It was announced in the Record last week that Ross Valve was leaving Troy. Businesses leaving Troy is nothing new but Ross Valve represents the last of Troy's glorious days as an industrial city. Ross Valve is the last iron foundry in Troy.

It was the iron and textile industries that made Troy one of the leading industrial cities in America during the 19th century.

From a humble beginning, a small nail factory on the banks of the Wyantskill, Troy's iron industry grew quickly. Prior to the Revolution, New York State ironmasters shipped a total of 11, 250 tons of pig iron to Great Britain. By 1848, Troy was shipping, on the Erie Canal, almost 8000 tons of pig iron, almost as much as the entire State in prerevolution times. By 1850, there were 18 ironworks in Renssealer County, mostly Troy. In 1871, there were 32 iron foundries in the city alone.

Troy's ironworks produced stoves, architectural ironwork, valves, rails, horseshoes, nails, bar, pig iron, utensils, spikes, and almost anything else required.

Between 1830-60, the manufacture of stoves became a separate branch of the industry. After the introduction of coal for the iron furnaces after 1830, the rise of production was staggering. By 1850, Troy and Albany were producing 2/5th of the entire nation's value of 11 million dollars worth of stoves.

Other giants like the Burden Iron Company made millions of horseshoes. Starbuck, Mahoney, and others were erecting cast iron storefronts on hundreds of new businesses sprouting up in the city. Rolling mills were spitting out miles of railroad track. Everyday utensils were being cast by the thousands from specialty foundries.

Ross Valve, along with Ludlow and Eddy (in Waterford) supplied most of the valves and hydrants for local and international production.

Troy was a very busy place in the 19th century. The orange glow in the skies at night was proof that Troy was a working city.

Troy's rise in the iron industry came as no surprise to modern historians. As they say in real estate, it's location, location, and location.

Troy was near the terminus of the Erie and Champlain Canals. By creating the 'Watervliet Side Cut' across from downtown Troy, Trojans were assured access to the western markets and raw materials from the north. Raw ore and pig iron came down the Champlain Canal from the Adirondack region. Charcoal for fueling the furnaces was made in the hill towns of Rensselaer County by burning the forests. Limestone for flux was abundant throughout the area.

With the completion of the Delaware and Hudson Canal and railroad, cheap coal came north.

And the most important ingredient of all for cast iron production - molding sand - the "natural flour" that held perfect impressions for the molten iron to fill, came from the nearby Albany Pine Bush.

Ross Valve was the inspiration of George Ross who came to Troy from Scotland in 1851. Originally, he crafted furniture and patterns for the Delaware and Hudson Railroad, but in 1879 he received a patent for a "fluid pressure regulator," a direct-acting, spring loaded valve and formed Ross Valve that year, incorporating the business finally in 1917.

He followed up one patent with another that was used to control pressure in street mains and pipelines, and to regulate the flow of water between reservoirs. It is written that many of his valves made before 1900 are still in use today.

In 1893, Ross Valve moved into the present site on Oakwood Avenue near Hoosick.

Today, there are more than 800 Ross valves controlling the New York City water supply which includes all of the valves in Manhattan. Moreover, the valves which open the Panama Canal were made by Ross and are still working.

I was fortunate to bring a tour of high school students through the plant in 1988 and guided by the current owners father. At the time they were casting large water valves for Chile. I have a photo of them hanging in my office. Except for the use of electricity and OSHA requirements (protective gear, etc.), casting grey iron is done at Ross Valve basically the same way it has been done for thousands of years. It is a craft that requires muscle and talent and experience.

With these good economic times, a much needed expansion means stable jobs. And that means this 100 year old plus tradition will continue at Ross, even if the jobs are not performed in the city limits.

If Ross Valve does move as planned, it will bring to an end this important chapter in Troy's industrial history.

Troy will have indeed moved on from the Industrial Revolution to which it started, to it's new destiny, which appears to be just another player in the new "Digital Revolution."