• Brandy, dentistry, photography

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    Carl Johnson

    All of these fine establishments, offering the best in brandies, dentistry, and photography, were located in busy downtown Albany, though this ad is from the Schenectady directory from 1862.   I particularly like the offer of “Natural and life like-artificial dentures inserted on reasonable terms.” Removal, however, would be something else entirely. Caveat emptor!

  • Treadwell Seal Skins

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    Carl Johnson

    The importance of the fur trade to the very existence of Albany cannot be overstated. Although Killian van Rensselaer tried to promote agriculture and tobacco-planting, and the Dutch East India Company tried to maintain strict control over the fur trade, it was river transport and an abundance of beaver within two hundred miles or…

  • D&H Venetian Blinds

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    Carl Johnson

    You didn’t think one of the finest new buildings in Albany, the D&H headquarters,  would use anything other than Albany-made venetian blinds, did you? Of course not. Now send for your catalogue.

  • John Ferris Brushes

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    Carl Johnson

    From 1940, an ad for John Ferris Jr., manufacturer of brushes since 1833. He was one of what seems to have been simply hundreds of businesses on Broadway at the time. It’s hard to imagine how different it must have been. It’s still a very busy place, but it’s all office work. No one’s…

  • The D&H Building (no, not that one)

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    Carl Johnson

    Everyone knows (and if you don’t, you should) that the massive, beautiful SUNY Administration building sprawled across the plaza along Broadway at State Street was, when built in 1915 by Marcus Reynolds, the headquarters of the Delaware and Hudson (D&H) railroad. (With a little bit of Evening Journal headquarters thrown in.) But fewer than…

  • Brrraaaaiiinnnnnsssssss . . .

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    Carl Johnson

    1891, and what was probably one of Albany’s earliest advertising agencies was advertising “Brains To Let, For Advertising Purposes.” Delicious brains.

  • Purity at the Capitol

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    Carl Johnson

    You’ll be shocked to learn that in the 1890s, there was scandal about the legislature. The water supply, however, was above reproach, thanks to the efforts of the Albany Steam Trap Company. “Every drop used there now for drinking purposes is as pure as if it trickled from ‘The icicle which hangs on Dian’s…

  • Stop Your Horses

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    Carl Johnson

    Nothing Albany-related about this, but I couldn’t resist posting this bold advice from “The Horseless Age” magazine.

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