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Albany Architects: Philip Hooker
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There could hardly be an architect who had more of an impact on the look of Albany as it grew into a substantial city in the early 19th century than Philip Hooker. He was widely respected, influential in politics and society Hooker’s classical stylings let the city start to rise above its simple Dutch…
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George D. Babbitt
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Babbitt & Co. was once one of Albany’s greatest clothiers. When they took out this ad in 1913, the business was 13 years old and their store was located at 451-453 Broadway, just about at the intersection with Maiden Lane. By 1927 they had moved up to 67 North Pearl. Neither of their buildings…
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Flint Granite
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The Flint Granite Company had its office and works at the Albany Rural Cemetery. As noted in this 1902 ad, it succeeded the James Gazeley company which was established in 1861. Arden A. Flint came from Barre, Vermont, the granite memorial capital, and took over Gazeley’s business around 1898. It also consolidated the businesses…
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The Rise of the Individual Cup
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This has nothing to do with Capital District history, but having run across this 1911 article from Municipal Journal & Public Works, I thought I should share this vision of a world that wasn’t filled with plastic bottles: Portland Urges Using Individual Cups Portland, Ore. – Individual drinking cups not only are becoming popular,…
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1911: Work on Albany’s New Dock Rapidly Progressing
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Municipal Journal & Public Works, 1911: Albany, N.Y. – The work of constructing the new recreation pier at the foot of State street, Albany, began June 19. Thus far this summer the contractor has had but two days in which the water was low enough to permit the work to be done. The piles…
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Ironic Juxtaposition
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One doesn’t imagine that the advertising manager for the 1902 “History of the Police Service of Albany” explicitly intended these two advertisements to end up directly adjacent to each other. (He probably didn’t intend the typo in “Brothers,” either.) Four Brothers Independent Oil appears to have been a regional supplier that began in Albany.…
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Miss J. Kimmey, Costumer
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An image from the 1902 Albany directory, which included some Troy listings as well. Miss J. Kimmey was a masquerade and theatrical costumer, with thorough knowledge of the business and twenty years experience. She had shops at 342 River and 11 Fourth streets in Troy; presumably the Santa Claus outfits were available in both.
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The Five Precinct Station-houses
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A little more from the “History of the Police Service of Albany,” 1902: With an adequate and efficient police force to run down and apprehend wrongdoers, Albany is by no means handicapped by insufficient or badly appointed station-houses. It is quite as important to keep a criminal in custody as it is to arrest…
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Albany’s Final Hangings
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Shall we continue with the recitation of murders from 1902’s “History of the Police Service of Albany”? Yes, let’s do. On April 1, 1858, Emil Hartung of Division Street, just below Green Street, died under suspicious circumstances. “Living in the same house was William Rheinmann, and it was current gossip that his relations with…
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Hanging Weather in Albany
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Ready for some more murder? After the hanging of Jesse Strang, the “History of the Police Service of Albany” tells us that: “The next recorded execution for murder and the first one away from the eye of the general public, is that of Jacob Leddings, who shot and killed his wife Hannah, in the…