Saranac, New York, USA (Redford)
1836 - Saranac - Redford Village

SARANAC taken from Plattsburg 29th March, 1834; distant from Albany N. 145, and from Plattsburg W. 17 miles; surface mountainous, having on the S. E. the Sable and on the N. E. the Chateaugua Hills, covered with wood and abounding in iron ore, wild and thinly populated, but rapidly growing in numbers; grained N. E. by the Saranac river flowing through a valley varying in breadth from 8 to 15 miles. The soil of this valley is generally loam of excellent quality for grass. Saranac Centre or Baker's Forge and Redford, are post villages.

The first, near the confluence of Barnes' Brook with the river, has a Methodist church, a store, saw mill, forge with 2 fires, a tannery, and some 25 or 30 dwellings... About a mile above the village are the noted High Falls.

Redford Village on the N. bank of the Saranac 21 miles from Plattsburg, has a building erected for a school and Free church, 1 saw, 1 grist mills, 1 store, 2 taverns, and an extensive glass manufactory, established by the Redford Crown glass Company, in 1831; who have here, 3000 acres of land and have laid out this village, selling lots in fee with condition that the grantee shall not vend spirituous liquors thereon. Glass, of a quality unsurpassed, to the value of $70,000, is made here annually. The sand and ashes used are obtained on the spot. They have 6 pots, each containing 12 cwt. of metal, giving employment to 30 glass makers and 120 other hands. The glass is sent for sale to Troy. There are about 60 dwellings and 300 inhabitants. In 1835, a vein of good iron ore was discovered near the ore bed in the E. part of Saranac and W. border of this town, where ore of poor quality had for some years previously been dug.

Gazetteer of the State of New York, Comprehending Its Colonial History, General Geography, Geology, and Internal Improvements, Its Political State, a Minute Description of Its Several Counties, Towns, and Villages, Statistical Tables, Exhibiting the Area, Improved Lands, Population, Stock, Taxes, Manufactures, Schools, and Cost of Public Instruction, in Each Town : with a Map of the State, and a Map of Each County, and Plans of the Cities and Principal Villages – Thomas Francis Gordon, 1836, Page 400-401



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