French's Hollow, for many years a popular
fishing, picnic, and swimming hole, provided recreation in the cool
waters of the Normanskill. However, French's Hollow is also noted
for being the site of one of the oldest settlements in the Town of
Guilderland as well as being the location of the town's earliest industries.
The hollow is named for Abel French, who owned a prosperous knitting
mill operating there in the early 1800s.
In addition to the knitting mill, a
clothing factory, a grist mill, and a button factory flourished for
nearly 50 years. The mills failed in 1865 when the newly established
Saratoga and Hudson River Railroad made possible transportation of
goods to distant towns.
From 1869-1933 a covered bridge crossed
the Normanskill River at French's Hollow at the same place where the
sealed off bridge is now. The covered bridge amplified the sounds
of horses hoofs and wagon wheels to sound like thunder. People could
hear the sound some distance away. Though it was in good condition,
it was taken down in 1932, as it was not adequate for car travel.
French's Hollow is accessible off of Route 146 down French's Hollow
Road, or better, down French's Mill Rd. off Rte. 20.
This
covered bridge carried French's Mills Road over the Normanskill from
1869 to 1933. The bridge with its 162 foot, 8 inch span, was double-barreled
with only the south side used for road traffic. Note the partially
dismanted grist mill next to the bridge. Picture courtesy of Guilderland
Historical Society.
