John L. Turnbull, Duanesburg Merchant

 This post was written by library volunteer, Robert Baldwin.

The Schenectady County Historical Society maintains fifteen ledgers of John L. Turnbull's Duanesburg store (1875 to 1896). Who was this man? Where was this business located? What type of business was it? John L. Turnbull was the principal owner (partner) of the "O'Neill Store", beginning in 1878. Apparently, most sources have attributed the ownership and operation to John L. Turnbull. However, other family members were involved in the business.  For example, John's partner and younger brother William, also was instrumental in the store's success by running errands and his outright physical labor. [1]

An anecdote worth telling…October 1878 William went out on an errand, leaving John to close shop at his usual time, 9:00 pm. When William later returned, he noticed that one of the sleighs was missing from the spot that it was previously propped against the corner of the building. He dismissed this, thinking he might have been mistaken. Later that night, William heard a "dull explosion". So he grabbed his gun and ran to the store where he discovered that the safe was blown open with nitroglycerin and putty that appeared to have been put in a soup cup. Upon discovery, the burglar found no money there, but did escape with $175 from the till. The town speculated as to who was capable of performing this dastardly task, but no arrests nor convictions were made.[2]

Moving on…the above mentioned meticulously maintained ledgers included great details. While tobacco, sugar, matches, salt and kerosene were the hottest items in his store, he had a significant array of merchandise. For example: baking supplies, sewing supplies, meats, fish, candy, sperm oil, oil lamps and parts, farrier supplies, gun powered and shots, cleaning equipment and supplies, produce, textiles, hygiene needs, tallow; you name it, he had it to sell. He also benefitted from sale of high-ticket items such as plows, reapers, mowing machines, and raking machines. Not everything was sold with cash. For example, he bartered with farmers for produce and various cash-crop items.  

All of Turnbull’s ledger transactions included customer account names accompanied by corresponding account numbers. Whether it was someone stopping by just to buy some crackers or candy, names and numbers were recorded. As time passed, and by 1885, unit price entries diminished. Below is an early example from 1876 (column titles not included in ledgers):

 

If you think these prices were awesome, think again. The inflation calculator[3] notes that the 1876 one dollar inflation value today is $30.38. We think that a dozen of eggs price at $4.89 today is outrageous; but, in 1876 the inflation value of a dozen eggs was equivalent to $9.11 in 2024. The total sale above was not “chicken feed”; inflation value today would be $397.98. Wow, money was hard to come by in those days; and, purchases were generally not frivolous!

Most of the ledgers' last pages maintained lists of high-ticket items by customer, type and prices. For example: 

It appears that inflation was an issue between 1892 and 1893. Inflation values of the dollar for 1892 and 1893 today were $35.79 and $36.20 respectively.[4] Keep in mind that average daily non-farm wages in the late 1800s was between $1.00 and $1.50.[5] Imagine taking 13 days of hard work to pay Wm Dunning’s grocery bill. Farm equipment was not cheap! A mowing machine inflation value today would have been between $1,432 and $1,448. Fortunately, farm labor was in greater demand where daily wages ranged from $11.70 to $13.90 per day. Farming had its advantages. 

Mr. Turnbull not only bartered and made cash sales for merchandise, he also was involved in loaning money. Many 1882-83 ledger entries included loans to accounts 162 and 225; $15 and $2 respectively. Written in the last pages of the same ledger indicated a couple account balances were “left to collections.” Turnbull had to resort to legal action. Apparently, he was successful in recovering said debts, as the account balances were satisfied.

The practice of maintaining ledgers in the 19^th century: pencils, pens, and paper were the tools to calculate transactions. The ink of a fountain pen would be the final and permanent medium in Turnbull’s ledgers. Sure, there were corrections. That is, errors were crossed out and replaced with new calculations.

A short history of the store, the building…Mr. Turnbull was not the first owner/operator of said store. About 1826, James E. O'Neill built the store, a quaint building located in the Village of Duanesburgh (at the western point between Route 7 and Great Western Turnpike[6]) and hung his sign advertising "O'Neill's Store." There, he first sold items on commission on behalf of two men, Brodwick and Duane, of Schenectady. Shortly afterwards, O'Neill began his own business selling general merchandise in Duanesburg. Legend says that the sign also read, "If you don't see what you want, ask for it."[7] O'Neill died in February 1878, and shortly after Turnbull purchased and operated the store.[8] Yet, Turnbull owned/operated his business from 1875 to 1896 according to his detailed ledgers, which appears to be a conflict of dates since he gained owners/operation after O'Neill's passing. It might be that Turnbull operated his business elsewhere until acquiring O’Neill's building in 1878.

After Turnbull's ownership, the store did continue to operate into the early 1900s by Wesley and Ralph McDougall. Later, it was sold to Mott and Schrade.[9] In May 1903, Robert M. Kelly became the Postmaster. The post office was previously located in the home of William Osterhout; and, soon after, was moved to the O'Neill store (John Turnbull's establishment).[10] As of early 1920s, the building was removed and placed at Route 7, where it was often used in the evenings as a place where men played cards.[11] By 1924, Robert M. Kelly converted the building into a house; and by 1948, was the home of Mrs. Annie Kelly.[12] There appears to be some confusion between being a residential building and the Post Office. I recently visited the four corners in Duanesburg where it was difficult to envision placement of building as they were during the nineteenth century.

Two images of the building which housed Turnbull's business.

The man, John L. Turnbull, Personal And Public Life…Records indicate that he served as the Town Clerk of the Town of Duanesburg as well as the Town of Duanesburg Supervisor.[13] The 1863 Civil War Draft Registration indicated that John, age 25, was married and lived in Duanesburg. Military records indicated that there were two men named John Turnbull (no middle initials) who served.[14] The first John Turnbull mustered and served in the 71^st State Militia Company C, organized in New York City; but, existed only three months in 1861. The second John Turnbull mustered and served in the 83^rd Infantry Company H, another militia organized in New York City. It would be highly unlikely that John L. Turnbull, from Duanesburg, would have served in either. John's brother, George A. Turnbull, did serve as a captain in the 134^th Infantry Company F,[15] organized in Schoharie, New York.

Census records tell a little about the transient personal life of John L. Turnbull. In 1860 John was living with wife Rebecca A. Turnbull and three inferred children: Andrew, Isabella, and William J.[16] During 1870, John was age 33, living with his mother, Isabell Turnbull and inferred wife Rebecca age 29.[17] Five years passed and John was no longer married.[18] By 1905, John was living with his siblings Isabell and Wylie.[19] In 1910, John was age 72, single and living with his sister Margaret I Turnbull, age 59.[20] An undocumented source indicated that a John Turnbull was born 1837 and died 7 June 1914.[21]

John L. Turnbull's Family Tree…The first mention of the Turnbull line in Duanesburg was William Turnbull, John's great-grandfather.[22] William was born in Scotland, as well as the next generation, George Turnbull. William and his family settled in Duanesburg, leasing 100 acres of land. George was born about 1759 and eventually married Jane Kennedy, also born in Scotland about 1765. The next generation in line to John was his father, James, who was born 1798 and died 1858. James married Isabel MacIntosh, the daughter of Alexander MacIntosh. James and Isabel had nine children.[23] John's brother and business partner, William, was married to an Alice Jarvis.[24]

Epilog…It seems to be that John L. Turnbull maintained a busy life, at least until 1896. As reflected in thousands of ledger entries, business was good for him as well as those who were his customers. During these hay days, John and his brother, William, were integral to surrounding businesses and families of Duanesburg, New York. Thereafter, John apparently led an unassuming and passive existence. The general store was gone, he no longer was married, and lived from household to household until his demise in obscurity.  

Citations:

1. History of the Township of Duanesburgh (as excerpted from History of Albany and Schenectady Counties, New York, by Howell and Tenney 1609-1886), p.67.
2. Remembering the Town of Duanesburg, Volume 3-2012, Duanesburg Historical Society, Compiler Pat Van Buren, pp. 67-68.
3. https://www.measuringworth.com/dollarvaluetoday/?amount=500&from=1876# Rates for 1892 and 1893 were recalculated for said dates.
4. Ibid.
5. https://www.nber.org/system/files/chapters/c2486/c2486.pdf, Trends in the American Economy in the Nineteenth Century, by Stanley Lebergott, 1960, Princeton University Press, p.462. The wages were gender based. That is, comparatively, women were paid about 1/16^th to 1/6^th the amount that men were paid.
6. Images of America Duanesburg and Princetown, Duanesburg Historical Society, Arcadia Publishing, p.10.
7. Article from the October 1948 Duanesburg Historical Bulletin, Vol. IV, p.24.
8. Howell and Tenney, p.185.
9. Town of Duanesburg, by William T. Avery, p. 76.
10. Town of Duanesburg, A Look At Its Past, Scott's Printing Company, 2004, compiled by William Tiffany Avery, p. 94.
11. Images of America Duanesburg and Princetown, Duanesburg Historical Society, Arcadia Publishing, p.10.
12. Article from the October 1948 Duanesburg Historical Bulletin, Vol. IV, p.24.
13. Howell and Tenney, p.166.
14. The Roster of Union Soldiers 1861-1865, New York, Janet B. Hewett, editor, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1998, p.266.
15. Ibid.
16. 1860 United States Census.
17. 1870 United States Census.
18. 1875 New York State Census.
19. 1905 New York State Census.
20. 1910 United States Census.
21. "Turnbull Genealogy" by Barbara Jeffries, a family file, Schenectady County Historical Society, indicating b.c.1837, and notes in pencil for date of death. According to the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Duanesburgh records, John L. Turnbull died 8 June 1915 at the age of 77 years.
22. Howell and Tenney, p.166.
23. Ibid.
24. Ibid.

 

 

The Mohawk (then Hudson) Theater

This post was written by library volunteer Gail Denisoff.

A new theater joined the many entertainment venues in Schenectady in 1904. Originally built for musical theater and vaudeville productions, the Mohawk Theatre was built next to the Fire Department at 10-14 South College Street (now a parking lot between Burger King and Clinton's Ditch). The Mohawk Theatre Hotel and Rathskeller situated in front section of the theater and sharing the same address, housed many employees of the theatre and rathskeller. Described as a typical "Gay Nineties" theater house, it had "decorated ceilings, rococo moldings, gold leaf, crystal chandeliers and rich textured drapes. There were two boxes on either side of the big stage, an orchestra pit, balcony and a wide center aisle with narrow side aisles on the main floor." The theater had a capacity of 900 on the main floor and 1350 seats if the upper gallery was open.

  

1914 Sanborn Insurance map depicting Mohawk Theater and Hotel building at 10-12-14 S. College St.

By the summer of 1909, vaudeville gave way to burlesque, and the Mohawk billed its acts as "musical extravaganzas" to distinguish themselves from the bawdier and more risqué acts that could get a theater shut down. The theater added income when rented out for other uses. One such rental was by Reverend George Lunn, who would later become Schenectady's first socialist mayor. After resigning as the pastor of the First Reformed Church, he began his own non-denominational church called the People's Church. In 1910, he rented space at the Mohawk Theatre for Sunday night services, which he continued even after his election in 1912.

The theater changed managers frequently and continued to rotate between vaudeville, burlesque and stock theater companies. By 1916, the name of the theater changed to the Hudson Theatre thanks to an actor in one of the traveling stock companies who convinced the management at the time that the Hudson was a larger river so would be a more prestigious name. It continued as mainly a burlesque house until 1923 when A. Vedder Magee and some local backers bought the theater at foreclosure. In the fall of 1924, they decided take a chance and offer a season of "decent family entertainment" even though "girlie shows" were the most successful productions at the time. Magee brought The Harry Bond Players stock company to Schenectady after their successful run in Pittsfield, MA. The Bond Players reopened the Hudson Theatre on November 17, 1924, with a week's run of the successful New York City play, "Thank-U". The entire proceeds of the first two performances went to the Schenectady Crippled Children's Fund. 

 

The lighted sign marking the Hudson Theater sits directly below the original Mohawk Theater sign at the top of the building.

 

The new direction of the theater proved successful and soon the theater was showing a profit. Audiences flocked to the Hudson for a variety of plays that changed each week. A favorite was "The Night of January 16^th" by Ayn Rand. Whenever it was performed, a new jury was chosen from the audience to sit in the jury box on stage and render a verdict. A popular thriller was "The Cat and the Canary" and the comedy "The Easy Mark" was also well received. When "Ming Toy" starring Harry Bond as an Asian merchant was performed, the usherettes dressed in Chinese costume and incense permeated the theater for effect.

The Hudson become popular not only with the more affluent members of the community but also with people from all walks of life. Faithful patrons would wait at the stage door after a show for autographs or to congratulate their favorite performers. The audiences felt a bond with the actors, enthusiastically applauding when each entered the stage for the first time during a performance and shows ended with multiple curtain calls. Harry Bond would often appear to thank the audiences and invite them to return for the next production.

The thirteen actors in the stock company worked hard. They learned lines and rehearsed daily from 10AM until noon, always a week ahead of the production in progress. The pit orchestra of about eight musicians practiced cue-ins and any background music. Some of the pit-men preferred dramas so they could play poker in the downstairs dressing rooms between acts. Harry Bond, well liked by his stock company, was encouraging and kind to his actors. One member he brought from Pittsfield as a character actress was Richie Clark Russell. She told Bond that she had misgivings about coming to Schenectady and doubted she would last more than one season. She ended up loving the area, married A. Vedder Magee and stayed until her death in 1971.

Mrs. Richie Magee, actress and wife of A. Vedder Magee, at her Schenectady home in 1960. Photo from the Larry Hart Collection.

 On Saturday night, May 22, 1926, the Bond Players performed "In Love with Love", which was the second to the last production of their second season. Harry Bond came out to thank the audience for their response to the show as well as the whole season and invite them to "Ice Bound" to be performed the following week. The audience was delighted when he announced the company would be back in September for a third season.

Tragedy struck the next afternoon. Harry Bond and Tedd Brackett, one of the actors in the company, were out for Sunday dinner with their wives. They dropped the women off at the Maywood Hotel before dinner at about 1:30 while the men drove off to try out Tedd's new Buick Brougham. Harry was driving when the car stalled on the tracks of the Schenectady Railroad Company at stop 15½ on Schenectady-Albany Road. He was trying to back the car off the tracks when the oncoming trolley crashed into them at approximately 50 miles per hour. Killed instantly, both men were thrown from the vehicle, parts of which were scattered 500 feet down the tracks. It was reported more than 10,000 people flocked to the crash site before the day was out. Tributes poured in from devastated theater patrons as well as public and civic leaders.

Hundreds gathered along the streets as services for Bond, 41, and Brackett, 45, took place two days later at Timeson & Fronk Funeral Chapel near the theater at 15 South Church Street. Tedd Brackett was later buried in his hometown of Cortland, NY, and Harry Bond was cremated. Harry's family sued The Schenectady Railway Company and won, but the decision was overturned on appeal.

While the crash marked the end of the Harry Bond Players, it did not end performances at the Hudson Theatre. A. Vedder Magee asked actress Richie Clark Russell if she would organize a stock company to produce a 1926-27 season. She agreed and her contract stated she had sole charge of the production and would appear in at least three plays a month. Audiences continued to flock to the theater and were treated to shows such as "The Gorilla", a thriller in which a man dressed in a gorilla costume ran up and down the aisles frightening patrons, "Seventh Heaven", "Charlie's Aunt", and Richie Clark Russell's personal favorite, "Smiling Through", a heartwarming story of a civil war veteran. A few of the Harry Bond Players remained with the new company.

Although Richie Clark Russell's company had two successful seasons at the Hudson Theatre, rising production costs forced the company to end its run. The Wilcox Players performed there for part of a season and The Abbey Theatre Irish Players also played briefly but economic uncertainty following the crash of 1929 closed the theater to stage shows for good. In 1934, the theater was leased to the Farash Theater Corporation. The interior was remodeled into a night club with the stage used as a dance floor. A fire of undetermined origin destroyed the theater on December 18, 1934 and it was torn down shortly thereafter.     

Private party held at the remodeled Hudson Theater, Feb. 16, 1934. Photo from the Larry Hart Collection.