Local History - The History of Richmondville

RICHMONDVILLE - Today, we’re continuing our series by our student intern Wildert Marte, who read from the famous 1882 History of Schoharie County by William Roscoe.

When I started reading about Richmondville, I didn’t expect to find such a rich and detailed history. I knew it was a small town in upstate New York, but I didn’t realize how much it had changed over the years. I found an old write up about the town’s early days on RootsWeb, and it was like opening a window into a completely different time. It made me think about how people used to live and how different life was back then even in the same places we walk through today.

One thing that stood out to me right away was that Richmondville wasn’t always called that. At first, it was just called “The Corners,” and later “Bennettsville.” It wasn’t until William Richmond and his family moved there in the early 1800s that the name changed for good. William Richmond came from New York City around 1806 and helped shape the town into something more than just a few houses in the woods. He didn’t just move there—he built things, started businesses, and gave people jobs. That kind of work changes a place forever. The more I read, the more I saw how important water power was to Richmondville’s early growth. The Cobleskill Creek flows right through the area, and people back then knew how to use it. They built mills—lots of them. Woolen mills, cotton mills, sawmills, and more. They used the power of the creek to run machinery, and that created jobs and attracted more families. I was surprised by how many different kinds of businesses they had. There were tanneries, stores, and even a carding machine for wool. All of this happened before there were cars, highways, or even electricity. It made me realize how creative and hardworking people had to be just to keep things going.

I also learned that Richmondville had its struggles. Fires were a big problem back then. In 1850, a fire destroyed part of the woolen factory, which could have ended things for the town. But instead of giving up, the people rebuilt. They brought in better machinery, hired more workers, and kept going. It reminded me of what I read about Don Dales and how he brought life back to Hobart by starting a bookstore. In both stories, someone saw potential in a place that others overlooked. They weren’t chasing quick money, they were trying to build something lasting. Another big moment in Richmondville’s history was when the Albany and Susquehanna Railroad came through. Before that, it was hard to move goods in and out of the area. But once the railroad showed up, it opened a lot of doors. Businesses had more customers, people had more options, and the town felt more connected to the outside world. It’s funny to think that something as simple as a train could change everything, but back then it made a huge difference.

What I really liked about the RootsWeb article was how it showed how close the community was. They didn’t have big factories or chain stores, they had local shops, family run businesses, and people who knew each other. When something went wrong, they fixed it together. When something worked, everyone shared in the success. It made me think about how different things are now. Today, it’s easy to feel like you’re on your own, but back then, your neighbors were everything. Reading about Richmondville made me see how much things can change over time but also how some things stay the same. The buildings might be different and the industries might be gone but the spirit of working hard and caring about your town is still around. It also made me think about my own future. As a business major, I want to build something meaningful one day. And just like William Richmond or the people who rebuilt after the fire, I know it won’t be easy. But if you believe in what you’re doing and take the long view, it’s possible to create something that lasts. 

Richmondville might seem like a small, quiet place today, but its history proves that big things can happen in small towns. All it takes is one person with a vision, a community that  believes in itself, and the determination to keep going even when things get hard. That’s something I’ll try to remember as I plan for my future and maybe even visit Richmondville to see it all for myself someday.