Newsletter Reborn! Winter 2021
Welcome to our newsletter, or more accurately, welcome to our resumed newsletter. Those of you who are long-time Gateway supporters may remember our printed and mailed newsletter, Burden’s Best, which suspended publication in mid-2008. This new digital version of the newsletter will serve much the same purpose, keeping you abreast of important Gateway developments, publicizing our events such as tours and the annual Gala, and containing short articles on interesting and important artifacts from the Burden Iron Works Museum collection. We propose to publish the newsletter quarterly, with special issues as required, and we promise to keep it to a reasonable length.
A Chronicle of Gateway Developments and Accomplishments Since 2008
Front page of one of the last Burden’s Best newsletters
More than a decade has passed since the last issue of Burden’s Best, so it seems appropriate to start off with a review of significant Gateway developments and accomplishments since then.
· The Gateway completed a nearly $1 million renovation project for the Burden Iron Works Museum. The work included a new replica tile roof, restoration of the cupola, improvements to roof drainage, masonry repair and stabilization, a parking lot, a handicap access ramp and a new ADA-compliant bathroom.
· Published a book on the Union Civil War ironclad USS Monitor and its local connections, Troy, New York, and the Building of the USS Monitor.
· Acquired a priceless collection of U.S. and foreign patents issued to Henry Burden and his son James Burden. One of the patents is signed by President Andrew Jackson. These documents are currently being assessed prior to conservation.
· Working with local foundry Ross Valve Mfg. Co., we cast and mounted new “THE BURDEN IRON CO.” bronze letters on the façade of the Burden Iron Works Museum.
· Successfully convinced river cruise lines to stop in Troy, and have conducted over 100 tours of historic downtown Troy for cruise boat passengers.
· Repaired the magnificent Arms Dividing Engine to operating condition again. Here is a link to a short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jk2Z4ujhMv8
· Hosted a tour for the Society for Industrial Archeology annual meeting in Albany.
· Celebrated our 40th anniversary in 2017.
· Added important examples of Troy-Bilt rototillers to our collection.
· Acquired a significant number of important historic precision scientific instruments from the collection of the late William Skerritt, a former Gateway president.
· Our long-term Executive Director P. Thomas Carroll retired. He was succeeded by former Deputy Executive Director Michael Barrett.
· Launched a Facebook page, which is now closing in on 800 “likes.”
· Our volunteer bell expert Jess Brodnax retired. During his time with the Gateway he compiled exhaustive lists of Troy and West Troy/Watervliet bells, and answered countless inquiries about bells.
· We were selected for a $500,000 matching grant from the New York State Regional Economic Development Council. This grant would cover interior renovations, including plaster wall repair, wainscoting, new floor, and air conditioning, as well as exterior work including masonry repairs of three stairways and restoration of exterior wood doors and other wood trim. We are still awaiting state approval to begin these projects.
· Launched our updated and improved web site www.hudsonmohawkgateway.org. Check it out if you haven’t seen it already!
2020 Gala Postponed Until 2021
The Gateway’s 2020 fall Gala was postponed until 2021 due to COVID-related restrictions on large gatherings. The honorees selected for 2020, Dr. P. Thomas Carroll, PhD, and his wife Nan, have graciously agreed to postpone this event honoring them until 2021. To those who don’t know them, Tom Carroll served as our Executive director from 1997 through mid-2013. These years included some very difficult times, and we wouldn’t have survived without his efforts. He was the main force behind lining up $800,000 in funding from multiple sources for the major stabilization and restoration of the Burden Iron Works Museum in 2008. His wife Nan assisted in many ways, while pursuing her own career at the Rockefeller Institute of Government in Albany, N.Y. Tom earned his undergraduate degree from California Institute of Technology, and a PhD in History of Science from the University of Pennsylvania. He was Associate Professor of Science and Technology Studies at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy prior to moving to the Gateway as Executive Director. He is the co-author, along with the late Rev. Tom Phelan, of the essential 2001 book Hudson Mohawk Gateway: An Illustrated History.
Tom Carroll and Rev. Tom Phelan wrote this book on the Hudson Mohawk region in 2001
Tom Carrol lecturing on Tiffany windows.
Gateway Offered Limited 2020 Tour Season
The COVID-19 pandemic hit just as we were beginning to plan our 2020 tour season. Many tour hosts, including the venues for the Tiffany windows tour, were unable to commit, so we made the decision to cancel our regular tour program. After conditions eased somewhat, the Gateway was able to schedule two walking tours for the 2020 season. Executive Director Michael Barrett led the “Industrial Sites of South Troy” tour on September 26. Barrett took participants on a walk along the Hudson River waterfront and described the numerous industries including iron and steel, bell casting, railroading, valves, and textiles that led the explosive growth that made Troy the “Silicon Valley of the 19th century.” Our other tour was our annual “Origins of the Modern Horseshoe” tour on November 7. This tour started with an overview at the Burden Iron Works Museum of Henry Burden and his invention and improvement of machines to make horseshoes, and ended with a hike to the site of the famous Burden waterwheel, the “Niagara of Waterwheels.” We hope to offer a more complete tour schedule in 2021, depending of course on progress combatting COVID-19 and its variants.
Thank You For Your Generosity!
Traditionally our Gala has been one of our principal sources of revenue. With the Gala postponed, we did not realize any income from sponsorship, honorary committee membership, ticket sales, or the silent auction. Recognizing that it would be financially challenging for our organization to survive without Gala revenue, we sent a special appeal letter to our supporters asking them to make special donations to help make up the Gala revenue shortfall. We are happy to report that our supporters responded very generously. Anyone still wishing to donate can send a check to:
Hudson Mohawk Industrial Gateway, 1 East Industrial Parkway, Troy, NY 12180-5942.