In the late 1960's, Albany Historian John Wolcott helped conduct a survey of historic sites for the Hudson River Valley Commission, a New York State agency that was established by the Legislature in 1966 to coordinate planning along the Hudson River, and to encourage the balanced development of the Valley's land and resources. In 1969, the commission published, "Historic Resources Inventory in the Hudson Valley," and listed Wolcott's finds - three early Dutch American farm houses on Jordan Road in North Greenbush.

Five years later, Wolcott and I were exploring one of the old houses - the abandoned 18th century (c.1740) Philip Defreest House, and the Dutch barn associated with it. As we poked our heads above the hayloft area of the barn, we heard two loud "thuds," six inches from our ears. It was the sound of two arrows striking nearby hay bales with our heads poking in between them. A few archers were practicing their bows and came within inches of making us the targets.

Around 1977, RPI began to purchase the land along with hundreds of acres more (1,250 acres total) for the development of a technology park. However, there was some concern about RPI tearing down the Defreest House and an effort was made by the North Greenbush Historical Society and others to ask RPI not to destroy this early historic site. In fact, RPI did offer to give it to anyone if they would pick it up and move it off site. I even toyed with the idea, but it would have cost $30,000, a big sum in those days.

As we know, RPI did the right thing. Even after it was gutted by fire by vandals in 1982, RPI completely restored it, and it now serves as the Tech Park's main offices. It is a fine example that historic preservation can coexist with 21st century technology.

In 1978, RPI president George Lowe directed the school to conduct a feasibility study for the tech park. A master plan was developed, and by 1983, they had their first tenant (National Semiconductor). Michael Wacholder, the park director has been involved with it from the beginning and not only has been a champion of bringing technology to the park, but also instrumental in insuring the survival of the historic Defreest House.

Wacholder is not your average director. He served as a member of the planning board of the Town of East Greenbush for 18 years, while serving as its chairman for a decade. Not only did he oversee the preservation of the Defreest House, including the hood beam of the jambless fireplace (has curved-soffit braces, a rarity in Dutch American houses), he was also a member of the team that saved downtown Troy's magnificent "Rice" Building (actually the "Hall" Building, built by attorney Benjamin Hall in 1871 - no one knows why it's called Rice), and still manages the Victorian building from the Defreest House offices.

Wacholder is now dedicated to go one step further and restore the Dutch barn next to the Defreest House. This barn, which has been modified over the years, is going to be converted into a 21st century classroom for local school children, a conference center, and overall educational resource to promote the natural and human history of the area.

The two story barn will be restored and various bays will be converted to classrooms, breakout, and conference rooms, all centered around the barn's exposed Dutch and later period architecture. You can see the characteristic Dutch H-frame construction, beams and posts, and when finished, they will be an integral part of the new educational center. There is even talk of a trail system originating from the barn to the existing trails of the Tech Park.

Wacholder is fortunate to have the financial help of RPI Alum and honorary trustee C. Sheldon Roberts and his wife, Patricia, who have agreed to finance the restoration of the barn. They were also instrumental in restoring the Defreest House. Roberts is one of the founders of Fairchild Semiconductor, the first to build integrated circuits. There is irony here, since integrated circuits were responsible for the origin and growth of Silicon Valley in California, and the Troy region is considered the Silicon Valley of the 19th century, according to Tom Carroll, director of the Hudson Mohawk Industrial Gateway.

So the next time you hear that history has to be cleared in the name of progress, point them to RPI. If the oldest science college in the country can coexist with their historic resources, so can we.