Schoharie County History
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Stop-over for those who drove livestock to market
What is now known as Schoharie County was organized as a town in Albany County in 1788, governed from Albany with no representation from Schoharie. This situation was not entirely satisfactory to the inhabitants of the region, and many petitions were sent to the Albany Legislature urging them to set Schoharie Town up as a separate county. About 1795, George Tiffany and Jacob Gebhard, of Schoharie Village, Jonathan Danforth of Middleburgh, William Beekman, John Rice and Calvin Rich of Seward and Sharon, petitioned the State Legislature for the formation of a separate county. Their request was granted on April 6, 1795.
At first, many came on foot following the Native American trails and marked trees. The more heavily traveled trails were the ones which seemed to cut across the area as the one from Keyser Creek to the Catskill Creek which connected the Hudson, Schoharie, Mohawk, Delaware, and Susquehanna Rivers. By 1797 more immigrants were coming into the area and roads were being improved.
With the coming of better roads more travel brought forth a new need such as an inn or a tavern. Taverns were stop-overs for the weary travelers who had been riding or walking over the uneven, rough, dust and/or snow covered roads. Many of these travelers were a “class called drovers” who drove horses, cattle, sheep, hogs, and turkeys to markets. The rate of toll for these on the Preston Hollow and the Schoharie Turnpikes were as follows: every score of sheep or hogs 5 cents; every score of cattle or horses 12 cents; horse and rider or led horse 4 cents; four wheeled carriage drawn by two horses or oxen 12 cents; additional horse and mule 2 cents; wagon drawn by one horse 6 cents; travelers must make the change. At the bottom of the sign reads “$25.00 penalty for forcibly or fraudulently passing this gate.”
These inns or taverns were usually not large buildings, some were even log cabins while others were log with framed additions, but they did have a bar, ballroom, bedrooms, kitchens, and either a dining room or eating facilities in the kitchens. On the property were pens, stables and the like for an enclosure for the horses, cattle, and other animals where they too, might feed and rest overnight. Of course liquor of one kind or another was served which was made locally or brought from another town. Several of these towns had distilleries. Later on, there were liquor dealers and the taverns or inns became less numerous, perhaps due to the fact that the Erie Canal was being used more extensively, the Great Western Turnpike was opened (now U. S. No. 20) and railroads were being built to take the traffic. The railroad built across the northern part of the country was the Albany-Susquehanna now named the Delaware and Hudson.
There was in Schoharie County one complete road called, first, he Schoharie Valley Railroad. It was built in 1867 to connect with the Delaware and Hudson at Schoharie Junction. The following year, 1868, Middleburgh wished to be a part of it so they built the Middleburgh and Schoharie. This short road was very important to the valley ad it enjoyed many years of prosperity. Hops and hay were sold to outside markets as well as lumber from the numerous mills. In one peak year, this railroad did $97,000 worth of business but, as has been said, all good things must come to an end and in September of 1937 the train made its last run. Some of the cars for this road are preserved at the Colonial Heritage Headquarters on Depot Lane, Schoharie.
Schools were started early and one was started in the village of Schoharie in 1740. Other one-room schools were prevalent in 1845 when there were twelve towns in the county comprising 181 school districts and schoolhouses in the county. From the one room schools many men and women have emerged who have had a tremendous impact on our country’s welfare, and from the seven Central Schools and one college in our county, many others of like caliber come forth and keep our county great.