The Normanskill Farm

The Normanskill Farm. . , In 1630, an early settler called "the Norman", leased the water privileges of what was then called by the native Americans, "Ta-wal-sen-tha". The "Val of Tawasentha", in Longfellow's poem Hiawatha, is the Normanskill Valley. The Norman erected a mill farther east from here, towards the Hudson. Thereafter, Dutch settlers referred to the stream as the Norman's Kill. , Prehistoric native American encampments have been identified along the Normanskill in this immediate vicinity. The ruins just beyond the parking lot kiosk, along the trail, are from a saw mill and ice house, both of which date from 1800's. The site has been farmed at least since the 1800's. The farm came to be known as the Normans Kill Dairy Farm about 1900. It was part of C.P. Stevens larger dairy business that included a skimming station in Westerlo and a bottling plant in Albany. The Normans Kill Dairy delivered milk in horse drawn carts in Albany until 1955. The bottling plant in Albany was displaced by the Empire State Plaza, and the last milk cows where sold off in 1970. The Farm remained in the ownership of the Stevens Family until the late 1970's. The Farm was acquired by the City of Albany in 1980 for open space preservation and recreation purposes. The property is still active as a farm under a lease agreement with a cattle farmer. The City of Albany Police Department horses are also housed in the main livestock barn. The APD Mounted Unit maintains an office on site. The main farm house is occupied by a Farm manager. Many of the Normanskill Farm out buildings remain, including the blacksmith shop, pig barn, poultry sheds, main hay barn, main livestock barn, and several others. , Enjoy your visit!