Grampy’s House

In 2004, Joan Taub and Bob English moved into the home at 266 Church Street in Saratoga Springs. They thought it was perfect. Fifteen years and many happy memories later, Joan and Bob have made the old Victorian their own while remaining true to the architectural integrity and aesthetic character and charm of the home. In the process the couple became interested in learning about the home’s history. Their interest turned into a passion and, while Joan began a search on Ancestry.com for the family of the person who built the 1,700 square foot house situated on the corner of Church Street and Bensonhurst Avenue, Bob reached out to acquaintances at the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation to conduct a search of the property, with the goal of determining whether 266 Church Street was eligible to be part of its historic plaque program. As it turns out, the property was originally owned by Gideon Putnam, who was busy purchasing properties in the city. Church Street was a busy thoroughfare even back in the 1800s and a main route between upstate New York and Canada. It stands to reason that Putnam – and the subsequent owners of the property considered it a good investment. According to Joan Walter, a volunteer for the Foundation, Putnam bought the property in the early 1800s and it passed hands through several owners before Franklin Lester Blanchard built a home there for his family. Blanchard was a carpenter and partner in the construction firm of Parmenter and Blanchard, located at 137 Division Street. He built the house on Church Street between 1908 and 1909. The census lists Blanchard and his wife, Anna L. Blanchard and their six-year old son, Frederick H. Blanchard and four-year old daughter Marion B. Blanchard as the residents in 1910. While Joan Walter was conducting her research on the house, Joan Taub was making headway of her own and had succeeded in locating Blanchard’s descendants, developing a collegial long-distance relationship with them in the process. WRITTEN BY MAUREEN WERTHER PHOTOS BY SUPERSOURCEMEDIA.COM

Through them, Joan and Bob were able to gain access to old family photos and hear stories of family life in the old Victorian. As the Blanchard family grew, the home was always referred to as ‘Grampy’s house.’ Joan and Bob also encountered other residents of the city who recall parties and events at the home when they were very young children. Through conversations with them, the couple heard anecdotes of young teens climbing onto the roof to sneak a cigarette and one former owner who was head coach for the University of New Hampshire. Today, 266 Church Street still stands watch over Church Street, just as busy a thoroughfare now as it was back in the 1800s and 1900s. Over the course of the last 15 years, Joan and Bob have refinished the original wide plank wooden floors, changed the home over from septic to sewer, switched from oil to gas heat, insulated and cemented the old dirt basement floor and added full drainage around the perimeter of the home. They installed a new roof and chimney, repainted the clapboard and shingled exterior, improved a large and sprawling multi-level deck in the rear, and built a cozy enclosed porch in front. The kitchen has been modernized to include new sink, lighting and countertops, new cabinetry, a butcherblock countertop and a wine rack. “No one touched the original lathe and plaster walls or the radiators; we didn’t rip down any walls or change the original layout. We just like the original feel and style of the house,” said Bob. Joan agreed wholeheartedly, adding that the house has a palpable feeling of warmth and welcome. “It just has good bones,” said Joan.

An old home is always a work in progress, and Joan and Bob are the 21st century stewards of the historic property, caring for it as it has been cared for since Franklin and Anna Blanchard built it in 1909. The couple consider themselves truly fortunate to call 266 Church Street home and to carry on the vision of Gideon Putnam, Franklin Blanchard and the many other property owners who worked hard to give the city of Saratoga Springs its rich architectural character that we all continue to enjoy today.

As an added bonus, it turns out, says Bob, you actually can improve upon perfection. S S