When I first met Troy native Carl Erickson in 1974, we both were carrying placards protesting the Troy Savings Bank's proposal to demolish 50 Second Street. The bank wanted to add a couple of parking spaces to their existing lot. RPI Professor Bill Brower didn't think it wise and organized what was probably Troy's first real protest over historic preservation. We won!

I've considered Carl a friend ever since and have been amazed at how dedicated he is to Troy. Carl exemplifies what early settlers of this city had - a lot of guts and perseverance.

Carl was born here to Carl Sr. and the former Marion Kittell. Carl's dad has been there shoulder to shoulder while he pursued his passion of single-handily restoring some 7 historic buildings in this city.

I'm not talking about someone looking for government handouts, or taking short cuts in a quick rehab. Carl and his dad have painstakingly restored some of Troy's finest architectural gems and there seems to be no slowing down either.

As a boy, Carl went to School 16 and Troy High and off to Brooklyn to study at the Pratt institute for industrial design. Like many of his generation, Carl joined the Peace Corps and was sent to South America where he worked in Columbia with a company that made and exported handcrafts. Finally he left in 1967 and was drafted ending up in Korea in 1970.

While in the military, his mom sent a Record newspaper clipping about the RCCA purchasing a building along Washington Park. He was so impressed with the possibilities that he wrote a letter to the editor expressing his views that it was the start of bringing back the park.

After his military stint, Carl moved back to Troy and found a job at the New York State Museum as an exhibit designer, retiring only a few years ago.

When I first met Carl he had already purchased his first project two years earlier at 116 Third, a three-story 1880's era brick house. Prophetically, Carl's boss, after hearing of his purchase and desire to rehab the building told Carl it was a good idea stating, "it was all coming back," referring to Troy's revival. One could say that Carl may have been the first to start the revival ball rolling.

I was the city archaeologist for Albany then but at least two or three times a week I would stop in to see how Carl was progressing on his project. Always cheerful and accommodating, we would take a coffee break at the Jack in the Box, and if we weren't discussing how to solve the world's problems, the discussion would turn to the house.

After completion, Carl went on to restore the 1835 Elias Ross house at 110 Third Street, the façade on an 1830's row house at 112 First Street, followed by an 1895 Queen Anne style at 114 Washington Street. These were followed by the 1828 Federal era Colley house at 112 Third, and then he tackled 180 Fourth, an 1820's Federal wooden structure known as the "Pumpkin House."

Located in an area of Troy of homes and businesses of some of Troy's early 19th century potters, this restoration acted like a lightening rod. The Pumpkin House was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. Shortly after, others like John Pattison began purchasing other potter's homes and began restoring them, creating a community now known as the Pottery District.

Instead of resting on his laurels, Carl continued his passion by purchasing the Townsend McCoun house at 12 State Street. For the past year, he and his dad, now 91, have been bringing this Federal era building back to life. This house originally stood at the northwest corner of Second and State but was picked up and moved to the present location when the Caldwell Apartments were built in 1907.

Part of Carl's passion for Troy certainly must be attributed to his dad who always has had a positive outlook about the future of Troy. Carl continues to serve Troy as a member of the city's historic district advisory commission, which is responsible for insuring the integrity of Troy's local historic districts. A few years ago he came up with the "Watt's Up" project, a program to illuminate Troy's architectural jewels. He has been an integral part of the Barker Park restoration project and his new idea is the Plaza at Monument Square, an outdoor café where people can meet and network.

Carl is absolutely convinced that the past is our future. I'm convinced that the future of our past would have been lost without Carl showing all of us that preserving our historic buildings can be an individual journey well rewarded.