Author follows Troy Through Time
Rittner’s latest work features then-and-now look at iconic spots
TROY, N.Y. » Readers can experience Troy Through Time in a new book about the city’s past and present.
Local author and historian Don Rittner, a Troy native, recently released his latest work, part of a series called America Through Time by Arcadia Publishing. Troy Through Time features 96 pages of images new and old of the Collar City.
Rittner looks at the city’s heritage as the birthplace of America’s Industrial Revolution and with informative captions provides comparative then- and- now photographs showing the dramatic changes the city has gone through — especially during the past century. With each pair of photos is a description of the location and the changes over time.
Rittner particularly focuses on the city’s downtown and public squares, areas most affected by urban renewal. Troy Through Time features photos that date back as far as the 19th century, with many of the older photographs coming from a collection Rittner has been compiling since he was a teenager from several sources, including local residents, companies and historical societies.
Familiar spots like The Ap- proach, Monument Square and the Quackenbush Building are covered in the book, along with others that did not stand the test of time. As industries have come and gone and as the street scenes have changed, Rittner’s book shows readers how the impact of human activity has altered the riverside community.
With this book, Rittner wants to show readers a different side of Troy, particularly when it was a vibrant, bustling city home to more than 80,000 residents. Rittner said he wanted to write this book to remind people how great Troy was in terms of business, architecture and history. He also said he wants Troy
Through Time to serve as a warning of what can happen when bad municipal planning without input from the public leads to historical structures being torn down.
“Now you can see, you can go through this book and you can actually see what they took away,” Rittner said. “It’s a wakeup call not to take the rest of it away. It’s really a wakeup call not to hastily destroy the rest of our history.”
Rittner has written more than 35 books, many about his beloved hometown.
“This is a special place,” he said, mentioning the city’s significance in American history.
Troy Through Time is a good introduction to the city, especially for new residents, Rittner said.
“In a couple hours, you get a flavor for the city that you’re in.”
Troy Through Time can be found online at www.arcadiapublishing.com or in local stores for $22.99.
Rittner and Arcadia Publishing plan to next release books on Albany and Schenectady as part of the America Through Time series.