Start Reading for our Next Book Club...

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Jan 2022

Our previous book clubs have been such a hit; we imagine this one will be no different. For Spring 2021, we will be partnering with the NYS Writers Institute reading Roscoe by William Kennedy Why not add it to your Christmas list? Shop local at the Book House or use Bookshop.org and choose a local book shop to donate the proceed to.

A Study into Arbor Hill: Introduction

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When I began my internship earlier this year at The Historic Albany Foundation, I wasn't sure what topic my research would be focused on. Albany is full of spectacular architecture, which is one of the reasons I was drawn to the city, and to applying to intern with HAF. Keeping my social justice minor in mind and with my slight knowledge of the history of redlining in Albany, myself and my internship supervisor landed on the area of Arbor Hill. This neighborhood is located in the northeast section of Albany and dates back to the 17th Century. In more recent history, the neighborhood felt the impact of redlining - the now illegal practice of withholding services (financial/healthcare/insurance) from those who lived in ‘hazardous’ areas, often affecting those of racial and ethnic minorities the most acutely.

This brings us to “A Study of Arbor Hill”. I wanted to explore the beginnings of this neighborhood, its 200-year journey to where it is now, and where its future might lie. Arbor Hill has always been an evolving community, from its lumber industry origins to its life as a residential hub. In this series of blogs I want to delve into the wealth of history, buildings, and stories that lie between Clinton Avenue and Tivoli Street.

In my first post, I will begin with Arbor Hill’s origin - originally a sweeping wooded landscape. After the conclusion of the French and Indian War (1754-1763) and the removal of the stockade around Albany, this area’s development began. In 1815 Arbor Hill was officially annexed into Albany city limits, with the Patroon, Stephen Van Rensselaer,  granting land from the Dutch government. A prominent family (the Ten Broecks) staked their claim and left a permanent mark on the area with the construction of a mansion. Many others choose to build elaborate homes in a variety of architectural styles close by, these buildings an enduring monument that speaks to the prosperity of the time. The causes of this surge of development? Cose proximity to the prosperous lumber industry, and major water and trading route: the Erie Canal.

 

Photo credit: KIM PARKER

 

Albany from the East Side of the River, William Hart (1823-1894).
Photo credit - Albany INSTITUTE

 

“This brings us to “A Study of Arbor Hill”. I wanted to explore the beginnings of this neighborhood, its 200-year journey to where it is now, and where its future might lie….”

Next came the beginning of the Great Migration with thousands of African Americans moving from the rural south to cities in the North of the country to escape discrimination, followed by the Roaring 20s with all its economic prosperity. My second blog will focus on the time period following this: the global catastrophe that was the Great Depression. How would this change the course of Arbor Hill’s development and those who call it home? The steps the Government would take, both in Albany and in cities all around the country, would have a lasting impact for years to come. 

I will then discuss the effect of redlining and how it relates to the present life of Arbor Hill, delving into the history of the red and white X placards that pop up in this area and beyond.

Finally, I will explore a few of the building’s stories, ending with a post about the multitude of projects, businesses, and organizations that focus on improving the community in present day.  

Join me in my study of Arbor Hill.

By Liliana Surgent

 
 

Giving Tuesday 2021 - $2,500 Match!

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We are thrilled to announce that we have a match for this year's #GivingTuesday fundraiser. Kyle Neiswender (volunteer, members, and supporter) is helping to launch 2021's giving season by matching all donations over the next week (until Friday 3rd Dec).

For each dollar donated, Kyle will match your contribution up to $2,500!

All proceeds from #GivingTuesday will go to our annual fund, which helps us continue our mission of preserving and protecting the city’s architectural heritage. Want to know where your dollars go? Find out here. If you'd like to donate, you can do so on Facebook or through our website below.

We are incredibly thankful to Kyle for choosing not only to donate his money, but also his time and expertise. Kyle has helped out in our Parts Warehouse and assisted us with tech at both 'A Moveable Feast', and at the Restoration Faire this year. We are a small organization, and it's because of our volunteers that we can do big things.

With that sentiment in mind, we also want to say a huge THANK YOU this #GivingTuesday to all our supporters, volunteers, and members. Each time you share a Facebook post, take a tour, volunteer at an event, renew your membership, or tell a friend about our organization, you're making a difference.

Donate on Facebook

Donate on the website

Take the Self-Guided Greek Revival Tour

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The Tour

We have created a Greek Revival architectural tour in Albany with the help of one of our volunteers, Olivia Simard. It is a drivable and virtual tour, although some portions can be walkable. The tour includes eight stops throughout Albany, beginning in the Pastures Historic District and ending on Whitehall Road. Many of the stops encompass more than one building, so be sure to read descriptions carefully. If you ever have any questions about architectural terms, check out the architectural dictionary we have linked at the bottom of each entry.

There are many more examples of Greek Revival architecture in the Albany area, so it would be hard to highlight them all. Be on the lookout for more examples, and comment if you think you may have found one!

Take me on the tour already! >>

Or read more about Greek Revival Architecture below…

631 Clinton Ave - have you seen this temple-front home?

trinity place - another stop ont the tour

The History of the Greek Revival Architectural Style in America

There are many factors that contributed to the American interest in Grecian architectural forms. These include the Greek War of Independence (1821-1830) which prompted widespread sympathy in the United States, Greek’s long association with democracy and the diminishing affection of British styles among the American populace. The Grecian interest truly came at an opportune time: Americans wanted to distance themselves from their colonial roots and create a culture of their own. One of the most popular architectural styles of the time, Federal, was of British origin, so the United States was looking to embrace new architecture and move away from British-inspired styles. The Greek Revival style’s popularity can also be attributed to the growing global interest in Classical Antiquities that began in the mid-eighteenth century with the excavation of ruins, such as Pompeii, in Italy and Greece. 

Greek Revival was one of the predominant styles of architecture in the country during the 1830s, 40s, and 50s. It occurred in every region that was settled by 1860, but its presence was particularly large in areas that were being rapidly settled during this time. The largest concentrations of Greek Revival buildings that still stand today are found in states that had major population growth during the period from 1820 to 1860. New York’s population grew by around 2.5 million during those decades, making it one of the hubs for this type of architecture. Albany, as a city, was also in the throes of a major transformation during this time, thanks to the completion of the Erie Canal in 1825. The canal inlet and the Albany Basin were in very close proximity to the area of Broadway and Livingston Ave, and because of this, there was an increase in commercial, industrial, and residential development following it’s completion. Look out for the stops on both Broadway and Livingston during the tour! Albany grew rapidly during the height of Greek Revival’s dominance, and the buildings decorated in that style that still stand today are proof of that.

The Characteristics of Greek Revival Architecture

The easiest way to recognize the Greek Revival style is the entryway to the building - on many of the homes you will see throughout the tour, the entryway is a major giveaway. Some characteristics to look out for in the entryway include a recessed entrance, transom windows above the doorway (or maybe even around the whole door), and doric columns or pilasters that frame the entrance. Other characteristics to look out for on the building as a whole are simple cornice lines with a wide band of trim beneath it, window sashes with six-pane glazing, and simple window lintels and sills. 

Pilaster

Photo:

Caption: “Pilaster: a flat column that is attached to a wall for decoration rather than support; often found at corners and doorways.” 

Source: https://buffaloah.com/a/DCTNRY/p/pilas.html 

Dentils

Photo:

Caption: “Dentils: small square blocks in a series that are often found on cornices, moldings, and pediments”

Source: https://buffaloah.com/a/DCTNRY/d/dent.html 

Transom

Photo:

Caption: “Transom window: a window or pane above a door”

Source: https://buffaloah.com/a/DCTNRY/t/transom.html 

Entablature

Photo:

Caption: “Entablature: assemblage of moldings and bands located immediately above the columns”

Source: https://study.com/academy/lesson/ionic-entablature-definition-architecture.html 

 
 
 

By Olivia Simard