Moving toward revitalization on the Hudson River in Fort Edward
Named for the military fort that once controlled the Hudson River and Champlain River valleys during the French and Indian War, Fort Edward is a historic community where traces of the past live alongside a growing downtown surrounded by farmland. Although factory closures took their toll in past decades, Fort Edward has begun the process of revitalization. “It’s a small, quaint little village,” says Lisa Ostrander, a licensed associate broker with Howard Hanna Real Estate who has sold homes here for 20 years. “There’s a lot of homes on the Hudson River that are more affordable than elsewhere. There’s restaurants and a big brewery and it’s busy. We’re starting to see people buying the buildings and fixing them up, so it’s really cool.”
Enjoying the Hudson River and learning about Fort Edward’s history
The Hudson River is often dotted with boats and kayaks. Swimming isn’t recommended in this part of the river, so people cool off at the Fort Edward Public Pool instead. Ostrander says that the Champlain Canal allows bigger boats to travel all the way from Fort Edward to New York City.
On land, Mullen Park has a playground and athletic spaces for basketball, tennis, pickleball and baseball. History buffs spend afternoons exploring spots like Roger’s Island. “They have stuff from the French and Indian War there,” Ostrander says. The Old Fort House Museum, a house built in 1772 using timber salvaged from Fort Edward, focuses on the history of the house, Fort Edward and surrounding communities. It's among several historic buildings in the area that are rumored to be haunted and hosts Haunted History Tours in the fall.
Historic houses, fixer-uppers or recently updated homes
In the village proper, homes sit on small lots along sidewalk-lined streets. Colonials and Victorians can date to the 1770s, but most were built between 1850 and 1900. Newer homes include ranch-style houses, hi-ranches and Cape Cods. For years, Ostrander says, many houses were owned by landlords. “Five or six years ago, you’d sell them for $80,000; now they’re going up in price because people are actually fixing them up, which is really nice to see,” Ostrander says.
All that love and elbow grease is raising home values in the village, though prices remain low compared to some nearby areas. “We’re like 20 minutes from Saratoga, where they’re like $1 million homes — for the same homes,” Ostrander says. Major fixer-uppers occasionally sell for as little as $50,000, but most of the large-scale projects start a little closer to $75,000. Around the $180,000 range, some homes are mostly updated, while others still need work. Updated houses typically max out at around $350,000. Occasionally, an updated house with extensive acreage sells for over $500,000. Riverfront houses don’t sell often, but estimated values stay below $400,000.
Local restaurants on Broadway, a short drive for groceries
Fort Edward’s little downtown has a mix of new and established restaurants along Broadway. Stumpy’s Pizzeria has become a staple, and its pizza recently got a favorable rating — 7.6 — from Dave Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports known for his one-bite pizza reviews. Slickfin Brewing Company’s riverfront patio often hosts live music performances. Located in an 1840s blacksmith shop, Anvil Inn Restaurant maintains a cozy, historic atmosphere. “The food is really good … and they’ve been around for a long time,” Ostrander says. “If you look at pictures of the Anvil Inn, it has old stone walls and a fireplace. It’s just wicked cool.” Market 32 offers groceries under 2 miles away in Hudson Falls.
Fresh produce and live music at Locktoberfest, farmers markets
Locktoberfest is Fort Edward’s biggest celebration. “It’s almost like a giant farmers market on the water,” Ostrander says, adding that there are food trucks, farm stalls, a 5K and live music. A more standard farmers market, The Canal Street Marketplace, meets every Thursday from June through September. There’s locally grown produce, handmade products and live music.
U.S. Route 4 and trains to Albany
U.S. Route 4 runs right through Fort Edward, connecting it to Hudson Falls. Glens Falls is about 5 miles away, offering amenities like the Glens Falls Hospital. Lake George is 22 miles away. Fort Edward also has a train station on the main line, taking passengers to Albany in an hour and 20 minutes. “It doesn’t have as many hours as if you went to Saratoga or down in Rensselaer,” Ostrander says. “It’s easy access for people, so we’re very fortunate to have that here.”
Small class sizes at Fort Edward School
Although Fort Edward’s single school’s façade reads, “Fort Edward High School,” the building houses every student from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Niche puts the school under a single listing, Fort Edward School, and gives it a C. With a student-to-teacher ratio of 8-to-1, it’s small enough that its electric sign outside often calls students out by name on birthdays.
Lingering river contamination caused by General Electric, flood risk
From 1947 to 1977, General Electric’s two local factories dumped toxic polychlorinated biphenyls into the Hudson River. These contaminants remain in the river and in the ground around the now-defunct factories, even making it into some groundwater. Drinking sources are clean, but swimming isn’t recommended in this part of the river and fishing is catch-and-release only. Residents should never eat any fish they catch here. Certain areas of Fort Edward, especially around the village center, are also at a high risk of flooding.
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Written By
Christina Norwood
