Part of being human is dealing with challenges. One interesting challenge in our history has been how to cross large bodies of water. Recent archeological evidence suggest that the first people to populate America may have travelled from Polynesia by boat, and not just simply walk across a land connection in the Bearing straits, as previously thought.

Once people arrived though the next challenge was crossing mighty rivers like the Hudson. Today, we laugh at the idea that crossing a river is much of a problem. Our modern technology whizzes us over bridges in seconds. We barely know we are crossing water in some bridge designs! But it wasn't so long ago that crossing the Hudson by bridge at Troy or Albany was a major political battle that took years to accomplish. Troy won. Well, actually Lansingburgh was first!

The Union Bridge, built in 1804, was the first bridge to span the Hudson connecting Waterford to Lansingburgh, at the site of the present bridge. At a cost of $20,000, it was declared an engineering feat. Large hewn timbers squared by hand axes were pinioned together with large wooden pegs and iron strips welded together. When it burned in 1909, it was the oldest covered bridge in America. Originally built for trolleys, and toll based, a newer iron bridge with fireproof floors took its place, and toll free.

In 1834, the Rensselaer and Saratoga Railroad spanned Troy to Green Island with a covered wooden bridge. It was the first bridge in Troy and only bridge between New York City and Waterford. It was the fuel for Troy's largest fire when a spark from an idling train engine ignited the timbers of the bridge in 1862. More than 507 buildings were burned to the ground taking out most of downtown up to 8th street. Remarkably, only 5 people died.

A second railroad bridge was built to take its place between 1876 and 1884, but made of iron and steel. In 1977, I drove over the bridge an hour before it came crashing down into the River, when a pier from the original bridge gave way.

In 1872, the second Troy bridge was built at the foot of Congress Street at a cost of $350,000. It was the second largest highway bridge in America and featured in Scientific American. It was replaced in 1915-17 by a newer electrically controlled draw bridge and became toll free. DOT had to blow it up in 1971 to replace it with the present span.

In 1880, Cohoes connected by bridge to Lansingburgh, and burned as well, to be followed by an iron bridge with wooden floors. It burned on March 4, 1920. A temporary hanging foot bridge (like the one in Indiana Jones) was erected. Old timers tell me they use to call it the "Swing," as it rocked back and forth when the winds were blowing. A new toll free concrete bridge was built in 1923.

The last historic bridge was the Menands Bridge, built in 1933, connecting South Troy to Menands. The towers have recently been taken down and there are plans to remove it for a new one.

Troy and Albany fought for first bridge rights. Albany actually proposed building a bridge in January 1814, but was opposed by Troy, Lansingburgh, and Waterford. Albany tried again in 1831, 35, 41, 54 and 56. It wasn't until April 9, 1856 that the Hudson River Bridge Company got legislative approval, 42 years later!

On February 22, 1866, Albany's first bridge opened. It was built on 21 stone piers and cost $750,000, crossing the river at Livingston Street. Rebuilt over the years, it went from serving freight trains to both freight and passenger use today. This may be the oldest 19th century bridge of its kind still spanning the Hudson. So, Albany wins the battle in the long run. None of Troy's earliest bridges remain standing.

Today, a little cabin, no larger than an average size bedroom, sits on top of the Albany bridge. George Ford, a 35 year railroad man, swings open the bridge several times a day to let boats through. Manning one of three shifts, George peers at a large wooden board that takes up the northern length of the cabin - above it a beautiful birds eye view of the Hudson. The board is filled with red and yellow monitor lights along an imaginary set of lines representing tracks. Using his 35 years of experience, George throws any series of switches that control the direction of the tracks, to make sure all trains crossing through the Rensselaer Station area stay on course.

George takes his job in stride, as most professionals do. However, it represents one of the last unique (probably disappearing) jobs in America, and one which has been going on at this site for 134 years.