On this date in ...

1918: Albany Mayor James R. Watt was “in a quandary” over how to guide the citizens’ committee in planning a proper welcome home for the city’s returning fighting men from the war in Europe. He was of the opinion that there should be one major celebratory event instead of individual ones each time another group of soldiers, sailors or Marines returned. The question was when that one observance should be held. Men of the aero squadrons were the first expected back in a few days, followed by 300 to 500 more from the 76th Division in 10 days. The majority of Albany’s returnees, however, were spread among scores of other units, and their homecoming dates were still unknown.

1968: The long-delayed rebirth of Albany’s downtown business would move forward at once under city and private financing, announced Albany Mayor Erastus Corning 2nd. Plans included construction of a new parking garage at the site of the vacant Whitney Department store as the first step in the eventual private development of adjacent properties and a department store complex. Also, a $1 million modern supermarket was to be constructed by Grand Cash Markets on North Pearl Street. The mayor said it was no longer possible for the city to wait for federal government approval, which was doubtful at best. Downtown merchants were elated at plans for improving the downtown business area, mainly along North Pearl Street.

1993: Next year, a Lutheran group planned to break ground on a 210unit development for elderly people, complete with stores and services within walking distance. But building a self-contained, separate community for the elderly raised troubling questions of segregation based on age or infirmity. Surveys by the American Association of Retired Persons showed that the vast majority — 85 percent — of the elderly would prefer to age in place, at their current homes and neighborhoods, rather than move into a retirement community. Despite these sentiments, 3,000 people had already expressed interest in living in the new development, called Coburg Village.