Links to Websites that Document the History of Alplaus

1. Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia

Contains basic information on Alplaus. Offers a link to Kurt Vonnegut, the famous writer who lived in Alplaus in the 1940's.

Articles and Stories of Alplaus

1. Alplaus: Hamlet filled with care, pride

Times Union 1.29.2006

Photos of Alplaus Past

Rosman House, 342 Alplaus Avenue, 1960

Carl M. & Edith Winnie Haverly built the Rosman house in 1917 with land purchased from Lansing Deforest.  The property was part of the land development from the old Deforest farm that covered much of Alplaus on southeast section of the hill in the early 20^th century.  The home originally was a two-bedroom bungalow with a living with fireplace, dining, kitchen, storage and bathroom.  Also attached were enclosed front & rear porches.  On the property were a small two-car garage & a chicken coop.

Carl & Edith had no children.  Carl was a machinist by trade and worked for GE.  Both passed away in 1939/1940 & the executor of their will sold the house to the Pennoyer family in 1940.  Robert Pennoyer worked for GE & soon was transferred to Syracuse in 1943 with his wife & 2 daughters.

The Christiana family with 2 children purchased the home in 1943 and was Alplaus residents for 11 years.  Garth Christiana also worked for GE & was transferred to Illinois in 1954.

Here is the lead to the bridge spanning the Mohawk River. This photo was taken on 9/14/40. www.ginosrailpage.com/ SRC/SRC.jpg

Here is a photo taken in the 1930s of a yearly Clambake that the Alplaus Methodist Church use to put on every year to help raise funds for the Church. The Photo was sent by Charles Foot. Charles' father, Benjamin, was one of the founders of the Alplaus Methodist Church and was the superintendent of the Sunday School for 18 years

This is at the north end of Bruce Dr & Glenridge Rd.

www.ginosrailpage.com/ SRC/SRC.jpg 

(Special Thanks to Cliff Hayes)

Mohawk River Trestle This photo was taken on 9/14/40. www.ginosrailpage.com/ SRC/SRC.jpg

According to the "History of Firefighting and the Alplaus Fire Department" by Elmer Pfaffenbach, 1963: This tree, located at the southeast corner of the Firehouse, was planted by the Alplaus Boy Scouts, Troop 36 on April 13, 1933. It was grown from a nut picked up at Mount Vernon, Virginia, George Washington's home.

This lovely bit of stonework is Maureen Taylor's effort to beautify a bit of Alplaus History. She converted a brushy pile of rocks near her home at 144 Maple Avenue into a rock garden.

It was built as a Fire Cistern in the 1930's by the Fire Department to provide a water supply for that section of Maple Avenue. It had a capacity of around 10,000 gallons and was kept filled by the members from the stream at Alplaus and Maple Avenue. It was a regular duty to check the level of water here.

Contributed by Bob Culver "Hometown News October 2001"

I had the pleasant opportunity to talk to Jim Cheney in Schenectady the day after Easter when he was visiting the area for the holidays. Jim grew up in Alplaus during the 30's & 40's and his parents operated a gas station, ice cream, candy store & "meditation room" where the Rick & Cherrie Vedder now reside.

Jim had a remarkable career with GE as being on a team that invented the man-made diamond for commercial & industrial use. Part of the team was Tony Nerad & Dr. Francis Bundy, both former residents of Alplaus. He told of the story that during the investigation and being close to expiring all research time and monies, one of the scientists directed Jim to a previous used container of compound stored in the laboratory to be applied in a different method & "wa-la"; the result was history. Jim followed the new GE product line to the Ohio plant that enhanced his career with GE.

Of the Alplaus stories he told, the famous one of author Kurt Vonnegut using a private room above Cheney's store to do some of his book writings, simply to get away from family distractions at Kurt's home on Hill St.

Another story was of his & my father practically rewiring the complete house that stands on 1 Mohawk Avenue when the Cheney's moved from 226 Alplaus Avenue. Furthermore, when the Cheney's moved into the house with the store; rewiring was a necessity. Both our fathers worked for NY Power & Light (Niagara Mohawk).

Jim has an older brother, Sam who lives in Rockport, MA & has 6 children and a younger sister, Mary Lou, who lives in Rockford, IL & also has 6 children. Jim has 3 children and resides in Worthington, OH.

Contributed by Cliff Hayes "Hometown News May 2004"

The sign in front of the Firehouse, was made possible through the efforts of the Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary and donations in memory of Greg Isles, Jr., a Fire Company member who passed away unexpectedly last year.

It was designed and installed by Olsen Sign Co. of Scotia. Pat Beaver is the "custodian of the messages". This replaces the sign built by Bill Vedder several years ago which has served us very well and now goes to well earned retirement.

Burrell formally resided at 10 Mohawk Ave. 

  Please Click on Picture to enlarge for quality detail.

    Please Click on Picture to enlarge for quality detail.

Charles Foote and Family
Charles Foote is 82 years old and is currently living in Palm Desert, California in a Senior Community with his wife of 48 years.He and his three 3 brothers ( 2 still living) were  born and brought up in Alplaus on Mohawk Ave., where South Street ( not there when he lived there) comes into Mohawk Ave.

Charles went off to W.W.II in 1943 and after that never returned to Alplaus to live. His parents spent their final years in the Embury Apartments (a Senior Community) in Saratoga.

They were very active in the Alplaus Methodist Churchand were founders along with a family of Days that lived in a house right across from the church. The church for years was just a basement and then the upper structure was built in the height of the depression. Quite an undertaking.

Charles still follows the happenings of Alplaus by reading the Hometown News that is published monthly.

Margaret Moss Ellis

                By Cliff Hayes

During a visit to the Glenville History Center, a picture of the class of 1920 from the Alplaus School had been a recent acquisition from the Ellis family.  The picture was taken in the front of the building with the full class in attendance, about 90 students.  A copy was obtained for the AHS & some research began.

First, was a review of the 1920 federal census determining the names of children of grade school age in the Alplaus area.  With the help of Emma Speidel, her brother-in-law was a name that appeared on the census, she identified Stanley Speidel & also Margaret Moss from the picture.  Margaret is a resident of Baptist Health & Rehabilitation Center. 

Visiting Margaret was an enjoyable experience; since at age 98 years young with a beaming smile & positive outlook, one could tell she has had a bright full life.  Margaret has a few medical problems, but as she points out, “I’m harmless” being also very witty.  She has a brilliant mind & was eager to talk about the old days of Alplaus.

Her parents raised Margaret in Alplaus, Frank & Winifred Moss who came to Alplaus in 1908.  They first lived on Mohawk Av (Peterson’s home) & later to Hill St (Miller’s home).  She attended Scotia high school via the trolley system & completed the Ellis nursing program.  Margaret married her high school classmate, Harry Ellis, had 3 children & resided in Scotia.

About Alplaus, she remembers when the school was renovated to 2 levels with the enhancement of inside plumbing.  With 4 classrooms only 2 grades per room instead of 4 grades per room became a reality.  Mrs. Shilling was a teacher & leader of the Campfire girls, precursor to the Girl Scouts.  Members of the Campfire girls were required to fabricate their own uniform & held meetings during the summer at the Alplaus creek, in the wooded area behind the Yates mansion & at Lake George.

(Continued on next column)

Please Click on Picture to enlarge for quality detail.

Transcribed from the Schenectady Gazette Oct 27, 1930, pg. 7

New Church Is Dedicated At Alplaus

Over 200 Attend Ceremonies in Methodist Structure, Unusual in Design

ALPLAUS, Oct. 26 (Special)—Two hundred persons this afternoon crowded the auditorium of the United Methodist Church here as the new structure, a departure from the erstwhile Puritanical architecture of Methodism, was dedicated.

Dr. C. E. Torrance, superintendent of the Albany district of the church, gave the dedication address and praised the spirit of the builders who in six months had transformed the 15-year-old roofed basement structure housing 180 valued at $25,000.

“The Methodist Church of America through its board of architects at Philadelphia is getting away from the old type of Methodist Church as rapidly as possible.  A special stress is being placed on the beauty of the architecture.  The Union Church is the first of its kind in the Troy Conference, “according to Dr. Torrance.

The new church, somewhat conforming, to Church of England type, has an open altar with pulpit to the left and lectern on the right.  A communion table is at the rear and communion services will be held there.  The choir is at the rear of the altar to the right, facing the organ instead of the congregation.

Five Sunday school rooms have been added in the new building.  The 1915 basement has been renovated.  The church, however, is built on this foundation with the exception of an el of 19 feet, and the tower.  Dr. Albert M. Conover, chairman of the board of architects of the Methodist Church, advised regarding plans.

Methodist services were first conducted here in a battered schoolhouse built on the site of the present structure.  Shortly before the opening of the world war, the cry for a new church became dominant.  Construction was begun.  A basement had been completed when the United States entered the war.

A roof was placed above the basement and services of worship were held there.  Then construction work came to a standstill.  Gradually, however, the village of Alplaus grew, and with it the church congregation.  In the fall of 1929, the first really definite move towards adding the superstructure was made.  A publicity campaign was opened and a drive for funds inaugurated.  Building operations began, for a second time, in April 1930.

Rev. G. H. C. Bain, now retired, of Round Lake and known as the “father of the Alplaus Church” was one of the guests of honor this afternoon.  Through the efforts of Rev. Bain, almost three decades ago, a church society was formed here, with a charter membership of 12.  He was pastor of the Rexford and Grooms churches at the time.

Rev. Fred Clarke has been pastor of the Union Methodist Church since April.  There is a congregation of 120 at present.  More than half the cost of construction for the new building has been paid off.  Special gifts of residents and the construction of memorials have been a great aid to the financial committee, the pastor stated.

The first service in the new auditorium was held this morning at 11 o’clock with Dr. Torrance delivering the sermon.  The dedication service proper was held at 2:30 o’clock with this address also by Dr. Torrance.

The building committee for the structure consisted of W.J.Day, Marvin R. DuBois, John H. Gurry, William A. Van Vranken, Charles Dickson, Emmett Lockrow.  The present members of the board of trustees are W. J. Day, Marvin R. DuBois and John H. Gurry.  Rev. T. M. Bishop of Troy, pastor of the Alplaus church between 1920-1924, was another guest of honor at the dedication.

HISTORICAL PLAQUE AND TIME CAPSULE

This project, sponsored by the Alplaus Fire Department is a 2 X 3 foot cast iron plaque depicting the history of Alplaus. Six scenes depict the various time periods of interest.

(1)        2700 B.C. — Ulu Knife

From the Laurentian culture, this semilunar shaped knife resembled the kitchen chopping knife of our grandparents. A very good specimen of greenish slate was found at the rear of the Alplaus Methodist Church.

(2)        1600 A.D. — Algonkian a Mohawk Indians

The Mohawk Indians as well as their predessors the Algonkians used the area primarily for hunting and fishing. The Algonkians are thought to have made large canoes along the Alplaus before the 1600 date but no specific date has ever been determined.

(3)        1700 A.D. — Early Settlers

One of the earliest settlers in the Alplaus area was Jonathan Stevens whose first home was at the foot of the hill, opposite the National Guard hangar on Alplaus Road.

(4)        1902 — 1941 —  Trolley

The coming of the trolley in 1902 marked the end of the farming era and the beginning of the bedroom community that is now Alplaus.

           (5)      1913 — Methodist Church

What started as a Sunday School in a school house was to become a church organization with six charter members signing the roll. Over the years, from this beginning, the membership has grown to over 200 members

            (6)      1930 — Alplaus Volunteer Fire Co. #1, Inc.

The Company was organized in 1930 and the initial build­ing was built in 1931. The second bay was added in 1949.

           Created by the Bicentennial committee 1976

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