Summer 1888. The facade of the building at 398 Broadway reads: "D.G. Yuengling, Jr. Champagne Ale, Porter, Lager Beer." Photo courtesy of the George S. Bolster Collection
The Summer Garden
S
aratoga Springs, with its unique location, flowing waters, and the summer horse racing spectacle, attracted many who created homes and gardens to be admired. One unique public house offered a beer garden, on the east side of Broadway, directly opposite the intersection of Division Street. This site was also directly across the Broadway thoroughfare from the legendary United States Hotel and Worden House, and known as the Hotel Todd. This establishment would be easily spotted by those seeking the spirit of Gambrinus to slake their thirst, after arriving in the Spa City at the nearby D&H train station. The 398 Broadway location had previously been operated as the
WRITTEN BY BILL ORZELL
Hotel Voullieme until the famous brewer David G. Yuengling, Jr. gained possession. He formed a consortium in 1887 with the Honorable Hiram Todd, a former Saratoga Springs attorney, and his son V.L. Todd to operate a public house which included both a cigar store and a liquor outlet. The opening was announced in the Saratogian, which wrote, “V.L. Todd, the new occupant of the Yuengling building, on Broadway, will serve clam chowder at his cigar and refreshment headquarters this evening.” Many later historians conjectured this operation, as well as Caleb Mitchell’s establishment next door, also conducted back-room games of chance. Illicit, yet much sought after entertainment of the time. The main attraction at the Hotel Todd was the summer garden where noted singers provided entertainment in
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the fashion of a nightclub to the dining patrons. The New York Times wrote in 1888, “the only drinking place in town with a summer garden attachment. . .the Hotel Todd is principally patronized by race-horse people, men of sporting proclivities, and politicians. They are all men of means, and it is not a place for 'cheap' people. There are 16 rooms in the hotel. The Summer Garden is very prettily arranged, having a huge fountain in its centre. The walls and ceiling are decorated in Japanese fashion. In this garden ladies and gentlemen may drink beer on draught or any of the fancy Summer drinks, and have a cold lunch at any time of the day or night. There are hundreds of places where all this may be obtained in New York, but this is the only place in Saratoga of the kind.” The garden delivered a delight for many of the senses. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
