History of Albany, New York (1900–1942)

Last updated

The history of Albany, New York from 1900 to 1942 begins at the start of the 20th century and ends with the beginning of the tenure of Erastus Corning 2nd as mayor in 1942.

Albany opened one of the first commercial airports in the world, and the first municipal airport in the United States, in 1908. Originally located on a polo field on Loudon Road, it moved to Westerlo Island in 1909 and remained there until 1928. The Albany Municipal Airport—jointly owned by the city and county—was moved to its current location in Colonie in 1928. In 1960, the mayor sold the city's stake in the airport to the county, citing budget issues. It was known from then on as Albany County Airport until a massive upgrade and modernization project between 1996 and 1998, when it was rechristened Albany International Airport. [1] By 1916, portions of Albany's northern and southern borders had reached their modern courses; [2] Westerlo Island, to the south, became the second-to-last annexation in 1926. [3]

Overview

In 1901 as part of the Arbor Day celebration Dana Park is opened, where Delaware Avenue and Lark Street meet at Madison Avenue. Also in 1901 a strike occurred by the employees of the United Traction Company (UTC), which ran the inter-city and intra-city mass transit buses and trolleys. The strike begins on May 7, and on May 14 the governor sends the 10th Battalion and Third Signal Corps to keep order on the UTC's routes, the next day the 23rd Regiment of Brooklyn is sent as reinforcement and the city is placed under martial law. On May 16 a mob attacks one of the UTC cars on Broadway just north of Columbia Street. The 23rd Regiment opens fire and two are killed, the strike ends on May 19. [4] Later in 1901 the local baseball team wins the State Pennant, they will win again in 1902. In 1902 Charles Gaus (Republican) becomes mayor of Albany after defeating General Amsaa Parker (Democrat) by 2,354 votes in the 1901 election. He is reelected over Colonel William Rice (Democrat) by 4,563 votes in the 1903 election, and in the 1905 election over Dr. William Wansboro by 8,536 votes.

The Albany County Municipal Airport was the first municipal airport and Albany International Airport remains the oldest in the United States. In 1908 the airstrip was located on a former polo field on Loudonville Road, three miles (5 km) north of the city in the town of Colonie. In 1909 the airport was moved to Westerlo Island, which is in the city of Albany, but at that time was in the town of Bethlehem. The airport was named after Teddy Roosevelt's son, Quentin, a fighter pilot during World War I. A $10,000 prize was established for sustained flight between Albany and New York City; Glen Curtiss achieved this feat on May 29, 1910. Other early pioneers of aviation that stopped at this early field were Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, and James Doolittle. [1]

Mayor John Boyd Thacher II once said "a city without the foresight to build an airport for the new traffic may soon be left behind in the race for competition". He therefore decided to build in 1928 a new modern airport on the Shaker site near Albany-Shaker Road in Colonie, not far from the original polo fields used as the first site of the municipal airport. The Shakers not only sold the land used but also loaned the use of tractors and tools. [1]

Erastus Corning 2nd, Albany's longest-serving mayor and the longest-serving mayor of any American city, was elected in 1941 and began his tenure in 1942.

AlbanyNYPanorama1906.jpg
Albany, as viewed from the Capitol looking southeast, circa 1906. City Hall is left of center; the Empire State Plaza is currently located at the extreme right of the image.

Related Research Articles

Albany County, New York County in the state of New York, in the United States

Albany County is a county in the state of New York, United States. Its northern border is formed by the Mohawk River, at its confluence with the Hudson River, which is to the east. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 314,848. and largest city is Albany, the state capital of New York. As originally established by the English government in the colonial era, Albany County had an indefinite amount of land, but has had an area of 530 square miles (1,400 km2) since March 3, 1888. The county is named for the Duke of York and of Albany, who became James II of England.

Albany, New York State capital city in New York, United States

Albany is the capital of the U.S. state of New York, and the seat and largest city of Albany County. Albany is on the west bank of the Hudson River, about 10 miles (16 km) south of its confluence with the Mohawk River, and about 135 miles (220 km) north of New York City.

Albany International Airport Airport outside of Albany, New York

Albany International Airport is six miles (9 km) northwest of Albany, in Albany County, New York, United States. It is owned by the Albany County Airport Authority. ALB covers 1,000 acres (400 ha) of land.

Colonie, New York Town in New York, United States

Colonie is a town in Albany County, New York, United States. It is the most-populous suburb of Albany, and is the third-largest town in area in Albany County, occupying approximately 11% of the county. Several hamlets exist within the town. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 81,591.

Capital District, New York Region in New York, United States

The Capital District, also known as the Capital Region, is the metropolitan area surrounding Albany, the capital of the U.S. state of New York. In the 21st century, the Capital District emerged as a major anchor of Tech Valley, the moniker describing the technologically-focused region of eastern New York State. The Capital District was first settled by the Dutch in the early 17th century and came under English control in 1664. Albany has been the permanent capital of the state of New York since 1797. The Capital District is notable for many historical events that predate the independence of the United States, including the Albany Plan of Union and The Battles of Saratoga.

Erastus Corning 2nd American politician (1909–1983)

Erastus Corning 2nd was an American politician. A Democrat, Corning served 72nd as mayor of Albany, New York from 1942 to 1983, when Albany County was controlled by one of the last classic urban political machines in the United States.

Edwin Corning

Edwin Corning was an American businessman and politician from New York. He was Lieutenant Governor of New York from 1927 to 1928.

Parker Corning

Parker Corning was an American businessman and politician from Albany, New York. He is most notable for his service as a United States Representative from New York from 1923 to 1937.

Castle Island (New York)

Castle Island is a former island located in the city of Albany, Albany County, New York. Over the past 400 years, Castle Island has been referred to as Martin Gerritse's Island, Patroon's Island, Van Rensselaer Island, and—since the late 19th century--Westerlo Island. The land known as Castle Island has been connected to the mainland and now forms a part of the Port of Albany.

The history of Albany, New York began long before the first interaction of Europeans with the native Indian tribes, as they had long inhabited the area. The area was originally inhabited by an Algonquian Indian tribe, the Mohican, as well as the Iroquois, five nations of whom the easternmost, the Mohawk, had the closest relations with traders and settlers in Albany.

The town of Watervliet was a town that at its height encompassed most of present-day Albany County and most of the current town of Niskayuna in neighboring Schenectady County, in the state of New York, United States. Just prior to its dissolution, the town encompassed the current towns of Colonie and Green Island and the city of Watervliet.

History of Albany, New York (1784–1860)

The history of Albany, New York from 1784 to 1860 begins with the ratification of the Treaty of Paris by the Congress of the Confederation in 1784 and ends in 1860, prior to the American Civil War.

History of Albany, New York (1942–1983)

The history of Albany, New York from 1942 to 1983 begins with the beginning of the tenure of Erastus Corning 2nd as mayor and ends with Corning's death in 1983.

The history of Albany, New York from 1983 to present begins with the death of Erastus Corning 2nd, Albany's longest serving mayor. When Corning died in 1983, Thomas Whalen assumed the mayorship and was reelected twice. Albany saw a significant influx of federal dollars earmarked for restoring historic structures. What Corning had saved from destruction, Whalen refurbished. The Mayor's Office of Special Events was created in an effort to increase the number of festivals and artistic events in the city, including a year-long Dongan Charter tricentennial celebration in 1986. Whalen is credited for an "unparalleled cycle of commercial investment and development" in Albany due to his "aggressive business development programs".

Philip S. Van Rensselaer

Philip Schuyler Van Rensselaer was the mayor of Albany, New York on two occasions. He has the third longest tenure of service by an Albany Mayor, after Erastus Corning 2nd and Gerald Jennings.

William Stormont Hackett

William Stormont Hackett was an American lawyer, banker, businessman and politician. A Democrat, he was most notable for serving as 70th mayor of Albany, New York after winning an election in 1921 that ended control of Albany by the Republican organization headed by William Barnes, and established the dominance of the Democratic organization led by Daniel P. O'Connell and Edwin Corning.

Edwin Corning Jr. American state legislator

Edwin Corning Jr. was an American businessman, United States Navy officer and Democratic politician from Albany, New York. A member of the prominent Corning family, he was most notable for his service as a member of the New York State Assembly from 1955 to 1959.

Mayoral elections in Albany, New York Elections for mayor of Albany, New York

Elections are held every four years in the off-year immediately after United States presidential election years in Albany, New York to elect the city's mayor.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Hakes, Chauncey D. "Albany Airport History". Albany International Airport. Archived from the original on 2008-12-22. Retrieved 2010-06-02.
  2. http://www.albanycounty.com/files/achor-finding/inout/ichap5.html [ dead link ]
  3. "Cutting Ice: Big Business in Bethlehem". Town of Bethlehem. Archived from the original on 2010-10-06. Retrieved 2010-09-11.
  4. Cuyler Reynolds (1906). Albany Chronicles. J. B. Lyon Company, printers. p.  760 . Retrieved 2009-01-18. castle island french fort 1540.