Fifty Years Ago 29


Before becoming employed by the New York Gas & Electric Company, Carl Eugeni spent time behind the lens of his camera, recording images of local events and people during the years of the 1930s through the 1950s. Many of his images can be found in the period’s local newspapers, undersigned with the byline “Photo by C Eugeni.”

Carl’s parents, father Constanzo, an Italian immigrant, and his wife, Minnie, came to Livingston Manor in 1911, renting the house on Fontana’s flat. A shoemaker by trade, C. Eugeni opened a shoemaking and repair shop in the Hoos building. When the couple purchased the former Aikens building on lower Pearl Street in 1917, C. Eugeni moved his shoemaking shop into their new residence. As the business prospered, C. Eugeni purchased the vacant lot across the street from his residence and in 1923 erected a new shop. With the more spacious quarters, Eugeni got into other lines of merchandise, notably jewelry and watches along with novelties and stationary. Becoming associated with the American News Company in 1932, a national periodical distributor company, Eugeni built an addition onto his shop to handle the new stock of magazines, comic books and other newsstand items. 

Beginning with the small “C Eugeni Shoemaking & Repair” shop in a corner of the Hoos building, the larger business had now became “C. Eugeni & Son” as Carl became a partner. Now included amongst the line of store’s merchandise were musical instruments, Kodak cameras and photo supplies. And of course, there was a new line of shoes. After graduating from Livingston Manor High School in 1930, Carl operated the gas station at Jacktown, became a park ranger at the Beaverkill State Park and played in dance bands that performed at local hotels and boarding houses. Carl found time to photograph the local events, the people and places. Besides providing images for newspapers, one collection of his work are a series of local restaurants and taverns photographs which were used by applicants when applying for liquor licenses.

Carl retired from New York State Electric & Gas in 1976.