Guilderland Center, New York

History

Guilderland Center includes the factories established at French's Mills, the first of these was built in 1795 by Peter Broeck. The name French's Mills (also referred to as French's Hollow) comes from Abel French who established a mill of his own here in 1800. French's Hollow and the mills were mostly destroyed when the Black Creek was dammed for the creation of the Watervliet Reservoir in 1916. Abel French's Mill was razed and became the site of the pumping station. Guilderland Center was originally called by the locals Bang-all, in reference to ill effects and reputation that rum, horse racing, and the rough manners of the place brought. Around 1803 when the town of Guilderland was formed from Watervliet the name Guilderland Center began to come into fashion, the post office when established also took the name Guilderland Center. By 1866 the hamlet had a population of 450. In 1860 District Number 6 Cobblestone School was built in Guilderland Center, and though the building has not been used as such since 1941 but is still owned by the Guilderland Central School District. The school building is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

As a hamlet the borders of Guilderland Center are indeterminate. Generally Guilderland Center is along New York Route 146 from Van Buren Boulevard west to Hurst Road, and includes adjacent areas along School Road (Albany County Route 201) and Depot Road (Albany County Route 202) to their common intersection; and the length of Hurst and French Mill roads. Guilderland Center lies to the south of the Watervliet Reservoir along the Black Creek.

Important locations