Downtown Gloversville
A Brief History of Gloversville
Gloversville’s story is one of craftsmanship, ambition, and surprising connections to national and international history. From its origins as a rugged settlement to its rise as a global manufacturing center, the city’s legacy reaches far beyond Fulton County.
From “Stump City” to the Glove Capital of the World
Originally known as Stump City due to extensive land clearing by early settlers, Gloversville took its modern name in the early 19th century as leather tanning and glove-making began to dominate the local economy.
Surrounded by hemlock forests—whose bark was essential for tanning—and blessed with abundant water sources, the area became perfectly suited for leather production.
By the late 1800s and into the mid-20th century, Gloversville had earned international recognition as the “Glove Capital of the World.” At its peak, hundreds of factories and tanneries operated throughout the city and surrounding region, producing the vast majority of gloves worn in the United States.
Gloves made in Gloversville were worn by everyday Americans, military personnel, professional athletes, and even appeared on the world stage.
Gloversville on the Global Stage
Even in recent decades, Gloversville’s craftsmanship has maintained global relevance. In 2018, leather produced in Gloversville was used in the gloves worn by Team USA during the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games—a testament to the enduring quality of local leatherwork.
Gloversville’s influence also reached unexpected corners of American culture. As a young immigrant, Sam Goldwyn, who would later co‑found Goldwyn Pictures and play a key role in the creation of Metro‑Goldwyn‑Mayer (MGM), worked as a glove salesman in Gloversville. His early experience in the glove trade helped shape the salesmanship and business instincts that would later help define Hollywood’s Golden Age.
Baseball, Legends, and a “Field of Dreams”
Beyond factories and commerce, Gloversville played a meaningful role in America’s pastime. Parkhurst Field, established in the early 1900s, is one of New York State’s oldest historic baseball grounds and a treasured community landmark.
The field hosted local teams, professional exhibitions, and some of the greatest names in early baseball history, including Cy Young, Honus Wagner, Chief Bender, Edd Roush, and Moonlight Graham —whose life later inspired the book Shoeless Joe and the iconic film "Field of Dreams."
The Parkhurst Field Foundation has received permission to use the Field of Dreams name in connection with its preservation and restoration efforts, tying Gloversville directly to one of baseball’s most beloved cultural stories.
Patriots of the Revolution & War Veterans
Long before leather and baseball, the land around Gloversville was shaped by the earliest patriots of the United States. Among the veterans who made their lives here after the War for Independence was Nicholas “Nick” Stoner, a native of Maryland who enlisted as a youth in the Continental Army and fought in battles including Saratoga and Yorktown. After later serving in the War of 1812, Stoner became a legendary Adirondack hunter and frontiersman. He died in 1853 at the age of 92 and is buried at Prospect Hill Cemetery in Gloversville, where his grave is marked among other veterans.
Prospect Hill Cemetery is the resting place for numerous veterans, including Revolutionary War patriots like Joseph DeGolyer, Stephen Gillette, Jacob Hartshorn, Frederick Steele, and others whose service helped secure independence.
Just a short distance away, the historic Kingsborough Cemetery and the old Colonial burying ground include the graves or memorial markers for many early settlers and Revolutionary War veterans who helped settle and defend this region in its first decades.
These burial sites serve as solemn reminders that the area’s history reaches back to the nation’s founding—not just its industrial rise.
Presidents, Politics, and Prominence
During its height as an industrial and cultural center, Gloversville attracted national attention. Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin D. Roosevelt both made appearances in the city during political tours prior to their presidencies, underscoring Gloversville’s regional importance at the time. Downtown landmarks such as the historic Kingsborough Hotel hosted prominent figures, reflecting a city that once stood confidently on the national stage.
FUN FACT: Theodore Roosevelt and Lucius N. Littauer of Gloversville were lifelong friends, having first met as classmates at Harvard University. Littauer remained a close personal and political advisor to Roosevelt, influencing his decisions during his tenure as Governor of New York and maintaining a lasting bond throughout their lives.
Other Notable Figures from Gloversville
Gloversville’s influence goes beyond industry and local lore — the city has also been home to several notable figures in literature, history, and culture. Pulitzer Prize‑winning author Richard Russo was raised in Gloversville and his upbringing here profoundly influenced his writing. Russo drew on his experiences growing up in a small industrial town for many of his novels, including Mohawk, Nobody’s Fool, and Bridge of Sighs, and he won the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for Empire Falls. Many of his fictional upstate towns are based on the people, places, and changes he witnessed in Gloversville, and he has spoken about how the town’s history and character continue to shape his imagination and work. Born in Gloversville in 1930 to parents who worked in the local glove industry, Joseph E. Persico became a highly respected historian, biographer, and author. After serving in the U.S. Navy and working in government — including as chief speechwriter for New York Governor (and later Vice President) Nelson A. Rockefeller — Persico wrote numerous acclaimed books on American history, military affairs, and key historical figures. He also co‑wrote General Colin Powell’s autobiography.
Folklore, Whimsy, and Local Lore
Not all of Gloversville’s history is stitched in leather or recorded in official documents. Nearby Mayfield is home to the enduring legend of the Mayfield Munchkin, Cynthia Nickloy, a whimsical local connection to The Wizard of Oz. Nickloy, who appeared in the original 1939 film, visited The Glove Theatre in Gloversville to introduce the movie at its local premiere, delighting audiences and cementing her place in the region’s cultural memory. She is buried in Gloversville in the pauper section of Prospect Hill Cemetery, a humble resting place that quietly honors her unique link to Hollywood history and the local community.
Whether you are discovering Gloversville for the first time or exploring as a tourist in your own city, take this self-guided walking tour of historic downtown.
👉 Download the walking tour brochure & map
👉 Explore our museum guide
While you’re here, stop by Sage & Cedar Café at 33 N. Main St.—recipient of the 2025 Thomas J. Ruller Historic Preservation Award. Learn more here.