History of Lansingburgh, New York facts for kids

Lansingburgh is a town in New York with a long and interesting history. It was once planned to be a very important city north of Albany, right on the Hudson River. However, a nearby town called Troy grew much faster and became the main city in Rensselaer County.

Lansingburgh is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County. It sits north of Troy and south of the town of Schaghticoke. The Hudson River forms its western border.

Early Days of Lansingburgh

Long ago, the land where Lansingburgh now stands was known by Native Americans as Tascamcatick. In 1670, Robert Saunders from Albany received a grant for this land. Later, in 1679, he also received the nearby woodlands.

Over time, parts of this land were sold to different people. In 1763, a man named Abraham Jacob Lansingh bought a large section of the property. He believed his land would become a busy village.

In 1771, Lansingh had his property surveyed and divided into lots, streets, and alleys. He named this new settlement Lansinghburgh. A map showed 288 lots, covering the area between North, East, and South streets and the Hudson River.

On January 1, 1771, the settlers created a set of rules called the "Proposals" to govern their community. They elected officers, including a committee of five people. Abraham Jacob Lansingh or his family would always be part of this committee.

Many people, especially from New England, were drawn to Lansinghburgh because of its good location. The village grew quickly. Small factories and businesses started up, showing great promise for the future. In 1774, a school was opened by Maus R. Van Vranka.

Lansingburgh in the Late 1700s

As tensions grew between the American colonists and Great Britain, the people of Lansinghburgh showed their support for the American cause. On June 15, 1775, they signed a paper agreeing to an "Association" to support the fight for freedom. Many of their names are found on lists of militia members who served during the American Revolutionary War.

The first Masonic lodge in Lansingburgh, Hiram Lodge No. 35, was started on August 16, 1787.

Lansingburgh was often called "New City" to distinguish it from "Old City" (Albany). The village grew so much that on May 21, 1787, the first newspaper in Lansingburgh was published. It was called the Northern Centinel and Lansingborough Advertiser. This weekly paper was the first newspaper printed in what is now Rensselaer County. It mostly contained old European news and a few advertisements. The name "Lansingborough" was a printing mistake and was later changed to Lansingburgh.

At this time, everyone in Lansingburgh expected it to become a large and successful city. New buildings were constantly being built, and there was a high demand for homes and stores. The transportation business on the Hudson River also grew, with many boats coming and going.

The founder, Abraham Jacob Lansingh, saw his hopes for the village come true with its rapid growth. By 1790, the population and businesses had grown so much that a more formal government was needed. On April 5, 1790, the State Legislature passed a law to appoint trustees for the village.

A fire company was soon organized, and in 1791, the first hand-pump fire engine was bought from Philadelphia.

Abraham Jacob Lansingh, the founder of Lansingburgh, passed away on October 9, 1791, at 72 years old. His wife, Catherine, died the day before.

The first post office in Lansingburgh was set up in June 1792. Before this, letters for Lansingburgh were sent to Albany and then delivered by a stagecoach line.

Several churches were established during this period. The Reformed Protestant Dutch church had a pastor by 1758, and their first church building was used until 1832. The First Presbyterian church was organized on August 9, 1792. Its cornerstone was laid in 1793, and the church was dedicated the following year. It was built on the village green, and its brick walkways were made from bricks imported from Holland.

The Lansingburgh library opened on September 9, 1794, and was officially recognized by the Legislature in 1795.

On February 10, 1795, a law was passed to pave certain streets in Lansingburgh, including King Street, North Street, and Hoosick Street. The first water works in Lansingburgh were also built around 1795, supplying water to residents.

The Lansingburgh Academy, an important school, received its charter on February 20, 1796.

On March 30, 1798, Alexander I. Turner and Adonijah Skinner were given the exclusive right to operate a stagecoach line between Lansingburgh and Hampton for five years.

Several newspapers were published in Lansingburgh during this time, including the Northern Centinel and Lansingburgh Advertiser, the Federal Herald, the American Spy, and the Northern Budget. The Lansingburgh Gazette started on September 18, 1798.

Lansingburgh in the Early 1800s

The boundaries of Lansingburgh village were officially redefined by the Legislature on April 2, 1801. This new charter gave the villagers more rights and defined new duties for them. It allowed for new rules about markets, streets, drainage, the fire department, and other important matters.

A remarkable wooden bridge, known as the Union Bridge, was built across the Hudson River between Lansingburgh and Waterford. It was considered an engineering marvel at the time. The bridge is 800 feet (244 meters) long and 30 feet (9 meters) wide, with four arches supported by three pillars. It is still standing today and is one of the oldest wooden bridges in the United States. Its opening was a big celebration, with a procession, cannons firing, and a dinner.

Methodist congregations began meeting in Lansingburgh as early as 1803. Seven years later, a church building was erected. The First Baptist society of Lansingburgh was organized on June 11, 1803.

Lansingburgh in the Mid-1800s

During the War of 1812, an artillery company from Lansingburgh was sent to Ogdensburg. Later, when a draft was ordered, some members were called for service, but the war ended before they saw much action.

When Commodore Macdonough, a hero from the Battle of Lake Champlain, visited Lansingburgh on April 8, 1815, he was welcomed by many citizens. They gave him a pair of pitchers and a dozen goblets as a gift, honoring his victory.

The Bank of Lansingburgh was started on March 19, 1813, with a capital of $200,000. It changed its name several times over the years, becoming the National Bank of Lansingburgh and then returning to its original name. It closed on March 19, 1877, after 64 years.

In 1819, a part of the town of Schaghticoke was added to Lansingburgh. This area included the hamlet of Speigletown, named after the Vanderspeigle families who were early settlers.

Phoenix Lodge, a Masonic lodge, was organized in 1823.

The First Universalist church was organized in 1832, and a small wooden church was built in 1834. This church building was later sold to St. John's Roman Catholic congregation, which was organized around 1840. St. Augustine's Roman Catholic church was built in 1864 and dedicated in 1866. St. Augustine Free Institute was established in 1869.

In 1838, a part of Lansingburgh known as Batestown became part of the city of Troy.

Lansingburgh experienced its first major fire on Sunday, July 9, 1843. The fire started in stables and quickly spread, destroying nearly two entire blocks in the center of the village. Fire companies from Troy, Cohoes, and Waterford helped fight the flames. About 25 buildings were completely destroyed. Two weeks later, another fire destroyed about 12 more buildings.

Lansingburgh in the Late 1800s

The Rensselaer County Bank was established on January 1, 1853. It later became a national bank but then returned to its old name. It closed on July 13, 1872.

During the American Civil War, the 30th Regiment, N.Y. State Volunteers, had its beginnings in Lansingburgh. The first full company for this regiment, Company A, was organized in the village. Captain Samuel King, Ensign Francis Dargen, and five soldiers from this company were killed at the First Battle of Bull Run.

In 1882, Mrs. Deborah Powers, who was 93 years old, decided to use some of her wealth to help others. She founded the Powers Home for Old Ladies. She bought and remodeled a property, and the first resident was welcomed on December 20, 1883. The building was enlarged again in 1884.

On December 11, 1895, a small house fire on Second Avenue caused the deaths of Mrs. Hannah Eglin Sliter and Mary Harris.

Public Institutions

Lansingburgh has a history of strong public institutions.

Schools and Education

When New York State organized its public school system in 1807, Charles Selden and Thomas Wallace were chosen as the first school commissioners for Lansingburgh. In 1847, Lansingburgh's School District No. 1 was allowed to raise money through taxes to create a free school. This was even before the state-wide free school system was fully established.

The Lansingburgh Academy is a very old and respected school. It was chartered on February 20, 1796. The first building was made of wood and stood on the site of what is now the village park. A new building was built in 1820 on Fourteenth Street, where the school has been ever since. Many famous people received their early education here, including Chester A. Arthur, who later became president of the United States.

Fire Department

The Lansingburgh fire department was officially organized on April 17, 1844, as a volunteer department. It became a paid department on December 9, 1874, with Thomas H. Mason as the first chief engineer.

Banking and Industry

After the Bank of Lansingburgh closed in 1877, Albert E. Powers, son of Deborah Powers, became its receiver. To help with the bank's closure, the firm of D. Powers & Son opened a new bank called the Bank of D. Powers & Sons. Deborah Powers and her sons ran this bank along with their oilcloth factory.

The oilcloth factory was started many years earlier by Deborah Powers and her husband, William Powers. William Powers began making oilcloth in 1821. Mrs. Powers was very involved in all his experiments. In 1829, Mr. Powers died in an accident while making varnish, and Mrs. Powers was also badly burned. However, she bravely continued the business and made it very successful. Her sons later joined the business. After Deborah Powers passed away in 1891, her sons continued to run both the oilcloth factory and the bank.

For many years, Lansingburgh did not have a state or national bank. Then, on October 19, 1888, local business people decided to organize a new bank. It was named the People's Bank of Lansingburgh and opened in February 1890.

Healthcare

The Leonard Hospital was officially recognized in 1893. It is located on the northeast corner of Fourteenth Street and Sixth Avenue. The property was once owned by Mrs. Hugh L. Rose, who was the daughter of Dr. Leonard. When she died, she wanted the building to be used as a hospital, and it was named in honor of her father. The building is a two-story brick structure well-suited for a hospital.