Area History
Brief Timeline of Canajoharie
Van Alstyne House, Canajoharie (Montgomery County, New York), N. E. Baldwin, Photographer 1937.
Photo Courtesy: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, NY,20-CANA,2-1
History Dating Back to the 17th Century
Canajoharie has a long history dating back to the 17th century, the name is said to originate from the Mohawk language meaning “the pot that washes itself” a reference to the “Canajoharie Boiling Pot,” a circular geologic feature located in the Canajoharie Gorge.
Canajoharie has a rich history spanning over 200 years, from the early Native American presence of the Mohawk and Iroquois in the valley to the connections to the Revolutionary War, after which George Washington surveyed the damage and stayed at the Van Alstyne House. Towns along the Mohawk grew with the introduction of the turnpike and the Erie Canal in the early 1800s. Commerce and industry grew and the iconic Beech-Nut company was formed, which would make Canajoharie it’s home for over 100 years.
Notable People of Canajoharie
Susan B. Anthony
Woman’s rights pioneer and woman’s suffrage activist taught school at the Canajoharie Academy, 1846-1949.
Joseph Brant
Mohawk chief, who would later align with the British during the Revolutionary War.
Jacob Klock
Colonel of the 2nd regiment of the Tryon County militia during the American Revolutionary War.
Myron Grimshaw
Professional baseball player and right fielder for the Boston Red Sox, 1905-1907.
Additional Resources
Additional History of Canajoharie can be found at these resources below.
