The
borough of New Lebanon was
incorporated August 22, 1866, and the first election was held September
25, 1866, C. N. Smith being elected
burgess. As a rural village New Lebanon has long enjoyed an importance
in the township of Mill
Creek, though its lack of railroad facilities
and manufacturing enterprises has prevented its progress in population.
Its best claim to fame is derived from the location here of the McElwain
Institute, a splendid academic school at which hundreds of young men and
women have received a training for responsible careers. The influence of
such a school cannot be measured better than by referring to the many
who have received their preparation for life within its walls.
The
first settler on the site of New Lebanon bore the Dutch name of Rynheer
Van Voorhies, who built his log cabin here in 1803. Thirty-five
years later Ephraim Van Voorhies, who owned
the estate of the pioneer settler, laid out part of the land in town
lots. The leading industry of the village was the woolen mill which was
built by Daniel Bruner in 1862. Mr. Bruner,
whose family are still prominent in Mercer county, was identified with
this woolen mill until his death in 1892, and his business enterprise
was one of the main resources of the village. Among the first industries
of the village was a grist and saw mill, which was built in 1855 by Gordon
and Muse, the latter member of the firm
having opened the first store in the village in 1848. The mill was
destroyed by fire in 1867.
Twentieth
Century History of Mercer County,
1909, pages 150-151.
Map
and driving directions to New Lebanon
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