Hollowville: Valley, Creek, and Local History

Hollowville brings together a valley landscape and a local history shaped by waterpower, a former major road, and its former name, Smokey Hollow. Those interested in how landscape and the past intertwine will find concrete points of reference here: Hollowville Creek, the Columbia Turnpike, and the history of Smokey Hollow.

Valley, Water, and Waterpower

Hollowville Creek ran through the center of what was formerly Smokey Hollow, now Hollowville. The town lies in a valley surrounded by considerably high hills. Water and terrain also figure prominently in the settlement’s history: Hollowville was settled because of the available waterpower, and the creek provided power for several mills and factories. These details complement one another: water was both the reason for the settlement and the basis of local production. This makes it possible to trace the connection between the landscape and earlier development; the creek is not merely a geographical name but part of the settlement’s history.

A Former Major Road Through Hollowville

The history of transportation also gives Hollowville a clear place in time. The town lay along the Columbia Turnpike, now known as County Route 23. Historically, it ran eastward through Hollowville and was one of the most important major roads from the East in earlier times. This connection differs from the history of the creek: while the waterway is linked to settlement, mills, and factories, the turnpike highlights the town’s role on an important major road.

Place Names, Events, and a Tavern

Hollowville was formerly known as Smokey Hollow. The renaming of Smokey Hollow to Hollowville is dated to 1867. In 1844, Smokey Hollow was the setting for the Rifenburgh Tragedy, a focal point of the Anti-Rent Wars. The name history and the event provide different points of reference in time: one marks the change in the town’s name, the other a notable event in the region’s past.

A report from 1878 also recounts that Wm. Z. Holsapple once opened a tavern in the lower part of Hollowville, in a house that still stands today. The house has served that purpose ever since. The tavern adds a specific former use in Hollowville to the history of transportation and events.

A Seasonal Snapshot from 2018

A clearly time-specific glimpse of local goods comes from Scarecrow Farm’s seasonal offerings in Hollowville: in 2018, these included vegetables, eggs, honey, fourteen varieties of garlic, handmade products and gifts, wool and wool products, and preserves.

Hollowville as a Vacation Rental Destination

If you’re looking for a place with a landscape and local history when choosing a vacation rental, Hollowville offers several concrete points of reference. The creek and waterpower illustrate the connection between nature and earlier production; the turnpike tells a different story, about the town’s historic role in transportation. The name, event, and tavern add to this perspective on the town’s history. This can help you decide whether this mix suits your travel interests, and then choose accommodation according to your own needs.

Discover more destinations: Ghent, Copake, Chatham, New Lebanon, Hudson, East Chatham.

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