Melville Avenue on Van Schaick Island, Cohoes, if one draws a line straight along it eastward across the Hudson River, is in line with the Melville House in Lansingburgh. Just north of Melville Avenue on the island is Gansevoort Avenue, Gansevoort being among other things the maiden name of Herman Melville's mother.Melville and Gansevoort avenues did not appear on the 1891 Beers map of a "Portion of Rensselaer County and Cities of Lansingburgh & Troy"; the northernmost road at that time was Heartt Avenue. In 1892, Heartt Avenue, the next south of Melville Avenue, was still fairly new. The earliest mention of Melville and Gansevoort avenues found so far is in 1896. It seems likely that when it came to naming streets on Van Schaick Island sometime after 1891 (when Herman Melville died), names were chosen to honor him or his families generally.

SUBURBAN INTELLIGENCE.—Cohoes.
The common council held an unusually long session last evening. [...] Heartt avenue was declared a public highway and the city engineer directed to establish a grade. The Cohoes gaslight company was directed to place a 2,000-candle-power light at the corner of Heartt avenue and River street.Troy Daily Times. July 20, 1892: 2 col 5.
To Grade Streets.
At a meeting of the Public Improvement Commission yesterday afternoon it was decided to grade Park, Jackson, Continental, Heartt, Melville and Gansvoort avenuenues. The specifications will be on exhibition in the office of the city clerk. The engineer was directed to make a preliminary survey and map connecting Garner and High streets."Cohoes." Troy Daily Times. August 13, 1896: 4 col 4.