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History of the Building
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History of the Building

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Evidence of J.R. McMullen's love of gardening appears in the neatly manicured grounds

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A colorized print of the Lawrence Street Entrance

The McMullen-Leavens Company

Designed by architect Ephraim Potter , the building was constructed in 1902. The McMullen-Leavens Company was known for its shirts and eventually expanded into dressmaking.  In 1939 the company acquired the label of Troy Shirt Makers Guild from a competitor in Troy, NY.  The Troy Shirt Makers label would eventually account for almost 70% of domestic shirt sales in the United States.  A retail outlet was located at the Cooper street entrance. One can still see the marks, grooves and indents in the wooden floors of the building from the sewing machines and other equipment.
The factory continued operations until 1996 when globalization of the textile industry took its toll on  domestic textile manufacturing. In 1999 the building was reborn as a location for art galleries, studios and other small businesses and has become a popular destination.

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The Cooper Street Entrance to the Building

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The Second Floor Sewing Department

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Photos courtesy of the Chapman Historical Museum Glens Falls, NY from their publication The McMullen-Leavens Company written and researched by Thomas K. Simpson and published by The Press Room in Ballston Spa 2004.