberts. Mr. Roberts died after thirteen months, but the firm name continued until 1893, when Charles H. Hawley succeeded to the Roberts interest. Mr. Hawley died in November, 1893, and the interest since has been carried on by Mr. Hawley’s widow, Mrs. Clara M. Hawley. January 21, 1897, Mrs. Hawley bought Mr. Taylor’s interest and has since then been sole owner of the plant, at Nos. 36-38 Beaver street, and secured the services of L.H. Burdick to manage the business for her. Mr. Burdick, being the founder of the business, is of course a most valuable man and will build up the concern to hold its own as among the first of its kind in the city. Mr. Burdick also represents the Pennsylvania Mutual Life Insurance company and for eight years has been secretary of the West End Savings and Loan Association. He is very popular in social and fraternal circles, and is a Knight Templar, Mason, a past grand in the I.O.O.F., and an encampment member.”
Beaver street in the vicinity of Broadway was once a hotbed of printing and publishing activity. Today, sadly, it is primarily a hotbed of parking lots.