When Lansingburgh was forcibly annexed to the City of Troy in 1900, Rensselear County's first "New City" was doing just fine. For 130 years, Lansingburgh was a thriving village with industries such as oilcloth, brush making, valves, knit goods, beer, crackers and biscuits, scales, carriages, and shirts and collars. These products were world famous during the 19th century, and continued even after the village became part of the City of Troy.

Overshadowed by the industrial might of Troy proper, the Burgh settled in and became mostly a bedroom community for Troy during the last 50 years. However, there are many surviving reminders of the Burgh's early movers and shakers.

Chester A. Arthur, 21st President (1881-1885) lived at 626 First Avenue in 1846. He went to the Burgh's Academy and Union College in Schenectady at age 15 (1845). He taught school in the one-room brick schoolhouse of School District #14 in the Town of Schaghticoke on Verbeck Street earning $15 a month. His father the Rev. William Arthur, preached at the Baptist church at the NW corner of 117th and 3rd Avenue. The church later became the Powers Opera House. The top has been removed but is now used as a warehouse. The Arthur's were abolitionists and social reformers.

Although he too defended the rights of African Americans, Chester Arthur was more of a party loyalist (and party thrower) but broke with his corrupt partisans after President Garfield's death. He became a strong proponent of civil service reform and had several nicknames such as "The Gentleman Boss," "Dude President," "Elegant Arthur" because of his love for the high life.

Disgusted with the shabby look of the White House, Arthur hired the most famous designer in New York, Louis Comfort Tiffany, to transform it into a showplace.

Arthur's home at 626 is still standing though the facade has been altered a bit. I am amazed that this house has not been purchased by the Federal Government in his honor. He may not have been JFK but his administration did leave a lasting mark for those now employed in government.

Not far from Arthur's home is the home of author Herman Melville at First Avenue and 114th Street. Perhaps best known for writing Moby Dick, Melville spent his youth here and wrote his first two novels (Typee (1846) and Omoo (1847) ) at this house; both of these novels are adventure stories. He went on to write 13 more books and essays. Melville is recognized as one of America's greatest novelists.

Melville's home is now the Lansingburgh Historical Society. An interesting house since the entrance is not on the First Avenue side like the other homes along First or River Street, it's original name. A great web site (www.melville.org/melville.htm#Writings) has all of his novels online.

South of Melville is the 1842 built home of Clara S. Curran and Calvin J. Barker at 554 First Avenue. They manufactured brushes under the name
Curran & Barker just up the street at 561 First Avenue. The Burgh was a large producer of brushes and in some ways brushes were to the Burgh what collars and cuffs were to Troy.

Around the corner at the intersection or SE corner of 113th Street and 2nd Avenue is the home of the Rev. Samuel Blatchford who lived here from 1804 1828. General Lafayette entertained here during the day on July 1, 1825. He visited Troy later in the day visiting with Emma Willard. The house is now broken up into apartments and has been aluminum sided.

Samuel Blatchford was RPI's first President from 1824-1828, appointed by founder and friend Stephen Van Rensselaer. He was also Chairman of the Board of Trustees besides being a Presbyterian minister in Lansingburgh.

Two remaining grand mansions are the Deborah Powers Home for Old Ladies and the Eddy Estate.

In 1882 at age 93, Deborah Powers devoted part of her property for the use of the less fortunate. The home on 3rd, 123rd, and Second Avenue was purchased on April 10, 1883. It was the former Daniel Davenport homestead, originally built in 1846, and which Powers had remodeled and another story placed on both wings. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and is occupied today.

Right off Oakwood Avenue, in a grove known as Glenwood, is the home of Titus Eddy. The Eddy family made a fortune by providing secret ink that was used for printing all American paper currency up until World War I. The home now serves as offices for the Troy Housing Authority with low income apartments surrounding it.