Starting September 2006, the Village Historian, Alice Begley will try to provide the village with a article relating to Altamont and the surrounding communities. Many of these articles have been published in the Altamont Enterprise over the years and were written by Alice Begley unless otherwise noted.

                

    The home many years ago                                         The home today

The Oldest House In The Village

    

     The History of the Severson House on Brandle  Road in Altamont is an interesting one.  Jurrian Severson came north from the Catskills about 1745 to build a home in West Manor on the Rensselaerwyck estate.  Patroon Stephen Van Rensselaer granted Severson and his heirs 325 acres of land, which included most of the present Village of Altamont, for the sum of $ 100.  Severson also paid feudal dues to the patroon. 

    

     Severson and other early pioneers spoke their native tongue, Dutch and German.  Few could read or write, and there were no schools for their children.  A lack of doctors in the sparsely inhabited region caused the sick to be treated with homemade remedies and those who died were buried on their own property. 

     A family cemetery lies across Brandle Road from the Severson house where Revolutionary soldiers and slaves are buried.  Pvt. John Severson and Ensign J. G. VanAernam of the 3rd Regiment, Albany County Militia are buried in the small resting place.  Ensign VanAernum was the brother of Captain Jacob VanAernum, hero and leader of the Patriot forces in the Helderberg region during the American Revolution.