By David Avitabile
MIDDLEBURGH - Some things seem unbelievable even when you see photographic proof.
If a builder wanted to construct a grocery store, a drug store, a hardware store, and an fire engine house in the small park by the bridge in Middleburgh, they would be told, "Sorry, there's not enough room" and probably be banned from any future planning board meetings in the town.
As crazy as it now sounds, that small area by the bridge once did house all those stores, and more, in a section known as "The Docks."
Some older residents may still remember when Wood's Gas Station was located by the bridge across from what is now Apple Food, but there may be no one around who recalls when there were shops in the small park.
In the comprehensive 1962 historical booklet, "Bridging the Years," there was a picture of the Docks in 1910.
It stated, "The Dock consisted of a row of business buildings just below the bridge (the iron one that preceded the current bridge) at the foot of Main Street. They stood on a dock, as it were, at the very edge of the creek, and faced River Street at its junction with Main Street. On the north end was firehouse of Old Niagara Company. John Wheeler had a photographer's studio above the firehouse. William Knapp ran a cigar shop and G. J. Young's barber shop was upstairs. Farmers Store was also in the block."
According to a history of the village, "On the other side of the bridge entrance where there is a park today were three or four other business buildings. This area was known as 'the Dock' because it looked like one. Across the street from the Dock was the Atchinson House or White House Hotel (where Apple Food is today), which was slightly smaller than the Freemyer House.
"The 1920’s and 30’s were a period of intensive road building of the highways leading in and out of Middleburgh for the new automobiles. The buildings of 'the Dock' were torn down and replaced by a gas station during the 1920’s. The old White House Hotel was razed and replaced by the Middleburgh Garage at about the same time. The Middleburgh Garage sold both automobiles and gas...
"In the mid 1990’s, serious efforts were begun to revitalize downtown Middleburgh...The Depression-era River Street wall was reconstructed with Victorian lighting installed along the Schoharie Creek, the old Dock area and across the bridge."
The Docks housed many businesses and offices in the wooden, two-story buildings over the years. There were the town and village "room," cigar shop, a furniture shop, dentist office, photography shop, a meat market, a laundry, a tailor, a millinery shop owned by Miss Elma Borst, a hardware store, an ice cream parlor, an undertaker, and among others.
Though the dates are sketchy, Middleburgh historian Steve LaMont has done some research on the buildings.
He has reviewed the 1856 Sanborn Insurance map and the Docks were there at that time. "That is very early. Had to be some of the earliest buildings on Main Street. The Baker Hotel was built in 1845, and most of the others in the 1860's-70's. The Docks lasted until the 1930's when John Wood built his gas station."
The Sanborn maps are a wealth of information about the location of old buildings and what businesses were there. In addition, the Middleburgh Library historical room has files on numerous areas of the village, including the docks. The file has clippings from old newspaper stories and advertisements about the businesses on "The Docks." Most are from the Middleburgh News.
Some of the items found were:
* A clipping from May 3, 1898 noted that the assessments were complete at the town and village "room" on "The Docks" on River Street.
* The Imperial Cigar Co. rented the office of Mrs. Neville on "The Dock" on March 17, 1904.
* Dock #15 was John Souer's Furniture and cabinet ware shop. They also made "ready made coffins and caskets."
* The Neville Block also housed Josiah Mann Dentistry. A Middleburgh News ad from November 11, 1898, read, "Do not let winter set in with those same OLD aching teeth in your mouth. If they're not worth filling, take them out."
* An ad from 1874 showed a meat market owned by W.C. Lownsbery.
* W.S. West Laundry as well as a tailor shop was also located on The Docks. West later opened a repair shop.
* On October 11, 1883, the News carried an ad from J. Neville & Co. It read, "Hop Growers Attention! We have the largest stock of Hop Baling Kiln Cloth, and Field Sacking in town, Fresh Groceries, always in stock."
* Niles Photography Studio and eyeglasses was located on The Docks in the early 1910s.
* There was a fire at the laundry on February 27, 1896 that was quickly extinguished.
* There was also Dr. G. E. Shoemaker was optometrist on The Docks in 1910.
* The Riverside Steam Laundry was owned by W.S. West.
* The hardware store carried iron, steel, and fancy cutlery, wallpaper and crockery, paints, oils and "potent medicines," groceries and provisions, and looking glasses, according to an ad by J. Neville on July 13, 1872.
* A picture in the 2011 Middleburgh Historical Society calendar showed a picture of The Docks which showed Hazelton's Ice Cream Parlor, the Millinery Store, John Wheeler Photography, and Will West's garage.
Interesting tidbits were included with the news stories and ads.
"Joseph Becker made cigars and used to fish out the window and catch whitefish." Becker Harness Shop was upstairs in one of the buildings, and he was Charles' grandfather.
In the 1920s, a car crashed through the fence next to the gas station.
According to the Sanborn Maps, located at #15 Water Street (later River Street) were:
* Souer's Furniture, 1884 map. Water Street.
* Neiss' Tailor, 1898 map. River Street.
* Storage, 1904 map.
* Lunch shop, 1909 map.
* Gas station, 1929 map.
At #16 were:
* Souer's Furniture, 1884.
* Billiards, 1898.
* Storage, 1904.
* Milly, 1909.
* Gas station, 1929.
At #17 were:
* Vacant, 1884.
* Millinery, 1898.
* Vacant,1904.
* Office, 1909.
* Gas station, 1929.
At #18 were:
* Undertaker, 1884.
* Office, 1898.
* Town office, 1904.
* Town office, 1909.
* Gas station, 1929.
At #19 were:
* Vacant land, 1884.
* Vacant land, 1898.
* Cigar factory, 1904.
* Cigar factory, 1909.
* Gas station, 1929.
At #20 were:
* Vacant land, 1884.
* Vacant land, 1898.
* Riverside Laundry, 1904.
* Office, 1909.
* Photography shop, second floor, 1929.
Middleburgh historians Steve and Anne LaMont helped greatly with this article.
The Docks on an 1886 map.
The boy in the goat cart is advertising the laundry. one of the five buildings.
Wood's Garage in the 1920s.
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