On this site, known as 'The Center,' the village that became Malone was first settled in 1802. Harison Academy, the first public building, was erected in 1806 on land donated by the community's proprietor, Richard Harison, Esq. In 1811-13, a Court House was erected by Noah Moody on the hill west of the river. Following the original settlers from Vermont came many from French Canada and Ireland. From 1850 to the mid-20th century, Malone was a center of agriculture, manufacturing, education, and cultural activities, earning the nickname 'Star of the North.' Forestry and farming were the first industries and remained important to the region, and mills quickly followed, using abundant waterpower. After grist and sawmills came carding mills, and Malone became an important center for woolen mills, with wool remaining important to the local economy. Just south of this site stands Horton's Mill, one of the first mills built and Malone's oldest standing structure. Agriculture and abundant trees also gave rise to potash production, which was marketed in Montreal and provided the area's main source of cash. The advent of the railroad and commercial banking in 1850 made Malone a commercial, agricultural, and industrial center. The first road through the area followed the edge of the mountains and crossed the rivers at the fall line; this road is now called US Route 11, and 'The Center' took advantage of both road and water to generate industry. In 1817, President Monroe paused to admire the stone bridge then being built. The Lake Champlain and Ogdensburg railroad opened in 1850 and later, as the Rutland, connected New England and Boston with the Great Lakes waterway, bringing commerce, visitors, and settlers to Franklin County for more than a century. Downriver, railroad abutments still remain, while west behind the Courthouse were the switching yard, repair shops, and roundhouse, and the twin towers of its distinctive terminal still stand north of this site on Elm Street. Later, the New York Central connected the Adirondacks with urban areas to the north and south, crossing the Rutland line at Malone Junction on outer Elm Street, where a second station still stands, making Malone an important railroad crossroads.