Origins: 22-24 Fourth Street, Troy

"Origins" posts will be fairly short, focusing on how/when/why a building came to be.

Photo by Tabitha O'Connell, June 22, 2023.

Today known as the Troy Innovation Garage, this building is said to have once been the home of the Troy Automobile Exchange—a name the facade now bears following the building's 2016-and-onward rehabilitation. Actually, though, it merely stands on the former site of the Exchange, which was destroyed by fire in 1921. The current building was constructed later that year as a commercial and social space.

The previous building on the site was constructed by 1885 as a livery stable (Sanborn 1885, Anderson 164) and around 1905 became the home of the Troy Automobile Exchange, operated by Kelly & Dennin ("Automobiles"). On January 20, 1921, Jacob and Morris Weinstein, owners of Weinstein Brothers New York Store in Troy, bought the building (Grantee Index); they leased it to the Auto Exchange, which continued to operate there, but their ultimate plan was to replace it with a new building housing an office and theater ("Garage is Burned"). A month later, on February 22, 1921, the building suffered a suspicious fire―it "spread so rapidly and originated in such a mysterious manner that Commissioner of Public Safety McDonough ordered a thorough investigation"―which left it completely gutted. "The interior of the garage, together with equipment, was destroyed... The roof soon collapsed and later the second floor timbers gave way") ("Garage is Burned").

I haven't found any reports on the results of the fire investigation. The Weinsteins continued with their plans for a new building on the site, and by mid-April, plans were being drawn up for a theater ("Spring Building")―but for unknown reasons, that idea was soon scrapped ("Building Activity"). In July, it was announced that instead they would be building "a modern two-story fire proof building, with business places on the first floor and a hall on the second floor," to be located "on the site of the old Kelly & Dennin garage on Fourth Street, recently destroyed by fire" ("Resume Building"). 

The new building, known as the Weinstein Building ("City Notes" 1921), was completed by early 1922. The first floor contained three stores, and the second floor was home to The Domino (also known as The Domino Club/Hall/Garden(s)/Ballroom), which had its grand opening in February 1922 ("Announcing!"). An article from that year describes the space The Domino occupied:

The decorative scheme is an unusual one. The men in the orchestra are dressed in black and white military uniforms, that being the color scheme of the entire hall. There are thirty-two booths, sixteen on either side of the hall, with a domino lighted in each booth. ... The ceiling, which is something entirely new in design in a dance hall, has been built in the wave design. There are five distinct half circles, which enables the music to carry to every corner of the hall. The ceiling is also painted black and white ("The Domino Garden").

The mentioned waves are still in the ceiling. Unfortunately, I haven't uncovered any photos of the building (interior or exterior) from when it was first built, but I'll update this post if I do!

Ceiling waves! (SWBR)

The 22-24 Fourth Street Files

For every post on this site, I intend to make my original research available for the use of future researchers or anyone else interested in viewing the primary sources. My collection of historical documents pertaining to this property—both those referenced in this post and additional ones giving more information—is at the link above.

Bibliography

• Anderson, George Baker. Landmarks of Rensselaer County, New York. D. Mason & Company, 1905. Archive.org.
• "Announcing!" The Troy Times, February 16, 1922. Fulton History.
• "Automobiles." The Troy Times, May 5, 1906. Fulton History.
• "Building Activity." The Troy Times, June 8, 1921. Fulton History.
• "City Notes." The Troy Times, December 12, 1921. Fulton History.
• "City Notes." The Troy Times, November 17, 1922. Fulton History.
• "The Domino Garden." The Troy Times, March 18, 1922. Fulton History.
• "Garage is Burned." The Troy Times, February 22, 1921. Fulton History.
• Grantee Index 1912-1947, S-Z. Rensselaer County Clerk. Family Search.
• "Leases Fourth Street Store." The Troy Times, August 17, 1922. Fulton History.
• "Resume Building." The Troy Times, July 19, 1921. Fulton History.
• "Sheet 19." Insurance Maps of Troy, Volume One, 1885. Sanborn Map Company, 1885. Library of Congress Geography and Map Division.
• "Spring Building." The Troy Times, April 19, 1921. Fulton History.