We live in Hoosick Falls, NY USA. It is a small village of 63 square miles located 33 miles northeast of Albany, NY and 12 miles west of Bennington, VT. Our town is in the northeastern part of the United States. The total population is about 6,696 people.

Many famous people have lived in Hoosick Falls in the past. Joseph Dorr was one of the founding fathers. He built many of the first buildings here. Walter A. Wood owned a factory, which made farm machinery that was sold around the world during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Harriet Hoctor was a famous dancer. She danced in movies and on Broadway in New York City. Bob and Ray Eberle were famous singers during the Big Band Era. Grandma Moses was a famous painter. She painted local scenes in a primitive style and only started painting when she was old. Her paintings were discovered in Hoosick Falls.

Our town has many buildings. We each have chosen a building that we think is interesting.

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Hello, I am the Stone Schoolhouse. I was built in 1842 and I am 158 years old. I am a one-room schoolhouse, with a slanted roof that curves at the bottom. A stonemason named John Grant built me. He came from Ireland in 1840, at the beginning of the potato famine. During the potato famine, in Ireland, many people died because the potato crop didn’t grow well, and the people did not have enough food. Some people moved away: John Grant was one of them.

I was built because the children on Mrs. George Tibbits’ land needed schooling. She and her husband owned a big farm in Hoosick. They had ten families living on their land. These families helped them in their farm work. I started as a private school, paid for by the Tibbits family. In 1879 I became a public school called District 16. The last class to be held in me was in 1917.

In the 1920’s, gypsies came and stayed in me during the summers. One of them told fortunes for money. They left in the 1940’s. Nobody used me after that until 1977 when I became an information booth. The USA was celebrating its 200^th birthday, and I was full of historical information. After that, nobody used me again for a long time. I had two different owners: first, the Hoosac School and then Land Quest. Land Quest fixed me up, because my southwest side was starting to fall down.

I now belong to Stewarts. Stewarts bought me 8 years ago. I am a mini-museum. I have old-fashioned desks, a big teacher’s desk, old schoolbooks, a writing slate, a three county map, a lunch basket, a ladle for getting drinks, a drying rack for wet clothes, a wood stove, and a buck saw for cutting the wood for the stove. There are very few schoolhouses like me, so please come and visit me sometime. I am located at the corner of Route 22 and 7 in the Town of Hoosick.

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I am the Immaculate Conception Church. I am on Main Street in Hoosick Falls, NY. I am a Catholic Church that was built between 1870-1871.

The John Percy Construction Firm built me so I could replace a smaller Catholic Church. I am a big church and they built me from stone and brick covered with slate. I have three doors on the front and a very tall steeple.

When they built me, I didn’t have a bell. In 1872 a bell was put in my steeple. The bell they put in my steeple cost $1,500. My bell is very heavy. It weighs 2,960 pounds. People used to ring the bell by hand, but in 1953 they installed an electric button to ring the bell. Another addition to me was an organ. It was put in in 1881.

 The congregation got so big they had to add on to me in 1884. I am still used for a Catholic Church today.

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I am a building. My name is Harrison Vending. I was built in 1947. I am 53 years old. I once was the Snow White Laundry. I now am Harrison Vending. I sell food for vending machines.

The Hoosick Falls Post Office by Kelsey Rogers

Hi! I am the Hoosick Falls Post Office. My construction date was September 28, 1917. I have been standing for 83 years. My Postmaster is Holly Ann Bossoni. There are also 3 city carriers, 3 rural carriers, 3 substitute carriers and 2 distribution clerks. They sort all of the mail when it comes in and then gives it to the carriers to deliver. They also work the window inside me selling stamps and mailing packages and put the mail into the mailboxes inside me for the boxholders. My interesting historical information is a log sheet that shows the supplies I used to buy like ice, towels, and horse manure (I’m not sure what that was used for). Also, across from me around the park there used to be a wrought iron fence. During World War II they needed the iron and took the fence down to make supplies for the war.

From <Dhtteach@aol.com>

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Hello! I am the Hoosick Falls Armory. I am located on the southeast corner of Church and Elm Streets. Architect Isaac G. Perry designed me. Isaac Perry constructed 19 armories as state architect from 1892-1906. The construction of the Hoosick Falls Armory took from 1888-1889. The 32nd Separate Company then occupied me in 1889. I was added to the State Historical Register in June 1991 and the national Register on March 2, 1995. I am listed as a national historic preservation site. I am currently occupied by Company C 1^st Battalion 101^st Calvary New York National Guard as well as some of the town offices. I still have some of my original features such as the oak staircase in the front hall and some door and window trim and original oak lockers. Also some of the pressed metal ceilings are still in the basement. If you would like more information you can look on you computer at www.Hoosickhistory.com .

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 Hello! I am the First Baptist Church. I was built in 1884. Then there was a fire in 1909. I have a lot of names on the stained glass windows. I have a Sunday School too. I have stones in my cemetery that are over 200 years old. I have a balcony with a library underneath it. People get baptized in me. Baptism is when people dip their head in a big pool of water.

My name is Babson’s Classic Café. I am used for a restaurant. In 1849, I had a peeked roof. In 1901 I was a liquor store and sandwich shop. In 1908 I was owned by Viggo Jensen. I was still a liquor store. In 1919 I was known as Ryan and Butler Store. In 1929 I was known as Ryan Brothers Store. Now I am owned by Jeff and Susan Babson and I am a restaurant and the home of the famous "Babson’s Burger"!

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The Miller Museum by Lacy LaCroix

Hello, I am the Miller Museum. I hold lots of information on people in our town. I was first used as a house owned by the Miller Family. I was turned into a museum in 1980. I still hold lots of interesting things about people and our town today.

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There are many fun things that we can do in our town. We can golf. We can swim at the town pool. In the winter, we can skate at the town rink. Children like to go to the Castle Playground. You can play football, baseball and soccer at the athletic field. Tennis courts, basketball and bowling are available. Children can belong to Boy or Girl Scouts or 4-H. Families can go to the Bennington Battlefield Park for picnics. During July and August, Band Concerts are held in the Wood Memorial Park.

That’s why our town is really fun!!! We hope you’ll come to visit!!!

From <Dhtteach@aol.com

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