Bethlehem

Situated on the west bank of the Hudson River, Bethlehem tracesits history to the Dutch settlement era of the 1600s. Incorporatedon March 12, 1793, Bethlehem's rich soil, abundant timber, riveraccess, and proximity to Albany drew Dutch, English, Scottish, andGerman settlers. Bethlehem's farmers became known for their oats,hay, apples, and dairy products. The year 1863 marked the comingof the Albany and Susquehanna Railroad and the beginnings ofthe town's transformation to a suburban community. This trendcontinued in the 20th century with the success of the automobile. InBethlehem, images from the late 1800s to mid-1900s tell the story ofthe community's history through its many hamlets, including Delmar,Elsmere, Glenmont, Selkirk, Slingerlands, and North and SouthBethlehem. Photographs of churches, schools, blacksmith shops,hotels, farmhouses, and elaborate summer homes illustrate Bethlehem'sjourney from a rural farming community to a bustling modern suburb.