Bloodville, New York facts for kids

Bloodville is a small community, also known as a hamlet, located near Ballston Spa, New York in Saratoga County, New York, United States. It's a quiet place today, but it has a fascinating history tied to early American industry.

The Story of Bloodville

How Bloodville Got Its Name

Bloodville is named after a man named Isaiah Blood. He was an important businessman who started a factory there in 1831. This factory made tools like axes and scythes (a tool used for cutting grass or crops).

Busy Factories on the Creek

Isaiah Blood's factories were built right next to the Kayaderosseras Creek, just north of Ballston Spa. There were two main parts:

• The lower mill made axes.
• The upper mill made scythes.

These factories were very important for making tools. They faced some challenges, like fires that destroyed them. But each time, they were rebuilt even bigger and better in the 1860s.

A Thriving Business

The tool-making business stayed with Isaiah Blood until he passed away in 1870. After that, his son-in-law, Henry Knickerbocker, took over. The factories were very busy, employing between 200 and 250 people. They produced a huge amount of tools every year, including:

• About 144,000 scythes (12,000 dozen)
• About 96,000 axes (8,000 dozen)
• About 120,000 other tools (10,000 dozen)

Other Businesses in Bloodville

Bloodville wasn't just about tools. A man named Benjamin Barber also had a lumber-yard, a planing mill (for smoothing wood), and a sash factory (for making window frames) there. Benjamin Barber was also famous for inventing and making a popular water wheel that was known across the country.

Life in Bloodville's Peak Years

In the 1890s, Bloodville was a busy and lively place. It had several stores where people could buy what they needed. There were also churches and a schoolhouse for the community. A special trolley railroad, called The Ballston Terminal Railroad, helped people travel around.

The End of an Era

In 1892, a large company called the American Axe & Tool Company bought the tool factories. However, just ten years later, both factories were completely destroyed in two separate fires. Today, Bloodville is mostly a residential area where people live.