Unless you are a luddite and don't watch or read the news, last week was a great time to be a Trojan, and at the same time, an

"Monitoring" Our Resources

by Don Rittner

Unless you're a Luddite, don't watch or read the news, or were born yesterday, last week was a special time for Trojans who appreciate their history. After 140 years of resting on the bottom of the ocean off the North Carolina coast,the 150 plus ton gun turret of the USS Monitor -- the first modern warship -- was brought to the surface last Monday by Navy divers.

It was the massive rolled iron envelope covering the hull and rivets for the turret of the ship that was made here in Troy at the Albany Rolling Mills. All of the major news outlets, ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, and others had lengthy features interviewing those responsible such as John Broadhead, the head of the project, and others as they brought the turret up from its watery grave. When one of the archeologists was asked why it was in such remarkable shape, she answered that it was obviously the result of great workmanship. Of course it was! Troy made was part of the reason.

Bad weather had delayed the rescue for a few days, but on Monday divers were able to attach an 8 legged claw and lifted it 240 feet and placed it on the deck of the waiting rescue barge, the Wotan, at 5:55 PM. It is being delivered to Newport News, Virginia, the site of the famous battle between the Monitor and Merrimac, or Virginia.

What I found remarkable about watching the news coverage is seeing the famous dents from the March 9, 1862 battle still visible on the turret. There are published pictures of the Monitor shortly after the battle that shows them clearly. To see it again live in modern times was to make that 1862 photo come alive. You can view a good close up of the Turret in my new book, Troy, A Collar City History, on page 111, along with Trojan Robinson Hands and other officers posing. Divers did recover one skeleton from the inside of the turret and it could be that of Hands, who was 3^rd assistant engineer. Two other Trojans, George Geer and William Ives lived well after the famous battle.

The Monitor and the Confederate CSS Virginia also known as the USS

Merrimack made nautical history on March 9, 1862, when they engaged in the

first duel of ironclad warships. Although the fight ended in a draw, the Monitor was able to drive the Confederate away from wooden warships in the area and so was the turning point in the war for the North. It was also the end of wooden warships.

The Monitor didn't fight again and sank in an ocean storm on New Year's

Eve later that year taking with it sixteen officers and seamen with it. The Monitor was rediscovered in 1973 and its site was designated the first Marine

Sanctuary to protect the wreck. The ship had sunk with the turret upside down so getting it up was a true test of engineering.

The turret will be re-submerged again in a tank where it will be chemically treated to remove the salt and corrosion that has built up over the decades

and then go on display along with the 36-ton engine and 9 foot propeller they recovered last year and 600 other artifacts at a new $30 million museum in Newport News, Va. Further dives will try to recover other pieces but the major part of the ship has fallen to pieces.

Of course over the last few months while this recovery project was underway, here in Troy, the rolling mill that made those protective plates for the turret and the rest of the ship was being dismantled. It seems that the city Planning Commission had no problem allowing this nationally significant historic site get destroyed. Why not? In the last three years, the Fuller & Warren Stove foundry was knocked down, the Water Superintendents mansion in Lansingburgh was destroyed for a shopping strip. Three early 18^th century Burgh houses with unique architecture were leveled after a fire destroyed one of them. At the present time, the Rensselaer Rolling Mills, the other mill that helped make parts for the Monitor is falling down. Guess who owns it? Yup, the city. Did I mention the Burden Horseshoe works, the last actual foundry building of the Burden era is also falling into disrepair? Hmm I wonder who owns that?

Dear readers, the city's historic resources are like a basket of exotic fruit. Rather than enjoy them, you are letting them sit and rot. And as each fruit rots from neglect, you simply toss it out. One day you will find the basket empty, and unfortunately, unlike McDonald's, there are no refills.