Author: Carl Johnson

I don’t know anything about Adams of 91 and 93 North Pearl St., but in 1891 they were having a big sale on every kind of furniture, not to mention what-nots and bric-a-brac. You can hardly even find a bric-a-brac store these days.

The Albany Hand-book, 1881: African Methodist Episcopal Church, The, is at 365 Hamilton st. Colored folks worship here, but white people are also welcome so long as they behave themselves. Numbering must have changed, as this can’t be any other than the First Israel African Methodist Episcopal Church, built in 1854 at what is…

Again from The Albany Hand-Book of 1881, of which we can never get enough: Academy Park, consists of one and eighty-two one-hundredths acres, bounded by Elk and Eagle sts., Washington ave., and Park place, and just now is in a dilapidated condition. As soon as the old Capitol is removed, and Capitol Park laid…

From The Albany Hand-Book of 1881: Abattoir, The, or public slaughterhouse is situated on Brevator st., nearly three miles west of the City Hall. Slaughtering is prohibited (except by consent of the Common Council) within the limits of 160 rods west of Allen st., on the west; Warren st., Delaware ave., Second ave. and…

In the very back pages of the endlessly fascinating “Albany Hand-Book” for 1881 (“A Strangers’ Guide and Residents’ Manual”) is an appendix chronicling local events for 1880. So let’s see what was going on at the Capitol that year, when it was under the supervision of its second architect, Leopold Eidlitz, and had only…

It would appear that I have never before taken in the florid advertising stylings of Hiram Ferguson, designer, photographer, and engraver in wood, who worked out of the “Bank Building” at 448 Broadway. This is from the 1881 “Albany Hand-book.”

While we’re on the subject of the 1881 “Albany Hand-book,” let’s note its peculiar entry regarding birds: “The bird-stores of a city are always interesting places to visit, especially to those who are fond of the feathered songsters. There are usually some curious foreign birds on exhibition, and always good singers to be heard.…

I really have no idea what Henry L. Smith & Bro. meant when they said there’s “Lots of Meat in this!” They were referring, in 1891, to their sale on boys’ skating coats or reefers, knee pants, and short-pants suits. “This will be a week for the boys.” Smith’s place had previously been known…