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By Ruth Dearstyne Sweet
Albia, a rural setting in the early 1800s, a quaint
village within the city in the 1900s, and now one of
the most pleasant of our city neighborhoods, is located
in the southeast corner of Troy extending to the city's
eastern and southern limits.
Almost every street in the extended neighborhood is
approached from either Spring or Pawling, Albia's two
primary thoroughfares. Many large, handsome, well-maintained
two family homes - most with inviting front porches
- are interspersed with attractive one family homes
throughout the neighborhoods.
After World War II, "the project" was built
from lower Parkview Court to Blakeley Court. This was
housing constructed for returning veterans, bringing
many new families to Albia. They came to Albia and they
stayed!
Matt Fitzsimmons, proprietor of the popular variety
store owned and operated by his family since 1937, believes
that Albia will remain attractive and stable for years
to come. Newer, younger families move into the neighborhood
and continue the life of the small, self-contained community
created by the proud, hard-working residents who came
before them.
Pawling Avenue, Albia's "main street," was
named for Colonel Albert Pawling, the first mayor of
Troy. Through the years, its businesses were those any
main street in any village would need: barbershops,
diners (don't forget the Miss Troy Diner), grocers,
a pharmacy (remember Flodent Pharmacy run for many years
by Florence Denton Cramer), pool halls, tailorshops
and variety stores.
Armand Perrault opened a small variety store in 1915,
which grew to become the Perrault Brothers Dry Goods.
Until 1952 Albia residents shopped there, regularly
buying everything from dry goods to thimbles to candy
from Alice Perrault. Nels Harbour's meat market and
Boston Meat and Grocery were gathering places for homemakers
who shopped there each day. Every kid in Albia craved
Adolf Flubachers chocolate chip cookies. The former
Flubacher's Bakery is now the site of Perrotta's Bakery,
known throughout the area especially for their Italian
bread.
The Pawling Shopping Center is now the location of
CVS, and Lee Lin Chinese restaurant and other establishments
was once the location of the Old Car Barns where buses
were stored. Many businesses remain on the avenue, as
well as professional offices for dentists, doctors,
and other services for residents.
The local "watering hole" was The Albia Tavern
owned for a time by "The Brow," John Stapelton,
brother of Troy actress Maureen Stapleton. The Pawling
Inn across the street was another popular bar and restaurant
and offered dancing and bowling as well.
The most durable business in Albia is Hastings &
Company, incorporated in 1908 by Nathaniel Hastings
and Del Reichard as a coal, wood and ice business along
the shoreline of what was then known as Albia Pond.
In the 1940's, Reg (Buster) Reichard started a home
heating business. Today his sons Dave and John operate
Hastings Technical Training from the former School 15
building which served for a number of years as a county
office building.
Albia resident Rod Aldrich is impressed with the amount
of history centered on the pond and the Wynantskill,
which flows through the southern area of Albia. Industries
included the Hastings and the Albia Ice Houses, Wilbro
Company Yarn Mill, Troy Yarn Company and the Albia Box
& Paper Company. Across the street was the site
of the Troy and New England Railway Company, which operated
a trolley between Albia and Averill Park from 1895 to
1925. This route was popularly known as "The Huckelberry
Line" because people from Troy would head out to
the country to pick berries. The Wynantskill and its
upper and lower ponds served industry but also provided
for the recreational needs of residents: skating in
the winter and swimming in the summer.
Houses of worship include the Pawling Avenue United
Methodist established in 1827 and Third Presbyterian
established in 1831. Both still serve their respective
congregations. Sacred Heart Parish, established in 1907,
opened its elementary school (now also an early childhood
center) in 1927.
Albia's Hope Engine Company established in 1826 was
one of the first volunteer fire companies in the city.
The Hope Steam Fire Engine Company was formed in 1882.
While no longer a fire station, Hope 7 remains as one
of the most attractive historic buildings in Albia.
It serves as an active community center and a popular
afterschool program and for several years after 1976
was home to the Troy Public Library's Hope 7 Branch.
Ruth Dearstyne Sweet and her husband Matt Sweet were
born and raised in Albia. Ruth is head of Reference
at Troy Public Library. Historic research and interviews
compiled with the assistance of Mike Esposito.
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