Gramercy Communications provided the Troy Public Library, 100 2nd Street, with a $2,324 grant for the digitization of the library’s collection of the Troy Sentinel newspaper. The firm was able to transport the collection from the Troy Public Library with the assistance of Focused Technologies of Menands, to be digitized by Kirtas Technologies, Inc. in Victor. Kirtas Technologies is a company that specializes in document imaging, the grant allows the Troy Public Library to be the first library in the world to provide digital access to the historic newspaper.

The grant was inspired by the firm’s recent relocation to the building formerly occupied by the Troy Sentinel newspaper at 225 River Street. The famous poem ‘’Twas The Night Before Christmas” was first published in the building and in the Troy Sentinel newspaper on December 23, 1823. The completion of the Erie-Canal in 1825 also occurred during the midst of the Troy Sentinel’s publication period. Today the building continues to tie in the connection as it rests on the banks of the Hudson River in downtown Troy.

The condition of the nearly 200-year-old Troy Sentinel collection required the most advanced digitization methods, provided by Kirtas Technologies. Gramercy Communications was referred by one of New York’s leading digital imaging and scanning companies, Focused Technologies of Menands.

Gramercy Communications is pleased to announce that we are expanding and moving operations to the 2nd & 3rd floor of 225 River Street in Downtown Troy, NY.

The building has been a part of many historical  events in Troy. The famous poem “‘Twas The Night Before Christmas” was first published in this building and in the Troy Sentinel newspaper on December 23, 1823. The building’s structure has also faced its trials, surviving the Great Troy Fire of May 10, 1862, which stopped at the building’s doorstep. A plaque and marker on the building’s entrance recognize these two events. In more modern times, several movies have been filmed on this portion of River Street, and it is not uncommon to see commercial photo shoots taking place on the block.

The rear windows and doors of 225 River Street open directly on the Hudson River, a National Heritage River, and our view shed includes several locations where the Hudson River connected to the 363-mile Erie Canal. It was this intersection of these important waterways that allowed the United States to grow westward and established New York as The Empire State. This development was all happening about the time the Troy Sentinel was publishing.

Our offices feature beautiful architecture and an open, creative floor plan for our growing staff. Our fit-up took into account green building methods and we reused materials where possible, we kept historical architecture exposed and intact, used environmentally friendly supplies such as low VOC paints, and installed energy efficient LED lighting.

Journalism and public relations are industries that have always been synonymous. We saw no better fit for our company’s expansion than a building that once housed the Troy Sentinel newspaper.  We look forward to this positive change and hope for continued growth and success.