In my lonely pursuits to fight for Law, Justice, and the American Way, I often find myself at social gatherings throughout the area. Inevitably, someone mentions my Troy book and every baby boomer in the room quickly turns the discussion to their memories of Troy in their youth.

I have never seen such phenomena in my life. I've visited every major city in this country. Many people have grown up in old industrial cities and share an affection with their past, but nothing like the passion exhibited by Trojans. You can tell they not only sense the loss of their city, but, to borrow from Bill Clinton, "feel the pain."

When I mention that I couldn't walk on the streets of Troy as a teen without bumping (literally) into someone, they look in disbelief. When I tell them that a Friday night on River Street between Fulton and State was like crowding into a Tokyo subway car, they call me a liar. But for those baby boomers reading this they know it's all truth that I speak.

The "Strip" as River Street was known had more bars per square feet than street lamps. There were over a dozen places with names like the Question Mark, Petar's, or Riviera. On the weekend there were so many people on the street outside these establishments you had to walk in the street to pass.

This was a time when downtown Troy was intact. It had not yet experienced the wrecking ball of urban renewal later in the 70's. What is now green space, a parking garage, and motel, was hundreds of historic buildings with retail establishments well populated by Trojans.

If you were hungry after visiting department stores like H.L. Greens, W.T. Grants, Jupiter's, S S. Kresge's, Woolworth, Denby's, Wells & Coverly, Frear's, Sears, or Stanley's, you could have a bite at Paul's, or the "Boat" (Mayflower) on River.

The "Boat" was every teenager's hangout after school where you could get an order of fries with gravy and a cherry coke for a buck and change. You could also climb the steep steps next to the Troy Theater and have chinese food at the Pagoda. Even Frear's had a snack bar, or how you could you pass up Woolworth's hamburger, fries, and coke for 49 cents?

Downtown Troy was certainly the place to be on Friday and Saturday nights when the United Traction buses would dump the kids from Beman Park, Wyantskill, Albia, and the Burg, at the corner of River and Fulton to hang out, shop, or go to the movies at Proctor's or Troy. Rock and Roll bands played above Paul's, or at the Riviera and other night spots on River Street. These places were packed and you could smell the English Leather or Canoe that young males picked up (and applied way too much) at Denby's in an effort to attract the opposite sex.

Stores were open till 9 or later and the city lit up at night. There wasn't much you couldn't find in downtown Troy.

If you stood at the corner of Frear's you were greeted by a friend in a few minutes. Each corner of the Market Block had their popular icons: Kevin Harrigan with his neatly trimmed Beatle cut and madras shirts; Willy Tilley driving his motorcycle down River; or "Ringo" and his entourage of friends cracking jokes and flashing Thumbs-Up to signal everything was ok. You looked forward to seeing them all.

Yet, innocence was disappearing quickly. Vietnam was escalating and each week we would pray for the friend who was shipped off. Several returned in body bags. It was a time of drug experimentation and you tried it or not - some overdid it.

It was a time when you waited for the next new Beatles song to blast over the airwaves of WTRY, (on the second floor of Proctor's), or over the voice of WPTR's Boom Boom Brannigan at the mezzanine at Frear's.

Today, most baby boomers can tell you what they were doing when they first heard 'Eight Days A Week,' or other Beatles tune. The Beatles symbolized the era and were spokes people for the generation.

And then it was gone. Like a tornado that sweeps clean its path, an ill conceived plan on "revitalizing" Troy swept through downtown ripping out the guts of the city. The revitalization never materialized.

However, Troy was named for a city with seven lives. And like it's namesake, this city is coming back strong. I predict that in the not so distant future Trojans will share one part of the 60's generation - a Troy filled with people and a city alive with business, life, and entertainment.