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Food, Fun and Facts on the FJ&G Rail Trail While I had walked the FJ&G Rail Trail in the summer weather numerous times, I never thought to explore it in the wintertime. I recently had the opportunity to strap on the snowshoes and get some fresh air from Train Station Park through the Downtown Gloversville corridor. Before venturing out, I decided to make it a themed day of eating at the Palace Diner, a diner created from a railroad car, before hitting the former railroad tracks for some exercise. The Palace Diner, located at 62 S. Main St., has been a staple in Downtown Gloversville for almost 100 years. During the early 1900s, lunch wagons or lunch carts were very popular and were adopted from old railroad cars. As seen in this newspaper photo, the Palace Diner was built by the Jerry O’Mahony Dining Car Company of Bayonne, N.J., and was shipped to the area via railroad. Upon entering, I could see the railcar atmosphere in the tiny diner. While the space was small, the building was filled with warmth and was inviting. At the counter, were the regulars, giving the place a vibe that was a cross between “Cheers” where everyone knows your name, and any Stewart’s Shop where the morning coffee clutch has already solved the world’s problems by 8 a.m. I sat down on a stool at the front of the counter and the chef, Richard, greeted me with a great big smile and asked if I wanted coffee. The cup was the old-time large porcelain mug that immediately brought memories of childhood and my grandfather’s daily dose of caffeine. I ordered a cheese omelet with home fries and rye toast and watched Richard whip up a hot, fresh meal for me within minutes. He laughed as he saw my eyes get big at the huge portion that he placed in front of me and said, “We do have to-go containers.” I ate as much as I could as the homemade comfort food filled me quickly. I boxed the rest of my food and headed out the door. The next stop for me was Train Station Park on West Fulton Street. Located at the park is a “trail head” or parking area for the FJ&G Rail Trail. The trail was created in the mid-1990s, using the unused railroad bed from the former FJ&G Railroad and turned it into 8 plus miles of scenic byway that is used for walking, biking and more. Train Station Park is home to a rail car, a throwback to railroad history. The Fonda, Johnstown, and Gloversville (FJ&G) Railroad was incorporated in 1867 and was a 100 plus mile railroad system. During the 1870 up to the 1980s, the passenger rails carried a variety of employees from the local glove industry to Schenectady, where they continued their travels to New York City or Chicago. Freight was also transported from the FJ&G to the New York Central and the Delaware and Hudson railroads to the world beyond upstate New York. While you are in an urban setting and do have to cross several streets on your journey on the Rail Trail through the City of Gloversville, there are pretty nature scenes too, especially along the creek. I happen to see several ducks in the water on my winter journey and last summer I was lucky to see a deer crossing the trail near Darling Field. The morning I ventured out, the gluttony of Christmas had caught up with me and I had fatigued quickly. Snowshoeing is an excellent low-impact aerobic exercise and is very helpful when venturing out on somewhat icy terrain. While snowshoeing helps burn numerous calories, I was still full from my Palace Diner breakfast and was ready to head home for a nap. Click here for a map of the trail for your exploration of the trail through Gloversville. Of course, by this writing, the current rain and temperatures may make it more “hike-able” than “snowshoe-able” but no matter the footwear, it is worth getting out to enjoy the fresh air on the trail and to see the remnants of the railroad past. Be sure to add some “train” food to your day! Stay. Play. Explore. Live. Discover Downtown Gloversville.

What Is there to do in Downtown Gloversville?! Now that the hustle and bustle of the Christmas holiday has slowed but vacation time is still here, what is there to do in Gloversville?! From urban hikes or walks through downtown, to shopping and special events and classes, there is plenty to do in Downtown Gloversville! Here are a few suggestions for the holiday week leading into the New Year. Be sure to check ahead with venues to ensure activities are still on, if RSVPs are needed, and if there are age limits. · Anytime: Nestled in the Mohawk Harvest Food Co-op at 30 N. Main St, is the Micropolis Cooperative Art Gallery where you can view and purchase local art that includes paintings, drawings, pastels, photographs, glass, pottery, fiber art, digital art, mixed media, jewelry, basketry, woodland assemblages, fine art cards and more. Typically, there is a local artist in residence and is happy to to discuss the art. Of course, while at the Micropolis, you can purchase snacks, soups, coffee, drinks and more from the Mohawk Harvest. For hours, visit websites https://mohawkharvest.org and www.facebook.com/MicropolisGallery. · Anytime: Take an Urban Hike through Downtown Gloversville. Take the 1-mile Historic Walk, or snowshoe on the FJ&G Rail Trail off Station Park on West Fulton Street or hop on the downtown section of the Fulton Montgomery Quilt Trail, there are plenty of fun ways to explore Downtown Gloversville while exercising! For maps and walking routes, visit Blog entries at www.downtowngloversville.org · Now through Jan. 20th: Youth ages 12 to 19 can work on submissions for the 2022/2023 Fulton Montgomery Junior Artist Contest hosted by AGORA Marketplace, 50 N. Main St. Entries are due by end of business day to the AGORA. Once judged, artwork will be on display through March 1st. Rules are posted at AGORA’s Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/Agora50Market and questions can be submitted to email address storemgr@agora50.com. Of course, while at the AGORA, you can shop at its booths and purchase treats and drinks at its Happy Mug café. · Sunday, Dec. 25th and Monday, Dec. 26th: Take an Urban Hike in Downtown Gloversville to find the “Mayfield Munchkin” before watching “The Wizard of Oz” on TBS at 8 p.m. on Sunday or on TNT at 8 p.m. on Monday. Start at The Glove Theatre 42 N. Main St., where Margaret Cynthia Nickloy was present for the premiere of the 1939 movie and work your way up to Pearl Street to find her grave and memorial. To find a map of the route, learn more about the Fulton County native ended up in Oz, and a hint to what role she played in the movie, visit Discover Downtown Gloversville Blog. · Tuesday, Dec. 27th: Club Baby will be held at the Gloversville Public Library, 58 E. Fulton St., at 10 a.m. There is free play time for kids and caregivers, as well as songs, rhymes and more. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/GloversvillePublicLibrary · Wednesday, Dec. 28th: Catch a free viewing of “Anna & the Apocalypse” at The Glove Theatre, 42 N. Main St., at 7 p.m. The musical-zombie-holiday hybrid is rated “R” For more information, visit https://theglovetheatre.com · Wednesday, Dec. 28th: Bingo is played every Wednesday and Saturday unless there is a holiday that night. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. at 19 Washington St. More information can be found at www.facebook.com/BingoCFADK. For more information, call (518) 225-1405. · Thursday, Dec. 29th: Disney Trivia Night at 7 p.m. at The Pines Restaurant and Event Center, 301 N. Kingsboro Ave. Costumes are encouraged! For information, visit www.facebook.com/pinesadk. SATURDAY, Dec. 31st, NEW YEAR’S EVE! · Saturday, Dec. 31st: The Shoeleather Express is having a Toga Party with dinner and square dancing at 7 p.m. at 31 Spring St. For information and reservations, call (518) 225-1405. · Saturday, Dec. 31st: The Glove Theatre, 42 N. Main St., hosts a New Year’s Eve Dance Party at 7 p.m. · Saturday, Dec. 31st: The Pines Restaurant and Events Center, 301 N. Kingsboro Ave., hosts a 4-Course meal that includes watching the New York Times Square ball drop on the big screen starting at 8 p.m. Reservations and pre-paid tickets required. · Saturday, Dec. 31st: Rocky’s Tavern New Year’s Eve with Hunter Havens Band starts at 9 p.m. at 97 S. Main St. · Sunday, Jan. 1st: The Dorn Space, 99 N. Main St., is hosting Revelation Open Mic at 2 p.m. that includes family-friendly music, poetry, prose, preaching, prayer, storytelling, comedy and more. And remember, you can always treat yourself to a spa day or a massage! Gloversville is home to SW The Spa at 23 Fremont St. (sw-dayspa.com) and Beau Monde Progressive Hair Studio & Day Spa at 235 N. Main St. (www.beaumondehairandspa.com). Massages are available at Adirondack Massage Therapist at 40 N. Main St. Call to make an appointment at (518) 752-9311. Appointments can also be made with Sacandaga Therapeutic Massage, at 26 N. Main St., at (518) 848-0928. Bowling is fun for the whole family! Visit Starlite Lanes at 9 Montgomery St. Call (518) 773-2695 for hours and availability. Make an appointment to tour Adirondack Stained Glass Works, located at 29 W. Fulton St., where all pieces are custom made and handmade right on the premises. Call (518) 725-0387. Stay. Play. Explore. Live. Discover Downtown Gloversville.

Hop on the Fulton Montgomery Quilt Barn Trail in Downtown Gloversville Have you ever seen large wooden squares that look like quilts on the sides of building? Did you know they are part of the Fulton Montgomery Quilt Barn Trail, and a portion runs through Downtown Gloversville? As this article points out, https://www.enidnews.com/.../article_7aaf9352-6d43-11ed..., “… towns are looking for ways to encourage visitors to spend more than a day or two in their area to experience local, shop local and eat local, and barn quilt trails are a perfect way to quickly become a must-see destination” and “It can tie back to your heritage by replicating the quilt grandma made, or it can tie to local history.” There are four in the downtown Gloversville region. Starting at the 45 Park Street location, you can walk to Main Street to the Amico Funeral Home at 50 S. Main, head to 39 Hamilton Street and up to the Fulton County Museum on Kingsboro Avenue. That is a healthy jaunt of 2.1 miles or an estimated 4 mile round trip. While getting some good exercise, you can also stop in the shops or take a break at one of the eateries in Downtown Gloversville. The patterns on the wooden quilt squares can be based on traditional quilting patterns or can give a clue about the square owner. For example, the square at 39 Hamilton Street has tools in the middle of its pattern. This is the location of a craftsman and HW Custom Kitchens. The square located at 237 Kingsboro Avenue is placed on the Fulton County Museum, the original site of the 1831 Kingsboro Academy and is in the Historic District of Old Kingsborough. Exhibits at the museum include displays of the glove and leather heritage of Gloversville and the history of the FJ&G Railroad. To find the entire trail that travels through Fulton and Montgomery Counties, visit http://www.fmquiltbarntrail.com/ Stay. Play. Explore. Live. Discover Downtown Gloversville. +6

Follow the Yellow Brick Road from Downtown Gloversville to “Oz” “The Wizard of Oz” is a family favorite and typically runs on TV during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. While watching it, be sure to keep an eye out for the Munchkin that hailed from Fulton County and has ties to Gloversville. Her name is Margaret Cynthia Nickloy and she was known as the “Mayfield Munchkin.” According to an article The Recorder Newspaper did in 2018, Nickloy was a Mayfield native and after a brief stint in the circus as “Princess Marguerite,” she was cast in “The Wizard of Oz.” A bio and photos can be found at www.findagrave.com. She happened to be back in Fulton County when the movie was released and was at the Glove Theatre for the viewing. According to a Facebook post by Fulton County Historian on March 3, 2017, Nickloy returned to Gloversville where she passed away in the early 1960s. She was buried in the pauper section of the Gloversville Prospect Hill Cemetery. There are upcoming events at the downtown Gloversville theater that you may want to attend where you can almost be in her shoes as you take in the historic venue. Visit The Glove Theatre's website for a list of activities. Before or after your Glove experience, walk the estimated mile to Pearl Street, where the entrance to the cemetery and Nickloy’s grave is at the dead end. It may be covered in snow at this time of year, but only a few weeks ago, the entrance was a small path flush with green trees and leaves so heading into it was almost a magical feel. And if you watch “The Wizard of Oz” this week, be sure to look for our own Margaret Cynthia Nickloy. Here's a hint: She was Dorothy's Coachman and would shout out "Where is the Wicked Witch?!" Stay. Play. Explore. Live. Discover Downtown Gloversville.

From Gloversville's rich history to its vision for the future, from small businesses to current events, this blog will share news and information about Downtown Gloversville. Downtown Gloversville I am the new Gloversville Downtown Development Specialist and am excited to be a part of the team at the Fulton County Center for Regional Growth. For nearly 22 years, one of the major tasks in my role as a New York State Senate Community Liaison under former Fulton County representatives Senators Hugh Farley and Jim Tedisco, was to work closely with state and local agencies to strongly advocate for constituents. In my current role, I am using those vital skills to support, promote and champion the historic and charming district in Gloversville. I am utilizing my networking and communication expertise to establish positive working relationships with people, businesses and groups within the downtown district. This blog focuses on downtown Gloversville, from business profiles to history of the area, to future projects and current happenings. Stay. Play. Explore. Live. Discover Downtown Gloversville.

Learn How Shopping Small Can Help Big with Christmas Stress Christmas stresses me out. I love Halloween. You just buy candy, and you are pretty much set. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Christmas lights on Main Street, the music, spending time with family, the food … but the shopping! I am typically the last-minute shopper, and I am typically the stereotypical customer that uses my shopping cart as a battering ram in a big box store as I attempt to grab the last pre-packed gift idea, so my family has something under the tree. This year was a little different. As I am working in Downtown Gloversville, I made a point to shop on Small Business Saturday, which I have not done in years because of the cranky crowds, the cranky clerks … the cranky me. I took my 12-year-old with me, who is my biggest critic and lets you know exactly what she thinks, and we walked Main Street Gloversville, going in and out of the shops. We had a great time as we found unique gifts for our family, and everyone was so nice and helpful. Her tween comment of “These places are so cool,” is a positive review! Could it be Downtown Gloversville is changing my Grinch heart? Was this experience an anomaly? I went back to the shops the next Saturday, just before the Christmas parade and found some more fun and personalized gifts. Again, the experience was not stressful and quite pleasing with the cheerful clerks and owners giving me great advice and assisting me with my purchases. I took my time with each shop and each purchase rather than make a bee line to the door. I also stopped at several places for some goodies and hot chocolate to keep me going. It’s down to the wire with Christmas a few short days away and while I am ahead of the game this year, I still have stocking stuffers to get. I typically go with the generic gifts cards that push the responsibility of getting my family’s presents off me and back on them as they essentially shop for themselves. I have been spending my lunch hours this week procuring these items and as I can’t get into too many details as my family monitors this page, but I have found yummy treats, pretty sweaters and cool gadgets. If you are like me and you are searching for that perfect gift and you have no time left before family arrives on your doorstep, take a minute to just breathe and walk into the shops in Downtown Gloversville. You may find more than just a box to shove under the tree. Stay. Play. Explore. Live. Discover Downtown Gloversville.

Take the Historic Walk in Downtown Gloversville Did you know that Teddy Roosevelt, F.D.R., and Harpo Marx once walked the streets of Gloversville? Come walk the same streets that MGM Studio head Samuel Goldwyn once strolled and see the same architecture that notables John Phillip Sousa, Boxing Hall of Famer “Gentleman” Jim Corbett, and Evelyn Nesbit once viewed! This 1-mile tour of the Downtown Gloversville Historic District, located in Gloversville, Fulton County, New York, contains 9 stops that showcases the city that was not only was home to the industry that once gloved the nation, but also home to the Kingsborough Hotel that gave lodging to men who would go on to be president. Home to a large historic commercial district that is centered on the “Four Corners” of Main and Fulton Streets, the Downtown Gloversville Historic District has many buildings that range in age and are architecturally significant from pre-1850 on. History and architecture enthusiasts will enjoy viewing the structures that include a variety of popular architectural styles, such as Neoclassical, Renaissance Revival, Romanesque Revival, Second Empire, and Art Deco. A bonus stop is located at Veterans Park off the intersections of State Street and Kingsboro Avenue. If you include this stop on your walking tour, it is almost 4 miles of healthy hiking throughout the city! 1. The Palace Diner (62 S. Main St.) - Albert Main opened the Palace in 1923. The lunch cart was built by the Jerry O’Mahony Dining Car Company of Bayonne, NJ, and was shipped by railroad to Fonda, then transported by truck to its current location. The original diner looked like a railroad car and as a 24-hour eatery, it served employees in the leather and glove industry. 2. Kingsborough Hotel (34 S. Main St.) - The Kingsborough Hotel opened in 1903 and boasted of elaborate guest rooms, a banquet hall, ballroom, and basement tavern. It was known as one of Gloversville’s finest hotels. Notable guests included Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Samuel Goldwyn. Goldwyn, a Hollywood producer, began his life in America in Gloversville as Samuel Goldfish. He swept floors in a glove factory and worked his way up to a successful sales position before getting into the movie business. 3. Four Corners (2 S. Main St) - The City of Gloversville was created by the convergence of three separate entities: the Settlement on the Hill, the Mill Settlement, and Kingsborough Settlement. These three communities met in what is today’s Four Corners, the center of the Downtown Gloversville Historic District. The Neoclassical style building, currently housing the Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce, was constructed in 1917 as the Fulton County National Bank. 4. FJ&G Railroad Station (Train Station Park) - The Fonda, Johnstown, and Gloversville (FJ&G) Railroad was incorporated in 1867. Within 20 years, the company acquired the rail line from Gloversville to Northville, which included depots in Mayfield, Cranberry Creek, Sacandaga Park, and Northville. Soon after the railroad merged with the Cayadutta Electric Railroad, which operated as the FJ&G Electric Division. The Mountain Lake Electric Railroad was added in 1904. The FJ&G constructed a new passenger depot and office in Gloversville in 1888 at the cost of $25,000. Lit by gas and steam, it was by all accounts “a model depot.” 5. Bleecker Street Square (33 Bleecker St.) - Located just northwest of the Four Corners is Bleecker Street Square (site of the former First Methodist Church), land that was dominated by the large home of Captain David Spaulding, a Civil War veteran. Captain Spaulding often held drills for the local soldiers on his large front lawn. It later became a bustling commercial center with a number of restaurants, laundries, jewelers, photography studios, a bakery, restaurants, hotels, and more. 6. Memorial Hall / Glove Theater - Memorial Hall (42 N. Main St.) was constructed in 1881 and the first floor had space for businesses and a post office. The opera house on the second floor was the real showstopper as it was admired for its hand-painted ceiling and boasted the most modern advancements in fire safety. The opera house brought a variety of celebrities to Gloversville, including John Phillip Sousa, Boxing Hall of Famer “Gentleman” Jim Corbett, and Evelyn Nesbit. It often hosted political events and future president Theodore Roosevelt spoke there during his tenure as New York City Police Commissioner. In 1905, the opera house was renamed the Family Theater and vaudeville performances took the center stage. When the Schines purchased the neighboring Glove Theater, they obtained Memorial Hall and converted the opera house to three floors of offices, as well as a private screening room. The Glove Theater, built in 1914 and operated by Dr. Henry Cady and George Dartch, started as a live performance venue for concerts and vaudeville. The theater was purchased by J. Myer and Louis Schine in 1920, who went on to own over 160 theaters, but the Glove was the flagship. On November 2, 1939, the Glove hosted one of the world premieres of “Drums Along the Mohawk,” starring Claudette Colbert and Henry Fonda. 7. Old City Hall (44 N. Main St.) - City Hall was once located in this building, designed by M.F. Cummings of Troy, NY in 1885 in the Queen Anne style. Original features included Victorian Gothic pediment stone lintels on the second story and terracotta tiles from Glens Falls, NY. A bell tower and bell once topped the building, but the bell was sold for scrap during World War II. Next door to City Hall was the fire department. A young Arthur “Harpo” Marx of the Marx Brothers spent some time in the jail cell here, thanks to a scheme a business partner of his was running, but was eventually released. In 1977, a new municipal complex was built on Frontage Road, where City Hall remains today. The old building was altered for commercial use and has been the location of various bars and restaurants over the years. 8. Gloversville High School / Estee (Estee Park) (90 N. Main St.) - Known as the former Gloversville Union Seminary, in 1868, the Board of Education of District No. 16 purchased the building and started the Gloversville Union School. As the school grew, the original was replaced by a three-story brick building in 1875 and another was constructed just north of the building in 1883. The south building was razed to make room for a new high school in 1906. The building was later used as the Estee Junior High School until 1997. A senior affordable housing project now is on site in much the same style as the original building. 9. Gloversville Public Library (58 E. Fulton Street) – The Gloversville Public Library is housed in the original Carnegie building constructed in 1904. Andrew Carnegie funded over 3,500 libraries in America alone. The $50,000 in Carnegie funds were contingent upon financial support of the library from the City of Gloversville, which was provided. The building is designed in the Beaux Arts style by Albert Randolph Ross. The façade, made with limestone and tan brick, gleamed when the building was new. The library launched a capital campaign for renovation of the building in 2013. The work was completed in 2019, restoring and highlighting the Carnegie buildings historic features while updating it to better serve the community in the 21st century and beyond. BONUS STOP: Kingsboro Historic District (Veterans Park) (256 Kingsboro Avenue) - Kingsboro was one of the earliest settlements in Fulton County. Originally part of Sir William Johnson’s expansive land holdings, after the Revolutionary War it was settled by families from New England. Other settlers included those of Dutch, German, Scottish, English, and Irish backgrounds. Rev. Elisha Yale’s informal 1803 census tells us: “Kingsborough is a pleasant society, five by seven miles in extent, about fifty miles from Albany, nine north of the Mohawk, containing 233 families, and about 1,400 souls. Of the families, 191 are of English descent, 23 Scotch, 14 Dutch, and 5 Irish.” In addition to some of the city’s oldest residences, Kingsboro also included a church and school. The Kingsboro Congregational Church was organized in 1793, but the present building was constructed in 1838. Rev. Elisha Yale served as its pastor from 1804-1852. His statue stands in the park across from the church. The Kingsboro Cemetery contains the graves of some of the area’s earliest settlers, including Rev. Yale. Stay. Play. Explore. Live. Discover Downtown Gloversville.

Look Up in Downtown Gloversville In today’s world of Internet, streaming TV and social media, it’s hard for the newest generations to imagine how people learned about events, sales and new happenings in their town. As seen in this vintage ad from Rossbach’s from a number of years ago, print media was a popular way to get the word out and is still used today as many receive the local paper on Sundays for the upcoming week’s coupons and specials. Another popular trend was advertisements painted on brick that remained over time. Take a walk around Downtown Gloversville and you will see remnants of this advertising, stories of an era in the city’s long and historic life. Several buildings tout the glove business that was housed inside the brick-and-mortfaçade, others announced items and sales. As this article points out, the trend was popular from the 1890s through the 1960s but eventually was replaced by the trend of billboards. Continue walking around Downtown and you will see some businesses have kept the nostalgia of the past in their current advertising as seen by this Castiglione Jewelers brick sign. Artists have also used buildings as their canvas as seen by murals paying homage to the local railroad industry on the GoodbuyZ Liquidation Outlets building. It’s easy to get lost in the allure of our shiny phones with numerous apps, but look up when walking in Downtown Gloversville and you will see a whole new world through the Ghost Signs of the past and enjoy these unique works of art. As this article reflects, … “ghost signs transform urban spaces into museums. They help us to remain present within the built environment and public space, yanking our attention away from screens to engage in history. They make us stop and look.” Stop. Look. Discover Downtown Gloversville. Stay. Play. Explore. Live. Discover Downtown Gloversville.

I Spy with My Little Eye, lions throughout the City of Gloversville. Don’t worry, they are not real lions but statues and faces that can be seen on buildings, in front of homes and standing guard over businesses. If you want to play a scavenger hunt on a walk in Gloversville and find some, here's a hint: several are located somewhere on South Main Street, North Kingsboro Avenue, and East Fulton Street. One lion is not far from the building once known as the Kingsborough Hotel, located on South Main Street. This may be of interest as Samuel Goldwyn, known as the “G” in the MGM Studios hailed from Gloversville and had spoken to the Men’s’ Club of the Kingsboro Presbyterian Church at their meeting at the hotel. Allegedly this was the last time he visited Gloversville before making his mark in Hollywood. Did you know that a lion is the mascot for MGM studios? While the idea for the lion came from art director Lionel S. Reiss, it was used for Samuel Goldwyn’s earlier studio Goldwyn Pictures, and then later as part of Goldwyn’s MGM studios. How fitting these lions are in Gloversville, helping keep an eye on the former hometown of one of the film industry’s major powerhouses. To learn more about Samuel Goldwyn, visit www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/samuel-goldwyn-6673.php. This website also notes that “In January 1899, Samuel reached New York and took up a job at a glove making factory at Gloversville. By and by, he became the Vice President for sales in Elite Glove Company. However, very soon destiny took him in another direction.” When on your hunt for lions in the city, be sure to stroll down to South Main Street and read how Samuel Goldfish, aka Samuel Goldwyn when he was in Gloversville, started his career as a salesman in the glove making industry on one of the historic plaques. Stay. Play. Explore. Live. Discover Downtown Gloversville.