From 1884, a description of how hacks worked. “Hack” has fallen out of favor as an alternate for “taxi,” but once referred to a horse for hire, and then generally to horse and carriage combinations. Hack Fares.–Hacks may be found standing on Broadway, between State st. and Maiden lane. Prices established by city ordinance,…

Well, seriously. Would you expect a lithographer, engraver and stationer from 1863 to use tasteful understatement in his advertisement? No, of course not. Charles Knickerbocker did not disappoint.

“The Albany Hand-book” of 1884 included this lovely illustration of the still-lovely Albany Academy building, which dates to 1815. While reciting its long academic history, the author also noted that one of the most important developments in creating the modern world took place right in this building: “It was in the upper rooms of…

1884’s “Albany Hand-book” takes an encyclopedic approach to describing the city, listing topics such as “Academy of Music” or “Anti-Rentism,” and following them with a brief description. Here’s what the author, Henry P. Phelps, had to say on the topic of: African Race.–By the census of 1880, there were 1056 negroes in Albany. Many…

Just in time for the Olympics, this post was. Four years ago, on my other site. Last week, All Over Albany resurrected Albany’s bobsled fever. Apparently, even my own daughter didn’t know that bobsledding began right on Madison Avenue, so it’s time for a re-run: The folks at All Over Albany dug up an…

The 1884 Albany Hand-book (“A Stranger’s Guide and Resident’s Manual”) provided this description of Albany’s most notable street: “State Street owes its great width to the fact that in the early history of the city most of the public buildings were in the middle of that street. It is a noble avenue, and when…