SPECTRUM NEWS VIDEO: Completely transformed from its original layout, the Center Square Neighborhood was once the heart of Albany.

That is, until the 1960s. 

The Center Square Neighborhood, first laid out in Simeon DeWitt’s 1794 city survey, spans from Spring to Jay Streets and Lark to South Swan Streets. The early going was a bit different than what it is today.

For years, the neighborhood served as a mix of residential and industry. As the years crept on, the lumber and coal yards were slowly pushed out. By the end of the 19th century, Albany’s elite were finally moving into Center Square.

Historian Matt Malette takes us back in time with this month's Albany Archives.