Public Markets Offrered More than Food!

By Don Rittner

I use to visit Boston every weekend for a couple of years and always stopped at the public market near Faneuil Hall. It was one highlight of my trip, especially watching the interaction of shoppers and keepers haggling over prices. I always filled up the car with an assortment of vegetables that would last until the next weekend trip.

I also enjoyed seeing the same faces every weekend behind the vegetable wagons and the sounds of the market men shouting in that unmistakable Boston accent, "Get your lettuce here," or "Want to buy some meat?" Those familiar faces made me feel comfortable being there away from home. After a month or so, many of the producers recognized me and took me aside making sure I had the best pickings of the day. As one butcher told me, "A happy customer becomes a regular customer."

It wasn't long ago that most cities had public markets in their downtown. You would go for vegetables, primarily during the summer and fall, then to the local butcher for your meat, although butchers were also at the markets. Milk and eggs were delivered to your door by the milkman, and locally bread by Frehiehofers. Mom and pop corner grocery stores tried to accommodate the rest of the year.

The growth of supermarkets in the 50's and 60's put most out of business as people demanded more convenience in the form of prepared foods (AKA, frozen dinners), or one stop shopping for all items (aspirin, beer, and diapers with those eggs).

Troy is no exception. At one time there were three public market houses built by the city for its citizens. None exist today. According to historian Rutherford Haynor, those early markets were more than a place to get food but also were part of a larger social event. Housewives met their friends or formed small groups and shared rumors and news. The buildings became a focal point for public forums by politicians, and religious meetings were held. Even concerts and plays were performed on the second floor above the fish, fruit, and veggies.

The first public market opened in Troy in March 1800 and was a wooden building 20 feet wide by 60 feet long. It sat in the middle of State Street between First and Second Streets. On the north and south sides of the building, underneath the overhanging roof, the Premier Engine Company, Troy's first fire department, hung their fire ladders and hooks, conveniently located in case of fire. This market served residents until 1806 when the village trustees sold it for $50.

That year the city purchased land on the northwest corner of Third and State and built a new public market. It was known as Center Market, often referred to as "Cow Place," and another building was added to it in 1828. The solid building facing Third Street was used as a meat market while the open air building on the north side of State Street was used for selling fish, vegetables, butter and eggs. In 1860, the Arba Read fire house was built on the site; a Fleet bank building is there now.

In 1812, the village trustees established two more markets.

North Market was built on the south side of Federal Street in 1828. The next year the second floor was dubbed the Troy Theatre and opened on July 4 with a play called "Pizarro, or the Death of Rollo." It was replaced by the Eagle Engine Company No. 10 fire house built on the site in the 1840's.

A house was built for the South Market in 1828 on the northeast corner of Division and Second Streets, but in August 1839, the city purchased two lots on the southwest corner, opposite the existing one. They erected a brick building, named it Washington Market, and it opened in May 1841. The second floor of this market was also converted into a theater.

In 1840, the city took the Troy Shipyard at the junction of River and Fulton Streets, earlier donated by Jacob Vanderhyden, and erected a brick building in Greek Revival style at a cost of $30,000. The first floor was rented to butchers and market men and the large area on the second floor was used as a concert and lecture hall. Fulton Market opened in May 1841 at the same time as Washington Market. In February 1847, the hall on the second floor was turned into a theater and opened with the play "The Lady of Lyons," on Washington's Birthday. It burned in February, 1903.

Even as public markets fell out of use, Trojans (the Women's Civic League in particular) tried to revive them during the first quarter of this century.

In 1910, the city developed a market place around Washington and Hill Streets and leased it to the Market Grower's Association, which lasted into the 1950's.

We need to bring back a public market to Troy. Presently, there is a farmer's market that meets outside the Atrium on Broadway between third and fourth from May to October. A few local farmers bring their harvest down from the hill towns of Albany and Rensselaer counties.

A large regional public market would be ideal and would bring in thousands of people to the city especially if it were held on a weekend with festivals, concerts, and other activities. Many of the downtown businesses would also profit from the increased people traffic.

But where would you place a large public market that wouldn't cause a traffic problem? Certainly the city cannot afford to build a market building like they did in the last century.

Next to the bandshell along by the river and across from the parking garage would work although you would have to divert traffic along that corridor from the bridge to the intersection of River, Fulton, and Third Streets. Why not take the section of Fulton Street from Third to Fourth, close it to traffic, and set up there along the side of the parking garage. There are no businesses along that route anyway?

The parking lot adjacent to the former Cluett Peabody factory is ideal (with John Hedley's permission) and it's also the site of the boat landing so that could entice boaters to come up from the city.

What about Prospect Park? It certainly would bring people back to the park and you could have barbecues right there using fresh items that you just purchased.

Any other suggestions?