I somehow became entangled in the story of a seed store as it traveled through time and the hands of many men. It isn't that interesting! I just got caught by the fact it changed hands so many times.
Grant Thorburn, the famous and loquacious seedsman, is the father of the store's first owner, William Thorburn, who set up as a seedsman in Albany, New York in 1831.
This photo is one of many fine images of center Albany over the years at a Times Union slideshow. This is the corner of State and Pearl where the seed store was located, although this might not be their corner.
1831 - William Thorburn established the Albany Seed Store, located at Broadway.
To our friends in the West, on the banks of the Canal, in and about Albany. Twelve years ago, there came forth an host of Seedsmen, with Cobbett at their head, speaking great swelling words; they promised much— they performed nothing. For the accommodation of our customers as above, we intend, (nothing extra preventing), to open a Seed, Plant, and Flower Root Store, at No. 347 North Market street, on the 6th day of April next, opposite the building into which the Post office is to remove on or before the first of May, within a few doors of the Museum, and within pistol shot of the five banks. The business in Albany will be conducted by one of my sons, and the store supplied with the same goods, and at the same prices at which we sell in New York. As we derive our supplies more or less from every quarter of the globe, we think it will be a facility to the agriculturalist, as well as profitable to the concerned. From a planting of fifteen dollars, the present state of our establishment will show what good seeds, good soil and good cultivation will produce. If they will keep pace with the ability, and Providence smiles on the undertaking, I see nothing to prevent its arriving in a few years to the same extensive footing in Albany as the mother store in New York; for, while the rich in our city purchase the flowers and the blossoms, and the rivers and the ocean carry our seeds to every clime, so in Albany the taste wants only food, and riches are already there in abundance; while the canal conveys the seed to the Lake Superior, the great Western Road will transport them far towards the setting sun.— Nothing that good Seeds and attention to business can perform will be wanting on our part to meet the public expectation. G. THORBURN & SONS.
1860 - William Thorburn is still running the store in 1860 as this article from then mentions him.
1854 - both Thorburn and Douw were in business, separately (page references both)
1868 - Strong & Douw Co. I can't find anything about Mr. Strong, perhaps he was a money partner, not an established seedsman or grower of any sort.
1870 - V. P. Douw & Co., at 80 State Street, was established upon the retirement of Mr.
Strong and the addition of Mr. Price, AND the purchase of the Thorburn Albany Seed
NOTICE.—The co-partnership heretofore existing between CHARLES H. STRONG and VOLCKERT. P. DOUW, under the firm name of Strong & Douw, is this day dissolved by mutual consent.
V. P. Douw assumes the business and will sign in liquidation.
CHARLES H. STRONG,
Albany, Jan. 1st, 1870. VOLCKERT. P. DOUW
NOTICE.-Having this day sold the business, stock and fixtures of Thorburn's Albany Seed Store to Mr. V. P. Douw, and made an engagement with him as Seedsman, I take this opportunity of thanking my old customers for their past patronage, and of soliciting a continuance of the same to my successor,
CHARLES H. STRONG,
Albany, Jan. 1st, 1870. VOLCKERT. P. DOUW
NOTICE.-Having this day sold the business, stock and fixtures of Thorburn's Albany Seed Store to Mr. V. P. Douw, and made an engagement with him as Seedsman, I take this opportunity of thanking my old customers for their past patronage, and of soliciting a continuance of the same to my successor,
Albany, Jan. 26th, 1870. SAMUEL T. THORBURN.
Albany, Jan. 26th, 1870.
Having purchased the entire interest of my late partner in the Agricultural Warehouse of Strong & Douw, and also the entire stock, fixtures and business of Thorburn's Old Albany Seed Store, and secured the services of the experienced Seedsman, Mr. Samuel T. Thorburn, so long and favorably known to the farmers and gardeners of this vicinity; I shall continue the business of both establishments at the old stand, No. 82 State Street, where can be found a full stock of all the latest improved Agricultural Implements and Machinery, Garden Tools of every description, a full assortment of Horticultural Goods, and every variety of Flowers and Vegetable Seeds, wholesale and retail. V. P. DOUW - SEEDS AND PLANTS.
Albany, Jan. 26th, 1870.
Having purchased the entire interest of my late partner in the Agricultural Warehouse of Strong & Douw, and also the entire stock, fixtures and business of Thorburn's Old Albany Seed Store, and secured the services of the experienced Seedsman, Mr. Samuel T. Thorburn, so long and favorably known to the farmers and gardeners of this vicinity; I shall continue the business of both establishments at the old stand, No. 82 State Street, where can be found a full stock of all the latest improved Agricultural Implements and Machinery, Garden Tools of every description, a full assortment of Horticultural Goods, and every variety of Flowers and Vegetable Seeds, wholesale and retail. V. P. DOUW - SEEDS AND PLANTS.
1876 - Price & Knickerbocker was formed upon the death of Mr. Duow and the addition of Mr. Knickerbocker
1885 - Price & Reed was formed as Mr. Knickerbocker retired and Mr. Reed joined. They
claim establishment back to 1831 (Thorburn) in their catalog.
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| Catalog |
1898 - Mr Reed retired and Mr Price continued alone until his death in 1918.
Price & Reed, Successors to Price & Knickerbocker, Seedsmen, Plants, Agricultural Implements, etc., Nos. 516 and 518 Broadway.
—Fifty-seven years of unbroken prosperity sums up in brief the history of the widely known and responsible house of Price & Reed, (successors to Price & Knickerbocker), seedsmen, and dealers in agricultural implements, garden tools, etc. It is one of the oldest and leading establishments devoted to this important branch of commercial activity in Albany, while its business connection is of a most substantial character.
The house was founded in 1831 by Wm. Thorburn, who was succeeded by Strong & Douw, the style subsequently changing to V. P. Douw & Co. (of which Mr. Price, the present senior member, was the junior partner), they conducting the concern up to 1875, when the style became Price & Knickerbocker, who were in turn succeeded about one year ago by the enterprising and popular firm whose name stands at the head of this sketch, and by whom the business has since been continued with uninterrupted success.
They occupy a four story 30' x 100' foot building, and carry constantly on hand a heavy and first-class stock, comprising field, garden and grass seeds of every variety, plants, bulbs, etc,; also a large assortment of agricultural implements, garden tools, lawn mowers and kindred articles, and the trade of the firm, which is both of a wholesale and retail character, extends throughout New York State, New England, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and adjacent states, with a fine local patronage.
Mr. George H. Price, who is a gentleman of forty, was born at Boston, Mass., and Mr. E. T. Reed, who is a young man of about twenty-nine, is a native of Albany. They are both men of sterling qualities, as well as energy, sagacity and excellent business ability, and sustain an A1 reputation in commercial life.
The above from The Empire State: Its Industries and Wealth, 1888
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from Bi-centennial History of Albany: History of the County of Albany 1886
SEED STORES
William Thorburn established a seed store at the corner of Broadway and Maiden Lane in 1831, which he continued until 1868, when he sold out to V. P. Douw & Co.
The firm of Price & Knickerbocker bought out the business in 1875, and have since conducted it at No. 80 State street. When first established the trade was merely local, but under the present proprietors it has grown to large proportions, and extends not only all over the United States, but to foreign countries. Both a wholesale and retail trade is carried on. The individual members are G. H. Price and David M. Knickerbocker. Over 3,000 varieties of seed are carried in stock.=======
American Florist, Volume 50, 1918
New York state has lost one of its oldest seedsmen in the death of George H. Price which occurred on March 20 at his home, 543 Clinton avenue, Albany, after an illness of two weeks. The deceased was born in Boston 76 years ago of Puritan stock. He was educated in private schools and in the Frank D. Sanborn academy at Concord, Mass.
He then entered the employ of Joel Nourse & Company, seed merchants, Boston, and remained with the concern for five years. In 1868 he removed to Albany to become manager of the seed store of Strong & Douw. In 1870, Mr. Strong retired and Mr. Price became a partner of the concern under the style of V. P. Douw & Company. Mr. Douw died in 1876 and Mr. Price took as partner D. M. Knickerbocker and the concern was known as Price & Knickerbocker. In 1885 Mr. Knickerbocker retired and Edward T. Reed was admitted to the firm under the title of Price & Reed. The latter retired in 1898 and George H. Price then conducted the business alone until his death. ...
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