October 15, 2025 | Page 4 | Andy Arthur.org

Between South Swan And Eagle Street Albany – 1952

Andy | October 15, 2025

This 1952 aerial photo shows the neighborhood in Albany that would be demolished for the Empire State Plaza, between South Swan Street and Eagle Street. Long forgotten streets, like High Street and South Hawk Street can be found in this dense urban neighbohood which within 10 years would be out by the state, and within 15 years would be entirely carted off to dumping grounds in Glenmont behind Erastus Corning's house near the intersection of US 9W and NY 32.

After a rather rainy and gray few days, followed by a sunny but cold and breezy day those tease words from years ago – puts a grin on my face. Somebody, a much less rugged invididual – posted that comment in response to my pictures of a post-Thanksgiving hot tent camping trip to the North Country.

Truth is I find hotels and motels to be most tasteless nasty places to stay. They remind me too much of travel for work, too much like home, the city, the place I’m trying to get away from. I’d much rather have some cold, some discomfort in the woods – days unshaven and unshowered – rather then spend a lot of money to travel somewhere in a way that I just do at home.

The other day I was writing how much I truly dislike recreational vehicles. There is something so much simpler and rustic about a camper shell on a pickup then even a pickup-truck camper much less an RV. I don’t like all that padding, the enclosed stove or bathroom. I’m quite happy with my plastic table, camp stove and shitting in a bucket outdoors. Sitting by the propane heater is though nice when I’m not having a fire on a cold day like this.

I make good money, and people are like aren’t you going to buy one of those suburban houses, own a couch and a television. High speed internet in every room, weekly garbage pickup. A lawn mow and maintaince free until discard vinyl siding and asphalt roofing. And all those plastic fixings. Don’t you know that’s a normal and responsible thing to do with your money?

Get a room. A motel, a house. Indeed, I was walking down the Adirondack Railway line this morning with a brief thought in my head about some year in the future taking the scenic railine from Utica to Tupper and back. 216 miles as they note, a full day trip. It’s not that expensive for a full day of scenic enjoyment, still I don’t know, it’s so much of the same canned entertainment that I so despise. I’d much rather be in woods, have my freedom, walk, ride and paddle as I want rather then some canned entertainment on a train for a few houses.