Featured History of Albany and the 1936 250th Anniversary Celebration

Sorry, can't correct the header. It is actually the 300th anniversary.



Courtesy of the Louis Bassano Collection.




Courtesy Stacks Bowers Galleries. Front and back covers of Cradle of America, History of Albany and the 1936 250th Anniversary Celebration. A booklet in my Numismatic library.


A Welcome to Albany

It is with pride in the achievements of the City of Albany that I extend a cordial invitation to American citizens everywhere to join in the observance of the Two Hundred Fiftieth Anniversary of the City Charter, Granted by Governor Thomas Dongan July 22, 1686.

This is the oldest place of settlement in the original thirteen states, a treasure-spot of American beginnings. It is also a progressive city, recently established as an inland seaport, whose commerce spreads around the world.

Albany not only looks back in its own records over an amazing rise of American from aboriginal days, but forward as well, to an ever-widening horizon of civic advance and betterment.

Much of the city’s splendid romance will be portrayed in the colorful parades and events of the Charter Celebration. To all whom American progress delights, I extend this welcome, believing it will be a memorable occasion of the Year 1936, not only for residents of New York state but of all other States of the Nation.

(signed) John Boyd Thacher, 2nd, Mayor of Albany




PROGRAM:

All capitalization below is as written in the booklet. LG

Sunday, July 19:

Church Services, Historical Sermons, several of which will be in the oldest churches in America.

Old Home week Programs in Clubs and Fraternal Organizations.

Monday, July 20:

Opening exercises, 10 A. M., on the Capitol Steps. Presiding, hon. James R. Watt, former Mayor of Albany, Speakers: Hon. John Boyd Thacher, Mayor of Albany; William E. Fitzsimmons, President Albany Chamber of Commerce; Hon. Herbert H. Lehman, Governor of New York State.

 

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No, you were right the first time. 250th Anniversary of the City Charter of Albany.

 

Actually:

https://www.history.com/topics/colonial-america/jamestown

 

Actually: the key word is Permanent settlement.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popham_Colony

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_(pinnace)

 

Thanks for the comments all.

Too much running through the brain. lol








Athletic Events and Aquatic Sports – All Day Program, at Bleecker Stadium, Lincoln Park Bowl, and Hudson River. National A.A.U. 20-Kilometer Championship Race, Field and Track Events.

Relay Race, Schenectady to Albany, Over the Same Route Traversed by Symon Schermerhorn in 1690, in Bringing Word to the Albany Garrison of the Schenectady Massacre.

Tuesday, July 21:

Business and Civic Parade, 4 P. M., Depicting the Progress of the City, from the Beginning to the Present. Demonstration of Modern Municipal Equipment by City Departments, Police, Fire, Public works, Parks, Schools, Port of Albany, Floats, etc.

Wednesday, July 22:

Charter Day, Historical Parade and Pageant, Combined with Military Parade, 4 P. M., Depicting in Chronological Order authentic Historical Events of the City, From the Landing of Henry Hudson in 1609 Down to the Present Day; Fraternal, Racial and National Groups in Costume; Floats, etc.





◊ ◊ PIONEER SHRINE ◊ ◊

During the Celebration There Will be Unveiled in the Plaza, Broadway and State Street, the Model of the Proposed Historical Shrine Honoring the Pioneer Founders Who Established Albany in 1614.

◊ ◊ EXHIBIT ◊ ◊

Daily, at Albany Institute of History and Art, an unusual Exhibit of Albany Family Heirlooms, Silverware, Paintings, Miniatures, etc.

◊ ◊ MUSIC ◊ ◊

During the Four Days of the Celebration There Will Be Massed Choral singing; Concerts on the Municipal Carillon; Band Concerts.


Chapter IX: The Capital and City (1936)

‘The city in which we are assembled, the Capital of the State, is the oldest existing settlement in the original thirteen States . . . Almost the whole of our State history in peace and war has been made and written within its portals’—Governor Hoffman, 1871.

◊ ◊ ◊



Like all capitals, Albany lives a dual role. Practically its whole existence of more than three centuries has placed it in a vital position in public affairs, while at the same time it has pursued a separate and notable career as a ‘private’ municipality.

Legislation adopted in the halls of state has frequently been of a pioneer nature, appearing in similar or modified forms on the books of many States of the Union. Because of the influence the State inevitably exerts in national affairs, Albany is commonly regarded by political aspirants as the next most important Capital to Washington itself. Much legal history is written in the decisions of the courts of the State, of which the Court of Appeals is the highest.

It is perhaps difficult to realize the age of Albany, or the length of its active career, which antedates that of the Nation itself. The city, since its Charter 250 years ago, has had sixty-eight Mayors. Pieter Schuyler, the first Mayor, served eight years. Philip S. Van Rensselaer served 17 years, from 1799 to 1816. John Boyd Thacher 2d, the present Mayor, has served ten years. He is the third Mayor of that name, George H. Thacher having taken office in 1860, and John Boyd Thacher in 1886.

much more to follow.

 

Great thread about history, thank you for posting!

 

Agree, just don't see such key word in OP

 

Their combined terms of office have occupied nearly on-tenth of Albany’s municipal existence. Singularly enough, John Boyd Thacher, uncle of the present Mayor, presided at Albany’s Bi-Centennial of the Dongan Charter a half century ago.

Albany has lived, altogether, under ten Dutch Governors, fifty English Governors, eighteen Provincial American Governors, and forty-five Governors of New York State. The treaty-making, begun in 1618 between the Dutch and Indians, has continued in the legislative corridors of the modern State. Albany has been the seat of the Empire State government 139 years. From the galleries and floor of the Capitol it has witnessed the passage of such epochal legislation as the abolition of slavery and Erie Canal bill, and of much social reform.

Seven Presidents have been identified with the city. Martin Van Buren, the ‘little magician,’ came to Albany from Kinderhook. With William L. Marcy and others, he formed the coterie known as the Albany Regency, which for a quarter-century ruled Democratic national policies. Van Buren, from Governor and United States Senator, became President, receiving his notification in Albany. Millard Fillmore, thirteenth President, was State Comptroller, and Vice-President, succeeding Zachary Taylor, as President. He married the widow of a political foe in Albany at the Schuyler Mansion. Chester A. Arthur, whole President, has as mistress of the white House, his sister, Mrs. John E. McElroy of Albany. He is buried in Albany’s Rural Cemetery. Grover Cleveland, while Governor, was notified at the Executive Mansion of his Presidential nomination. McKinley studied at Albany Law School. Theodore Roosevelt, from Governor, became Vice-President and President. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, while Governor, flew from Albany to Chicago to accept the nomination for the Presidency.

Many others have found Albany’s political arena a road to fame. Samuel J. Tilden, former Governor to occupy the Executive Mansion, lost the Presidency by one vote in the election of 1876. Charles E. Hughes, former Governor, is Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Alfred E. Smith, four-term Governor, was a Presidential nominee.

Political figures since New York was a colony have been familiar personages on the streets of the city. In colonial days, Governors of New York, because of Indian and frontier dangers, always maintained a second residence in Albany, though New York City was then the capital.

Pieter Schuyler twice acted as governor of the Province. Abraham Ten Broeck and Leonard Gansevoort were presidents of the Provincial Congress, and Gansevoort’s name appears on the proclamation of the first constitution of the State.

Among the State Governors Albany has had John Tayler, William L. Marcy, Van Buren and Martin H. Glynn. United States Senators of Albany have included Philip Schuyler, Charles E. Dudley, John A. Dix, Ira Harris, and Roscoe Conkling, who was born in the city.

The present Capitol, a $25,000,000 structure, first tenanted in 1879, occupies an area of three and one-half acres, almost equaling that of the National Capitol. The earlier Capitol, built in 1808, was outgrown and torn down. The Court of Appeals building dates from 1842, The State Education Building was erected in 1912, and the 34-story State Office Building, typical of the growth of the modern State, in 1928. Other office space and special health laboratories are used by the State government.

Before the acquisition of the Executive Mansion on Eagle Street in 1875, Governors occupied private residences. Martin Van Buren lived at 92 State Street; William L. Marcy at 2 Elk Street; Hamilton Fish at 15 Elk Street; Horatio Seymour, 1 Elk Street and John A. Dix, 123 Washington Avenue.



The position of Albany as a gateway of commerce has intrigued observers, especially those coming from Europe, since the earliest times. Its trade was on the sea in the Dutch days, but the shallow draft in the Hudson for the upper thirty miles impeded the city’s progress until a decade ago. In steamboat days, because of these shoals, passengers often had to be taken off a mile below the city and ferried to the docks. Light-draft vessels, both sail and steam, however, made voyages in great numbers. The evolution of metal hulls and deeper drafts for a considerable period reduced the city’s shipping.

In 1925, as a result of an insistent public demand, Congress voted to deepen the Hudson River to 27 feet at the upper end, the remainder of the route to New York Bay being adequate for ocean ships. This was accomplished in 1932, at a federal expenditure of $7,000,000. To this the Cities of Albany and Rensselaer, forming the Port District, added a like amount, in constructing deepwater docks and terminal facilities.

In this manner, after a long interim, the Hudson River was restored for ocean navigation for nearly its entire tidal length. The Port of Albany became once more a world harbor.

 

Thank you for this post, it is very interesting history. I like the facts of all these early settlements, towns and forts each carry with them a piece of the history that
is part of the picture of early America.

 

Moving on:





Philip S. Van Rensselaer. Courtesy of the NY State Museum.



The success of the Port has been exceptional. Eighteen nations are currently represented in deepwater trade which joins the Albany docks to fifty or sixty foreign ports as well as those of the United States. In 1934, the Port ranked eleventh in this country for imports, and thirtieth in foreign commerce as a whole, although it is 160 miles from the open Atlantic. At the port has been built, besides many other important structures, the largest single-unit grain elevator in the world. Its capacity is 13,500,000 bushels.

 

This is a good area to end this history lesson. Hope most enjoyed it.