19th century Sandy Hill — Name dispute in 1895

It was a debate which surfaced multiple times before the name of the village of Sandy Hill was changed to Hudson Falls in 1910.

“A movement is on foot among the citizens of Sandy Hill to change the name of their village to something more euphonious. The proposition is to petition the Board of Trustees for an expression of the people at a special meeting to be held in the near future,” The Morning Star reported on Feb. 2, 1895. “The old name of Hudson Falls is favored by many. Some advocate Center Park, some Parkville, and others Clarkesville.”

The proposal prompted a flurry of letters to the editor, with some dead-set against changing the name and others suggesting new names.

The movement lost momentum.

“The agitation for a new name for our village seems to have subsided,” the Sandy Hill correspondent reported in The Morning Star on April 29.

In other 19th century Sandy Hill news collected from historic newspapers of the region:

• “Frank Wella, the expert horse shoer and trainer located near the fairground, contemplates moving to Glens Falls,” the Sandy Hill correspondent reported in The Morning Star on Feb. 14, 1895.
• “The Kenyon Lumber Company have completed their new barn on lower Pearl Street, and it will be in readiness this weekend,” the Sandy Hill correspondent reported in The Morning Star on May 6, 1894.
• “Night watchman Toole now wears a new cap of the regulation style,” the Sandy Hill correspondent reported in The Morning Star on May 13, 1895.
• “A baseball team has been organized here, composed mostly by the players of last year’s team. The nine is a strong one and will probably be backed by admirers of the national game,” the Sandy Hill correspondent reported in The Morning Star on May 13, 1895.
• “The authorities have ordered twelve new seats for the park,” the Sandy Hill correspondent reported in The Morning Star on June 1, 1895.
• “The congregation of St. Mary’s Church at Sandy Hill has purchased a lot facing the park and just west of the First National Bank and will erect a new church building thereon,” the Ticonderoga Sentinel reported on Oct. 17, 1879.
• “The lawn festival at the rectory of St. Mary’s Church was largely attended last evening. The Union Cornet Band furnished music,” the Sandy Hill correspondent reported in The Morning Star on July 4, 1895.
• Construction of a new church at Sandy Hill was nearing completion.

“The windows for the Presbyterian Church have arrived and are being placed in position. The church will be ready for occupancy in a very short time,” the Sandy Hill correspondent reported in The Morning Star on Nov. 15, 1894.

“John Stokes has finished grading and sodding in front of the new Presbyterian Church,” the Sandy Hill correspondent reported in The Morning Star on July 19, 1895. “It is a handsome job, and with the new concrete walks put in by P. Beaulac, is ahead of every piece of work of this kind in the village.”

• Economic development was underway in Sandy Hill, with construction of a new mixed-use building.
• “Architect W. E. Lawrence is preparing plans for a handsome new three-story building by A. J. Newman of Sandy Hill, on the lot located between the Coffee House and the People’s National Bank in that village,” The Morning Star of Glens Falls reported on April 26, 1894.

The first floor would have space for retail businesses, the second floor for offices and apartments, and the third floor for the Masonic Lodge.

“Work on the building will be commenced as soon as the plans are completed.”

• O.C. Richards of Sandy Hill played on the Union College football team, The Morning Star reported on Oct. 15, 1894.

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