About a century ago, J.H. Clark, an upstate New York “pioneer silk glove manufacturer” in retirement, offered sage advice to his sons, Robert and Alfred, when they decided to branch out on their own.
“Well boys,” he said, “if you are going into business, go into it right – on a big scale and with everything the best you can get.”
The “boys” must have got it right, because the company they started in 1920 would operate in Glens Falls for nearly 50 years.
When they started out in 1920, the brothers explored potential locations around the region and determined that Glens Falls was the best place to build their factory that would have state-of-the-art equipment and modern conveniences such as drinking fountains throughout and a recreation room with a piano for employees to play in their off hours.
Elmer J. West and members of Glens Falls Chamber of Commerce made their best pitch to Robert at a luncheon Jan. 13, 1920 at the Glens Falls Country Club.
There was great celebration about a week later when Robert announced that construction would start Feb. 1 on the three-story building at the corner of Hudson Avenue and Elm Street, the building that is now The Mill apartment complex.
“About 500 persons will be employed when the plant is first put in operation, and it is expected the number will be later increased to 700,” The Post-Star reported.
The factory would manufacture silk gloves in seven or eight grades and silk cloth for wholesale to underwear manufacturers.
Raw silk was imported from Japan.
During World War II the company would manufacture cotton tricot mosquito netting for the U.S. Army.
A preliminary $500,000 cost estimate in 1920 was easily exceeded, with equipment alone costing $450,000 – the equivalent of $6 million in 2019 dollars, and the building costing more than $300,000.
The announcement set off a housing development boom in Glens Falls as management estimated as many as 125 additional homes or apartments would be needed for skilled workers that would move from outside the area to take jobs.
“No expense is being spared in making the entire structure a most desirable place to work,” The Post-Star reported on July 17, when the Clark brothers announced they were accepting employment applications from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily at the School Street entrance. “The structure will be absolutely fireproof, sanitary in every way, cool in the summer, warm in winter and there will be an abundance of light.”
Keeping with their father’s admonition about doing business “on a big scale,” the brothers celebrated the opening with a grand dance and euchre card party for employees and community guests on Nov. 20.
Bishop’s Orchestra of Fort Edward provided music for dancing.
The management passed out souvenir favors – miniature glove boxes filled with chocolates to women and miniature glove boxes filled with cigarettes and a pack of matches to men.
Elizabeth Scannell was hired as forewoman of the sewing machine room and Eleanor Wells of the boxing department. Simon Miner was hired as chief of the mechanical department.
Scannell would supervise the sewing department for many years. In February 1941, 35 employees threw a dinner party for her birthday at Fitzgerald’s restaurant, presenting her with gifts of cosmetics set and a corsage. In February 1942, 40 employees threw a dinner party for her birthday at Fitzgerald’s.
Alfred Clark sold the company to Vanity Gloves of New York City in 1957, shortly after the death of Robert in 1956.
Vanity Gloves sold the company in 1959 to Premiere Gloves of Fultonville, in Montgomery County, which moved the operation to Curran Street in Glens Falls for a decade before going out of business in 1969.
In the 1960s and ‘70s, Embassy Shirt Makers, a different garment company, operated on the second floor of the Elm Street and Hudson Avenue building before closing its operation in 1977.
Gateway Department Store operated on the ground floor.
Adirondack Scenic, now known as Adirondack Studios, a theater and theme park set company, operated at the building in the 1990s.
Developer Bruce Levinsky led an investment group that bought the building in 2007, renovated it and added three stories and a roof-top penthouse for apartments.
Mark Paquin and Mark Rosen bought the complex in 2017 and have been renovating vacant commercial space into additional apartments.
The Mill Apartments at the former Clark Brothers Glove Factory.
—————
Sources: The Post-Star Jan. 14, 20, March 5, May 15, July 17, Nov. 20, 22, 1920; March 18, 1926; Aug. 2, 1940; Feb. 27, 1941; Feb. 25, 1942; May 6, 1970; Dec. 8, 1977; The Glens Falls Times, May 16, 1969.
Maury Thompson was a reporter for The Post-Star for 21 years before he retired in 2017. He now is a freelance writer and documentary film producer specializing in regional history. Thompson is collaborating with Snarky Aardvark Films to produce a documentary about Charles Evans Hughes and the Adirondacks, which is expected to release in 2020. See the trailer here.