Like their ancient namesakes, Trojans are warriors. Beginning in 2000, the city's preservationists withstood a three year siege from a development proposal to level the century-old Riverside Canoe Club and 1913 Freihofer Bakery for an Eckerd Drugstore. After much lobbying and litigation by local and national preservation groups, Eckerd withdrew its proposal.

But in 2004 a developer began a campaign which, after many battles, led to the demolition of both buildings in February-March 2007. A year later, the Troy Planning Board approved construction of a Rite-Aid on the site.

A new battle broke out soon after the second siege of Freihoffer's. Despite citizen outcry, the Troy Planning Board allowed the building of a second Rite Aid on the site of five early twentieth century houses at Hoosick Street and Burdette Avenue (right). During the summer of 2007, nine houses at Hoosick and North Lake Streets (below) were destroyed for a Walgreen's. As Troy native and historian Don Rittner wrote:

"[Soon], no matter what entrance you take to one of the oldest and most historic cities in America, you will not be greeted by a historic site...Instead you will be welcomed to Troy by a big box national drug store. Pathetic."

To visit Hoosick and North Lake Streets in 1930, click here.

To tour the vanished bungalows at Hoosick and Burdette Avenue, click here

Riverside Canoe Club wreckage, Freihofer's, and Hoosick at North Lake photos by Howard Ohlhous

Hoosick at Burdette Avenue photo by Jim de Seve