History of Albany, New York, USA

1614 - Fort Nassau is built near present-day Albany

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1615 - Albany settled by Dutch colonists - It is called Fort Orange

1664 - September 24 - Dutch Fort Orange (New Netherland) in present day Albany NY surrenders to the English

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1686 - July 22 - City of Albany, NY chartered

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1701 - The first sexually integrated jury hears cases in Albany, New York.

nationalwomenshistoryalliance.org

General Henry Knox and his troops passed through here in the winter of 1775-76 with a load of 59 cannons pulled by teams of oxen.
The cannons were captured from the British at Fort Ticonderoga and Crown Point. They were transported from Lake Champlain to Dorchester Heights, Massachusetts and used by George Washington's army on March 17, 1776 (Evacuation Day) to free Boston from British control during the American Revolutionary War.

1792 - Bank of Albany Established
In 1792, Bank of Albany was established with capital of $260,000.

The Edinburgh Encyclopaedia, Volume 3
Author Sir David Brewster
Publisher J. & E. Parker, 1832
Page 229

1797-01-01 - Albany replaces NYC as capital of NY

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1807 - The Clermont made its maiden voyage from New York City to Albany making the vessel the first successful steamboat.

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1831 - August 9 - 1st US steam engine train run (Albany to Schenectady, NY)

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August 9, 1831

1848 - SAD ACCIDENT
As the passengers by the noon train were about landing from the Boston on the bridge at the foot of Maiden lane, it gave way, by which several persons were more or less injured. GEORGE EUGAN, a hand on board of the Boston was seriously if not dangerously injured. The accident was caused by the crowding of the bridge by runners and hackmen, by which the timbers through which the chain passed, were broken off, which cause the bridge to full to the water's edge.
Albany Evening Journal
Albany, New York
August 18, 1848

1848 - APPALLING CONFLAGRATION! 500 BUILDINGS BURNED!! $3,000,000 Property Lost!!
Fire, though a good servant, is indeed a fearful master! And fearfully did this mad element rage yesterday! Our city is desolate! The ruin is appalling! The spirit sinks and the heart sickens, in contemplating such frightful losses – such side-spread ruin. Painful, most painful, is the task of gathering up the afflicting details.

Most of the commercial portion of the city, with fifteen or twenty densely populated squares, is a black and smouldering (sic) ruin. From Herkimer st., where the Fire broke out, to Columbia st., where it was arrested, in distance, is MORE THAN HALF A MILE And all that work of destruction was accomplishes in FIVE HOURS There could, therefore, have been little time to snatch property from the rapacious flames.

Amid all this suffering, there is much cause for gratitude. When the conflagration was at its height – when more than half the city was threatened, and when no human arm could save, a kind Providence interposed! The wind suddenly changed from South... Read MORE...

1852 - Fire at Albany
ALBANY, Tuesday, May 4. The Dye House, Bathing House and Infirmary of Dr. DEAN, on Norton-street, was destroyed by fire this morning. Loss $4,000. Insured for $2,300 in the Empire State Mutual Co. The buildings were owned by Dr. DEAN and Mr. V. P. Douw. Messrs. JOSEPH DAVIS and McCLURE & Co., were also losers, but not to any great extent, the fire being confined to their outbuildings - they were not insured.
The New York Times
New York, New York
May 5, 1852

1854 - Albany
Albany, the capital of New York, and the second city in importance in that state, is situated on the W. bank of the Hudson river, 146 miles N. from New York city, 164 W. by N. from Boston, and about 870 N. E. from Washington : lat 42° W N., Ion. 73° 44' 49" W. As viewed from some parts of the Hudson, the appearance of the city is highly picturesque and imposing. A low alluvial flat from 15 to 100 rods wide extends along the margin of the river, but west of this the ground rises about 220 feet in the distance of a mile. Albany, compared with most other American cities, is not remarkable for the regularity of its streets, nor gene rally speaking for the neatness or elegance of its houses ; nevertheless, it contains many handsome, and several splendid edifices. The principal street is State street, extending from the Hudson to the capitol ; from the river to Broadway it is quite narrow, but on reaching that street it widens to 150 feet or upwards, and continues of this breadth to its... Read MORE...

1860 - Albany
ALBANY CITY- was incorporated by patent July 22, 1686, having previously enjoyed divers rights and privileges, under the names of "Beverwick," "William Stadt," and Albany. The Dutch styled it "New Orange." The part of the city north of Patroon and. Quackenboss Streets, known as the "Colonie," was incorp. March 31, 1791; and again, March 30, 1801. It was made a village April 9, 1804; and was erected as a town April 11, 1808. The town was divided, and merged in Albany and Watervliet, Feb. 25, 1815. The city lies upon the w. bank of the Hudson River, a little N. of the center of the county; and embraces a strip of land about one mile wide, extending 13 1/ 2 miles in a N. W. direction to the N. boundary of the county. A narrow intervale of low land lies along the course of the river, bounded by steep banks from 150 to 250 feet high, where a barren region commences, rising toward the w., and broken by numerous sand hills and ridges. The banks which form the declivities of this tract are... Read MORE...

1869 - Soldiers' Home
The Soldiers' Home in Albany, N.Y., has been closed for lack of appropriation by the Legislature for support, and its two hundred inmates will be taken to the government institution at Augusta, Me.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
June 19, 1869

1883 - ANOTHER ROTTEN BOILER.
Albany, September 28. - Early this morning the boiler in the steamer J.S. Robinson, which lay at the foot of Waterloo Street, exploded with frightful force, instantly killing Capt. GEO. S. WARNER and Fireman WM. CLEARY, and seriously injuring FRED TINSLAR, the engineer who was blown in the water and narrowly escaped drowning. WILLARD DURAND and MELVILLE RYAN, deck hands, RICHARD VANZANDT, son of Capt. Vanzandt, of the tug Cora, from New Baltimore, which was lying alongside the Robinson were also injured. Capt. ROBINSON, of the Hattie M. Betts, was blown from his pilot-house on the wharf and severely injured. The Betts which lay at the stern of the Robinson was damaged to the extent of $1,000. The Cora was a total wreck and the C.P. Groum which was lying ahead of the Robinson had part of her upper works carried away and machinery damaged. The Robinson sank immediately, carrying with her the body of CLEARY, the fireman. One section of the boiler weighing two or three tons, was hurled... Read MORE...

1884 - CRASHING INTO A LAND SLIDE. A TRAIN ON THE WEST SHORE WRECKED AND SEVERAL PERSONS INJURED.
The Atlantic express of the West Shore Road is due at Jersey City at 7 o’clock in the morning. It lost a few minutes south of Albany yesterday morning, and a little before 5 o’clock was booming along to make up time when it crashed into landslide at a bend in the road about a quarter of a mile above Highland Station. The engine mounted the pile of dirt and rocks and swerving to the left fell flat on its side across the track for north-bound trains. The tender parted from the engine, and it attempting to get over the debris turned almost completely around, at last, also, falling on its side. It wrenched off the coupling between it and the baggage car so violently as to send the baggage car plunging up an old dirt road on the mountain side, followed by the smoking car, two first class coaches, and the Pullman sleeping car Herkimer.

When the momentum was exhausted the baggage car started down hill and telescoped the smoking car. Then the baggage car, smoking car and forward coach... Read MORE...

1888 - March 12 - A blizzard paralyzed southeastern New York State and western New England. Albany NY reported 46.7 inches of snow.

The Weather Channel
March 12, 1888

1891 - First Perforated Toilet Paper Roll is Patented by Seth Wheeler of Albany, NY
Seth Wheeler of Albany, New York, is credited with patenting the first perforated toilet paper roll in 1891. He was an American inventor and entrepreneur born in 1860. Wheeler's invention revolutionized personal hygiene and bathroom habits.

Before Wheeler's innovation, people used various materials for personal hygiene, such as newspapers, catalogs, or corn cobs. Wheeler's perforated toilet paper roll made the process more convenient, sanitary, and comfortable. The perforations allowed users to tear off individual sheets easily.

Wheeler's patent for the toilet paper roll was granted on December 22, 1891. The design included the idea of a roll of perforated paper that could be hung on a holder, making it more practical for everyday use. This marked a significant advancement in bathroom technology and set the standard for modern toilet paper.

The introduction of perforated toilet paper rolls was a game-changer, providing a more hygienic and efficient alternative to earlier... Read MORE...


Read more about Seth WHEELER

1895 - Albany
Albany, a city, capital (since 1797) of the state of New York, and of Albany co., on the W. bank of Hudson River, lat. 42° 39' 3" N., lon. 73° 32' W., 142 miles N. of New York, and at the junction of the New York Central & Hudson River, the Boston & Albany, the Rensselaer & Saratoga, the Albany & Susquehanna, and the West Shore Railroads. This position, together with the fact that the river (crossed by three double-track iron railroad drawbridges) connects here with the great lakes by the Erie Canal, and with Lake Champlain by the Champlain Canal, gives Albany great advantages as a receiving and distributing point, especially for grain and lumber, and makes it an important centre of the western trade. A project is also under consideration for so deepening the channel of the river as to make it navigable for ocean steamers directly to the Albany harbor. The city is well built, with some very fine streets and 140 acres of beautifully finished parks and boulevards (costing over... Read MORE...

1897 - KILLED BY THE CARS.
Albany, N.Y., Jan. 11. - SUSAN ROSNA, aged eight years, was struck by the Montreal express train on the Delaware & Hudson railroad entering this city at 5:40 Saturday night and her body was horribly mangled. She was coming from the canal where she had been watching the skaters, and was struck just as she stepped upon the track, which runs by the side of the canal.
Daily Iowa Capital
Des Moines, Iowa
January 11, 1897

1911 - July 4 - Temperature reached 104°F in Albany, New York

The Weather Channel

1916
Albany, a city, capital of the state of New York (since 1797) and of Albany co., on the W. bank of the Hudson River, in lat, 42° W3" N., lon. 73° 45' W., 142 miles N. of Sew York, and at the junction of the New York Central and Hudson River, the Boston and Albany, the Delaware and Hudson and the West Shore Rs. This position, together with the fact that the river, which is crossed by 3 rail road and road bridges, connects here with the great lakes by the Erie Canal, and with Lake Champlain by the Champlain Canal, gives Albany great advantages as a receiving and distributing point, especially for grain and lumber, and makes it an important centre of the western trade. Several lines of steamers connect Albany with New fork and with points on the Hudson River. The city is well built, with some very fine streets and beautifully finished parks (Washington Park) and boulevards. Leading industries on a large scale, besides printing and book- making, are the manufacture of stoves and other... Read MORE...

2023 - Whether you're a history buff, an outdoor enthusiast, a foodie, or just looking for some fun activities, Albany has something for everyone. Here's a list of places to go and things to do in Albany:
1. New York State Capitol:

Start your exploration with a visit to the New York State Capitol. This stunning architectural masterpiece is a must-see, offering guided tours that delve into the state's history and government.

2. Empire State Plaza:

Right next to the Capitol is the Empire State Plaza, a sprawling complex featuring modernist architecture, reflecting pools, and a collection of outdoor art installations. It's a great place for a leisurely stroll or to enjoy a picnic.

3. Albany Institute of History & Art:

For a deeper dive into Albany's history and culture, visit the Albany Institute of History & Art. The museum houses an impressive collection of art, artifacts, and exhibitions that showcase the region's heritage.

4. Washington Park:

If you're in the mood for some greenery, head to Washington Park. It's a beautiful urban park with walking paths, gardens, and even a lake. In the spring, the park's tulip display is a sight to behold.

5. USS Slater... Read MORE...