Frankfort’s 2,384 residents live in a place where the past continues to shape the present, and not in a superficial way. The village owes its name and some of its earliest growth to Lawrence Frank, a German Palatine settler who helped repopulate the area after it was ravaged during the French and Indian War. Long before that, the area was settled in the early 1720s by other German immigrants fleeing war and religious persecution. Frankfort sat silent for decades after its initial devastation, only to be rebuilt in the post-Revolutionary period, its fortunes tightly bound to the Erie Canal. When the canal opened in 1825, Frankfort’s location turned it into a passage point for goods, workers, and materials heading west, establishing a strong industrial base that would carry it through the 19th and 20th centuries. 



If local folklore is to be believed, the area’s past doesn’t just linger in brick and stone. The Balloon Farm, a bizarre architectural specimen built in the late 19th century, has inspired stories of ghost sightings and inexplicable nighttime events. The building’s jagged rooflines and mismatched additions make it look out of time and out of place, and it has earned its spot on the National Register of Historic Places. Residents have claimed to see faint lights flickering behind drawn curtains or to hear unplaceable sounds after dusk.

History doesn’t just live in legends and structures—it’s baked into the rhythms of community life. Each June, Frankfort hosts a craft fair that draws artisans from the Mohawk Valley and beyond. Tables filled with hand-carved utensils, reclaimed wood furniture, and homemade preserves stretch down Main Street, offering both commerce and conversation. Christmas at the Marina in Frankfort transforms the canalfront into a glowing holiday scene, featuring lighted displays, festive music, and seasonal treats. Families gather for photos with Santa, while decorated boats shimmer on the water.

Frankfort’s parks reflect the town’s long-standing relationship with water and greenery. Marina Park lies along the Erie Canal and provides space for boat launches, open-air grills, and shaded fishing spots. Frankfort Municipal Park is more intimate, with looping walking paths and benches that look over well-maintained flowerbeds. Both are in regular use throughout the spring and summer months, acting as staging grounds for family gatherings, softball games, and weekend picnics.

Restaurants offer another lens through which to understand the community. Fratello’s Pizzeria is a local staple, known for New York–style and Sicilian pies with options like chicken pesto pizza, spicy sausage, or hearty stromboli stuffed with four cheeses, and its casual atmosphere makes it a go-to for movie nights or weekend takeout. The Brass Tack has served Frankfort for over 75 years, focusing on seafood and Italian-American fare—its lobster riggies, fried haddock, and chicken riggies draw regular crowds under its cozy, old school dining room and full bar.

Local businesses help round out the picture. Friendly Bake Shop has been a fixture for over six decades, known for its half-moon cookies and braided Italian loaves. It’s the kind of place where high schoolers pick up part-time jobs and regulars are known by name. Heelpath Brewing Co., meanwhile, is more recent but no less rooted. With its small taproom and rotating selection of house-made ales and IPAs, it draws evening crowds who often walk over from the canal trail.

That same blend of pride and care extends beyond food and drink into the trades. Mohawk Valley Premier Painters carries forward a reputation for precision and reliability, offering detailed interior and exterior painting for homes and businesses throughout the area. Contact us today for an estimate.