Lake Placid News, July 2, 1913 Carey's bronze sign, Historic Saranac Lake collection The

C. J. Carey Company was a men's clothing store located at 79 Main Street started by Cornelius J. Carey, Sr..


From the Coulter Block by Philip Gallos:

Cornelius Carey came to Saranac Lake from Black Brook, New York, c.1895 and opened a store on Broadway. Three years later, he married Mary Stark, George Stark's sister (for more on Starks, see discussion of Starks Hardware Building). They made their home at 16 St. Bernard Street and within sight of the Starks' house at 6 St. Bernard Street.

When "Con" Carey opened his new store in the Coulter Block he did so in partnership with Thomas F. Finnigan (George Starks held a small interest, also). It was friction between Starks and Finnigan that was catalytic in the latter’s move to open his own business across the street.

C. J. Carey's carried the best of "just about anything a man would need" and that included a complete line of gear for the "sportsman". Until the store closed permanently c. 1936, Carey's was the Abercrombie & Fitch of the Adirondacks.

In August, 1921, Carey purchased the Coulter Block from the executors of the estate of Coulter's widow, Violet.


The Adirondack Record (Au Sable Forks, N.Y.), May 4, 1917

BIG FIRE AT SARANAC LAKE: Loss Estimated at Fourteen Thousand Dollars -- Carey's Clothing Store Damaged

Saranac Lake was visited by a disastrous fire last week Friday, which resulted in a fire loss of fully $14,000 and interfered with the business of the sufferers to an extent which will cause the loss of a large amount of their business transactions.

Shortly before 6 o'clock smoke was seen pouring out of the windows of the rooms of the Knights of Columbus in the Coulter block, located in the heart of the business section of the village. . . . 

The offices on the second floor were somewhat damaged by the fire, but the greatest loss to the rooms is from the flood of water which was poured into them. C. J. Carey & Company, whose gentlemen's furnishing store is on the ground floor, was filled with water, which also ran into the basement and there completely ruined a large amount of stock carried by the firm. . . . 

The loss to . . . Carey & Company, about $6,000. . . . 

FOR FULL TEXT OF THIS ARTICLE SEE: Coulter Block