Forgotten Crossroad Video Release In March
The Saratoga County History Center today announced that the Bacon Hill community is the subject of an upcoming local history documentary, which will premiere in special screenings in March. The documentary is part of the Forgotten Crossroads series of videos which tells the history and stories of people living in still-existing communities that started in the early days of Saratoga County.
Bacon Hill Video Team
“Our county is brimming with these long overlooked hamlets; each has a unique story to tell, and the History Center should be applauded for bringing these to light,” said Lauren Roberts, Saratoga County Historian. “Many county residents will be surprised that these ‘crossroads’ are still vibrant communities.”
This episode of Forgotten Crossroads highlights Bacon Hill, a small crossroads 2 miles northwest of Schuylerville along New York State Route 32 in the town of Northumberland. The hamlet center is the Reformed Church which celebrated its 200th anniversary three years ago and is home to several large farms owned and operated by families who can trace their ownership back many generations.
Jean Peck at Clear Echo Farm
“Bacon Hill is a special place with special people,” explains SCHC’s Jim Richmond, volunteer director of the film. Richmond has enjoyed working closely with a group of local residents since the summer of 2022. “From our first meeting, they embraced the challenge of telling the story of the community they love. They brought binders of pictures and scrapbooks at each meeting that helped tell their stories.”
“We really didn’t know what the project was going to be,” said Marian Crandell, one of three Peck siblings interviewed. “Bacon Hill is like normal to us. We didn’t really know how much it meant to the people who live there and how much they care about each other.”
Video director, Jim Richmond, discussing video with farmer, Jeff King
Richmond, along with History Center volunteer videographer, Dave Waite, recorded 25 interviews. They are now in the process of editing the film. “Selecting the clips to use is hard,” said Richmond, “there are so many great stories to tell.”
The video will premiere at Brookside Museum in Ballston Spa in late March and the Bacon Hill Church in mid-April. Forgotten Crossroads – Bacon Hill has been made possible in part through funding secured from Welcome Stock Farm, King Brothers Dairy, Clear Echo Farm, Thomas Poultry, and Stonebridge Iron and Steel, Inc.
Each episode of Forgotten Crossroads builds on the history of bypassed Saratoga County communities of the 19th and 20th centuries and the stories of the people still living in the community. The first episode in the series focused on Rock City Falls in the town of Milton. Rock City Falls started as a mill town along Kayaderosseras Creek. The first episode was released in April 2022 and is available on Saratoga County History Center’s YouTube channel.
Videographer, Dave Waite, at Stone Bridge Iron and Steel
This programming is part of a multiyear, multiplatform initiative from the Saratoga County History Center that explores every aspect of Saratoga County History. The comprehensive focus represents SCHC’s biggest-ever commitment to explain that a greater Saratoga starts with understanding its history. SCHC is installing an immersive exhibition on the history of Saratoga County to open in spring 2023. In addition to the Brookside Museum, the History Center provides various innovative, exciting, and educational programs online and in-person across the county. For more information about Saratoga County History Center and program updates, please visit www.brooksidemuseum.org or the Center on Facebook or Twitter @SaratogaCoHistory for updates and announcements.
