This following is an undated history written by a local woman, Kate Reed, and contributed by Judy Pierce. There is no vouching for the accuracy of the article.

Written by Kate Reed

The buildings on Main Street recently known as the Jacob Quincer Co. have been recently sold to J. Lynch of Alexandra Bay.

The history goes back to the last century. At 16, Mr. Quincer went to work for Peter Burt (Rebekah Block) as an apprentice cabinet worker. At that time Mr. Burt was the local undertaker and caskets were made by hand. Later Mr. Quincer had a furniture store, where later Adam Bickelhaupt had a dry goods store. About that time (1890) he married Elizabeth Stotler. For some time he sold lumber and did contract work. For some time he sold farm machinery for C. M. McCormick.

He purchased a lot of the late George Kabel and built the block (1898). The woodwork was of curly birch and as he was able to find a piece he made another piece of the woodwork until about 3 years later the room was finished. Before starting to build he and the late Charles Giltz of Theresa were graduated from Simmons (Embalming School) in Syracuse and his store was furniture and undertaking.

Gradually it was expanded to the sale of building materials and building hardware. The coal silos were built in 1911-1912 and the sheds near the block were used to store building materials.

After Mr. Quincer’s death, Mrs. Quincer purchased the Kimball (block) ?, milk shop and the lot at the rear from the late Laura Simmons to secure a driveway and build another lumber shed.

Mrs. Quincer continued the business after Mr. Quincer’s death in 1930 until 1942 when her daughter and husband (Kate and Clarence Reed) took over. A few years later Mr. Reed was taken ill and Mrs. Quincer was hospitalized for 18 years and the business and old buildings deteriorated to some extent.

Mrs. Quincer had purchased the old glass factory store (1944) from the surviving Simmons family and turned it into an undertaking facility. That building has been redone again and is owned by Frederick Brothers Funeral Home. It is left (in) much of its original condition.

The store, Kimball and Simmons lot on the west side of Main Street were purchased (with few exceptions) January 31, 1975 by James Lynch of Alexandria Bay.

Return to Shirley Farone's Homepage