Bainbridge, NY in 1865

Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY

The Chenango Telegraph, July 12, 1865

 

Bainbridge village is fast becoming, like many of her sister villages, a place of wealth and business.  there are now at the present time seven stores in all--five dry good stores, one hardware, and one drug store, and one or two more to be started in a short time.  these stores are all doing a flourishing business this season.  Col. North of Unadilla has opened a hardware store on the corner of Main and Mill streets and is doing a good business. He has bought the large store formerly occupied by P. Redfield as a tin shop, first door above A.J. & I.D. Yale's, which he is fitting up in nice style, and is to fill up and move in as soon as completed.  The inhabitants have long needed a store of this kind here and we take the responsibility of saying that when he fills it up with hardware we will not trouble the stores in Norwich much, as we can get everything in this line at home.

 

D.T. Bullock, formerly partner with D. Gilbert, has opened a store two doors above A.J. & I.D. Yale's store, which has opened the eyes of many of our people.  Goods have been on the decline for a few weeks past, because Bullock sold cheaper than any one else;  but as fast as it is convenient, they are getting on the same track.

 

I thought of the business done here in our little village, as last evening between sundown and dark, I seated myself in a convenient place and took notice of what was going on. Teams were fastened on either side of the street for many rods, which rendered it almost impossible for ladies to cross the streets without going either above or below the long line of horses and wagons.  Men and women were hurrying in and out of the stores, some with dry goods, some with groceries.

 

We have four schools in our village, and ladies and gentlemen can graduate without going to college, which saves a great expense.

 

The Fourth of July was celebrated by the people of this village in the good old way. The Old Folks had a picnic up the river which they enjoyed very much.  In the evening there were splendid fire works in different parts of the village. Thus the day ended, and will be long remembered by all as the memorable Fourth of July 1865.