Schenectady, New York, is a quiet community situated 30 minutes outside of Albany. It was founded in 1661 by Arent Vancurler of the Netherlands as a small village named after an Iroquois word meaning "beyond the pine barrens". For a time, Schenectady was a gateway to the west and all goods destined for the lands to the west or going east to the ports pased through it.

In an unfortunate turn of events, the city was razed in 1690 during the Colonial Wars. Most of the town and its citizens were lost. Despite this setback, a number of survivors helped to rebuild the settlement with heavier fortifications.

By 1776, the settlement was thriving once more as a third wall was constructed. It was so well built that the wall stood for 25 years and gave the settlement enough stability to receive a charter and incorporation as a city.

Disaster struck again in 1819 when a fire burned down the entire business district. Only 6 buildings out of 160 burned down actually had insurance, meaning that the rebuilding period was slow.

To make things worse, the Erie canal opened in 1825 and cut off the settlement from the prosperity that towns along the route would enjoy.

Since then, Schenectady has been an area for heavy industry. General Electic and some locomotive works still operate here today.