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Don Rittner

Don Rittner

The Saratogian

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RITTNER: Troy’s railroad days, Part 1

RITTNER: Troy’s railroad days, Part 1
25.01.2025 5

The Saratogian

Don Rittner

RITTNER: Erastus Corning and Troy?

RITTNER: Erastus Corning and Troy?
18.01.2025 3

The Saratogian

Don Rittner

RITTNER: Seymour Tacos?

RITTNER: Seymour Tacos?
11.01.2025 5

The Saratogian

Don Rittner

RITTNER: Welcome to The Strip

If you were a teenager in Troy during the 1960s and 1970s, River Street was a happening place. Between Fulton, Third and River (Market Block) and...

04.01.2025 2

The Saratogian

Don Rittner

RITTNER: What if?

For those new to Troy. Your view of Troy is different from those of us who grew up here. You will hear the old timers lament on missing the “old”...

28.12.2024 4

The Saratogian

Don Rittner

RITTNER: Twas The Night Before Blogging …

“Twas the night before Christmas and all through my house Not a computer was stirring, nor wireless mouse? My WIFI was hung up; it gave quite a...

21.12.2024 5

The Saratogian

Don Rittner

RITTNER: Take me to Albany Street

Many Troy streets have had name changes over the years and some have changed for better or worse. Fulton Street for example was originally named...

14.12.2024 6

The Saratogian

Don Rittner

RITTNER: Troy and the Telegraph — Part Two

Last week you learned about Troy telegrapher Silas Watson Ford, who discovered the first Devonian era fossils in Troy’s Beman Park. A second...

07.12.2024 3

The Saratogian

Don Rittner

RITTNER: Troy and the Telegraph — Part One

While we all brag about how fast social media travels, it wasn’t long ago when the fastest communication were wires strewn across the county....

30.11.2024 3

The Saratogian

Don Rittner

RITTNER: Helen of Troy NY redux

Years ago I found a theatrical script in the back of a cabinet at the Troy Public Library. It was written by the young upstart playwrights George...

23.11.2024 5

The Saratogian

Don Rittner

RITTNER: The 250th is coming, the 250th is coming!

Next year marks the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. Many communities, towns, villages, and cities are putting together a committee or...

16.11.2024 3

The Saratogian

Don Rittner

RITTNER: Troy and the WPA

During the Great Depression, President Franklin Roosevelt created his New Deal Program. It comprised a number of works projects to get people...

09.11.2024 5

The Saratogian

Don Rittner

RITTNER: Troy’s iron age

Troy excelled in the production of cast iron stoves, bells, ironware, valves, iron & steel products, wire, nails, spikes, horseshoes, bloom & bar,...

26.10.2024 3

The Saratogian

Don Rittner

RITTNER: Troy’s iron age

Troy excelled in the production of cast iron stoves, bells, ironware, valves, iron & steel products, wire, nails, spikes, horseshoes, bloom & bar,...

26.10.2024 2

The Saratogian

Don Rittner

RITTNER: Troy’s stove industry

During the period between 1790-1850, Troy grew in size from a mere few hundred (c. 400) to almost 30,000 people (28,785 in 1850). Over 400 patents...

19.10.2024 1

The Saratogian

Don Rittner

RITTNER: Troy’s bell industry

Some of the finest sounding bells were cast in Troy and across the river at West Troy (Watervliet) during the 19th and 20th centuries. Thousands of...

12.10.2024 3

The Saratogian

Don Rittner

RITTNER: Art is history too!

Art is in the eye of the beholder. That’s actually BS. Art is the eye of the artist. What the artist sees in his/her mind may or may not...

05.10.2024 20

The Saratogian

Don Rittner

RITTNER: Troy’s Top Ten Endangered List

This is the time most preservation organizations do their top ten endangered list. So here is mine: 1. The Burden Horseshoe Buildings This complex...

28.09.2024 7

The Saratogian

Don Rittner

RITTNER: Don’t let this column slip your mind

Many do not realize that geological events of the past can play a crucial role in the success of a community. Take Troy for example. During the...

21.09.2024 2

The Saratogian

Don Rittner

RITTNER: Let’s make some paper boats

We use paper for communication (and occasionally making paper airplanes). However, there were many other uses put to the product when it was first...

14.09.2024 3

The Saratogian

Don Rittner

RITTNER: Grave symbols

When I was a young boy, I use to go to the Troy Public Library and look up names of famous people buried in Oakwood, Mt Ida, & New Mt Ida...

07.09.2024 2

The Saratogian

Don Rittner

RITTNER: Get the lead out

Lead poisoning in old cities has been a continuing problem. Troy is no exception and has been in the news lately about spending money to get rid of...

31.08.2024 4

The Saratogian

Don Rittner

RITTNER: Are we in Kansas?

“Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” When Dorothy uttered those words in the 1939 movie “The Wizard of Oz,” she was...

24.08.2024 2

The Saratogian

Don Rittner

RITTNER: Thanks for the Waffles, Troy

August 24 is National Waffle Day. You can thank Cornelius Swartwout for inventing the modern version of the Waffle Iron. On August 24, 1869, he...

17.08.2024 2

The Saratogian

Don Rittner

RITTNER: Who’s Buried in Grant’s Tomb?

Who’s Buried in Grant’s Tomb? How many times have you heard this while growing up? The usual answer of course is “Grant!” But technically...

10.08.2024 1

The Saratogian

Don Rittner

RITTNER: Elsie and a dance

If you are a baby boomer you remember Elsie the Cow, the cartoon cow on the carton of Borden Milk (especially chocolate). I remember in elementary...

03.08.2024 3

The Saratogian

Don Rittner

RITTNER: Troy’s Gilded Age had millionaires! Part 2

Manufacturing collars and cuffs NOTE: His manufacturing was located at 155 & 157 River Street, later used by Thompson Drugs and still standing....

27.07.2024 2

The Saratogian

Don Rittner

RITTNER: The Troy Park nobody ever heard of

Most locals don’t know the 2000-foot strip of land on Spring Avenue between Locust Avenue and Linden Avenue is a park and the road is called the...

13.07.2024 2

The Saratogian

Don Rittner