86 -90 Glen Street
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Last updated 06/01/04
Building Name: Glens Falls Automobile
Co. Building
Street Location: 86-90 Glen Street, Glens Falls
Use: Original: Commercial/ Transportation
Use: Present: 1980 Commercial/ hardware
Date of Original Construction: ca. 1908 for Edward F. Irish
Architect: Unknown
Builder: Presumably Gifford, Williams & Co. contractors and builders
Historical and Architectural Importance: This building was constructed about 1908, on the site of the McGregor Homestead, as an early automobile dealership and repair shop for Edward F. Irish, a successful businessman, who undoubtedly saw the promise of the mode of 20th century transportation. He had previously been successful in the retail shoe sales and repair business. He was considered a pioneer in the automobile business, having already begun a sales and repair operation in a barn on Bay Street prior to 1908. By 1914, however, he had sold the Glen Street business and later, by 1918, Irish formed a real estate partnership with local architect Ephraim B. Potter. He was, in 1918, president of the Glens Falls Automobile Club.
Moving from shoes to automobiles was not an easy undertaking. Irish enlisted the help of W. Irving Griffing and Leland Livery (Griffing - Sawyer Building, 64 Glen Street). Griffing was Vice President of the Automobile Company in 1908. This relationship, not unlike Irish's later relationship with the architect Potter, proved advantageous. No doubt, with Griffing's experience in the carriage and livery business, and location of the livery nearby, the Auto Co. prospered. Significantly, the architectural style of the building has a striking similarity to the Griffing-Sawyer Building, indicating the same architect (unknown) and builder ( Gifford, Williams & Co.). Today both structures are occupied by hardware suppliers J. E. Sawyer and Co., one of Glens Falls earliest continuously operated business establishments.
SOURCES:
2D, C, 251, 394
Name of Collector: Richard C. Youngken
Collected on: September 16, 1980
Organizations: City of Glens Falls, Community Development office
Previous ownership:
Previous occupants: