Society for Industrial Archeology's 44th Annual Conference
May 28-31, 2015 |
The SIA’s next annual conference will be headquartered in Albany, N.Y., May 28-31, 2015 (the weekend following Memorial Day). [NB – earlier announcements indicated this year’s conference would be held in Schenectady later in June but local hotels were unable to fulfill our requirements).
Located at the head of tidal navigation on the Hudson River, at the confluence of the Erie and Champlain canals, and on the main lines of the New York Central, Delaware & Hudson, and Boston & Albany railroads, the area around Albany, Troy, and Schenectady has a rich history of manufacturing and transportation infrastructure. Conference organizers are arranging an array of tours and events throughout the Hudson-Mohawk region. SIA last visited the area in 1973 (2nd Annual Conference, Troy) and 1987 (16th Annual Conference, Troy). It has been over 25 years since we held an event in this region and the manufacturing landscape has changed with traditional foundries, machine shops, paper and textile mills, and garment factories supplemented (and in some cases supplanted) by producers of robotic equipment, cryogenic power transmission systems, fuel cells, and electrical equipment. In addition to process tours at sites not previously visited by the SIA, we will have behind-the-scenes tours of operations of the New York State Canal System (recently listed as the longest National Register district in New York State), including a boat ride through five locks of the Erie Canal’s Waterford flight (completed in 1915, recently designated a National Civil Engineering Landmark) and a visit to the 1921 Waterford Canal Shops where timber and steel lock gates and valves are fabricated and the dry dock where tugs and dredges repaired. We’ll also tour Cohoes Falls and the nearby Harmony Mills (NHL), as well as the Mechanicville Hydroelectric Plant, built in 1897 and the oldest continuously operating hydroelectric plant in the U.S. with original equipment. Of course, we’ll also make a pilgrimage to Troy’s gasholder house, the inspiration for the SIA’s logo. Watch future issues of SIAN and the SIA website (www.sia-web.org) for conference updates. Registration materials will be sent to all members in late winter.
The Albany Hilton will be our headquarters. Located at 40 Lodge St. on the corner of State it is two blocks from the state capitol with restaurants and interesting architecture within easy and safe walking distance. The hotel offers a free shuttle from the Albany Airport and the Albany-Rensselaer Amtrak station on the other side of the Hudson. The hotel is offering a conference room rate of $142/night (plus tax) and $5/day parking. To make a reservation, contact the hotel directly at 1-800-445-8667, 518-462-6611, or www.hiltonalbany.com and indicate a group code of 4SFIA.
For more information please contact Duncan Hay at duncan_hay@nps.gov or Simon Litten at slitten@nycap.rr.com.
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Website:
www.sia-web.org/2015-conference/ |
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| Location Information |
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Albany, NY |
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| Contact Information |
| Email:
slitten@nycap.rr.com |
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