Campbell’s Crossing in the Town of Lansingburgh (now part of Schaghticoke) was a name for the neighborhood north of Pleasantdale, south of Flynn’s Crossing, and west of Speigletown around where the Troy and Boston Railroad track had crossed Haughney Road, a bit south of where 83 Haughney Road is. The home of William Gordon Patrick Campbell (1825-1901), called Nestledown, was located a short distance northeast of the railroad crossing between the road and the track.

The area was also called Campbell Hill, and possibly Pleasantdale Crossing. Haughney Road appears to have been previously – perhaps only informally – called the Campbell Hill Road. There was also a road and hill by that name in Brunswick.

Detail of 1861 Rensselaer County map showing Campbell's Crossing at bottom and Flynn's Crossing towards top.

Detail of 1861 Rensselaer County map showing Campbell’s Crossing at bottom and Flynn’s Crossing towards top.

Lee, Caroline Haughton. Barns at Nestledown. ca. 1910s-1930s, watercolor, Lansingburgh Historical Society. (detail)

Lee, Caroline Haughton. Barns at Nestledown. ca. 1910s-1930s, watercolor, Lansingburgh Historical Society. (detail)

Given that the railroad had a grade crossing there, several bad collisions occurred at it and there were occasionally some dangerous washouts. An incomplete list:

“A Deaf Mute Killed on a Railroad Track.” Troy Daily Times. December 27, 1886: 3 col 3.

“Railroad Disasters; Accident on the Troy and Boston Railroad—Miraculous Escape of Passengers.” Troy Daily Times. March 24, 1873:

“Coroner’s Inquests; The Death of Mrs. Senior.” Troy Daily Times. April 3, 1878: 3 col 2.

“Killed One Horse.” Troy Daily Times. January 16, 1893: 1 col 8.

“Pipeline Accident; Three Italian Workmen Dead and One Badly Injured As Result of Cave-In—Fifth Victim Escaped.” Troy Semi-Weekly Times. October 9, 1914:

“Boy Killed By Train; Girl Lost Her Life When Auto Was Struck By Trolley Car; Former Accident Happened Two Miles East of Pleasantdale, and Other Mishap Occurred at Crossing on Mechanicville-Waterford Road.” Troy. August 8, 1925: 5 col 4.

“Driver Unharmed As Train Wrecks Trapped Machine; Auto Held by Ruts on Campbell’s Crossing; Miss Hazel Waite, Hospital Nurse, Escapes.” Times Record. February 11, 1936: 27 col 3.

“Probe Continues in Death of Two at Area Crossing; Young Pleasantdale Residents Victim of Train-Auto Crash; Plan Funerals.” Times Record. September 7, 1944: 13 col 8, 14 col 4.

“Robert Granted Right to Sue for Crossing Tragedy; Second Pleasantdale Claimant Gets Estate Limited Letters.” Times Record. September 26, 1944: 9 col 7.

“Settlement of $3,500 Approved in Crossing Death.” Times Record. December 24, 1945: 12

“Two Burned As Fire Breaks Out in Baggage Car; Quantity of Mail Destroyed by Flames at Speigletown.” Times Record. April 14, 1947: 1 col 2.

“Railway Traffic Halted By Flood at Johnsonville.” Times Record. July 19, 1947: 1 col 8.

“Farmer Killed as Train Hits Tractor at Pleasantdale; William H. Roberts Dies In Accident While Crossing Tracks.” Times Record. October 28, 1949: 4 cols 3-4.

“Letters Open Way to Action for Damages in Death of W. H. Roberts.” Times Record. November 10, 1949: 12 cols 7-8.

“One Killed, 18 Injured In Area Auto Crashes.” Times Record. November 10, 1952: 11 cols 1-2.