140 



Proposed ErectioJi of 



deDce of that distinguished citizen and counselor, Abraham Van 

 Vecliten, in North Broadway near Van Tromp street, a white marble 

 post shall be, with the consent of the owners of the real estate in that 

 case, as in all others, placed on the sidewalk against the building, bear- 

 ing this inscription: 



THIS STONE 



PERPETUATES THE SITE OF THE NORTH LINE OF THE ANCIENT STOCKADE DEFENSES 

 OF THE CITY OF ALBANY AGAINST FOREIGN AND SAVAGE ENEMIES, 



And a similar marble post at or near Division and South Broadway, to 

 indicate the southern stockade line. Each of these memorials is esti- 

 mated to have its cost defrayed by $40. 



Albany had its ancient forts — the supposed strength, in degree, of 

 its people and the north of the colony — the first. Fort Orange, of those 

 who remained. (A fort — Nassau ? — was perhaps earlier, on one of the 

 islands.) The situation of Fort Orange was on the ground formerly 

 occupied as a residence by the honored Simeon DeWitt, who for 

 forty years held the place of Surveyor-General. The Sqsquehanna 

 railway, former depot, in South Broadway, is about the same site. 

 To get a just idea of the locality of the fortification and its usefulness, 

 the river must be seen as it was before the construction of the pier and 

 the outfilling, and the control of the river passage of batteaux 

 and canoes, and vessels perceived. The fort included in its 

 protection the earliest church, and of this there is yet mem- 

 orial in the name of the contiguous street. It was a fortification 

 identified with Holland rule, and undoubtedly to the Indian of that 

 day a memorable locality, as possessing the secret of the white man's 

 strength, and its overthrow would, had it been attained by the French, 

 have been welcome news at Paris. 



It was from this fort that the measurement of a cannon ball's range 

 may have been suggested by Oovernor Stuyvesant as the limitation of 

 the Patroon's manorial claim over Albany — not then bearing that 

 name ; and our citizens who have not yet forgotten the south line of 



the Colonic," may ask if the guns of Fort Orange carried so far. 



On the site of this fort your committee recommend a marble post 

 to be placed in proper position, with this inscription : 



THE SITE OF FORT ORANGE 



WHILE ALBANY WAS UNDER THE GOVERNMENT OF HOLLAND. 



The cost of this would be defrayed, it is our estimate, by $40. 

 The old fort grew obsolete. It was by better engineering or force of 

 changed circumstances seen that the command was on the height, and 



