Learning The Plaques Of Troy!

By Don Rittner

This column is a bit on the interactive side. You’re going to have to do something to get all the information I’m offering — so take a walk. Hey, a little walk around the city is good for you.

Trojans have always loved a good celebration. Today, we have the RiverFest in the summer and Victorian Stroll during the winter, but they are pale compared to the really big celebrations that have occurred over the last 100 years in this city. Take "Troy Week" for example.

Back in 1908, a Troy booster by the name of Bert E. Lyon floated the idea of a Troy Week to celebrate the city and its citizens. The idea was adopted quickly by the Chamber of Commerce. During the week of September 6-9, 1908, the city was packed with thousands of people as each day brought on new events. The opening day on Sunday, September 6 was Church Day where special services were held at Prospect Park. Monday was filled with parades, picnics, and concerts. Tuesday, September 8, was Civic Day and the annual parade of the Police and Fire departments, local militia, clubs and floats honoring Troy’s industries marched down the main streets. That afternoon saw auto rides (a big deal then), Hudson River sailing, hot air balloons floating over the city, baseball and other athletic events. Wednesday was Education Day and schools such as Emma Willard, RPI, and the city public schools were open to the public. In the afternoon a huge parade with 15 historical floats and 15 marching groups of local students and faculty marched downtown. During the evening fireworks lit up Prospect Park and Rensselaer Park in the "Burgh." The city was decorated with arches across the streets, colonnades, flags, bunting, posters and more. From everything I read, it was one heck of a party.

However, a more subdued event took place on that Monday, the unveiling of ten bronze historical plaques by the Chamber’s Historic Committee. Here is the interactive part of this column. Half of the plaques are gone, and I will describe them below, but there are five surviving plaques. Your mission, if you decide to accept it, will be to find the existing plaques, write down what they say and send them to me. The first five persons who correctly identify all five will get a free copy of my book, Images of America — Troy (Arcadia Press), courtesy of The Book Outlet (71 Fourth St) and Clement’s Art and Frame Shop (201 Broadway). .

Troy’s Top Ten

Plaque No.1 was placed at the corner of River and Middleburgh Streets. The plaque still exists but it is not on the building. Michael Kittner who is now rehabbing the building, removed it, and placed it on the inside of the building next to this office. You can still find it.

Plaque No. 2 was placed at the junction of Mill Street and the Wyantskill. It read: Near this place in 1835, 1843, 1857, HENRY BURDEN (1791-1871). First operated machines which he had invented for the manufacture of horseshoes and which became an important factor in the Civil and Military Development of the country. Plaque is missing.

Plaque No. 3 was located at the site of the former NYS State Armory, on the southeast corner of Ferry and River streets, now the Sage College. It’s missing. It read: "At or near this site -1720 — stood the homestead of Dirk Vanderheyden original proprietor of that name and later occupied by Jacob D. Vanderheyden (Middle Patroon) — 1758-1809 — Who had become owner of the farm at Vanderheyden’s Ferry or Ferry Hook Afterwards the central and compact portion of early Troy.

Plaque No. 4 is missing and was located at the northeast corner of Ferry and River Streets, now the Taylor Apartments. It read: On this site stood 1788 Ashley’s Tavern Kept by Capt. Stephen Ashley A veteran of the Revolutionary Army, an early and leading Trojan. It was long a centre for public gatherings of every nature, religious, political and social. Here the County Court first was held in Troy and here a church was first organized in Troy.

Plaque No. 5 was placed on the National City Bank Building, northeast corner of First and State streets. A newer one is there but reads the same inscription.

Plaque No. 6 was placed in the lobby of old City Hall, where Barker Park is now. It read:

To John A. Griswold and John F. Winslow, Who with two others made possible the building of the Monitor by guaranteeing her success and so turned the tide of war and revolutionized Naval construction.

Plaque No. 7 was placed on 139 Third Street but stolen. The building was torn down recently. It read: In this house probably before 1827, Detachable Shirt Collars were first made and the collar industry originated by Hannah Lord Montague 1794-1878 (Mrs. Orlando Montague) Inventor and Manufacturer.

Plaque No. 8 was placed inside the County Courthouse on the southeast corner of Second and Congress Streets. It’s there.

Plaque No. 9 was placed on the Anna M. Plum Memorial on Ferry Street, west of Second Street. It’s there.

Plaque No. 10 was placed on Russell Sage Building on Second Street between Congress and Ferry. It’s there.

So for the adventurous, find plaque numbers 1, 5, 8, 9, and 10, and send me the descriptions and get a book if you’re one of the first five to get them right.

We will talk about the bit of history that is promoted on each plaque in the coming weeks.

Let’s get back to the Troy Week celebration. I think it would be an excellent idea to have another Troy week next year, to celebrate Troy as it goes into its fourth century. We could have parades with floats representing past and present industries of Troy, and fireworks at Prospect Park would be visually appealing. I like the idea of having someone read Clement Moore’s original ‘Twas the Night before Christmas from the second floor window of the Troy Sentinel building still on River Street. A reenactment of the first performance of Uncle Sam’s Cabin, first performed in the United States here in Troy, perhaps in old Harmony Hall. An open house at the schools, both public and private, with lectures and seminars about Troy history is a must. River races down the Hudson, hot air balloons in the sky, contests, and perhaps a tribute through theatrical productions to past industries like iron and collars (mini plays or demonstrations). Let’s do it! What do you think?

©1999 Don Rittner

Got history? Contact Don at drittner@aol.com or P.O. Box 50216, Albany, NY 12205. Don is the author of Images of America-Troy (Arcadia Press) and is president of The Learning Factory.