Workmen near the Rice Emery Company Tannery and office. The superintendent, Miles E. Darby, is in the front row, sixth from the right. Circa 1880-1890. Griffin, NY. Photo donated by Frank Girard. Courtesy of the Hamilton County Historian’s Office.

Garth Fisher worked in tanneries in Johnstown for 15 years. He remembers seeing the colored runoff from the tanneries in the river when he was growing up. Listen to his story here.