New York Almanack

History, Natural History & the Arts

Colonie

A Delft Tile Mystery at Schuyler Flatts, Hudson River

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Circa 1650 delft tile with standing figure of a North American Eastern Woodland Indian manDelft tiles are traditional, tin-glazed earthenware originating from the Netherlands as early as the 16th century. They are best known for their distinctive blue-and-white or polychrome hand-painted designs.

Developed in the Dutch city of Delft during the late 1500s as a local response to imported Chinese porcelain, these tiles were popular in New Netherland and New York, and were used on walls, hearths, and fireplace surrounds. [Read more…] about A Delft Tile Mystery at Schuyler Flatts, Hudson River

1950: A Toilet Paper King’s Vessel Sinks in Lake George

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A postcard, looking west across Lake George from Diamond Point (courtesy Richard K Dean)In 1950, Mr. and Mrs. David Daniels of Loudonville, New York had a family cottage on Lake George. At the time, David Daniels was the president of Wheeler Paper Company of Albany.

Eight-decades earlier in 1871, entrepreneur and innovator Seth Wheeler, head of the business, first patented his improvement in perforated-wrapping papers. In 1891, Wheeler then re-patented his idea for perforated paper on a roll, essentially developing toilet paper as we know it today. [Read more…] about 1950: A Toilet Paper King’s Vessel Sinks in Lake George

It’s Time for the Four-Point Play in the NBA

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Joel Embiid shoots a three-point shot over Stephen Curry during the 2022 NBA All-Star Game (photo by Wikipedia user Erik Drost)No, we’re not talking about a four-point play the hard way; i.e., making a three-point shot beyond the arc while getting fouled, and then converting the free throw. Instead, we’re talking about a new four-point shot taken beyond the half-court line.

Basketball‘s three-point play originated in New York City on February 7, 1945 in a scrimmage game between Columbia and Fordham Universities when an arc 21 feet from the basket was painted on the court. Shots taken and made beyond this arc counted as three points instead of the normal two points for shots taken inside of the line. [Read more…] about It’s Time for the Four-Point Play in the NBA

Clifton Park’s Stony Creek Reservoir: Some History

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Stony Creek Reservoir, Clifton Park, NYThe Town of Colonie owns the Stony Creek Reservoir located in southern Clifton Park, just above Vischer Ferry, NY.  It was completed in 1953 at a cost of $1,800,000 and covers 297 acres holding 1.4 billion gallons of water that is carried by pipes under the Mohawk River to the residents of Colonie.

The reservoir is used primarily in the late summer months when other Colonie water sources are low.  The creation of this reservoir in 1950 began a long feud between the Town of Clifton Park and the Town of Colonie. [Read more…] about Clifton Park’s Stony Creek Reservoir: Some History

A Tribute to Conservationist Charlie Morrison, 1928-2024

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Charlie Morrison volunteering for the Association for the Protection of the Adirondacks booth of the now defunct Saratoga Environmental ExpoI don’t feel old but when most of my youth’s teachers and mentors have passed on, I know I’ve arrived. When it comes to the Adirondacks and the “forever wild” provision of our state constitution, a number of us just lost a great, very determined, and very influential teacher in that field of green. [Read more…] about A Tribute to Conservationist Charlie Morrison, 1928-2024

$600,000 in Mohawk River Watershed Grants Awarded

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Paddler on the Erie Canal Mohawk River near Utica$600,000 in grants have been awarded by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to implement the goals and objectives of the Mohawk River Basin Action Agenda 2021-2026. The Action Agenda is a five-year plan advancing efforts to conserve, preserve, and restore the Mohawk River and its watershed and the grants will support local partnerships and initiatives throughout the region. [Read more…] about $600,000 in Mohawk River Watershed Grants Awarded

William O. Stillman: Leader of Humane Societies, Friend of Animals & Children

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The Mohawk and Hudson River Humane Society's building on Fourth Street inin Troy, NYWilliam O. Stillman was born on September 9th, 1856 in Normansville, now known as Elsmere in the town of the Bethlehem, Albany County, NY. His parents were Rev. Stephen Lewis Stillman and Lucretia (Miller) Stillman.

Rev. Stephen Lewis Stillman was a Methodist minister at the First Methodist Episcopal Church in Adamsville (now Delmar) and a descendant of a family that had emigrated from London, England. Lucretia (Miller) Stillman was of Dutch descent. Rev. Stephen suddenly died in 1869, when William was 12 years old. After his father’s death, William and his mother moved to Albany. [Read more…] about William O. Stillman: Leader of Humane Societies, Friend of Animals & Children

Theophilus Roessle: From Celery King To Hotelier

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an Erie Canal packet boat, possibly, as was often the case overcrowded with immigrantsTheophilus Gottlieb Roessle was born in Stuttgart in the Kingdom of Wurtemberg, Germany, on March 19th, 1811. His father was a successful market farmer and builder in the community. Like many of the children in his homeland, Theophilus received a good quality education that his father supplemented with a solid training in agriculture.

While still a young boy, Theophilus learned the peculiarities inherent in the cultivation of plants. [Read more…] about Theophilus Roessle: From Celery King To Hotelier

The Transcontinental Railroad & The Capital District

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OnJupiter locomotive May 10, 1869 the first United States Transcontinental Railroad was completed when a 17.6-karat gold ceremonial spike was driven into a railroad tie by Leland Stanford.

Begun in 1863, the “Pacific Railroad” or “Overland Route” was a joint, although competitive, endeavor between the Central Pacific Railroad (CPRR), moving east from San Francisco to meet the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) which headed west from Council Bluffs, Iowa. The two railroad lines finally met at Promontory Point, Utah, after workers laid 1,912 miles of contiguous track. [Read more…] about The Transcontinental Railroad & The Capital District

Leland Stanford, The Bull’s Head & Albany’s 19th Century Cattle Market

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Leland Stanford portrait by Jean-Louis-Ernest Meissonier, 1881, courtesy Stanford MuseumCalifornia’s 8th Governor and long-time Senator Leland Stanford, namesake of Stanford University and one-time president of the Central Pacific Railroad, has a unique connection to New York State’s Capital District.

Leland was born in Watervliet in 1824, the son of Josiah Stanford and Elizabeth Phillips. Among his seven siblings were New York Senator Charles Stanford (1819-1885) and Australian spiritualist Thomas Welton Stanford (1832-1918). The elder Stanford was a wealthy farmer in the eastern Mohawk Valley before moving to the Lisha Kill in Albany County where Leland was born. [Read more…] about Leland Stanford, The Bull’s Head & Albany’s 19th Century Cattle Market

Stony Creek Reservoir: A Short History

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VischerdaalThe Town of Colonie in Albany County, NY, owns the Stony Creek Reservoir located in southern Clifton Park, just above Vischer Ferry in Saratoga County. It was completed in 1953 at a cost of $1,800,000 and covers 297 acres holding 1.4 billion gallons of water that is carried by pipes under the Mohawk River to the residents of Colonie.

The Latham Water District closed the floodgates on the dam across Stony Creek in the beginning of June 1953. By June 14 the lake began to form with a depth of 12 feet. [Read more…] about Stony Creek Reservoir: A Short History

Historians Podcast: Schuyler Flatts in Colonie, NY

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The Historians LogoThis week on The Historians Podcast, Colonie town historian Kevin Franklin explains the historic importance of Schuyler Flatts, now a town park between Menands and Watervliet near the Hudson River.

The land previously was a home of the prominent Schuyler family and an early residence of Arent Van Curler, the founder of Schenectady. [Read more…] about Historians Podcast: Schuyler Flatts in Colonie, NY

Can You Identify These Photos?

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Fairview home album photo 5 uknown mill complex009An old photo album of the Fairview Home For Friendless Children was recently rediscovered while beginning an inventory process of materials in the Collection of the Town of Colonie Historian’s Office and Historical Society.

In the album were these three photos depicting a deep gorge with either a train or trolley trestle in the background, and a view of a very interesting mill complex that may have existed in the Capital District area.  [Read more…] about Can You Identify These Photos?

Shirely Dunn’s History of the Mohican in the Capital District

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Shirley Dunn RIver Indians Mohican History BookShirley W. Dunn’s The River Indians: Mohicans Making History (Purple Mountain Press, 2009) presents a stirring look at the historic events in which the Mohicans, living along both banks of the Hudson River, participated.

Leaders among the native nations on the Hudson, Mohicans welcomed Henry Hudson, who visited them for 13 days. They initiated the upriver fur trade and continued it for a century, especially from Dutchess County to Lake Champlain. [Read more…] about Shirely Dunn’s History of the Mohican in the Capital District

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