Feura Bush, New York
Encyclopedia
Feura Bush is a hamlet in the town of New Scotland
, Albany County
, New York
. It is in the southeast corner of the town, along the Bethlehem
town-line, eight miles south of Albany
. The Feura Bush ZIP Code
(12067) includes parts of the town of Bethlehem.
, in 1832 New Scotland was erected as a separate town. In the 1920s part of the Van Der Zee homestead over the town-line in Bethlehem was taken for the West Shore Railroad
's Selkirk rail yard
. The yard was originally referred to as being in Feura Bush, being closer to this hamlet than to Selkirk
, however it is today in the Selkirk ZIP Code
. In 1854 a plank road
was established to run through Feura Bush to Houcks Corners, this section is today New York State Route 32
; and then from the corners to Bethlehem Center, which today is New York State Route 910A. This road was also made an official post road
by the US Congress.
In 1790 the Jerusalem Dutch Reformed Church was established halfway between Union (Unionville) and Jerusalem (Feura Bush). This was the first church in the area immediately south of Albany. In 1825 the church was moved to Jerusalem. The Feura Bush School (Bethlehem School District Number 5) was a one-room school house built in 1885. In 1929 the school was abandoned, and was put to different uses over time until 1987 when the Feura Bush Neighborhood Association converted it to a library. In 1929 a large brick school for kindergarten through eighth grade was built replacing the one-room school house. This building would be in service until around 1950. The West Shore Railroad established a station here around 1870 and it was used to ferry students to Ravena
for high school. Around 1940 the station was discontinued. The Jerusalem (later Feura Bush) post office
was once located in the Mathias Store until it moved to the hamlet's hotel in 1946 when the store was sold and converted into a residence. A new post office was built in 1989.
and Colonial residences with some modern styles as well. Several are historic buildings from the mid-18th century.
(R-C-S) and the children attend A.W. Becker Elementary School for kindergarten through fourth grade; and R-C-S Middle and R-C-S High
for fifth through twelfth. The hamlet has a library, situated in the former one room school house.
New Scotland, New York
New Scotland is a town in Albany County, New York, United States. The population was 8,648 at the 2010 census.The town is southwest of Albany, New York, the state capital. New Scotland is centrally located in the county.-History:...
, Albany County
Albany County, New York
Albany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, and is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The name is from the title of the Duke of York and Albany, who became James II of England . As of the 2010 census, the population was 304,204...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. It is in the southeast corner of the town, along the Bethlehem
Bethlehem, New York
Bethlehem is a town in Albany County, New York, USA. The population was 33,656 at the 2010 census. The town is south of Albany. Bethlehem includes the following hamlets: Delmar, Elsmere, Slingerlands, Glenmont, Selkirk, South and North Bethlehem. U.S. Route 9W passes through the town...
town-line, eight miles south of Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
. The Feura Bush ZIP Code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
(12067) includes parts of the town of Bethlehem.
History
Feura Bush was originally called Moaksville for an early family in the vicinity, and later called Jerusalem after the Jerusalem Reformed Church. Harmon Van Der Zee was a major landowner in the area during the mid-18th century. At that time Jerusalem was a part of the town of BethlehemBethlehem, New York
Bethlehem is a town in Albany County, New York, USA. The population was 33,656 at the 2010 census. The town is south of Albany. Bethlehem includes the following hamlets: Delmar, Elsmere, Slingerlands, Glenmont, Selkirk, South and North Bethlehem. U.S. Route 9W passes through the town...
, in 1832 New Scotland was erected as a separate town. In the 1920s part of the Van Der Zee homestead over the town-line in Bethlehem was taken for the West Shore Railroad
West Shore Railroad
The West Shore Railroad was the final name of a railroad from Weehawken, New Jersey, across the Hudson River from New York City, north along the west shore of the river to Albany, New York and then west to Buffalo...
's Selkirk rail yard
Rail yard
A rail yard, or railroad yard, is a complex series of railroad tracks for storing, sorting, or loading/unloading, railroad cars and/or locomotives. Railroad yards have many tracks in parallel for keeping rolling stock stored off the mainline, so that they do not obstruct the flow of traffic....
. The yard was originally referred to as being in Feura Bush, being closer to this hamlet than to Selkirk
Selkirk, New York
Selkirk is a hamlet in the town of Bethlehem, Albany County, New York. It is located south of the city of Albany, it is an suburb of that city....
, however it is today in the Selkirk ZIP Code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
. In 1854 a plank road
Plank road
A plank road or puncheon is a dirt path or road covered with a series of planks, similar to the wooden sidewalks one would see in a Western movie. Plank roads were very popular in Ontario, the U.S. Northeast and U.S. Midwest in the first half of the 19th century...
was established to run through Feura Bush to Houcks Corners, this section is today New York State Route 32
New York State Route 32
New York State Route 32 is a north–south state highway that extends for through the Hudson Valley and Capital District regions of the U.S. state of New York. It is a two-lane surface road for nearly its entire length, with few divided and no limited-access sections. From Harriman to Albany,...
; and then from the corners to Bethlehem Center, which today is New York State Route 910A. This road was also made an official post road
Post road
For other uses, see Post Road .A post road is a road designated for the transportation of postal mail. In past centuries only major towns had a post house, and the roads used by post riders or mail coaches to carry mail among them were particularly important ones or, due to the special attention...
by the US Congress.
In 1790 the Jerusalem Dutch Reformed Church was established halfway between Union (Unionville) and Jerusalem (Feura Bush). This was the first church in the area immediately south of Albany. In 1825 the church was moved to Jerusalem. The Feura Bush School (Bethlehem School District Number 5) was a one-room school house built in 1885. In 1929 the school was abandoned, and was put to different uses over time until 1987 when the Feura Bush Neighborhood Association converted it to a library. In 1929 a large brick school for kindergarten through eighth grade was built replacing the one-room school house. This building would be in service until around 1950. The West Shore Railroad established a station here around 1870 and it was used to ferry students to Ravena
Ravena, New York
Ravena is a village in Albany County, New York, United States. United States. The population was 3,268 at the 2010 census. The village is in the southeast part of the town of Coeymans.- History :The village of Ravena incorporated in 1914...
for high school. Around 1940 the station was discontinued. The Jerusalem (later Feura Bush) post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
was once located in the Mathias Store until it moved to the hamlet's hotel in 1946 when the store was sold and converted into a residence. A new post office was built in 1989.
Geography
Feura Bush is situated along Main Street (New York Route 32) at the town border with neighboring Bethlehem.Location
Architecture
The hamlet has mostly VictorianVictorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
and Colonial residences with some modern styles as well. Several are historic buildings from the mid-18th century.
Education
South Bethlehem is a part of the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Central School DistrictRavena-Coeymans-Selkirk Central Schools
The Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Central Schools are located in Albany County, New York. There are four schools in the district: Albertus W. Becker Elementary, Pieter B. Coeymans Elementary, R.C.S. Middle School, and Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk High School . Albertus W. Becker Elementary is located in...
(R-C-S) and the children attend A.W. Becker Elementary School for kindergarten through fourth grade; and R-C-S Middle and R-C-S High
Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk High School
Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk High School is a small yet notable high school in Ravena, New York, about 9 miles south of Albany, New York on U.S...
for fifth through twelfth. The hamlet has a library, situated in the former one room school house.