Batestown, Middleburgh Street to 101st Street, was mentioned by Horatio Gates Spafford in his 1824, Gazetteer of the State of New.
“I suppose I must also mention Batestown, for it has a tavern, and if I mistake not, a few shops, quite as near half way between Troy and Lansingburgh, as is the ‘Half-way-House,’ between Troy and Albany.”
Life in Batestown centered around the Bulls Head Hotel, built by the area’s namesake Otis Bates. Otis owned an iron works on the riverbank at the end of Glen Avenue. The Bull’s Head was located on 862 River Street, the Southeast corner of present River Street and Glen Avenue (then called Turner’s Lane) and consisted of the tavern and three brick buildings south of it and horse sheds in the back.
Other owners through the years kept the Bull’s Head alive. Otis also owned a large nail factory on the same side of Glen Avenue near a brook that ran nearby.
Barent Adams, or “Barney” ran the inn for years. It was known as Barney Adams Place or “Stand.” In 1838 Simon Martindale petitioned the city excise committee for a license to run the “Barent Adams Stand.” Barney put it up for sale or rent in 1842. He died in 1866 and his funeral was held at the Bull’s Head then owned by his son in law John A. Weir. In 1852 Bull’s Head was briefly known as “Patten’s.”
The Bull’s Head was put up for sale in 1854. The owner was willing to trade it for “food improved land, located either in Ohio, Illinois or Michigan.” In 1859 it was called the North Troy Hotel and owned by John Weir.
In 1858 several locals purchased the lot of ground north of the Bull’s Head between the Lansingburgh Road and railroad track and laid it out for a half-mile racecourse. This was the former County Fair property. It became known as Weir’s Pleasure Ground. Weir, owner of the Bull’s head, renamed the tavern as Weir’s Hotel. Weir was the son in law of Barney Adams, previous owner.
Weir advertised that the new and “Pleasant Drive” was completed and seasons tickets were available. A race in July saw M. L Blanchard’s “Nancy Dawson,” and Mr. Hotchkiss’ “Brink” of Albany – livery horses, hold a trial speed. Nancy from Troy won.
In Aug. 23, 1859, there was a cricket match between the Lansingburgh and Albany Clubs at Weir’s course. Lansingburgh won.
Mrs. Jane Weir was running the Bull’s Head in 1871 when the Watervliet Shaker Family gave a, afternoon and evening “performance” at “Adam’s Hotel” for two days during the Rensselaer Fair.
In 1874 there was a move to purchase or lease the old Weir trotting course along with a possible renovation of the Bull’s Head or building a new hotel.
Anything could happen at the Bull’s Head. In 1857, The Albany City Cavalry Company, 25th Regiment, numbering about 35 men and horses, made their annual Target Excursion on Sept. 8th at the Bull’s Head.
In 1863, “ John Duke lost his dark brown cow with crumple horns and a hair cut in three places on the right side between his hip and ramp.” He offered a $5 reward to anyone returning the cow to the Bulls Head!
On July 27, 1863, “Some passengers in the late car from this city to Lansingburgh, about twelve o’clock last night, indulged in an affray at the “watering-place” in Batestown. Their melee commenced on the forward platform, from which the driver, George King, expelled them. They continued the fracas in the road – South Troy against Lansingburgh and Waterford. – James McKeuen, a burgher, was stabbed in the neck, and a South Trojan was cut in the leg – The roughs had the affray all to themselves – not interfering with the other passengers.”
On Aug 27, 1877, a night to remember in Philip Wagner’s saloon in Batestown. The newspaper reported: “Because a man loses a child by drowning it is no reason that he should seek to drown his troubles in drink. Still, Thomas Moore evidently inclines to the opposite opinion, as he accompanied James Sheehan and Joseph Larkins into Philip Wagner’s saloon in Batestown at a late hour Saturday night, and after ordering drinks refused to pay for them. “War” followed, in which lamps, bottles, clubs, tumblers and tomatoes were the missiles sued. Wagner’s shirt had been torn from his person when the appearance of officer Hogan put an end to the row, and resulted in the arrest of Sheehan and Moore, Larkins escaping. In the police court this morning officer Beckwith presented a second charge again Sheehan, who was sent to the penitentiary for three months. Moore was sent to jail”.
In June of 1876 George Cooley asked for a license to run a ferry from Batestown to Green Island. The ferry started at the end of Turner’s lane.
Got History? Don is the author of a dozen books about his hometown. You can reach him at drittner@aol.com
RITTNER: Troy is the sum of its parts — Part 3
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02.03.2024
Batestown, Middleburgh Street to 101st Street, was mentioned by Horatio Gates Spafford in his 1824, Gazetteer of the State of New.
“I suppose I must also mention Batestown, for it has a tavern, and if I mistake not, a few shops, quite as near half way between Troy and Lansingburgh, as is the ‘Half-way-House,’ between Troy and Albany.”
Life in Batestown centered around the Bulls Head Hotel, built by the area’s namesake Otis Bates. Otis owned an iron works on the riverbank at the end of Glen Avenue. The Bull’s Head was located on 862 River Street, the Southeast corner of present River Street and Glen Avenue (then called Turner’s Lane) and consisted of the tavern and three brick buildings south of it and horse sheds in the back.
Other owners through the years kept the Bull’s Head alive. Otis also owned a large nail factory on the same side of Glen Avenue near a brook that ran nearby.
Barent Adams, or “Barney” ran the inn for years. It was known as Barney Adams Place or “Stand.” In 1838 Simon Martindale petitioned the city excise committee for a license to run the “Barent Adams Stand.” Barney put it up for sale or rent in 1842. He died in 1866 and his funeral was........
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