History of the Town and Village

Rensselaerville township is composed of the hamlets of Rensselaerville, Medusa, Preston Hollow, Potter Hollow, Cooksburg and Smiths Corners in the southwest corner of Albany County. Owned from 1629 by the Dutch patroons Van Rensselaer and part of the huge Manor of Rensselaerwyck, the area was so inaccessible that it was not settled until the late 1700’s.

Shortly after the Revolutionary War, Stephen Van Rensselaer III advertised "free" tracts of land of 160 acres to anyone who would develop the land. (After seven years farmers had to pay an annual rent of four fat fowls, 18 bushels of wheat and a day’s service. The rents were perpetual and binding on subsequent purchasers of the land and the patroon reserved mineral and water rights. These "incomplete sales" led to the Anti-Rent Rebellion 1839-1889, which influenced the wording of the Federal Homestead Act of 1862 and opened up the west to settlement.)

Many war veterans took advantage of Van Rensselaer’s offer, coming mostly from Massachusetts, Connecticut and eastern Long Island by boat up the Hudson River.

The first settlers were farmers. Soon mills were established along waterways to grind grain, provide lumber, and process wool for clothing. Abundant water power and dense hemlock forests in the area made milling and leather tanning important industries. General stores, inns, creameries, blacksmith shops and other support businesses naturally followed.

Throughout the first half of the 1800’s the town grew and prospered. Then the forest resources began to dwindle, and rail and water transportation for goods bypassed the area. Industry moved closer to less expensive means of transportation. Further, as forests were cut, the land lost its ability to retain rainfall, causing a severe drop in the watershed. One by one, the water-dependent mills went out of business. Little economic activity remained in the once-bustling hamlets. As others left our rocky hills for better opportunities in the newly opened west, a few hardy farmers stayed on. Today Rensselaerville is mostly residential, with an interesting blend of retirees, young professionals, and descendants of early settlers.

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