USA > Vermont > The Lake Champlain and Lake George valleys, Vol II > Part 6
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Greenfield is the largest township in Saratoga County and is located in the central part, surrounded by Corinth, Wilton, Saratoga Springs, Milton, Providence and Edinburg. At first it was a part of the original towns of Ballston and Saratoga, while in 1792 the west- ern part was included within Milton. In 1793 it was created as a separate political unit and at that time included not only the present town of Greenfield, but also Corinth and parts of Day and Hadley. In 1801 it was reduced to its present dimensions. In 1800 it had a population of 3,073, which was nearly its maximum. Later a gradual decrease set in and today, with 1,544 inhabitants, it is scarcely half its original size. The date of the arrival of the first settlers is not cer- tain, but there is some evidence the original pioneers were here dur- ing the Revolution. Agriculture was the dominant economic interest,
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and when Saratoga Springs began to develop, the farmers of Green- field found a ready market. As early as 1805 they apparently saw some justification in political regulation of agriculture, for the inhabi- tants passed a resolution that imposed a fine of five dollars upon every landowner who allowed any Canadian thistles to go to seed upon his land. In addition there was some manufacturing in the town, and it is said that the son of Jesse James established here the first mill built in Saratoga County for the manufacture of paper by machinery.
Hadley is situated in the northernmost section of Saratoga County. On the west and southwest it is bounded by Day and on the south by Corinth. Along its northern side, and across the Hud- son, which flows along the eastern border, lies Warren County. Through Hadley, flowing west to east, is the Sacandaga River, which forms a junction with the Hudson. This township was created in 1801 out of territory belonging to Greenfield and Northumberland. It not only included the present town of Hadley, but also Corinth and a part of Day as well. In 1819 it was cut down to its present boundaries. The first settlers probably arrived about 1788, and were soon engaged in lumbering operations. A sawmill was built in 1791 where the ham- let of Hadley is located, at the juncture of the Sacandaga and the Hud- son. Other industrial establishments followed, both here and also at Conklingville, which is located on the western boundary of the town. The latter settlement was made in 1848 by Gurdon Conkling, who built a tannery here. This was not the first industrial establishment at that place, however, for at least two sawmills were erected pre- viously; but it was certainly of greater importance. Most of the bark was brought down the Sacandaga from Day on scows, while some of the hides came from Texas, Mexico and South America. Most of the other manufacturing carried on within the township was also based upon timber resources. The first census taken after Hadley was reduced to its present limits was compiled in 1820. At that time the township supported a population of 798, while by 1855 it had grown to 1,172. Since then there have been both decreases and increases, but more of the former than the latter, and today there is a population of 841.
Halfmoon, like Hadley, is washed on its eastern boundary by the Hudson, but here the resemblance ends, for it is located near the southeastern corner of Saratoga County, and the Mohawk is part of
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its southern border. It was one of the four original townships, and long before the creation of the county it existed as a territorial divi- sion. It was named Halfmoon because its original southern border along the Mohawk had the shape of a crescent, and has borne that name for over three centuries. When Saratoga County was organ- ized, this township included not only the present town of Halfmoon, but also Waterford, Clifton Park and part of the city of Mechanic- ville. Waterford was detached in 1816 and Clifton Park in 1828, while Mechanicville was incorporated as a city in 1915. Because of its location at the juncture of the Hudson and the Mohawk there is no question but that the soil of the ancient town of Halfmoon was known to the early Dutch fur traders before the establishment of Fort Orange at Albany. Settlement was also begun at an extremely early date, exactly when we do not know. There is considerable evi- dence of a stone house having been built here in 1718, while there is reason to believe that Dutch settlers were here before 1700. The main economic interest of the people of Halfmoon has been agriculture with the exception of the Mechanicville area. Although during times of war the township was crossed on many occasions by contending forces and armies, no records remain of military episodes, local traditions being allowed to vanish from memory. The ancient town of Half- moon had a population of 3,602 in 1790 which increased to 5,292 in 1810. In 1830, after it had been reduced to its present size, it had 2,042 inhabitants. Once more it started to increase in size, only to find itself cut down again by the incorporation of Mechanicville. As a result its population in 1930 was 1,739. A town meeting held in 1789 solved the problem of hogs running loose in the following man- ner: "Hoggs and swine that weigh more than forty pounds may run at large, but less than that must be yoked; but from the Widow Peebles down to Waterford, and from the river west to the first hill, none may be allowed to run." One cannot refrain from wondering about the part the widow played in the decision of the township fathers. Unfortunately her picture has not been preserved.
Malta is northwest of Halfmoon, the other townships bordering on it being Ballston, Saratoga Springs, Stillwater and Clifton Park. In the northeastern section is Saratoga Lake, while in the south is Round Lake. The origin of the term Malta is uncertain and vague. Probably settlers were here as early as 1764. When Saratoga County
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was formed, the original township of Malta was a part of Stillwater. Finally, in 1802, the division was made, while additional territory was added later. The main economic interest of the population has been agriculture, although some sections are not adapted to the best production. The population of Malta in 1810 was 1,438. Since that time there has been very little variation, the 1930 census reveal- ing 1,277 inhabitants.
Next we come to the city of Mechanicville, which is situated where Anthony's Kill meets the Hudson. It received its name from the fact that a number of mechanics were employed here by the early manufac- turers. The story of the development of Mechanicville is primarily one of industrial growth, which is comparatively recent. As late as 1835 it is said that there were only five buildings here, south of An- thony's Kill, although on the other side there was a larger settlement and an old factory and gristmill. In 1850, on the Stillwater side, there was also established the American Linen Thread Company, using flax imported from Ireland, Belgium and Holland. Mechanicville was incorporated as a village in 1870 and as a city in 1915. On the latter date it had a population of 8,208 as compared with 7,924 today (1930). Since the development of such industries as that of wood- pulp and paper is of such comparatively recent times, and because of the importance of Mechanicville in that economic sphere, this story will be told in a later chapter to avoid repetition.
Milton is directly north of Ballston, and until 1792 was a part of it. As originally created on that date, Milton included part of the town of Greenfield, but in 1793 it was reduced to its present size. Most of the village of Ballston Spa is located within the boundaries of Milton. There is very close correlation in the history of the townships of Ballston and Milton. It is practically impossible to sep- arate the history of the two, while the development of Ballston Spa is narrated elsewhere. Milton was known as Milltown in early times, because of the many mills in the township. The present name grad- ually developed from the old. In 1800 the town had a population of 2,146 while in 1930 it had 5,672, of which number 3,948 were inhab- itants of Ballston Spa.
Moreau is located in the extreme northeastern section of Saratoga County. Its entire northern and eastern boundary and most of its western border as well is washed by the Hudson. This township was
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created out of territory belonging to Northumberland in 1805, and was named for the French Marshal Moreau, who was visiting in this country at that time, he having been exiled from his native land. The first settlers arrived before the Revolution, although very little is known about them. One of the earliest groups was the Parks fam- ily. Considerable has been written about its members, but much of it is of doubtful authenticity. There is no question but that the Parkses played an active part in the Revolution, and the episodes told are all highly entertaining, yet some of the narratives of the Parks family were greatly exaggerated, with the result that we suspect the validity of the remainder. In any case space does not permit, in this survey of eleven counties, a detailed study of their authenticity. For a time Moreau was also the home of David Jones, the Tory sweetheart of Jane McCrea. Due to the variation of geographical conditions within the township, economic interests were bound to be divergent. Agri- culture was carried on with success in the fertile portion in the east and south. On the other hand the rapids and falls existing in the Hudson, combined with proximity to the timber resources of the Adirondacks, made the lumbering industry profitable. Later other manufacturing developed, but that was in rather recent times and therefore is discussed elsewhere. Most of the mills are in the vicin- ity of South Glens Falls, the metropolis of the township. This is a comparatively modern village which, in 1828, is said to have possessed only one sawmill. Thanks, however, to a number of industries manu- facturing lumber, boxes, paper, lime, marble, flagstone and other products, South Glens Falls grew until it was incorporated in 1895. Nor did its growth end then, for the census of 1930 indicated a total of 2,689 inhabitants, a gain of over 500 in ten years. At that time the entire township of Moreau had a population of 4,471, the result of a more or less steady growth from the 1,347 in 1810. There is an interesting story concerning a Moreau volunteer in the War of 1812. It appears that he was placed on guard in front of an officer's tent. Not realizing the importance of military discipline he saw fit to leave his post in search of a drink. To his complete surprise he was then arrested for neglect of duty. When pressed for the reason for his unmilitary conduct, he innocently explained: "I didn't suppose the officers were afraid." Apparently his superiors had faith in his explanation, for he escaped punishment.
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South of Moreau, and bounded by the Hudson on the east, is the township of Northumberland. It was created in 1798 from Sara- toga, and at that time included the present towns of Moreau, Wilton, and a part of Hadley. Hadley was detached in 1801, Moreau in 1805, and Wilton in 1818. The first settler of territory included within the present township of Northumberland was a Scotchman named James Brisbin, who came here in 1765. Others soon followed in his footsteps. Then, as now, the chief occupation of the people was agriculture. In 1820 there was a population of 1,279, while by 1850 this figure had increased to 1,775. By 1930 the number of inhabitants had decreased to 1,059. Perhaps the most interesting hamlet is Gansevoort, in the extreme northern part. This was named in honor of General Peter Gansevoort, at one time commander of Fort Stanwix, and an early settler who built a home here south of Gansevoort station. It is the section along the river which is most important from a historical viewpoint however, because the Hudson represented the chief route of conquest. Here also were important fording places and ferries. Regardless of the side on which armies chose to march, smaller detachments and scouting parties operated on both sides, crossing the river when occasion required.
Providence is located on the western boundary, between Galway and Edinburg. When created in 1796 out of territory belonging to Galway it was named in honor of Providence, Rhode Island. As a rule the soil was not suited to agriculture, and the inhabitants tended to favor lumbering and its allied occupations. The first sawmill was built in 1786 and others followed. In 1801, the township was reduced to its present limits by the creation of Edinburg. Its population reached a maximum of 1,582 in 1825, but soon a decrease set in, and in 1930 there were only 470 inhabitants. From a study of the early records it would seem that the leading problem was spelling. The first town meeting was held in a "logg" meetinghouse, while we find "yongger" (younger) hogs, "the a Bove Limited time," the "oner" (owner), and "The Town Shall Bee Divided." We also are told that among the "ills that flesh is heir to" in Providence were "dyptheria, cholera, fitts, and num palsey."
The historical township of Saratoga is located in the east, on the Hudson, and is bounded on the north by Northumberland and on the south by Stillwater. Long before the coming of the white man it was
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an area of great importance to the Indian. Here it was that his war trails crossed. North and south along the banks of the Hudson ran one avenue of conquest. From Schuylerville to the Mohawk there was a connecting route by way of Fish Creek and Saratoga Lake. Across the Hudson, up the Battenkill there was another Indian high- way meandering in the general direction of the settlements on the Connecticut. The result was that the Schuylerville section played an important part from early times in the councils of the red men. Later when France and England locked horns in their struggle for suprem- acy on this continent it was over these trails that the Indians guided their white masters on missions of conquest. This fact explains why forts were built here, beginning with the blockhouse erected by Peter Schuyler in 1690, and the improved stockades built by the same man in 1709. As time went on the military importance of this township increased. As early as 1745 the original settlement was bathed in blood, and from then until 1763, border fighting was so persistent that colonization was utterly impractical. It was after the French and Indian War that settlement really began in earnest. The leading figure was General Philip Schuyler who, in 1767, erected here the first flax mill in the English Colonies, and who was destined to be one of the leading heroes of the American Revolution. Sara- toga Township was also destined to a place of importance in the war, as we have discussed in detail elsewhere. It was here, at Schuyler- ville, that General Burgoyne surrendered to General Gates after the famous battles of Saratoga, which won for us the French alliance and made our successful struggle for independence possible.
When Saratoga County was created in 1791, this township was one of the four original subdivisions. At that time, it included the entire eastern half of the county north of Stillwater. Its chief cur- tailments came in 1798 with the loss of the original town of North- umberland and in 1819 with the detachment of Saratoga Springs Township. In 1930 the present town of Saratoga contained slightly less inhabitants (3,027) than the original and larger subdivision of Saratoga County did in 1790, although between these dates there was considerable fluctuation. The township now includes two incor- porated villages. Schuylerville, which in 1930 had 1,4II people, was so named in honor of the Schuyler family. Victory was named by the Victory Manufacturing Company in allusion to the surrender of Burgoyne. From 1920 to 1930 its population declined from 715 to
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473. Reference has already been made to Schuyler's flax mill. He also was responsible for the establishment of a fulling mill around 1 800, the second oldest cotton mill erected in New York State (1828), and a woolen factory in 1830. Others established a foundry in 1832; the Victory Manufacturing Company in 1846, producing silesias and cambrics ; and paper-mills in 1863.
Some of the more unusual legends of Saratoga Township are con- cerned with digging for Burgoyne's treasure. On one occasion, while a group of men under cover of darkness were thus engaged in a search for British gold, the devil himself suddenly appeared with characteris- tic horns, hoofs and tail and proceeded to awe the workers with his presence and his unworldly voice. The men fled for their lives, but returned on another occasion to complete their work, reënforced by a settler possessing great physical strength and strong religious prin- ciples. Once more the devil appeared and once more the workers fled; that is, all but the man specially procured for the emergency. In the confusion this redoubtable hero happened to tread on the devil's tail. Normally this would probably have made the ruler of the lower regions very angry and dangerous, but lo and behold, on this occasion the tail came off and to the amazement of the frightened spectators, watching from a safe distance, the horns and hoofs soon followed the tail. In place of a much feared devil, they now saw an ordinary human being, running toward the woods as fast as his legs could carry him.
There were both a Saratoga Springs township and a Saratoga Springs city, the latter having developed from the former. The town was, until 1819, a part of Saratoga and held its first meeting in 1820. It was bounded on the north by Greenfield and Wilton, on the west by Milton, on the south by Malta and on the east by Saratoga. The city of Saratoga Springs, which was incorporated in 1915, developed from the village of the same name which had grown up around the mineral springs in the northern part of the town. These curative waters formed the basis of the community's development; therefore, it is with them that we are now primarily concerned. High Rock Spring was known and appreciated by the red men long before the whites set foot on North America. To them it was the "medicine spring of the Great Spirit." It is said that the first white visitor was a sick French officer brought here from Ticonderoga by Indians. To
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this place also was carried Sir William Johnson in 1767, being borne on a litter by some Mohawk braves. His wound, received at the bat- tle of Lake George, had never healed properly, and his red friends persuaded him to try the mineral waters. He apparently was greatly benefited by the spring and as a result Saratoga started on its road to fame. In 1783 General Schuyler built a road from Schuylerville to High Rock Spring and camped nearby for several weeks. From this
INTERIOR, HALL OF SPRINGS, SARATOGA SPA
time until his death he was an annual summer visitor. Washington also visited the spring in 1783, and since then the élite of the world have followed in his footsteps. Other springs then became known and have a rather interesting history. Congress Spring was discovered in 1792 and named for the national Congress. Geyser, or "spouting spring," was discovered in 1870 and rapidly became famous for its remarkable characteristics. The Hathorn Spring was found in 1869 by
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workmen who were constructing a foundation. The other springs have their own individual stories. Although by 1800 Ballston Spa's devel- opment had been under way for approximately ten years, there were only two log huts at Saratoga Springs. In 1802, however, Gideon Put- nam began the erection of Union Hall (Grand Union Hotel) to accom- modate prospective guests. The natives called it "Putnam's Folly," but they were dreadfully wrong, as events were rapidly to prove. The village of Saratoga Springs was incorporated in 1826. As the decades hurried by, the springs, in increasing number, continued to pour forth health to an ailing world, hotels continued to develop, and Saratoga continued along the road to fame provided by the Creator. Later, of course, other resort interests were to flourish and bask happily in the proximity of these springs as the moon reflects the sun's golden flame. Chief among these satellites is the horse racing business, which has made Saratoga Springs widely known in its turn, wherever racing enthusiasts dwell. In 1820 the township of Saratoga Springs had a population of only 1,909, but twenty years later it was the most populous town of the county with 3,384 inhabitants. From that time on its supremacy was never challenged, and in 1930 the city had a population of 13,169.
The historical township of Stillwater is one of the four original subdivisions of Saratoga County. At first it included the town of Malta, but was reduced to its present boundaries in 1802. It is one of our Hudson River townships, and is located between Saratoga and Halfmoon, with Malta bounding it on the west. As early as 1709, Peter Schuyler built a fort on the site of Stillwater village, but the first settlers did not arrive until after 1730. Their interest was pri- marily agricultural. Except for the southeastern corner, which today constitutes a part of Mechanicville, the manufacturing interests cen- tered mainly around the incorporated village of Stillwater. In addition to sawmills, a paper-mill was established in 1847, and a strawboard mill in 1866, while in 1873 a hosiery mill and a knitting mill were also begun. The name of Stillwater was derived from the fact that at that point the water of the Hudson was extremely slow in its movement compared with the sections immediately above and below. In 1810, at the time of the first census after the detachment of Malta, the township had a population of 2,492, but did not pass the 3,000 mark until 1860. Today it has 3,942 inhabitants, including 1,051 within
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the limits of the incorporated village of Stillwater. There is no other township in North America that has witnessed more dramatic epi- sides. It will be remembered that the main engagements, known collectively as the battles of Saratoga, were fought here. Here occurred the exciting and daring activities of Benedict Arnold as he led wild charges against the British positions. Here sat General Gates arguing the justice of his country's cause, while one of the decisive battles of world history was being fought under his very nose without his taking part. Here was the dramatic scene of Fraser's death and burial to the accompaniment of cannon fire. Here also occurred many other episodes of interest, importance and daring which, like the above, constitute the heritage of all true Americans. He who treads the soil of Stillwater walks on hallowed ground, sur- rounded by memories of the great. The town has its own traditions of a purely local character, as important to its own understanding as those of the surrounding townships, but the general reader will pre- fer to think of Stillwater reverently, clothed solely with its unique 1777 garments.
Waterford is the extreme southeastern tip of Saratoga County, south of Halfmoon and sandwiched between the Mohawk and the Hudson. It was formed in 1816 from territory belonging to Half- moon, and was named from the ancient ford over the Mohawk. The village of Waterford was originally known as Halfmoon Point. It is the site of the first settlement in Saratoga County, made a few years after the settlement of Albany. Waterford also has the dis- tinction of being the oldest incorporated village in the county as well. Some of the settlers were interested in the fine soil of the town, but several occupations were industrial. The first manufacturing of importance was the making of fire engines and this made Waterford famous. Many other factories soon followed, including flour mills, a stock and die manufactory, and the production of strawboard, machinery, paper, nuts, knit goods, ink, lumber, brushes, soap, candles and other goods. There were more knitting mills than any other type. In 1820, the township had a population of 1,184, which increased rather regularly after that time. In 1930 it had 5,667 inhabitants, of which 2,92 1 resided in the village of Waterford.
Last, alphabetically, of our Saratoga County towns is Wilton, which is located in the northeastern section, bounded on the west by
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Greenfield and on the east by Northumberland. It was formed from territory belonging to Northumberland in 1818. In Colonial times it was known as Palmertown. It is said that this name was given to this region by a band of Indians who came from New England to settle here. The modern name was bestowed in memory of Wilton, New Hampshire. The first white settlers were the Brisbin brothers, who came here in 1764 and built a sawmill. Agriculture was the main interest of the pioneers of Wilton, however, and still is. One of the most interesting of the early families was that of the McGregors, two brothers settling here in 1787. One of their sons erected buildings on Mount McGregor in the extreme northwestern corner of Wilton, and the McGregor House became well known to the tourists of that day. It was on the summit of this mountain that General Ulysses S. Grant died, while today we find here the pic- turesque sanatorium of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, one of the county's most distinctive landmarks. As late as 1823 we find the following record of slaves in Wilton: "I do hereby certify that my black woman, a slave for life, by the name of Sal or Silvia, had a male child born the 4th day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eleven, and I call his name Jack." Less than forty years later, men of Wilton were answering Lincoln's call to defeat the slavocracy of the South. From a population of 1,293 in 1820 the town increased to a maximum of 1,499 in 1860. Since then there has been a decline and in 1930 there were 997 inhabitants.
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