Milton in Saratoga County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Rock City Falls

Photographed by Steve Stoessel, December 3, 2018

1. Rock City Falls Marker

Inscription. V. Rathbun settled pre-1800. Area grew around early saw, grist mills; stores; hotels; schools; 1810 Methodist Ch.; mid-1800 paper mills Kilmer, West; P.O.; Catholic Ch. 1872

Erected 1999 by Town of Milton.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1810.

Location. 43° 3.784′ N, 73° 54.949′ W. Marker is in Milton, New York, in Saratoga County. It is on New York State Route 29 close to Rock City Road, on the left when traveling west. Marker is by the entrance to Cottrell Paper Plant. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Rock City Falls NY 12863, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York,

in the Capital District,

and in the Albany Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Great North Woods,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen

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Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: West Milton (approx. 1.9 miles away); North Milton (approx. 2 miles away); Milton Centre (approx. 2 miles away); First Town Meeting (approx. 2 miles away); a different marker also named West Milton (approx. 2½ miles away); Milton Hill (approx. 2.7 miles away); Rose Hill Water Tower (approx. 3.3 miles away); Rowland's Hollow (approx. 3.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Milton.

Regarding Rock City Falls. George West, the “Paper Bag King,” once manufactured more paper bags in his mills along the Kayaderosseras Creek than any other person in the country and he got his start in Rock City Falls.

George West was a larger-than-life personality in Ballston Spa during the late 1800s. His mansion on the corner of Milton Avenue and Prospect Street was within walking distance of his Union Mill, Island Mill, Glen Mill, and Bag Factory. Up the river were his other mills, all producing manila paper to make his famous paper bags.

West purchased his first paper mill in Rock City Falls, and

Rock City Falls image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Steve Stoessel, December 14, 2018

2. Rock City Falls

decided to manufacture paper bags at a time when most carrying bags were made from cotton. As demand for the bags steadily increased, he sought ways to dramatically increase his output. West, along with several other manufacturers, joined in a patent pool started by Francis Wolle, inventor of the first successful paper bag machine. The pool split the market into separate non-competing districts, and gave the contributors rights to use the pool’s state-of-the-art technology. West received the huge New England market, including New York City. All of the latest and most effective machine patents were at his disposal, and were quickly installed in his original bag factory at Rock City Falls.

Soon he was turning out bags by the millions. The new machines created the so-called Self-Opening Satchel bags that grocers grew to love. Because his paper bags were so much cheaper than cotton sacks, demand and profits soared. West expanded his operations and either built or acquired one mill after another along the Kayaderosseras Creek until a dozen were under his ownership. By 1880 he was producing more bags than anyone else in the country.

West

Last paper company in Rock City image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Steve Stoessel, December 14, 2018

3. Last paper company in Rock City

also served in the New York State Assembly, and he was elected to three terms in the US House of Representatives. He was also a great philanthropist, donating the equivalent of millions of dollars to a variety of causes, including the soldiers’ monuments in Ballston Spa and Schuylerville. When he died in 1901 he left a fortune that today would be worth nearly $75 million.

The Cottrell Paper Company still operates in Rock City Falls much as it did one hundred years ago. The Empire Mill and Excelsior Mill of George West are now part of a park

Also see . . .
1. Paper Bag King. (Submitted on December 10, 2018, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York.)
2. Rock City Falls (Wikipedia). (Submitted on December 10, 2018, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York.)

Credits. This page was last revised on December 15, 2018. It was originally submitted on December 10, 2018, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York. This page has been viewed 1,483 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 10, 2018, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York. 2, 3. submitted on December 14, 2018, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.