Troy: A Collar City History

by Don Rittner

The New World, and especially New York, meant unparalleled opportunity for people in the 1600s with visions of expansion, colonization, and profit. Buying land from the Mohican tribe, the Dutch took control of much of the modern Empire State in the early part of this country's development. Under the patroonship of Kilian van Rensselaer, many pioneer farmers settled in the fertile land along the Hudson River. With each passing year, the number of Upstate settlers increased, and two villages emerged: Lansingburgh and Vanderheyden, soon to become Troy. Troy: A Collar City History chronicles the transformation of the city from an untamed wilderness inhabited by the early Mohican tribe into a vibrant, modern industrial metropolis. Troy's story is truly a complex drama, supported by a host of entrepreneurs, inventors, immigrant workers, labor leaders, scientists, athletes, and artists, against a changing backdrop of war, depression, industrial revolution, and prosperity. The city's most significant characters come alive within these pages, such as "Uncle Sam" Wilson, an early-nineteenth-century meat packager who served as the model for this nation's patriotic icon; Amos Eaton, the "father of geology" and founder of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Emma Willard, a pioneer in the field of female education; and Kate Mullaney, a leader in local female unionization. This unique volume explores the old cobblestone streets, the historic downtown district, and the many factories producing iron, stoves, paper boats, bells, and of course, detachable shirt collars.

Paperback

First published June 1, 2002

Reviews

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don Rittner's book is a well thought out, concise overview of Troy (and Lansingburgh) New York. Geography, native peoples, immigrants, and over 300 years of history are covered in 160 pages. The photographs comparing cityscapes of the 1860's to the 2000s are a treasure. If you'd like to know what happened to "The Last of the Mohegans (Mohicas) you will find it here. A great addition to the library of anyone interested in the rise and decline of one of our first industrial powerhouses.