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John J. Shea
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1905: John J. Shea was down on Broadway, manufacturing pretty much everything you could manufacture from canvas: awnings, coal bags, tents and flags, horse and wagon covers, feed bags, hammocks, etc. Not only did they rent canopies for weddings, balls and receptions at reasonable rates, they also rented “Men in Livery to attend Carriages.”…
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Hudson River Telephone Company
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In 1905, people still needed to be convinced to get telephone service. Being in touch with half the United States was certainly a selling point (though they don’t make it clear which half). I’m sure rates of 6-2/3 cents a day didn’t hurt. One of the Hudson River Telephone Company’s buildings is now…
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Mohawkville: I Want To Go To There
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1862: “At Mohawkville, in the town of Rotterdam, situated 2-1/2 miles south of Schenectady, one of the healthiest and most splendid locations for a village in the state, is the thread and twine manufactory of Henry M. Crane. “The number of inhabitants at present is about 300. The grounds of Mr. Crane are superb,…
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Groceries and Insurance
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Well, I think it’s a little interesting that in 1862, A.F. & G.C. Carley, wholesale and retail dealers in family groceries, actually billed their dealing in wines, brandies, gins, bourbon, Monongahela & magnolia whiskeys above their flour and boneless pork offerings. They had their priorities. And while you were sampling the Monongahela, you might…
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A House Furnished Complete
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In 1891, Wooster’s of North Pearl Street was offering to completely furnish the residents of Albany homes for a low, low $396.25. That’d be about $9900 in today’s money. And you can see from the detailed listing they weren’t skimping . . . even servants got a mirror, and guests were provided with a…
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The New Albany, 1891 — No. 4
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Finishing up the wonders of Albany as it approached the 20th century: 20th. The Tweddle building, which rose from theashes of the old Tweddle Hall since the decade began. The Tweddle building is one of those references you see over and over in old Albany papers, and “Tweddle” never stops sounding a littlegiggly. John…
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The New Albany, 1891 — No. 3
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We’ll skip around the rest of the 38 items on the list of the new wonders of Albany that emerged in the decade before 1891. 12th. The new Public Hall. A structure which is the pride of every Albanian, and will be for a hundred years to come. No city In America has so…
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The ladder truck
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A brief note in the totally wonderful “The New Albany” from 1891: “The fire in the telephone office, the other day, five stories above the street, gave opportunity for an illustration of the value of the extension truck, by which ladders were speedily run to the upper stories. Its value, where life was…
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