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Able was I ere I saw Albia? Albia is a neighborhood of Troy that is a vital little urban fragment, the right mix of homes and shops, a neighborhood that seems to get by. Weise’s 1886 “The City of Troy and its Vicinity” has a listing for Albia:
“Albia, in the fifth ward, is about 2-3/4 miles southeast of the court-house. A map of the village was made in February, 1813, by William McManus. In Spafford’s Gazetteer of the State of New York of 1824, Albia is described as ‘a scattered village of some 40 houses and about 200 inhabitants, 2-1/2 [miles] from the city, in the 5th ward.’ The Albia Cotton Factory was then ‘an extensive and growing establishment, having 1,700 spindles and 30 water power looms in operation, with a bleach.’ Below Albia village was ‘another bleaching establishment,’ where cloths were ‘bleached, dressed, callendered and neatly done up for 6 cents a pound, 1 to 2 cents a yard, on common cotton goods.’ The Pawling Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church, the Third Presbyterian Church, and the Troy & Albia Horse Car Company’s depot, are on the north side of Washington Street. The engine house of the Hope Steam Fire Engine Company, No. 7, is on the south side of the street, near the Grist-mill road. Horse cars run to Albia half-hourly in the day-time from the intersection of Congress and River streets.”
Albia’s Hope No. 7 firehouse remains as a community center.