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History of the Wing - Northup House
The Washington County Historical Society operated without a headquarters building for 42 years. In 1982, the Knights of Columbus Hall, in Fort Edward village, was purchased by the society for its first headquarters. Society members wanted a central location within the county and one that would be near county records.
The Wing Northup House is characteristic of homes built in the Federal Period. It has symmetry, a delicate front portico, a fan light, six over six pane window sash, end chimneys and gessoed mantle with classical figures, swags, urns and eagles. It was constructed in a period of pride and optimism in the developing American Republic.
From the beginning, the society planned the careful and authentic restoration of the house, using contemporary historic preservation practices.
Daniel Wood Wing (1780 - 1856) was born in a log cabin during the Revoluntary War and was the grandson of Abraham Wing, the Quaker founder of Wing's Falls, now Glens Falls. Daniel was a tavernkeeper in Glens Falls before moving to Sandy Hill then to Fort Edward. In 1815, Mr. Wing had his brick house built on 35 acres along the Hudson River in Fort Edward. He was a merchant, lumber dealer and landlord. In 1842, he and two others built the first grist mill in Fort Edward. Daniel was married to Rhoda Stewart of Kingsbury in 1803 and after her death to Almira Higby. He had twelve children, seven by Rhoda and five by Almira. He contributed one third of the cost to build Saint James Episcopal Church in Fort Edward village where a plaque hangs in appreciation to him and Almira.
During the late nineteenth century, the house was altered to satisfy the changing tastes of the Victorian era. In 1866, James M. Northup (1820 - 1899) of Hartford, NY purchased it. He is best remembered as the "Potato King" who encouraged area farmers to grow many acres of potatoes enabling Washington County to become the nations leading potato producer for several years around the Civil War. He and his son H. Davis shipped thousands of bushels of potatoes to New York City via the Champlain Canal. H. Davis lived in the house and was associated with Davis & Company, shirt and collar manufacturers in Troy and Fort Edward and also Automatic Tap and Faucet Company in Fort Edward which made ale taps and faucets.
James M. served as New York Assemblymen in 1859 and Washington County Treasurer from 1871 - 1878. H. Davis served as Deputy Washington County Treasurer under his father and was Treasurer from 1879 - 1883. H. Davis was first married to Pamelia E. Wait of Granville and later to Kate I. Hopping of New York City. His three children were with his first wife, Pamelia.