Cleaning Boots

My friend volunteered to test an antique boot-scraper on Elk Street and agrees that these are a pretty good idea.

Classical Grace

Beautiful architectural detail above a window on lower Elk Street

The Other Side

Just off Eagle Street and Columbia Place, these shabby little buildings looking down towards Sheridan Hollow were probably carriage houses for the elegant townhouses that line Elk Street above.

Elk Street

A century ago, Elk Street was one of Albany's handsomest streets. The elegant houses here were home to some of Albany's most notable families such as the Pruyns, Townsends, Vanderpoels, Rathbones, and Van Rensselaers. An aunt of author Henry James lived along this street. Several governors did, too. Franklin Roosevelt lived at Number 4 during his tenure as a state senator.

Today, many of these fine old houses are, for the most part, well-preserved and are occupied by offices.