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- čas přidán 11. 09. 2024
- 1800’s Iron Foundry in the Middle of the Hudson River
It never ceases to amaze me what was around 100-years ago and how industrialized the Hudson River was and what’s left of that time today. From the early 1800’s the Troy and Green Island area was the manufacturing center of the area. We know historically how major river shorelines of cities were crowded with not only mills but all types of industry being positioned there either because they used the water for power, in production, or as an easy way to get rid of waste. We don’t usually think about industry on islands, but it would make a lot of sense. Center Island, part of the Village of Green Island was one of those islands that was the center of industry and manufacturing until 2008.
The Starbuck Foundry was located on Center Island; usually called it Starbuck Island. The foundry produced a range of products out of molten iron, from columns, window caps and building facades, to plows, mills for processing tree bark, and cast iron stoves for heating and cooking. P. Thomas Carroll, a cultural historian and senior scholar at the Troy-based Hudson Mohawk Industrial Gateway said the stove's design made it the most popular in the nation at the time. The foundry closed in the 1890’s and the island remained unoccupied by businesses until an oil terminal was built there in the early 1900’s. The terminal, operated by King Fuels, was located on the island's southern half from 1918 to 2008, closing down after 90 years of operation. [1]
After 2008 the island remained undeveloped because of the massive environmental cleanup needed. The heavily polluted Hudson River and islands began drawing notice from developers seeking to take advantage of the river views and location. Developer Peter Luizzi has elaborate plans to turn the former eyesore into an island retreat. In September 2016, the developer applied to the state Department of Environmental Conservation to have it accepted into the DEC's Brownfield Cleanup Program. Oil-tainted soil had to be removed before a massive residential, retail and restaurant development was finished in 2021. The redeveloped area now has 270 apartments, with rooftop terraces or balconies, a swimming pool, tennis courts and boat slips, underground parking, a fitness center, waterfront restaurant and retail and office space. It’s nothing like it once was. [2]
I continued my visit to modern Starbuck Island by looking at the northern end. I crossed over what was Bridge St. which was both a vehicle and rail bridge (known today as the Green Island Bridge/Federal St.) to the northern end. Present day Starbuck Island is made up of Center Island and Gravel Island. The two were combined over time from dredging of the Hudson River with the sediments and debris joining the two islands and changing their topography. Most of the apartments built on what is now the center of Starbuck island are constructed on silt from the river bottom. I continued walking through fields that never really showed any construction on the 1866 map. (One wonders if Gravel Island was so named from its consistency.) I walked all the way to the far end of the island going under the Colar City Bridge. This whole end of the island (actually the whole island) was destroyed archaeologically with the construction of the bridge, the apartments and on the southern end by the condominiums. The only things that seemed out of place was a fenced in area with a small, shed style building and a number of concrete “wells” with heavy covers. I’m not sure what these “wells” were for, and the building was sealed with no windows and the door didn’t have any handles. The only sign I saw was at a locked gate on a road that said don’t enter. It seemed it was for vehicles, not people since I saw a person fishing on the bank of the Hudson under the Collar City Bridge.
I hope you enjoyed the investigation. It was a little disappointing archaeologically, but it was an interesting walk, and it did show how two islands were combined into one. It also showed how areas can change significantly over time. I wonder if we came back to this island in 100-years what we would find, ruins?
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[1] Eric Anderson. Oil tank farms yield to apartments, marina at historic site, Albany, NY: Times Union, Business Section, Aug 9, 2018, Updated Aug 10, 2018, www.timesunion..., 2024.
[2] Ibid.
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I hope you enjoyed the investigation. It was a little disappointing archaeologically, but it was an interesting walk, and it did show how two islands were combined into one. It also showed how areas can change significantly over time. I wonder if we came back to this island in 100-years what we would find, ruins? If you’re signed-in please consider subscribing to my channel. I would really appreciate it. And, as always, tell me what you think, or what you find interesting. Thank you! 😎
Thanks for the video. Looks like some sort of "open space" that parks & rec might have future plans for? I'll bet that whoever mows the grass knows what the places is..
I agree, it seems like such a great space for people to use. I got the impression that it's going to be developed for something. Thanks for watching and commenting. 😎
We use to always go walking on gravel Island and use to find old medicine bottles and even found a Cong shell that was pretty big in size we still go fishing on gravel Island to this day.
It's one of those little gems no one knows about.I thought it was a nice place especially the north end. Thanks for watching, I appreciate it. 😎