Lake Luzerne in Warren County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Garnar Tannery

Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, September 2, 2016

1. Garnar Tannery Marker

Inscription. Started in 1867 On Wells Creek
By Raymond & Ely. Purchased in 1868
By Thomas Garner & Co., Book Binding &
Leather Tanned. Closed in 1909.
Chimney Still Standing.

Erected by Town Of Lake Luzerne.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1867.

Location. 43° 19.244′ N, 73° 50.479′ W. Marker is in Lake Luzerne, New York, in Warren County. Marker is on Main Street (Route 44), on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lake Luzerne NY 12846, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Jessup's Patent (within shouting distance of this marker); First Wood Pulp Grinder (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Warren County (about 600 feet away); First Wilderness/ Lake Luzerne (about 600 feet away); First Methodist (about 800 feet away); Site of Wayside Inn (approx. 0.2 miles away); St. Mary’s Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Lake Luzerne (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lake Luzerne.

Regarding Garnar Tannery. Leather tanning was Luzerne's biggest business during the last half of the nineteenth century. A tannery had been in operation

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here for some years before the railroad initially reached the area. In 1868 the firm of Thomas Garner, whose offices were in New York City, purchased the Raymond & Ely tannery which had been established in 1867, and immediately an era of expansion began. Thomas Garner conducted the business without a partner until 1879, when he associated himself with J. V. Walsh and his brother Edward M. Garnar, and changed the firm name to Thomas Garnar & Co. Thomas' brother, Edward, came to Luzerne to manage the business. Buildings were put up on both sides of Main Street near Mill Street. The Garnar Company moved in at an opportune time, for the railroad had been put through from Saratoga Springs in 1865, and the ease of heavy shipment by rail instead of by wagon was advantageous to the business. Fifty to seventy-five men were employed and in 1887 the Garnar Company bought the Bowman tannery in Stony Creek, where another twenty-five to thirty men worked. E. M. Garnar Jr. managed the Stony Creek tannery and later, when his father retired from the firm, managed the plants in both towns. Success, however, would seem to be their undoing. Tanneries of the time used bark, and only the bark, of hemlock trees, for tannic acid as a part of the chemical process to turn the hides of cows and other animals into various kinds of leather. In the days before restoration programs, Garnar's success partially

Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, September 2, 2016

2. Garnar Tannery Marker

assured failure. One tannery, owned by Henry Poor & Son, reported using 4,500 cords of hemlock per year and consumed about 12,000 animal hides, with a work force of only 40. The other tanneries were of comparable size. The Garnar Company's business reached its peak in 1885 and then, after a time, it declined until 1905, when the tannery closed. The buildings were torn down in 1922-23, and all that remains as a monument to a once thriving business is the 100 foot-high brick smokestack.

An advertisement for the firm of Thomas Garnar & Co. appears in the May 22nd, 1879 Shoe and Leather Reporter, a leather and tanning business journal, as well as the following statement about the business;

- The firm of Thomas Garnar & Co., whose advertisement appears in our columns today, have taken the fine store, No. 181 William [in New York City], three doors south of Spruce Street. The factory of this firm is at Luzern, N.Y., and they get out 2,000 dozen of sumac and bark-tanned skivers, roans, etc., monthly. These goods are finished in all styles and colors for shoe and pocketbook makers' and bookbinders' use. They are sold at the New York store, where they also have Russia leather, chamois, etc., of their own importation. The town of Luzern, NY changed its name to Lake Luzern in 1963. Another ad, appearing elsewhere stated the following; Thomas Garnar & Co., at
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, September 2, 2016

3. Garnar Tannery Marker
This 100 foot-high smoke-stack is all that remains as a monument to the once thriving tannery business of Thomas Garnar & Co.
No. 181 William Street, deal in sumac and bark-tanned skivers; also book, trunk, glove and suspender leather and chamois skins. Mr. Garnar's factory is at Luzern, Warren Co., New York, and has a capacity for 1,000 dozen skins a month. Established in 1857 in New York City. On May 1st the firm changed to its present style, J.V.Walsh and E.M. Garnar, Jr., being admitted. The last named gentleman has charge of the factory at Luzern.

Additional keywords. Thomas Garner J. V. Walsh Edward M. Garnar Skivers

<B>Thomas Garnar & Co. Advertisement:</B> image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Shoe & Leather Reporter Trade Journal

4. Thomas Garnar & Co. Advertisement:

Thomas Garnar & Co.,
Importers and Manufacturers of
Sumac and Bark-Tanned
Skivers, Roans, Calf and Fleshers,
Russia Leather, Chamois, Etc.
181 William St., New York,
Factory, Luzern, N. Y.
- Shoe and Leather Reporter, May 22nd, 1879, Page 811

Credits. This page was last revised on February 9, 2017. It was originally submitted on November 25, 2016, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. This page has been viewed 873 times since then and 62 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 25, 2016, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.