Cambridge
Located in the rich agricultural region of the Cambridge Valley, this village and town are in the heart of Grandma Moses country. Resulting from its location at the upper reaches of the Hudson River Basin just north of the confluence of the Hoosic River and the Walloomsac River and within a few miles of Bennington, Vermont, Cambridge played a significant role in military and political affairs. Early Dutch settlers in the nearby domain of Philip Van Ness and established tribes of Mohawks and Mohicans presented a mix of ethnicities as Irish immigrants began to settle in the village in the late 18th century.
Cambridge began to prosper during the early 19th century as 17 flax mills were established in and near the town to take advantage of the abundance of this crop. Beginning in 1845, the iron foundry and machine industry produced numerous farm implements including the Cambridge Plow, the first all steel plow in the country.
The establishment of the J.B. Rice Seed Company, the Great Cambridge Fair and the Cambridge freight yard secured the town's agricultural development by the late 19th century. Through the first half of the twentieth century, the Rice Seed Company was the world's second largest company cultivating, packaging and distributing vegetable and flower seeds.
Today, the town is restoring the freight yard and converting the buildings to shops, classrooms and galleries. Hubbard Hall Annex, built as an opera house in 1878, currently houses a theatre company, chamber music group, dance and educational programs.
In 1956 a small group of monks established a monastery a few miles from the village. The Monks of New Skete are internationally known for their dog training techniques, having produced two books and several videos that have gained wide attention. In 1969, the Nuns of New Skete settled on a nearby hilltop where they produce a number of gourmet food products.
Town of Cambridge
28 Mountain View Dr
Cambridge, NY 12816
Phone: (518) 677-8545
Town Historian
David Thornton - Cemetery Ave., Cambridge 12816
Village of Cambridge
Municipal Building
56 N. Park St.
PO Box 271
Cambridge, NY 12816
518 677 2622
Town of Jackson
648 Skellie Rd.
Salem 12865
Tel. 854-3254,
Town of Jackson Historian
Norma Skellie
3511 State Rte. 22,
Salem 12865
Town of White Creek
28 Mountain View Drive.
Cambridge 12816
Tel. 677-8545,
Town of White Creek Historian
Marilyn Robinson
Eagle Bridge 12057
For more information on dining or lodging, please contact:
Washington County Tourism
518-209-0697
Washington County Tourism Association
888-203-8622
Cambridge Chamber of Commerce
(518) 677-0887
Towns and Villages of the Battenkill Valley
518-677-5741 ext. 72
Adirondack Regional Chambers of Commerce
518-798-1761
Points of Interest
Historic
Cultural
Recreation
