On Grand Street 0.2 miles east of Fairview Avenue, on the right when traveling east.
Altamont Fairgrounds
The Albany Agricultural Society sponsored the first fair in Albany County in 1819. For the next 70 years fairs were held in Albany and in the surrounding towns and villages. In August 1892, local businessmen . . . — — Map (db m283615) HM
The Village's First Freight and passenger train station was built in 1864, only months after the first train passed through Knowersville. In 1896 the old station was moved south along the tracks. In 1897, it was replaced by the . . . — — Map (db m283535) HM
On Grand Street 0.1 miles north of Fairview Avenue, on the right when traveling north.
Altamont High School
The Altamont Union Free School was constructed in 1901 - 1902. It was designed by Altamont resident Wheeler D. Wright and built by James W. Packer, a contractor from Oneonta, NY. The building was the fourth . . . — — Map (db m283736) HM
On Lincoln Avenue at Jay Street, on the right when traveling south on Lincoln Avenue.
Altamont Reformed Church
The Altamont Reformed Church was constructed by contractor Hiram Schoonmaker on land donated by Melvin Beebe. Construction started in September 1887. The building was dedicated on October 3, 1888, as the . . . — — Map (db m283719) HM
On Main Street (New York State Route 146) at Gun Club Road, on the right when traveling west on Main Street.
Welcome to Altamont
The Village of Altamont and its immediate surroundings were once part of a tract of land deeded in 1630 by the Dutch West India Company to Killian Van Rensselaer (c. 1586-1643),a wealthy 17th century Dutch . . . — — Map (db m283534) HM
In 1887, Charles V. Beebe received a patent for an easy riding, swing attachment for farm equipment seats. In 1891,he moved to Altamont and opened a harness shop in the Ostrander Building, in what is now 125 Maple Avenue. In 1895, . . . — — Map (db m131475) HM
On Main Street (New York State Route 156) at Altamont Blvd ( Route 146), on the right when traveling east on Main Street.
In 1867, George Severson, a great-grandson of early settler Jurrian Severson, built the Severson House hotel, the first hotel in the growing hamlet of Knowersville. Only a few steps away from the new train station, the hotel provided lodging . . . — — Map (db m246180) HM
On Maple Avenue (New York State Route 146), on the left when traveling north.
In 1879, James Ostrander bought a large lot on Church Street, and built a thriving shoe business. In 1882, he sold a portion of the lot to Charles Taber, who opened a tin shop on the site. Both businesses were lost in the 1886 fire, . . . — — Map (db m131455) HM
On Maple Avenue (New York State Route 146) when traveling west.
The Altamont Hose Company No. 1 was organized in May 1893, with 25 citizens appointed as members by the Village Trustees. The Company's first location was rented space at the Temperance Hall on Lincoln Avenue. In 1926, the Company . . . — — Map (db m131453) HM
On Park Street 0.1 miles Main Street ( Route 156), on the right when traveling east.
First National Bank of Altamont
In early 1910, several Altamont businessmen petitioned the Comptroller of the Currency for permission to open a bank in Altamont. The First National Bank of Altamont opened its doors on December 5, . . . — — Map (db m283411) HM
On Fairview Avenue 0.1 miles north of Park Street, on the left when traveling west.
Hayes House
Miles Hayes (1856 - 1925) was a mill operator from Gallupville, New York. He purchased John H. Ottman’s Helderberg Mill property on Park Street after Mr. Ottman’s death in January 1905. In addition to operating a . . . — — Map (db m283560) HM
On Prospect Terrace north of Main Street ( Route 156), on the left when traveling north.
This Italianate-style home was built in 1873 for Hiram Griggs (1836 – 1909), a lawyer who opened his practice in Knowersville on September 30, 1862. For 47 years, Mr. Griggs provided legal counsel and leadership to his village, town, county, and . . . — — Map (db m283163) HM
On Main Street (New York State Route 156), on the right when traveling west.
On 2 April 1864, David Becker purchased an acre of land from Conrad Crounse for $400, along the newly laid railroad tracks. On this land, Silas Hilton and Benjamin Crounse built a dry goods store, with rooms to let upstairs. The . . . — — Map (db m131500) HM
On Main Street (New York State Route 156) at Maple Avenue, on the left when traveling east on Main Street.
Joseph Snyder Store
In 1869, Joseph W. Wright purchased the lot that would become the corner of Main Street and Maple Avenue and opened a dry goods store. He sold this store to A. A. Tygert who operated the store until early 1887, . . . — — Map (db m283523) HM
On Gun Club Road at Main Street ( Route 146), on the right when traveling north on Gun Club Road.
Few settlers ventured into the wilderness prior to the War of Independence. Roads were barely expanded trails between settlements. The Great Western Turnpike (now US Route 20) carried travelers west from Albany. Following ancient . . . — — Map (db m133581) HM
On Main Street (New York State Route 146) at Prospect Terrace ( Route 156), on the left when traveling north on Main Street.
The Knowersville House Hotel,
built in 1876 by James Ogsbury, was the second hotel built in the growing village. The
large three-story hotel catered to both summer boarders and traveling businessmen, who
gained easy access to the Village via . . . — — Map (db m246168) HM
On Maple Avenue (New York State Route 146), on the left when traveling north.
By 1879, the population of Knowersville had grown sufficiently to merit the construction of a larger school, and the hamlet's third school building was constructed that year on School Street, later renamed Lincoln Avenue. The Lincoln . . . — — Map (db m131471) HM
On Main Street (New York State Route 156) at Maple Avenur ( Route 146), on the left when traveling west on Main Street.
Orsini Park was carved from land the Albany & Susquehanna Railroad purchased from George Severson (1794-1883) in the early 1850s for the railroad's right-of-way. In addition to the railroad tracks, the land included room for a depot, . . . — — Map (db m131477) HM WM
On Main Street (New York State Route 156) at Maple Avenue (Route 146), on the left when traveling north on Main Street.
Pangburn Building
Myron J. Fowler (1852 - 1907) was a prolific builder of homes in the growing hamlet of Knowersville. He completed the Pangburn Building for John H. Pangburn in May of 1886. Mr. Pangburn was in partnership with his . . . — — Map (db m283562) HM
On Maple Ave (New York State Route 146) south of Jay Street, on the right when traveling south.
Alanson Dietz (1849 - 1932) was an ingenious inventor and entrepreneur who moved his bottling business from East Worcester, NY, to Guilderland Center in 1873. In early 1885, he built barns and a bottling facility on this site. By May of 1885, he . . . — — Map (db m283195) HM
On Maple Avenue (New York State Route 146), on the right when traveling west.
St. John’s Lutheran Church, designed by Albany architect Charles Nichols and built by contractor George Rockefeller in 1871-72 was the first church built in Knowersville. The original church building was 42 x 62 feet and, completely . . . — — Map (db m131427) HM
On Grand Street 0.2 miles south of Main Street, on the left when traveling east.
St. Lucy/St. Bernadette Catholic Church
In 1887, Lucie Rochefort Cassidy (1830 – 1902), the owner of one of the summer mansions on the hill above Knowersville, purchased land on Grand Street from Abram A. Tygert. She then arranged . . . — — Map (db m283718) HM
On Lincoln Avenue near Main Street, on the right when traveling south.
Temperance Hall
The International Order of Good Templars (I.O.G.T.) built the Temperance Hall in 1887. In May of 1893, Knowersville's first fire department was formed. For $25 a year, the new department rented meeting space and . . . — — Map (db m283293) HM
On Maple Avenue (New York State Route 146), on the left when traveling north.
Henry Lockwood built the first carriage factory in Knowersville in 1874. The VanBenscoten brothers and Charles B. Warner operated the business until the April 1886 Great Fire consumed the original building and much of the stock. . . . — — Map (db m131468) HM
On Helderburg Street at Main Street ( Route 156), on the right when traveling west on Helderburg Street.
The Fredendall Funeral Home is the oldest continuously operated business in Altamont. In 1877, cabinet maker John Thierolf arrived in the village from Albany and soon established a thriving furniture business. Wood crafters were often . . . — — Map (db m145181) HM
On Maple Road (New York State Route 146), on the left when traveling north.
On 30 April 1886, Fire Tore through the business district of Knowersville, leveling all five buildings of the Lockwood Estate, including the drug and dry goods store of Davenport & Fredericks, the carriage factory of VanBenscoten & . . . — — Map (db m131465) HM
On Mill Street 0.2 miles north of Main Street ( Route 156), on the right when traveling west.
VFW
Wheeler D. Wright (1851 - 1933) built his first home in Knowersville c. 1874 on a large plot of land extending between what is now Mill Street and Euclid Avenue. He was an architect. He designed several buildings in Altamont . . . — — Map (db m283616) HM
On Main Street (New York State Route 156) at Altamont Boulevard ( Route 156), on the left when traveling north on Main Street.
George Severson (1766-1813), a grandson of Jurrian Severson, one of the area's first settlers, built the Wayside Inn ca. 1785 along the wagon track that is now Main Street. The site of the Inn was approximately half way between the . . . — — Map (db m145191) HM
