John and Mildred Sexton obtained the first FHA mortgage in Saratoga County to construct this Nelson Avenue bungalow in 1935. (Photo courtesy of the George S. Bolster Collection, Saratoga Springs History Museum)
The second in a new series, On This Spot will peel back the layers of time at various locations in Saratoga Springs to reveal the significant changes our city has undergone. John Bevan’s map (circa 1850) locates 308 Nelson on part of Saratoga’s first cemetery. Originally named the Sadler Cemetery after the land’s donor Seth Sadler, it was also referred to as “First Cemetery”, “Peter’s Cemetery” and in the 1870’s as “Nelson Street Cemetery.” Former long time city Mayor Addison Mallery wrote to our city historian describing ‘Peter’s Cemetery’. He said, “When I was a youngster we played on what was known as Peter’s Cemetery. It halfway down the hill on Nelson Avenue. Occasionally we would find a bone.” The property bordered land owned by J. R. Peter’s thus some referred to the land as “Peter’s Cemetery.” saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
On This SPOT. 308 Nelson Avenue WR IT T EN BY CA R OL GODETTE P H OT OS P ROVI DED
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