Mariaville
The hamlet of Mariaville located at the outlet end of
beautiful Mariaville Lake, was one of the later portions of the town
to be settled. Nevertheless, it was destined to become industrial
center of Duanesburg. In its heyday, Mariaville could boast of two
grist mills, three sawmills, one capable of making finished molding, a
handle factory, a trip hammer for making axe heads and a cheese
factory. It also had a wagon shop for making wagons and paint shop
which not only painted the wagons built at the wagon shop, but also
made the paints that were used.
One of the grist mills at Mariaville became very famous for making
buckwheat flour for pancake batter. Do you suppose that's where Batter
street got its name? Likewise, the cider mill at Mariaville not only
made sweet cider but also became known for making "Squire
Walpoles Crab Apple Wine" (hard cider).
Just west of Mariaville on Batter Street was a very successful
tannery which operated in the early 1800's. Also, downstream from
Mariaville was another grist mill. According to Clarence Foote's book
"footprints in Duanesburg and the Schoharie Valley" this
grist mill operated by James Chatham Duane, James Duane's son, was the
earliest grist mill in the town of Duanesburg. Also, at this location
was a building that was a sawmill downstairs and a carding and fulling
mill upstairs. It later became a knitting mill.
In wintertime, ice was cut on spring fed Mariaville Lake, an
occupation which lasted well into the 1930s.
Mariaville can also boast of having the pioneer rural telephone company in
Schenectady County. It was "the Mariaville and South Schenectady Telephone
Company". The biggest thing about it was its name.
Bill Massoth
