-Wanda Patterson –
The Village of
Delanson is situated in the southern part of the Town of Duanesburg, County of
Schenectady and State of New York. It lies between the historic Cherry Valley
Turnpike and another highway once known as the Danforth Turnpike.
Under the name of
Delanson, its history dates back only to the year 1893. The sister village of
Quaker Street, New York, situated approximately one-half mile to the south of
Delanson and on the Danforth turnpike, was the pioneer business center serving
the surrounding territory before the era of the railroad transportation. What
is now known as Delanson was then referred to as Toad Hollow due to the fact
that it lies to the head of the Normanskill drainage.
The Albany and
Susquehanna railroad Company, being authorized and organized by legislature to
construct a railroad from Albany, New York to Binghamton, New York, built the
railroad in sections. The first section extended from Albany to Central Bridge
and their engineers, seeking a favorable grade, found the desired route passed
through the upper part of the Normanskill Valley which provided an improved
means of transportation for this vicinity. This section was constructed during
the years 1861 to 1863 inclusive and in the latter year, transportation was
established between the above-named points. To best serve the needs of Quaker
Street a site was chosen for a station and other necessary facilities. A
station and freighthouse were erected on the east side of the highway crossing,
between certain tracks existing at that time. This was given the name Quaker
Street Station.
The Delaware and
Hudson Canal Company was organized and was expanded by buying or leasing
railroads from Rouses Point, New York to Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania and the
canal from Honesdale, Pennsylvania to Rondout, New York. The Albany and
Susquehanna Railroad was to become the Susquehanna division of the Delaware and
Hudson Canal Company. Later, the canal properties were sold to Samuel
Coykendall, who dropped the word “canal” from the corporation title. The
Schenectady and Duanesburg Railroad was built from Delanson to Schenectady; at
Delanson it connected with, and became part of, the Susquehanna division of the
Delaware and Hudson Railroad. The formation of a junction brought increased
activities to this point, making it necessary for more men to be employed.
Of necessity homes
were built for the accommodation of those employed in their different
capacities by the railroad. Several business places opened up, including a coal
business owned ad operated by Mr. Hicks Sheldon. He conducted this business
until the time of his death, after which it was purchased by Mr. W. C Briggs.
For many years
Doctors Hill and Roche of Quaker Street gave medical attention to persons in
the territory.
For a few years
there was a creamery, but this did not last long and was sold to Charles
Washburn, who changed it to a storehouse. On the east side of the railroad
tracks a saw mill was built and later expanded to include feed grinding, flour
milling, and dealing in lumber supplies, successively owned and operated by A.
Ball, Peter Hunt, Charles Washburn, and Briggs and Horohoe.
In keeping with the
times two hotels were brought into being for the accommodation of the traveling
public; one by James Shoudy and the other later owned by Richard Mackey.
Because of the
nature of the employment, the population of the village was largely of the
transient type with employees coming here to work for terms of different
duration and leaving through advancement, promotion, or the desire to seek
other employment due to the proximity of Schenectady with its extensive
enterprises. This being the case, there is a considerable lack of accurate
records, and this makes it difficult to record in true order the events which
contributed to the growth of the village.
During the decade
preceding 1890 there was considerable
discussion over choosing a name for the settlement. The name “Caryell”, after a
man living here, was purposed. C. D. Hammond, who was superintendent of the
Delaware and Hudson Railroad, named it Delanson, coining the word from Delaware
and Hudson. He took the first three letters of Delaware (Del), the first two of
“and” (an), and added the last three letters of the word Hudson (son), making
the complete word “Delanson”. Thus the name had changed from Toad Hollow to
Quaker Street Station to Delanson.
Owning to the fact
that the post office was located at Quaker Street, and feeling the need for
more adequate post office facilities, a movement was started to establish a
post office at Delanson. Providing the name of the community was the first
necessary step in the process of securing a post office. In the year 1893, a
post office was established in the store of one Ed Wilber, which building has
continually housed the post office to the date of this compilation. Mr. Ed
Wilber was appointed acting postmaster in the year 1893, was succeeded in
December of the same year by Mr. Lorin H. White, Delanson’s first regularly
appointed postmaster.
During the agitation
for a name, a post office, and other matters necessary to a new community, the
people were not unmindful of their needs for a place in which to worship. The
reward of their efforts was the Methodists Episcopal Church, erected during the
years 1877-78, which still stands and adequately serves its purpose. The pastor
of this church for many years also presided at the services in the old North
Church located at Lee’s Church, sometimes known as Lee’s Corners. The parsonage
was built in the year 1886 on the south side of the church.
The last portion of
the railroad, Bainbridge to Binghamton, was completed in 1869 and through
traffic was established; this resulted in increasing activities to the
railroad. Car inspectors were employed; cripple track service for the repair of
damaged cars and a roundhouse for the care of locomotives were some of the
facilities provided in keeping with the upward trend of business. In 1885 the
first station, and hay barn adjoining burned and immediately a new station was
erected on the present site. Building a new station here necessitated the
removal of the first crude method of refueling locomotives, and a turntable, to
a new location. The new refueling plant was provided at a point near the
present water tanks and served for several years. About 1900 a greatly improved
refueling plant was coal storage facilities was built, this served until 1929
when the refueling of engines was discontinued at this point. Although a
considerable number of men had found employment in different capacities, a
policy of retrenchment was adopted as was general on all railroad due to
business conditions, with the result that all of the smaller terminals were
eliminated, thus removing this source of employment.
The hotel owned and operated by Mr. James
Shoudy and a restaurant located just south of the station (on the ground which
is now a grass plot) burned in June 1891. The restaurant was never rebuilt but
Mr. Shoudy immediately started reconstruction of the hotel on the old foundation.
This locally supported two blacksmith’s shops, one of which stood on the site
of the present post office building and was later moved to its present
location, the other was located east of the highway crossing on the lands of
James Shoudy – this was razed in 1933.
Early in the 1880’s
a small greenhouse was built under the direction of Mrs. H.W. Harris. To this
was added, at different times, four other units as the volume of business
expanded. Later, her son assumed ownership and operation of the flourishing
business. Since then Mr. Kapper and then Mr. R. P. Hagadorn purchased and
operated the greenhouse – after approximately fifty0five years of service this
was torn down.
The demands for
improved water service for both railroad and domestic purposes reached a stage
beyond the ability of private means to supply. As a result the Duanesurg Water
Company was incorporated and a reservoir with the necessary means of
distribution was installed. The reservoir was located north of the Village of
Delanson and just south of the Cherry Valley Turnpike. This construction took
place in 1895. Another reservoir was added about 1909.
Surrounding
territory supplied the railroad with a considerable amount of business through
the shipment of hay, handled by dealers located here at different times. Some
of them were D.A. Ball, John Ball, Fox and Terpening, Lauren Webster, R.A.
Babcock, Harold Babcock, and Ernest Babcock, who is local representative of
Grange League Federation and conducts a feed store.
It might be well to
remember at this time, that our first postmaster L.H. White also established in
1894 an undertaking and furniture business which he conducted until his death.
Mr. Galen White, his son assumed ownership then and ahs continued the business.
Mr. L.H. White further increased his activities by representing this district
in the state legislature.
Prior to 1920, there
were from time to time, serious discussions on fire protection and the question
of establishing a fire district or incorporating the Village. The first step
was to organize a volunteer fire department. This was done in 1920, followed in
1921 by the incorporation of the village. A small hand-drawn hosecart and
chemical apparatus was purchased; later a motorized pumper was bought. Mr. R.A.
Babcock was the first president of the village. Under his supervision, and with
the aid of a progressive board of trustees, a building was built, to be known
as the Village Hall, and with provisions for housing the fire-fighting
equipment and headquarters for the fire department. This building, started in
1922, and completed in 1923, contains, besides the above mentioned features, an
auditorium, a room for the Village Board and a fully-equipped kitchen.
In 1925, the Fulton
County Gas and Electric Company established service in this village, providing
street lights and current for domestic use.
As has been stated
before, many sources of employment on the railroad were established which
caused the removal of many employees from this point. Since that time families
have moved here to occupy the homes but many of them are employed elsewhere,
principally in Schenectady. This has changed the type of village from
commercial to residential.