Keeping Faith in the Mission

On November 21st, Oakwood Avenue Presbyterian Church held its final worship service. An aged and dwindling congregation recognized its inability to continue supporting the little white church on the corner on its own. These dedicated and spirited members also understood how vital their services and missions were to the community. They vowed to keep the building operating as a community center and reached out to the community for support.

This isn’t the first time the congregants of OAPC have fought to save their church. When the Oakwood and Liberty congregations merged in 1963, they formed the first inter-racial congregation in the country. Then again when their steadfast refusal to concede their church building for construction of the Collar City Bridge. A glowing example of active historic preservation! Thanks to them that bridge doesn’t go all the way up to 15th.

It was through Linda O’Malley’s outreach to TRIP that The Uptown Initiative learned of their need. That little white church is at the gateway of Uptown and serves as our southeast anchoring landmark. Several of our members have volunteered and are serving on the committee that organized this evening’s concert. Tickets are $10 for adults and will be available at the door. Oh, and bring the kids ‘cause children under 12 are FREE. Won’t you join us for Songs of the Season?

Please take a few moments and vote to Revitalize Uptown Troy and those of our CDC Partners: Albany Jewish Community Center, Project Hope/Fort Edward, WSW Art Farm, Encore Theater, Palace Performing Arts Center and Hannah’s Hope.

Click here to sign up for The Uptown Initiative’s email list and to receive my daily “Uptown Tidbits” email.

Public Spirit Shines Brightly

Industry remains the spine in Troy’s economic body with public spirit being her soul. As a driving force in the Industrial Revolution, Troy became the fourth wealthiest city in the country at its peak. “Trojans are proverbial for their enterprise and public spirit. Everything which they take hold of "goes ahead". I found this quote from 1897 while researching and believe it holds true today. That public spirit shines brightly through the support we are receiving for our efforts to Revitalize Uptown Troy.

For decades, Geier & Bluhm has resided in one of our majestic and historic industrial structures. Whalen Tent, when given the opportunity to move their business, remained faithful to its roots and chose another historic set of buildings within the same neighborhood. Mcbain Electric seized an opportunity to expand their business also by acquiring and restoring yet another historic warehouse in Uptown. High tech company IEM chose Uptown also, showing their commitment to historic preservation in the way they handled the restoration and re-purposing of long-vacant commercial buildings in the heart of Uptown.  For businesses, Uptown is a viable place to be.

Please continue supporting The Uptown Initiative’s efforts and those of our CDC Partners: Albany Jewish Community Center, Project Hope/Fort Edward, WSW Art Farm, Encore Theater, Palace Performing Arts Center and Hannah’s Hope.

Click here to sign up for The Uptown Initiative’s email list and to receive my daily “Uptown Tidbits” email.

Industrious Indeed

It was hard work, determination and guts that made Uptown Troy NY productive industrially. Those great Trojan industrialists recognized the advantages of being located in “middle-ground”. Even more so, they recognized the resource that is the Hudson River.  She not only provided them a cost effective shipping, she provided them with hydropower.  Magnificent factory structures still line our riverfront today.

Remnants of Troy’s original north/south roadway, North First Street, which was constructed of native cobblestones can still be walked today. You’ll find it just east of The Ale House off of North Street. What is now River Street was once a canal that fed the Hudson’s water through hydro-systems in the sub-floors of the factories. Today easy access to the Hudson River Fishery can be gained two blocks north at the Ingalls Avenue Boat Launch.

The possibility of developing city owned land adjacent to the boat launch into a service area for boaters or a park for residents and visitors alike is an appealing one. I spent my teen years playing in that very area. Needs a bit of cleaning up but is ideally located close to the Federal Dam. My friends and I understand that while we continue working to Revitalize Uptown Troy, so too are we working for the betterment of the whole community of Troy.

Please continue supporting The Uptown Initiative’s efforts and those of our CDC Partners: Albany Jewish Community Center, Project Hope/Fort Edward, WSW Art Farm, Encore Theater, Palace Performing Arts Center and Hannah’s Hope.

Click here to sign up for The Uptown Initiative’s email list and to receive my daily “Uptown Tidbits” email.

She was the Corner Market

On the corner of Douw Street and Sixth Avenue sits one of the oldest buildings in Uptown. Originally serving the neighborhood as a Butcher’s shop, it’s now home to the Troy Police Department’s North Central Sub-Station. It’s a bit strange for me walking into the building these days. For me it will always be Ursula’s, one of three corner markets that operated at this corner in the ’60’s and ’70’s.

Velotti’s Market operated for decades in that building and the business was a stabilizing force in the neighborhood. Many families in our neighborhood depended on the store for their daily supper and oft times were a little shy on cash. Her proprietor Ursula had a heart of gold. Rather than see families go hungry, she would extend credit by running a tab that the families would settle once a month. Ursula took care of her neighbors and I believe she’d be thrilled by our efforts to Revitalize Uptown Troy.

The members of the CDC (Capital District Causes) have extended honorary membership to Hannah’s Hope. Please join us in supporting the efforts of our neighbors in Clifton Park with one of your remaining 9 votes today.

Please continue supporting The Uptown Initiative’s efforts and those of our CDC Partners: Albany Jewish Community Center, Project Hope/Fort Edward, WSW Art Farm, Encore Theater and Palace Performing Arts Center. We hope to add more CDC members soon. If you know of a worthy Upstate NY Project, leave a comment on our page when you vote with some info.

Click here to sign up for The Uptown Initiative’s email list to receive my daily “Uptown Tidbits” email.

Troy's Epicenter

At the epicenter of current day Troy NY rises Mount Olympus. Although Uptown’s Mt. Olympus isn’t home to Greek Gods, it is the landmark that Middleburgh grew out of.   Mount Olympus has played an important role in the development of our neighborhood and we’re darned proud of it. Fact is, Uptown has played a key role in the development of Troy from its very beginning. Our efforts to Revitalize Uptown Troy is a another step towards the rejuvenation of Troy itself. Our residents have always been strong in their convictions and not shy about standing up for them either.  Kinda like Mt. Olympus.

During the Civil War, Uptown was still the border area between Troy and Lansingburgh. When the Draft Riots started in July 1862, rabble-rousers from the South End and Downtown began marching north in an effort to recruit more rioters. It was at Mount Olympus that their march north was stopped. The mob was forced to turn back south where they ended up destroying the offices of The Troy Times and killing many innocent citizens.

General John E. Wool, a lawyer from Troy, was serving as the commander of the Department of the East during the Draft Riots, retiring soon afterwards. General Wool is buried at Oakwood Cemetery. The large towering obelisk installed to memorialize him can be seen for miles on a clear day.

Please continue supporting The Uptown Initiative’s efforts and those of our CDC Partners: Albany Jewish Community Center, Project Hope/Fort Edward, WSW Art Farm, Encore Theater and Palace Performing Arts Center. We hope to add more CDC members soon. If you know of a worthy Upstate NY Project, leave a comment on our page when you vote with some info.

Click here to sign up for The Uptown Initiative's email list and to receive my daily “Uptown Tidbits” email.

Perhaps Don can give us a brief lesson

My Papa was caretaker, driver and maintenance man for the Sisters of the Good Shepherd in the ’40’s & ‘50’s. Dad tells stories of riding with him on laundry deliveries. The family home for decades was the carriage house on the corner of Peoples & Eleventh. When RPI acquired the Peoples Avenue Complex, they kept Papa on to continue taking care of it. That is, until most of it was torn down in the mid-70’s coincidental to Papa reaching their “required” retirement age. My love/hate relationship with RPI has thus been life-long.

Imagine my surprise when I learned that the great RPI had its beginnings in the very same area that my ancestors chose to plant roots: North Central. The Rensselaer School opened its doors nearly 185 years ago in Middleburgh, occupying the old Farmer’s Bank building. Perhaps the community of RPI is willing to support our efforts to Revitalize Uptown Troy. We challenge them to live their pledge of “Comm-University”.

The surname from yesterday’s question was Eddy. Perhaps Don Rittner can give us brief lesson? Please continue supporting The Uptown Initiative’s efforts and those of our Capital District Coalition Partners: Albany Jewish Community Center, Project Hope/Fort Edward, WSW Art Farm, Encore Theater and Palace Theater. We hope to add more CDC members soon. If you know of a worthy Upstate NY Project, leave a comment when you vote with some info.

Click here to sign up for The Uptown Initiative's email list and to receive my daily “Uptown Tidbits” email.

A Great Foundation to Start with right Tina?

I’ve been told many times by people how amazed they are with the work that The Uptown Initiative has been able to accomplish in such a short amount of time. Yes, we have begun to see a change enveloping the areas we have focused on in our 9-month existence. However, without the dedicated work of Tina Urzan, Thila Belle and Nina Glandz amongst many others Uptown wouldn’t be ready for the revitalization we perceive it is about to receive. We had a great foundation to start with right Tina?

We understand that, throughout the histories of Troy and Lansingburgh, our area connected the two entities - at first separating them and then merging them together. Middleburgh, or Batesville as then also known, was chosen as home to The Farmer’s Bank precisely because it was located smack dab in the middle. Therefore, we understand that from our core we can Revitalize Uptown Troy.

The North Central and South Lansingburgh neighborhood associations have worked as a team for years and The Uptown Initiative was born of that collaboration. That's why we have joined the Albany Jewish Community Center, WSW Art Farm, Encore and Palace Theaters and Project Hope/Fort Edward as part of the CDC.  Working together works. Can it be said better than this?

“United we stand; Divided we fall.”-A. Lincoln