Over the last few decades, RPI has knocked down several historic residences around its western border, along with one of the country’s oldest railroad tunnels (Congress-Ferry), and recently, the iconic Mt. Ida Gatehouse, known to Trojans as the “Gingerbread House” on College Avenue.

Knocking historic buildings down in Troy seems to be a decades-old hobby.

This historic building was once the gatehouse at the entrance of modern Prospect Park, formerly the road to private residences that existed before the park was created. The park was designed by RPI’s first black graduate.

The gatehouse was probably built for the Warren family, who had a cottage there where the playground is, and was built around mid-19th century. This entrance (road) was built in May 1885, according to a Troy newspaper:

“The Warren brothers are constructing a new drive through the grounds at Mount Ida. The drive extends from the main entrance on Congress street, north of St. Francis church, in a westerly direction to the top of Mount Ida, and then branches to the right, running around to the Warren cottage and joining the present drive that circles the hill. Another branch to the left runs to Riverview, formerly the Vail residence.

“The new drive is about 400 yards long and sixteen feet wide. On either side of the carriage-drive flowers and grass plats will be cultivated. To build the new road it was necessary to........

© The Saratogian