Historian
Contact Info
Email:
Town of Greenfield
7 Wilton Rd., P.O. Box 10
Greenfield Center, NY 12833
Hours
- Wednesdays
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
The Town of Greenfield Historian’s office is located in the Town Hall. Visitors are always welcome.
Duane Cornell was appointed historian in April of 2024. Joyce Woodard is the current deputy historian. Along with a team of volunteers, they are working to organize and digitize an extensive collection of photos, early vital records and newspaper clippings.
If you are doing research, have items that you wish to donate to our collection (especially family histories and photos), would like to volunteer, or are just interested in local history, please contact us or drop in on Wednesdays.
Click here for a short historical overview of the Town of Greenfield.
Current News and Information
Timeline
1600’s
North-South trail across lands that would become Greenfield
Used for travel between Canada and Mohawk Valley.
1708-1768
Kayaderosseras Patent being negotiated
Land purchase agreement between Mohawk Indians and English investors. A small portion of this purchase would later become the Town of Greenfield.
1768-1775
Kayderosseras Patent lands surveyed
Patent lands were surveyed and subdivided for sale, however, military unrest results in no white settlements. Photo from Wikipedia.
1775
Preston Denton
Preston Denton from Duchess County reputed to have been first white settler on lands that would become Town of Greenfield
1778
Anthony Haggerty and Thomas Root
Anthony Haggerty and Thomas Root reputed to have settled in vicinity of Greenfield Center (Haggerty Hill section)
1786
Gershom Morehouse
Gershom Morehouse from Conn. builds grist mill and sawmill near lower bridge section of Middle Grove. Morehouse, a skilled millwright, builds several mills in the Town of Greenfield during his lifetime.
1786
Charles Deake Sr. (Dake)
Charles Deake Sr. (Dake) and four sons settle in what will become Daketown, Town of Greenfield. The Dake family would later become involved in the manufacture of ice cream and own Stewarts, Inc.
1790
Congregational Church
The Congregational Church of South Greenfield organized.
1791
Greenfield Lands were originally in Albany County
Lands that would become the Town of Greenfield were originally included in Albany County.
1792
Saratoga County map from before Town of Greenfield was formed
The land that would become the Town of Greenfield was formed from parts of the Towns of Saratoga and Milton. Greenfield was first known for a while as Fairfield. Both Fairfield and Greenfield were towns in Connecticut.
1793
Congregational Church: First in Greenfield
Congregational church builds first church meeting hall. Photo from March 19, 1949.
1793
A larger Town of Greenfield formed
A larger Town of Greenfield formed from parts of Towns of Saratoga and Milton. Greenfield was first known for a while as Fairfield. Both Fairfield and Greenfield were towns in Connecticut.
1793
Saratoga County map after Town of Greenfield was formed
This map is dated March 12, 1793 and shows the Town of Greenfield.
1794
First Town of Greenfield meeting held
1795
First Town of Greenfield school
first Town of Greenfield school built somewhere about two miles east of Greenfield Center.
1801
Town of Greenfield final boundaries
The Town of Greenfield reduced in size by about 60% to form the Town of Hadley, which was later reduced to form the Town of Corinth and part of Day.
1802
Asahel Porter
Asahel Porter running a distillery and tannery at Porter Corners.
1813
Town of Greenfield divided into sixteen one room school districts
1816
Old Universalist Church built in Porter Corners
1836
John W. James
John W. James founded James Bank in Jamesville (later called Middle Grove)
1838
Building of Jamesville Baptist Church
Photo shows Jamesville Baptist Church, with Odd Fellows Hall in the background. This church later became known as Middle Grove Baptist Church.
1844
Mt. Pleasant Glass Factory
Oscar Granger builds a glass factory and supporting community in the northwestern part of the Town of Greenfield.
1863
Construction begins on Adirondack Railroad
Adirondack Railroad passed through the Town of Greenfield. Kings Station is pictured here.
1896
Greenfield Grange #807 was founded
1902-3
Graphite Mine
Graphite discovered and mill built to process the mined graphite.
1907
Middle Grove Fire
Middle Grove conflagration. About 1/3 of the hamlet burns.
1947
First Fire District
The Towns of Greenfield and Wilton form the first Fire District.
1956-63
School Consolidation
Small one-room Town of Greenfield school closed and children sent to a new “enlarged” Saratoga Springs School District. One-room Daketown School pictured here.
1970
Ground Breaking for Greenfield Elementary School
Greenfield Elementary School was part of the “enlarged” Saratoga Springs School District.
Did you know (DYK)?
- DYK that Middle Grove was once known as Jamesville?
- DYK that the site of the Stewart’s Shop in Middle Grove was once the location of a general store that served the community from 1882 until it burned in 1994?
- DYK that the Town of Greenfield was called Fairfield for a short time?
- DYK that what is now the town of Greenfield, Saratoga County, was once part of Albany County?
- DYK that gold was reputed to have been discovered in Greenfield in 1897?
- DYK that there was a thriving community called Mount Pleasant built around a glass factory about a mile north of Lake Desolation?
- DYK that a graphite mine and mill once employed about forty men just north of Coy Road in the Town of Greenfield?
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Town Hall Address
7 Wilton Road
Greenfield Center, NY 12833
Town Hall Hours
Monday – Thursday: 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Please check department pages for hours by department.
Contact Info
Mailing Address
PO Box 10
Greenfield Center, NY 12833