Watertown Neighborhood Grocery Stores – Bajally’s Was First Purpuro’s Before Bajally’s was a staple on the north side as a Watertown neighborhood grocery store, it was known as Purpura’s, owned and operated by James Pururpo, who was also a partner in the Watertown Fruit Company. (Note: Bajally’s would be spelled as such or sometimes Bajjaly’s […]
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Madill’s – 714 W Main St
Watertown Neighborhood Grocery Stores – Madill’s On W Main St A fair share of the Watertown neighborhood grocery stores could be found on the city’s Northside. Prior to Madill’s, the store at 714 West Main St was known as McGough’s, when it was an actual corner store before the road was changed to allow for […]
Aboud and Bahou – 153 E. Main St
Watertown Neighborhood Grocery Stores – Aboud and Bahou on E. Main St Another Watertown neighborhood grocery store serving the Northside was Aboud and Bahou Groceries on the corner of East Main and Mundy Streets. Initially operating with Stundy Aboud and Najiy Bahou in the 1950s, it was known as Aboud’s Market by 1962. Like many […]
Watertown Neighborhood Grocery Stores – Gotham St Market (1897 – 1982)
Watertown Neighborhood Grocery Stores – Gotham St Market The Gotham St Market, shown below, had a long run at its location, the only neighborhood grocery store on Gotham Street for quite some time. It would have many owners over the course of the years, one of the longest stints of ownership belonging to George W. […]
Blizzard of 1977 – Barnes Corners
Blizzard Of 1977 Hit Parts Of Western And Northern New York As Well As Southern Ontario Areas south of Watertown including Adams Center, Adams, Mannsville, Rodman, Barnes Corners and many other small towns were hardest hit during the Blizzard of 1977. The photo below was taken in Barnes Corner. Believe or not, the size of […]
Fairbanks Building (? – 1967)
The Fairbanks Building, aka The Flatiron, Downtown Watertown Interestingly enough, Watertown’s Fairbanks Building preceded the Flatiron Building of New York City, from which it supposedly acquired its nickname. The Flatiron Building, NYC, was constructed in 1902, whereas the Fairbanks Building was completed much earlier and coined “flatiron” as early as 1892 when it underwent renovations. […]
Blizzard of 1977 – Kellogg Hill
Blizzard Of 1977 Hit Parts Of Western And Northern New York As Well As Southern Ontario During the Blizzard of 1977, areas south of Watertown including Adams Center, Adams, Mannsville, Rodman, Barnes Corners and many other small towns were hardest hit. The photo below was taken on Kellogg Hill, not too far from the entrance […]
Watertown Train Stations (1851 – 1963)
The Watertown Train Stations 1851 – 1963. The first train to pull up to a station in Watertown occurred on the evening of September 5, 1851, at a small, temporary terminal located at the foot of Stone Street known as the Junction. The train would be greeted by a large, enthusiastic crowd in the neighborhood […]
Blizzard of 1977 – Eastern Blvd.
Blizzard Of 1977 Hit Parts Of Western And Northern New York As Well As Southern Ontario One of the activities the Blizzard of 1977 brought about was roof-shoveling. With five to six feet of snow bearing down on rooftops, people were forced to not only shovel their driveways and sidewalks, but their roofs as well. […]
Blizzard of 1977 – Mill St.
Blizzard Of 1977 Hit Parts Of Western And Northern New York As Well As Southern Ontario The Blizzard of 1977 kept many people snowbound for several days, if not longer, and undoubtedly resulted in cabin fever for some. Once the snowfall broke and crews cleared the roads, people began emerging from the snowpocolypse, roaming the […]
Blizzard of 1977 – E. Main St
Blizzard Of 1977 Hit Parts Of Western And Northern New York As Well As Southern Ontario The Blizzard of 1977 presented many challenges or people, one of them being no place to walk other than the road – if it were plowed at all – as demonstrated in the photo below. Blizzard of 1977 Facts […]
Blizzard of 1977 – Washington Street
Blizzard Of 1977 Hit Parts Of Western And Northern New York As Well As Southern Ontario The Blizzard of 1977 took many motorists by surprise, many left stranded. Those who were fortunate enough were able to find shelter at nearby hotels such as the Ramada Inn on Arsenal Street or the Holiday Inn, whose parking […]
Blizzard of 1977 – Ramada Inn
Blizzard Of 1977 Hit Parts Of Western And Northern New York As Well As Southern Ontario The Blizzard of 1977 left many motorists stranded. Some were fortunate enough to find shelter at the Ramada Inn in Watertown, NY, right off of I-81, as shown in the photo below. Click here to view more locations from the […]
Blizzard of 1977 – County Rd 161
Blizzard Of 1977 Hit Parts Of Western And Northern New York As Well As Southern Ontario Areas south of Watertown including Adams Center, Adams, Mannsville, Rodman, Barnes Corners and many other small towns were hardest hit during the Blizzard of 1977. The photo below was taken in the town of Rutland on Highway 161 (aka […]
Blizzard of 1977 – Cook Rd
Blizzard Of 1977 Hit Parts Of Western And Northern New York As Well As Southern Ontario Areas south of Watertown including Adams Center, Adams, Mannsville, Rodman, Barnes Corners and many other small towns were hardest hit during the Blizzard of 1977. The photo above was taken in the town of Rutland on Highway 161 (aka […]
Thompson Park Vortex (Dedicated 2013)
There’s Something Strange, In Your Neighborhood: The Thompson Park Vortex Officially recognized and dedicated by the city of Watertown on Friday, October 18, 2013, the Thompson Park Vortex, as it is commonly called, beget the title of “Watertown’s Area 51.” In its official press release, the city noted– We have recently learned that the codename […]
Return Of The Fighting Ninth (1902)
Return of the Fighting Ninth parade in Watertown, N.Y., 1902 The return of the Fighting Ninth in 1902 was celebrated with much patriotic enthusiasm and a parade on Public Square and throughout the greater downtown Watertown area. Stationed at Madison Barracks in Sackets Harbor, the Ninth was returning from the Spanish-American War in Cuba, the […]
The Black River Monster Lyons Falls (1951)
The Black River Monster Sightings In Watertown and Lyons Falls, NY In 1911, a “sea serpent” later to be known as the Black River Monster was sighted by “sober” citizens from the Court Street Bridge. A short article detailing the events was written in the Syracuse Post-Standard. More information, including the article, can be viewed […]
The Black River Monster (1911, 1951)
The Black River Monster Sightings In Watertown and Lyons Falls, NY Some things must be seen to be believed, like old articles about “The Black River Monster,” a sea-serpent spotting roaming in various places on the Black River in New York State over the years. The first recorded sighting was published in the Watertown Daily […]
Original Thompson Park Pool (1924 – 2019)
The Original Thompson Park Pool Was Built In 1924 And Was One Of Three City Pools At The Time Opening in 1924, the Thompson Park Pool was ideal for a hot summer day. Nestled within the park, built on land donated to the city by John C. Thompson, who remained anonymous until the city honored […]
The Cheese Store (1974 – 2023). . . of Northern New York (2023 – Present)
The Cheese Store, formed as part of the Jefferson Bulk Milk Cooperative, now known as The Cheese Store of Northern New York Opening its doors in 1974, The Cheese Store has provided the North Country with the squeakiest-freshest cheese curd of different varieties ever since. As part of the Jefferson Bulk Milk Cooperative, or Jeff […]
Burrville Cider Mill (1801 – Present)
The Burrville Cider Mill, More Than Just A Local Haunt… Located just outside Watertown, between Thompson Park Vortex and a place that gets a LOT of snow, the Burrville Cider Mill was originally built as a saw and gristmill in 1801 by Hart Massey for Silas Stow. Massey, one of the first settlers of Watertown, […]
State Street Methodist Episcopal Church (1849 – 1907)
Breaking New Ground – State Street Methodist Episcopal Church Until 1848, only one Methodist Episcopal society existed in Watertown, N.Y., and that congregation was held at the Arsenal Street Methodist Church. A meeting was held at the church one night to discuss the town’s growth and the need for another Methodist Episcopal Church. Those discussions […]
Universalist Church (1850 – 1906)
Universalist Church on Public Square, Another Otis Wheelock Creation Like much a good portion of Downtown Watertown and the areas between Arsenal and Court Streets, the first Universalist Church burned to the ground in the great fire of 1849. And, like many of the structures built afterwards (e.g. The Paddock Arcade, The Woodruff and Crowner […]
All Souls Universalist Church (1906 – 1984)
All Souls Universalist Church on Washington Street The All Souls Universalist Church, which took several years to build, laid its cornerstone on June 27, 1906, at its location on Washington Street, between Ten Eyck and Paddock Streets. However, the history of the Universalist Society in Watertown goes back nearly 100 years before then. As part […]
The Arsenal Street Bridges (c.1901 – Present)
The Arsenal Street Bridges – 1901 to Present. Unlike the Court, Mill, Vanduzee, Eastern Blvd, and Pearl Street Bridges, the Arsenal Street Bridge does not cross water. Rather, it crosses railroad tracks that go to and from the Watertown CSX Massey railroad yard today. Although it had been mentioned previously, the construction of an overhead […]
Factory Street Bridges (Unknown – 1920)
The Older Factory Street Bridge Was Once Covered The Factory Street Bridge, the first span to cross from Factory Street onto Sewalls Island, was built sometime in the mid 19th century and was covered. Much like the wooden Court Street Bridge, the Factory Street Bridge posed manyproblems for the city during its later years. Constant […]
The Mill Street Bridges (1836 – Present)
The Mill Street Bridges of Watertown, N.Y Note: Mill Street has two bridges, a larger span from Beebee Island to the city’s Northside and a smaller span from just past Newell Street to Beebee Island. This article, The Mill Street Bridges of Watertown, N.Y., focuses on the larger, main span over the Black River. […]
Governor Roswell P. Flower Monument (1902 – Present)
Governor Roswell P. Flower Monument, An Augustus Saint-Gaudens Work Of Art Commissioned for $25,000 in 1900, the Roswell P. Flower Monument has stood on lower Washington Street with a presence that’s seen everything from blizzards, ice storms, world wars, urban renewal, buildings come and go and innumerable citizens gracing the streets and sidewalks of Watertown. […]
First Baptist Church (1892 – Present)
The current First Baptist Church is actually the third church to sit on the corner of Public Square and State Street Replacing the Otis Wheelock-designed church built only forty years prior, the new First Baptist Church would be built of stone except for two brick walls from the previous structure incorporated into the design. The […]
Watertown Baptist Church (1849-1890)
Watertown Baptist Church, Another Otis Wheelock Creation Along with building the Watertown Baptist Church, the period after the great fire of 1849 was busy for architect Otis Wheelock. Designing two-thirds of a downtown decimated by fire enabled Mr. Wheelock to put his stamp on the city for more than a century. Some of his achievements, […]
Public Square Water Fountain (1853 – Present)
The Public Square Water Fountain, AKA “Cory’s Punch Bowl” The Public Square water fountain in Downtown Watertown has seen a lot over the years. Cory’s Punch Bowl, as it was jokingly named, was the name given to the basin after the then village of Watertown’s president Benjamin Cory, later the Editor of the Watertown […]
Watertown High School on Sterling St (1904 – 1950)
A New Era Begins: Watertown High School on Sterling Street Built at a time of tremendous growth and prosperity, the new Watertown High School on Sterling Street was a three-story structure that, in the long run, couldn’t keep pace with the city’s population. Having nearly doubled in size from 1890 to 1910, from 14,725 to […]
State Street Grammar School (1909 – 1973)
State Street Grammar School Replaces Former Watertown High School On State & Mechanic Streets Construction began on the new Street Street grammar school in May of 1907 with the laying of the foundation. The new school, desperately needed to relieve overcrowding in other schools and the hazardous conditions of the Lamon Street School, would have […]
State Street Watertown High School (1865 – 1904)
The State Street Watertown High School originally started as the Black River Literary and Religious Institute Built in 1836, the school was founded by Presbyterians and opened the following year. Shortly thereafter, the name was changed to simply the Black River Institute. In 1846, a State Senate bill passed, changing its name to the Jefferson County […]
First Watertown Train Depot (1851 – Present)
Was this really the first Watertown train depot? And it’s still there?! Constructed in 1851, the stone building on Newell street was apparently the first Watertown train depot. Its location, at once busy intersection of Newell (River) and Court Streets, and along the train tracks would have made it an ideal location at the time. […]
Old Jefferson County Jail (c. 1850 – 1910)
The Old Jefferson County Jail (c. 1850 – 1910) In the early days of settlement, considerable jockeying for land and titles took place to establish credibility for a future county seat. In 1805, Henry Coffeen, a local judge and settler, in a bid to add legitimacy to the area’s contention of such a seat, donated […]
Jefferson County Jail (1910 – 1993)
The Jefferson County Jail at 300 Coffeen Street, 1910 – 1993 Built in an era when most establishments in its vicinity were named “House,” e.g., The Oakland House across the street, this was one place you didn’t want to spend a night — and what better location than across from the lower Court Street region, […]
St. Patrick’s Children’s Home (1897 – 1968)
St. Patrick’s Children’s Home at 201 Coffeen St, Watertown, N.Y. The history of St. Patrick’s Children’s Home dates back to 1893. A plot of land on Upper Coffeen Street, the small stretch past Massey Street, formerly West Court Street, was purchased and detailed in the February 3, 1897, edition of the Watertown Re-Union. A Catholic […]
Arch Street Tunnel (19th Century – Present)
Honk Your Horn For The Arch Street Tunnel! The Arch Street tunnel was constructed in the mid-to-late 1800s as part of the Rome, Watertown, and Ogdensburg Rail Road (R.W. & O.). The Arch Street tunnel allows traffic to pass between Court and Newell (formerly River) Streets, a time when both streets saw considerably more traffic […]
Oakland House – 457 Court St (1808 – 1932)
Ever imagine what one of the earliest hotels In Watertown, N.Y., looked like? Look no further than the Oakland House. Constructed in 1808 by Henry Coffeen, the Oakland House was considered the best hotel in the county. A year later, Coffeen would start the first newspaper in Watertown here, The American Eagle, described as an […]
Barr Block 468 Court St (1895 – 1987)
Henry Barr, A Former Slave From Kentucky, Builds Barr Block On Court Street In 1895 The Barr Block was erected by “Professor” Henry Barr, an uneducated former slave who, after becoming a free man, migrated north to Montreal but soon came to Watertown, a growing city at the time. Here, he opened tonsorial parlors in […]
Kaiser Block (c. 1885 – 1970)
The Kaiser Block, Home To The Green Lantern Restaurant Located on lower Court Street, some may remember the building to the left of Goodyear known as the Kaiser Block. The three-story brick building was built between 1880 and 1890 and demolished in 1970 to make way for Goodyear’s service expansion. At the time, the building […]
City Hotel (1832 – 1947)
Originally Built As The Adelphi Hotel, Later Renamed The City Hotel The City Hotel, also known as the Graystone Hotel, on Lower Court Street was originally built by Stephen Boon back in 1832. Boon served as President of the village of Watertown in 1847, directly after Orville Hungerford in the previous year. At some point, […]
Crowner House (1856 – 1966)
The Crowner House, Another Otis Wheelock Creation In Watertown, N.Y. One individual who had his hand in many of Watertown, N.Y.’s architectural achievements through the centuries is Otis Wheelock. The Crowner House, built for John D. Crowner, is yet another one of his hotel works, alongside The Woodruff, a mere five years apart no less, […]
Hungerford Block 228 Court St (c. 1905 – 1960’s)
The E. J. Hungerford Block, 228 Court Street Built during a time of tremendous new construction in the city of Watertown, the Hungerford Block, like many “Block” buildings of the era, served as a multi-use building. Commercial ventures, such as The Liberty Restaurant, later Tufo’s in the 1960’s, The Penguin Card Shop and Smiths Supplies, […]
Montgomery Ward – 231 Court St
Montgomery Ward at 231 Court Street, Watertown, N.Y. The Montgomery Ward & Co. was a pioneer in the early mail-order business. In 1929, it purchased one of the landmark properties on Court Street, Jacob’s homestead, which had stood for many years, and built their new store next to the Liberty Theater. Initially, in March […]
S & B Diner – 233 Court St
S & B Diner Opened On Court Street, But Later Added A Factory Street Location Located on Court Street, 233 specifically, the beginning of the S & B Diner (S & B being Clark Sherman and Loyd Blanding) has a rather intriguing beginning as it was located next to the original location of the Eleanor […]
Liberty Theater (1908 – 1959)
The Liberty Theater on Court Street The Liberty Theater was located on the corner of Court and Jackman Streets, Jackman being the corner street the Armory was located on with Arsenal Street. Next to the theater was the S&B Diner and Montgomery Ward. One of the many movie theaters to be found in the Downtown […]
American Hotel (1851 – 2001)
The American Hotel on the corner of Arsenal and Arcade Streets Constructed in 1851 after the great fire of 1849, the American Hotel was erected on the corner of Arcade and Arsenal Streets opposite the Fairbanks Building. Incidentally, at this time, the area in front of the Fairbanks Building and what is commonly referred to […]
JCPenney On Arsenal Street (1960 – 1986)
Before the Salmon Run Mall, JCPenney on Arsenal Street was part of a bustling downtown scene In 1959, JCPenney was on Court Street and looking for a larger, modern store to move into. With the purchase of the Flower Building, a four-story building on the corner of Arcade and Arsenal Streets that served as home for many smaller […]
Flower Building (1890 – 1959)
The Flower Building on the corner of Arcade and Arsenal Streets Constructed on the corner of Arcade and Arsenal Streets opposite the American Hotel in 1889, the Flower Building was another duly named building named after one of Watertown’s most influential persons of the era, Roswell P. Flower, who was also invested in the construction […]
Second Watertown Post Office (1909 – 1989)
Just like its predecessor, the second Watertown Post Office outgrows its space too soon The second Watertown Post Office would see an appropriation in the public buildings bill on behalf of Congressman Charles L. Knapp from Lowville a mere 13 years after the city’s first post office was opened in 1892. $77,000 was the requested amount, claiming […]
First Watertown Post Office (1892 – 1907)
The First Watertown Post Office Was Completed In 1892 The first Watertown Post Office needed some help from some rather prominent city natives and a literal act of Congress to see it realized and completed in 1892. The journey began several years earlier, when, around 1887, Congressman Abraham X. Parker from Potsdam and Beman Brockway, […]
Jefferson County Courthouse ( 1862 – Present)
The Old Jefferson County Courthouse On Arsenal Street – Still There! Completed in 1862, the old Jefferson County Courthouse, which presently is home to the County’s Building and Grounds, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. The road to its construction was a bit of a tumultuous affair after the old […]
Old Jefferson County Office Building (1903 – 1975)
The Old Jefferson County Office Building Made Of Stone The new county office building in 1903 came at a time when Watertown was flourishing with construction activity, including the remaining work on City (Thompson) Park, the new Watertown High School on Sterling Street, the Roswell P. Flower Memorial Library and the Van Brunt mansion on […]
July 3, 1975 Las Vegas Flood
The July 3, 1975 Las Vegas Flood The 1975 Las Vegas Flood began when heavy thunderstorms rattled Las Vegas on the afternoon of July 3, 1975, bringing unprecedented precipitation between the metropolitan area and mounts to the south, west and north. Total storm precipitation equaled or exceeded 3 inches in some areas and surface winds […]
The Riviera Hotel And Casino (1955 – 2015)
Before The Mega-Resorts, There Was The Riviera Hotel and Casino The first high-rise hotel & casino to land on the Las Vegas Strip, the Riviera opened on April 20, 1955, just before the era of the mega-resorts. While it was operational for a better part of its sixty-year existence, it went through a number of […]
Governor Flower Mansion ( c. 1830 – 1963)
House of the Woodruffs becomes the former Governor Flower Mansion The former Governor Flower mansion once sat on the parcel of land now home to the Jefferson County Office Building on Arsenal Street. Norris W. Woodruff, proprietor of the largest hotel in the area during the 1800s, Hotel Woodruff, lived in a stone house on […]
Albert Skinner Mansion – 256 Arsenal Street
Albert Skinner Mansion, 256 Arsenal St.*, Watertown N.Y. The Albert Skinner Mansion, designed by local architect Albert M. Skinner who also designed many of the areas homes including the “Old Stone House” in Cape Vincent. Perhaps Skinner’s most notable contribution as architect was in designing the Children’s Home on State Street which began construction in […]
Jerry’s Lounge, Arsenal Street Watertown
Jerry’s Lounge, Arsenal Street, Watertown N.Y. Originally a bar/lounge, Jerry’s Lounge later became a popular hangout for teens that held dances for Watertown’s youth in the afternoons and weekends. Of course there was dancing afterwards from 9pm to 1am to music from Wimpy and His Boys, too! Located on Arsenal Street, it was sandwiched between […]
Worlock Block and Van de Walker Block (1905 – 1968)
The Worlock Block and neighboring Van de Walker Block, Built at the Corner of Arsenal and Sherman Streets in 1905 At first glance, the Worlock Block and Van de Walker Block appeared to be a single structure on the corner of Arsenal and Sherman Streets, but they were two different buildings, abutting one another, with […]
The Silver Grill (1947 – 1968)
The Silver Grill, 104 Sherman St., Watertown, N.Y. Opening in 1947, the Silver Grill restaurant sat at the first block of Sherman St on the right from Arsenal Street. The Warlock Building sat on the corner of Sherman and Arsenal Streets, right next to it, and the Old Jefferson County Courthouse sat on the opposite […]
A&P Supermarket Arsenal St
The A&P Supermarket Located On Arsenal Street The A&P Supermarket chain was also known as the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company (A&P). The A&P Supermarket on Arsenal Street was located between the St. Patrick School and the Arsenal Street Fire Station No. 1 while The Little Book Shop was at the entrance to the A&P […]
St. Patrick’s School (1923 – 1981)
St. Patrick’s School, Arsenal Street Watertown, N.Y. Back in 1922, two parochial schools, St. Patrick’s School and Sacred Heart, had construction delayed due to the lack of availability of Syracuse litholite stone. As with the city’s public schools, the parochial schools were facing unprecedented growth, which led to the acquisition of the former Sterling Mansion […]
The Little Book Shop (1934 – 1975)
The Little Book Shop On Arsenal Street, Watertown, NY For all but the Little Book Shop’s first two years, the small piece of land next to the Arsenal St Fire Station No. 1 had been home to Margaret Devine‘s business. First started on nearby Benedict (now Sherman) Street by Thomas Devine, Margaret’s Brother, the store would […]
Arsenal Street Fire Station No. 1
Arsenal Street Fire Station No. 1 (1908 – 1992) The Arsenal Street fire station opened in August of 1908, a mere five years after the Otis House fire in 1903, perhaps the most devastating fire in Watertown since the Great Fire of 1849, which destroyed much of downtown along Arcade, Arsenal, Court Streets and portions […]
The Court Street Bridges (1850 – Present)
The Court Street Bridges of Watertown, NY It’s said that the quickest way between two points is always under construction, and, at the very least, the second Court Street Bridge was a good example of this. Before Watertown, N.Y. was incorporated as a city, and even afterward, travelers were trying to reach the other side […]
Ann’s Restaurant (1938 – 2005)
From Ann’s Stand To Ann’s Restaurant: 67 . . . or 69 Years of Tradition. Ann’s Restaurant, originally known as Ann’s Stand, was located on outer Arsenal Street, surrounded by farmland, when it began in 1938. It actually originated four years earlier as a fireworks stand but changed to food after fireworks were banned in […]
The Landmark Hotel and Casino (1969 – 1990)
The Strange Case of the Landmark Hotel and Casino The strange case of the Landmark Hotel and Casino began in the planning stages when it was originally conceived to be 14 stories tall. Construction began in September of 1961, but it wasn’t long before the scope of work increased to 20 stories with completion set […]
The Mint (1957 – 1988)
The Mint On Fremont Street, Downtown Las Vegas The Mint is another one of the hotel casinos from Las Vegas’s bygone era. Situated on Fremont Street, most may recall its location as being the home to Binion’s Hotel which acquired it after The Mint’s closure in 1988. The hotel would eventually close in 2009, a […]
Remington Mansion – Remington Institute (1884 – 1956)
The Remington Mansion (Later The Remington Institute) One of the old, glorious mansions of Watertown was the Remington Mansion located at 132 Clinton Street, just a few houses down and opposite side of the old Herring Mansion on the corner of Clinton and Washington Streets. Built in 1884 for Alfred Remington (1827 – 1909), one of […]
1988 PEPCON Explosion
The 1988 PEPCON Explosion In Henderson, NV The PEPCON Explosion occurred Wednesday, May 4, 1988, sometime between 11:30-11:40am, a fire broke out at the Pacific Engineering and Production Company of Nevada (PEPCON) in Henderson, NV. Fortunately, the area had yet to go through the population explosion the Las Vegas Valley had seen since 1990 (see […]
The Alpine Village Inn (1970 – 1997)
The Alpine Village Inn, 3003 Paradise Rd The Alpine Village Inn’s journey began back in 1950 in its original Downtown Las Vegas location. Until its final incarnation, opening in 1970 at 3003 Paradise Rd., it would make a number of stops as show in the clip below. The establishment was Bavarian-themed, with a more formal […]
Gill House Restaurant and Inn (1813 – Present)
After 209 Years, The Gill House Poised For A Revival In 2022 There aren’t too many places that can brag about being around for over 200 years. When researching the history of the Gill House in Henderson Harbor, the first mention in local newspapers didn’t occur until 1891. That’s because it was previously called the […]
Town Theatre (1949 – 1972)
The Town Theatre Once Was Wonderland, Then The Palace Theatre Constructed in 1907, The Electric Building, home to the Town Theatre in later years, was originally known as Hotel LeRay. One of LeRay’s earliest storefront occupants was a little Nickelodeon, the first movie theater in Watertown, N.Y., named Wonderland. Wonderland was described as a “Theatorium” […]
Boys’ and Men’s Specialty Shop (1922 – 1990)
Boys’ and Men’s Specialty Shop Opens On Arsenal St Ira Pellman, proprietor of the Boys’ and Men’s Specialty Shop on Arsenal Street, was born in Poland in 1894 and immigrated to the United States around 1912. The next decade saw him peddling dry goods throughout Jefferson County, particularly Alexandria Bay, Cape Vincent, Clayton, Chaumont, and […]
Sherman Street School (1930 – Present)
5th Ward School Officially Becomes Sherman Street School Back in the 1920s, before the Sherman Street School was built, there seemed to be no shortage of schools in the city. While many were consolidated through the years and later closed, some, such as Sherman, continue to serve their original intent within the community as an […]
Watertown, New York Armory (1879 – 1967)
Watertown, New York’s Armory On Arsenal Street The State Armory on Arsenal Street, built in 1879, was constructed on the former site of the old J. M. Fairbanks’ residence, which had to be razed for construction to begin by George Flower and Patrick Phillips. Once completed, the building would serve as the second Armory in […]
Masonic Temple (1917 – Present)
Masonic Temple Began Construction in 1914 In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Masonic temples were seemingly constructed everywhere. The Watertown temple on lower Washington Street had outgrown its lodge and temples were being erected in every city, town, and village, including Adams, Clayton, Gouverneur, and Ogdensburg to name a few. In 1912, however, the […]
Adriel Ely – Edmund Q. Sewall Mansion (1828 – 1938)
Adriel Ely, A Prominent Figure Of Early Watertown, N.Y. History In Joel R. Monroe’s Through Eleven Decades of History, Adriel Ely was described as “a business man with the mental and physical qualifications to have made him a figure of note in almost any line of endeavor.” Born in Lyme, Conn., in 1791, he would […]
Mohican Building (1891 – 1964)
Mohican Originally Known As The Smith Building Construction on the Mohican Building, originally known as the Smith Building, began in 1891 across from the First Baptist Church, which was being built simultaneously. It wasn’t until a small chain of grocery stores, The Mohican Co., moved into most of the first floor in 1908 that the […]
KarmelKorn Shoppe (1941 – 1998)
The KarmelKorn Shoppe Comes To The Paddock Arcade The KarmelKorn Shoppe is actually a national franchise that began back in 1929. The local franchise at the Paddock Arcade that many fondly recall opened on August 16, 1941. It was sold to Charles “Charlie” Close, a returning Army veteran, six years later, in August of 1947 […]
The Globe Store (1892 – 1973)
Hyman G. Ellis And The Globe Store The Globe Store’s history began after the arrival of Hyman G. Ellis in Watertown, N.Y., in 1892 (though you’ll see both 1892 and 1894 as given dates.) Hyman’s search for a small location resulted in the basement of an old home on Court Street belonging to the Hungerford […]
The Brown Shanty (1943 – 2005)
The Brown Shanty’s Original Name: Wade’s Barbecue, Then Moran’s Barbecue For its first year of existence, the little trailer-like structure near the corner of Mill and East Hoard Streets that most remember as The Brown Shanty served up Barbecue as Wade’s Barbecue. Opening in 1932, Wade’s Barbecue started a long-standing tradition of sponsoring teams […]
Baker’s – Howard’s – Shuler’s – The Porch Light Restaurant (c. 1944 – Present)
Shuler’s Restaurant: It All Began Way Back In 1936… Or Maybe 1944. On the city’s northside, where the Porch Light Restaurant sits, was once the home to a former SOCONY service station, which later became Baker’s Restaurant in 1936, according to the Watertown Daily Times. Interestingly, the address 802 Mill Street continued to show as […]
The Frontenac Hotel and Fire – 1000 Islands (1878 – 1911)
The Frontenac Hotel History From 1878 – 1911 The Frontenac Hotel was originally conceived as Round Island House in 1878, undergoing major renovations just 10 years later in 1888, when it would change its name. It was one of many large hotels built in the Gilded Age along the St. Lawrence River, which included the […]
Electric Building (1907 – 1976)
The Electric Building Was Originally Built As Hotel LeRay Construction on Hotel LeRay began in 1907, after the Universalist Church had moved to their new church, All Souls Universalist Church, on Washington Street. The former church was built upon the lot where the first schoolhouse in Watertown was erected, and razed to make room for […]
John Adams Pool (1929 – 1978)
John Adams Pool, aka North Side Pool/North Junior Pool The John Adams pool was originally a gift to the city and opened in 1929, replacing the city’s other pool on the North Side, located several blocks away on St. Mary Street, not very far from the Lansing Street School. The St. Mary Street pool was […]
Sacred Heart Church (1906 – 1969)
Sacred Heart Church Dedicated May 31, 1906 The early 1900s were a period in which Watertown saw tremendous construction, the Lady of the Sacred Heart Church being one of the larger projects planned for in 1905, though it had, in all earnest, already begun the previous fall. The original church, built of wood near […]
Hotel Woodruff (1851 – 1976)
Hotel Woodruff, Another Otis Wheelock Creation Post 1849 Great Fire Built by one of Watertown’s most influential pioneers, Norris M. Woodruff, the Hotel Woodruff became perhaps the defining accomplishment of many that the industrious settler’s legacy would be renowned for. Born in 1792 in Hartford, Conn., Woodruff came with his father to LeRaysville, […]
City Opera House – Avon Theater (1886 – 1967)
The City Opera House Brings Big-Time Entertainment To Watertown, NY. The City Opera House, later known as the Avon Theater, opened on January 4, 1886, and was fairly close to the Watertown Armory and across from the Governor Flower Mansion. Designed by local architect John W. Griffin with the interior credited to Leon H. Lempert […]
Eames Vacuum Brake – New York Air Brake – Par Super Market 233 Mill St. – Beebee Island
The Business Of Beebee Island Par Super Market 233 Mill St., Eames Vacuum Brake and New York Air Brake Long before the three-story building on Beebee Island would become home to Par Super Market, it was home to Eames Vaccum Brake, which became New York Air Brake. Constructed in 1890 as part of the Eames […]
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Herring Mansion (1824 – 1960)
Early History Of The Herring Mansion – Built Circa 1820-1824 Made of limestone from the local area, what is most commonly referred to as the Herring Mansion was originally home to one of Watertown’s earliest merchants, Olney Pearce. The mansion, as shown further below from several decades later, was not quite the one of grandeur […]
The J R Miller Co (1868 – 1991)
The J R Miller Co – A Watertown, N.Y. Shopping Landmark For 123 Years! One of the longest-running stores in Watertown’s history was the J R Miller Co., founded by Col. James Robertson Miller in 1868. An immigrant from Scotland, Miller came to the United States at 24 and found himself at home in Watertown […]
The Olympic Theater (1917 – 1988)
The Olympic Theater: largest seating capacity in Northern New York Opening on June 4th, 1917, the Olympic Theater on lower State Street became the largest capacity theater in Northern New York with 2,100 seats, which included 600 in a balcony. If you were a movie-goer in 1910s Watertown, N.Y., chances are, you went to a […]
The Eleanor Restaurant (1927 – 1991)
The Eleanor Restaurant Takes A Landmark’s Spot And Becomes A Landmark Itself Though it was a State Street staple for many years, the Eleanor Restaurant started at 231 Court Street in 1926 as the Eleanor Lunch Wagon, neighboring the location of the latter S&B Diner. At the time, 231 Court Street was the former Jacobs […]
1920s Colonial Beacon Lighthouse Gas Station
The Boston/Watertown Colonial Beacon Lighthouse Gas Connection Back in 1919, the Colonial Beacon Oil Company was formed in Boston, Massachusetts, named after the city’s very own Beacon Hill. As some may know, Watertown is also a city outside of Boston. In 1922, the Beacon Oil Company developed a standard service design, which it named the […]
Jefferson County Savings Bank Building – (1894 – 1969)
The Jefferson County Savings Bank Building The Jefferson County Savings Bank building, later known as the Jefferson County National Bank, the Watertown National Bank, and the National Bank of Northern New York, was built in 1894 on the corner, replacing the former two-story structure built in 1822. The names (and buildings) on the Washington and […]