Nestled in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York, Gloversville, with neighboring Johnston, produced about 80 per cent of the leather gloves manufactured in the United States during the 1920s. Gloversville, located at the most southern end of the Adirondacks in the Mohawk Valley also shares the limelight with other tourist destinations, such as Hunter Mountain, approximately 14 miles away, which is noted for its winter skiing activities and summer concert series. Gloversville's close proximity to Albany, the capital of New York State, makes it an idyllic stop for those seeking a relaxing summer destination. Gloversville provides tourists with a glimpse into its past with 78 of its 92 buildings on the National Historic Register.
The history of Gloversville dates back to the 1700s when the Americans came to arrest Sir John Johnson, a Tory, after he burned and plundered Johnston. The first Yankee settlers after the Revolutionary War came from New England to settle in this region, formerly known as Kingsborough. In 1800, when settlers built a tavern and mill, the area now known as Gloversville began to take shape. With the manufacturing of gloves during the Civil War and the construction of the Johnstown & Gloversville Railroad, Gloversville became a city in 1890.
The architectural designs of the homes located near the four-corners intersection of North and South Main and East and West Fulton Streets range in age from 1850 to 1977. You can find the archetectual design of M.F. Cummings, Henry F. Kilburn ,Wilson Potter ,F.L. Comstock among the buildings in the historic district. Because of the economic boon in Gloversville from 1870 to 1900, three-story brick buildings dominate the historic buildings of commercial significance. After viewing the town, visit the The Fulton County Museum, the original site of the 1831 Kingsboro Academy. After a day of exploring, visit the Railyard Restaurant,built in 1868 by C.C Hillenbrand.
Fulton County Historical Society & Museum
237 Kingsboro Ave.
Gloversville, NY 12078
518-725-2203
The Railyard Restaurant
97 W. Fulton St.
Gloversville, NY
518-725-0122
therailyardrestaurant.com
Eating at the Railyard Restaurant, once the meeting place of the wealthy, who used the FJ&G--Fonda, Johnstown & Gloversville--Railroad, will take you back in time. Although limited for hotel accommodations, the Holiday Inn and the Super 8 Motel can provide a place for the night. After exploring the historic sites of Gloversville, take a car ride and visit Cooperstown, the home of the Baseball Hall of Fame; Howe Caverns, outside of Cobbleskill, NY; or in season, spend the day at Saratoga Racetrack.
Super 8
301 N. Comrie Ave.
Johnstown, NY 12095
1-800-551-2409
Holiday Inn
308 North Comrie Ave.
Johnstown, NY 12095-1095
trails.com/holiday-inn-johnstown-gloversville-hotel-17210.html
