Lansingburgh (Images of America: New York)

An area of hills, forests, and river plains, Lansingburgh is the oldest settled region and the first chartered village in New York's Rensselaer County. Its rich history began with Abraham Jacob Lansing, who, in 1763, established the area that encompasses Lansingburgh on the eastern banks of the historic Hudson River as a 5,000-acre farm. Eight years later, Lansing laid out his land into a square of 2 by 1.5 miles, with 288 building lots, streets, alleys, and an oblong square village green in the center. The influx of New England entrepreneurs transformed Lansingburgh into a thriving village. During the 19th century, industries in oilcloth, brush making, valves, knit goods, beer, crackers and biscuits, scales, and shirts and collars flourished. Lansingburgh businesses became world famous and continued to be so even after the village was made part of the city of Troy in 1900. The Burgh, as it is called today, has made its own contributions to national politics, literature, and sports. In this new book, the author invites us on a journey to an earlier Lansingburgh. More than 200 photographs, most from the archives of the late historian Frances Broderick, show the people, businesses, landmarks, and events that give Lansingburgh its proud 228 years of history.

Don Rittner is president and owner of The Learning Factory, an education center in the Capital District region of New York State. Devoted to the preservation of community history, he coordinates the Capital District Preservation Task Force and has published 12 books. He has received numerous awards and grants for his preservation work.