Athens, New York, USA
1800 - The Beginning of Athens Village

The Beginning of Athens Village

The Northrup Purchase. - In the year 1800 what is now the village of Athens was simply a large farm. At the southeastern part and near the river was an old stone house, built by Jan Van Loon in 1706, and then occupied by his grandson, John Matthias Van Loon. His father, Matthias, gave to his son-in-law, Stephen Van Dyck, a lot at the northeast corner of his river front, or as the deed, dated May 3rd 1764, describes it, "a lot of land on the side of Hudson river, a little north of where a small run of water comes into the river, between the dwelling houses of said Van Loon and Stephen Van Dyck." This house stood a few feet east of the present post-office, about 50 feet from the northeastern corner of Washington and Second streets, and in 1800 was owned by Marshall Jenkins. South of this was another small lot given to Peter Fonda, whose wife, Christina, was also a daughter of Matthias Van Loon. Upon it was a small stone house, which at that time was owned by Fiderman Hazard, a Quaker, who probably came from Massachusetts with the settlers of Hudson. This house stood on the site of the present mansion of Mrs. Lydia Coffin. Besides these, there were no human habitations on what is called the Northrup Purchase. At the intersection of Washington and Second streets, on the south side, was a swamp or marshy place, from which a small rivulet wound its way to the river. North of this was a rocky bluff sloping to the river, and opposite to Black Rock, which was the southeastern corner of the farm, was a small island mentioned in the patent and Indian deed, as "Beeren Island." The nearest neighbor on the south and west was William Brandow, who occupied the homestead now owned by his grandson.

This farm of John M. Van Loon was purchased by Isaac Northrup, April 30th 1800.

History of Greene County New York with Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men J.B. Beers,1884

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