Downtown in Albany in Albany County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Site of First Poor House in the United States

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 12, 2017

1. Site of First Poor House in the United States Marker

Inscription.

Site of First Poor House in the United States. . , On this site once stood the first Poor House in the United States. , Community care for the poor was an important feature of Dutch society, and it took root here in Albany as the city was settled in the first half of the 1600s. , Constructed between 1652 and 1656, Beverwijck's poor house was the first in New Netherland to be built expressly for the purpose of helping the poor. It was begun a year before the poor house in Manhattan. , In early Albany, help was available to anyone in need who lived in the village. Residents from all walks of life voluntarily contributed money and alms in the form of food, drink, clothing, shoes, tools, and beaver pelts. Collections were made by the First Dutch Reformed Church and at poor boxes placed throughout the village. , In addition to the poor, this community fund could also support anyone who wanted to get ahead or start a new project but lacked the means. He or she could borrow money at a 10 percent interest rate – making this the first banking system in New Netherland. , The first poor house was built on this site, behind you, at today's 412 Broadway. , The poor house was built on the south side of the Ruttenkill, one of the three major streams that ran through Albany and emptied into the Hudson River. The Ruttenkill was buried in pipes in the 1820s, and today flows under the brick alley behind you. , Note the bench next to the poor house. Albany's Dutch settlers built several bridges over the streams. The bridges were fixed with benches for the practicality and enjoyment of the residents. , These few blocks of Broadway were in the 19th and early 20th centuries part of Albany's newspaper hub. , The poor house was on the site of today's Argus Building, built in the 1830s, once the headquarters of the Albany Argus newspaper and publishing house. Other newspaper offices located close to here included the Albany Evening Journal, Knickerbocker Press, and Times Union. , How do we know? , Since 1974 the New Netherland Research Center has supported the translation and transcription of the 17th-century Dutch Colonial records held by the New York State Library and State Archives here in Albany. These records constitute the world's largest collection of original documentation of the Dutch founders of Albany and New York State.

On this site once stood the first Poor House in the United States.
Community care for the poor was an important feature of Dutch society, and it took root here in Albany as the city was settled in the first half of the 1600s.

Constructed between 1652 and 1656, Beverwijck's poor house was the first in New Netherland to be built expressly for the purpose of helping the poor. It was begun a year before the poor house in Manhattan.

In early Albany, help was available to anyone in need who lived in the village. Residents from all walks of life voluntarily contributed money and alms in the form of food, drink, clothing, shoes, tools, and beaver pelts. Collections were made by the First Dutch Reformed Church and at poor boxes placed throughout the village.

In addition to the poor, this community fund could also support anyone who wanted to get ahead or start a new project but lacked the means. He or she could borrow money at a 10 percent interest rate – making this the first banking system in New Netherland.

The first poor house was built on this site, behind you, at today's 412 Broadway.

The poor house was built on the south side of the Ruttenkill, one of the three major streams that ran through Albany and emptied into the Hudson River. The Ruttenkill

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was buried in pipes in the 1820s, and today flows under the brick alley behind you.

Note the bench next to the poor house. Albany's Dutch settlers built several bridges over the streams. The bridges were fixed with benches for the practicality and enjoyment of the residents.

These few blocks of Broadway were in the 19th and early 20th centuries part of Albany's newspaper hub.
The poor house was on the site of today's Argus Building, built in the 1830s, once the headquarters of the Albany Argus newspaper and publishing house. Other newspaper offices located close to here included the Albany Evening Journal, Knickerbocker Press, and Times Union.

How do we know?
Since 1974 the New Netherland Research Center has supported the translation and transcription of the 17th-century Dutch Colonial records held by the New York State Library and State Archives here in Albany. These records constitute the world's largest collection of original documentation of the Dutch founders of Albany and New York State.

Erected 2016 by Albany Cultural Heritage and Tourism Partnership, New York State Museum, Downtown Albany and SUNY.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work •

Site of First Poor House in the United States Marker (<i>side view</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 12, 2017

2. Site of First Poor House in the United States Marker (side view)

Colonial Era • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 42° 38.897′ N, 73° 45.043′ W. Marker is in Albany, New York, in Albany County. It is in Downtown. Marker is at the intersection of Broadway and Beaver Street, on the right when traveling south on Broadway. Marker is a composite plaque, mounted on a waist-high pole, between the sidewalk and the street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 412 Broadway, Albany NY 12207, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Second Albany City Hall (a few steps from this marker); SUNY Plaza (within shouting distance of this marker); Declaration of Independence Centennial Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Henry Hudson (within shouting distance of this marker); Albany - Capital of New York 200 Years (within shouting distance of this marker); Building A Place to Live (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); 1st Telephone Central Office in New York State (about 500 feet away); Anneke Janse Bogardus House Site (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Albany.

Also see . . . Beverwijck. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on July 31, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Site of First Poor House in the United States Marker (<i>wide view; marker visible bottom right</i>) image. Click for full size.

3. Site of First Poor House in the United States Marker (wide view; marker visible bottom right)

Argus Building, 412 Broadway (<i>view from the marker</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 12, 2017

4. Argus Building, 412 Broadway (view from the marker)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 22, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 584 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 22, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.