THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, 1889 pages 283-285

Thursday was properly called "the Historical Day." The cast of the addresses of the afternoon was, for the most part, a presentation of information respecting the settlement and growth of the place. The meeting was under the direction of Norman B. SQUIRES, J. W. A. CLUETT, Henry B. DAUCHY, M. F. CUMMINGS, Edward CARTER, and H. Clay BASCOM. The subjects named in the programme were, "The Patroon of Troy," by Edwin A. KING, Esq.; "The Naming and Progress of Troy," by Benjamin H. HALL, Esq.; "The Future City Improvements of Troy," by J. W. A. CLUETT; "Manufacturers of Troy," by Lewis E. GURLEY; "Mercantile Interests of Troy," by Walter P. WARREN; and "Dirk VAN DER HEYDEN's Dream," by William E. HAGAN. Edward A. KING, Esq., a direct descendant of "the Patroon of Troy" - Jacob D. VAN DER HEYDEN - after describing, in his address, the circumstances attending the early occupation of the territory of Rensselaerswyck, by immigrants from Holland, interestingly detailed the incidents of the residence of his ancestors on the site of Troy: "In or about the year 1653, there came from Holland - probably from Amsterdam - to New Amsterdam, Jacob Tysse VAN DER HEYDEN. Later, he returned to Amsterdam and, having on July 25th, 1655, married Anna HALS, with her again sought this country and settled at Beverswyck, now Albany. Some time about 1690, he died there, leaving his widow and a son, Derick. "Derick VAN DER HEYDEN seems to have been very thrifty and energetic, and to have participated in Albany affairs as a good citizen, merchant, and trader. He also speculated in leases at Schaghticoke. His name appears upon a petition addressed in 1701 to King William III of England. In 1686, he went from Albany upon an expedition to the Indians. His party was set upon by French and Indians, robbed, and carried to Quebec. There, he states, he was severely maltreated and was subjected almost to slavery by his captors. Finally, with three others, he made his escape and reached Albany in five days, having journeyed all but about three miles by water. "On June 2d, 1707, still residing at Albany, he purchased from Pieter Pieterse VAN WOGGELUM two parcels of land, . . . extending from the Poesten Kill on the south to the Piscawen Kill on the north. . . . The VAN RENSSELAERs claimed their vested rights, but finally, on December 15th, 1720, by release, Maria and Hendrick VAN RENSSELAER, as executors of Kiliaen VAN RENSSELAER (the younger), confirmed the title, subject only to a nominal annual ground rent. "Following the changes of ownership of the property by the different members of the VAN DER HEYDEN family, he related how Jacob D. VAN DER HEYDEN, born on October 28th, 1758, became proprietor of the middle farm at the age of seventeen years. There seems to be some doubt as to the early education of the patroon, but it is stated by a contemporary that he attended college for a time, never being graduated. In 1781, he attained his majority, and very soon married Annatji YATES, daughter of Adam and Anna G. YATES, who died in 1793. Their children were two sons, Derick Y. and John G., and two daughters, Catharine and Elizabeth. In 1794, he married Mary OWEN, daughter of Joshua OWEN, who died in 1809. Their children were two sons, Samuel and Jacob D. E., and three daughters, Jane, Blandina and Sally Ann. . . . All his nine children survived him. Here let the genealogy rest. "The patroon resided, until 1794, in the old home located at the (present) corner of Ferry and River streets. In 1794, he built and occupied, at the south-west corner of Eighth and Grand Division streets, what was called his "mansion," which was destroyed in the great fire of 1862; and in 1803 he conveyed the homestead to his son Derick Y." Narrating the facts of the renaming of VANDERHEYDEN as Troy, Mr. KING further remarked: "The patroon died at the age of fifty years. Although, as had been stated, all his nine children survived him, not one of them lived to enter upon the forty-third year of life. Their average life was but thirty years. Very few descendants survived them, and to-day their number is very little increased. . . . "The last will and testament of the patroon is a long and curious instrument. It is characterized by that same sturdy justice which had led his father to voluntarily divide his property with his brother. Perhaps its most singular provision relates to the division into specific shares of the lands devised to his children. It very minutely and elaborately provides that the lands shall first be divided into lots of equal value, and numbered, one lot to each child; then the numbers, respectively, shall be placed on ballots and the ballots in a box; next, the names of the children, respectively, shall be similarly placed in a second box; and finally, two disinterested persons, one at each box, shall draw therefrom and match names and numbers, which result is declared to be the will of the testator. Most characteristic of all, however, is its provision that if his executors and the guardians of his children shall, at any time, during the minority of any child, deem it best to sell or lease certain lands named and limited, they may do so, but only subject to the same conditions specified in similar instruments executed by him, and reserving an annual ground rent thereon. . . . "A recent historian says of him: 'Descending from a Dutch ancestry of grave, virtuous, and industrious people, he was one of Troy's most estimable citizens,' and Judge WOODWORTH, who knew him well, and became himself eminent, adds a generation thereafter: 'His example at that early day shed a moral influence in the community, the fruit of which is visible at the present day.' " Notes from Bill McGrath: Note 1: Page 282 also has an illustration of the Centennial Emblem that was used during the celebration. Note 2: Many of the individuals' names mentioned in this write-up will be recognized as the names of current streets in Troy.

THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, 1889 page 286

Poem on the Naming of Troy The poetical contribution of Benjamin H. HALL, Esq., abounded with happy conceits and figurative pleasantries. The grave zeal with which the settlers accomplished the task of selecting a suitable name for the village was fancifully pictured in the following verses: "The wise heads all assembled In seventeen eighty-nine, Determined that the hamlet Should have a title fine; That so, throughout the ages, In peace as well as strife, Some brilliant designation Should ever give it life. "And first they took the Bible, And turned its pages o'er; Read Numbers and the Chronicles, Did Joshua explore: Then thumbed the leaves of Rollin, Josephus studied through, And sought in Guthrie's system, For something that might do. "They copied all the proper Names, and improper too; Exhausted combinations Till every man was blue, Then spelled each title backward, In hope at last to find Some startling appellation For future fame designed. "Ten hours in fruitless effort These grand old heroes passed, Till nature faint, exhausted, Gave signs she could not last; The tongue of one was twisted, Another's neck was wry, A third was still with lock-jaw, A fourth desired to die. "Such was the fearful present; More dark the apparent fate, That on their mental labors Seemed threateningly to wait; When one old classic scholar On trembling legs arose And drawing out his mouchoir, Attended to his nose. "Thus spoke he ---'I remember When I was very young, The story of a city In ancient fable sung, That for ten years resisted Siege and starvation slow, And then surrendered only Through treachery of the foe. " 'The name of that walled city Was good in olden days, But we can use it better By means of modern ways; And keep it as a lesson, That no insidious foe Must be allowed to enter And turn our weal to woe. " ' For ten hours we have labored, And not a single name Has yet been deemed sufficient To sound our local fame; To save this noble people, For grief to give them joy, Oh! call these dozen dwellings And five small groceries - Troy.' "He said: a gleam of sunshine Shot from the western sky, The river burned in crimson, The heavens in Tyrian dye; The sages of the village regained, At once, their strength, Shouted for rum and treacle and swallowed drinks of length. "Like lightning, through the hamlet The joyful tidings flashed, And from that dozen houses Five dozen people dashed, While from the corner groceries At least a dozen more Rushed forth in wild confusion and through the highway tore. "The men and eke the women And little children too, And pigs and dogs and horses, And goslings, not a few, Joined in the general chorus, While, like a grand refrain, That word of beauty - Troy - Rang high above the plain. "It struck the eastern hill-tops, And thence, in echoes clear, Rolled grandly down the river, In tones that all could hear; At Albany it awakened The Dutchmen from their sleep, And with prophetic terror Their flesh began to creep. "But when next day a shallop Sailed proudly down the stream, And brought the news that Troy No longer was a dream, The streets were all deserted, Each true Albanian wailed, A fast-day was appointed, Five sturgeon-venders failed."

THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, 1889 pages 286-288

The observations of J. W. A. CLUETT, on the city's future improvements, were both opportune and forcible [sic]. He prefaced his excellent suggestions by saying: "Whenever we find our city described in print, it never surprises us to read that Troy is beautifully situated. An old cylopedia - well known to bookworms - published seventy years ago, says that the 'village of Troy' is agreeably situated on a gravelly plain; that it is regularly laid out in streets and squares; that the streets are wide, with sufficient sidewalks; that many of the houses, though built of wood, are large and elegant; and that the hill that rises in the rear of Troy is very appropriately called Mount Ida, and that its fine sides and summit present elegant sites for building, that command an extensive view of the city and surrounding country.... "Certainly Troy is 'beautiful for situation.' Fronting on the Hudson, facing the setting sun, intersected by picturesque creeks and crowned by lofty and accessible hills, from which toward three points of the compass may be obtained panoramic views that might excite the envy of more than half the cities of the old world. To behold from Mount Ida a clear sunset is worth the price of a day's toil. Below is the busy, peaceful, compactly-built city, bordered by our noble river and the green wooded hills. Northward are rocks of the Hudson River group, through which the rapid Mohawk has cut its way. To the south is seen our sister city of Albany, which seems to cluster round the State Capitol, whose impressive, immense proportions, like a great cathedral shorn of its towers, are made the more conspicuous by a distance of six miles. The delighted eye, wandering to the south-west, lights on the shelving ranges of the Helderbergs. These, as they disappear southward, invite the beholder's admiration to the lofty, undulating outlines and mellow shadows of the Catskill Mountains.... "While enjoying, quite recently, a six month's vacation across the Atlantic, I was not infrequently, by the law of contrast, reminded of my own city.... The Europeans have done very much for the indoor education of the people; but this is not the only need recognized by their civic liberality. There, it seems to be assumed that a city must have, so to speak, its own doors and windows, and be supplied with such openings as admit the air and sunshine that heaven so freely offers to those who will have it." Regretting that commerce had pre-empted the river front of the city and rendered it unattractive as a place of resort and recreation, he outlined his views of the practicability of the improvements suggested by him: "One of the few remaining breathing spots is the open space west of the college grounds, between Grand and Congress streets. It commands one of the loveliest views that any city of America can boast of; but at present it is a somewhat sinking piece of real estate, a sort of artificial ruin, such as nature seldom creates without man's help. What a lordly terrace could be built up in place of that crumbling bank. A strong, heavy wall - a filling of builders' refuse - and a platform twenty-five or thirty feet wide and several hundred feet long would be created. Such a spot along Eighth Street would repay a pilgrimage. It would be the rich man's breathing place and poor man's park. "Another commanding hillside outlook and excellent breathing place is yet practically possible. The large piece of ground on the west side of Eighth Street, between Hutton and Hoosick streets, is already leveled off. A securing wall - a parapet along the western line of the property - would scarcely be a matter of excessive expense. Here could be easily constructed a lovely little park 100 feet wide by 200 or 300 feet in length. It would be reached by one of the pleasantest walks in the city. It could be planted with shade trees, ornamented by small showery fountains, and furnished with garden seats. The spot commands pleasant distant views toward the west and north. On the hottest summer day it would offer a breezy, restful refuge to the warm and weary citizen."