The tradesmen or artisans who made, worked with, and decorated glass were a small but vital part of the early Albany production economy.

These were early Albany's glaziers.

In 1756, Sybrant Van Schaick, Jr., the son of a glazier, was identified as a "glasier" on the census of Albany householders taken by the British army.

A number of early Albany people owned and used a "looking glass" to help them read and see better.

After the War for Independence, a "Glass House" or glass factory for the making of bottles (1789) and then window glass (1792) was established west of Albany at Hamilton (now Guilderland). In 1813,it was said ot be producing 500,000 feet of window glass annually.

Follow these links to more information on glaziers and glass on this website.