The Albany Iron Works Foundry building is being dismantled. (Don Rittner)

Dear Preservation 911,

To hell with our history. That's the philosophy of the planning commission of Troy, N.Y. The federal government is currently spending $6.5 million to recover the turret this summer of the Civil War ship, U.S.S. Monitor, that Troy ironworkers helped build in 1861. Yet Troy's city planning commission recently approved demolition of the very foundry building that made the ship's protective iron plates. The foundry is being dismantled as you read this.

The Albany Iron Works (or rolling mill) in South Troy is not pretty. It's not a stately mansion, nor a church, and perhaps it's not even architecturally significant. It's a simple foundry building, but when it was built in the early 19th century, it was considered the largest in the country and state-of-the-art. The Iron Works created many things but certainly is most famous for making the hull plates for the Monitor, and for that it has national significance and recognition. Anyone familiar with naval, Civil War, or general American history knows about this industrial building in South Troy. Just weeks ago, Troy's industrial heritage was given national exposure when it was featured in a PBS documentary.

Troy, considered the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution and the Silicon Valley of the 19th century by many historians, has a limited number of historic resources left. Every day we continue to lose more by short-sighted decisions by public officials.

This rolling mill represents part of the larger story of American will power, innovation, and triumph during one of the darkest periods of our history. It was determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places several years ago by the state's historic preservation office.

If we cannot save this building from destruction, at the very minimum the facade should be preserved so it can be rebuilt as a memorial, perhaps in a location where people can appreciate its significance. We hope that we can get enough letters of support from around the nation to present to the Mayor and city council to keep the foundry building from being totally destroyed. Please send email support to Don Rittner at drittner@aol.com.

Sincerely,

Don Rittner

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