Located on the western edge of the sprawling Van Rensselaer patent, the village of Altamont was originally called Knowersville. It first gained prominence as a stopping-off place for early travelers struggling along trails from the Hudson River to the Schoharie Valley. As time passed, roads improved and commerce grew. Once the railroad arrived in 1863, the trip from Albany took just 45 minutes, and travelers quickly embraced the beauty of the Helderberg escarpment. A commercial center, including hotels, shops, and small manufacturers, grew quickly around the new train station, and well-to-do Albanians seeking respite from city heat bought property for summer mansions on the hillside above the village. The Altamont Fair supported local agriculture and brought in visitors from around the world. Altamont reveals the beginnings of this little village under the Helderbergs.