Troy and the Industrial Revolution

Introduction

Troy during the tail end of the Industrial Revolution was arguably at its peak. During the later years of the 19th century and first half of the 20th century, Troy became well known for its textile manufacturing, most notably collars which gained it the nickname of “Collar City” [1]. Before this, Troy still had a thriving industrial presence, largely due to it’s location.

Pre-Collar City

Troy attracted a large amount of factories and businesses due to its proximity to the Hudson river [1]. The founding of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1824 also drew industrial development to the area [2]. One of the first factories in the area was the Mahon Taylor’s paper mill which began business sometime before 1782 [3]. Other factories appeared in the 1800s such as the Troy Rubber India Company and the American Seal Paint factory [3]. By the turn of the century, the dominant industry was the textile industry.

Collar City

The detachable collar was invented by Hannah Lord Montague in her Troy home, which jumpstarted the clothing industry in Troy [3]. Soon after, the main complex for the International Shirt and Collar Company was constructed in 1893. The company closed only 13 years later in 1906, and the Troy Underwear Company. In 1935, Tiny Togs, a large children’s clothing manufacturer moved from New York City to Troy.

Post-Revolution Decline and Today

After the first World War, detachable collars fell out of popularity, and with them Troy’s industrial dominance fell as well [4]. The population of the Hudson Valley region was at its highest in the 1950s, and saw a sharp decline in the 1970s and 1980s [2]. Many of the structures that once housed the factories are being used in the area as a variety of buildings, although a fair amount have been left abandoned [2]. Efforts have been made to have a “tech revolution” to revitalize the area, but these have been small in comparison to the prosperity seen during the Industrial Revolution.