A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL...
ln what is getting to be a Center Square tradition, there
will again be a Christmas celebration, complete with kiddie
decoration making, an outdoor tree and an open house for all.,
Mrs. Theodore Adams and Mrs. John Borel, this year's co-
pchairmen, invite all neighborhood children to,a party at
1:30 p.m.rSaturday, December 19, in the Westminster Presby—
terian Church House at 85 Chestnut Street. The main enter-
tainment will be making decorations and stringing things
for the neighborhood tree, but refreshments will be served.
Also, residents are urged to contribute outdoor type
ornaments, through the chairmen —— Mrs. Adams at 112 Chest-
nut (462-0891) or Mrs. Borel at 94 Chestnut (463-5195).
The tree will be decorated at 3"p.m. Sunday, December 20,
. in Westminster's new parking lot playground (a sign will-
identify it as a Center Square Association tree).
Center Square's open house will be at the Billmyer home,
199 Lancaster, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Refreshments will be
served and all residents are invited.
FLURRIES OF SNOW AND ACTIVITY .
Center Square has acquired a snow-lady, who welcomes names
for her lists of people who want snow cleared and people
who want to do it. She is Mrs. John Borel, a new neighbor
at 94 Chestnut Street (463-5195).
—She will also represent the association in reminding ab-
sentee owners of their responsibility for getting walks.-
cleared at their properties. Last year's storms brought
especial hardship for elderly tenants in such buildings.
On another snow front — Mrs. Gloria Ballien, city coun-
cilman for this area, has filed several suggestions with
the City Council for amending or superseding Albany's
19th century sidewalk clearance ordinance.
The association board has discussed the idea of buying a
snow-clearing machine and hiring an operator, but has tabled,
this idea for now because of complicated questions abouti ;
insurance, charges, maintenance, storage, etc. ,
ALBANY OF THE FUTURE
"Conservation" in Center Square issa first—stage priority
recommended in the recently released Community Improvement.
Program report for Albany. Also suggested is library
service in this area, with the proposed move of Harmanus
Bleecker Library.
The name Center Square is used for one of 33 neighbor-
hood districts in the city, outlined in the report for
various priorities and treatments. Its maps indicate the
Center Square district as bounded by Madison, Washington
Lark and Pearl.
Conservation is defined as programs for areas which have
not declined to the point of needing active rehabilitation.
Examples of conservation include building~by-building code
enforcement, public improvements and removal of dilapi-
dated structures, along with social and economic aids for
residents..
Other categories of recommendations are selective re-
development, active rehabilitation and open land develop
ment. Many programs are eligible for federal and state aid.
Housing is a major concern of the report ·· more of it;
elimination of very poor housing, and conservation of the
present supply.
Other stated aims are to increase the number and variety
of jobs, and to conserve neighborhoods, shopping areas and
industrial districts.
The report was based on studies done by the cityFs De-
partment of Urban Redevelopment and was reviewed by a 40—
member Citizens' Advisory Committee.
ANNUAL MEETING
Excellent attendance, refreshing refreshments, and a talk
by the executive editor of the Knickerbocker News marked
the annual meeting of the Center Square Association, held
on October 28 in the meeting room of Bleecker Library.
Harold Rubin was re—elected for another active year asi
president and reports described the past year's problems .
and achievements. The other new officers and committee
chairmen are listed on the back of this newsletter,
Robert Fichenberg elaborated on the proposals he has made
in the Knick News for an Albany restoration project — a
re¢creation of Fort Orange or some other historic spot in
time for the nation's 200th anniversary in l976.s
He urged that Albany follow the example of private lead-
ers who sparked rejuvenation efforts in Atlanta and Phila·
delphia. He stressed Albany’s advantages in having so rich
a history and in having retained gracious residential areas
like Center Square and the Washington Park borders.
CENTER SQUARE HISTORY # 3
By Miss Catharine Bacon
Jay Street was paved in 1853. Drains were laid in Lancaster
Street in 1854, followed by grading between Lark and Dove.
Streets in that year and the next, and paving in 1856.
Chestnut Street between Lark and Swan Streets was graded
and paved in 1855.
One of the interesting houses of this period when the
side streets were being developed is 245 Lark Street, known
as 94 Lark Street until 1878.
We believe this fine old house was built in 1853-1854 by
Peter Coburn, a "painter," who is first listed as living
there in 1854.
It is a deep, L-shaped house of natural brick with the
basement section of brownstone. It has the simple cornice
of that period, with lintels and sills of stone. The house
is set back from the street with`a yard in front.
Peter Coburn lived here until 1859. Ira Jagger, an
engineer and president of the Jagger Iron Company on Rens-
selaer Island, is listed at this address from 1859 to
1882.
One of the unique features of this lovely old house is
the old ironwork which until 1967 was unspoiled. There is
an iron fence along Lark Street with posts at the openings,.
two balconies of ironwork, and originally heavy iron
front-step railings with heavy posts. Can we not safely
attribute this interesting iron ornamentation to Mr. Jagger?
A good—sized section of land on Willett Street extend-
ing halfway down the block on Lancaster Street was vacant
land in the late 1850s, but by 1876 it was owned by lra
Jagger. Two structures at the eastern end of the plot,
shown on the 1876 map, could have been a stable and a small
house for a coachman or a gardener.
In 1887 the Frederick W. Ridgway family bought the house
and lived there until 1931, when the Albany_Guild? for Pub-
lic Health Nursing, known since the late 1930s as the
Visiting Nurse Association, bought it for offices.
Not only is this essentially an unspoiled house over _
a hundred years old, but it is unusual in that over all,
those years it has had only four owners.
This is the third in a series of historical notes about 9
C Center Square. Miss Bacon, historian for the Center
Square Association, specialized in research on this area
.and on its old houses.
CENTER SQUARE IS ON THE AIR
Station WROW broadcast a 20-minute interview with Center
Square President Harold Rubin as the October ll program
in its Civic Profile series.
Among the topics discussed were the objectives and ef-
fectiveness of neighborhood associations like Center Square,
the impact of the South Mall, people's reasons for return-
ing to the city, and prospects for neighborhood preservation
and rehabilitation.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
A sister organization is being formed to the south of Center
Square, by owners and tenants in the area from Madison to
Hudson and east of Lark.
Temporary chairman Fred Hershey says it all started when
he was planting tulips around the tree in front of his home
at 398 Hamilton Street, and had a conversation with a
- neighbor from Madison Street.
are planning neighborhood Christmas activities and an organ—
izing meeting in January.
A committee headed by Mrs. Donna Monaghan of 572 Hamilton
will present a constitution modeled after Center Square's.
The group's aims are very similar —neighborhood projects
and help, beautification (trees, paint—up, clean up, etc.),
improved city services, and code and zoning enforcement.
Center Square discussions about investigating the"possi-
bility of expanding the association‘s boundaries concluded
that a federation of several smaller neighborhood associa-
tions with common interests would be better than a larger
single organization.
Center Square welcomes the new group.
LOOK MA -— NO POLLUTION
Center Square LAW—men (members of the League of American
Wheelmen) helped to organize a Sunday afternoon bicycle ride
on November 22.
Some 60 men, women and children pedaled their way from the
Washington Park lake house to the State University campus.,
The aim was to promote the idea of a "bikeway" along that
general route.
The project got good newspaper coverage, by.; Times—Union?
Preporter who made the entire trip, and a favorable editorial,
by a Knickerbocker News writer who admired it from afar.
CHURCH PARKING LOTS
The problems of parking lots have occupied considerable
time of Center Square Association officers.,
They have worked particularly with two neighborhood
churches, Westminster Presbyterian and Trinity Methodist,
in assuring that their enlarged parking areas meet the
zoning regulations for lots with five or more spaces.
Trinity has enlarged its lot to 44 spaces by razing a
residence at 249 Bark Street. Blacktopping has proceeded
under a conditional variance, granted upon the church's
assurance that it will meet landscaping, screening, drain-
age and other requirements when weather permits.
President Harold Rubin and Howard Daffner of the zoning
committee and Past Vice President Howard Malone testified
at a City Hall hearing on October 26, urging that the
church present more detailed plans on these matters before
a variance was approved.
The church agreed to provide the Zoning Board of Appeals
with additional plans and to meet all requirements of the
zoning ordinance.
Westminster Church, following protests a year ago, has
increased the size of its lot to 36 spaces by adding the
site of the demolished John Scopes houses on State and
Chestnut. ,The new project, costing $25,000, includes brick
walls, landscaping,'sitting-areas and a play area.
As President Rubin wrote to the Rev. John Laske of West-
minster, "While we are not for additional parking lots,
yours should serve as a model of what can be done to exist-
ing lots to make them an addition to any neighborhood. Your
concern and efforts are truly appreciated."
HOW CAN YOU KEEP THEM BACK TN THE SUBURBS...
Some observers see a national return to city living, as the
suburbs develop more and more city problems without providing
city advantages
This migration is certainly evident in Center Square,
where at least 30 homes have been bought in the past five
years by presentee owners. Many were multi-family or rooming
houses, now renovated and converted back to one—family living.
Major renovations within the past year have been done by
Mr. and Mrs. Robert R. Wyman, 195 Lancaster; Mr. and Mrs.,
Gray Taylor, 182 Lancaster; Robert Cassidy, 155 Chestnut; Miss
Ruth S. Jones, 163 Chestnut; Mr. and Mrs. Brainard Prescott,
A 115 Chestnut; and Mr. and Mrs. John H. Rogers, 116 Chestnut.
C Other new owners of renovated houses include Mr. and Mrs.
Wallace Wall, 53 Dove; and Mr. and Mrs. Allen Bishop, 227 Jay
Street.
ZONING BOOKLET DELAYED
The publication of Center Squarels booklet explaining zon-
ing and higtqric sites regulations affecting our area is
being postponed until early l97l, to make sure it includes
possible changes by that time.
A copy of the much revised material is now in the hands
of Albany's corporation counsel and other city officials,
Cto make sure our interpretation is correct.
C Meanwhile, anyone who is contemplating a rehabilitation,
project can obtain a typewritten copy from Harold Rubin,
president and zoning chairman.
INTELLIGENCE NETWORK
Again this year, Mrs. John Skeer, membership chairman, has
enlisted a complete network of block captains, one on
each block within Center Square's boundaries.
These neighbors, listed below, welcome new members and
will also relay any problems or complaints to someone who
can do something to help.
Another duty is to keep on the lookout for houses for
sale, apartments for rent, signs of demolition or constru-
tion, and incipient zoning violations.
The block captains, by street, are:
State Street
256 — Miss Ronnie E. Ceglais r' 436-9849
334 —— Mrs. Frederick D. Elliott p F C 462-942l
Chestnut Street
94 — Mrs. John M. Borel 463-5195
ll9 —— Mrs. Thomas P. Maloyi 462-499lr
l48 — Mrs. Elijah D. Blanner * 434-3052
Lancaster Street
202 —- Mrs. Julian Sheres V A 462-4905
222 — Mrs. William Gibson C `g ,454-3336
Jay Street
175 — Miss Treva E. Kauffman 463-0557
203 —— Mrs. Anne M. White 4 C, _ C 434-2752
Lark Street
_ 242 -— Mrs. Hugh M. Flick C C·np 436—l7l3
Doye Street
° 55 —- Mr. J. Kenneth Vaughnt CJD 434-7856
RENTERS WANTED TOO
Mrs. Virginia Malone, real estate chairman for the Center
Square Association, welcomes information on apartments for
rent and on potential renters, as well as information on
phouse buyers and sellers. Phone —— 436-8219.
BRICKS ON LANCASTER
True to its word, the city has paralleled new concrete walk-
ways with brick paving, on the north side of Lancaster Street
between Lark and Dove.
Mayor Corning had indicated that the city would try to
give Center Square a block a year of this more expensive but
much more attractive treatment.
MEMBERSHIP RISING
Barely two months into a new fiscal year, Center Square Asso-
ciation has 175 paid—up members. Renewals and new member-
ships come in each week -— mostly owner—occupants, but many
tenants and absentee owners too.
Anyone who owns property or lives in Center Square (State
Sto Jay, Swan to Lark, plus Lancaster to Willett) is more
A pthan welcome. If you haven't signed up yet, look up your
friendly block captain or mail the form below. The year runs
from October lrto September 30; husbands and wives can share
a single membership.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Make checks payable to Center Square Association.
Mail to: CMrs. John D. Skeer, Membership Chairman
154 Chestnut Street
Albany, New York, 12210
Enclosed is $ for 1970-71 membership in the Center,
Square Association
NAME
ADDRESS
Owner only Regular membership ,
Owner occupant __ Supporting s *_*
Tenant Sustaining I _
CENTER SQUARE BOARD
Officers
President: Harold Rubin, 156 Chestnut St., 434-0855
Vice—president: John P. Jehu, 49 Dove St., 436-8946
Corresponding secretary: Miss Eleanor M. Foote, 49-A Dove St.,
462-1517 A
Recording secretary: Miss Ruth S. Jones, 163 Chestnut St.;
434-4261 g
Treasurer: Howard M. Daffner, 220 Lancaster St., 436-1140
Committee chairmen
Historian: Miss Catharine Bacon, 183 Lancaster St., 434-0506
Legal: John P. Jehu, vice-president
Membership: Mrs. John P. Skeer, 154 Chestnut St., 434-1881
Newsletter: Mrs. David Billmyer, 199 Lancaster St., 465-0737
Projects: John R. Rogers, 116 Chestnut St., 462-3161
Real estate: Mrs. Howard L. Malone, 205 Lancaster St.,
436-8219 1
Trees: Elijah D. Blanner, 148 Chestnut Street, 434-3052
Zoning: Harold Rubin, president
