Sharon Historical Society Livres

At the turn of the 20th century, Sharon's very existence was threatened by the collapse of the local iron industry as the town's economy and population began to decline. However, the popularity of automobile transportation and Sharon's accessible distance from New York attracted a class of wealthy visitors who fell in love with the rolling hills and quiet valleys. This new weekend population purchased land and built stately country homes, reigniting interest in the area. Steady growth in construction provided much-needed work, and commerce began to thrive again. Early businesses expanded, and new operations opened. Local residents could shop at stores run by the Gillette brothers and A.R. Woodward, fill their tanks at Herman Middlebrook's gas station, and have their health care needs attended to by doctors at the state-of-the-art Sharon Hospital, built in 1916. Eastern Europeans became the town's newest residents, taking advantage of the affordable, cleared land to fuel a large number of highly successful farms. Sharon's residents thrived as they reshaped their town, welcoming newcomers and nurturing a community of inclusion that lasts to the present day.

Located in the northwest corner of Schoharie County, Sharon was established in 1797 after Palatine German and Dutch families had settled in the area, replacing the Iroquois in the 18th century. Set in rolling hills with magnificent vistas over the Mohawk Valley, the area's mineral springs drew native people and Europeans to bathe in the health-promoting waters. The spa era of grand hotels and wealthy guests gave way to a slow but steady decline around 1900; however, from the early 1990s, the town has enjoyed a renaissance with the arrival of creative artists and entrepreneurs, including The Fabulous Beekman Boys, whose reality television series showcased Sharon, linking past to present. The couple lives in the mansion of prominent early resident William Beekman, the first judge of Schoharie County and the owner of the first mercantile.