The Albany Road Portfolio

"Through a Country Not Well Settled:"
The "Albany Road" of 1752-1773

In 1999, the RLT (then the RTLC) conducted a special hike over a portion of the "Albany Road," a heretofore unknown Colonial highway dating to 1753 that connected Albany with Deerfield, Massachusetts. Portions of the early road were familiar to historians, but not the fact that theycomprised sections of a single highway of considerable significance. Research undertaken over a two-year period, has uncovered a wealth of documentation on the early road. Both published histories and original source documents were studied in this exhaustive search. The entire course of "Albany Road," including all of its differing courses, were analyzed and mapped in the RLT geographic information system (GIS). A first-ever history of the road brings the rich history of this region in the mid- to late-18th century to life, explaining the context in whch the road was built. This publication allows you to follow the entire road today, often on foot or by auto, from Rensselaer to Deerfield.

The Early Schools Portfolio

Early Schools: Rural and Urban

Surprisingly little information is available on the history of public schools in Rensselaer County, or in New York State as a whole. In 1999, the RLT held its first-ever program on early schools in the county. Participants visited historic public and private school buildings in rural and urban settings and learned about the differences between rural and urban schools. They heard experts explain not only about early school history, but how students, teachers and citizens can research the history of their own school and identify historic school buildings in your neighborhood. This publication reveals how intriguing is our educational history, and it demonstrates how early school buildings remain a viable part of the county's landscape.

Granville Hicks Portfolio

Granville Hicks and Rural Rensselaer County

Granville Hicks (1901-1982) was one of America’s most important twentieth-century literary critics, and also a socialist, novelist, and well-known proponent of the small town. He moved to Grafton in 1932 and purchased the old Francis West house on Shaver Pond Road. Much of the Hicks property is now part of Grafton Lakes State Park. While a Grafton resident, he authored a number of works, in particular Small Town in 1946. Hicks was active in founding the Grafton Library, Grafton Fire Company and Grafton Fire District , and in school and town activities, as well as wartime efforts. He became widely recognized as a proponent of rural America and the small town, through his writings and his participation in a famous 1946 public radio debate and subsequent Life Magazine article. For more information on Granville Hicks, see our Granvile Hicks page.

The Streeter Centennial Hike Portfolio

The Streeter Centennial Hike

"Wanderings in Rensselaer," was published in the Chatham Courier in 1895. In his wanderings, Samuel S. Streeter reminisces about early settlers who lived and worked on the "West Mountain." Relying on both oral history and research into archival records, R-TLC Director, Doree Cox, traced Samuel Streeter's journey into the past, and in the process has uncovered a wealth of information on this part of Berlin. In 1995, we hiked along Samuel Streeter's route, and witnessed the history of land abandoned by farmers and taken over by the forest years ago, come back to life.

A limited number of these portfolios were produced, and were provided to participants in each of these three special prorgams. Only a few copies of each remain. These portfolios are available for a donation of $5.00 each, while supplies last, plus $3.00 postage per order. They can be ordered by calling (518) 659-LAND or by e-mailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .