While cartographers often end the Appalachian chain at the Hudson, the spirit of the highlands knows no such boundaries. Franklin County sits at a majestic crossroads where the rolling hills of the north meet the ancient, jagged granite of the Adirondacks. For those of us chasing “Mountain Dreams,” these peaks are the northern sentinels of the same rugged wilderness that defines the eastern American soul. At the heart of this frontier lies Malone—a village that has served as a sanctuary, a battlefield, and a gateway for over two centuries.
A Village Forged in Fire: The War of 1812
Settled in 1802, Malone was quickly tested by its proximity to the Canadian border. During the War of 1812, the village found itself in the crosshairs of empire. In early 1814, British troops swept through the settlement, sacking the community to prevent it from supporting American military efforts. Yet, the mountain spirit is not easily broken; the settlers rebuilt from the ashes, eventually incorporating the village in 1853 and establishing it as the steadfast County Seat of Franklin County.
The Fenian Raids: Irish Revolution on the Border
In the mid-1800s, Malone became the unlikely staging ground for an international conspiracy. The Fenian Brotherhood—Irish-American Civil War veterans—conceived a daring plan: they would invade Canada from the U.S. and hold it as a bargaining chip to force Great Britain to grant Ireland its independence.
Malone was the nerve center for the 1866 and 1870 raids. Hundreds of soldiers filled the village streets, preparing to march north toward the Battle of Trout River. Though the raids failed to liberate Ireland, they left Malone with a reputation as a place where bold, mountain-sized dreams—however improbable—were put into action.
The Secret Passage: The Underground Railroad
Long before it was a revolutionary waypoint, Malone was a silent beacon of hope. The First Congregational Church, the first of its kind in the county, stood as a literal sanctuary. Local lore and architectural evidence point to a hidden tunnel in the church’s basement—a final, breathless stop on the Underground Railroad. In this dark, earthen passage, men and women seeking freedom waited for the cover of night to make the final trek to Canada, proving that Malone’s heart was as deep as its mountains were high.
Literary Roots and Political Heights
The village’s legacy is further colored by the giants who walked its streets:
The Statesman: Elm Street holds the mansion of William Almon Wheeler, the 19th Vice President of the United States. His presence elevated this “frontier village” to the highest levels of national power, proving that small-town roots can reach the greatest heights.
The Farmer Boy: While the Wilder Homestead sits five miles away in Burke, a young Almanzo Wilder (of Laura Ingalls Wilder fame) attended the Franklin Academy right here in Malone. The site, now the Malone Middle School, remains a touchstone for those who grew up on the stories of the northern frontier.
RSS - Posts