It was 1689 when Hendrick Frey of Swiss decent built his fortified home on the north bank of the Mohawk River for his family and became our first settler.
Thirty-four years later in 1723 about sixty families of German Palatines left their home on the Rhine and settled in the Palatine Bridge area. It is from these Palatine German settlers that the Village of Palatine Bridge and the Town of Palatine take their names.
During 1729 Major John Frey built the now standing stone fort on the original Frey location.
As population and travel increased, a need for a real bridge was seen. In 1803 the first covered bridge was built across the Mohawk River.
Many noteworthy people made Palatine Bridge their home over the years. One of these was Webster Wagner who served as Postmaster from June 1849 until June 1853. Mr. Wagner was also a State Senator and was the inventor of the Railroad sleeping car in 1854 and the Palace car in 1867, the same year the village was chartered as an incorporated village.
The Post Office in Palatine Bridge, established July1, 1799, is among the oldest in the State. Records show that many modes of transportation have been used to carry the mails – horseback, stage coach, steamboat, rail and presently by motor truck.
In 1934 President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Mrs. Anna W. Wohlgemuth as postmaster, the first woman to hold this important position. On February 28, 1953 our present postmaster, Mr. Ralph Ouderkirk, received his appointment from President Dwight D. Eisenhower. A new building, probably the first erected exclusively for the Palatine Bridge Post Office, was built on West Grand Street in 1961.
Although the village is not and never has been heavily industrialized, it has over the years been the home of a Foundry, Chocolate Factory and the Palatine Dye Co. which is currently located in St. Johnsville. The largest business venture undertaken in the village is the recently constructed shopping center, Dutch Town Plaza, which was completed in 1975.
The village owned and operated water supply system was placed in operation in 1937. This water system currently serves about 250 homes and businesses both in the village and the immediate vicinity.
Current population of the village is 601.
Members of the Present governing body are Thomas Clayburn, Mayor; Anthony Malagisi, Deputy Mayor and Trustees Albert Mallet, Mrs. Frances Lawrence and George Keller.

April 30, 1976 Thomas Clayburn

Transcription thanks to Stevie Rockwell