Trojans gather on Sunday to celebrate day Troy received its name
TROY, N.Y. >> Trojans gathered on Sunday to celebrate Enjoy Troy Day, commemorating the first full day in history that Troy had its name.
On the evening of Jan. 5, 1789, a group of freeholders on the eastern banks of the Hudson River met in a tavern to officially rename the place “Troy.” The following day, Jan. 6, was Troy’s first full day in existence, prior to its official incorporation in 1816.
On Sunday, the 230th anniversary of this occasion, locals also gathered in a tav- ern, McAddy’s Pub, to celebrate with a ceremony and party commemorating the historic naming of Troy.
During the event, attendees held a tongue-in- cheek vote to reaffirm the name Troy for another year, fol- lowed by a lively toast.
After comically suggesting other options for Troy’s
new title, event organizer Duncan Crary led the crowd in raising a glass and toasting “to Troy, New York.”
Some like city historian Kathy Sheehan enjoyed recounting Troy’s past at Sunday’s event. Before 1789, “It was either known as Vander Heyden’s Ferry or Ashley’s Ferry,” she said, explaining that Jacob Vander Heyden and Stephen Ashley were both prominent men in the area.
The fateful 1789 decision was made in Ashley’s Tavern, located near the northeast corner of River and Ferry streets, Sheehan explained.
Though it was an important day in local history, “A lot of people don’t think about this date,” Sheehan continued, while saying how she was glad to see so many people cheerfully celebrating it on Enjoy Troy Day.
A fairly newtradition, Enjoy Troy Day was created by The Enjoy Troy Co. in 2015. Event-goers gather on Sunday afternoon at McAddy’s Pub for an Enjoy Troy Day celebration.
Tom Reynolds, manager of The Enjoy Troy Co., likes being part of Enjoy Troy Day as a “post-holiday unique celebration,” he said, “just to kind of keep the momentum and the holiday spirit going a little.”
Ahead of this year’s local holiday, Troy Mayor Patrick Madden issued a formal proclamation recognizing January 6, 2019, as Enjoy Troy Day in the city of Troy “in recognition of all who contribute to the beauty, and warmth and conviviality of
our vibrant and diverse community.”
Andrea Daly- Chappell, now a Schenectady resident, used to live in the Collar City and decided to visit for Enjoy Troy Day2019. “I just love Troy,” she said on why she attended the event. “It just kind of seemed neat and intriguing and not something that happens every day.”
Another event-goer, Troy resident Brian Carroll, said Enjoy Troy Day is a good excuse to have a beer. “It’s about enjoying Troy.”