Finding Former Residents

Until sometime in 1962, 220 Hudson Avenue was home to Michael and Mabel Tello; Jessie and Margaret Carrington; Jose and Mabel Rendondo; and Moses Timmons. It was vacant by the time these photographs were taken, and the storefront—once the office of plumber Gordon Callan—appears to have been vacant somewhat longer. Although they did not own…

The First—and Second—South Mall Demolition

On the morning of July 11, 1962—after months of delay due to the City’s lawsuit—the State of New York began demolishing South Mall properties posthaste. The first demolition was a press event. To the applause of several hundred onlookers—including neighborhood residents, like Mrs. Scanese (pictured above)—Gov. Nelson Rockefeller operated the controls of a 60-ton crane….

The First St. Sophia

In 1923, the Greek Orthodox Community of Albany purchased and began holding services in a former Unitarian (before that, Presbyterian) church on 8 Lancaster Street. St. Sophia served congregants from across the city and as far away as Hudson, Catskill, and Little Falls. The new building doubled as a Greek language school for the members’…

Capturing Emotions

Many of the photographs we will be posting were taken by employees of the NYS Department of Public Works—Frank M. Walsh, John J. Gregg, Harold C. Furlong, and Franklyn Dillon. These photographs document properties seized by the State. In most cases, they were intended for the purpose of appraisal. Some photographs are straightforward—images of kitchens,…