Job Opening at Historic Albany Foundation- Admin. Assistant

Historic Albany Foundation has a small office of dedicated and passionate employees.  We are committed to providing a respectful and pleasant environment for our employees. View our current job opportunities and apply today to join our team.

POSITION: Administrative Assistant

TYPE: Part-Time - Hourly

A part-time, 12 hour per week, entry-level position to share the administrative and program tasks as part of the Historic Albany Foundation administrative office team.  This position can be accomplished Monday through Friday, with some evening hours required.  This position can be mostly virtual, with some onsite hours required.  This position reports to the Executive Director.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Plaque Program

• Technical Services Assistance

• Grant Administration

• Special Events and Program Assistance

• General Administrative Support

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

• Minimum of high school diploma

• Attention to detail and accuracy

• Ability to work independently

• Self-starter

• Proficient in various technology and software including Microsoft Office, Google Drive, and ability to learn various database and website software

• Graphic design ability a plus

HAF provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability.

HOURLY RATE OF PAY: $15 per hour

TO APPLY: Please EMAIL cover letter and resume to Pamela Howard, Executive Director at phoward@historic-albany.org by Friday. March 12, 2021. No calls please.

EndangeredAlbany: Argus Press Building

#EndangeredAlbany: Argus Press Building

As many of you have seen, the Argus Press Building in the Warehouse District has been on our Endangered list for a number of years. The building has sat vacant for over 15 years. After being foreclosed on in 2018 by the County and sold back to the owner in 2019, it looks like there will finally be a bit of movement on this building. There was an article in the Business Review on January 28th about the building having been purchased by U-haul. U-haul stated they did not have immediate plans and that they were evaluating the building.

Historic Albany sees this movement as a good thing. U-haul and self storage is typically a soft use of buildings that is often reversible and has a low impact on the building. If they decided to move later on, this use of the building does not impede different uses in the future, but will hopefully lead toward better maintenance and care of the exterior of the building. We watch this project developing with interest.

See the Business Review article here: https://www.bizjournals.com/albany/news/2021/01/28/u-haul-buys-former-argus-press-building-albany.html

More about the history of the building can be found on our 2019 Dirty Dozen page here:

https://www.historic-albany.org/2019-dirty-dozen

#WhereinAlbany - Underground Railroad Education Center

Last week’s #WhereinAlbany, as many of you correctly guessed, was indeed the Underground Railroad Education Center, 194 Livingston Avenue, also known as The Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence. 

This brick Greek Revival townhouse, constructed in 1847, has an incredibly important history as the Capital Region headquarters for the Underground Railroad. It is listed on the State and National Register of Historic Places, and now serves the community as a cultural and historic museum where the public can learn about the building’s role in the civil right’s movement, as well as the story of the people whom this monument to freedom helped.

A Brief History
Stephen Myers was a prominent abolitionist, born as a slave in Hoosick, NY around 1800.  After being released from slavery in 1818, Stephen married his wife, Harriet, in 1827, whose family worked in shipping and owned a sloop that travelled from New York City to Albany. The couple had 5 children.

stephen myers

Stephen was extremely active within the African-American community, lobbying and working tirelessly to create economic and educational opportunities,  helping enslaved people on their journey from the South to freedom, and publishing The Northern Star & Freemen's Advocate a “prominent voice for freedom and Black rights”, with the assistance of his wife.

“the Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence for all of us, today and for generations to come, will stand as a constant reminder of the unresolved issues that are part of the legacy we have inherited, and, as before, are willing to band together to protect and strengthen that thread of freedom woven into We, The American People….” (Historic Structure Report)

194 Livingston Avenue
For over three decades Stephen and Harriet helped African-Americans escaping slavery by creating a safe haven at the very property which still stands at 194 Livingstone Avenue, contributing greatly to the movement. For some time it was also the headquarters of the Vigilance Committee of Albany; an organization which helped thousands of individuals by raising money, providing safe houses, and organizing routes to safety. Stephen served for several years as chairman of this committee.

The house itself was built by John Johnson - believed to have been Harriet’s brother - in the Greek Revival style, which was very popular at the time. By the middle of the 20th Century, however, the building was vacant and fell into decline. Thankfully the house’s important history saved it from demolition, with local historians Paul and Mary Liz Stewart advocating for its restoration.

The Underground Railroad Education Center as we now know it began a restoration project in 2007, with more than $950,000 being raised toward a project goal of $1,500,000. If you’d like to donate to the restoration of this building please visit their website here.

Read the Historic Structure Report >>
Visit >>
Please call (518) 621-7793 before visiting, Monday through Friday: 5pm-8pm, Saturday: 12pm-4pm, Sunday closed

#WhereinAlbany - King's Place, 27 North Swan Street

Many of you figured out the building in last weeks #WhereinAlbany was indeed King's Place at 27 N. Swan Street, very close to Ten Broeck Mansion, built between 1852 and 1856. It was originally owned by a William Munsing, a local gasfitter, but it is more well-known in its current iteration for its the association with Howard King and John J. Olcott, who used it was a home for their law firm from 1870.

The distinct brick Greek revival building gets its regal name from being the entrance to ‘Kings Road’ (the back entryway to the Mansion). It has been suggested this name was in recognition of Olcott’s business partner.

Now home to the Albany County Historical Association, the restoration of this building was certainly a labor of love and a great success story for local preservation, with the rededication ceremony taking place in 2013 after a long period of decline. The restoration of this unique building was funded by City of Albany Community Development Block Grant under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 and through Replacement Housing Factor Funds from the US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This was part of a larger project that aimed at “remove(ing) blight and provide affordable housing” in the area.

A Little more about the Olcotts
The Olcott Family bought Ten Broek Mansion in 1848, renaming the area Arbor Hill. A prominent banking and philanthropic family, they remained owners of the building until 1948, after which they donated the Mansion to the Albany County Historical Society.