Not many businesses from the 1905 Albany Directory are still around. Danker Florist has been around since 1898. Amazingly, they outlived Maiden Lane, once one of Albany’s most important commercial streets, the gateway to the docks and a hive of commerce for all kinds of goods that came by boat. Now only a short strip of Maiden Lane survives between Pearl and Broadway, best known for being a hive of sandwich shops. The rest of its path was pretty much lost until the pedestrian walkway over I-787 was built. Why that’s not called the Maiden Lane Bridge (instead of “Hudson River Way,” which no one calls it) I’ll never know.
In fact, in a typical act of orneriness, I’m calling it the Maiden Lane Bridge from now on.
Why does every waterfront community have a Maiden Lane? I’d like to know.
I vote for “maiden voyage” having something to do with it. got yer back on the “Maiden Lane Bridge” thing (I’m new and don’t know any *other* name…)