Listen Albany Historic Albany Foundation

Fragments: A Live Recording at Overit Media, will delve into the interesting and unique ways in which old fragments of buildings continue to survive - and thrive!From architectural elements purposely removed and reused,  to clandestine remnants of the past hidden in plain sight, our expert panel explores these secrets hidden in plain sight.

The third episode of Listen Albany: Finding 48 is the story of how the seemingly ordinary and unfascinating building on Hudson Avenue was identified to be one of the last remaining Dutch buildings left in Albany and its pedigree proven. Local architectural experts Doug Bucher, Walter Wheeler and Bill Brandow discuss the clues and colorful experiences that led them to the discovery of the 1728 Van Ostrande-Radliff House. The story has it all: hasty cover ups, overtures of eminent domain, and a fact finding mission that included tree-ring dating. This telling of the Dutch house’s lively origin story is moderated by Albany Archives’ Matt Malette and was recorded before a live audience.
The Van Ostrande-Radliff House is one of two Dutch buildings left in the originally Dutch city of Albany. It was constructed just outside the stockade in 1728 by Johannes Van Ostrande. The house is a timber framed urban style house, making it rarer still, that had been encapsulated within a larger building as the house grew wider, longer, and taller to accommodate the range of uses over the building’s nearly three hundred year history. 48 Hudson Avenue is a tangible link to Albany’s and the nation’s rich Dutch heritage that tells a unique story about Dutch settlement in the New World. Historic Albany Foundation has owned the building since 2013 and is in the first two phases of restoring the Van Ostrande-Radliff House with the assistance of an Environmental Protection Fund Grant from New York State and an Endangered Properties Intervention Program bridge loan from the Preservation League of New York State. This program is a part of Historic Albany’s commitment to making this important and fascinating part of Albany’s heritage available to the public.

The second episode of Listen Albany: Hiking Capitol Hill offers a peek at the Capital City’s long rich history as the center of government for the city and county of Albany and the Empire State. Hear anecdotes about the construction of many of the iconic buildings including a clever convict, dastardly commissioner, and and ghostly nightwatchman.

This tour will take you in a loop beginning at the famed New York State Capitol and circle around the Hill to end at the front of the iconic building.

Funding for this podcast provided by The Albany County Convention & Visitor's Bureau Fund of the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region. Additional support provided by City Historian Tony Opalka, Maeve McEneny of the Albany County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Matt Malette of Albany Archives, and the City of Albany's Office of Cultural Affairs. Produced by and for Historic Albany Foundation. Recorded at Overit Media.

Episode 1: The Pearl Street Stroll | The first episode of Listen Albany is a guided walking tour of Albany's historic Pearl Street. Learn where famous duel-opponent Aaron Burr kept an office, see the home of the oldest pulpit in America, and hear a story about a young Herman Melville. Begin your stroll at the intersection of Hudson Avenue and Pearl Street, and walk on the left side of the street north, towards Clinton Avenue. The narrator will instruct you where to stop, and a bell will instruct you when to begin walking again. Pause the podcast as needed to reach each stop, or at any time to take a detour, soak in the sites, or stop for a bite at one of the many Pearl Street eateries. Have fun!

Funding for this podcast provided by The Albany County Convention & Visitor's Bureau Fund of the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region. Additional support provided by City Historian Tony Opalka, Maeve McEneny, and the City of Albany's Office of Cultural Affairs. Produced by and for Historic Albany Foundation. Recorded at Overit Media.