History, Natural History & the Arts
Driving north on I-787 approaching Troy you can see an iconic building – a tall red brick building with turrets that looks like a fortress.
It’s at 1 Jackson Street. What I like to call the Fortress of Shoddy. [Read more…] about The Hudson River’s Fortress of Shoddy in Troy
The W. and L.E. Gurley Company was founded in Troy in 1845. William Gurley, and his younger brother Lewis E., were both engineering graduates of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, (RPI) in Troy.
The brothers would have been looked at as techno-geeks of their time, specializing in the invention and manufacture of precision instruments. [Read more…] about Troy’s Gurley Company: A Short History
Hannah Lord came from a family of doers. Her father, William A. Lord, was a Revolutionary War officer and author of Lord’s Military Tactics.
In 1817, Hannah married Orlando Montague, a blacksmith. Keeping in mind that most people back then didn’t have a lot of clothing, hand washing was tedious and time consuming, especially with everything else a young wife was supposed to take care of.
Throughout most of the 19th century, the attire of most men included a white shirt with starched collar and a knotted tie or cravat. Styles changed, but the need for a good white shirt did not.
[Read more…] about Women’s Labor History: Detachable Fashions & Laundry Work
Nursing uniforms can trace their origins back to the healer nuns of Medieval Europe. Up until recently, British nurses were still referred to as “sisters,” a reminder of their origins.
The nurse’s cap, which was a de rigeur part of the nurse’s uniforms up until the end of the 20th century, evolved from a nun’s wimple, the traditional head covering. The larger caps had a practical purpose in keeping the hair in place, but by the First World War, the caps had shrunk to almost decorative purposes. By mid-century they were more a symbol of accomplishment and nursing pride. Capping ceremonies were held to commemorate the completion of a nurse’s studies. By the 1970s, they were almost totally out of favor, and largely not required. Today, bouffant caps or surgeon’s caps have replaced them, when needed. [Read more…] about Nursing Uniforms: A Short History
Beginning in the 1940s, medical wear began the journey towards what we know and easily recognize today.
What we call “scrubs” originated as the white gowns and drapes that were worn by surgeons and operating staff. At first, everything was white – the doctor’s coats, the operating gowns and the nurse’s uniforms. Operating rooms were also a gleaming sanitary white, with bright task lighting. [Read more…] about Medical Scrubs: A Short History
H. Burden & Sons, also known as the Burden Iron Works, was a marvel of nineteenth century industrial ingenuity. From its foundries and assembly lines in South Troy, the company produced horseshoes that shod the Union Army, railroad spikes for tracks that crossed the continental United States, and rivets, for, well, just about everything.
The inventor of the Ferris Wheel, George Washington Gale Ferris Jr., was an 1881 graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). He was no doubt influenced by one of Troy’s most impressive industrial monuments – the Burden Water Wheel. [Read more…] about The Burden Iron Works of Troy: A Short History
By the middle of the 19th century, Americans realized that parks provided a spot of nature and greenery amidst an increasingly busy and industrialized world. Many men, women and children worked six days a week, and never had the time or resources to get away.
Yes, parks were beautiful, but they were also very important for mental and physical health. Cities that wanted to thrive began looking for space and funding for public parks. [Read more…] about Garnet Douglass Baltimore: Troy’s Landscape Master
Troy has many iconic buildings, each unique for either an architectural, functional or historic reason. The city’s building stock is one of the reasons Troy has become a favorite Capital District destination.
Walking the city’s streets is a visual treat. Within the space of blocks one can see more than 200 years of architecture and history. [Read more…] about The Rice Building: A Celebrated Troy Landmark