Local History

 

 

Although their are many stories about how Castleton got its name, the strongest evidence for the community's name seems to support the fact that their was an Iroquois "castle" that stood on what is now Castle Hill.   The village was called simply Castleton, New York. George Washington and Abraham Lincoln both visited this fair community.  This was also the home of major rebel activity during the Revolutionary War against British-controlled Albany.  One of the houses on Main Street still has the trap door that opens to a secret tunnel leading out to the Hudson River.  It has been rumored that this same tunnel helped runaway slaves escape to Canada later as part of the underground railroad. In the summer of 1928, the residents of Castleton, during a town festival, took a vote on whether to change the name to Castleton-On-Hudson.  The residents voted to change the name for a variety of reasons including, it seems, a need to stop misdirecting mail to nearby Castleton, Vermont. 

The village of Castleton-On-Hudson started out as a shipping community.  In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Castleton was used primarily for a shipping port for ice .  Transportation for goods led later to a paper and metal factory opening up in town in the following years to complement the trains that were now running along Main Street.  Fort Orange Paper Company employed local residents to make and fold boxes for a variety of other companies including Tetley's Tea, JP Coats Thread, Lifebuoy Soap and Chicklets Gum.  The Anti-Corrosive Metal Products Company, built on the site of a previous amusement park called Sunnyside, produced stainless steel metal fastenings.

Once a thriving downtown area, the paper goods and manufacturing businesses began to dry up in the wake of a changing economy.  Today, there are a few struggling businesses near the once elegant strip.  Most recently a great deal of work by those businesses, some community members and all local taxpayers have combined in turning out a massive revitalization project.  Grant money from the state was freed up in an effort to encourage and sustain this development.  Geographically there remains a clear divide between the economic means of those that top of the hill and those that live at the bottom.  Most of the population of Castleton-On-Hudson lives up the hill from the downtown area in residential neighborhoods, upscale houses, or on farms.  Route 9, East Greenbush, Kinderhook, North Greenbush and the Albany area currently service most of the consumer needs of the population of the town.

St. Paul's United Methodist Church is largely a result of its own history.  Together with the Reform church, St. Paul's helped to establish this community.  In 1836 a Methodist society of about 30 people met under the pastorate of Rev. Joshua Poor.  Services were conducted in members' homes initially as Castleton was part of the Chatham Methodist Mission Circuit.  In 1838 the first church was erected on 81 Main Street where it served its congregation for 70 years.  Then in 1907 the old building was finally demolished and a new edifice was constructed.  Ultimately, it was declining attendance, a fire, and limited parking that led to the decision to move up the hill and build a new church in 1982 on Carney Road.  Construction of the new sanctuary was completed and the bell from previous church building was installed in 1986.  Recent improvements to the new church occurred when a new modern dome-shaped sanctuary completed construction in 1992.

 

20th century pictures of Castleton-On-Hudson, NY