Troy’s Holy Corners

by Don Rittner

You don’t have to be religious to appreciate the architecture of churches and synagogues, particularly those built in the 19th century. As individual landmarks they’re works of art, often containing within their structures artifacts such as Tiffany Windows or locally made Meneely Bells. A church often stands out as the tallest structure in a neighborhood -- on one hand letting us know it’s there if we need it, and a reminder that those tall spires or bell towers are just a bit closer to heaven than we are.

At the turn of the century Troy had over 70 churches, almost one church for every 1000 people living in the city. There are about half of that today and many are falling down from disrepair and lack of support, like the Fifth Avenue Baptist Church did recently. Troy still is a city of faith but it’s hard to maintain those buildings without a population to support them.

Troy got its first church when Jacob D. Vanderhyden gave the newly formed Presbyterian Congregation three building lots on the south side of Congress Street fronting on First Street (now Sage Park). On the middle lot in 1792 a plain wooden meeting house was built.

Other denominations followed: Baptists, Methodists, Quakers, Protestants, Lutherans, Universalists, Catholics, and the Jewish faith, all building houses of worship throughout the city.

Most people think of religious institutions only as places of worship. They served other important functions during Troy’s industrial age. Most of Troy’s population was working 12-15 hours a day, six days a week. Religious institutions offered a social net (support services) to an upper and working class as well as the indigent.

Schools were an early benefit brought to Trojans. While they certainly insured a good dose of religious training in many, the basic A,B,C’s were taught, and in some even degrees in higher learning were offered.

St Paul’s Parish School was started in 1808 on the north side of the public market on the northwest corner of Third and State. The Society of Friends (Quakers) in 1823 built a schoolhouse on the corner of State and Fourth (State Street side) just down the street from St Paul’s. The School of Industry of St. Paul’s was an outgrowth of the Mary Warren Free Institute that started in 1815. This school taught poor girls how to sew and make their own clothes and later learned vocals. The Troy Episcopal Institute in 1838 helped young men prepare for college. The short lived Troy University organized by Methodists provided degrees in agriculture and civil engineering. La Salle Institute was organized in 1847 for Catholic boys. Many parochial schools were created in the 19th century and still exist today.

The Troy Hospital (St. Mary’s) was founded by Catholic Priest Peter Havermans, as a result of dealing with destitute and sick Irish immigrants in 1848. Another hospital, St Joseph's Maternity was located in the remodled home of the Sisters of St. Joseph on Jackson and Fourth Streets as late as 1923.

Havermans also founded St. Mary’s Female Orphan Asylum, (later St Vincent's Female Orphan Asylum) in 1848, run by the Sisters of Charity, and the Troy Catholic Male Orphan Asylum in 1850.

In 1854, the Church Home of the City of Troy was formed by the Brotherhood of St. Barnabus as a house of mercy in a house at 5 Harrison Place and later Federal Street. This Episcopal run home charged $300 for elderly ladies who wanted to become residents. A Presbyterian home for the aged was formed in 1871 on Fourth Street (where Proctors Theater is now). The Little Sisters of the Poor established a home for the indigent in 1875 on Hutton Street.

Mount Magdalen School of Industry and Reformatory of the Good Shepherd was founded in 1884 by the Religious order of the Good Shepherd for wayward girls. The reformatory was on Peoples Avenue, part of which is now used as RPI’s Incubator. This same order ran the Guardian Angel Home and Industrial School next door.

Homeless infants were cared for by the St. Joseph’s Infant Home created in 1898 at Thompson and Mill Streets. Working girls were housed by the Seton Home for Working Girls who lived in the old Jacob Vanderhyden home north of Hoosick Street. It was run by the Sisters of Charity.

Even Social clubs were created such as St. Peter’s Lyceum in 1885, and St Joseph’s Club in 1892.

To this writer there is no holier land than the southwest corner of Fourth and State Streets. In 1806 the Troy Quakers rented and later bought a small house there for services. In 1874 the First Unitarian Church bought the property and built a large church. It was sold to St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic Church in 1905, who continues to own the site -- that’s 193 years of religious ownership, more than 90% of the time Troy has existed.

I remember attending First grade in the original St Anthony’s School, an old two story Victorian house on Fifth Avenue across from the Stanton Brewery. In 1956, a new brick school was built next to the church on Fourth Street. Actor/comedian Jimmy Durante , a friend of Father Thomas DeLuca, attended the opening and dedication ceremonies.

The Sisters who taught at St. Anthony’s had no problem keeping discipline. They carried rulers and map pointers and knew how to use them. I had my share of visits to Sister Superior’s office, but for a young catholic boy, the corner of State and Fourth was an important intersection, not only for automobiles, but for learning moral values.

My cousin David and I, both alter boys versed in Latin, served Mass in the large brick church that use to stand on the corner. On a Sunday afternoon, hundreds of parishioners would mingle after Mass and chat. Sometime the school had events and once a year a Bazaar was held to win prizes and eat ethnic food. It was a busy corner.

Today, the corner of Fourth and State is a parking lot with a steel link fence surrounding the church’s Rectory. It looks more like a fortified compound under siege, but then perhaps it is symbolic -- many churches are fighting to survive.

There is a solution. I would suggest to all the leaders of the various religious denominations in Troy that they get together and agree that on the first Sunday of the month, all masses or services will not be religious, but will feature a public discussion on what can be done to help each other, or to preach about values, or the need for community building. (If you don’t think we need this, say the words "Columbine" three times).

The non religious meetings would allow the residents of Troy, no matter what faith they are, to spend each of those Sundays visiting a different church or synagogue, admiring its architecture and artifacts, meeting people and networking, and making a financial donation that will help support the survival of these architectural landmarks.

I can think of at least one person who probably thinks it’s a great idea.