West Berne
Location
West Berne is a small hamlet in the northwest corner of the Town near the west town line with Knox and the county line with Schoharie.
History
One of the oldest residences of West Berne belonged to John Haverly. This house was built around 1800. This hamlet was called Mechanicsville from 1830-35 because of numerous mechanics residing there. Its later name was Peoria, named by Paul Settle, a miller who owned property in Peoria, Illinois. When the Post Office was established the village assumed the name of West Berne. Levi Ewings manufactures hats in the village around 1850. There were also many mills in West Berne along the Foxenkill in the early days. In the 19th and first half of the 20th century it had a number of stores and a couple of blacksmith shops; now it is strictly residential.
Churches
Schools
- West Berne School District School No. 15
- Waldenville School
Historic Businesses
This section will have the history of each business beginning from its establishment, through various ownerships and name changes. Pictures may be used provided you have authority to post them.
- Beaverdam Hotel
- Posson's Store
- Schoonmaker's Store
- Sisson's Meat Market
- Walden's Boarding House
- E.B.Schoonmaker Trucking
- Foxenkill Lodge
- Bogardus Grove
- West Berne Telephone Company
Cemeteries
Photo Gallery
West Berne road sign on Rte. 43 
Bridge in winter 
Heading West on Rte. 43 entering West Berne 
Waldenville Covered Bridge 
Waldenville Covered Bridge 2 
George Townsend mailman 
Heading west thru the hamlet of West Berne 
The Switzskill between Gallupville and West Berne 
L-R Lloyd Sisson, Almond Mattice, Everett Schoonmaker Sr. 
Lloyd Sisson 
Hop Pickers 
L-R Luther Sand, Mrs. Chesebro, Watson Chesebro, Eve Chesebro and Morris Chesebro 
Frink Farm framed in early 1900s, was the Gathen Farm on Zimmer Hill in 1963 
Barn raising on the Ed French Place, November 23, 1911 
The Seabury family at their farm on Seabury Rd. 
Mr. and Mrs. Manford Cornell, Oct. 23, 1914. 
Wila Gage in front, Wanda Gage Shedina 3rd from left in back row, Waunetta Gage VanVoris 5th in back row. 
Wila Gage Gilman and Waunetta Gage VanVoris 1st and 2nd in front row 
L-R Frank McFarland, Donald Cross, Starlene Haviland, Harold"Hap"Cross, Richard McFarland, Cindy Cross, Shirley Cross Ostermann 
Harold Cross Sn. son of John Cross 
Grace Cross and Henrietta Cross with their brother Raymond Cross 
Ken Posson and Shirley Cross Ostermann 
Building Rte 146, formerly known as the "Plank Road" photo courtesy of Shirley Ostermann 
Phillip Messer's diary from 1906, from the collection of Willard Osterhout 
Located less than 1/2 mile from West Berne, this Covered Bridge (Waldenville Bridge) has enough significant historical value as to be included in this section, from the collection of Chester Zimmer 
There is a new concrete bridge here now which crosses the Fox Creek into what was once known as Waldenville, this is now Shell Rd. 
Men working on the removal of the Waldenville Bridge, from the Chester Zimmer collection 
The Bridge in the 1920s 
Early view of the bridge before it started to sag and a center support was added 
West Berne Robideau's Tea Room - Courtesy Timothy J. Albright 
Skating on the Foxenkill Creek, Courtesy of Willard Osterhout 
The Daring family 
The Daring and Bassler family's 
West Berne school and members of the Haverly family 
Members of the Haverly family 
Members of the Haverly family 
The home of the John D. Haverly family 
Members of the Spencer Bogardus family 
George Bogardus 
Members of the Bogardus and Wright family's 
George P. Messer's farm in Waldenville 
George P. Messer's farm in Waldenville 
Members of the Bogardus and Messer family's 
George P. Messer working his Threshing machine 
Members of the Seabury family at their farm on Seabury Rd. 
Wolfort Brothers and a group at the West Berne Church 
Waldenville School 
Waldenville School 
Charles Clough 
Charles Clough 
West Berne Bridge 
Members of the Bogardus family 
Members of the Watson and Shultes family's 
Members of the Burton Ensminger family 
Members of the Burton Ensminger family 
Members of the Burton Ensminger family 
Ensminger Farm on Line Rd. 
Raymond and Alice Cross, courtesy of Shirley Ostermann 
Carrie Haverly 
Carrie Haverly 
Carrie Haverly 
Lewis Haverly 
Different views of the West Berne bridge 
Building a new concrete bridge in West Berne 
The Bogardus home in Waldenville 
Waldenville Bridge, courtesy of Willard Osterhout 
Willow Lane Farm about 1910
