Industrial Growth

The natural features of the Hudson River, especially its falls, are largely responsible for the region's industrial development. In 1765, Albert Baker settled along this part of the river and created the area's first water-powered mill. Iron foundries, a blast furnace. And several paper, saw, and grist mills were established along the river in the mid 1800-s. The construction of the Champlain Canal in 1823 and the Glen Falls Feeder Canal in 1833 allowed materials to be shipped in and out of the region with ease.
Logging and mining became significant industries in the region. Logging efforts in the Adirondacks helped contribute to the region's prominent papermaking industry. The Glen Falls Feeder Canal transported goods such as Kingsbury Bluestone, which was used in several well-known architectural structures such as the Bennington Battle Monument, the Saratoga Monument, and the Brooklyn Bridge.
The region is also renowned for its production of Fort Edward stoneware. Many local companies produced this unique type of pottery from the 1850's to the 1940's. Fort Edward stoneware often featured cobalt-colored exterior with a brown-glazed interior, now considered to be attractive collector items.
Railroad passenger transportation began in 1848 with the Rensselaer and Saratoga Railroad, and this brought several



hotels to Fort Edwards. By 1851, freight transportation was allowed on the line, which further supplemented the region's blooming industry. Ownership of the railway went though many hands, but it eventually became known as the Delaware & Hudson Railroad in 1870. Today the line owned by Canadian Pacific Railroad, with the Fort Edward station still serving Amtrak passengers in two lines from New York to Montreal.

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The Hudson River at Fort Edward, NY
Jane McCrea
The Hudson River at Fort Edward
Rogers Island - Fort Edward, NY
The Hudson River at Fort Edward, NY
Rogers Island - Fort Edward, NY
The Hudson River at Fort Edward
Fort Edward War Memorial, a War Memorial
Rogers Island — Fort Edward, NY
The Island

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