Chapman’s walking tour illuminates Glens Falls history

By Ken Tingley

Few of us see our community very well. I mean that literally.

We race around town intent on our next appointment and often oblivious to what’’s changing all around us. Even when we slow down, we don’t notice the smallest of changes.

Four of us gathered in front of St. Mary’s Church in Glens Falls Friday to do a walking tour of Warren Street. It was sponsored by the Chapman Museum and hosted by Maureen Folk, its outreach and program director.

The tour was part history, part architecture lesson and a reminder that Warren Street can be a noisy place when trucks road past.

We moved east down Warren Street from St. Mary’s all the way to The Hyde, then crossed the street and returned down the other side of the street with Folk telling us the stories of the city’s past.

We learned St. Mary’s Church was founded in Hudson Falls in 1848 before moving to Glens Falls in 1870. An old photo showed it once had an enormous pointed steeple that was later removed in the 1930s.

We heard the story of Charlotte Hyde and her two sisters and her passion for art that left us with a nationally renowned museum.

Along the way, Folks opened my eyes to a history rich and textured.

The last I heard of the old Glens Falls Post Office building on Warren Street (1915 to 1977), it was in total disrepair and a large flock of pigeons had taken up residence. I recalled there was interest from developer Peter Hoffman, but somewhere along the way I missed the rest of the story.

This beautiful old building made of brick, marble and tile building was renovated, returned to is past glory and now houses the Social Security Administration.

Reserve troops have been gathering at the Glens Falls Armory building since the Spanish-American War.

The old castle-like armory was built in 1895 and for years afterward was the meeting point for regional reserve units before going off to do their duty. We’re not sure what it looks like inside today, but the flagpole outside is badly in need of painting.

All along the street, Folk told the stories of the people and businesses that helped make Glens Falls thrive.

The current Conking Center building - originally the Joubert and White Carriage Company - had its beginnings during the Civil War and provided horse-drawn carriages for those who could afford it. Folk explained how the well-to-do would come to Saratoga during the summer, then visit Glens Falls and order a new carriage to drive back to New York City.

The carriage company closed in 1916 and became Empire Auto Company as the world became motorized. Next door to that is the World Awareness Children’s Museum which was once an automobile showroom during the 1920s. An old photo showed the building had not changed much.

When we got to Fredella Street, we learned about the impact an Italian immigrant named Joseph Fredella on the local neighborhood.

At the intersection of Oakland Avenue and Warren Street, we learned about the house built by architect Hiram Krum. It was built in 1865 and now houses Finch, Pruyn offices. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

The stories poured out of Folk about the Underground Railroad in Glens Falls and the movers, shakers and city fathers who shaped Glens Falls in its earliest days.

I thought I knew a lot about Glens Falls history, but I was learning something new every block.

On the Prospect Street corner on the north side of the street, we learned there was a women’s home with 24 private rooms where widows could live out their days while unfortunately being classified as “inmates.”

Folk told us a somewhat sordid story - maybe it is just a tale - of the death of Jeremiah W. Finch.

Finch was the head of the local Democratic Party, owned a lumber company and was president of the National Bank of Glens Falls for 29 years. Before an operation to remove his appendix in 1904, he turned to his best friend and lawyer to update his will. The new will - which was later contested by his brother - left his friend and lawyer to share half of his $500,000 estate with his second wife. The friend and wife were later married which led to some gossip. The Pines nursing home is now on the spot where their mansion once stood.

While many of the great, old buildings on the on the south side of Warren Street have been restored, too many of the buildings on the north side are in disrepair.

By the time we got to the Warren Tire building, the tour was almost over, but Folk had one last nugget. She pointed up to spot height above the Warren Tire sign where you could still make out the words “Glens Falls Academy,”  a Glens Falls school that was originally founded in the 1840s and expanded twice during the century. Folk reminded us the Warren Tire business had been there since 1948.

Years ago, architect Bob Joy did downtown tours that focused on the architecture - and some history - of Glens Falls. I learned of the city’s rich past and often arranged tours for new reporters and editors to get them better acquainted to their new home.

I suspect Folk - and the Chapman - have only scratched the surface in telling the story of Glens Falls. There is so much more to learn and appreciate.

Happy birthday

A brief shoutout to my little brother David on his 62nd birthday. Now, If I can only convince him to join me in retirement.

We’ll be celebrating more later in September with attendance at a Bruce Springsteen concert.

After sorting through 40 years of photographs, I was able to fill two trash barrels filled with old family photos.

Downsizing continues

As I’ve written about previously, the downsizing in my home continues. While cleaning out a basement closet, we stumbled on a giant plastic storage tub of old photos These were mostly the photos that did not make it into the scrapbooks the first time around.

I painstakingly went through all of them - a bittersweet trip down memory lane - kept a few, but threw most into the trash can.

The photo above is what 40 years of old photographs look like.

Making the tour happen

I shamelessly asked readers to sign up for the Chapman’s Warren Street tour last week. The downtown tour had been canceled the week before because there was not enough interest, but Jane Carusone responded by bringing her two granddaughters to make the tour happen.

And indirectly, this column as well.