To the Editor:
On Saturday, Sept. 24, the New Scotland Historical Association officially unveiled and dedicated two new historical markers.

The first marks the location of the laboratory and home of Robert E. Horton. The marker reads: Robert E. Horton / Considered the Father of Modern Hydrology, / Lived at this Location and / Operated a Laboratory here / 1920-1945 / New Scotland Historical Association.

As described by the Encyclopedia Britannica, Horton was “an American hydrologist who established a quantitative basis for the analysis of the drainage of networks of streams. The empirical rules he discovered and set forth are generally referred to as Horton’s Laws.

 In 1926, Horton submitted a report that was the basis for the development of the city of Albany’s water supply, which includes the Alcove Reservoir and the Basic Creek Reservoir.

The building at this site was his laboratory and was at one time a grist mill.

The New Scotland Historical Association thanks John and Marjorie Waldman, current owners of this property, for their willingness to have this historical sign erected on this site.

Attending the dedication of this marker were the Waldmans, members of NSHA, New Scotland Supervisor Doug LaGrange, Councilman Dan Leinung, and David Fitzjarrald from the Atmospheric Science Research Center at the University at Albany.

The second marker identifies the site of a Tory Robbery. Its marker reads: Tory Robbery / Jacob Cooper Farm Site Nearby / Robbed by Loyalists June 1779, / Investigated Here by Patriot / Commissioners For Detecting / And Defeating Conspiracies / William C. Pomeroy Foundation 2022.

Quoting the June 20, 1779 Minutes of the Committee for Detecting and Defeating Conspiracies, Arthur R. Gregg in his book, “Old Hellebergh,” published in 1936 by The Altamont Enterprise, wrote, “John Wheeler appeared before the Board and informed us that a Party of Robbers had last night been at the house of his father-in-law, Jacob Cooper, at the Hellebergh, and in their attempting to break into the House, the said Jacob Cooper had shot and killed one of them, and requesting us to send a scout to that Quarter to go in Search of Said Robbers ….

“Resolved that application be made to Col. Henry K. Van Rensselaer, the commanding officer, for a Party of Men to go to the Hellebergh for the above purpose …. And resolved that this Board do immediately proceed to the Hellebergh in Order that the above business may be more expeditiously carried into execution.”

On June 21, 1779, the board did meet at the home of Jacob Cooper, the one and only time “the Commissioners” ever left Albany to convene.

This historical marker is located on the property of the Heldeberg Workshop, a highly regarded educational facility in existence since 1964, always fulfilling its motto, “Heldeberg Workshop, an Adventure in Learning.”

The “Tory Robbery” marker was financed by a grant of $1,140, awarded by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation of Syracuse, New York. This foundation “is committed to supporting the celebration and preservation of community history.”

Attending the dedication of this marker were Davis Wallingford, representing the Heldeberg Workshop, which owns the property, members of the Heldeberg Workshop Board, NSHA members, and New Scotland Councilman Dan Leinung.

Following the dedication of the new historical sign, David Wallingford invited all attendees on a tour to view the archeological remnants at the site. This tour was led by Chris Albright, NSHA trustee and Historic Sites chairman, who obtained and coordinated all that was necessary to make the commemoration of these sites possible.

Judith Kimes

New Scotland

Historical Association