The Common Council Minutes, available from 1686 to the present, may be useful to the researcher of the building survey as they include records of all ordinances, laws, petitions,resolutions, etc. passed in the city of Albany. These records may relate to streets, section of the city, annexations and many other subjects relevant to the growth and character of the city. Any matter which affects the city is likely to receive space in the Common Council Minutes. These matters include issues regarding the city's development (i.e. the building of bridges, ferry landings, the Albany Basin) as well as exterior forces which affect the city, such as fires, floods and epidemics. The activities of individual citizens are also sometimes recorded in the Common Council Minutes.STREET OPENINGS
Included in the Street Openings are various documents relating to the opening of a street (or a section of a street), the widening of an already existing street, or the opening of a city park. The documents include maps, newspaper notices, New York State Supreme Court Proceedings, petitions, resolutions, laws, - and records pertaining to the awarding of damages to parties whose land is taken. The Street Openings are available from the early part of the 19th century. Street Opening records are not available for all streets in Albany.ANNEXATIONS 1815-1967
The City of Albany was officially incorporated in 1686. The boundaries at that time were described as follows: "East, the Hudson at low water mark; South, a line drawn from the southernmost end of the pasture at the North end of Martin Gerritsen's Island, and running back due Northwest sixteen miles into the woods, to a certain creek called Sandkill; North, a line parallel to the former about a mile distant; and, West, a straight line drawn from the Western extremities of the North and South lines."1 Northern and Southern boundaries remained intact until the "Colonie" was annexed in 1815. This village was a sparsely settled territory occupied mostly by farmers working leaseholds under the Patroons. The area held a separate corporate existence for several years prior to annexations.2 A description of the portion of the Colonie annexed to Albany appears below. "Beginning at the Southeast corner of the said town, and running northwardly along the East bounds of the County of Albany, until a course of North 48 degrees West, intersects or strikes a red cedar post with brick around it, standing on the West bank of Hudson's River, which post is distant 22 chains and 36 links from the Southeast corner of the storehouse of Steven VanRensselaer, on a course North, 40 degrees 20 minutes West,then 48 degrees West to the West bounds of said town,then along the West and South bounds thereof to the beginning."3 In 1870, part of Bethlehem and Watervliet were annexed to Albany, extending the City's boundaries in a Northerly and Southerly direction. Also, the area beginning West of Magazine Street was ceded to Watervliet and later to Guilderland.4 In 1910, portions of the ceded territory (1870) were reannexed to the City and the Western boundary of the City took its present form.5 By 1916, the Northern and Southern bounds of the City had taken their present form with the exception of those areas known as Westerlo Island and Karlsfeld.6 In 1967, Karlsfeld was annexed to Albany; this being the final change.7
(From Department of Urban Redevelopment, City of Albany, Historic Resources Inventory,June 1976). Footnotes 1. Joel Munsell,Collections on the 5. Albany County Clerk, Street History of Albany. Albany, N.Y.: Openings. Vol. 1, (Orange St.) J. Munsell, 1870, Vol. 3, p.362. 1874, p.48. 2. Common Council, City of Albany, 6. Common Council, City of Albany, Proceedings for the Year 1871. Proceedings for the Year 1871. (Albany, N.Y.: Argus Co. Printers) (Albany, N.Y.: Argus Co. Printers, p.214. 1871) p.154. 3. Ibid., p.5 17. 7. Ibid., 1870, p.213. 4. Ibid., 1890. p.601.
(If Known)
PRESENT NAME FORMER NAME DATE OF CHANGE
Albany Street Albany Avenue Feb.13,1871
Arch Street Beaver Lane
Johnson Street
Ashgrove Place(from Trinity
Place to Grand St.) Westerlo Street 1869
Bleecker Street Bass Street
Bass Lane
Broad Street Jonkers Street
Malcolm Street
Broadway Handelaers Street
Market Street
a) north of State St. Brewer Street
b) north of State St. North Market.Street
c) south of State St. South Market Street
d) State to Gansevoort St. Court Street
e) at Patroon Creek Van Rensselaer Mill
f) Columbia to Clinton Ave. Watervliet Street
g) at North Pearl Street Cow Street
h) from Van Rensselaers Extension of Troy Road
Capitol Park Capitol Square
Central Avenue Bowery
Albany-Schenectady
Turnpike July 15, 1867
Schenectady Turnpike
Chapel Street Barrack Street
Barack Street
Charles Street Johnson Street March 19, 1877
Clinton Street Church Street
Clinton Avenue Patroon Street
Columbia Street New Street
a) at North Pearl Oak Street
Congress Street Spring Street August 6, 1860
Dean Street Prince Street
Water Street Nov. 6, 1826
a) Steuben to Hudson Dock Street
Delaware Avenue Delaware Turnpike
(If Known)
PRESENT NAME FORMER NAME DATE OF CHANGE
Division Street(from Hudson
River to S. Pearl St.) Bone Lane
Dove Street Warren Street Sept. 11, 1790
Dudley Avenue(west of
N. Pearl St.) North Ferry Street
Eagle Street Duke Street Sept. 11, 1790
Elk Street Queen Street
a) Clinton Ave.to Lark St. Spruce Street Sept. 11, 1790
Elm Street Pitt Street
Otter Street
Westerlo Street
Emmet Street Broadway Avenue Feb.13,1871
Laughlin Street Sept. 22, 1879
Exchange Street Mark Lane
Ferry Street Mink Street
Fourth Avenue Nucelia Street Jan.20,1873
Franklin Street Frelinghuysen Street March 30, 1828
Vreelinghuysen Street
Fulton Street Williams Street
Gansevoort Street South Street
Genessee Street Watervliet Avenue Feb.13,1871
Grand Street Hallenbake Street
Green Street Van Driesen Street
a) south of Beaver Street Esplanade or Plain Street
b) north of Beaver Street Voddewyf or Rag Market
or Cheap Side
Hamilton Street New Street
a) east of Broadway Kilby Lane
Hawk Street Hawke Street Sept. 11, 1790
Herkimer Street Van Schee Street
High Street South High Street
Howard Street Luther Street
Lutheran Street
a) S. Pearl to Lodge St. Nail St. or Nail Alley
Hudson Avenue Quidor or Quiter Street Sept. 11, 1790
Buffalo Street
Hudson Street March 4, 1872
a) east of Broadway Spanish Street
James Street Middle Lane
Middle Alley
(If Known)
PRESENT NAME FORMER NAME DATE OF CHANGE
Jefferson Street Herkimer Street
Herkemer Street
John Street Sturgeon Street c.1882
Judson Street Second Street
Know Street Gage Street July 17, 1809
Swallow Street Sept.11, 1790
a)North of Clinton Ave First Street
LaFayette Street Fayette Street
Sand Street April 25, 1825
Lake Avenue Perry Street Oct.2, 1882
A)south of Western Ave Pigeon Street
Lancaster Street Prideaux Street Sept.11, 1790
Lark Street Johnson Street Sept.11, 1790
Leonard Place (from Warren Street
Delaware Ave. to Lark St.
Lexington Ave. Snipe Street Sept.4, 1876
Schenectady Street
Liberty Street Cow Lane
Livingston Ave. Lumber Street April 21,1879
Madison Ave. Wolf Street
Wolfe Street Sept.11, 1790
Lydius Street May 20, 1867
Madison Place(Eagle St.
to Philip St.) Madison Ave. July 1, 1867
Maiden Lane Rom Street
Rum Street
McPherson Terrace Clinton Ave.(west of
Judson St.)
Mohawk Street Hudson River Avenue Feb.13, 1871
Monroe Street Van Schaick Street
Montgomery Street(from Marsh Street Jan.22,1827
Quackenbush St.to
Livingston Ave.)
Mulberry Street Spruce Lane
(If Known)
PRESENT NAME FORMER NAME DATE OF CHANGE
Myrtle Avenue Mink Street
West Ferry Street
Ferry Street
Upper Ferry Street
Monckton Street
North Pearl Street
a)Columbia to Pleasant St. Pearl Street
b)State to Columbia St. Orchard Street
c)in North Albany North Pearl Street Feb. 13, 1871
Norton Street Church Lane
Store Lane
Ontario Street Sparrow Street
Fourth Street
Seneca Street
Orange Street Wall Street Sept.11,1790
Hare Street
Park Avenue Monckton Street Sept.11,1790
Park Place (north of Capitol Street
State St.)
Park Street (State to Capitol Street
Lancaster St.)
Park View Terrace Madison Ave.(Lexington
to Robin Street)
Plum Street Plum Street
Pruyn Street Denniston Street June 16, 1834
Embargo Alley June 16, 1834
Quail Street Turkey Street
Quay Street Water Street
Dock Street
Robin Street
Second Avenue Whitehall Road Jan.20,1873
Whitehall Avenue
Second Street Elizabeth Street
Sheridan Avenue Howe Street Sept.11,1790
Fox Street
Canal Street
Sand Street
(If Known)
PRESENT NAME FORMER NAME DATE OF CHANGE
Sherman Street Sand Street
South Pearl Street Cow Lane
Deklyne Street
Washington Street
a) south of Gansevoort St. Albany-Bethlehem Turnpike June 16, 1877
State Street Yonkers Street
Jonkers Street
Deer Street
Broad Street
a) west of Eagle St. Prince Street Sept. 11, 1790
Steuben Street Stuben Street
Swan Street Boscawen Street Sept. 11, 1790
Swinton Street Maple Street Mar. 1, 1897
Ten Broeck Place (Ten Broeck Third Street Sept. 18, 1876
St.to Swan St.)
Ten Broeck Street High Street July, 1831
Third Avenue Van Vechten Street Jan.20,1873
Third Street John Street
Trinity Place Davidson Street Oct. 20, 1862
Broad Street June 14, 1869
Union Street Cow Lane
Grass Lane
Van Woert Street(west of Lawrence Street
Broadway)
Washington Avenue Lion Street Sept. 11, 1790
King Street Sept. 11, 1790
Washington Street
Water Street (Orange to Dock Street
Columbia St.) River Street
West Street DeWitt Street June 1, 1868
Westerio Street Kane Street
Pitt Street
Western Avenue Great Western Turnpike June 27, 1865
City of Albany Fort Orange
Aurania
Oranienberg
Williamstadt
Beverwyck
The Fuyck
The following are former villages or neighborhoods that have been incorporated into the City of Albany:Arbor Hill Groesbeckville Karlsfield Kenwood Martinville Normansville North Albany Pageville Spencersville The Colonie Tivoli Hollow West Albany