The Virtual Walking Tour of the Hamlet of Coeymans is a living tribute to the rich architectural, cultural, and riverfront history of one of Albany County's oldest Hudson River communities. Adapted from a historic talk presented in 1975 by local historian Ed Giddings and inspired by an actual walking tour developed by historian John Bonafide, this project brings together decades of research, storytelling, and preservation into a modern multimedia experience.

 Originally produced as a full-length documentary in 2005, the tour has now been carefully re-edited into individual location segments, allowing visitors to explore the hamlet one stop at a time while physically walking through the historic streets of Coeymans. Each featured location reflects the people, homes, businesses, and landmarks that helped shape the community along the Hudson River.

There is no prescribed order to the Virtual Walking Tour. Visitors may begin anywhere along the route shown on the map. Simply go to a location in the hamlet, select “STOPS” on the web page, choose the location where you are standing, and then select that STOP to view its audio narration, history, and historic photographs. The tour was designed to allow guests to explore the hamlet at their own pace and in any direction they choose. 

Historic photographs, visual research, and production assistance were generously provided by Dennis Whalen, whose dedication to preserving the visual history of the hamlet helped make this project possible. Narration throughout the tour is provided by Shirley McCarty Briggs, whose voice helps guide visitors through the stories, memories, and heritage of this historic riverside community.

 Additional historical research for the project was drawn from the Robert Blaisdell Papers, a remarkable collection containing approximately 13,251 words written on September 2, 1935, later annotated by Ed Giddings. These writings provided valuable firsthand historical insight into the hamlet, its residents, and its riverfront heritage, further enriching the narrative and historical accuracy of the tour. 

As the nation commemorates the United States Semiquincentennial, the Virtual Walking Tour of the Hamlet of Coeymans offers residents and visitors alike an opportunity to step back in time and experience the enduring character of this historic Hudson River hamlet.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

To the following for their assistance in the 2005 production:

Shirley McCarty Briggs

July 12, 1921  -  October 18, 2018

For giving so freely of her time and patience during the long hours of interviews.

Dennis Whalen for pointing us in the right direction, the use of his

historical photographs, and his insight.

John Bonafide for the use of his Hamlet of Coeymans Walking Tour house descriptions,

his historic photographs, making needed corrections, and his support.

Historic Descriptions

From A Talk Given

March 20, 1975

by

Ed Giddings

Robert Blaisdell Papers

Containing approximately 13,251 words written September 2, 1935, later annotated by Ed Giddings,

which provided valuable historical reference material and insight into the

history of the Hamlet of Coeymans.

Mary Farinelli July 23, 1932  -  April 12, 2022, Curator Emeritus

Ravena Coeymans Historical Society for her support, encouragement,

and for providing the transcript of the Ed Giddings talk.

Joseph L Boehlke
President- Board of Trustees

The Ravena Coeymans Historical Society

Providing guidance and updated property descriptions.

Barent Pietersz KOIJEMANS (1620 - 1710) CLICK HERE FOR HISTORY

EXTRA

click for video