What do you think?
Rate this book
The History of Here: A House, the Pine Hills Neighborhood, and the City of Albany
How the Pine Hills neighborhood in Albany, New York, changed and grew, as reflected in the history of one house and the lives of its residents.
When you buy an old house, you get much more than a house. In all its quirks, its alterations, in fragments of memory and traces left behind, you get a bundle of small mysteries. Who used to live here? Why did they come here, and where did they go? Whose name is that written on the attic wall? When did that odd little bathroom get shoehorned in there, and what did the room look like before? If you’re lucky, one or two of your house’s mysteries might unfold into stories. Akum Norder was very lucky.
The History of Here follows Albany, New York’s, Pine Hills neighborhood through more than one hundred years of change. At its heart is the story of Norder’s 1912 house and the people who built and lived in it. As Norder traced their histories, she came to see the development of her house, her street, and her neighborhood as a piece of Albany’s story. In the lives of its residents, their struggles and triumphs, she saw a reflection of twentieth-century America.
Drawing on interviews, city records, newspapers, out-of-print books, and other sources, Norder’s narrative makes a case for city their value, their preservation, and the grassroots involvement that turns a jumble of houses into a community. Funny and thought-provoking, readable and relevant, The History of Here celebrates the sense of place that fuels the new urbanism.
“Akum Norder has contributed to the literature of American life a paean of neighborliness of which Garrison Keillor would be pleased to read, and perhaps E. B. White and even James Agee would take pleasure in this could they look in from the great beyond. Rooted in the keenly seen particular, this history has implications about the organic growth of American cities in general, and what we mean when we talk about ‘the good old days.’” — Gregory Maguire
“Akum Norder writes with an authentic voice and a deep sense of place. Her story about her family’s house in Albany’s Pine Hills neighborhood captures the American urban experience. Her prose is clear-eyed yet passionate, with a measure of Jane Jacobs’s advocacy. The History of Here is an important addition to the Albany canon.” — Paul Grondahl, author of Mayor Albany Icon, Albany Enigma
When you buy an old house, you get much more than a house. In all its quirks, its alterations, in fragments of memory and traces left behind, you get a bundle of small mysteries. Who used to live here? Why did they come here, and where did they go? Whose name is that written on the attic wall? When did that odd little bathroom get shoehorned in there, and what did the room look like before? If you’re lucky, one or two of your house’s mysteries might unfold into stories. Akum Norder was very lucky.
The History of Here follows Albany, New York’s, Pine Hills neighborhood through more than one hundred years of change. At its heart is the story of Norder’s 1912 house and the people who built and lived in it. As Norder traced their histories, she came to see the development of her house, her street, and her neighborhood as a piece of Albany’s story. In the lives of its residents, their struggles and triumphs, she saw a reflection of twentieth-century America.
Drawing on interviews, city records, newspapers, out-of-print books, and other sources, Norder’s narrative makes a case for city their value, their preservation, and the grassroots involvement that turns a jumble of houses into a community. Funny and thought-provoking, readable and relevant, The History of Here celebrates the sense of place that fuels the new urbanism.
“Akum Norder has contributed to the literature of American life a paean of neighborliness of which Garrison Keillor would be pleased to read, and perhaps E. B. White and even James Agee would take pleasure in this could they look in from the great beyond. Rooted in the keenly seen particular, this history has implications about the organic growth of American cities in general, and what we mean when we talk about ‘the good old days.’” — Gregory Maguire
“Akum Norder writes with an authentic voice and a deep sense of place. Her story about her family’s house in Albany’s Pine Hills neighborhood captures the American urban experience. Her prose is clear-eyed yet passionate, with a measure of Jane Jacobs’s advocacy. The History of Here is an important addition to the Albany canon.” — Paul Grondahl, author of Mayor Albany Icon, Albany Enigma
314 pages, Paperback
Published December 1, 2017
4 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 17, 2018
By turns fiercely intimate and broadly universal, "The History of Here" explores an Albany neighborhood - the way people have shaped it, and the way it's shaped its people.
This is a neighborhood I know well, but the story should appeal to anyone with an interest in what gives our communities their unique sense of place. The narrative spans a century, focusing on the occupants of a seemingly average home, on an average street, in an average city.
But the author elevates the story of the home's former inhabitants by weaving their life stories onto a framework of 100 years of change - war and peace, boom and bust. She explores the fragility and resilience of personal lives, and reminds the reader not to take for granted neighborhood amenities like libraries, schools, houses of worship and local businesses.
Don't think, however, that this is a head-in-the-clouds book of historic preservation and new urbanism ideals. It's earthy, enlightening, funny and moving. Relentlessly researched, the lengthy "Sources, Notes and Notes on Sources" is as engrossing as the narrative.
I hope Akum and her family enjoy many happy years in their house in Pine Hills. She's given us a gift by sharing its story with us.
This is a neighborhood I know well, but the story should appeal to anyone with an interest in what gives our communities their unique sense of place. The narrative spans a century, focusing on the occupants of a seemingly average home, on an average street, in an average city.
But the author elevates the story of the home's former inhabitants by weaving their life stories onto a framework of 100 years of change - war and peace, boom and bust. She explores the fragility and resilience of personal lives, and reminds the reader not to take for granted neighborhood amenities like libraries, schools, houses of worship and local businesses.
Don't think, however, that this is a head-in-the-clouds book of historic preservation and new urbanism ideals. It's earthy, enlightening, funny and moving. Relentlessly researched, the lengthy "Sources, Notes and Notes on Sources" is as engrossing as the narrative.
I hope Akum and her family enjoy many happy years in their house in Pine Hills. She's given us a gift by sharing its story with us.
February 22, 2018
I enjoyed it immensely! The author basically writes about the history of her house and the surrounding community, but she does so through fascinating stories of people who lived there through the years. She weaves history, non chronologically, and humor throughout and ties all the ends up to present day. I would love to see Akum write more books about these unique Albany neighborhoods. Also, I live about 15 miles away from Albany, so it is not my neighborhood- but I think the story is just so interesting that any reader anywhere would enjoy it!
April 26, 2023
Another book bought years ago that sat untouched on my shelf forever (Moving is good for something beyond a massive migraine, apparently)
I'm an implant to Albany, Mrs. Norder and I have that in common. I came here almost 14 years ago. Unlike her, I did not have a thirst to know anything about Albany or its history (and realized just how little I knew) until I read this book.
She made the history of this little Pine Hills Neighborhood, engrossing and fun. It's also sparked a huge curiosity in me to know more about the place I call home.
The first part of the book was amazing, the second part felt a little rushed at times. I also found it a little surprising she didn't mention anything about Brady Hospital on North Main, or the police station that is now housed at Steamer 10 (that one might be because the book came out in 2012, I'm not sure when the police station moved there)
I wish that she took the step-by-step investigative process she used for this house and neighborhood, for the entire history of Albany. I would definitely be in line to get a copy of that.
Interesting fact I found in this book: UAlbany had so many students at one point, that it had to have some dorm at the Wellington Hotel. Wouldn't it be awesome to be that person? Ha-ha!
This is definitely worth the read!
I'm an implant to Albany, Mrs. Norder and I have that in common. I came here almost 14 years ago. Unlike her, I did not have a thirst to know anything about Albany or its history (and realized just how little I knew) until I read this book.
She made the history of this little Pine Hills Neighborhood, engrossing and fun. It's also sparked a huge curiosity in me to know more about the place I call home.
The first part of the book was amazing, the second part felt a little rushed at times. I also found it a little surprising she didn't mention anything about Brady Hospital on North Main, or the police station that is now housed at Steamer 10 (that one might be because the book came out in 2012, I'm not sure when the police station moved there)
I wish that she took the step-by-step investigative process she used for this house and neighborhood, for the entire history of Albany. I would definitely be in line to get a copy of that.
Interesting fact I found in this book: UAlbany had so many students at one point, that it had to have some dorm at the Wellington Hotel. Wouldn't it be awesome to be that person? Ha-ha!
This is definitely worth the read!
May 3, 2018
As an Albanian, this provided an interesting historical perspective on the neighborhood that I (basically) lived on the cusp on. There were so many familiar places that I spent time at. I have a profound appreciation for the city that I vowed never to return to. I did return, but live in the suburbs. Would love to live in a walkable neighborhood, if the taxes weren't so high.
April 26, 2021
We recently moved to this exact neighborhood! I’ve had this book in online shopping carts for some time but excitedly got to take it out from the local library (which is written about in the book!). I had no idea how close we are to the house that’s the star of the show. Only begrudgingly put the book down due to... life. Love how she wove the house and neighborhood history with her own.
February 25, 2018
Just a pure delight. Will write more when I’ve digested it.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews