Photograph as originally submitted to this page in the Historical Marker Database www.HMdb.org. Click on photo to resize in browser. Scroll down to see metadata.

Photographer: Steve Stoessel
Taken: March 31, 2019
Caption: History
Additional Description: 1790
Settled in 1790 as Stephenville, the Alcove community harnessed the power of water from the Hannacroix Creek in the early industrial era of this region of the state.

1844
Here in 1844, Ephraim Andres built a cloth and wool carding mill powered by water impounded by a timber dam on the Hannacroix Creek which flows next to the park.

1848 John Andrews enlarged the operation in 1848 as the Valley Paper Mill and converted it to the manufacture of straw wrapping paper. The chimney presently standing on the site was erected at that time to facilitate the larger boiler and steam engine that enabled greater production capacity. By 1855, the mill employed 25 people and was capable of producing 3.5 tons of material in a 24-hour period. In 1892, the mill burned to the ground leaving only the 94-foot brick chimney remaining.

1897
The site sat vacant until The Alcove Creamery Company established their business there in 1897to attract local farmers. That business was in operation into the early 1900’s

This facsimile of a May 1908 receipt from The Alcove Creamery Company records the production of butter from milk provided by Mr. J.A. Vanderzee, a local farmer.

1900’s
Later in the 1900’s, the Creamery building was turned into the Chimney Top Inn and dance hall and was a well-known establishment until 1977 when it became a private residence.
Submitted: April 4, 2019, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York.
Database Locator Identification Number: p468909
File Size: 1.198 Megabytes

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