Echoes of Pine Hills/Madison Ave Albany NY
Category: Stores
VINTAGE ALBANY NY Fashions 1900-1919
Albany Evening Journal 1915
Albany Evening Journal 1918
Myers Department Store 1915
Muhlfelder’s Albany NY
Muhlfelder’s was a woman’s clothing store on North Pearl Street in downtown Albany. It was established in the early 1900’s, and closed the early 1970’s. It was known for good quality, moderate to expensive clothing. It was one of the few clothing stores that had an extensive cosmetics department, as well as excellent costume jewelry and hats.
(Ads from the Albany Evening Journal and the Albany Knickerbocker News via fultonhistory.com.)
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Easter Bonnets/Hats Albany NY
David’s 1948
Whitney’s 1951
David’s 1953
McQuades 1922
Chic Hat Shop 1966
Grace Merrit 1936
Montgomery Wards 1943
Nussbaum and Livingston 1920
Spurburg’s 1936
Muhlfelder’s 1945
Nussbaum and Livingston 1921
Muhlfelder’s 1914
Myer’s 1967
Honigsbaum’s 1940
Muhlfelder’s 1958
Muhlfelder’s 1948
Myer’s 1951
Flah’s 1958
Muhlfelder’s 1914
Grace Merrit 1927
Myer’s 1961
JoBelle 1941
JoBelle 1939
Flah’s 1961
Muhlfelder’s 1960
Myer’s 1967
Muhlfelder’s 1962
Muhlfelder’s 1961
Honigsbaum’s 1962
David’s Clothing Store Albany NY
DAVID’S was a major woman’s clothing store on North Pearl St. in downtown Albany established in 1929. In the early 1960’s it opened a second location in Latham, NY. A third location was opened in Colonie Center. The Albany location finally closed in the early 1970’s, as did the Latham location. The Colonie Center location closed in the early 1980’s.
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Muskrat Love …
Albany’s fortune was founded on the fur trade in the early 1600′s. There was an abundance of beaver, highly sought after for fashionable beaver hats in Europe. So much so that Albany was incorporated as “Beverwyck” (loosely translates from Dutch to “Beaverville”) in 1652 . By the early 1900′s, however, the beaver population had been harvested in New York State almost to the point of extinction.
It was about that time that the middle class, with disposable income, began to grow. Fur coats become status symbols as a result of silent films. Glamorous films stars wore fur on and off screen. There was nothing more chic than a fur, except for a diamonds. Furs were aspirational Albany women were no exception The demand for fur coats increased. Sable and mink were far too expensive for most consumers, so other furs were used. Raccoon coats caught on, especially among students on college campuses. The raccoon coat is the iconic symbol of the roaring ’20s. And then came the Depression .
Women still wanted fur coats .. symbols of sex and glamour, but they were also practical. Nothing was warmer in the harsh northeast winters. While the financial crisis had an impact in Albany, it and the surrounding areas were not devastated. As the State Capital, it had many government workers. Federal money flowed into the home state of Roosevelt and the city in which he had lived for so many years while he was in the State Legislature and the Executive Mansion. The demand for fur flourished.
There were dozens of furriers in Albany in the 1930′s – many of whom had been plying their trade for generations in the city, but most were foreign born – immigrants who migrated here in the late 19th and early 20th centuries from Europe and Russia. They had skills and talent. So they turned to other furs. ”Jap Mink” fur coats were a hot commodity in the 1930’s. Japanese mink is actually a form of light colored weasel with a bushy thick coat that could be dyed to mimic natural mink. Seal skin was water repellent, great for snowy winters, but doesn’t have a lush pelt. Fox was a popular, less costly fur, as was squirrel. But one thing Albany did have was muskrats. Muskrats galore; an embarrassment of muskrats. (And still has, even today.) Muskrat pelts were durable and fairly waterproof. And in the Depression, there were plenty of people willing to trap the wily muskrat for extra money.
Then came World War II, and no one wanted to buy “Jap” anything. With so many more women working, and with larger incomes, fur coats were still in great demand. And muskrats still ruled in Albany. Local furriers ran ads everyday offering to pay the “highest prices” for muskrat skins.
After the War ended, women still wanted to buy fur; throughout the late 40’s and into the early 1950’s. But by the middle of the 1950’s, demand in general, and in Albany in particular, dropped. Dior’s “New Look”, launched in 1947 meant fuller, longer skirts with a nipped, defined waist. Even the best furriers found it difficult to tailor fur coats for these clothes. When they did, they were expensive. And women now wanted mink.. mink anything.
The day of the Muskrat was over – even in Albany.
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Jack and Jill’s Beautorium
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(Ad from Albany Knickerbocker News courtesy of fultonhistory.com)
Upper and Lower Maiden Lane 1940’s and 1950’s
The Huffy-RadioBike.. TOO COOL! 1955
(Ad from Albany Knickerbocker News)
Mack Drugs
Mack Drugstore, southwest corner of Madison Ave. and So. Main Ave. (C. 1960.)
Courtesy of http://www.uppermadison.org/ Ad from the Albany Knickerbocker News.
Albany Muskrat 