LAUNDRY OR WASH HOUSE


First washhouse in vicinity of first sawmill and mill pond
It was probably moved when pond filled in about 1810., when an
Office Barn was built on the site.

1809 - located east of Shaker Creek directly behind Brick Shop
Was a large building, maybe 6 bays x 2 bays, 2 stories
Mainly frame but some brick (chimneys ?) which was incorporated
Into the 1858 I aundry

Present building erected in 1858 - begun in 1857
Got bricks from Niskayuna, stone from quarry
1857 Aug. - masons worked on foundation "working fast but not
very nice"
23 Aug. - 1st floor beams in place
1 Sept. - drawing slate for roof which was finished Oct. 14
Installed 1212 panes of glass - glazing finished Nov. 27
Lath and plaster not begun until spring

In meantime, sisters met to decide where to put kettles.

1859 - bought washing machine from Canterbury
1st wash done Dec. 12, 1859 using steam power
Heated rooms with coal stove

1860 - got larger kettles
There was a plank over the creek behind the 2d house and Freegift
Wells in his journal tells of taking his clothes to the laundry,
having the plank slip and falling into the creek.

1862 - went to Albany to look at a mangle to press clothes

1865 - laid an aqueduct from pond (which they had found was 4"
higher than watering troughs at barn) to bring water to barns
and laundry.
Now had running water, but probably not enough

1867 - built a cistern between laundry andn ox yard

1872 - put in saw to cut lumber for seed boxes which were made
in laundry above boiler room

EXTRACT HOUSE

Was moved and attached to laundry
In 1860 was making extracts of spearmint, peppermint, dandelion,
stramonium, elecampane (for coughs & bronchitis)
1863-1871 - two men occupied in making extracts
1871 - also used to boil cider