Marital Separation, 1851-style

From  Franklin Gazette:

Malone Schools in 1891

We stumbled upon this list of Malone village schools (while researching something else, naturally) in the July 3, 1891 Franklin Gazette.   It is from a report on the schools' enrollment and attendance, but it is also useful as a run-down of the school buildings throughout the village near the end of the era of neighborhood schools.  Do you recognize your ancestors in the lists of students?

1870's Weather

Appearing in the December 18, 1878 Franklin Gazette:

January 17, 1879 Franklin Gazette:

April 11, 1879 Franklin Gazette:

The "Breed's Thermometer" referenced was a thermometer hung at C.W. Breed & Co. Druggists on Main Street in Malone.

Hogle/Smith House Hotel

The three-story building on the corner of Academy and West Main Streets in Malone has stood vacant for several years now, but it has a history as a prosperous tavern and hotel, as well as a slightly seedy rooming house.  It has been known alternately as the Hogle House, Cushman House, The City Hotel, Hill Crest Inn, Smith House, the Franklin Hotel Annex, The Tavern, the Tavern Arms, and Nikki's Place.

The Tavern, late 1930s

From the collection of the Franklin County Historical and Museum Society  (1986.102)

click image to enlarge

Over the years, ancillary businesses have also been housed with the hotel, such as a barber shop , billiard room, bowling alley, and livery stables.   Additionally, it appears that on at least one occasion, a gambling parlor operated out of the hotel:

September 15, 1926  Malone Farmer

The building was erected about 1866  by Canadian Hotelier James L. Hogle and operated by him as the Hogle House until 1875, when Hogle sold it and opened the Elmwood House hotel on the corner of Main and Pearl Streets.

The hotel nearly constantly changed hands, almost always with name changes.  In 1877, George H. Hogle was proprietor of the Hogle House.  But beginning in April 1885, George W. Cushman leased the hotel from George Hogle and renamed it the Cushman House.

May 26, 1887  Malone Palladium

In October 1887, Cushman decided to try his hand at the running of a hotel in Oswego, however, and leased it to J.A. Stratton, who was obliged by June 1888 to relinquish his lease.   Alex Chisholm took over the lease and changed the hotel's name to The City Hotel.

September 7, 1888  Franklin Gazette

Chisholm's lease was revoked in September 1889 when George Cushman, returning to Malone, purchased the hotel from George Hogle and resumed management, reverting the business' name to Cushman House.  Chisholm purchased the Elmwood House hotel (also from George Hogle) in July 1889 upon receiving notice that his term as landlord of the City Hotel was nearing its end. 

In March 1902, the firm of Ladd & Smallman (primarily a lumber and mill business) purchased Cushman House, with George Cushman continuing as manager. 

March 13, 1902 Malone Palladium

Despite the optimism of the Palladium's editors, by December 1903, Charles McCarthy was the proprietor and the hotel's name had changed to Hill Crest Inn.  Not two years later, Fred A. Smith owned the hotel and changed its name to the Smith House. 

Businessman F. Roy Kirk purchased the hotel around 1921 and changed its name to the Hotel Franklin Annex (or Franklin Hotel Annex or Franklin House Annex), and operated it as a rooming house in conjunction with the Franklin House Hotel (located where the W. Main St. Stewart's Shop currently stands).

After the sudden and early death of F. Roy Kirk, in October 1921 the hotel was sold again and renamed the Smith House. 

 It was leased and operated by Henry Badore from its new owner, local businessman George Northridge (who had been associated at various times with the Malone Milling Co. and the Benware Broom Co., in addition to his own feed and produce firm of G.D. Northridge & Son and earlier real estate business).   From June 1921-January 1922, Troop B of NY State Police, newly located at Malone and in advance of the construction of their barracks, were housed at the Hotel. 

October 5, 1921  Malone Farmer

After Northridge's death in 1923, it was purchased by Badore's brother Herbert and William Monaghan.

July 9, 1924  Malone Farmer

In 1927, the business again changed hands:

August 31, 1927  Malone Farmer

The Smith House found itself in the hands of an old friend again in 1935, when former hotel clerk and manager Henry Badore purchased the property as an investment, but with no intention of being involved in its daily operation again. 

July 3, 1935  Malone Farmer

Under the ownership of Henry Badore and the management of W.E. Rodman, the hotel became known as "The Tavern."

July 24, 1935  Malone Farmer



B.A. Whitney & Son Music Store

A Franklin County resident recently inquired about the firm of B.A. Whitney & Son, Malone, NY, which was on his piano.  A little research turned up multiple newspaper ads and the 1931 obituary of Byron A. Whitney, which reads in part:

  "Byron A. Whitney, for many years engaged in the piano and music business in Malone, and a former trustee of Malone village, passed from mortal life Saturday evening at his home, 115 West Main street, aged 85 years.

[...]
   Byron A. Whitney was born in the town of Dickinson in June 1845, a son of Peter ad [sic] Lucinia Whitney.  His parents were pioneers of the town and came to Dickinson with others from Alburgh, Vt., making the journey by ox team and cart, when this North Country was little more than an unbroken wilderness.  Peter Whitney and his wife were among the founders of the hamlet of Alburgh, a community which lies partly in the town of Dickinson and partly in the town of Moira.  They gave the first settlement the name of Alburgh in honor of the Vermont town from which they came. 
    Byron A. Whitney received the rudiments of his education in the district schools of Dickinson, and later completed his education in the old Lawrenceville Academy.  For several years after his graduation he taught school in the districts adjacent to his home, being an instructor [in] nineteen school terms.  He possessed natural talent in music, and while engaged as a district school teacher also taught singing school in various communities.
    He later went to Des Moines, Iowa, remaining there for a few [years].  Returning east he established himself in business in Norwood, remaining there until he removed to Malone in 1893, and established his piano and music business here, eventually purchasing the property at 115 West Main street, which was thereafter his home and business location.  At the time of his comign to Malone he conducted an insurance agency as a branch of his business, but later disposed of the agency to O'Neil & Hale and devoted his entire time to the sale of music merchandise. 
    In this he was busily occupied and for years he personally delivered the pianos and organs he sold, driving his delivery team and wagon long distances to all parts of Franklin and St. Lawrence counties.  Always greatly interested in church muisc he presented organs to many churches in the local territory.   Four years ago he sold his business to his son, Olin H. Whitney, who has since conducted the piano and music business at the West Main street location.  For a time the firm was known as B.A. Whitney & Son."

January 29, 1897 Franklin Gazette:

1895 ads from Franklin Gazette: 

From 12-21-1894 Franklin Gazette: