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Map Week: Peebles (or Peobles) Island
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Today simplified spelling has it as “Peebles Island,” but this treasure of the Capital District was originally spelled “Peobles” back to the days of the original patroon. This 1891 Watson map doesn’t show any of the industry on the island, where the Cluett-Peabody company and its various iterations had a bleach and dye works.…
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Map Week: Van Schaick Island and Lansingburgh
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So, now, where was this map a couple of weeks back when I was writing about the powerful Powers family of Lansingburgh? Here, the family estates are prominently featured on this 1891 Watson map. Today, part of their plot remains as Powers Park. Rensselaer Park, with its horse track, is now a school complex,…
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Map Week: Albany Rural Cemetery
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From another 1891 Watson map, the Albany Rural Cemetery. I had no real idea that the lakes had names, though I’m sure it’s featured in all the books. Note that there was no road to the south gate at the time. Nice to see the estate of Louis Menand, a remarkable character you really…
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Map Week: RPI Hill
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In 1891, there was a whole lot less RPI than there is today. And more College Pond, apparently. This map shows the western edge of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Eighth Street in Troy, when the venerable technical academy was still neighbored to the north by the Troy Hospital, and to the south by…
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Map Week: Troy Factories
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Hoxsie’s busy with storm duty this week. (I suppose if one is into history, one must be into historic storms.) So, it’s Map Week. Look at pretty pictures. These are from an 1891 map by Watson & Co., which made maps with such detail that in the areas out of the cities individual homes…
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C.M. Hawley Book & Job Printers
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The “C.M.” in C.M. Hawley, successor to Taylor & Hawley Book & Job Printers, was “Clara M.” Parker’s “Landmarks of Albany County” in 1897 said, “Among the numerous printing establishments in Albany it would be hard to find one where prompt service and fair dealing more abound than in that owned by Mrs. C.M.…
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Mix’s Diamonds, Jewelry and Silverware
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“Any watch you want can be found here, with price and guarantee always satisfactory. Diamonds, jewelry and silverware at Mix’s.” When this ad appeared in 1898, James Cadwell Mix was getting on in years. Kollock’s “State of New York” from 1882 said: “Many advantages contribute toward making Albany agreat purchasing centre, and to…
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Sieg Illch, Tailor
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“Sieg Illch, Tailor, No. 130 South Pearl Street. – In a review of the commercial enterprises of Albany it will be observable that some houses possess advantages over others in the same line of business, the result in some cases of longer experience and in others of a greater natural aptitude for the particular…
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