64 Glen Street
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Last updated 06/01/04
Building Name: Griffing Sawyer
Building
Street Location: 64 Glen Street, Glens Falls
Use: Original: commercial/ livery stable
Use: Present: 1980 commercial/ hardware supply
Date of Original Construction: ca. 1904 for W. Irving Griffing
Architect: Unknown
Builder: Gifford Williams & Co. contractors and builders, Glens Falls
Historical and Architectural Importance: Built in 1904, as the Griffing and LeLand Livery Stable, on the site of the McGregor estate., this building served as a livery stable and carriage and buckboard repository for approximately 10, years before it was sold in 1914 to J. E. Sawyer and Co. for use as a comprehensive hardware sales operation. This use is maintained today by the same company.
W. Irving Griffing, prominent Glens Falls business man and one time mayor of the city, ran a livery stable and carriage repository in the 1800's and on nearby Park Street. The premises consisted of a 3-story frame building "fitted up with every convince for displaying the elegant stock of carriages, wagons and buggies." Undoubtedly successful and keen on expansion, Griffing had a new establishment at 64 Glen Street built to much larger specifications of brick in a prominent location. The entire cellar space (66' x 100') is reported to have been used for stabling horses. The business did not survive the advent of the automobile. As early as 1908, Griffing divested his interest, becoming Vice- President of Edward F. Irish's Glens Falls Automobile Company (located nearby at 86-90 Glen Street). By 1914, the building was sold to J. E. Sawyer and Co., a well established Glens Falls hardware business. J. E. Sawyer and Co. had previously occupied the nearby Sherman Building on the corner of Park and Glen Streets. This business originally marketed supplies for blacksmiths and carriage makers, beginning with the Glens Falls Hub and Spoke Co. in 1883. In addition to selling general hardware, the business employed at least 3 traveling salesmen, serving eastern and northern NY, all of Vermont and part of Massachusetts, at the turn of the century. It still occupies the Griffing Sawyer building and is one of Glens Falls oldest surviving businesses.
SOURCES:
D, 173, E, C, 394, A
Name of Collector: Richard C. Youngken
Collected on: September 16, 1980
Organizations: City of Glens Falls, Community Development Office
Previous ownership:
Previous occupants: