UTC 340 at Jones Car Builders Plant, Watervliet, N.Y.

Archive # 590.

Letter about Jones Car Co. being located in Schenectady

CHAPTERS IN CITIES FROM COAST TO COAST
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION “THE BULLETIN”
NATIONAL RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
MOHAWK & HUDSON CHAPTER

2512 McGovern Drive
Schenectady, N.Y. 12309
September 12, 1968

Mr. Joseph A. Smith
2320 17th St.Troy, N.Y.

Dear Joe,

Your two letters on the Jones Car Co. are positively overwhelming. I would be thoroughly convinced that the firm was never located in Schenectady -- except for the two enclosures Xeroxed from the original publications which are in the possession of Bernie Balm. If the Jones Car Co. was not in Schenectady at that time, apparently they at least thought they were.

I have the following additional information from Al Gayer which he obtained some time ago from the Schenectady County Historical Society:

"The Jones Mfg. Co. came to Schenectady from West Troy (now Watervliet) in 1875, renting the premises of the Schenectady Car Co. for the manufacture of street cars. Soon after, the works were enlarged and they began the manufacture of drawing—room cars and sleepers, when E. Nott Schermerhorn was appointed Receiver and for eight months the business was continued by him. About the beginning of 1885 they were released to the New York Sleeping Car Co. which is at the present time the controller of the works (1886). The plant was located on Mill Lane."

Mill Lane is the alley running from the corner of Church and State Sts. in Schenectady down behind the present Stockade Restaurant. The above account is not real clear as to what went on circa 1885, but apparently the Jones Co. in Schenectady was in financial trouble and in receivership. It’s conceivable that Walter Jones could have gone back to Watervliet and reopened there under a slightly different name, or even that J.M. Jones Son’s Co. could have stayed in Watervliet while J.M. Jones & Co. went to Schenectady, later changing its name to Jones Car Manufacturing Co. as in the ad of 1883. There are three different names that appear to be involved, so there might have been more than one company going concurrently. That do you think?

Many thanks indeed for your researches on this subject. I think it’s far too interesting not to put something about it in the CALL BOARD, especially since I have such nice photos and copies of the old ads —— but you can rest assured that I will be circumspect about claiming as fact anything but the existence of the data. It looks like a bit of a mystery involved, and I will present it that way. unless, of course, something else comes to light in the meantime. The material in your letters will of course be a valuable part of the story, which I assume you are willing for me to use?

As the man says on TV, “V E R Y I N T E R E S T I N G”

Cordially,
J. D. Thompson



































































Archive # 419.

J.M. Jones Works Photos

Hudson Valley #37. Taken outside Jones Plant 8th St & 3rd Ave. Jones Bridge in background.

Archive # 435.













Hudson Valley Railway #43 at J. M. Jones Car Works.

Archive # 432.

J. M. Jones Company

Little is known about the J. M. Jones’ Sons Company. It was a builder of Carriages and Trolleys based in West Troy (now Watervliet), New York. The company may also have been based in Schenectady, New York starting in 1875 for a few years. My grandfather Joseph A. Smith of Troy New York collected what information he could about this company.

Over the next few days, I will be uploading what information he gathered in the sixties and seventies.

Most of this information will be images of the original documentation, along with some OCRs.

This information may be used freely, as long as credit is given to my grandfather and this blog.

Trolley Carriage Builders in the Troy, New York Area 1864-1892



Archive # 412.

J. M. Jones' Sons Trolley Advertisement

ID# 1,554

Delaware & Hudson Railroad #97 "R.A. Henry" at Voorheesville, New York

Text of letter to Joseph A. Smith from William F. Ferguson

New Rochelle, N.Y.

March 11 1969

Dear Friend;

I recently got this picture (which is a copy, the picture of the old engine in front of hotel at Voorhesville from the granddaughter of Geo. W. Ellis.

Its name "R.A. Henry"

Crew Ellis Conductor 2nd from left(?)

Engineer Hank Austin

Fireman Bill Warner

Trainmen Julius Mull, Harry Kittridge

Geo. W. Ellis began working as laborer on a work train at East Worcester in 1866 at age 16. East Worcester was then the southern terminal of the A.&S. mainline from Albany. Three months later George was made a trainman and on first trip he lost an index finger, coupling. In 1871 became conductor at $65 per mo. 1877 was made yardmaster at Albany train yards. 1879 another accident took three fingers on the other hand and in 1885 recd injuries which prevented further train service and from then until retiring ib 1921, flagman & watchman for police and maintainance of way depts.

Hope you are fine. I'm just fair & still plugging-correspondence & history

SincerelyWm. F. Fergusin

Two.

I was interested in your remarks about the photo of D&H No. 97 "R.A. Henry", in front of the Severson House. I got a print of this photo from D&H and at about the same time I was working in the vicinity of Voorheesville. I am certain that the Severson House is (or was) directly across the D&H tracks from the combination D&H-West Shore station. I studied the old building and was certain at that time that it was the same building in the photo. Since your East Worcester friend says Voorheesville, too, I may be right. The old hotel that was still there possibly eight or ten years ago still retained much of the original outlines and wasn't hard to picture as it was when the photo was taken. If you should get a chance to drive out that way see if it is still there.

Well, Joe, I guess I have run out of things to write about so Iwill close for now. I hope this finds you in good health and enjoying som nice Spring weather.

A Happy Easter to you. 1969
Sincerely,

Ed

Archive # 331.

Rensselaer & Saratoga Railroad "Commodore Vanderbilt"

PIONEER IN TROY - The "Commodore Vanderbilt," the first coal-burning locomotive to run on a Troy railway line, posed for a formal picture outside the Union Depot back in 1872. This photograph, owned by 81-year-old Charles Brewer of Troy, was taken on the section of track at Fulton street and Sixth avenue, looking down Fulton toward the Hudson River. The engine carried a picture of Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt, organizer of the New York Central Railroad, on its front headlight. (From an undated newspaper clipping.)

Built by the Schenectady Locomotive Works in 1871.

Renumbered to 416 by the Delaware & Hudson Railroad in 1899. Retired on August 20, 1905.

Archive # 302.

The Times Record, Troy, N.Y., Tuesday Evening, January 19, 1954

The Times Record, Troy, N.Y., Tuesday Evening, January 19, 1954

IRON HORSE WAITS - Troy police got a traffic clearing job this morning as parked cars along Adams street between 3rd and 4th streets forced the locomotive to wait. Police succeeded in having tha cars moved so that the locomotive could move on the tracks along the street.

Archive # 248.