Ghost in the City Vault: The Unexpected Death of Sterling F. Higley in 1916
Glens Falls has been around for over one hundred and eighty-seven years, incorporated as a village in 1839 and then as a city in 1908. It is filled with history, as the Chapman Museum, Folklife Center, and Crandall Public Library have documented, along with historical records from the city’s historian, Wayne Wright.
During the public budget discussions over the past couple weeks, there were some comments about unexplainable things happening in City Hall, like creaky floorboards at night or the elevator opening with no one inside. City Controller Wendy Baird told me about Sterling Frederick Higley, so I began researching in the Crandall Library about his life.
He was elected as the City’s Chamberlain, colloquially known as the city’s treasurer in modern language, in 1910, but tragically passed away six years later. The circumstances of his unexpected death rippled through the city and, from an article released back on April 19th, 1916, detailed a moment in history that relates to our current situation. As Mayor Palmer, City Controller Wendy Baird, and Chief of Staff Steve Thurston have publicly stated over the past year, the city budget was in dire need of attention, having been poorly managed over the past administrations. It was a massive undertaking, requiring necessary changes to longstanding conventions from every department. The findings from those discussions led to several surprises and uncomfortable conversations, but as I have learned from Mr. Higley’s story, we have been here before.
Back in 1916, then-Mayor W. Irving Grifiad received approval from the Common Council to conduct an audit, “for our own protection and satisfaction.” Just like the state comptroller’s audit in 2025, it led to unfortunate discoveries in the fiscal health of Glens Falls. In 1916, the city presided over a $12,000 shortage. That unfortunate oversight, despite attempts to rectify the shortage, led to Mr. Higley’s horrific and rash decision to commit suicide by gunshot in the city vault on Tuesday, April 18th, 1916.
The Post-Star, a local newspaper, detailed the discovery of Mr. Higley in the vault by his assistant, Kathleen Kelleher, and the ensuing aftermath from the shocking revelation of his death. While the Post-Star noted that his self-destruction was the result of quick determination and not premeditated, he left three short notes in his office before his untimely death. Each note was brief and indicated insight into the reality of his decision: “Kathleen — Do not open vault. Get a policeman. Call Mr. Bullard. Have a private funeral. No flowers. Telegraph H. H. Higley, Norwich, NY to come at once, alone.”
After some research into his family history, I learned that Homer Harvey (i.e. H. H.) Higley was Sterling Higley’s brother, who worked as the President of the First National Bank of Norwich. The private funeral service occurred at Sterling’s home at 13 Lincoln Avenue, conducted by Reverand Oliver Shaw Newell, with a burial in Pine View Cemetery, Queensbury, New York. His gravesite would eventually include his second wife, Ethel V. Higley, when she passed away on February 16th, 1967.
Sterling F. Higley was born on July 15th, 1873, to Walter and Alice Higley, and grew up with a brother and sister. Arriving to Glens Falls in 1899, he was employed as a bookkeeper for the Griffing and Leland Company, a carriage and harness manufacturer, before becoming the first Glens Falls City Supervisor from the Third Ward in 1908. His first marriage to Charlott White Higley birthed Marian Higley and Sterling Higley Junior, who died in 1954 and 1943 respectively. His second marriage to Ethel V. Higley birthed William Vallance Higley, who died in 1985.
Mr. Higley was appointed to City Chamberlain to succeed John Bazinet, who was elected Warren County Treasurer in 1910. But his management of the city’s finances were fraught with questions. The Post-Star article exposed Mr. Higley’s poor accounting practices, stating “[his] bookkeeping system was not the best [and] common knowledge about City Hall,” noting that the auditors and city officials agree that “there was nothing modern nor practical in the manner in which the chamberlain kept his books”.
Before Mr. Higley took his own life, he did ask for help to rectify the situation by utilizing Addison Beecher Colvin of the Glens Falls Trust Company. A decision from a conference of present and former city officials led to Mr. Higley turning over real estate valued at $8,000, though the “auditor’s work had not progressed to a stage where it was definitely known what the shortage amounted to.”
That decision of turning over property to help reduce a budget shortage has been one of many solutions in the current proposed budget. Mayor Palmer and her administration have stated that, while there are more than seventy properties owned by the city, they conservatively could generate over one million dollars in revenue by offloading twenty properties with fair-market value. It would ensure that residential housing in Glens Falls remains attainable despite the city’s limited expansion as well as increased property tax revenue.
After Mr. Higley’s passing, the Common Council and Mayor Reed wasted no time appointing a successor due to the water rent collection. It took two years for Glens Falls to recoup the lost funds. Initially in 1917, a Supreme Court Judge ruled that the city was entitled to a $24,250 on a bond from Mr. Higley’s estate by the American Fidelity Company. But after a lengthy appeal process, the Common Council agree to a reduced payout of $18,000. Former Fifth Ward Councilman Wesley Braydon declared, “that $18,000, of which the city is sure, is better than taking a chance of getting $24,000 at the possibly large expenditure of money.”
Sterling F. Higley’s life should not be remembered for how it ended, though. He served with the Oneonta National Guard during the Spanish-American and served in the second regiment at Honolulu, Hawaii, before it became a state in the mid-twentieth century. After his military service ended, he became an upstanding community member of all Masonic lodges, such as the Horicon lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Glens Falls lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Queen Village Camp, Knights of Pythias, Chatiemac Club, and was the secretary of the Commercial Travelers’ Association. At 42 years old, he was a respected member of the community, a distinguished veteran, a husband, and a father.
While the current Common Council continues culling over the proposed budget, we can look to the past at previous administrations that had tough decisions, learn from their mistakes, and appreciate the solutions that will keep our city running. The death of Sterling Higley provides a lesson to reach out when we feel our world is crumbling. No mistake is worth taking your own life and inflicting unimaginable pain on those we leave behind.
If you are experiencing suicidal ideation, please reach out for help. From the National Suicide Hotline to groups, whether online or offline, you are never alone.
