"Settlers and Homesteads of Brainardsville: A Tale of Industry and Enterprise"
by James Morrison, based on "Early Brainardsville History", by Oscar F. Chase
In Vermont they settled, my kin of old
Then westward they migrated, their story told
Bangor in New York, where they did reside
In eighteen thirty, with family by their side
In eighteen thirty-seven, I was born
In Bangor, where I drew my first breath at dawn
In eighteen forty-three, we moved away
To East Bellmont, where we planned to stay
Stopping at my sister's, the farm now owned
By James Wright, where her log house was honed
Then we moved north to Chateaugay's dense woods
Where our neighbors were scarce, our hopes understood
Amid the woods and the wilds we built anew
With every hand helping, our spirits grew
The days spent there, were as happy as can be
In my memory, they remain dear to me
Through the experience of my father and peers
A school district formed, to lessen our fears
The first schoolhouse built on Jacob Kennison's land
Abram his son, our first teacher, in command
Miss Eliza Merrill taught our first class
Followed by Miss Olive Miles, with great pizzazz
Miss Lestina Merrill, another on the list
And S. F. Storrs, who we never missed
When a sawmill was built, people began to drift
The joint school district discontinued, spirits lift
A new school house built, at Brainardsville it stood
In eighteen fifty-four, it was made good
Calvin Pike was the first to teach
Later, S. F. Storrs, with fame to reach
Over sixty terms, he taught with skill
Many outsiders came, his lessons to fill
The pioneers who settled here were brave and strong,
From far and wide they came, their hearts in song.
The Lamsons and Kennisons, great choppers all,
Cleared many a farm, but soon heeded the call.
Wild beasts roamed free, bears and lynx and deer,
Wolf howls and panther screams oft filled the air.
But woodsmen with their axes made it clear,
That the big game would no longer be found there.
Thomas Harran, a great trapper, caught the bear,
His son George built a sawmill, progress in the air.
The first known built by Ira Emerson, block house grand,
Intended for a tavern, but served as a dwelling land.
The first sawmill on the river, Chamberlain's name,
Meigs & Weed built the dam, progress to claim.
A. H. Miller, of Malone, then took the lead,
Lumbering and milling, a prosperous deed.
Fish & Van Allen of Albany bought it in '54,
Remodeled the mill, "Yankee gong" to explore.
James Coates ran the mill, they did large business,
Brainard of St. Albans took the reins, success a witness.
He built a grist mill, durable and lasting,
G. L. Havens his local agent, the future forecasting.
Havens bought the property, a stirring and influential man,
A large mercantile business, farming, and lumbering his plan.
About 1877, the mill sold to a new firm, Popeville to name,
Havens moved to Colorado, the past never the same.
The first post office, Chateaugay Lake, Smith Payne the master,
Later moved to Brainard's store, the name to Brainardsville alter.
The history of Chateaugay Lake, rich and grand,
Pioneers and progress, the land to command.
Wild beasts and woodsmen, progress and change,
The future to hold, the past to arrange.
Amid the permanent settlers, a name doth shine,
Cyrus Merrill, son of Paul, the prime,
Purchased a vast tract of hardwood land,
Maple sugar made, chief sugar maker, grand.
From 1,500 to 2,000 trees, he did tap,
Farming it, teaching school, there's no gap,
For forty winters he taught with care,
In wisdom and knowledge, many did share.
Benjamin Pratt, an early settler of the land,
A son he had, Harvey Pratt, quite grand,
A large tract of land he did acquire,
Building sturdy frames, with heart on fire.
His father and mother both here did rest,
And Harvey followed, putting them to best.
Four farms emerged from the land in sale,
Now Thomas Baker occupies, without fail.
Benniah Huntey, too, came here to rest,
Early in our history, he was blessed,
With a farm adjoining the Pratt homestead,
An industrious man, his toil and sweat.
In the sixties, his wife died in sorrow,
To Beekmantown, he left for tomorrow.
His farm he sold to V. S. Huntey's hand,
An onward journey, an unplanned.
Very early in our history, Alonson Roberts' fame,
Owned real estate, Chateaugay, his claim to name,
Ashery he built, 1850 was the year,
On the brook, Antoine Cromp was sent to hear.
Canadian Cromp made salt for Roberts' boon,
Lived in a log house, cornered, a boon.
After the ashery's closure, Cromp did stay,
Horse trader, he became well known in the way.
Outsiders began to call this place Crompville,
From ashery to horse trade, it's the thrill.
The post office known as Brainardsville,
The other seldom referred to, it's not a thrill.
Burning timber into ashes, the way to make,
Salt for French Mills, trade to partake.
If these words deserve a place in county history,
My heart shall sing with joy, it's no mystery.
James Morrison
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Beer Events 7.27
Events
1st beer tax in America imposed by Governor Krieft of New Amsterdam (1649)
Edwin Brainard patented an Improved Method of Preserving the Aromatic Principle of Hops (1869)
Mott Gilette and Leaoh King patented a Tap Valve and Tap Valve Faucet (1886)
U.S. Government established a tariff on imported bottled beer (1897)
Ground broken for Central Brewing (Illinois; 1901)
Emil Horst patented a Stem Picker (1920)
Jan De Swart patented a Process of Capping Bottles (1942)
Richard Cornelius patented a Beverage Dispensing Apparatis (1943)
Miller Brewing patented Boxes with a Single Pair of Closure Flaps (1965)
Thomas Evans and Charlie Soules patented a Hop Picking Machine (1971)
Animal House premiered (1978)
Brewery Openings
Palmer Lake Brewing (Colorado; 1995)
Stewart's Brewing (Delaware; 1995)
Buckhout Brewing (New York; 1996)
Rocky River Brewing (Ohio; 1998)
Hop Oast Pub & Brewery (California; 2018)
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