Troy is one of the most historic cities in the United States. Originally
the home of the Mohican tribe, the area was settled by the Dutch in the
early eighteenth century and the city itself was founded by the
Vanderheyden family in 1787. Troy holds claim to being the birthplace of
America's Industrial Revolution, and a major manufacturer of iron
products during the 1800s.
Troy has earned some distinctive titles in its 230 years of existence,
and was referred to as The Home of Uncle Sam, and The Collar City. In
his latest book, Troy Through Time, local historian Don Rittner looks at
the city's rich heritage and with informative captions provides
comparative then and now photographs showing the dramatic changes the
city has gone through--especially during the past century. Due to the
confluence of major waterways and the accompanying water power, industry
favored Troy making it one of the wealthiest cities in the United State
and the end of the nineteenth century. Troy, therefore, is noted for a
wealth of Victorian architecture downtown and elaborate private homes in
various neighborhoods. As industries have come and gone and as the
street scenes have changed, Rittner takes the reader on a fascinating
journey through time, showing how the impact of human activity to this
riverside community.
