Writing novel set in Troy, NY (Albany, Colonie: home, buy, live in)

[Lisle S. Mitchell]

I'm writing a series of three novels set in Troy, NY between 1945 and 1965. My research has provided me a great deal of general information but few specifics. These romance novels center around a couple from opposite side of the socioeconomic scale and the inherent conflicts. Intertwined will be the economic problems that gripped Troy and most of the American Manufacturing Belt during the time period: rusting of the infrastructure, labor and management problems, lack of capital investment, and the inability to adapt to coming globalization. I'm especially interested in the education, social, economic, political, and entertainment/recreational details. My fundamental question is, where and why did Troy evolve the way it did between 1945 and 1965?

[t16skyhopper]

If you're still researching this, try local librarians. They can point you to several sources. Ask about town records. Economic and other statistical data can suggest a lot. Maybe court records too.

Interviews too with locals who are fifty or older. As a group, the personal stories would add lots of atmosphere.

[piperspal]

not sure if you live in the area, but there is a very good historical society in Troy. I think it's on Second St., not sure. Anyway, lots of information there. Another good place to check out is Manory's. I'm not plugging it just because it's my favorite diner - really! - it's just that the place has been around for forever & a lot of the patrons there are old enough that they probably lived & worked in the time frame you refer to. Best of luck to you - I am one of the few souls left that truly loves Troy - warts & all. And I didn't even grow up in NY state!

[VlyRoadKid]

I grew up in Albany and left for Mass. at the age of 11, so I have foggy memories of Troy. I do remember the giant factory buildings and glaring lights. My mom also liked to visit a fabric outlet there, and would buy cloth to sew out Easter outfits. Not much help, eh? But it could be a scene in your book! I do that with my writing: insert little vignette's from my own and others' lives into my story line. It helps me...I don't know about your style.

Kurt Vonnegut Jr., wrote a novel based in Troy, (Player Piano), involving corporate greed and corruption. Though it's fiction it might be useful. He was also employed at G.E.,--though I'm not sure if it was the plant in Schenectady) after returning from the war. he often refers to Troy in his other works as "Ilium" (the Greek name for Troy).


This site deals with the housing conditions of Troy from the 1920's on:

www.lostlandmarks.org/tomstroy.html


Doing a search, I found one interesting sight about factories in Troy during the 1950's:

Tempo Electric Presents the Arthur Loesch Home Audio Systemtroy.htm

For some photos from an RPI project, check out:

NEB&W Guide to Troy, NY - Down By The Depot (Fulton St. to Broadway)

Just type in "Troy, NY, factories, 1950's" and you'll get more info than you can use, I think! Switch it around to include, words like "education" and so on.

Good luck!

[SPLIT]

LM: Born in Troy . LOts of relatives older than I am . See you post was way over a year ago . NOt sure of current info needed.
All man relatived worked the D& H RR , Colonie. Had aunt in Cluett's testile & AAROW shirts. Beer brewery big therer . Utica Club Schaffer, Ballentine, etc. Genessee for drinking.
. Did books get written .?