On behalf of The Poly, I would like to welcome all the new freshmen, graduate students, and transfer students to Troy, your new home. One thing you will notice quickly is that this campus has a number of differing viewpoints on the city that surrounds it. Some will tell you it is a rich and vibrant city on the up and up, while others will say it is a cesspool that they cannot wait to escape from and never look back. You will develop your own opinion before long, but before then, you should know a little more about the city that you will be spending a great deal of time in over the coming years.

History of Troy

So, I guess it’s best to start off with a description of the history of Troy that no one will care about or read. One of the first things you will notice if you happen to escape the pull of World of Warcraft and venture off-campus anytime in the next four years is that a lot of things are named after Uncle Sam. While you may have thought that Uncle Sam was just a character, the man behind the legend lived and worked in Troy as a meat packer and sold provisions to the Army during the War of 1812.

Soldiers from Troy referred to the beef Sam Wilson provided as “Uncle Sam’s,” and other recruits picked up the habit. They thought, however, that the name came from the “U.S.” stamped on the boxes by the government inspectors, and began using the name to refer to the United States in general. While he was physically large, he did not look exactly as his contemporary image does.

Once you have figured out how to spell it, you might wonder where the name Rensselaer came from. Stephen van Rensselaer was lord of a manor extending 24 miles along the Hudson for a total area of nearly 12,000 square miles, of which Troy was part.

While already wealthy, he sought to make more money off his land when he inherited it, but instead of selling it off, he eventually leased it to more than 3,000 tenants. Since this method did not require a large up-front commitment for land, his tenants could put more money into their operations, which strengthened the economy and industry in the area. After various careers in the military and politics, he founded the Rensselaer School, for which we are all, to varying degrees, grateful for, as it grew and became known as our dear old RPI.

Troy also played a large part in the industrial revolution in this country. The geographic location of the city and the numerous rivers made it ideal for mills and factories. The first steel mill in the U.S. was built in Troy in 1865 at the mouth of the Wynantskill. During the Civil War, the Burden Iron Works, which was powered by the largest waterwheel in the world, could churn out 360 horseshoes a minute to equip the Union Army.

In the twentieth century, Troy became known as “The Collar City” because of the popularity of the collars, cuffs, and shirts made in the city. Troy’s foundry products, such as stoves, sheet iron, steel, and precision instruments made by W. & L.E. Gurley, were also popular. Many of these factories have closed and the industries are now gone, but you can see most of their remnants if you head south through Troy.

Stuff to do in Troy

Of course, any city can have a history rich in facts, but it takes a special city to have stuff to do in it.

If you enjoy parks and the outdoors, Troy may appear at first glance to not be for you. If you walk about 10 minutes south of campus, however, you will find two areas that cater to such wants. Poestenkill Gorge is the more hidden of the two. If you head down Pawling Ave. from Congress St. and take your first right, you will find yourself walking around a large gorge that features a great waterfall and pool.

There are signs everywhere prohibiting climbing on the falls, and it’s probably a good idea not to since the entire area is made of loose rock that crumbles in your hand and can lead to a nasty fall. For the more adventurous, however, climbing to the top of the gorge can be a good afternoon activity and offers some good views.

Prospect Park, just off of Congress St., is the other one, situated above the Gorge. It is just like any other city park, with trails through the grass and trees and a playground, but also has tennis courts. It is a nice area to just walk around in, and is a great place to see Troy or the skyline of Albany from.

No college town would be complete without its bars and nightclubs. The Ruck and O’Leary’s are two popular destinations for RPI students, on Third and 15th Sts., respectively, as is Elda’s, a nightclub on Fourth St. The Ruck is especially well-known for its sandwich, the Ruck Burger, a hamburger with wing sauce on it. If you’re looking for a crowded college bar, though, do not plan on getting to these places before about 11 pm; and then be prepared for a sudden rush of people, so much that you can’t move.

College towns also need their pizza places, and Troy is no exception. There are literally dozens of places to choose from, with every shape and style (and quality) offered. If you are not picky, you can find a large pizza for under five dollars. Pizza Bella and the downtown I Love NY (not the place on Hoosick) are two of the most popular places for RPI students, but you will find someone who prefers each of them. In addition to pizza, most of these places also offer wings, the other staple of the RPI student’s diet.

While Troy might not be a thriving metropolis, it does feature a few great ethnic restaurants. Shalimar’s downtown on Third St. offers great Indian food, and Ali Baba’s on 15th will serve you a great Mediterranean meal. If you’re looking for a simple Italian meal, Minnesale’s is about a five-minute walk away from campus at the intersection of 14th and Congress. For (American) Chinese food aficionados, you can get a good meal at Plum Blossom north of campus on Hoosick. Lee Tang offers good take-out cheap in the same vein.

If you are into the classical music scene, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall is a place you will have to visit at least once. World-renowned for its acoustics, famous musicians such as the cellist Yo-Yo Ma hold sometimes surprise concerts there, and student groups will hold performances there occasionally.

Stuff to do around Troy

While there is stuff to do in Troy, there is also a lot to do outside the city. Of course, it’s not possible to cover it all here, but here is a sampling.

The Pepsi Arena in Albany is a great place for sports events or concerts (Green Day performed there last Spring), and The Egg (named for its odd shape) just nearby offers more concerts, comedy acts, and a wide assortment of other events.

If you are looking for a great place for concerts, though, head for Northern Lights in Clifton Park. While a small venue, it attracts big name bands as well as some great smaller and local ones. You’ll find a wide range of musical styles there, as well as a wide range of time periods for the bands. Many bands on large publicity tours stop there for a change from the huge stadium concerts, and you can get tickets for the same show at half the price or less.

For the more commercially-minded, the Capital Region has a number of malls, but the main destination for RPI students is Crossgates in Albany, just off I-87 south. This mall has one of every store you could want and then some, as well as a movie theater and a number of restaurants. If you need to do some shopping, want to see the next hit movie, or just want some of the famous wings at Hooters, head for Crossgates.

If you need to escape from Commons food and rush season is already over, find someone with a car and head for Wolf Road, again off I-87 in Albany. While it does have another mall and a lot of strip malls, many head over there for the multitude of restaurants. If you want to eat out and have no idea where to go, head for Wolf Road and just drive down the street until you find something you want. With an Olive Garden, Outback, Red Lobster, Applebee’s, Chinese buffet, pubs, and more, there’s something for everyone.

Using the Capital District Transport Authority buses makes it very easy to get to much of the entertainment available in the capital region. There are bus routes covering all of Troy, Albany, and Schenectady. To figure out which one will get you where you want to go, browse to http://www.cdta.org/, which lists all schedules. The best part is that using the CDTA buses is completely free for RPI students—just show the driver your ID and you’re all set.

Well, there it is, Troy and the surroundings in a nutshell. You’ll hear from a lot of people in the coming months that RPI and Troy are terrible places to be stuck for four years, and you will need to come up with your own decision on that matter. One thing is certain, however. If you spend the next four years commuting only from your dorm to class and spending the weekends at the same frats with the same people doing the same thing, you will start to hate it. Get out and enjoy what the area has to offer.