The Town of Colonie has long been a transportation corridor. Native Americans established well-traveled North-South and East-West trails through the present-day boundaries of the Town. There were several locations along the Mohawk that were easy crossing points and, according to local historians, a Native American Settlement was once located on what is now called “Shaker Creek.”
As Europeans moved into the area the land became part of the extensive holdings of the VanRensselaerwick Manor, under a medieval system of land ownership. While eighteenth century Dutch traders made use of the Hudson River, Dutch farmers (and later, English immigrants) utilized the fertile lands along the rivers to grow wheat and other grains. Colonie was part of the great North-South war route through which armies marched to battle during the French & Indian Wars and the American Revolution.
As the American Revolution peaked in intensity, a group of utopian visionaries, most commonly known as the Shakers, settled in the area. First leasing the land from the Van Rensselaers, they eventually also became large land holders. This celibate, communal religious order originated in Manchester, England and was led by a woman named Ann Lee. Regarded with suspicion when they first arrived, they suffered years of persecution before establishing 21 communities throughout the United States. They became famous for their honesty, business acumen, and the quality of the many goods they sold to others. The Shakers owned a large portion of the land along the Mohawk River in Colonie and used the area to grow broom corn, which they used to make their famous flat broom (possibly a Shaker invention). By the end of the 19th century the Shakers declined due to the availability of government run orphanages, increasing employment options for women and a decreasing interest in spirituality. Ann Lee is buried in the Shaker cemetery next to the Albany airport, which was built on Shaker land after Albany County purchased the land in 1926. Today, the County owns several Shaker buildings, including the architecturally significant 1848 Meeting House which houses the offices and programs of the Shaker Heritage Society. A number of additional extant Shaker structures are privately owned.
The famous Erie and Champlain Canals were dug along the borders of Colonie. After their opening in 1825, a new, historically significant route to the west became accessible. The canal was used for freight delivery for over 90 years. While passenger travel was common in the early years of the canal, railroads soon became a more attractive option.
While its boundaries once included a larger area, present day Colonie retains its borders along the Mohawk and Hudson Rivers and is situated in a triangular area between the cities of Troy, Albany, and Schenectady. The rural farms of the area slowly disappeared by the late 20th century. The Town’s central location made it very attractive to developers who built the airport, a large mall, and numerous smaller strip malls, and housing developments. While many roads and businesses retain Native American, Dutch, and Shaker names, the rich history of the area is largely unrecognized. |
