Born: March 7, 1876, in Mineville, New York
Died: November 4, 1954
Married: Belle Mahon
Children: Louise Downing (Mrs. Kenneth Wilson), Mrs. Grant Cane
George Downing operated Downing and Cane's Restaurant with his son-in-law, Grant Cane.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, November 4, 1954
G. Downing, 78, Dies; Services are Tomorrow
Funeral services will be held at 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon at the home, 19 Broadway for George Downing, who died yesterday day at Gabriels, following an illness of five years.
Rev. Ernest B. Mounsey will officiate. Cremation will take place in Troy.
There will be an Elks Memorial service at 8 o'clock tonight, followed by Masonic rites at 8:30 p.m.
Mr. Downing, born March 7, 1876, in Mineville, the son of Nelson and Louise O'Neil Downing, came to Saranac Lake in 1900.
In 1904 he assumed ownership and management of the Empire Hotel, located where the Harrietstown Town Hall now stands. Mr. Downing continued that enterprise until 1908. He later operated Downing's Delicatessen and Restaurant at 51 Broadway until 1920, when he retired from business and purchased the Downing block.
In 1937 Mr. Downing joined his son-in-law, Grant Cane, in the operation of Downing and Cane's Tap Room at 15 Broadway.
Illness forced his complete retirement.
On July 17, 1903, Mr. Downing married the former Belle Mahon, of Brasher Fails. Besides his widow, he is survived by two children, Mrs. Kenneth Wilson and Mrs. Grant Cane, of Saranac Lake. There are also two grandchildren, George Wilson, of Saranac Lake, and Mrs. Roy A. Lutter, of Jackson Heights, L. I.
