HISTORICAL UNVEILING
Lansingburgh Historical Society dedicates ‘Herman Melville Way’
TROY, N.Y. » Members of the Lansingburgh Historical Society, Rensselaer County Historical Society, as well as elected officials, gathered Monday morning in Lansingburgh to dedicate part of 114th Street, “Herman Melville Way.”
The dedication honors the author and former resident, who penned the American literary classic ‘Moby Dick.’
Following speeches from Troy Mayor Patrick Madden and Lansingburgh Historical Society President John Ward, a ceremony unveiling of the sign took place on the corner of 114th Street and 1st Avenue.
“We’re here today to dedicate this portion of 114th Street to Herman Melville and this is actually the house he and his family lived in for I believe it was nine years and his first two novels were written here,” Madden noted of the author who lived here from 1838 to 1847, where he wrote “Typee” and “Omoo.”
“This house has been lovingly cared for and restored by the Lansingburgh Historical Society and they are the movers and shakers behind today’s sign dedication,” Madden added.
“Today we are here to honor one of the American great writers of the 19th century, Herman Melville. His first works were writ
"This is an important day for us because this is the 200th anniversary of Herman-Melville’s birth."
— Lansingburgh Historical Society President John Ward
ten for the Lansingburgh Democratic Press newspaper,” Ward said.
“After unsuccessful tries at teaching and trying to find employment on the Erie Canal, Melville went to sea, hunting whales in the Pacific, which thus became the basis for his first two successful novels, “Typee” and “Omoo,” both written here in Lansingburgh,” Ward added of Melville, who was a graduate of The Lansingburgh Academy and who taught in the area.
In addition to the dedication, Ward also detailed how the Lansingburgh Historical Society has celebrated 200 years since Melville’s birth, this year.
“This is an important day for us because this is the 200th anniversary of Herman Melville’s birth. We had the fortune this year at thebeginning of August we had a one-act play about the life of Melville featured at the Oakwood Cemetery at the Gardner Earl Memorial Chapel. It was wonderful and an hour and a half of lines memorized by the actors, it was absolutely mesmerizing, the best I’ve ever seen,” Ward said of the play and festivities.
The late Victorian style Melville home, which is now home to the Lansingburgh Historical Society, also features materials documenting Melville’s stay in the Collar City, as well as the history of Lansingburgh.