ALBANY - Where's Enos? Where's George, for that matter. And remember John A. Dix, either of them?
All - Enos Throop and one of the John A. Dixes - are former New York chief executives whose portraits aren't in the Capitol's Hall of Governors. So the state Office of General Services is on a hunt for 15 ex-governors, some of whom are best known for the colleges, communities, and even a mountain named after them.
This week, visitors to the Capitol will see for the first time the portrait of Gov. Joseph C. Yates, who was New York's seventh governor and served from 1823 to 1824.
Yates was one of several one-year, one-term governors who were called from Albany to help build the nation. He also was mayor of Schenectady beginning in 1798 and helped found Union College there in 1790.
His portrait is on loan from the Schenectady County Historical Society, said state OGS Commissioner John Egan. His office oversees the major renovations underway at the Capitol, a tourist attraction in downtown Albany. Before Yates' portrait was hung Friday, the most recent addition to the Hall of Governors outside the governor's office was Hugh Carey. He served from 1975 to 1982. His portrait was hung in 1988.
The governors whose portraits are missing include:
€ John Jay, who served from 1795 to 1801 and was New York's delegate to the Continental Congress in 1776. Jay also was the first chief justice of U.S. Supreme Court, and negotiated the Jay Treaty with Great Britain in 1794.
€ Enos Throop, who served from 1829 to 1832. The town of Throop in Cayuga County is named for him.
€ William L. Marcy, who served from 1833 to 1838 and for whom Mount Marcy, the Adirondacks' highest peak, is named.
€ John A. Dix, who served from 1873 to 1874. He was one of two New York governors named John A. Dix. The other served from 1911 to 1912.
€ William Sulzer, who served in 1913 but was impeached over his campaign records. Many historians believe Sulzer was railroaded by Tammany Hall political bosses because he refused to do their bidding.
€ Mario Cuomo, who served from 1983 to 1994, but never provided a portrait.
€ Eliot Spitzer, who served from January 2007 until March 2008, when he resigned after being named in a federal prostitution investigation.
This week, visitors to the Capitol will see for the first time the portrait of Gov. Joseph C. Yates, who was New York's seventh governor and served from 1823 to 1824.
Yates was one of several one-year, one-term governors who were called from Albany to help build the nation. He also was mayor of Schenectady beginning in 1798 and helped found Union College there in 1790.
His portrait is on loan from the Schenectady County Historical Society, said state OGS Commissioner John Egan. His office oversees the major renovations underway at the Capitol, a tourist attraction in downtown Albany. Before Yates' portrait was hung Friday, the most recent addition to the Hall of Governors outside the governor's office was Hugh Carey. He served from 1975 to 1982. His portrait was hung in 1988.
The governors whose portraits are missing include:
€ John Jay, who served from 1795 to 1801 and was New York's delegate to the Continental Congress in 1776. Jay also was the first chief justice of U.S. Supreme Court, and negotiated the Jay Treaty with Great Britain in 1794.
€ Enos Throop, who served from 1829 to 1832. The town of Throop in Cayuga County is named for him.
€ William L. Marcy, who served from 1833 to 1838 and for whom Mount Marcy, the Adirondacks' highest peak, is named.
€ John A. Dix, who served from 1873 to 1874. He was one of two New York governors named John A. Dix. The other served from 1911 to 1912.
€ William Sulzer, who served in 1913 but was impeached over his campaign records. Many historians believe Sulzer was railroaded by Tammany Hall political bosses because he refused to do their bidding.
€ Mario Cuomo, who served from 1983 to 1994, but never provided a portrait.
€ Eliot Spitzer, who served from January 2007 until March 2008, when he resigned after being named in a federal prostitution investigation.
The Citizens' Say
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ethan wrote on Aug 11, 2008 3:50 PM: