Schenectady in Schenectady County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Early Smithy
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, November 6, 2011
1. Early Smithy Marker
first Bellevue Blacksmith
shop, from 1885 to 1925.
Started by Julius Zander,
followed by Julius Zemke.
Erected by New York State Education Department.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1885.
Location. 42° 47.91′ N, 73° 57.817′ W. Marker is in Schenectady, New York, in Schenectady County. Marker is on Broadway near Fairview Ave., on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Schenectady NY 12306, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. George Westinghouse (approx. 0.2 miles away); 10th Ward War Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); General Electric Building 32 (approx. 1.2 miles away); Home of Jimmy Carter (approx. 1.2 miles away); Edison and Steinmetz (approx. 1.3 miles away); Hotel Van Curler (approx. 1.3 miles away); George Westinghouse Jr. / The Westinghouse Family/Testimonials (approx. 1.3 miles away); Freemasonry (approx. 1.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Schenectady.
Regarding Early Smithy. The daughter of the blacksmith Zander, Miss Helen R. Zander, wrote a letter to Schenectady
this page online
..."My father, Julius Zander, was the first blacksmith at the corner of Broadway and Fairview and Julius Zemke was his helper. Strange, perhaps, that they were both naturalized citizens of German heritage and with the initials 'J.Z.' He began the business just before the turn of the century and built the shop that you recall being demolished in 1924 (where a gas station was later located at that point at, Fairview and Broadway, and where Cumberland Farms is now situated.) He also built our house about the same time as the shop."
"About 1911, when he was no longer able to wield the sledge hammer, my father sold out to Mr. Zemke. Then he opened a feed and hardware shop in the lower floor of our house next to the fire station. We lived upstairs. He also maintained the 'livery' that was mentioned in an earlier Old Dorp column. The farmers would come in from the country and leave their horse at my father's livery to be fed at noon and be out of the sun for the day while their owners took the streetcar downtown to shop. On their return, they would load their wagons with feed for their farm animals."
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, November 6, 2011
2. Early Smithy Marker
View is easterly on Broadway; the white car is headed in the direction of downtown Schenectady. The marker is on the left.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 7, 2011, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. This page has been viewed 1,019 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 7, 2011, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
