Lisha Kill, New York
Encyclopedia
Lisha Kill is a hamlet in the town of Colonie, Albany County
, New York
. Lisha Kill lies on New York Route 5 (Central Avenue) in the western section of the town. The hamlet received its name from the creek of the same name, Lisha Kill, kill
being Dutch
for creek or stream. The stream is also referred to as Lisha's Kill and received its name from a local legend about a Native American
woman who is buried along its banks.
, Cohoes
, and Lansingburgh
; Jacob Lansing is considered the first to have settled in the area and John V.A. Lansing, another early settler, arrived in 1792. His house still stands and has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1985. Henry O. Lansing owned a saw mill powered by water or steam from the Lisha Kill in 1875. Several Lansings in the late 19th century were deacons, elders, and officers of the (Dutch) Reformed Church of Lisha's Kill. Colonel
Jon T. A. Lansing and his four sons owned four farms consisting of 160 acre (0.6474976 km²) bounded by Central Avenue, and Lisha Kill, Lansing and Consaul roads, the Town of Colonie Golf Course is built on over half of this acreage.
The Albany and Schenectady Turnpike, built in 1799, connecting those two cities ran through the middle of Lisha Kill and had a toll-gate here. The hamlet quickly became thickly settled and well developed in the 19th century. There was a black smith, hotel, stores, a tavern run by Josiah Stanford (father of California
Governor
Leland Stanford
); and a post office
that was established in 1830. Two school houses served the local children, Watervliet
School House (WSH) 7 (to the east on Consaul Road); and WSH 8 (in Stanford Heights). Today the children of Lisha Kill attend Veeder Elementary School and Lisha Kill Middle School (since 1959) east of the hamlet and then Colonie High
as part of the South Colonie Central School District.
The residents of Lisha Kill for the most part were of Dutch
ancestry and belonged to the Dutch Reformed Church
, they worshiped at the Niskayuna Reformed Church
until 1852 when they petitioned the Classis of Schenectady
for their own church. This was granted and the Dutch Reformed Church of Lisha's Kill began meeting in Watervliet School 8 until 1854 when a new church building was dedicated. The church still is in use as the second oldest Reformed Church in Colonie.
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...
. Lisha Kill lies on New York Route 5 (Central Avenue) in the western section of the town. The hamlet received its name from the creek of the same name, Lisha Kill, kill
Kill (body of water)
As a body of water, a kill is a creek. The word comes from the Middle Dutch kille, meaning "riverbed" or "water channel." The modern Dutch term is kil....
being Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
for creek or stream. The stream is also referred to as Lisha's Kill and received its name from a local legend about a Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
woman who is buried along its banks.
History
Lisha Kill's history is intimately tied to the creek of the same name. Originally called Lysiens Kill, local legend says Lisha's Kill is named for a Native American woman who was buried along its banks. Some of the earliest settlers were of the Lansing family, a family long associated with nearby AlbanyAlbany, 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...
, Cohoes
Cohoes, New York
Cohoes is an incorporated city located at the northeast corner of Albany County in the US state of New York. It is called the "Spindle City" because of the importance of textile production to its growth. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 16,168...
, and Lansingburgh
Lansingburgh, New York
Lansingburgh was the first chartered village in Rensselaer County, New York, USA and was settled around 1763. The name is from Abraham Lansing, an early settler, combined with the Scottish word burgh....
; Jacob Lansing is considered the first to have settled in the area and John V.A. Lansing, another early settler, arrived in 1792. His house still stands and has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1985. Henry O. Lansing owned a saw mill powered by water or steam from the Lisha Kill in 1875. Several Lansings in the late 19th century were deacons, elders, and officers of the (Dutch) Reformed Church of Lisha's Kill. Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Jon T. A. Lansing and his four sons owned four farms consisting of 160 acre (0.6474976 km²) bounded by Central Avenue, and Lisha Kill, Lansing and Consaul roads, the Town of Colonie Golf Course is built on over half of this acreage.
The Albany and Schenectady Turnpike, built in 1799, connecting those two cities ran through the middle of Lisha Kill and had a toll-gate here. The hamlet quickly became thickly settled and well developed in the 19th century. There was a black smith, hotel, stores, a tavern run by Josiah Stanford (father of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
Governor
Governor of California
The Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
Leland Stanford
Leland Stanford
Amasa Leland Stanford was an American tycoon, industrialist, robber baron, politician and founder of Stanford University.-Early years:...
); and a 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...
that was established in 1830. Two school houses served the local children, Watervliet
Watervliet (town), New York
For the Shaker village, see Watervliet Shaker Historic District.The town of Watervliet was a town that at its height encompassed most of present-day Albany County and the majority of the current town of Niskayuna in neighboring Schenectady County, in the state of New York, United States...
School House (WSH) 7 (to the east on Consaul Road); and WSH 8 (in Stanford Heights). Today the children of Lisha Kill attend Veeder Elementary School and Lisha Kill Middle School (since 1959) east of the hamlet and then Colonie High
Colonie Central High School
Colonie Central High School is a public high school in the town of Colonie, with the postal address of Albany, New York. In 2005 it had 2225 students and 132 classroom teachers. It is part of the South Colonie Central School District. The building principal is David Wetzel.-Athletics:The school...
as part of the South Colonie Central School District.
The residents of Lisha Kill for the most part were of Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
ancestry and belonged to the Dutch Reformed Church
Dutch Reformed Church
The Dutch Reformed Church was a Reformed Christian denomination in the Netherlands. It existed from the 1570s to 2004, the year it merged with the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Kingdom of the Netherlands to form the Protestant Church in the...
, they worshiped at the Niskayuna Reformed Church
Niskayuna Reformed Church
Niskayuna Reformed Church is a historic Dutch Reformed church located at 3041 Troy-Schenectady Road in Niskayuna in Schenectady County, New York. It was built in 1852 and is a brick, gable roofed building in the Greek Revival style. It has brick pilasters and a brick frieze around the entire...
until 1852 when they petitioned the Classis of Schenectady
Schenectady, New York
Schenectady is a city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 66,135...
for their own church. This was granted and the Dutch Reformed Church of Lisha's Kill began meeting in Watervliet School 8 until 1854 when a new church building was dedicated. The church still is in use as the second oldest Reformed Church in Colonie.