A bit of Albany history has been preserved in the city’s paving project along Washington Street. It’s the name of the contractor, the son of Oregon pioneers, who built part of the street more than a century ago.
For many years, a remnant of a long unused railroad spur has been visible on the west end of Water Avenue at Washington Street. Before this artifact of Albany’s history disappears forever, I tried to find out where it led back in the day.
In a story a few days ago I mentioned Albany’s Hackleman Park. But as I typed the words, I remembered the full name, Eleanor Hackleman Park.
When the former bank building at First and Broadalbin in Albany is demolished in the next few weeks, the wreckers will be looking for the cornerstone that was placed 110 years ago.
I parked my bike at the foot of the Ellsworth Street Bridge in Albany, ignored the decades-old “closed” sign you see down there, and walked up the eastern sidewalk, high enough to look back at a new sight.
Just about every weekday afternoon, a Portland & Western feight train enters Albany on the Toledo branch from the direction of Corvallis. If you like trains and happen to be cruising past on a bike, you’re likely to stop and watch, like this:
Canal back to normal on Eighth Avenue
A few days ago residents along Albany’s Eighth Street Canal were wondering why the decorative waterway was nearly dry. By Friday the usual water flow, scant as it is, appeared to be back to normal.
Tags: Albany canals, Albany history, canals, Eighth Avenue Canal, Santiam Canal