Schoharie Valley
Encyclopedia
The Schoharie Valley is a corridor that runs through Schoharie County from Schoharie, New York
until Gilboa, New York
.
. Within the Schoharie Valley are the locations of Middleburgh
, Schoharie
, Fultonham, Breakabeen and Bouck's Island
. Vroman's Nose
is prominently displayed on the edge of the Valley.
The Valley is cut in the middle by NYS Route 30.
The Schoharie Valley was famous for its role in the American Revolution
. Battles in the Valley included those in Breakabeen, at the Old Stone Fort
, and the Battle of the Lower Fort. The Valley was ransacked by Tories and loyal Indian forces during the latter portion of the war.
The Schoharie Valley's main fortress, the Old Stone Fort was used as an armory during the American Civil War
.
The valley was once served by the Schoharie Valley Railroad and the Middleburgh-Schoharie Railroad
.
.
Schoharie, New York
Schoharie, New York may refer to:*Schoharie County, New York*Schoharie , New York, located in Schoharie County*Schoharie , New York, located within the Town of Schoharie...
until Gilboa, New York
Gilboa, New York
Gilboa is a town in Schoharie County, New York, United States. The population was 1,215 at the 2000 census.The Town of Gilboa is in the south part of the county and is southwest of Albany.- History :The town was first settled around 1760....
.
Geography
The Schoharie Valley is made up of plains surrounding the Schoharie CreekSchoharie Creek
Schoharie Creek in New York, USA flows north from the foot of Indian Head Mountain in the Catskill Mountains through the Schoharie Valley to the Mohawk River. It is twice impounded north of Prattsville to create New York City's Schoharie Reservoir and the Blenheim-Gilboa Power Project.Two notable...
. Within the Schoharie Valley are the locations of Middleburgh
Middleburgh
Middleburgh may refer to some places in the United States:* Middleburgh , New York in Schoharie County** Middleburgh , New York, within the town of MiddleburghSee also*Middleburg...
, Schoharie
Schoharie
Schoharie may refer to:*Schoharie County, New York, USA**Schoharie , New York, in the above county***Schoharie , New York, in the above town*Schoharie Creek, a stream in upstate New York, USA**Schoharie Valley, surrounding the above creek...
, Fultonham, Breakabeen and Bouck's Island
Bouck's Island
Bouck's Island is a farm near Breakabeen, New York within the town of Fulton, Schoharie County, New York near Fultonham, New York. Bouck's Island was the home of former New York governor William C. Bouck...
. Vroman's Nose
Vroman's Nose
Vroman's Nose is a prominent geological feature in the town of Fulton , in Schoharie County, New York, United States. It is among the more popular hiking sites in upstate New York and is of significant historical note.-Founding and Naming:...
is prominently displayed on the edge of the Valley.
The Valley is cut in the middle by NYS Route 30.
History
The Schoharie Valley was colonized by the British in the early eighteenth century. However, the majority of the settlers were Dutch or Palatines.The Schoharie Valley was famous for its role in the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. Battles in the Valley included those in Breakabeen, at the Old Stone Fort
Old Stone Fort (Schoharie, NY)
Located in the village of Schoharie, Schoharie County New York, the Old Stone Fort was originally built as a Reformed Dutch Church in 1772. With the coming of the American Revolutionary War, the church was enclosed by a log stockade in 1777....
, and the Battle of the Lower Fort. The Valley was ransacked by Tories and loyal Indian forces during the latter portion of the war.
The Schoharie Valley's main fortress, the Old Stone Fort was used as an armory during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
The valley was once served by the Schoharie Valley Railroad and the Middleburgh-Schoharie Railroad
Middleburgh-Schoharie Railroad
The Middleburgh and Schoharie Railroad was a railroad in the U.S. state of New York.- Beginning :The Middleburgh and Schoharie Railroad was founded in 1867. The first Chairman of the railroad was Jacob Vroman and S.L. Mayham was named Secretary....
.
Economy
Today, the prime industry of the Schoharie Valley is farming. The NYS Power Authority also has a hydroelectric power plant in North Blenheim and Gilboa, New York. There is also some tourism, primarily to the Old Stone Fort, Vroman's Nose, and the Old Blenheim BridgeOld Blenheim Bridge
Old Blenheim Bridge was a wooden covered bridge that spanned Schoharie Creek in North Blenheim, New York. With an open span of , it had the longest span of any surviving covered bridge in the world; although the structure's total length, made it second in that respect to the Bridgeport Covered Bridge...
.
Notable residents
- Timothy Murphy, Revolutionary War Hero.
- William C. BouckWilliam C. BouckWilliam Christian Bouck was an American politician from New York. He was the 13th Governor of New York from 1843 to 1844.-Life:...
, New York Governor. - Gabriel BouckGabriel BouckGabriel Bouck was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Wisconsin. He also served in the Wisconsin State Assembly and as the state's attorney general.-Early years:...
, Wisconsin Congressman. - Joseph BouckJoseph BouckJoseph Bouck was a U.S. Representative from New York, brother of William C. Bouck, and uncle of Gabriel Bouck.Born on Bouck's Island, near Fultonham, New York, Bouck attended the rural schools of his native county....
, New York Congressman. - John McGiverJohn McGiverJohn Irwin McGiver was a character actor who made more than a hundred appearances in television and motion pictures over a two-decade span from 1955 to 1975....
, actor. - Nicole SullivanNicole SullivanNicole Julianne Sullivan is an American actress, comedian and voice artist. Sullivan is best known for her six seasons on the sketch comedy series MADtv and five seasons on the CBS sitcom The King of Queens.She has played a recurring character on Scrubs and voices the villainous Shego in...
, actress.