Author: Carl Johnson

As we said last time, with these last several tablets commemorating Albany’s 1886 bicentennial, we’re down to honoring streets instead of people. This one was for Hamilton Street: Tablet No. 33—Hamilton Street.Bronze tablet, 7×16 inches, corner building at Hamilton and Pearl streets. Inscription: “Hamilton Street formerly Kilbey Lane.” We have some bad news about…

The last several tablets placed by the Albany Bi-centennial Committee in 1886 were simple commemorations of several streets – and not always major ones. Some still exist, but this one has disappeared. Tablet No. 32—Washington AvenueBronze tablet, 7×16 inches, placed on corner of Capitol building. Inscription: “Washington Avenue, formerly King, then Lion Street.” The…

The Albany Bicentennial Committee chose to honor Academy Park with a bicentennial plaque – interesting in that it is the only one that celebrates a public space (not counting particular streets that were commemorated, which we’ll get to). Washington Park didn’t get such a mention, and Lincoln Park didn’t exist yet. But news accounts…

Another Albany bicentennial marker, and another one that long ago disappeared without a trace. So did whatever building it was originally installed on, probably another building after that, and, eventually, any evidence that any buildings had ever been there. Bronze tablet, 16×22 inches, placed in wall of building south-east corner of North Pearl and…

Today we have another Albany Bicentennial tablet that survived despite major construction at the area of its original placement more than a century ago. The Bicentennial Committee titled it “The South-East Gate,” but it covers much more than that: Bronze tablet, 11×23 inches, in a granite block, similar to No. 7, in the walk,…

Continuing our series on the tablets installed at important sites around the city of Albany in honor of the bicentennial of its charter, in 1886: Tablet No. 28 — North-West Gate.Bronze tablet, 9×13 inches, set in building occupied by Johnston & Reilly, North Pearl street. Inscription :“Here Stood the Northwest Gate of the city.…

Of all the Albany Bicentennial Tablets that have disappeared, perhaps the most ironic and unjust is the tablet celebrating printer and publisher Joel Munsell – no one has done more to record and preserve the history of the city of Albany, and in thanks, we commemorate him with: exactly nothing. Without his work, particularly…

Continuing our slow march through the tablets placed in honor of the bicentennial of Albany’s charter as a city, we have a marker that denoted the site of what was for many years the most important house in Rensselaerswyck – the manor house of the patroon. Tablet No. 25 — Manor House, Albany Bronze tablet,…

Continuing our review – our very slow review – of the historical markers that were placed around Albany in honor of the bicentennial of the city’s charter in 1886. City Gate where News of Burning of Schenectady was Received.Bronze tablet, 24×32 inches, in face of north wall of American Express building, at Broadway and Steuben…