The Birthplace of Benedict Arnold and Cabbage Patch Dolls - Amsterdam NY

What do you think of when you think of Amsterdam NY?  In the 19th century, Amsterdam was known for carpet, textile and pearl button manufacturing.  It continued to be a center for carpet making in the 20th century and was also well known as the birthplace for Cabbage Patch dolls in the 1980's.   But Amsterdam began long before Cabbage Patch dolls.  The name Amsterdam was derived from the city of Amsterdam in the Netherlands.  Dutch immigrants were the first to settle here in 1710.  They called the community Veeders Mills and Veedersburgh after Albert Veeder, an early mill owner. After the American Revolutionary War, many settlers came from New England. Anglo-American residents changed the name to Amsterdam in 1803.  According to Wikipedia: It was incorporated as a village on April 20, 1830 from a section of the Town of Amsterdam. New charters in 1854, 1865, and 1875 increased the size of the village. In 1885, Amsterdam became a city, which subsequently increased in size by annexation of the former village of Port Jackson on the south side of the Mohawk River; it became the fifth ward of the city. The completion of the Erie Canal in 1825 was an economic boom to the city, which became an important manufacturing center. It was known for its carpets. In 1865, the population of Amsterdam was 5,135. By 1920, it was 33,524. Through the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it was a destination for immigrants from southern and eastern Europe, who initially worked in the factories.

Outside the city limits, the town of Amsterdam, along with the town of Florida and the town of Glen provide a stark contrast from the city scape of Amsterdam.  I suspect it's not these parts of Amsterdam you think of when you think about Amsterdam.  We've come to love this part of Montgomery County, so today when we wanted to pay a visit to our favorite shop in Montgomery County - the Garden Bug (The Garden Bug Facebook Page) - we had to take a drive through our favorite farm country there.  Most of the photos may look familiar to you because I've shot them during every season now.  I've gotten hooked on capturing the same venues, season after season, and I find it fascinating to compare how very different a season changes the appearance of something as simple as a barn.  Whatever the season, I think you'd agree, this area is worth re-visiting.

I loved the lime green grass on the top of the hill.

The farm on the left in the distance is the farm in my lead photo.

And yes....I'm obsessed!

An Amish farm and perhaps an outhouse with a view!

Location, location, location - what a view!

Looks like 3, but look again ... 4 grazing cows.

Also photographed in my last Amish series except since today is Sunday, a day of rest, no Amish were working on the wood pile.

Things aren't always as we imagine and places aren't always what we picture.  We often make assumptions about places, or people, based on old or incomplete information.  Sometimes things are really much more interesting than we assume and sometimes places are much different than you thought.  Amsterdam is one of those places.  I hope one day you'll venture off the beaten path and explore the back roads of Montgomery County and experience for yourself just how special this area is!  And don't forget to stop by the Garden Bug for all your home and garden needs! 

 You'll love it! Thanks for reading.  Come back soon for more back road travel on our recent trips to Schoharie, Chatham, Vermont, Easton and much more!  Don't forget...you can be sure to never miss a post just by leaving your email in the Subscribe box .....Subscribe  For more blog posts about this area, check out my DIRECTORY under Destination-NY.  P.S. You should know that it's not THE Benedict Arnold....it's Benedict Arnold (1780-1849) a congressman named after THE Benedict Arnold. ;)  And....to be clear.....Cabbage Patch dolls are now manufactured in Georgia, the home state of Xavier Roberts, the inventor of the famous dolls.  Also.....facts on Amsterdam were (as I mentioned earlier) all taken from Wikipedia.