Batestown, Middleburgh Street to 101st Street, was mentioned by Horatio Gates Spafford in his 1824, Gazetteer of the State of New.

“I suppose I must also mention Batestown, for it has a tavern, and if I mistake not, a few shops, quite as near half way between Troy and Lansingburgh, as is the ‘Half-way-House,’ between Troy and Albany.”

Life in Batestown centered around the Bulls Head Hotel, built by the area’s namesake Otis Bates. Otis owned an iron works on the riverbank at the end of Glen Avenue. The Bull’s Head was located on 862 River Street, the Southeast corner of present River Street and Glen Avenue (then called Turner’s Lane) and consisted of the tavern and three brick buildings south of it and horse sheds in the back.

Other owners through the years kept the Bull’s Head alive. Otis also owned a large nail factory on the same side of Glen Avenue near a brook that ran nearby.

Barent Adams, or “Barney” ran the inn for years. It was known as Barney Adams Place or “Stand.” In 1838 Simon Martindale petitioned the city excise committee for a license to run the “Barent Adams Stand.” Barney put it up for sale or rent in 1842. He died in 1866 and his funeral was........

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