Altamont in Albany County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Altamont
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, November 2, 2011
1. Altamont Marker
Erected by New York.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1890.
Location. 42° 42.105′ N, 74° 1.919′ W. Marker is in Altamont, New York, in Albany County. Marker is on Main Street (New York State Route 146), on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Altamont NY 12009, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Dedicated (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Orsini Park / Parque Orsini (about 300 feet away); Altamont Free Library / Biblioteca Libre de Altamonte (about 400 feet away); Fire Department / Village Hall / Cuerpo de Bomberos / Ayuntamiento (about 400 feet away); Beebe Harness Shop / Tienda de Arneses Beebe (about 400 feet away); Home Front Café / Café Home Front (about 400 feet away); Enterprise Building / Edificio Enterprise (about 400 feet away); The Great Fire / El Gran Incendio (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Altamont.
Regarding Altamont. Altamont is an historic village of approximately 1,737 residents located at the
this page online
In the early 1800s the hamlet of Knowersville was established and eventually became known as Altamont, which means “high mountains.” Altamont was a summer vacation community centered on the railroad – and its land use pattern is defined by the historic grid of streets within walking distance to the station. The former train station is being renovated as the new home of the Altamont Free Library. The Village center has a post office, restaurants, Altamont Elementary School, a weekly newspaper, The Altamont Enterprise, and 3 churches: St Lucy Roman Catholic Church, St John Lutheran Church, and the Altamont Reformed Church. The Altamont Fairground hosts a week long country fair in mid-August and other festivals.
Also see . . .
1. Village of Altamont Website. (Submitted on November 20, 2012, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York.)
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, October 21, 2011
2. Altamont Marker
View is to the west, up Main Street.
2. Altamont Historic District - National Archives. National Register of Historic Places documentation (Submitted on November 14, 2023, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York.)
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, October 21, 2011
3. Altamont Historic District
An Altamont home next to the marker, a circa 1886 structure listed with 17 others in the Altamont Historic District in 1982.
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, November 5, 2011
4. The Altamont Fair
The sign for the Altamont Fair is a familiar landmark at the edge of the village. The Altamont Fair, a long tradition in the area, is a tri-county fair representing Albany, Schenectady and Greene Counties, first held in September of 1893.
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, October 21, 2011
5. The Altamont Train Station
An icon of the Village of Altamont, the 1887 Delaware and Hudson Railroad Passenger Station was in use for 77 years until the railroad discontinued passenger service along the line in 1964. For a time the building was the village hall. In late 2011 the
building was being prepared for use as the Altamont Public Library.
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, November 13, 2011
6. The Hiram Griggs House
The Hiram Griggs House is historically and architecturally significant as a local example of Victorian Italianate styling and for its association with Hiram Griggs (1836-1909), the first Mayor of the Village of Altamont. The house was built for Griggs in 1873. Griggs was an attorney with an office in Knowersville, and secured employment with the Albany & Susquehanna Railroad (later the D&H) related to the new rail line in Knowersville. Later Griggs would use his influence to facilitate the name change of the village from Knowersville to Altamont. His former home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July, 19, 2010.
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, May 3, 2013
7. The Hayes House in Altamont
The Hayes House on Fairview Ave. in Altamont was built by carpenter Earl W. Teter in 1910 for Miles Hayes (1856-1925). Hayes was a progressive small town miller who was in his day the magnate of the community. He had his first home moved to the adjacent lot to the east in order to have his new home beside his mill business between the D&H railroad tracks and the house. In 1971 the Hayes House was donated to the Altamont Fair, and it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 17, 1973. This fully furnished Victorian home was turned into a museum that was open to the public during the Fair and the Fair's Christmas celebration. The Fair sold the house to Jeff and Jackie Genovesi in 2003, and there was a new owner in 2013.
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, November 13, 2011
8. Altamont
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, November 18, 2012
9. Altamont from Thatcher
This view of Altamont was taken looking to the northeast from an overlook called High Point Cliff, which is located in the newer (2004/2006), northern section of John Boyd Thatcher State Park. This scenic spot with great views from the escarpment is 1.06 miles from the Old Stage Road Trailhead parking. The white steeple of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church on Maple Ave. is left of center, and the Altamont Fair's Fine Arts and Flower Exhibition Hall is in the lower right.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 14, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 9, 2011, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. This page has been viewed 1,423 times since then and 51 times this year. Last updated on November 14, 2011, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 9, 2011, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. 6. submitted on November 14, 2011, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. 7. submitted on September 28, 2013, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. 8. submitted on November 14, 2011, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. 9. submitted on November 20, 2012, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
