Schenectady guides us through the fascinating story of this city using timeless images, some of which have never before been published.
Midway between New York City and Montreal lies Schenectady, an area that first developed as an outpost to the fur trade and for agriculture. Schenectady's future growth was assured by its location on two major water routes, the Mohawk River and the Erie Canal. Schenectady survived the massacre of 1690 and was chartered as a city in 1798, becoming only the third city in the state. At the time of the charter, Schenectady was 12 miles long by 18 miles wide. The city saw astounding growth during the industrial age which brought not only a flood of new enterprises and commerce but also elegant homes, cobblestone streets, gaslights, and trolley cars. Schenectady also contributed to the development of the nation: the Monitor's turret, M7 tanks, and World War II radio and radar equipment were produced here.