Albany Public Market and Westgate Plaza: An Immigrant Success Story
Giuseppi Nigro -age 24 – and wife immigrated to America in 1904. They hit the ground running. In 1905, the Nigro family opened a little…
The End of the Great Western Turnpike
Chartered in 1799, the Great Western Turnpike Company was largely responsible for the development of Western Avenue (and Route 20 out to Cherry Valley). The road…
The Short, Sad Tale of Allyn King
Allyn King was a beauty of the stage, a tragic figure whose career began and ended in Albany. King was born in Winston-Salem, NC in 1899,…
Stephina Herrewyn, Albany’s Prettiest Girl
Dutch-born immigrant Stephina Herrewyn was just eighteen in 1920, when she entered her first Albany beauty contest. Her employer just happened to be the Wendell Photo…
What Was There: 481 Washington Avenue
Even unglamorous buildings have a history. 481 Washington Avenue appears to have been built around 1927 by the Unity Spiritualist Temple, replacing a two-story home at…
Hurstville, The Love Nest, and a Race Track
Let’s begin with this article by Allison Bennett, which originally appeared in The Spotlight, May 1, 1985 [edited for space here]. I’ve added details from Paula…
What Was There: 1065 Madison Avenue
1065 Madison Avenue (across from the Madison Theater) was built in 1885 and initially described as a “villa.” Mrs. Helen Breslin lived there in the 1920’s…
Schaffer’s Department Store
Kuny Schaffer emigrated from Russia in 1908. He began and ran the Knickerbocker Suit Case & Bag Company, Broadway (where Trailways ended up). The fire that…
What Was There: 104 Central Avenue
104 Central Avenue was once a handsome brick building with a history. It was still residential until around 1911, when the Holder Manufacturing Company set up…
What Was There: 650 Central Avenue
Greco Brothers Amusement moved out of 650 Central Avenue in January (moved to 30 Kraft Avenue, Colonie). Moving in soon will be Aaron’s Rentals (furniture, computers,…
