Saratoga County History Center Releases New Documentary
A new documentary is being released by the Saratoga History Center on the history of Greenfield Center
The Saratoga County History Center at Brookside Museum has released the fourth film in its documentary series focused on Saratoga County communities, entitled The Town of Greenfield: A Forgotten Crossroads. Earlier films in the Forgotten Crossroads series explored the communities of Rock City Falls, Bacon Hill, and Vischer Ferry.
“By focusing on the entire Town of Greenfield, the History Center has taken on an ambitious project,” said film director Jim Richmond. This film is meant to display the diversity of history, memories and aspirations that make Greenfield a special place to live, and centers around conversations with twenty local residents ranging in age from 13 to 90. “The common theme of the film is their joy, which comes across in the film,” added Richmond.
Greenfield is the largest town in Saratoga County, extending from the outskirts of Saratoga Springs to the foothills of the Adirondacks. Native Americans were familiar with this land long before settlers from New England arrived soon after the Revolution. “Settlements sprung up along the Kayaderosseras Creek,” said Town Historian Duane Cornell. “Early sawmills and gristmills were erected to meet the needs of the surrounding farms.”
Today, descendants of those early families share the town with recent arrivals, seeking the experience of rural landscapes close to the more urban population centers of the county. “The energy of the residents comes across in their engagement in town activities,” said Jenn Zeisler, a recent arrival who heads Greenfield’s Recreation Department. This excitement is expressed in the town’s motto, “Better TOGether.”
The film will be available for public viewing on Thursday, May 7 at 7pm at Brookside Museum in Ballston Spa and on Wednesday, May 20 at 7 pm at the Greenfield Fire Station #1 in Greenfield Center. Reservations for both events are available at brooksidemuseum.org. The Town of Greenfield: A Forgotten Crossroads was directed by Jim Richmond and filmed by David Waite.