Rensselaerville - Then and Now
This page is a series of images of buildings and locations in Rensselaerville comparing and old photo with a current image of the same scene; ideally taken from the exact same spot - but then how often is life ideal?
From I Spy My Hometown - Rensselaerville
I am thinking this would also be a great idea for a book!
Everyone is urged to contribute. Click here for "Instructions for posting Then and Now images"
There is now a separate page for each town. Here links to the other town pages:
CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO ENLARGE.
Rensselaerville hamlet
Grist Mill
The present Rensselaerville Grist Mill, built in 1880, replaced the first mill built at this site in 1788 which was destroyed by fire in 1789. After the death of Edmund Niles Huyck in 1930, his wife Jessie Van Antwerp Huyck established the Edmund Niles Huyck Preserve in his memory. Sometime after the mill ceased operations Jessie Huyck gave it to the Preserve. In 1975 the Preserve sold the Rensselaerville Grist Mill to the Rensselaerville Historical Society for $1. The Historical Society uses the Grist Mill as a museum of the town’s early history.
Photo Courtesy Rensselaerville Historical Society 
Grist Mill 2002
From I Spy My Hometown - Rensselaerville
Huyck Felt Mill
Huyck Felt Mill, 5052 Delaware Turnpike, Rensselaerville, NY
Original Huyck Felt Mill at Rensselaerville, NY - 1870
From I Spy My Hometown - Rensselaerville
Remains of Mill Foundations - 2002, (approximately 200 yards behind the E.N. Huyck Preserve office)
From I Spy My Hometown - Rensselaerville
Creamery > private home
Rensselaerville Creamery, 1412 CR 351, Rensselaerville, NY operated as a creamery until 1940. It is now a private residence.
Creamery - "Then"
From I Spy My Hometown - Rensselaerville
Creamery 2002
From I Spy My Hometown - Rensselaerville
Watson House
The Watson House was constructed in 1809
architectural rendering of the Watson House 
Oct. 2009; Eric Chamberlain
Rensselaerville Library
The Rensselaerville Library building dates from ca. 1820. In the 1800's it was a boot shop. In 1896 it was used a public "Reading Room." In 1906 it was renovated. In 1995 the library expanded into the house next door.
- Rensselaerville library.jpg
ca. 2002; photo (cropped) by Barbara Husek
F. C. Huyck House
1458 CR 351, Rensselaerville, NY
- Rvll-searles-h-1-.jpg
Huyck House - "Then"
From I Spy My Hometown - Rensselaerville - Rvll-huyck-1-.jpg
2002
From I Spy My Hometown - Rensselaerville
Trinity Episcopal Chruch
Trinity Episcopal Church, 10 Trinity Lane, Rensselaerville, NY, was built in 1815.
- Rvll-trinity-h-1-.jpg
Old post card- "Then"
From I Spy My Hometown - Rensselaerville - Rvll-epis-1-.jpg
2002
From I Spy My Hometown - Rensselaerville
Conkling Hall
Conkling Hall, 2318 Methodist Hill Rd., Rensselaerville, NY, was built in 1839 as a Methodist Church. It was purchased by Francis Conkling Huyck, Sr. in 1905, and converted for community use, and renamed "Conkling Hall."
Methodist Church "Then"
From People Made It Happen Here- Rvll-conk-h1-1-.jpg
Conkling Hall "Then"
From I Spy My Hometown - Rensselaerville - Rvll-conk-1-.jpg
2002
From I Spy My Hometown - Rensselaerville 
Conkling Hall
Eric Chamberlain 2009
Catalpa House
Catalpa House, 5032 Delaware Turnpike, Rensselaerville, NY, was constructed in 1806 as a multi purpose structure to house a store, a ballroom, a tavern, offices, and residence for the Frisbee family. The Victorian trim, double doorway, and decorative porch were added in the 1880s. Edith Lounsbury operated it as an inn from 1922 until 1952. The Catalpa House is now a bed-and-breakfast.
- Rvll-cata-h-1-.jpg
Catalpa House "Then"
From I Spy My Hometown - Rensselaerville - Rvll-cata-1-.jpg
2002
From I Spy My Hometown - Rensselaerville
Medusa
Wright's Creamery
Wright's Creamery in Medusa. 
I Spy My Hometown - Rensselaerville team photo taken 2002 at the foundation of Wright's Creamery in Medusa.
Doolittle House
Doolittle House, 9 CR 352, Medusa, NY
- Rvll-dool-h-1-.jpg
Doolittle House "Then"
From I Spy My Hometown - Rensselaerville - Rvll-dool-1-.jpg
Doolittle House 2002
From I Spy My Hometown - Rensselaerville
Makely House
Makely House, 18 CR 351, Medusa, NY Click here for the complete history of the Makely House
- Rvll-make-1-.jpg
2002
From I Spy My Hometown - Rensselaerville
Medusa Christian Church
Medusa Christian Church, 37 CR 351, Medusa, NY
Then
From I Spy My Hometown - Rensselaerville
2002 photo by Ann Henry
From I Spy My Hometown - Rensselaerville
Mulberry House Hotel
Mulberry House Hotel, 29 CR 351, Medusa, NY
- Rvll-hotel-1-.jpg
2002
From I Spy My Hometown - Rensselaerville
Preston Hollow
Baptist Church
The Baptist Church of Preston Hollow, 3014 SR 145, Preston Hollow, NY, was organized about 1793 but had and existence as early 1787 when the society composed of people living about Rensselaerville. It was initially called "The First Church at Rensselaerville", so named because it was the first one in the township. Churches at the time preceded villages, and like this one preceded the town, which was not separated from Watervliet until 1790. It was not until 1842 that church minutes list it under its present name of Preston Hollow
Photo Courtesy: Rensselaerville Historical Society
2002
From I Spy My Hometown - Rensselaerville
Methodist Episcopal Church
The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1840. The church building was bought in 1845 and extensively remodeled in 1884 at which time the tower was added. Rensselaerville Historical Society
Then photo from People Made It Happen Here - Rvll-phmechurch-1-.jpg
2002, from I Spy My Hometown - Rensselaerville 
Oct. 2009; Eric Chamberlain 
Oct. 2009; Eric Chamberlain
Preston Hollow School
This school was built in 1900 to replace the original building. It remained a school until 1970.
- PHSchool191?.jpg
Then - IMG 2030.JPG
The building today
