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The neighborhood in Troy now known as the Osgood Neighborhood
has changed, like the rest of the city, over the years.
Claire Davis takes a look at the neighborhood in "the
old days" by talking with two sisters who have
lived in it all of their lives.
Pleasant DeSpain gives an overview of the neighborhood
now by talking with a couple new to it.
Then
By Claire Davis
The Egan sisters, Marion and Shirley, long-time residents
of Third Street, still live in the home their parents
bought in 1926.
Now aged 80 and 75, they vividly recall their childhood
neighborhood from the 1930s to the 1950s. It abounded
with mom-and-pop stores, mostly run by Irish proprietors.
The Bride's and Castle's stores sold candy, toothpaste,
paper goods and groceries. Miller's and McGuiness's
grills served food and drink and Leahy's Livery Service
and Gas Station cared for transportation needs.
Second Street was the main shopping street. Marion and
Shirley went to Glass' Pharmacy, Bell's and the SS Meat
Markets, Teitch's and Backaus' Bakeries, Deihl's and
Scarlotta's dry goods stores, The Rivoli Theatre (10
cents in the 1930s for a four-hour show), Powers Plumbing
and Burr's General Store.
See OSGOOD, B3 þ
Ice cream was bought at Valley's and shirts were washed
and pressed at Kilduff's Laundry. Suits were tailored
at Izzy Gaies' store. For 2 cents, the Egan children
bought "Mary Janes," a yellow paper-wrapped
taffy, from an elderly woman on Fourth Street.
Babies were born in St. Joseph's Maternity Hospital
on Fourth Street, and kids ice-skated at the nearby
rink. Old-timers were buried by Purcell's Style's or
Healy's funeral parlors. Freihofer's delivered bread
from a horse-drawn wagon until the 1950s.
Marion and Shirley remember feeling safe in their neighborhood,
as the police substation was right next to the Osgood
Firehouse. The policemen walked the beat and knew all
the families by name. A "peeping tom" began
harassing the neighborhood in the 1940s. The Egan sister's
only brother, Jimmy, and a few of his friends, followed
a suspicious fellow from Miller's Grill and caught him
in the act.
Marion and Shirley's lives centered around family and
church. All seven siblings attended St. Joseph's School
and went to the church hall for dances, roller-skating,
basketball and talent shows. Life was pleasant in the
Osgood neighborhood. Neighbors were friendly and watched
out for each other.
Today, the Eagans still enjoy their younger neighbors
who shovel their walk and check up on them.
They only wish that present day residents had more stores,
recreational and social activities like before. They
are pleased that green space will be created under the
river front revitalization plan and hope that families
will gather there for picnics and sports.
Marion and Shirley hope that the old and new Osgood
residents will become friends that last a lifetime,
and that their memories will be as wonderful as theirs.
Now
By Pleasant DeSpain
Adam and Michael, an urban couple in their early 30',
moved from Albany's Center Square to the Osgood Neighborhood
two and a half years ago. Adam, an anthropologist and
Michael, who works in the field of health insurance,
both hail from Connecticut.
Weary of renting, they made the decision to purchase
their first home. Friends already living in Troy suggested
they explore various grant programs such as TRIP and
TAP. Searching for an affordable Greek Revival or Italianate,
single-family home with a garden, they spotted a for
sale sign on a house, meeting each requirement, on Third
Street. Asked "Why Troy?" Adam responded,
"architecture, diversity, and affordability."
He went on to say that one of his favorite experiences
during the past two years has been inviting friends
to garden parties during summer evenings in order to
listen to the bagpipe bands practicing at Hibernian
Hall on Second Street, across the ally.
Adam also remembers the violent shaking of their house
on an early Saturday morning, and rushing outside to
witness a flag-draped Sherman tank rumbling down Third
Street on its way to the Flag Day Parade. "Only
in Troy," he said. "And it's Troy's emerging
culture, the music, restaurants and antique shops that
help make our lives more enjoyable. We like Troy."
If Adam and Michael have a complaint about their neighborhood,
it deals with the Police Department's general non-enforcement
of noise ordinances. "Our old windows rattle, shake
and even shatter due to extreme sound-systems in cars,
the lack of mufflers on motorcycles, and far too many
18-wheelers roaring down Third Street."
"Our vision for Troy during the next ten years
is an abundance of citywide green spaces. We're both
involved with community gardens and want to see more
beautification. We also hope for more artistic and cultural
venues to attract others to Troy. The clean-up of the
industrial wasteland of our riverfront is vital to this
effort."
The Osgood Neighborhood is a better place to live due
to recent neighbors such as Adam and Michael.
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