A Walk Through Historic South Troy, New York

 

 

The Hudson River Valley is filled with old industrial cities. New York City, Yonkers, Poughkeepsie, and Hudson all have served as manufacturing centers starting in the 18th century. But much of their architectural histories have been taken away by the urban renewal movement that started in the 1960’s. Even Albany has lost a lot of its historical buildings. But there is a city that still holds on to that past - Troy, New York.

I first visited Troy when I was still a teacher, as we took several students to visit Russell Sage college in the city. It really grabbed my interest when I visited the Burden iron Works Museum in 2017 (you can read my blog about it here). During a drive through the Troy in 2023, I was struck by how much of the city, especially in the South Troy neighborhood, still had its older buildings, both industrial and residential.Some are in better shape than others, but walking through South Troy can take you back one hundred years or more.

My exploration of South Troy started at the Gasholder House. This structure was built in 1873. It contained a metal tank that was 100 feet in diameter and that could telescope up to a height of 50 feet. The purpose of the tank was to store coal-gas, a manufactured fuel that was used to power local industries and to provide light and cooking fuel to homes nearby. The facility was used until the 1920’s when coal gas was widely replaced by natural gas. The metal tank was dismantled and sold for scrap, but the building survives and today it is one of only eleven remaining gasholder structures in the United States.

The neighborhood of SouthTroy was developed in the 19th century. Residences were built cheek and jowl by small industrial buildings. As I walked through the area it was obvious that this was still a working class neighborhood. Lots of buildings were in need of work, ranging from superficial painting to more serious structural help. But it was not an abandoned area. People were out on the street. Cars were parked in front of buildings. Residences were obviously occupied, and old factories have been repurposed and are open for business. 

 

One place to make to visit in South Troy is the Renascent Book Bindery. This 19th century building is a living museum, and the passion project of Time James. Mr. James runs tours through the building that cover the history of book making, from the days of papyrus scrolls to modern manufacturing. He provides live demonstrations of historic techniques of both printing and binding books, and even offers some hands on experiences for visitors. It is place that answers so many “how did they do that?” questions.

Mr. Tim James

Casting type

 
So, when you come up to New York’s Capital Region, make sure to come across the Hudson River and explore Troy, New York.

Nuts and Bolts

• South Troy is about 7 miles north of downtown Albany, on the east side of the Hudson River.
• The Gasholder House is located at 113 Jefferson Street, Troy, NY
• The Renascent Book Bindery is located at 1277 5th Ave, Troy NY. It is open Thur - Sun from 2:00 PM to 4:00PM. And on Thursdays from 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM. Go to Eventbrite to book tickets. There is no fee, but donation are requested.