Among the more important of the older enterprises on its banks was Forbes and Johnson's Forge in 181 1, for making plough-shares, situated on the Forge Pond, an expansion of the "Half-Way," one and a half miles west of Glens Falls; Jeremiah Briggs' Grist and Saw ]\Iills, at what is now the Brickyard, frequented from far and near, in the early part of the century ; Champlm's Tannery near the south bank on the Lake George road, and various saw mills, a woolen mill, and other manufacturies which were scattered all along the course of the "brook and its tributaries, viz., Rocky Brook, the Meadow Run, what was then called "the Outlet" to the "Big Pond" (now Glen Lake), etc. It was of even greater commercial importance in the towns of Kingsbury and tort Ann, Washington Countv, than in Warren County. Here, sixty years ago, were located at Patten's Mills, grist and saw mills ; at Tripoli, grist and saw

IO» NEW YORK STATE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.

on a journey of inspection of the northern battlefields and fortifications at Saratoga, Fort Edward, Lake George, Ticonderoga and Crown Point,^^ General Washington, accompanied by Governor Clinton, General Alexander Hamilton, Colonels Humphreys and Fish, halted for rest and refreshment at the " Butler Brook," one of the branches of the " Half-Way," near the entrance to Crandall Park, and were waited on by one Briggs at w'ork in a neighboring field, who brought a cup and pail and supplied water from the brook to satisfy their thirst. Two other future Presidents of our country, Jefferson and Madison, likewise passed through the town in 1791 to visit the many scenes of historic interest at the north. And so we leave this famous brook, connected with which are the names of many of those brave men who afterward became celebrated in national fields of glory ; and bid adieu to the places made noted by the exploits of the two Putnams, Stark, Schuyler, Warner, Stevens, Waterbury, and a host of lesser military Colonial officers, whose experience, beginning on the shores of this inland stream, was to serve their country in good stead in the days which were to save our land from British thralldom.