Naming a highway after a civilian

“John Wolcott Pine Bush Hikers’ Underpass”

Reads the sign along NY 155 / New Karner Road in the Albany Pine Bush. What is all the more remarkable in my mind was that John Wolcott was NOT some kind of government worker – a politician, a government enforcer like a cop, trooper, soldier – somebody who drew a measly paycheck and was granted a sign as a way to make up for dangerous work conditions that lead to death.

John Wolcott was just a community activist, a persistent pest bringing up questions of conservation, history and deed paperwork to government agencies for good, an advocate for Albany’s History and the Albany Pine Bush. I can’t think of any other highway or public infrastructure that was named after such a person. It’s really good as too much of our official narrative revolves around elected officials and government workers and ignores all that civilians do every day.