John G. Myers Company

Last updated

John G. Myers Company
Industry Department store retail
Founded1887;137 years ago (1887)
FounderJohn Gillespy Myers  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Defunct1970 (1970)

John G. Myers Company was a department store in Albany, New York built in 1887 and owned by John Gillespy Myers. [1] [2] The building where the store was located, a five-story structure at 39 N. Pearl St., collapsed on August 8, 1905 killing 13 people. [3] The collapse was the worst disaster of its kind in Albany's history at the time. [4] Charges of manslaughter and criminal negligence were made against the building's contractor, John Dyer Jr., and architect, Clark L. Daggett, but a grand jury failed to convict them and the charges were dropped. [2]

John Gillespy Myers (1832-1901) John Gillespy Myers.png
John Gillespy Myers (1832–1901)

After the collapse the store reopened at 37 N. Pearl St. and stayed in business until 1970. [5]

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References

  1. Craig, P. (November 22, 2011). "John Gillespy Myers". Find A Grave. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  2. 1 2 Lais, C. J. (July 18, 2019). "From the archives: A deadly department store collapse, and more". Times Union.
  3. "SCORES ARE BURIED IN BIG STORE RUINS; Thirty Dead, Firm's Estimate, in Albany Building Collapse. RESCUERS STILL HEAR MOANS Hospitals Filled with Injured; Ten Bodies Found – Careless Workmen to Blame. SCORES ARE BURIED IN BIG STORE RUINS". The New York Times. August 9, 1905. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  4. "Albany, NY Department Store Collapse, Aug 1905 – Walls Cave In".
  5. "John G. Myers (1831–1901): Owner of Myers department store". Times Union. Retrieved March 15, 2018.

42°39′2.7″N73°45′6.2″W / 42.650750°N 73.751722°W / 42.650750; -73.751722