Revolutionary Malta

 Malta Town Historian Tom Williams, our speaker last Thursday,  has been researching who from the town was enrolled in the Patriot forces of the American Revolution. It is a timely inquiry, as the nation prepares for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence next year, and the county prepares for the anniversary of the crucial Battles of Saratoga, which were fought in 1777.

One complication is that the town of Malta did not yet exist at the time, being part of Stillwater. Nor did Saratoga County, being part of Albany County. Hence most of the men who served were in the Albany County Militia. And the Saratoga battles were fought primarily by the regular Continental Army, with militia troops held in reserve.

Tom estimated the population of the area now defined as Malta was about 700 in 1775, about 200 of them "fighting-age men." Some fled south to avoid the British army advancing under Gen. John Burgoyne. Others, loyalists, fled north to Canada before or after the British invasion.

Prominent among the local militia members were Captain Michael Dunning and his sons, whose property was on what is now Dunning Street east of Northway Exit 12. Captain Dunning is among those buried at the cemetery on the north side of the road, where he used to live. The militia trained nearby at what is now Parade Ground Village.

Quilt and Food at Harvest Craft Fair

 

We'll be raffling this at the Harvest Craft Fair tomorrow (Saturday) from 9 to 3 at the David Meager Community Center in Malta. Thanks to Susan Kipp for making and contributing it. We'll also be providing food there, so stop by, say hello and get a bite to eat.

At Thursday's business meeting, we decided to restructure our scholarship program to focus on students attending Hudson Valley Community College, which has a campus in Malta at the Luther Forest Tech Park.

The speaker at our meeting next Thursday will be Town Historian Tom Williams, who will tell us about Malta's role in the Revolutionary War. All are welcome.

Food Security

 

Bobbie Kenney, our speaker last week, holds up the book she uses to keep track of Meals on Wheels volunteers as part of her job for the Saratoga County Department of Aging and Youth Services. She is a Malta resident, and volunteers with the Malta Ridge Fire Department and the Ballston Spa Elks.

The Meals on Wheels go out from eight sites across the county from Monday to Friday, with most of Malta's deliveries coming from Milton. There is always a need for volunteer drivers, she said, especially as there is an annual loss of about 15 at this time of year, as snowbirds move south. 

Her talk led to discussion about the growing needs of poor people in our area, especially because of the political deadlock in Washington which led to temporary suspension of SNAP benefits from Nov. 1. Town Supervisor Cynthia Young said demand is rising at the food pantry in the Community Center, and members pledged to support it with immediate donations of gift cards and in a food drive starting Nov. 6.