I had a fine Independence Day.

I had a fine Independence Day yesterday at Schoharie County's Old Stone Fort, where local Militia* read speeches and letters from Abigail Adams, Patrick Henry, Thomas Paine, George Washington, and let us never forget: Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of Independence.

The Old Stone Fort was originally built as a Reformed Dutch Church, but the calls of two Wars would force it into Military service - first as a refuge for local settlers during the Revolutionary War, and second as a armory for the Union Army during the Civil War.

I just love Independence Day.

To me it doesn't matter who is or who isn't President of our great Nation, and it doesn't matter which legislation has or hasn't been signed into law, because we live in America, where freedom will always reign, and where success will always be celebrated.

So how was your Independence Day?

* - Volunteer Re-enactment Militia.



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History of Schoharie

The Palatines were the first to settle in Schoharie in 1718. Schoharie’s original name was “Fountain Town” because of springs in the town. The Lutheran Church in Schoharie was built in 1750. The preacher in the church preached around the area, and had originally come from Hamburg. He was blind for twenty-one years before getting his sight back. The new church was built in 1796.

The Old Stone Fort was originally built as a church in 1772, although the congregation was formed in 1730. In the church before the Old Stone Fort, one of Joseph Brant’s daughters was baptized. In 1777, the Old Stone Fort was surrounded by pickets and turned into a fort. When a new church was built in 1845, the Old Stone Fort was bought by New York and was turned into an arsenal. Buried at the Old Stone Fort are Peter Vroman and David Williams. Also buried there is Simon Mix, who started several newspapers and fought in the Civil War.

A Schoharie resident, George Mann, was a Tory early in the Revolution, but then joined the patriots before the war ended, and thusly didn’t have his property confiscated. Three hotels in Schoharie County in 1882 were Wood’s Hotel, the Parrott House, and the Taylor House. Amazingly, all the members of the Lawyer family can be traced back to Schoharie County.

In 1811, the “Schoharie and Duanesburgh Turnpike” was built and connected with the Great Western Turnpike. The county’s first mill was near Central Bridge. A wagon factory was built in 1842. When Johnson and Brant invaded the valley, they were about to burn the house of a cripple when a slave lured them away by pies and pastries. Johannes Ingold was the county’s first coroner.

The county lost two courthouses to fire, and decided to build a stone one, which still stands. Schoharie had Protestant Churches, including an “African Methodist Episcopal Church”, organized in 1856. The Schoharie Bridge was built by 1813 for around six hundred dollars.

In the list of those who won public office, names such as Bellinger, Swart, Mann, Dietz, and Lawyer stand out. Schoharie boarders were changed to take out Esperance and Wright.

It’s amazing to look at all that’s changed in 250 years. People die, buildings burn, things change. Yet, through all those years, the Old Stone Fort still stands, seemingly untouched by time. People don’t really appreciate the scarcity of relics like the Fort.

Visit Schoharie County-- Breadbasket of the Revolution

Schoharie County is one of the most beautiful areas of the state, encompassing the northern Catskill Mountains and the scenic Schoharie Valley. There are many points of interest here, including Howe Caverns, which is the second-most visited natural attraction in the state. Schoharie County also contains the infamous Gilboa Dam. We also are fortunate to have Minekill and Max V. Shaul State Parks.Also, the area is rich in history, including many fights in the Revolutionary War. Schoharie County once had three forts. The last remaining one is a museum now, the Old Stone Fort. Famous entrepreneur and founder of the company Westinghouse, George Westinghouse was born in Central Bridge. The largest single-span covered bridge in the world is located in Blenheim. Another nice covered bridge is in Schoharie, just down the street from the Old Stone Fort.There are nice places to eat around the area, like the Alley Cat or the Tory Tavern in Schoharie or M+J's Cafe in Middleburgh. There are nice hotels, like the Super 8 in Cobleskill or the American Hotel in Sharon Springs.

We're convieniently located less than an hour away from Oneonta, Schnectady, and Albany. We're two hours from Binghamton and about three from Plattburgh and New York.So give us a shot, you'll be glad you did.