The Famous Forgotten Square
I was doing some research for an upcoming series of videos on lost waterways and found several references to a Shaughnessy Square. Looking at maps I found it’s a wedge of land, between 2nd and 3rd avenues and between 105th and 106th streets in Troy, NY. I had never heard of it and driving by you would never know the history of this forgotten square.
Shaughnessy Square (it’s actually a triangle) is named after the family which operated the Shaughnessy Ice & Coal Co. at 249 2nd Ave. The company cut & collected ice on the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers and storing it for warm weather periods before the days before ice-making and refrigerators. [1] The company obviously had two major interests with their major ice storage was along the Hudson River. From investigation, the ice houses along the Hudson had been in use for a number of years in 1889. [2]
The square across from the ice houses was a prosperous focal point in classifica marcatori the community. It contained the Flatiron building that contained besides four tenement flats, a grocery store, a meat market, a barber shop, a cafe and a bakery. [3] It appears in 1891 essence that Michael K. Salisbury had a grocery, meat stall, and dry dried beef in the building. [4] Looking at a 1904 map [5] the Flatiron building shows a saloon and stores with a brick oven in one of the ‘rooms:’ across 2nd Ave. the ice houses of the Shaughnessy Ice & Coal Co. were evident.
In 1914 a catastrophic fire originating on the north end of the enormous icehouse of The Shaughnessy Ice and Coal Company on 2nd Ave. The fire caused total devastation of the icehouse, and surrounding property. The Flatiron Building and property on 3rd Ave. were damaged because of a west wind sweeping in from the river. The total loss was estimated at $100,000 with the loss for Shaughnessy Ice and Coal Company at $70,000 through fire and stoppage of business alone. [6]
After the old building was cleared and the area cleaned up in 1915, The Shaughnessy Ice Company constructed a beautiful office on the square. Alderman Frederick petitioned the Common Council to recognizance of the improvement and introduced an ordinance, which should be known as Shaughnessy Square. A petition of the surrounding property owners felt favorable of the action of the Common naming the square after Council margot robbie Shaughnessy Ice Company. [7] Conductors on the trollies started calling out “Shaughnessy Square” when they come to 106th St. and 2nd Ave. stop. [8]
In 1923 there was a merger of B. Cooper Ice & Coal Co. and Shaughnessy Ice & Coal Co. with principles involved in both companies: strategic response to shifting market conditions. The Shell Oil Co. in 1930 purchased the office building and land at Shaughnessy Square, 2nd Ave. and 106th Street, Lansingburgh, Troy from the B. Cooper Ice Co. to build a gas station. During the proceedings, the Cooper Co. was represented by its president, M. W. Shaughnessy. [9] In 1934 the dissolution of B. Cooper Ice & Coal Co. and the Shaughnessy Ice Co. were filed [10] However, over time the square served different purposes: 2017 ‘Golds Auto’ is on the northern part of the square, southern tip covered with hedges and some brickwork. [11] Today, in 2026, when you drive by you find that it’s ‘On Point Auto Sales’ occupying the property.
This is something you can find in most cities. A semi-famous square or park that’d been all but forgotten by those who walk by it every day. It’s amazing the history that was here from a night spot to a famous office square to a gas station and now, auto sales. No doubt , the square is a shadow of its former self. No doubt through the widening of the streets and the use of cars the area has gotten smaller. Up to the early 1920’s transportation was still hors and buggies for most people with roads sized accordingly.
[1] Parker, Joseph A. “Troy’s Seven Public Squares.” Troy Record. February 27, 1971: B4.
[2] Troy Daily Times. February 5, 1889: 3 col 5.
[3] Troy Times. February 12, 1915: 2 col 2.
[4] The Lansingburgh Historical Society. Shaughnessy Square, 2026.
[5] Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Troy, Rensselaer County, New York. Sanborn Map Company, to 1904 Vol. 1, 1885. Map. 2025
[6] Flames Leaped Across Street And Ate Other Property-Firemen Summoned By Autoist and by Telephone, Troy Times. January 16, 1914: 5 cols 2-4.
[7] Troy Times. November 19, 1915: 28 col 2.
[8] Troy Times. December 15, 1915: 2 col 3.
[9] Troy Times. January 18, 1930: 5 col 2
[10] “Business Certificates.” Troy Times. November 1, 1934: 9 col 1.
[11] The Lansingburgh Historical Society, Shaughnessy Square.
[*] Photos: “Ruins of the Flatiron Building.” Troy Semi-Weekly Times. January 16, 1914: 5 cols 2-3.
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