The Distillery and Why it Should be Saved

The distillery remains at Quackenbush Square are such that the stone foundation walls, about 30 ‘ X 80’, can be preserved, readily, just as they are, with little or no mortaring.

The spectacularly preserved wooden rum fermenting vats, can likewise be preserved in place. This could be done, according to one of the archaeologists, by having light, translucent housing over the complex with a system to ensure continued moist air inside.

Furthermore, as you may see on the map, there was another distillery works on the same still lot. This hasn’t been probed for yet. Although there seem to be no current plans to see if there are still remains of the other distillery present, it would make sense to want to examine both together, and to preserve both together.

To broaden this principle, just look at the map again. Both distillery works are closely juxtaposed to standing features which relate, perfectly, to the archaeological remains.

First of all; there is the early 18th. century Quackenbush House. Nicole’s Bistro is located in this now, on a lease from the city. It was the Quackenbush family that owned the distillery lot. Then there is Quackenbush Street itself. This was set aside as a public street in 1733, when the Quackenbush family owned all of the lots on the south side of it , and most of the lots on the north side. This street was opened as part of the evolving urbanization of Albany’s earliest adjacent suburb, called " The Colonie "( referring to it’s location in Rensselaerwyck ).

On this same street is the Henry Hudson Planetarium, whose name commemorates the first Dutch exploring expedition to our area. Lastly, in an adjacent building, are the offices of the Albany Urban Cultural Park, and the display room and lecture room of the Visitor Center. These strongly promote a knowledge and awareness of the history of Colonial Albany. Add to this, that the last building on the street is a popular brew house- restaurant; " The Albany Pump Station" , built into the city’s old waterworks pump house. Next north of this, on Montgomery Street, the Quackenbush Enterprise Center is planned to be housed in another old building.

Just to the east, on the other side of I-787, there are plans to ,considerably improve the Riverfront Park, and better connect it to downtown. There are plans to provide docking for pleasure craft, and for more cruise boats. The official booklet announcing this; " Capitalize Albany Economic Strategy" states: " Plans are also underway to further highlight the rich cultural heritage of the Albany waterfront. " A block away, to the west, is the 18th. century Albany Dutch Church building, with it’s own historic museum and archives. Also a block away, to the west is Albany’s Theater District , as well as the northern end of the downtown business district ,with it’s restaurants, bars, brew pubs, hotels, government offices, banks, and some stores.

Make a Permanent Exhibit by Modifying Garage Plan

These connections make it more than abundantly clear that a more intelligent, and responsible, pro public approach to this opportunity is needed. Cutting back the garage area by about 55 or 60 feet, in a straight line,. on it’s north side, would allow the preservation of the distilleries as a permanent display as an educational feature and a major tourist attraction.

This would take away a little over 1/3 of the garage’s area. with a change in the configuration of the garage building’s foot print, about only 1/4 of it’s area would have to be given up. Besides, when it comes to parking; less is more. More allowance for re-urbanization. The extravagant degree of space wasted by parking lots and garages in a city can be better used for well designed residences, businesses, and cultural features. There have, recently been built, an absurd excess of parking garages in Albany. Two of them cover prime archaeological sites south of this one.. Like it, they lay along the original river bank, where, naturally, the first settlers located. This process only serves to accomodate and perpetuate suburban sprawl and car commuting. It is a deterrant to pressure for better public transit, and to re-settlement in the city.

Albany and State have Destroyed Archealogical Sites in the Past - Now is Time for Positive Steps

Time after time, ever since the debacle of the Fort Orange Site in 1971, Albany and the State that it’s in, have responded negatively to recommendations for the preservation of suitable show piece archaeological features.

This is really the time for a positive response. Complaints and whining, about the cost of changing plans are inappropiate, for mitigation in the form of building elswhere, or changing a layout, are provided for in the laws and rules. Furthermore, it was the Parking Authority’s choice to let out architectural and construction contracts before determining what was present, archaeologically. Actually, there was historic documentation available, all along, indicating the potential for 18th century distillery remains at this location, but this wasn’t resorted to, by the parties involved, until a few weeks ago.

Incomplete prior research is why the distillery was mis-interpreted as a tannery works, at first. Within the last two years, the Mayor of Albany; Jerry Jennings, has established a Heritage Tourism Commission, and an Archeological Task Force. The latter group holds regular meetings at the Urban Cultural Park Office at At Quackenbush Square. I’m not sure what they do, but I recently, heard that they are toying with moving a mid-18th. century structure from 48 Hudson Ave. and setting it up at Quackenbush Square to enchance what is there. By an odd coincidence, the corporation of which one of the Task Force members is an officer in, is planning to acquire 48 Hudson Ave. for some project they have in mind.

Now is Albany’ s big chance to proceed beyond rhetoric and window dressing, and to do something substantial, real, and positive, with archaeology, to promote heritage tourism.

Historic Anniversaries

In 2002, the 350th. anniversary of the offical founding of Albany, as "Dorp Beverwyck" The Village of Beverwyck, will occur. In 2009, the quater-centenary of the exploratory voyage of the Dutch ship the Halve Maen, to our area, will occur. There will be gala celebrations for this latter event, at least. Plans for making Albany the home port of the Halve Maen replica, and for attempting to make a Fort Orange replica, are now underway with 2009 in mind. Now is the time, and well past the time, for Albany to start making it’s preservation and archaeological policies and practices shipshape. This will give more validity and authenticity to these upcoming events, and they will be less wrought, and overwrought, with irony.

Written by John Wolcott, for the Historic Action Network

Offers of support, monetary and otherwise, will be accepted by the Historic Action Network. This is a not for profit organization incorporated under the laws of the State of New York.

If you wish, you may earmark donations for "legal actions to preserve the Quackenbush Square Distillery Site " Such earmarked donations will be returned, if legal action does not occur.

For more information, contact the Historic Action Network.

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