The town of Cherry Valley was formed from Canajoharie (Montgomery County) Feb. 16, 1791, more than half a century after the first settlement was made within its borders. It retained its original dimensions until 1797 when the towns of Middlefield, Springfield, and Worcester were formed and further reduced in size in 1854 when the town of Roseboom was formed.

The history of Cherry Valley has been greatly influenced by its location. In 1738, a grant of 7,050 acres was made by King George II to four men, one of whom was John Lindesay, a Scotchman. He surveyed the Patent and settled here in 1739. Other settlers followed, among them the Rev. Samuel Dunlop who established in 1743 the first English-speaking church and the first classical school west of the Hudson. At the opening of the Revolution, the population had grown to over three hundred.

Again, because of Cherry Valley's location - an exposed position on a route the Indians used to travel from the Susquehanna to the Mohawk - it became the scene of a savage massacre on November 11, 1778. Most of the population was either killed or taken captive.

At the close of the Revolution, the survivors returned to the area and began to rebuild. In 1800, when the Great Western Turnpike was built, Cherry Valley, again because of its location, became a prosperous and thriving village, the largest settlement south of the Mohawk River. There were fifteen tavens, a marble works, a cabinet maker, iron and brass foundries, a dentist's office, and tanneries and last factories. Iron plows, melodians, guns and clocks were manufactured here and Cherry Valley became the largest settlement west of Albany.

The village was incorporated on June 8th, 1812. On August 6, 1818, the first Fire Co. was formed and on October 7, 1818, the National Central Bank began business. At this time, the population numbered nearly 900.

The opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 and the New York Central Railroad diverted the main stream of commerce from the Great Western Turnpike and also from Cherry Valley. Still the village continued to be the residence of many professional men who enjoyed national reputations as doctors, lawyers and politicians. In the year 1870, a railroad was built connecting Cherry Valley and Sharon Springs with Cobleskill and Albany. This later became a part of Delaware and Hudson and continued to serve Cherry Valley until 1954 when it was discontinued.

There is the Cherry Valley / Springfield Central School located on County Rte. 54, 2 miles from the village and in the village, a museum, five churches, a library, a health center, stores and many active organizations. Today Cherry Valley remains a typical rural village. It played an important role in the history of our country.

By historian Helen Rury.