AMONG THE MOST DISTINCTIVE PLACE names on a map of Columbia County is Cheviot, the name of a riverfront hamlet in Germantown. How did a Scottish place name end up gracing the Hunterstown tar camp, where German Palatine refugees labored from 1710-1712?

Sometime after the Palatine migration but before 1762, a sawmill was built by “Judge” Robert R. Livingston on the small creek that runs to the Hudson through this area. Though many thoughtful observers may be led to think that Germantown was relatively free of it from an early date, Livingston family influence on this little hamlet would linger well into the 20th century.

By the time of the 1798 Wigram map, the area had become known as Jacobi’s Landing, named for local resident and Palatine descendant Heinrich Jacobi (1753-1807). By the close of the 18th century, the area was a busy shipping port. The name Jacobi’s Landing slowly faded from usage in the years after Heinrich’s death.

The Cheviot railroad crossing in the mid-twentieth century. Note the mail pouch hook at trackside on the right. Photo courtesy Germantown History Department

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VALATIE–Road work on Route 203 was part of the discussion at the Kinderhook Town Board meeting Monday night. Councilwoman Patsy Leader said she is putting together a petition with Barbara Schneider, a member of the town Highway Committee, to send to the state requesting repairs to the highway from the Village of Valatie to Niverville.

At the June 3 meeting, Ms. Leader said she met with representatives from the state Department of Transportation (DOT) recently. She said they drove the road, walked along sections and spoke to area residents. “We talked a lot about it,” she said.

The state plans to mill and patch the road but there is no funding for the more extensive work that needs to be done on that section of the state highway. The town website says that crews will be out working on June 6 and 7. The DOT did some work before the Memorial Day weekend as well. Read more…

Reprinted with permission from the Times Union

ALBANY — John Faso, who in November lost his congressional seat to Democrat Antonio Delgado, says he will not try to win back the seat in 2020.

In a statement delivered to the Albany bureau of the USA Today Network, the Kinderhook Republican said other priorities will sideline him.

“Family and professional obligations will make it impossible for me to wage another campaign, especially since such efforts would have to begin almost immediately,” Mr. Faso said.

Mr. Faso did not return a request for comment on Monday. Read more…