Rensselear County Town Boasts 'Only One On Earth'! Is It True?

You never know what you'll find just by taking a ride around the Capital Region. Recently we were driving through Rensselear County when we noticed a sign as we entered the town of Stephentown, New York.

I had to blow it around and take another look. Did that sign say what I thought it said? Yes! The sign declared; Welcome to the only Stephentown on earth! Could that be? Is it possible that this is the only Stephentown on earth? I had to do some research.

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Based on everything I could find it is indeed accurate that Stephentown, New York is the only Stephentown on earth! The town used to be called Jericho Hallow but that's when it belonged to Massachusetts. When we took over it was renamed Stephentown after Stephen Van Rensselaer.

Photo - Lainie Rae

Stephentown also has a Hollywood connection! According to NBC 13, the Stephentown Typewriter Company received a letter from the one and only Tom Hanks. Why would the world famous actor of "Forrest Gump", "Castaway", "Saving Private Ryan" and the "Toy Story" franchise send a letter to a Rensselear County typewriter shop?

In 2016 Tom Hanks starred in a documentary about typewriters called California Typewriter. Around the same time Hanks released a book of short stories titled Uncommon Type. Scott Connors, owner of Stephentown Typewriter Company, was so impressed he felt compelled to type Hanks a letter stating:

Dear Tom, if there's a patron saint of typewriters, you're it. - Scott Connors

Wouldn't you know it! Tom Hanks responded to the letter with a typewritten letter of his own.

Each town has their own thing. As for Stephentown, New York their thing is being one of a kind, literally the only one on earth. That is pretty cool.

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Source: This Rensselear County Town Boasts it’s ‘Only One On Earth’! Is It True?