The city of Schenectady, New York was once known as the city that lights and hauls the world because of General Electric and American Locomotive. American Locomotive is long gone, now the site of the Rivers Casino and General Electric remains but with a much smaller payroll. But the history of Schenectady endures, known for Thomas Edison, and Charles Steinmetz, as a pioneer city in broadcasting, and there’s the historic stockade neighborhood and the once mighty Erie Canal.
Keeping track of all that history is Chris Leonard, the newly appointed city historian. The son of two history professors, Leonard, despite working part-time and for no money, tells WAMC’s Brian Shields he plans to stay busy.
