Should you climb or drive the humble dirt path behind the Fort Plain Museum to the hilltop, you will be captivated and fascinated by the grounds. Despite the absences of preserved structures or grand monuments, there is plenty to discover.
Look down and be careful not to stumble into trenches carved more than 240 years ago by America’s earliest citizens. Look out from the vista to see where the Mohawk River and Otsquago Creek meet. These were critical tributaries to protect military forces at the time and a beautiful sight to take in today.
It’s the places and moments like these that make Montgomery County one of the premier American historical experiences in the country. The 75 acres of discovery that make up the Fort Plain Museum & Historical Park are a great gateway into the American Revolution and Colonial era that defined this region known as Mohawk Country.
Fort Plain, after all, carved its name in early American history as a supply depot for military operations that ultimately made the Revolutionary War winnable and a young country prosperous.
July 4th, 1776, was the founding of the nation and at the founding, this was the big frontier. The path through the Mohawk Valley was the only way to get to the interior of the country. And so, this small corner of Montgomery County became a critical outpost in the war efforts. There are five other notable Colonial sites within three miles of Fort Plain, each with their own stories.
The names of George Washington and Benedict Arnold are sprinkled into the tales of Mohawk County, as are a litany of lesser-knowns who are no less interesting. In nearby Canajoharie, the Van Alstyne Homestead was an unofficial headquarters for political and military leaders of the day, who commissioned Nicholas Herkimer as the first colonel of the Tryon (modern-day Montgomery) County Militia. That group was an essential force in early Revolutionary War battles to the west.
Montgomery County itself is home to two important battlefields at Klock’s Field and Stone Arabia. Burned to the ground by the British during a series of destructive raids in 1780, the Stone Arabia Dutch Church was rebuilt in 1788 and has remained virtually untouched since. Its historic charm spans all of early American history, as a 13-star flag that dates back to before the Civil War still hangs there.
Another historic site at Fort Klock, a National Historic Landmark in St. Johnsville, comes with its own significance. It was not far from the last clash between Patriots and the British during an aggressive push through the Mohawk Valley during 1780. Today the fortified homestead built by a prominent Palatine German immigrant of the day is a living history attraction. The 30 acres that make up Fort Klock include a restored Dutch barn, blacksmith’s house and 19th-century schoolhouse that seasonally entertain history buffs and families alike.
Reenactments are a big part of the travel experience through these six sites with each hosting at least one annual event. The Palatine Church, spared during the 1780 raids by request of its British Loyalist resident, also has a place in more recent history. It was the fictional site of the wedding of Gilbert and Lana Martin in the popular novel and 1939 film Drums Along the Mohawk. The wedding reenactment at Palatine Church was held on two occasions with a re-created reception at the 1747 Nellis Tavern in St. Johnsville. Christopher Nellis owned the tavern. His relative, Henry Nellis, was a Loyalist and fled to Canada. The tavern is located on farmland where Fort Nellis is.
Today, the completely restored structure included on the National Register of Historic Places is open for viewing and tours seasonally. Your weekend or even day itinerary could easily include all six locations strung together along the beautiful backroads of Montgomery County.
On the Underground Railroad
When you think of the Underground Railroad, legendary figures such as Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, Gerrit Smith and John Brown come to mind. But did you know that Montgomery County families like the Clizbes, Hagamans, Swarthouts, Hartleys, Voorhees and Freys were involved in the movement as well?
The whole movement consisted of not only the physical transport of freedom seekers, but also the participation in the anti-slavery conventions, church rallies and financial assistance that were prevalent here in Montgomery County from the early 1800s through the end of the Civil War. Many local African American families such as the Hokes, Jacksons, Bloods, Wilsons and McKinneys were part of the story as well through their ancestral ties to slavery. Montgomery County’s Department of History and Archives is now listed as an Underground Railroad research facility on the National Park Services’s Network to Freedom.
Dig a Little Deeper Into Our Rich History
Select a link below!
Historical Attractions
1747 Nellis Tavern
State Route 5, 1 mile east of St. JohnsvilleAmes Museum
611 Latimer Hill Road, Ames NYCharleston Historical Society
Polin Road west of St. Hwy 30 A, CharlestonCycling the Erie Canal -A Path Through History on Travelstorys App
Department of History and Archives
Old Courthouse in Fonda, 9 Park St.Erie Canal Lock 33
Dump Road, MindenFirst Baptist Church
Polin Road, CharlestonFort Klock Historic Restoration
7203 State Route 5, St. JohnsvilleFort Plain Museum
389 Canal St. (Route 5S), Fort PlainGlen Historic District
NY 30A, NY 161 and Logtown Road, GlenGreen Hill Cemetery
Church and Cornell, AmsterdamHistoric West Hill School
3 Otsego Street, CanajoharieIsaac Paris House
Fort PlainLittle Red Schoolhouse
Cemetery Street, FondaMohawk Valley Path Thru History
Mohawk Valley Welcome Center
Milepost 187 Westbound, I-90 RandallNational Shrine of Kateri Tekakwitha
3628 St Hwy 5, FondaNelliston Historic District
Prospect, River, Railroad and Berthoud streets, NellistonOld Fort Johnson
Junction of Route 5 and Route 67 in Fort Johnson, NY, about 1 mile west of Amsterdam, NYOld Grist Mill
1679 Mill Road Saint Johnsville, NY 13452-3911Old Palatine Church
East of Palatine Bridge on NY 5, NellistonPalatine Bridge Freight House
East of Palatine Bridge on NY 5Pawling Hall
86 Pawling Street, HagamanPrivate Homes on the National Register of Historic Places
School Street, NellistonSaint Johnsville Community House
16 Washington St., St. JohnsvilleSaint Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church
42, 46, 50 Cornell Street; 73 Reid Street, AmsterdamSamuel Sweet Canal Store
65 Bridge Street, AmsterdamShrine of Our Lady of Martyrs
136 Shrine Rd., Fultonville (Auriesville) 12072Soldiers and Sailors Park
East Main StreetSt. Johnsville, NY 13452