OWNER/PUBLISHER
Chad Beatty
CREATIVE DIRECTOR/ MANAGING EDITOR
Chris Vallone Bushee
MAGAZINE DESIGNER
Kacie Cotter-Harrigan
ADVERTISING DESIGNER
Kelly Schoonbeck
ADVERTISING
Jim Daley
Cindy Durfey
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Samantha Bosshart
Zane Carson Carruth
Sue Clark
Colleen Coleman
Carol Godette
John R. Greenwood
Ann Hauprich
Wendy Hobday Haugh
Charlie Kuenzel
Robert C. Lawrence
JPV Oliver, Gent
Bill Orzell
Megin Potter
John Reardon
Jim Richmond
Rob Sgarlata
L.A. Sokolowski
Theresa St. John
Ralph Vincent
Diane Whitten
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Liz Argotsinger
Erin Baiano
Jason Bell
George S. Bolster Collection
Sue Clark
Francesco D'Amico
Pattie Garrett
Jessica Griffin
Paul Kolnik
Chris Lee
Joan K Lentini Photography
Robert L. Markovits Collection
Allison Michael Orenstein
Katrina Moessner
Randall Perry Photography
Theresa St. John
Whether you’re here for vacation or are lucky enough to live here… You’re in for a wonderful time (as witnessed by some of my selfies from last summer!)
We know why you’re here (The Track, SPAC, Downtown!!) so I feel it’s my job to take you “behind the scenes” a bit, to show you around and introduce you to those people you might not otherwise get to meet up close and personal.
In addition to what’s new at the track, (expanded farm tours!) and who’s at SPAC, there is so much to enjoy in this area. If you didn’t already know this, Saratoga is the “City in the Country” and I love taking you outside city limits to explore the surrounding countryside. In this issue we visit Lake Luzerne, Bacon Hill, and points further away with the most beautiful painted quilts on barns (Does anybody else feel we should have this in Saratoga County?!)
As always, THANK YOU! to our advertisers for helping us provide this beautiful magazine – free of charge! They not only enable us to print and distribute but provide you with an abundance of cool places to visit while here! (PS… This is our largest fashion section EVER!!) Saratoga TODAY was built on the premise of being able to provide local news - for free - and we couldn’t print our publications without our advertisers, so please mention us by name when supporting them… Simply Saratoga, the Saratoga TODAY magazine.
While in Saratoga - don’t pass up any opportunity to hang on a porch or eat outside. We have a short season up here in the Northeast – enjoy every moment of it! Happy Summer!
A barn just waiting for a painted quilt...New Friends come in all sizes! Enjoying Downtown with my beautiful daughter! WithCMC Design's (and SS Contributor!) ColleenColemanatThe Reading Room
Samantha Bosshart joined the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation in 2008. As Executive Director, she advocates for the preservation of the unique architecture and rich heritage of Saratoga Springs. Samantha previously worked at Historic Albany Foundation and Galveston Historical Foundation. Samantha completed her coursework for a Master of Arts in Historic Preservation Planning from Cornell University and received a Bachelor of Arts in History from Indiana University.
ZANE CARSON CARRUTH
Zane Carson Carruth, President, Carson Marketing and Vice President Carruth Foundation, a Certified Business Protocol & Etiquette Professional, Author; The World’s First Tooth Fairy…Ever, Copyright First Animated Tooth Fairy Influencer. Board of Directors; Discovery Green Conservancy, Houston SPCA and TUTS; First Lady of the Rodeo; Honored; ABC’S 13 Women of Distinction, Women Who Mean Business, Top Impact Maker and St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital Woman of Philanthropy.
Colleen Coleman is the owner of CMC Design Studio LLC and is well noted by her clients for bringing high energy, attention to detail, organization and more to each project. Her collaborative efforts with clients, as well as others in the industry, translates to a comprehensive design to completion for her clients. Her unique approach to defining each space matured into what she has coined as “Creating Environments for Life” - reach her at colleen@cmcdesignstudio.net.
Born and raised in Saratoga Springs, Carol Godette’s fascination with neighborhood stores began at age 11 when she frequented Rowland’s. A passionate educator, Godette taught elementary school in the Saratoga School District for 31 years. Carol is a co-owner of the local Ben & Jerry’s franchise. Godette and her husband live in her childhood home where they raised their two children. She welcomes your comments and stories/photos on neighborhood stores via email: saratoganeighborhoodstores@gmail.com
John Greenwood is a leftover Saratoga Springs milkman who loves capturing stories about the people and places that surround him.
John and his wife Patricia have been holding hands since high school. The couple recently retired and are looking forward to having more time to enjoy the nooks and crannies of the surrounding area.
You can explore more of John’s writing at rainingiguanas.com, where you will find the glass half full and the weather mostly sunny.
ANN HAUPRICH
Memories of huddling with friends and strangers outside the Front Street Post Office in Ballston Spa on a crisp autumn evening in 1972 to witness the filming of a scene for The Way We Were inspired Ann Hauprich to interview others about their recollections for a feature that begins in this edition. The BSHS Class of 1971 alum has also started researching chapters for a seventh book that will celebrate the exquisite renaissance that has taken place in her village over the past half century. To learn more about the seasoned journalist, visit AnnHauprich.US.
Northville freelancer Wendy Hobday Haugh’s short stories, articles, and poetry have appeared in dozens of national and regional publications, including Woman’s World Weekly, Highlights for Children, and WritersWeekly.com. Her stories have appeared in 15 different Chicken Soup for the Soul anthologies. To learn more, visit wendyhobdayhaugh.com.
CHARLIE
Charlie Kuenzel is a native Saratogian who spent 36 years as a Science educator in the Saratoga School District before retiring 6 years ago. Charlie, along with Dave Patterson are the co-owners of Saratoga Tours LLC who for the past 16 years have educated and entertained thousands of visitors to the city with stories to tell the exciting history of our great city.
Robert Lawrence, a retired elementary, middle, and college educator, authored What's With Those Adirondack Mountain Names? (The Troy Book Makers), which describes over one hundred mountain place name origins. Bob, a Saratoga County resident, enjoys many outdoor activities with his wife, Carol Ann, and their wire-haired Dachshund, Adi (Adirondack). Contact: adkmountainnames@gmail.com
BILL ORZELL
Bill Orzell is a retired Geographic Field Analyst and Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic. A fervent sportsman, who resides in DeRuyter, New York, he has a lifelong appreciation of the economic, political, social, and sports history of the Empire State, with a special appreciation of the unique equine, human and geographic narrative which defines the Spa as the place to be.
Megin is an expressive writer and artist with work published in books, newspapers, corporate communications and online. A resident of the region for over 20 years, she continues to discover anew the interesting people, places and products it has to offer. As a mother to her active young son, she is inspired to explore even more.
JOHN REARDON
John Reardon purchased Compliments to the Chef in July of 2004 and has enjoyed selling over 6,000 high quality cookware and cutlery items to his Foodie Friends ever since. His wife Paula - as well as being a college professor - helps out along with their son John and daughter Aubrey … and they fit right in to his Foodie Team! If you ask John or Aubrey to cook up a special dish, you’ll see a gleam in their eyes! John reminds us... “Life Happens in the Kitchen” and yes… “Anyone can cook!”
Theresa is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in Saratoga Springs. Even though history was not on her radar while in high school, she has a deep interest in all things historical now. She has been on assignment for several magazines and is published in both print and online venues. She is the proud mom to two young men and Nonnie to six rescued dogs, two chinchillas, and a bird. Life is good, she says.
Ralph Vincent is a lifestyle writer enamored with the Spa City. As an enthusiastic contributor to Simply Saratoga Magazine, he enjoys writing about a variety of topics including home entertaining, cooking, and cocktail crafting. His body of work also includes articles on subjects of special significance to him such as his experiences as a pet parent, gardening, and Yaddo. He resides locally with his partner Steven and their adorable Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
Diane Whitten is a food and nutrition educator for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County where she’s worked for 23 years. Her programs focus on healthy eating and cooking for heart health, diabetes and weight management, plus food security through food preservation. Her nutrition radio spots can be heard on Saratoga’s STAR Radio. She has a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University in Nutritional Sciences, and a masters’ degree in Education from the College of St. Rose.
The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced plans to significantly enhance opportunities for fans to experience the Saratoga Breakfast and Breeding Farm Tour package, which debuted to sold out crowds each Friday in its inaugural season.
Expanded due to its overwhelming popularity in 2022, the Saratoga Breakfast and Breeding Farm Tour will this year be offered every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday during the Saratoga meet and will now feature TWO active Thoroughbred Breeding Farms. The tours will accommodate up to 52 guests each day beginning Friday, July 14, and will conclude on Friday, September 1.
This year the tours will be offered every Wednesday at Song Hill Thoroughbreds, 290 County Road 75 in Mechanicville, NY; and every Thursday and Friday at Old Tavern Farm, 45 Brown Road, in nearby Stillwater.
The all-inclusive fan experience package, presented by the Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA), features:
• Buffet Breakfast at Saratoga Race Course
• Opportunity to watch World-Class Thoroughbreds during morning training
• Round-trip Trolley Ride from Saratoga Race Course to Song Hill Thoroughbreds on Wednesdays, or to Old Tavern Farm on Thursdays and Fridays;
• 60 to 90-minute guided walking tour of an active Thoroughbred breeding farm
• Admission to Saratoga Race Course
The Saratoga Breakfast and Breeding Farm package is $85 for adults and $35 for children 12 and under. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis and may be purchased at NYRA.com.
“Last year’s inaugural Saratoga Breakfast and Breeding Farm package was such a huge success that we have expanded it to three days per week and added a second Thoroughbred breeding farm to accommodate demand,” said NYRA Vice President of Communications Pat McKenna. “The opportunity for fans to go behind-the-scenes to experience this side of the sport clearly resonated beyond all expectations. We thank Old Tavern Farm for helping us launch this innovative program last summer and welcome them back alongside our newest partner, Song Hill Thoroughbreds, in addition to our presenting sponsor, CDTA.”
The itinerary begins with Breakfast at Saratoga, featuring a buffet at Saratoga Race Course between 7 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. with a backdrop of world-class Thoroughbreds participating in morning training. Guests may arrive for breakfast at any time during these hours.
At 9:45 a.m., fans will board one of two CDTA trolleys at the Clubhouse entrance and embark on a picturesque 15-minute ride to Old Tavern Farm or 20-minute excursion to Song Hill Thoroughbreds. Upon arrival, guests will be led on an experiential walking tour by the farm’s owners and expert staff. Fans will return to Saratoga Race Course at approximately 11:45 a.m., well before racing gets underway at approximately 1 p.m.
Song Hill Thoroughbreds, owned by Jim and Tina Bond, was established in 2005. The expansive 100-acre horse farm is home to mares, foals, weanlings, yearlings, and retired Thoroughbreds. Features include an allencompassing, sophisticated facility that is detail oriented, meticulously clean and was designed with the horses’ comfort in mind. It operates alongside Bond Racing Stables and is focused on breeding, sales and turning out champion Thoroughbreds.
“We are truly honored to be part of the Saratoga Breakfast and Breeding Farm program as it expands in just its second year of operation,” said Song Hill Thoroughbreds Chief Operating Officer and Managing Partner Tina Bond, who is likewise vice president of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association. “There is something magical about visiting the horses at their earliest stages of life and gaining a better understanding of how they are loved and nurtured as well as prepared for the prospect of a racing career. We look forward to educating and welcoming horse lovers of all ages to Song Hill Thoroughbreds this summer.”
Old Tavern Farm is a private boutique Thoroughbredbreeding operation in Saratoga Springs that was founded in 2016 by Walt and Michelle Borisenok. Located just a short distance from the historic Saratoga Race Course, Old Tavern Farm has been developed into a state-ofthe-art facility focused on the breeding and sale of Thoroughbreds to compete at the highest levels of the sport. The name Old Tavern was derived from the 19th century tavern that once graced the property.
“We are honored to once again be part of this exciting program after launching it last year in partnership with NYRA and the New York Thoroughbred Breeders,” said Old Tavern Farm founder and owner Walt Borisenok. “Throughout the
first season, we had the opportunity to meet hundreds of fans who gained a new appreciation for what takes place on a working Thoroughbred breeding farm. We look forward to welcoming new and returning guests who will walk away with a greater appreciation for how thoroughbred racing and breeding support our local economy.”
“The Saratoga Breakfast and Breeding Farm Tour was a fantastic new addition to the Saratoga experience in 2022, highlighting the importance of the New York State breeding industry,” said Najja Thompson, Executive Director of New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. “We were thrilled with its success that spawned this expansion for the 2023 season and extend our thanks to Old Tavern Farm and Song Hill Thoroughbreds, two of the leading breeding farms in our state. We also want to thank our partners at NYRA for spearheading this extraordinary opportunity.”
The Saratoga Breakfast and Breeding Farm Tour is presented by CDTA. In addition to transporting guests to and from Old Tavern Farm and Song Hill.
“We are excited to continue our partnership with NYRA and enhance this year’s experience alongside Old Tavern Farm and Song Hill Thoroughbreds for the 2023 racing season," said CDTA’s Director of Business Development, Jonathan Scherzer. “This experience is a great way to connect fans and visitors to the historic Saratoga Race Course and the rich history of horse racing. We are looking forward to welcoming everyone back on board our iconic trolley for an enjoyable 'Summer in Saratoga' experience.”
Highlighted by the 154th edition of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers on August 26 and the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney on August 5, the 40-day summer meet will open on Thursday, July 13 and continue through Monday, September 4. Following the four-day opening weekend, racing will be conducted five days a week, Wednesdays through Sundays, apart from closing week, when the 2023 summer meet will conclude on Labor Day.
Check out last year’s tour –So Much Fun!!
Season Passes for Saratoga Race Course and NYRA Bets Gift Cards return to Stewart’s Shops
The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced that season passes for the 2023 summer meet at historic Saratoga Race Course will be available for purchase at nearly 180 Stewart’s Shops throughout the greater Capital Region.
Additionally, NYRA Bets Gift Cards are now available at Stewart’s Shops, offering fans the convenience of a trusted one-stop location for all their racing needs. For a complete list of participating shops, visit StewartsShops.com.
“We are proud to continue to partner with NYRA by offering season passes to Saratoga Race Course and NYRA Bets Gift Cards as a convenience to our loyal customers,” said Stewart’s Shops President Gary Dake. “Fans can stop by any one of our Stewart’s Shops in seven counties to get set for racing season.”
Season passes will be on-sale at Stewart’s Shops for the set price of $75 through Opening Weekend of the summer meet, July 13 to 16. Season passes are available for purchase by cash only.
Season passes may also be purchased online for $75 at NYRA.com/Saratoga. Starting June 1, season passes will be $85 online and then $95 beginning July 1. New this year…
Season passes include access to both the Clubhouse and Grandstand at Saratoga Race Course. The passes cover admission for all 40 days of the season, including Travers Day, at the equivalent of less than two dollars per day.
“For the past decade, Stewart’s Shops has served as a convenient outlet for fans to secure their season pass and, more recently, NYRA Bets Gift Cards for both the Triple Crown series and Saratoga season,” said NYRA Vice President, Sales and Hospitality, Kevin Quinn.
NYRA Bets Gift Cards can be used to fund both active and new NYRA Bets accounts.
NYRA Bets Gift Cards are available in $50 denominations exclusively at Stewart’s Shops through the conclusion of the Saratoga meet (cash only). There are no processing fees or premiums applied when purchasing or using NYRA Bets Gift Cards, which do not expire.
NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of The New York Racing Association, Inc. The NYRA Bets app is available for download in the App store or for Android devices at NYRABets.com/App. Registering for a NYRA Bets account is free at NYRABets.com.
Single-day admission to Saratoga Race Course is $7 per person when purchased at least 24 hours in advance or $10 on the day of the event.
Highlighted by the 154th edition of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers on August 26 and the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney on August 5, the 40-day summer meet will open on Thursday, July 13 and continue through Monday, September 4. Following the four-day opening weekend, racing will be conducted five days a week, Wednesdays through Sundays, apart from closing week, when the 2023 summer meet will conclude on Labor Day.
For more information about Saratoga Race Course, visit NYRA.com/Saratoga. SS
PHOTOS BY PATTIE
Outdoor markets host up to 80 vendors every Saturday and are held rain or shine under three beautiful pavilions that offer protection from the sun and weather.
Marketgoers enjoy walking and biking along Saratoga’s paved Greenbelt Trail to the farmers' market, and the City Center’s parking garage offers ample parking options during the busy summer months.
The outdoor markets at High Rock Park offer an unparalleled assortment of fruits, vegetables, herbs, artisan cheese, jams, honey and maple products, artisan goods (clothing, pottery, jewelry), baked goods, meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products (milk and yogurt), flowers, soap and body products, and a variety of ready-to-eat foods, so you can enjoy a variety of meal options and even graband-go snacks while you shop!
The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is committed to supporting local businesses, meaning that all products sold at the market must be produced locally within 50 miles of Saratoga Springs. When you shop at the farmers’ market, you buy unique and quality products that support local communities and the economy. Local businesses help Saratoga Springs thrive and inspire others to develop their unique businesses. The personality and character reflected in our shopping districts are because of these small businesses. The same is true for the Saratoga Farmers’ Market.
There’s more to the Saratoga Farmers’ Market experience than grocery shopping. This lively market is also perfect for meeting friends, connecting with your community, and enjoying entertainment and family-friendly events. From chef demonstrations to live music, there’s always something fun happening at the market. Stop by and check it out!
For more information, find us online at saratogafarmersmarket.org, where you can sign up for our weekly newsletter, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @SaratogaFarmersMarket. Plus, check out Saratoga TODAY’s food section each week for vendor features, food stories, and recipes from the farmers’ market.
PHOTO PROVIDED
FRANKIE FLORES, Saratoga's local artist for over 22 years, invites you to view his new collection covering subjects such as jazz, ballet, landscapes, Americana, and of course his colorful and exuberant horses.
Located at 19 Maple Ave., the new space is part art studio, part paint studio. Stop by and watch the artist as he creates art from start to finish. Multiple canvases are always on easels and in various stages. The fragrance of fresh paint is always part of the Flores Gallery experience.
This summer the public will be invited to paint alongside the artist, so stroll on by, enjoy a beverage and paint! No experience necessary.
Frankie Flores also specializes in custom works from small to mural size paintings. No commission is too small or too large. If you have always dreamed of a Flores original for your home or office, now may be the time!
The new gallery is open daily and offers summer evening hours for those after-dinners strollers looking for something to do. The gallery is open till 10:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturdays during the summer season. For additional information: www.floresart7.com
The Philadelphia Orchestra, New York City Ballet, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and a host of world-renowned guest artists visit the cultural hub of the Capital Region for this summer’s EARTH-themed festival.
The Saratoga Performing Arts Center is a unique eco-cultural destination, a perfect confluence of human-made and natural beauty, enriching the cultural life of the region from its home in the heart of Spa State Park. Nestled among the hiking trails, geysers, and natural mineral springs, SPAC draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each Summer seeking world class artistic experiences and performances by resident companies New York City Ballet, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival, and best-in-class artists across virtually all genres of music.
Among the highlights of this year’s festival are performances from the full company of the New York City Ballet in works like Swan Lake, Fancy Free and Firebird, as well as Copland Dance Episodes, a new work by NYCB star choreographer Justin Peck and the return of their more intimate “behind the curtain” experiences, NYCB On and Off Stage; Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin leading The Philadelphia Orchestra and a diverse roster of guest artists including cellist Yo-Yo Ma, violinist Gil Shaham, Pink Martini, pianists Isata Kanneh-Mason and Bruce Liu, and Emmy, GRAMMY®-, and Tony Award-winning icon Audra McDonald; and the popular film nights as the orchestra plays live to picture Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire™ and Jurassic Park. SPAC’s 2023 festival theme of EARTH will be integrated throughout the summer season, highlighted by The Philadelphia Orchestra’s presentations of Earth: An HD Odyssey, the SPAC premiere of Pulitzer-Prize winning composer John Luther Adams’ Vespers of the Blessed Earth and Stravinsky’s famed The Rite of Spring.
“Our 2023 EARTH theme will showcase iconic works and premieres that honor the planet and its awe-inspiring beauty, an homage to SPAC’s exquisite location in the natural world,” says Elizabeth Sobol, President and CEO of Saratoga Performing Arts Center. “SPAC is not just an amphitheater, SPAC is a refuge, a place of healing, a place where the experience of connection to people and planet is sparked by profound beauty.”
The more than 90 dancers of the New York City Ballet return July 18 – 22 under the direction of Artistic Director Jonathan Stafford and Associate Artistic Director Wendy Whelan, accompanied by the NYCB Orchestra and Music Director Andrew Litton.
July 18, 7:30 p.m.
Hosted by NYCB dancers, this is a unique “behind the curtain” experience featuring excerpts from the week’s ballet with full orchestra and dancers. Following the program, newcomers and aficionados alike are invited to a celebratory dance party in the Hall of Springs.
July 19 & 20, 7:30 p.m.
NYCB performs four works highlighted by the music of Solange Knowles, James Blake, and Arvo Pärt:
Gianna Reisen’s Play Time, Kyle Abraham’s Love Letter (on shuffle), and Christopher Wheeldon’s Liturgy make their SPAC premieres. Justin Peck’s Scherzo Fantastique returns for the first time since its World Premiere in 2016.
SWAN LAKE, FANCY FREE & FIREBIRD
July 21, 7:30 p.m. & July 22, 2 p.m.
Get swept away into worlds of magic, beauty, and celebration with three renowned story ballets featuring the choreography of George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins.
August 2 – August 19
Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin leads The Philadelphia Orchestra in two performances during their three-week summer residency at SPAC: A Rachmaninoff 150th birthday celebration featuring the 2021 Chopin International Piano Competition winner Bruce Liu (August 11), and a performance of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring and John Luther Adams’ Vespers of the Blessed Earth, which includes the SPAC debut of Philadelphia-based choral group The Crossing (August 12).
July 20, 2 p.m. & July 22, 7:30 p.m.
Resident NYCB Choreographer Justin Peck goes all-in with Aaron Copland, featuring four of his most acclaimed musical scores: Appalachian Spring, Billy the Kid, Fanfare for the Common Man, and Four Dance Episodes from Rodeo, creating an original full-evening work in collaboration with painter and sculptor Jeffrey Gibson.
Photo © Paul Kolnik
Photo © Jessica Griffin
Photo © Francesco D'Amico
August 2, 7:30 p.m.
The Philadelphia Orchestra kicks off its summer residency showcasing concertmaster David Kim in a dazzling evening of Tchaikovsky, including the return of the 1812 Overture with live canon fire and a brilliant fireworks display. Making his SPAC debut for opening night is conductor Fabio Luisi, music director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.
SCHUBERT’S
“GREAT” SYMPHONY
August 3, 7:30 p.m.
Along with Schubert’s “Great” Symphony No. 9, pianist Isata Kannah-Mason makes her SPAC and Philadelphia Orchestra debut playing Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 1.
PINK MARTINI AND THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA FEATURING CHINA FORBES
August 4, 7:30 p.m.
Enrico Lopez-Yañez conducts as “little orchestra” Pink Martini joins The Philadelphia Orchestra for a night of world music spanning jazz to classical to vintage pop. Members of the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame, Pink Martini draws musical inspiration from across the globe, having performed on six continents and in over 25 languages.
BEETHOVEN’S SEVENTH
August 9, 7:30 p.m.
In an evening of classical favorites, Roderick Cox, 2018 winner of the Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award, makes his SPAC debut conducting Beethoven’s jubilant and exhilarating Symphony No. 7. Following is Mozart’s Oboe Concerto, played by Philippe Tondre.
AN EVENING WITH AUDRA MCDONALD
August 10, 7:30 p.m.
Andy Einhorn conducts The Philadelphia Orchestra and Emmy, GRAMMY®, and six-time Tony Award-winning icon Audra McDonald for a night of Broadway favorites by Rodgers and Hammerstein, George Gershwin, and Stephen Sondheim. The star of CBS’s The Good Fight and HBO’s The Gilded Age, McDonald was a recipient of the National Medal of the Arts from President Barack Obama and was named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2015.
August 16, 7:30 p.m.
One of the world’s great violinists, Gil Shaham returns to SPAC for the first time in a decade. Pulling doubleduty, Shaham will lead the orchestra and perform as soloist in a special program of SPAC premieres, featuring Vivaldi’s iconic Four Seasons and SaintGeorges Violin Concerto No. 9 in G Major.
August 18, 7:30 p.m.
In celebration of this year’s festival theme, The Philadelphia Orchestra under the baton of Edwin Outwater performs Earth: An HD Odyssey, featuring ravishing images of our planet on a large LED screen, set to the music of John Adams and Richard Strauss. The opening notes of Strauss’s Also sprach Zarathustra are recognizable by anyone who has seen 2001: A Space Odyssey!
SPAC’s popular film nights return to delight audiences of all ages as The Philadelphia Orchestra accompanies, live to picture, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire™ in Concert (Aug 5) and Jurassic Park in Concert (Aug 19), celebrating the 30th anniversary of the film.
Visit SPAC.org for full season schedule and tickets. SS
August 17, 7:30 p.m.
World renowned cellist
Yo-Yo Ma returns to SPAC to perform Dvořák’s cello concerto, one of the most technically challenging pieces and a crown jewel of the repertoire. The evening begins with Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 5, led by conductor, Xian Zhang, making her SPAC debut.
May 13 – August 20
CMS is back this summer celebrating a decade of partnership with SPAC. Their 10th anniversary in residence opens with “From Classic to Modern,” showcasing works from Brahms and Beethoven to Bloch, Khachaturian and Milhaud (June 11), followed by “Great Quintets” of Mozart, Dohnányi and Dvořák (June 18); “From Vienna to Paris” (July 16); a program from guest artists The Miró String Quartet (July 23); and “Spanish Journey” (August 13). The season closes with “New Classics” (August 20), which includes quintets by Bloch and Suk that CMS has ushered into the standard chamber repertoire.
Anchored by CMS Artistic Directors Wu Han (piano) and David Finckel (cello), this season’s guest artists also include violinists Arnaud Sussmann, Alexander Sitkovetsky, Ani Kavafian, Ida Kavafian, Stella Chen, Danbi Um, Kristin Lee, and Aaron Boyd; violists Paul Neubauer, James Thompson, Molly Carr, and Matthew Lipman; cellist Sihao He, pianists Wu Qian, Juho Pohjonen, Soyeon Kate Lee; clarinetist Ricardo Morales, guitarist Jason Vieaux, soprano Rihab Chaieb, and The Miró Quartet.
Gil Shaham Photo © Chris Lee Audra McDonald Photo © Allison Michael Orenstein
DARK HORSE MERCANTILE
445 Broadway, Saratoga Springs
518-587-0689
“The Smart Bet is Always the Dark Horse”
368 Broadway, Saratoga Springs
ImpressionsSaratoga.com | 518-587-0666
“The Everything Saratoga Store”
Saratoga Map Collection by Daisy Mae Designs: ranging from puzzles to mousepads, lunch bags to golf towels, pillows and more, these awesome souvenirs are perfect gifts to bring home. Whether baking with the oven mitts or having drinks with the coasters you can reminisce about your time in Saratoga and show off where you’ve been! Prices range from $14.99 up to $ 64.99.
Impressions of Saratoga Exclusive
These 40 oz stainless steel powder coated travel tumblers are all the rage right now and Dark Horse is taking them to the next level! With 5 color options (Charcoal, Eucalyptus, Stormy Sea, Dune, and Red Rust) this tumbler is going to be your new favorite mug. Keep your hot drinks hot and your cold drinks cold all day at the track, around downtown, or back at work. $34.99 Dark Horse Mercantile Exclusive
CELTIC TREASURES
456 Broadway, Saratoga Springs celtictreasures.com | 518-583-9452
CRAFTERS GALLERY
427 Broadway, Saratoga Springs craftersgallerysaratoga.com | 518-583-2435
MENGES & CURTIS APOTHECARY
472 Broadway, Saratoga Springs mengesandcurtis.com | 518-306-5343
Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Ribbed Robes are perfect for:
• the breakfast
• the beach
• the boat
• and the balcony
Menges & Curtis is proud to offer skin and body care products from C.O. Bigelow, America’s oldest Apothecary. Quality products for an affordable price at Menges & Curtis Apothecary.
PLEASE CHECK WEBSITES FOR UPDATES
BREAD BASKET BAKERY
• 65 Spring Street, Saratoga
• 3 Hampstead Pl, Saratoga (518) 587-4233
SaratogaBreadBasket.com
COMPADRES DINER
666 Saratoga Road
Gansevoort, NY (518) 306-5100
Facebook for menu/hours!
COMPTON’S RESTAURANT
457 Broadway, Saratoga (518) 584-9632
COUNTRY CORNER CAFÉ
25 Church Street, Saratoga (518) 583-7889
CountryCornerCafe.net
HATTIE’S CHICKEN SHACK
(Weekend Brunch)
45 Phila Street, Saratoga (518) 584-4790
HattiesRestaurant.com
HORSESHOE INN (Weekend Breakfast)
9 Gridley Street, Saratoga (518) 886-8086
TheHorseshoeInn.com
THE IRON ROOST
36 Front Street, Ballston Spa (518) 309-3535
IronRoost.com
KAFFEE HOUSE
120 West Avenue, Saratoga (518) 729-8480
KaffeeHouseSaratoga.com
LEAH’S CAKERY
3 Curry Road, Round Lake (518) 899-5324
Leahs-Cakery.com
THE KETTLE RESTAURANT
445 Church Street, Saratoga (518) 584-9734
TheKettleRestaurant.com
KRU COFFEE
46 Marion Ave, Saratoga (518) 444-4158
KruCoffee.com
LAKESIDE FARMS & CIDER MILL
336 Schauber Road, Ballston Lake (518) 399-8359
LakeSideFarmsCiderMill.com
THE LITTLE MARKET AT FIVE POINTS
42 Park Place, Saratoga Springs 518-450-7068
TheLittleMarket5.com
THE LOCAL PUB AND TEAHOUSE
(Weekend Brunch)
142 Grand Avenue, Saratoga Springs (518) 587-7256
thelocalpubandteahouse.com
THE MERCANTILE KITCHEN & BAR
430 Broadway, Saratoga (518) 886-8479
TheMercSaratoga.com
MORRISSEY'STHE ADELPHI HOTEL
(Sunday Brunch)
365 Broadway, Saratoga (518) 350-7945
MorrisseysLounge.com
MRS. LONDON’S BAKERY
464 Broadway, Saratoga
(518) 581-8100
MrsLondonsBakery.com
PANERA BREAD
• 3070 Route 50, Saratoga
(518) 226-0095
• 109 Saratoga Village Blvd., Malta (518) 899-1069
PaneraBread.com
PRIME AT SARATOGA NATIONAL
(Sunday Brunch)
458 Union Ave, Saratoga (518) 583-4653
primeatsaratoganational.com
RIBBON CAFÉ
11 Prospect Street, Ballston Spa (518) 288-3040
ribboncafeny.com
ROUTE 50 DINER
2002 Doubleday Ave., Ballston Spa (518) 490-2521
SARATOGA COFFEE TRADERS
447 Broadway, Saratoga
SaratogaCoffeeTraders.com
SARATOGA GLUTEN
FREE GOODS BAKERY
176 Broad Street, Schuylerville (518) 695-6565
saratogaglutenfreegoods.com
SCOTTY’S RESTAURANT
215 Ballard Road, Gansevoort (518) 584-1444
ScottysTruckstop.com
THE SPA CAFÉ
480 Broadway, Saratoga Springs (518) 934-3440
SpaCafeOnBroadway.com
SPOT COFFEE
55 Railroad Place, Saratoga Springs (518) 306-5323
SPoTcoffee.com
SWEET MIMI’S CAFÉ AND BAKERY
47 Phila Street, Saratoga (518) 871-1780
SweetMimisCafe.com
RUSSELL’S DELI
303 Milton Avenue (Route 50), Ballston Spa (518) 885-DELI (3354) RussellsDeli.com
SWEENEY'S
106 Broad Street, Schuylerville (518) 695-5169
THORN + ROOTS
46 Marion Ave, Saratoga Springs (518) 430-2892
thornandroots.com
TRIANGLE DINER
400 Maple Avenue, Saratoga Springs (518) 583-6368
THE UGLY ROOSTER
• 2476 Rte 9, Malta (518) 899-5099
• 312 North 3rd Avenue, Mechanicville (518) 664-2769
TheUglyRooster.com
UNCOMMON GROUNDS
402 Broadway, Saratoga (518) 581-0656
UncommonGrounds.com
WALT CAFÉ
(Serving breakfast Wed – Sun)
20 Lake Avenue, Saratoga (518) 682-3602
waltandwhitmanbrewing. com/cafe-menu
WHISTLING KETTLE
24 Front Street, Ballston Spa (518) 884-2664
TheWhistlingKettle.com
THE WHITEHOUSE RESTAURANT
93-95 Milton Avenue, Ballston Spa (518) 885-6797
In 1869, Leonard Farr purchased a vacant lot on Union Avenue, the portion of Congress Street that after the Civil War was renamed in commemoration of the Union Army, and immediately granted it to his daughter, Huldah Lohnas. Huldah and her husband Deyoe, owned a grocery store on Church Street. He was noted for being the first person to establish a dressed beef cooler and refrigerator.
In 1870, the Lohnases built a large house in the Italianate style. According to the 1875 New York State Census, Huldah and Deyoe lived in the house with their two daughters, Nellie and Harriet; Huldah’s parents, Leonard and Amanda Farr; and two servants, a 40-year-old Irish woman and a 24-year-old man who was listed as a laborer and recorded as a former slave.
In 1876, Deyoe was elected the Village president and the following year the Lohnas’ sold 104 Union Avenue. In 1917, the Business Men’s Association hosted a dinner in honor of Deyoe’s 81st birthday. Deyoe gave a speech about how Saratoga Springs had changed over the years. He recalled, “Since 1866 Broadway has been practically rebuilt. All the large hotels except the Union have been burned and reconstructed, and all the old wooden business blocks have been replaced by modern structures. The town has grown from a small village into a city.” Deyoe passed away in 1926.
Judge Charles Smith Lester acquired the house from Deyoe. He and his wife Lucy and their children resided in the house until 1883 when he sold the property to Emelina and Mira Rood.
In 1886, Harvey Leonard of Oberlin, Ohio, bought the property and lived there with his wife, Helen. By 1910, Leonard encountered financial troubles. Miriam Leslie acquired the property after foreclosing on three mortgages she gave to the Leonard family.
Miriam met Frank Leslie, a publisher who was best known for “Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper,” when her second husband, Ephraim Squier, was the editor of Frank’s “Lady Magazine.” When Ephraim fell ill, she permanently took over as editor. In 1873, she divorced her ill husband and shortly thereafter married Frank. Frank and Miriam summered in Saratoga Springs and entertained many guests at their residence, Interlaken, on Saratoga Lake. In 1877, Miriam and Frank took a lavish train trip from New York to San Francisco. Miriam wrote “A Pleasure Trip from Gotham to the Golden Gate,” a book about their luxurious train excursion with colorful source of vignettes of western life—its Indians, scouts, and miners. Between the expense of the lavish trip and the effects of the economic depression of the 1870s, Frank's business was badly in debt. Upon his death in 1880, Frank left Miriam in a pile of lawsuits and with $300,000 of debt (today’s equivalent of nearly $9 million). Miriam legally changed her name to Frank Leslie, took over the publishing company, and rescued it from bankruptcy, which earned her the nickname “Empress of Journalism.” She later married and divorced Willie Wilde, the older brother of playwright Oscar Wilde.
Mrs. Frank Leslie owned 104 Union Avenue for only one year and the house was listed as vacant. In 1914, she passed away and left $130,000 to be divided among family and friends. She left her remaining $2 million estate to the women’s suffrage movement, one of the largest gifts to the movement. This was a surprise because she was never a visible supporter of the women’s right to vote. Her will was contested by many for years. Ultimately, the suffragists received $1 million towards their cause.
In 1911, George and Margaret Shevlin moved into the residence with their three children and Margaret’s sister, Mary Foley. George was the owner of the Baker and Shevlin Company, a large foundry and machine works on Ballston Avenue. On May 9, 1911, The Saratogian announced George Shevlin’s purchase of the property and that he planned to “extensively improve” it. On August 8, 1911, The Saratogian reported “George F. Shevlin has a force of workmen making extensive changes … the old gable has been removed and a broad piazza built around the house.”
Unfortunately, the Baker and Shevlin Company went bankrupt in 1917. Shevlin transferred the property to his sister-in-law Mary. However, the trustee for the bankruptcy successfully acquired the property after it was proven that Shevlin had transferred the property to Mary to shield the asset from his creditors.
In 1917, Bertha Schwabe acquired 104 Union Avenue. Her husband, Max, had extensive glove knowledge and was the manager of the local Clark Textile. During a strike at the mill, Max “flourished a revolver” while he tried to break up a fight between strikers and Clark Textile employees, according to the July 23, 1919, The Saratogian. Although no one was hurt, the strikers went to court to get Max’s permit to carry a revolver revoked. They were only partially successful. The July 26, 1919, Schenectady Gazette, reported that after a “lengthy hearing,” Max’s license was revoked, but was issued a different license that “limited the use of the revolver to his own home or when he was taking the company’s payroll from the bank.”
Mac Finn, proprietor of Mac Finn Drug Company at 396 Broadway, and his wife Mary purchased 104 Union Avenue on August 10, 1929, just a few months before the stock market crashed. However, they never lived there. They rented it out to others, including Wallace F. MacNaughton, a physician who lived and operated MacNaughton Sanatorium at the residence.
In 1941, Mac Finn transferred 104 Union Avenue and several properties on Broadway to James A. Leary, Finn’s business partner, in return for canceling promissory notes in excess of $300,000.
In 1944, Skidmore College acquired 104 Union Avenue and for 30 years it was known as the Kimball House, a dormitory. Upon Skidmore College relocating to its North Broadway campus, Verrazzano College acquired the building in 1972. Shortly after, Verrazzano College declared bankruptcy.
In 1977, it was returned to a singlefamily residence by Shelley D. Corwin. Three years later, Alexander and Phyllis Aldrich purchased the property where they raised their children. Alexander “Sam” Aldrich was an attorney who chose public service and was a civil rights advocate who marched with Martin Luther King in Selma, Alabama. He was the first director of the Hudson River Valley Commission and later the commissioner of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Later in life, he served as the attorney for the City of Saratoga Springs, SPAC, and Yaddo. His wife Phyllis was an educator who was committed to establishing and advocating programs for gifted children. She established programs in 31 school districts and enrichment programs that benefitted over 2,000 students.
In 1997, the Aldrichs sold the house to Stephan A. Jenkins and Katherine Malaga. In 2007, Richard and Leslie Ryall acquired the property and did an extensive rehabilitation of the deteriorated carriage house that was being used as a single-car garage. In 2010, the Ryalls lifted the building and temporarily moved it to allow for excavation of a new foundation to be constructed to adaptively reuse it as a three-bedroom guest house.
In 2018, Zane and Brady Carruth, of Houston, Texas acquired the property. To learn more about Zane and Brady and their ownership of the property see Architecturally Speaking, page 93. Their home was recently featured on the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation’s Historic Homes Tour and hosted the annual Porch Party in June. SS
WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER | PHOTOS PROVIDED
As soon as she could walk, Allison Cherkosly started riding horses. She rode Western, dressage, and did some trail riding, but what she really loved was hunter jumper competitions.
A hunter’s style and movement are informed by an expansive view, while a jumper‘s boldness and thrilling athleticism keeps it bounding beyond the inevitable spills.
Allison, a Shenendehowa grad who has lived most of her life in Saratoga County, earned a Bachelor’s at the University of Albany, MBA and MA in Public Policy from SUNY Empire, and Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration with a focus in Higher Education from SUNY Albany.
She spent more than 10 years in fundraising and organizational management and taught as an adjunct professor at UAlbany. She also served in Afghanistan’s Operation Enduring Freedom while in the Army.
“I know from personal experience how terrifying it is to go into an unknown situation. You’re terrified for yourselves and your family. That fear leads to Post Traumatic Stress (PTS),” she said.
In response, as Chief Executive Officer of Saratoga WarHorse, Allison launched the Military FAR Program in 2020 for the brave men and women of the Armed Forces on the frontlines of the pandemic.
“Issues with PTS start as an internal struggle with symptoms like depression, anger/aggression, anxiety, etc. Then it eats away at you and manifests into family and community problems as diverse as homelessness, unemployment, and suicide.”
“Without Saratoga WarHorse, more veterans would require VA care and long-term treatments for their serviceconnected disabilities (like PTS and depression),” added Allison,” - a far less effective, and more expensive, alternative to our program.”
This latest initiative is just one of the milestones that Saratoga WarHorse is celebrating during its 10th anniversary this year.
Founded by a group of veterans and passionate horsewomen and incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit in 2013, Saratoga WarHorse operated at many area farms until it found a permanent home in Saratoga Springs. There are also satellite locations in Aiken, SC and Baltimore County, MD.
Saratoga WarHorse pays 100% of the travel, lodging, meals, and program costs for veterans to establish a profound connection with a retired Thoroughbred racehorse during a 3-day natural horsemanship-inspired session.
When Allison came on in 2018, Saratoga WarHorse was going through a period of change.
“The founders did an excellent job creating an excellent program but every nonprofit comes to that three-prong fork in the road where they fold (as most do within their first five years), stay small, or try to grow. The board tasked me with the charge – we needed to be available to all veterans – now and in the future.”
Among Saratoga WarHorse’s greatest successes is celebrating their 1000th veteran served in 2019. Now, even considering COVID closures, they’ve maintained their financial heath and grown to help 1600 veterans from all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
In addition to veterans and family members, the retired racehorses in Saratoga WarHorse, a key component of their program, receive a second life. The experience helps these Thoroughbreds, many of whom have raced at the Saratoga Race Course, readjust to life off the track, making them more adoptable and aiding the entire aftercare community.
Saratoga WarHorse has also established an endowment fund ensuring their organization is strong enough to generate revenue to help the next generation of veterans.
“Saratoga WarHorse has definitely been a learning experience for me and others,” said Allison. “If other nonprofits face the same thing, (as they inevitably will) I’d advise them that it’s important to remember to look at all the things that are going well, and not just all the problems. Ultimately, we did face internal and external struggles and we came out stronger.”
Saratoga WarHorse’s 10th Annual Blue Spangled Gala on August 14th at Saratoga’s Hall of Springs will be a retrospective event recognizing founding Board members and benefactors, like Paul Oreffice, Anne Campbell, Brian Spearman, and others. The veterans’ journey highlights and a preview of the next 10 years will also be shared.
“The next generation of veterans will be different than the current one. They will have different needs. For our organization to survive and be successful, we need to meet the needs of those we’re serving by recognizing the next threats to the military community and adapting how we respond to them.”
For more information about Saratoga WarHorse, visit www.saratogawarhorse.org. SS
What you put on your head is hugely symbolic. I should know - I collect hats and have for 40 years.
I sometimes wear a Homburg, a gift from my children. It’s a style popularized by King Edward VII and worn by Neville Chamberlain, Churchill, Eisenhower, Anthony Eden, Michael Corleone, Santa Claus in Miracle on 34th Street, Humphrey Bogart in Sabrina and, yes, Roger Stone.
My collection includes an authentic pith helmet, which only gets worn on Dr Livingstone, I Presume’s birthday. My wife finds this troubling since I seem to be the only person on Planet Earth celebrating the occasion, but she knew that when she married me.
WRITTEN BY JPV OLIVER, GENT | IMAGE PROVIDEDThe late Alfred Z Solomon, whose portrait hangs in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, understood the significance of headwear utterly and it made him wealthy. But Solomon was hugely generous as well and nearly every Saratoga-area museum, cultural venue and hospital benefits to this day from the organization he set up, The Alfred Z Solomon Charitable Trust.
But it’s how he made his fortune that’s the brilliant bit. As a young man, Solomon spied expensive women’s hats in Manhattan department stores - and dreadfully cheap ones too. He instinctively understood this was a gap he could fill, so he flew to France and created knockoffs from the best Parisian designer ateliers.
He created Madcaps, a Manhattan-based wholesale hat company, that held licenses for Yves St. Laurent and Givenchy for decades.
Solomon came by his business acumen naturally; he was an autodidact in the truest sense and despite great wealth and success, he possessed not a molecule of hauteur or snobbery. He was a much-loved regular guy.
Even after his death, summer parties were held in Saratoga Springs in his honor. These affairs were joyous, as was he. In a city well-accustomed to celebrities, that’s no small accomplishment.
Such was his affection for the area that, in the late 1940s, he and his wife bought a nearly 300-acre farm near the Hudson River in Northumberland, NY, so they could be near the Track for each year’s meet. Naturally, they called it Madcap Farms.
Solomon sold his hat company at 95.
“The Solomon Trust is a huge force for cultural enrichment in our region,” says James Parillo, Executive Director of the Saratoga Springs Historical Society Museum in Congress Park. “Many of our exhibits owe their existence to that Trust.”
Among the local institutions the Trust supports are Yaddo, the artists’ retreat, Skidmore College’s Tang Teaching Museum and, especially, Saratoga Hospital.
“I never knew Alfred Z. Solomon, but his contributions to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame have been instrumental and his generosity continues to this day through his charitable foundation. He was a familiar face for generations at the Saratoga Race Course and he is honored with a race named after him,” said Cate Masterson, director of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.
“He was an innovative businessman and a great philanthropist who’ll always be remembered fondly by the Saratoga Springs and racing communities.”
A Runyonesque character at the Track for decades, Solomon was an avid cigar smoker who played golf at age 100 and danced at a summer gala at 103. He was a beloved Saratoga fixture, and the feeling was mutual. Inevitably, in his later years, Solomon would be asked about his secret for a long and vigorous life. His regimen, he’d reply, consisted of Maker’s Mark, a daily teaspoon of raisins soaked in gin, and cigars.
The Track has always had its share of unique individuals, but Alfred Solomon was among the very best of them. He’s my hero because we share a great affection for hatsand in a world of baseball caps, that’s a gift.
JPV Oliver, Gent’s memoir, I Know This Looks Bad, is available at Northshire Bookstore, Saratoga Springs, and online. SS
“I want a party happening in my paintings,”
says artist Tom Myott and with works in his studio, on exhibit in downtown Saratoga, and enjoyed in private collections, the South Glens Falls native is living up to his word.
During the summer, he can be found charming pedestrians while spreading joy and paint on a canvas, set up on the sidewalk in front of Silverwood Home and Gallery, Saratoga Olive Oil, or at Congress Park. Preceding the track opening, he heads north into the Adirondacks for inspiration amid the grand prix show-jumping action of the Lake Placid and I Love New York Horse Shows.
“Children love horses to begin with,” he says, recalling his own boyhood encounters with the animals at a farm near his family’s upstate home. “When I paint on the street, I often have young onlookers. I believe they are just as entranced by the process, and fluidity of applying strokes of color to a canvas, as they are by the subject.
“I enjoy asking a child to take a turn at painting on my canvas! Although they’re usually hesitant at first, it doesn't take a young artist long to wield a paintbrush confidently. It’s an experience that creates a lasting memory for a child and their parents, and I certainly enjoy it as well.”
The dots, dashes, and circles integral to his style translate into an artful Morse code for communicating with young people. They also bring full circle a very personal chapter from his early days as an artist.
“I knew in elementary school that I wanted to be an artist. I loved to draw. Bill McCarthy was my strongest influence through [South Glens Falls High] school. He was my art and drawing teacher.”
With the support and encouragement of his parents, Tom chose to study art education at Buffalo State College, following in his mentor’s footsteps. “[Bill] also graduated from Buffalo State. I was fortunate enough to obtain an art teaching position at my alma mater, so I taught with Bill for 15 years, until he retired.” Today, Tom Myott Gallery shares studio space with Bill’s Eastside Pottery in The Shirt Factory in Glens Falls.
Tom began exploring his professional career as a painter after a few years of teaching, first seeking to define his technique by emulating such painters as modern American conceptual portraitist, Chuck Close, and French postImpressionist, Georges Seurat.
“From an artist’s perspective, Thoroughbred racing is about motion and color. The dots and dashes allow me to create a sense of movement and emotion. This appealed to me more than traditional techniques of blending. I want a party happening in my colorful, expressive paintings!”
His approach to each horse-themed painting is different. “I adjust the medium, technique and style to accommodate what I am looking for. Brush types, size and expression of marks, saturation of colors, and number of subtle layers to apply are a few of the variables I use to control the work.
“I am heavily influenced by [Italian Renaissance artist and sculptor, Leonardo] da Vinci. I love the spontaneity and variety of line quality. I start with a loose, gestural line capturing the essence of the action. I enjoy the work so much at this point that I want to showcase it, not hide it beneath layers of color so I begin applying washes of muted tones over the charcoal sketches. This preserves the integrity of the line and gives it a sophisticated, earthy appearance.”
Racehorses and show horses represent different worlds, so Tom ‘swaps leads’ when it comes to choosing techniques: “For me, the difference is in the relationship between the
rider and horse. When painting a racing scene, I tend to use a similar technique throughout; I’m not concerned with recognition of a jockey’s facial features. When I paint a hunter/jumper competing, I prefer to adjust my technique to paint enough detail, so the rider is recognizable. I use a more traditional, realistic approach in the face and taper my brush strokes into the Impressionist technique of dots and dashes through the rest of the painting.”
“Painting a single horse is more intimate: I attempt to connect with its personality. When I’m painting a racing scene, I emphasize the tumultuousness of the contest or, conversely, serenity of the paddock.”
As the season opens, he’s grateful to again have a chance to capture all the energy and motion through his brush strokes, and make more memories for families and horse lovers to share.
“There are so many wonderful experiences that I am left with when I am finishing a painting. Every part of the horse show and Thoroughbred racing industries offers an artist the opportunity to portray it in their own way.”
So go ahead, throw a party. Paint the town Thoroughbred. His work is available in Saratoga at Silverwood Home and Gallery and Saratoga Olive Oil Company. He is accepting commissions, and visits to his Glens Falls studio in The Shirt Factory are available by appointment. www.tmyottart.com SS
WRITTEN BY WENDY HOBDAY HAUGH | PHOTOS COURTESY OF SIX FLAGS GREAT ESCAPE & RICHARD MATTURRO
For most people, a roller coaster is a roller coaster is a roller coaster. Fast, fun, terrifying, exhilarating! But for author and lifelong coaster enthusiast Richard Matturro of Stephentown, one specific type rules supreme: wooden roller coasters, aka ‘woodies.’ We in the Capital Region are privileged to have one of these impeccably-maintained, venerable old ‘classics’ (as coasters of the ‘20s, ‘30s, and ‘40s are dubbed) right here in our own back yard. Just head north to Six Flags Great Escape in Queensbury, and The Comet’s towering, majestic presence will be the first thing to catch your eye—and make your heart pound!
To date, Richard Matturro has ridden 67 woodies and 59 steel coasters. “On traditional wooden coasters, the metal wheels roll along noisily on a flat metal strip nailed to the wood track,” he wrote in a 1994 newspaper story about The Comet. “On a steel coaster, high-impact plastic wheels glide smoothly and silently on a track of tubular steel. To an aficionado, that makes all the difference. A woodie has, for lack of a better term, more romance. By their very nature, wooden roller coasters cannot perform the looping, upside-down acrobatics of their steel cousins, but they provide riders with the thrill of a living ride. No two seats are the same on a woodie.
“The back car experiences more whiplash,” he explains, “the front more a sensation of floating. No two days are the same, either. Wood is affected by heat, humidity, weight distribution, and even air pressure. Then there’s the noise. What can compare to the rush—and the terror—you get from hearing the rat-a-tat clatter of the lift hill as the chain raises your car up the shifting, swaying, organic structure beneath you?”
Part of the Comet—which today travels at a top speed of 55 MPH for two minutes and 15 seconds along a 4,197ft. track—was built in 1927 and named Cyclone. In 1947, this thrilling ride was redesigned and given a new, spaceage moniker: The Comet. For 40+ years, The Comet was a landmark at Crystal Beach, Ontario, Canada, its superstructure rising 95 feet over the water. But with the closing of Crystal Beach in 1989, this longstanding woodie was dismantled and put on the auction block.
So, how did The Comet wind up here, practically in our own back yard? To read what happened next, go to SimplySaratoga.com
Fortunately, The Comet’s retirement was short-lived. In October of ’89, Canada’s loss became New York State’s gain when art collector/amusement park developer/ philanthropist Charles R. Wood purchased the iconic ride for $210,000. Wood had been searching for a classic coaster in good condition to add to his equally iconic play land near Lake George, and The Comet fit the bill. Wood stored the sizeable structure at his Grand Island amusement park in Erie County while awaiting the results of an environmental impact study conducted by the Town of Queensbury.
Four years later, approval finally granted, the arduous task of transporting The Comet across New York State began in earnest, followed by the even more monumental task of reconstructing The Comet in its new location. As Matturro wrote in ’94, “It took 49 tractor-trailers to haul the sections of the coaster across the State from Buffalo to Lake George, at a cost of $240,000, some $30,000 more than the price of the coaster itself.”
Equally amazing was Wood’s total commitment to retaining the integrity of the original roller coaster, no matter the cost. Wood soon discovered that the original cars, manufactured by Philadelphia Toboggan Company, or PTC, no longer met modern-day safety standards. But, rather than replace them with the modern-looking Morgan train-type of cars commonly available in the 1990s, Wood commissioned the original company, PTC, to recreate new cars that captured the glorious age and characteristics of the original coaster. Charles Wood passed away in 2004, but his adherence to historic accuracy in the world of wooden roller coasters remains an inspiring testament to his unfailing vision and commitment. On September 13, 2009, the American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) designated The Comet a Roller Coaster Landmark, an honor reserved for rides of historical significance. To date, only 46 coasters have earned this distinction. What was considered in 1927 to be one of the world’s most thrilling rides is, today—96 years later!—still holding its own as one of the finest wooden roller coasters in existence. Richard Matturro rode The Comet as soon as the ride opened in ’94. The experience left such a lasting impression that he even wrote about it in a detailed scene from his 2007 novel, Luna.
“It is the sensation of imminent death that provides the thrill of a roller coaster. Zach saw the tracks drop away at an appalling forty-nine degrees off the horizontal. Every nerve of his body screamed panic. It was not that Zach feared he would die in the plunge; it was that he knew he would die. Ten-thousand years’ accumulated experience of his species told him that. Zach clung to the bar, and as the train plummeted, an incomprehensible, guttural sound escaped his lips. “And he did not die.”
Not all historic woodies are lucky enough to be saved. This relic (coincidentally, also named the Comet), once rolled in the now-defunct Lincoln Park, MA.
A retired Times Union librarian and U/Albany English professor, Matturro regularly teaches classes at OLLI, the Berkshire area’s chapter of Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. Summers, he also volunteers as a docent at Arrowhead, Herman Melville’s historic homestead in Pittsfield, MA. Matturro has six published books to his credit, as well as a multi-CD set titled Porch of the Maidens, featuring six of his short stories and a novella. Matturro, who holds a doctorate in English, specializing in Shakespeare and Greek Mythology, has written three novels about the ancient world: a comedy, Perseus; a tragedy, Medea; and a history, Troy. Both Perseus and Medea feature illustrations by artist Mary Trevor Thomas.
Matturro also has written three contemporary novels about women on personal missions. Luna, Janey, and Leslie, collectively known as his Tri-Cities Trilogy, take place in Albany, Schenectady, and Troy, respectively. The author sprinkles mythological references throughout all three stories, and his lifelong fascination with amusement parks shines through in Luna and Leslie.
This summer as you head to Six Flags Great Escape for an exciting mix of relaxation and thrills, be sure to check out The Comet! Whether you choose to brave its wild ride or simply appreciate its magnificent architecture, you’ll be awed by this time-honored woodie’s unique clattering soundtrack, stunning dips ‘n dives, and unparalleled place in roller coaster history.
• To learn more about Richard Matturro, visit www.richardmatturro.com
• Visit Six Flags Great Escape at www.sixflags.com/greatescape SS
WRITTEN BY JIM RICHMOND | PHOTOS PROVIDED
“I am Neil Peck, the sixth generation here at Welcome Stock Farm.” Neil began his interview for the Saratoga County History Center’s recently completed film on Bacon Hill by referring to his family heritage. He was not the only one who did so. Neil and his brother Bill, the current supervisor for the Town of Northumberland, both began their stories the same way. So did other Bacon Hill families -Peck, King, Thomas, Winney, Carmer. History is important to the families of this farming community located three miles northwest of Schuylerville, New York. They know it. But more importantly, they believe it. They believe that their challenges, struggles, and successes are part of a continuing storyline. So do their children.
“Growing up on a farm, I see how much agriculture impacts us and it is something that we could not live without.” said fifteen-year-old Hannah King after reciting the opening paragraph of the Creed of the Future Farmers of America. Hannah and her seventeen-year-old brother Nate have no reservations about continuing the tradition of their parents and grandparents.
However, heritage is not the only motivation for the people of this crossroads and its surrounding farmlands. Another important ingredient is a positive attitude. While they revere their past, their focus is on the future. They are always looking for ways to not only stay competitive but to exceed expectations. Neil Peck again. “In 2013 we all decided it was time for a new milking facility to advance us into the most modern technology of milking cows.”
Continuous improvement is vital for the farms in this community. Economies of scale is vital. Several of the largest farms in Bacon Hill have expanded ten-fold in the last 50 years, some now milking 1000 cows, three times a day. In the modern farming environment, expansion is vital to their success. They also have another competitive advantage. All the large farms now stake their future on genetics- scientific selection of the most productive Holstein cows.
But what inspires this enthusiasm and faith in the future? One motivation might be the sheer beauty of the location.
Bacon Hill lies on a modest plateau rising just a couple hundred feet above the valley of the Hudson River to the east. But it is just high enough to enjoy the view. To the east, the hills of Washington County and distant Green Mountains are visible from the roads that take travelers though the expansive farmlands. North and West the distant Adirondack Mountains add to the scene. The beauty of the land is its own inspiration.
How was it that pioneers came to this area? Even though early settlement followed the pattern of many other communities in Saratoga County, it is not a straightforward story. Many colonial era pioneers were scattered by several years of upheaval highlighted by Burgoyne’s invasion and the Battles of Saratoga in 1777. This was compounded by economic uncertainty during the 1780s under the Articles of Confederation. Settlers began arriving in earnest in the 1790s.
Yes, the view was beautiful. But what kept families here for generations was the richness of the soil. Many settlers moved westward from New England, where their ancestors had overcultivated the best farmland, leaving little for their children. Eastern Saratoga County provided a fresh start in fertile country for the younger generation.
Two of the first post-war arrivals were brothers Martin and Isaac Vanderwerker. Veterans of the American Revolution, they settled north of the crossroads, along today’s Route 32 where Isaac’s grandson’s home still stands. Other settlers followed, including two families that gave their names to the crossroads today known as Bacon Hill. Lathrop Pope and Ebenezer Bacon were soon able to put their own stamp on the crossroads within a few years of their arrival in 1794.
Ebenezer was the youngest of 11 children of Ebenezer and Lydia Lathrop. He served as a soldier in the American Revolution, enlisting in the Third Connecticut Regiment where he rose to the rank of Sergeant. By 1790 Ebenezer Bacon had married and moved from Lebanon, Connecticut to Stillwater, New York where his children were born. Joined briefly there by his nephew Lathrop Pope, they both relocated 10 miles north to a small crossroads then known as Fiddlers Corners.
There in 1794 Ebenezer purchased 63 acres for £120 and opened a tavern and a store. Lathrop opened a blacksmith shop frequented by the growing number of farmers settling on the fertile land surrounding the crossroads which soon became known as Pope’s Corners.
Ebenezer died in 1817 at the age of fiftyseven. Lathop Pope moved on to Essex County, New York in 1832. The crossroads officially became Bacon Hill that year but was often referred to as Pope’s Corners for the next 30 years.
The crossroads became the market town for the surrounding farms. General stores, blacksmith and wagon shops, a feed store and millinery shop, sprung up surrounding the stately Dutch Reformed Church built in 1820. Enterprising businessmen operated a small glove factory. Another produced beaver hats. An aromatic tannery greeted travelers making their way through the hamlet to stop at the Bacon Hill House, a tavern and small hotel.
However, the farms were the economic engine that vitalized the crossroads. Slowly at first, the timberland gave way to fields of wheat, soybeans, and corn. Small farms became more numerous and grew larger over time. New families arrived and became entwined with the first settlers. In 1836 Henry Wagman Peck married Melinda
Vanderwerker, granddaughter of original settler Isaac and purchased the property that is today’s Welcome Stock Farm. His home still stands along with its memories of six generations of Pecks along West River Road.
Recently the livestock farms have been joined by other businesses that share the same attitude- building on the past to prepare for the future. Brian and Jennifer Thomas operate an extensive poultry farm that supplies eggs to Stewarts and many other local retail outlets. Jen calls it a small farm. It is not small. But her characterization says a lot about how they see themselves – family owned, family operated, family run.
In the late 20th century – yesterday by Bacon Hill standards – Brian Carmer and his brother Britt expanded Stonebridge Iron and Steel begun by their father on an old chicken farm. The company manufactures large steel fabrications sold throughout the United States and beyond. Many of the firm’s 90 employees have long-term connections to the business.
Another extended farming family illustrates an important dimension of what makes Bacon Hill a special place. I’d call it Love. Kings Ransom Farm and King Brothers Dairy are operated by brothers Jeff and Jan King. Their father Edgar King, as town supervisor in the 1990s drew the community together to oppose the County’s plan to site a county dump on the surrounding farmlands. Taking on such a challenge is never easy and can often divide neighbors into opposing camps. Jeff King described Bacon Hill’s response to his father’s leadership. “What resonates with me is that I come across people all the time, who talk about what a great job he did and how much they respected him. He really set the standard that I hope to pass on to my own children.”
Judging by our conversations with Jeff’s son Johnathan and Jan’s children Hannah and Nate, the King family is well on their way to following in the footsteps of their grandfather. Johnathan, age 23 - one of the many Cornell graduates among Bacon Hill farmers - has his eyes set on the farming operation. Nate is interested in the retail side of the Dairy. Hannah is unsure of her exact career path, but she shares the mind set of so many people in this community. “There are so many opportunities out there and so much that I am interested in. In the end I just want to stay close to my family.” My hunch is she will. SS
is about an up-and-coming 80s rock band, and the author tells the story through the eyes of their manager. Funny thing is - Rikk Feulner traveled with bands himself as tour manager, and all the stories in his novel are things that happened in real life on the road.
"Everyone was having a great time back then," he says. "Common goals for bands were landing a record deal, appearing on MTV, and touring. And there was so much money to be had – it was a great time to work in the music business."
"I grew up in Corinth," he tells me. "I was like so many other kids - into music, art, sports, bands, and theater. In school, they voted me the 'most creative.'" Rikk played the drums and was a lead singer performing in clubs and New England colleges, typical gigs for young bands. While we chat, I learn we both grew up listening to the same great music of the 60s,70s, and 80s.
When COVID hit, Rikk says he went from being "Full-on busy - touring with bands one day, to a complete standstill the next. Nothing was happening. No one could perform. Musicians suffered. We weren't getting money from the
government to help us live. It was like they forgot about us and the music industry. So, there I was, pacing the rooms of my home, going crazy. I mean, I'm a workaholic - I love this way of life." I know how he feels - we all went a little nuts during the pandemic.
"My wife was like - Rikk - do something. You can't just keep pacing the floor all day!" So he thought about writing - he thought about all the bands he'd worked with - a whopping 38 different ones spanning over 40 years. Artists like The Eagles, Robert Plant, Alison Krauss, Keith Urban, Johnny Winter, Slipknot and Peter Frampton, to name a few. He kept a notebook near the bed and would jot down any funny, exciting, or dramatic thing that came to mind. "Soon, I had 75-80 snippets, you know, short paragraphs, and thought maybe, just maybe, I could build a story from there."
Rikk compiled all his memories, wrote his novel, and sent it to a publisher - one was interested in publishing it, if Rikk was willing to name the bands he was referring to.
"There was no way I wanted to do that," Rikk tells me. "The stories were great - life is weird and crazy things happen on the road, but if names were attached, I'd never work again." Rikk self-published this 200-plus-page novel through Lulu, and you can find it on Amazon, Barnes & Nobel or your local library. Look for the one about Rikk finding a dead body - it was my favorite!
When I ask how he came up with the band name, I hear a deep sigh, then a chuckle on the other end of the line. "Let me tell you, thinking of a name for the band was harder than writing the book was." He shares how he changed the name five or six times. "I would think of a band name and send it to all my friends and family to see what they thought. Some liked it, and some hated it. Which made me keep working at it till Cherry Thieves was born." Besides listening to other opinions, he came up with maybe 30-40 possible names but discovered many were already taken. "I had two computer friends scouring the internet for anything referring to Cherry Thieves. Neither one found anything, thank god."
Rikk has been married to his wife Janet for 34 years. They have two sons and a daughter - none want to follow in his footsteps. The couple also has three grandkids to spoil. "Don't get me wrong," he tells me. "My kids all love music - just not my side of it." I asked what a typical day was like on the road as a tour manager. He laughed.
"When you go to work tomorrow - write down the first 11 people you interact with. Then, imagine living, sleeping, working, drinking, etc., with them every dayfor months on end sometimes. There will be people you like and others you don't like. On the road - you don't get to pick the people. You better be able to adapt."
Rikk has an insider's perspective on the music industry we all love. Cherry Thieves offers a fascinating, mysterious, and often humourous peek into the touring world. A great read from a great guy. Grab a copy!
EVERY SO OFTEN YOU ENCOUNTER A MUSICIAN WHO DEFIES DEFINITION. Their musical influences are complex, making each song an adventure. These are artists whose music stimulates your mind as well as your ears. Lucas Garrett is such a musician. His fourth recording, Reaching Through Dreams, was released in September 2022. “It began when I was nine or ten,” Lucas recalls. “It was the Beatles’ White Album. I got my first guitar and learned by lifting the needle and moving it back over and over again.” His first foray on stage was the high school talent show playing an instrumental “Let It Be,” having learned the solo note for note. Lucas took on the challenge of piano by purchasing an Elton John song book, and learned to read music listening to recordings while watching what was on the pages. After achieving this brilliant feat, he dropped piano. “I had limited time and knew if I'm going to do this, it's on guitar.” There is, however, substantial keyboard in Lucas' music. For those songs he hires other musicians, “But I write the music.”
Lucas played his first open mic around 2012 and was invited to play a spotlight show. Soon after, Rick Bolton asked him to fill in on a two-hour gig. When a friend asked if Lucas wrote any songs he answered no, and his friend asked why not. “That made me ask myself why not,” he said. He produced his first recording with Jesse Bolduc, bass player for Candy Ambulance. Jesse was new to recording and Lucas was new to collaborating. The results were Evening's Come, but It's Not Dark. “We didn't set out to make a record,” Lucas said. “We were just two friends kicking around.” Evening's Come, but It's Not Dark gained attention and the reaction led Lucas to produce another recording. Unlike the first, all of the songs on Love is Better were written in advance. On these sessions Lucas first worked with bass player Kevin Kosach. “That Lucas was doing original music caught my attention,” Kevin said. Kevin's varied experience offered opportunities. “I played upright for a while,” he said. “I played jazz, some legitimate orchestral work, square dances, and with folk singers. Working together Lucas brings his ideas,
I bring mine and we get some pretty interesting stuff,” he said. “Lucas is the writer. He brings a song, I can play the background parts, but I don't write the songs.
At age 29, Lucas has produced four recordings, including the album Love is Better; and EP's Evening's Come, but It's Not Dark and Familiar Floors. In Lucas' words, Reaching Through Dreams, his recent recording, is his most personal, flowing from a relationship that changed who he is. “The person who inspired Reaching Through Dreams encouraged me to be more open about myself, love, my life,” Lucas commented. “People will hear that on this record.”
Lucas Garrett's recordings can be found on his website lucasgarrettmusic.com SS
WANT FABULOUS SKIN? NURTURE IT THE WAY NATURE INTENDED.
Feed and protect your skin, day or night, with Divine Radiance, an all-in-one cream and serum for the face and neck, created by a local beauty specialist.
Growing up, Mary Kuntz watched her mother, Mildred, diligently care for her complexion. The ritual peaked Kuntz’s curiosity. After graduating from Lake George High School, Kuntz worked at Saratoga’s The Style Studio before managing her own salon, New Age Hair Design, in Round Lake, from 1985 until 1992, when she moved across the country to Seattle.
The area was a fertile incubator for natural health and beauty. In the five years she was there, Kuntz was certified as a Massage Therapist specializing
“It has all the ingredients every cream should have – all the best ingredients nature can give us - everything that maintains beautiful, healthy skin,” said Kuntz.
Divine Radiance contains 95% organic, responsiblysourced, cruelty-free, and GMO-free ingredients including alpha lipoic acid (an antioxidant powerhouse that reduces fine lines); hydrating argan oil; pumpkin seed and rose hip oils that regenerate skin at the cellular level; and other natural ingredients mixed into a beeswax base, giving this luxurious lotion a rich, thick texture and a light fragrance.
in Deep Tissue and Neuromuscular Massage. While working at an Aveda salon, she began giving facials and learning about their aroma therapybased line of products. Already an early adopter of supplements, she also began eating an almost entirely organic diet. After returning to New York, Kuntz worked as a massage therapist and esthetician at the (now closed) Crystal Spa, then spent 14 years working at One Roof Saratoga. She now offers Massage, Sound Healing and Facials at both Bodyworks Professionals in Saratoga and Hochman Chiropractic in Queensbury. After hearing requests for a different kind of face cream, Kuntz began experimenting, and on her seventh attempt, she created the formula for Divine Radiance; a successful blend of natural ingredients that gives skin a natural glow.
Used topically since the times of the ancient Egyptians, beeswax is loaded with vitamin E, soothing for the skin and creating a protective barrier that locks in moisture. Its antiinflammatory properties can also help calm down irritated skin, stimulate circulation, boost collagen production, and balance excess oil production. (The cream can separate slightly and needs to be stirred occasionally.)
With healing music playing, Kuntz infuses each handcrafted batch with love and the spiritual intention that its wearer feel comforted and nurtured.
Purchase Divine Radiance Face cream at Four Seasons Natural Foods Store, Mouzon House, Bodywork Professionals in Saratoga Springs, Hochman Chiropractic in Queensbury and at www.etsy.com/divine-radiance-face-cream
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490 Broadway | 518-584-3500
www.SaratogaOutdoors.com
Saratoga Outdoors has the finest selection of outdoor gear, apparel, and footwear you need to outfit your next adventure, whether you’re heading to the Adirondacks or a stroll in town.
Formally part of Mountainman Outdoor Supply Company
WRITTEN BY ZANE CARSON CARRUTH
Two of Paris, France’s signature events are Paris Fashion Week and the Qatar Prix de ‘Arc de Triomphe Thoroughbred horse race held at the Paris Longchamp racecourse. My husband and I had the thrill of attending both October 1 & 2, 2022. On October 1st, I was a guest at the Hermes Fashion Show and was not prepared for the glamour and excitement I experienced. We were greeted with a glass of champagne and show notes handed out by attendants dressed in suits to set the stage for the classy and sophisticated show one would expect from Hermes.
Nadege Vanhee-Cybulski, the Hermes artistic director, played off the Burning Man Festival atmosphere on the set. Guests were seated on risers facing a huge set in the shape of a mound of desert sand. The white mound came alive with moving colors when the show started. It was all very utilitarian and minimalist driven, creating a somber stage for the expressionless models to walk. The models wore the same cubist-style platform sandals in various colors as they walked the runway in the sleek, no-frills collection in browns, and orange, with splashes of color. A blast of russet-colored looks came later, followed by silky dresses with hints of orange and pink, created from perforated leather. One could say it was typical Hermes, which is what we wanted to see.
The crowd was very eclectic to say the least. This was the first time I saw hordes of Influencers taking selfies and friends filming them. The media was snapping photos of them fast and furious as well. I learned that dayInfluencers have the prestige and are the new norm.
The weekend was a blur as we were off to the races as they say, the next day. For more than 100 years, during the first weekend of October, the equestrian world has met at Paris Longchamp for the largest horse race in the world. Upon arrival of the Qatar Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe race at the Paris Longchamp track, we were struck by how grand the racetrack and lawn area were. Tables and chairs were set out on the lawn and most of the attendees watched the race from there.
This grand weekend event was attended by over 35,000 spectators, including 250 journalists representing 26 different countries. It is clearly an international horseracing setting.
We came to watch LA PARISIENNE, a filly owned by Bradley Thoroughbreds, of which we are partners. We were joined by 7 other La Parisienne couples that weekend and there was no lack of enthusiasm amongst the group.
I noticed several stark differences between a US racetrack and Longchamp. The most glaring was the stable area. The individual stalls had Dutch doors that ensured complete privacy for the horse. The other huge difference was the paddock. There was no consideration for the safety of the owners. We had to have our heads on a swivel and be ready to move quickly if a horse acted up. Which of course they did!
We had a fabulous time and even though our beautiful filly didn’t win, we felt like winners just being there.
For more Zane…
SimplySaratoga.com and www.zanecarruth.com
I was fortunate enough to have backstage passes along with an unobstructed view of the fashion show!
What a day - an unbelievable experience I will never forget!
to offset the newness of the land, the homes, and the settlers. Some say the interest was initiated by a desire to return to the roots of yesterday. I contend the entire movement to acquire antiques was
when I think of reasons I love to go antiquing, there are many; thrift, value, the quality of items from the past, and the quest to find a treasure beyond words, to name a few. But the history - wondering who owned each item also intrigues me. I think there's a thread of connection between antiques and shoppers - a faint memory of childhood when things seemed so much easier.
One of my best friends loves old wine glasses. She spends a gazillion hours rummaging through antiques shops, buying unique designs whenever she travels. She remarks, "I think about the guests coming to my wedding and purchase the stemware with them in mind."
My oldest sister loved colorful glass marbles and always looked for them during her weekends antiquing in New England. I loved playing with tops as a kid and have spent a pretty penny on several of them while out antiquing. You get the idea.
This year marks the 51st Anniversary of New York's largest outdoor antiquing event; the MadisonBouckville Antique Week - and if you love antiquing as I do - you need to be there! The event began in 1972 as a thrift hunter's dream, with a mere 10-12 vendors displaying their wares on an airstrip next to Route 20. Later, in the late 80s-early 90s, it grew exponentially, taking over several fields and a long stretch of highway. Madison-Bouckville is proud to put on this week-long event; folks from all over the state and country are excited to witness it. And John Mancino, the Madison-Bouckville Promotions president, ensures it runs smoothly.
Last August, I took a weekend drive to see what all the fuss was about - and man, there was a ton to write home about! The curving roads from Saratoga to my destination were lined with beautiful trees and an expanse of meadows as far as the eyes could see. I was delighted to find a few pull-off spots to take photos along the way. Eventually, the scenic drive led me to the bustling town of Bouckville, where I learned there were over 1,500 dealers in attendance. They lined the charming downtown area along Route 20 –all the way from Bouckville to Madison, New York.
Some say the antique syndrome surfaced
born out of sheer respect for things that lasted longer than fifteen minutes."
- Erma Bombeck
John!
There were so many interesting people there - some of whom I met and had conversations with, a few I intend to write about at another time. The most fascinating was a young man named John, who fell in love with antiquing when he was very young. He'd ask his parents to drop him off at the fairgrounds for the entire week and then stay with different vendors while he learned the trade. He's in his late 20s or early 30s now and rents a space under the tents. While chatting, he told me he also owns a funeral home, which made me smile. He must have taken 3-4 phone calls from folks looking for this, that, or the other thing while I was there—quite a busy fellow. It was beautiful to be out in the fresh air, wandering around with so many others - all of us were just glad to be out and about; socializing with friends, family, and even strangers seemed extra special. I was amazed at the plethora of things available for sale and surprised to find a few treasures myself. I fell in love with the ANRI wooden wine stoppers and bought one that looked like a photographer!
Another sister of mine, who lives in Arizona, collects a unique glassware pattern, and I am always looking for a new piece when I'm out antiquing. When I spent time with her last year, I found one fantastic piece in an antiques shop, and here at the Bouckville event, I found another. I quickly took a picture of it and sent it to her. "Quick, tell me if you have this!" I typed in bold letters. "If you don't have it already, would you like it?" It was an exciting find. She didn't have this Daisy Button piece, so I bought it and shipped it out a few days later.
I chose Hotel One75 for my overnight stay. The owners had recently refurbished the 93-spacious room hotel and had it slated to open the week I'd be in the area - which meant yours truly would be one of their first visitors! When I looked up places near Route 20, where all the action during Antique Week would happen, Hotel One75 popped up, and I was instantly delighted! I was tickled pink to wander around the outside courtyard, referred to as 'The Quad,' where I saw a massive checkerboard set, corn-hole games, comfy couches, and several tables where people could relax after darkroasting marshmallows in the fire pit, no less!
The hotel staff said that soon there'd be complimentary wine and beer offered upon guests' arrival, but they were still getting this welcoming feature set up. It was lovely - they apologized for the inconvenience and offered me ice cream as a consolation prize. That made me laugh – and the cup of ice cream was delicious! Hotel One75 also provided complimentary breakfasts, ensuring every guest had a good head start on whatever they'd planned for the day.
My room was bright and cheerful, with plenty of space to move about - my favorite part was seeing a lemon-yellow chair at a desk where I could work on stories and photos while away from home.
Another thing that impressed me was how accessible-friendly this hotel is; from the extra-wide guest room and bathroom doors to allowing service animals, several wheelchair ramps, lowered emergency evacuation instructions, and visual alarms for the deaf and hard of hearing, management seemed to have thought of everything.
I love visiting wineries when I travel, and while I was in Central New York for the antique week's celebration, I stopped at Owera Vineyards. I've been to Cazenovia so many times - it feels like a home away from home, and I was glad I discovered this place because it made me feel the same way! It's a business model that believes wine can bring families and communities together for casual gatherings and special occasions.
This 57-acre farm was purchased in 2007, and its first official crush was in 2010. Since then, the owners have added a wine production facility, event and promotional center, and a gorgeous tasting room - which was hopping the afternoon I showed up with a friend. We were treated like old friends, and staff members were more than willing to answer any questions we had about the wine. Believe me - we enjoyed a few different varieties with a charcuterie board while there. And yes, we may have bought a few bottles to take home! After being out in the sun and heat all day, sitting inside at the bar and enjoying ourselves for a while was great.
This year the event runs from August 14-20, 8 am-5 pm. If you haven't treated yourself and a loved one to a few days in this part of New York yet, you should! With 12 independent show fields, food trucks with all kinds of great items to choose from, and free admission into the event, you can't go wrong! I hope you come to shop the two-mile stretch of historic Route 20. Maybe you'll find something you can't live without like I did. SS
If you’ve ever wondered about the colorfully painted, often intricately-designed squares affixed to rural barns, outbuildings, homes, and businesses, wonder no more! These eye-catching barn quilts are part of an ever-growing barn quilt trail movement that is currently thriving in almost every State in the Union. Barn quilts, usually ranging in size from 4’ x 4’ to 8’ x 8,’ are created as visible signs of rural pride, local history, and love of family and community. Smaller quilt-like designs can also be spotted adorning lesser landmarks like fences, posts, and sheds.
For centuries, people have expressed themselves by painting intricate shapes and messages on structures. Today’s barn quilts are a natural extension of this ancient form of pictorial communication. An Ohio woman named Donna Sue Groves is credited with spearheading our nationwide barn quilt movement. Wishing to honor her mother’s incredible cloth quilting, Groves told her mom that one day she would paint a quilt design on a decrepit old tobacco barn on their property. After Groves painted that barn, other people took note and, inspired by her creativity, began creating their own barn quilt squares.
After securing a job with the Ohio Arts Council, Donna Sue Groves came to understand that barn quilts and other meaningful murals painted on structures not only enhanced a sense of regional community spirit but enchanted travelers and tourists as well. When Groves proposed painting quilt-like squares on a number of barns in the area, the Adams County Arts Council backed her idea. In 2001, the Ohio Quilt Barn Project was launched, and its first quilt square was painted on a nearby barn. In the years since, countless quilt barn trails have sprung up all across the U.S. and Canada.
Today, we are fortunate to have one such trail blazing its way through neighboring Fulton and Montgomery counties. Since 2014, the Fulton Montgomery Quilt Barn Trail (FMQBT), officially founded by Town of Mayfield resident Liz Argotsinger, has grown to include over 160 registered squares. In the early 2000s, after reading in a quilting magazine about the trail being started in Ohio, Argotsinger became eager to combine her two loves, quilting and painting, and create a square of her own.
“I’d been painting quilt squares on furniture for years,” she explains, “and after retiring in 2009, I was able to do several things I hadn’t had time for previously. In January 2014, while beginning to train for my second Lake Placid Ironman, I thought it would be a great time to see if there might be any interest in establishing a local quilt barn trail. Starting the trail seemed like a good idea then, and nine years later we have over 160 registered squares, with new unregistered ‘bonus’ squares popping up all the time.”
In order to be included in Fulton Montgomery’s trail, quilt squares must be visible from the road. Argotsinger’s initial 8’ x 8’ square, which she painted and affixed to her family’s barn on Route 29, sparked tremendous local interest. Since then, the project has taken on a life of its own. Some people make their own squares. Others seek out experienced artisans to paint squares for them. Because the quilt barn trail was originally conceived as a communitywide art project, no writing or business logos are allowed. A completely volunteer effort, the trail stands as a testament to the power and dedication of community spirit.
Today, quilt barn squares can be found at local churches, schools, businesses, and historical sites throughout the region. A three-square quilt adorns the Johnstown Senior Center, and a stunning mural at the Town of Mayfield Municipal Complex— created in conjunction with a studio art class—features more than 50 individual 2’ x 2’ squares, each one designed and painted by a student.
Brochures for the Fulton Montgomery Quilt Barn Trail are available at numerous locations, including the Visitor Center at the Route 29 & 30 roundabout. Since most of the quilt squares are located on private property, owners respectfully ask that visitors pull over and view them from the roadside.
Should you find yourself inspired to join the fun and create your own quilt barn square, step-bystep videos are available online. And be sure to check out the Fulton Montgomery Trail’s video link, below. From coast to coast, the barn quilt movement is growing by leaps and bounds, and you can be a part of it!
Download the FMQBT map at www.fmquiltbarntrail.com/map.html.
Check out this local trail video! www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lTkTIPUXCY
To see other registered U.S. trails, go to: barnquiltinfo.com/map-US.html
Questions? Contact Liz Argotsinger: 518-774-8717; argotsinger18@hotmail.com SS
Glass can be produced in all colors of the spectrum. Early glassblowers knew this could be accomplished by adding certain compounds to the basic glass (or silica) mixture. The results ranged from deep blues (cobalt or copper) to purple (nickel or manganese) to greens (chromium or copper) to reds (selenium, copper or gold) to browns (nickel or carbon) to yellows (iron) to opal/milk glass (tin or zinc). Examples of such vintage bottle making are found inside the National Bottle Museum. Photo courtesy of the NBM
Boasting a collection of more than 3,000 flasks dating as far back as the early 1700s, the National Bottle Museum, just south of Saratoga Springs, recently welcomed an effervescent director. Best of all Kayla Whitehouse’s archaeological background promises to help guests develop an even deeper appreciation for the fragile artifacts that often spent many moons as buried treasures before being unearthed and preserved as precious links to our past.
Having three decades ago journeyed to the remote ruins of what had in the mid-1800s been Oscar Granger’s thriving Glass Factory Mountain community at Mount Pleasant, this writer was thrilled when Whitehouse – who has been at the NBM’s helm since January – led me to a life-size portrait of him that was commissioned as part of an exquisite new exhibit titled Making Bottles and Making History.
digging into
history is just part of what’s on tap inside the National Bottle Museum, when you meet the New Director!Director Kayla Whitehouse toasts Oscar Granger. Photo by Ann Hauprich.
In the spirit of bringing history to life, the display also features an artistic recreation of a furnace which was used at the high production glassworks that had employed multitudes of glassblowers when all bottles were manufactured with hand tools and lung power. Technological artifacts at the museum include some of the earliest tools used to skillfully craft individual bottles as well as samples of raw materials that were required to make the glass that was needed to bottle the waters from this region’s world-famous natural mineral springs.
Adding to the museum’s HAT trick experience is the Jan Rutland Memorial Artists’ Space on the second floor where an alluring Art of the Bottle show is now being showcased, To say Whitehouse bubbles with enthusiasm when asked about the long and winding road that led her back to her hometown and why she is so passionate about her responsibilities at the NBM would be an understatement. After graduating from Ballston Spa High School in 2007, Whitehouse pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree in Classics from Colgate University in Hamilton, NY. The year prior to earning this BA in 2011, she volunteered with the Mopan Valley Archaeological Project. Not long thereafter, she embarked upon learning adventures at the Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, where in 2014 she earned a Master of Arts (MA) in Anthropology, with a Focus on Archaeology. These experiences helped to prepare – and uniquely qualify – her for the position she landed six months ago at the National Bottle Museum.
Noteworthy innovations and renovations at the landmark destination include building upgrades that brought electricity up to the museum’s third-floor storage area. “Previously it didn't have any electricity or lighting, which really limited its usability as a workspace, so hopefully now we will be able to take advantage of that space. We received a grant from the Alfred Z. Solomon Charitable Trust which enabled us to repaint the façade of our building, keeping it in the Victorian style that Ballston Spa is famous for. We're also working on our reference library
and research area, so if anyone is doing bottle research, they will be able to visit our library to use our reference materials,” says Whitehouse.
One of the oldest bottles in the museum dates to the 1720s. “It was on a trading ship named Princess Carolina, which was damaged in 1729 and ended up being used as fill material when they built up the land to expand Manhattan. When the ship was excavated in 1982, the bottle was discovered onboard, and eventually made its way to the museum!” beams Whitehouse.
Because the NBM also operates the Ballston Spa Visitor's Center, it houses a collection of village maps, flyers and brochures from local shops and restaurants. And while the gift shop mainly stocks NBM souvenirs, such as hats, T-shirts, and shot glasses it also partners with the Ballston Spa Business and Professional Association (BSBPA) to provide some village-themed gifts, as well.
Whitehouse is eager to spread the word of museum internship programs, volunteer opportunities and the importance of memberships – which have been the backbone of the notfor-profit since it was established in 1978. Each year, the museum takes on an intern for the summer months through the Saratoga County Summer Youth Employment Program while year-round volunteer opportunities offer a broad spectrum of experiences. The museum’s all-volunteer Board of Trustees, for example, is extremely active with exhibits and events. “We would not be able to function without them,” insists Whitehouse. Membership perks, meanwhile, include free admission to the museum, a discount in the gift shop and a newsletter. Little wonder I signed up to become a member before heading home that day!
For those interested in learning more, visit www.nationalbottlemuseum.org, email info@nationalbottlemuseum.org or call at 518-885-7589.
To read this interview in its entirety and enjoy a richly illustrated feature about why Ballston Spa was chosen as the perfect setting for the National Bottle Museum, search National Bottle Museum on SimplySaratoga.com SS
History, waterfalls, beaches, parks, several museums, gift shops, thrift shops, historic schoolhouse, Adirondack craft classrooms, horses, riding trails, dude ranches, campgrounds, inns, hotels, eateries, and so much more! And all are easy on the wallet (some even free!) Who does that? Lake Luzerne does!
Freelance and fine arts photographer
Member: Saratoga Arts
And Lake Luzerne Town Ambassador, a group of volunteers welcoming you to the fabulous hamlet of Lake Luzerne during July and August at the historic Rockwell Harmon Cottage and Visitors Center at 37 Main Street in Lake Luzerne.
The "Town Ambassador" program began in 2015 to help spread the word about this gorgeous location in the Southern Adirondacks. Look for our Open Flags!
Contact the town if you are interested in joining the ranks as a Town Ambassador!
Let’s start at the historic Rockwell Harmon Cottage and Visitor Center. We are full of brochures, maps, and fun passports. The Cottage is the last building still in existence of what used to be known as the Rockwell Hotel, an Adirondack hotel destination that wined and dined many famous people, such as General Grant, back in its heyday.
"The Rock" has a back lawn that faces the rushing Hudson River, the very same waterway that Saint Kateri Tekakwitha used to portage her way to Canada.
Bring your paints and easel and set up on the cottage lawn, bring your camera, walk the trails, or just sit by the Hudson in the Adirondack chairs... and decompress. It simply feels like magic here listening to the river and watching the sun peek through the woods. For another fun activity, pick up the First Wilderness Heritage Corridor
Letterboxing Passport at the Visitors
Center, and go off to find the hidden stamps at each site you are directed to. Once found, you can stamp your passport. Or pick up the Walking and Windshield Tour Scavenger Hunt and follow the clues!
Located on Lake Luzerne’s short Main Street, you can play tennis or basketball, visit our historic circa 1930 one room Gailey Hill Schoolhouse, tour the Frances Garnar Kinnear Museum of Local History (and gift shop!), or tour the easily accessed historic Pagenstecher Paper Pulp Mill Museum, the first in the nation to use American made equipment, located in the quaint Mill Park, with its own waterfall. You can also take classes year-round at the Adirondack Folk School (which BTW includes another great gift shop!) or visit the sunlit Rockwell Falls Library. Buy a sandwich at the full-service Luzerne Market, and a bottle of wine at Bailey’s Wine and Liquor. Then walk over to the Bridge of Hope, which is dedicated to our beloved veterans, and straddles the roaring Rockwell Falls, a sight you don't want to miss! For the civic-minded, there is an Elks, an American Legion, and a VFW in the area with plenty of activity for the visitor. Those looking for a great deal should stop at Serendipity Thrift Shop.
Listen to beautiful music at the Luzerne Music Center, go whitewater rafting, visit the Adirondack Adventure Center, grab a bite at Harris Grocery, the Rockwell Falls General Store, or the Long Horn Restaurant and Pub, Fishhead’s Roadhouse Kitchen, Rocco's II, Joe’s Mini Mart, Stewarts Shop, or the historic Hitching Post Tavern and Nettle Meadow Artisan Cheese Store & Gift Shop, to name (just a few!) eateries. Saratoga Corinth and Hudson Railway train rides and Revolution Rail can be found a short distance from Lake Luzerne. Lake Luzerne is also known as Dude Ranch Country, so check out the miles of horseback riding trails throughout the extensive Dude Ranch Trail System while riding with any of the local riding stables, including Mountain View Rocking B Ranch, (formally Bennett’s) or Ruggiero's Riding Stables and Cabins. Want to swim, fish or kayak? Head to the picturesque Wayside Beach on Lake Luzerne. You can also picnic in the Butler Pavilion Park area if you desire.
Lake Luzerne even has a "History Day" celebrating town and cowboy history, and a very popular fall costume contest (but only for Pugs - yes, the DOG!) at the Pavilion Park every year, with awards!!! (This town has EVERYTHING!!) You will also find several private campgrounds to choose from, along with the Luzerne State Campground, located
along the Lake Luzerne / Route 9N corridor. Prefer more plush surroundings? You can stay at the elegant Lamplight Inn or choose from many boutique motels in town. And for an authentic western experience, head to the "oldest continuous running weekly rodeo in the USA," the Grahams’ Painted Pony Championship Rodeo to get your BBQ and rodeo thrills under the lights and do a little boot scootin’!
And don't let me forget to share with you one more event this year, which is the new Lake Luzerne Food Trucks and Music Concert Series. Running for six weeks (every Wednesday) July 12 – August 16, with the everpopular Stony Creek Band, every week, except the last, which will be Spirit of Johnny Cash. (See schedule at townoflakeluzerne.com) Did I mention it’s FREE!!
Let me take a moment to thank the folks that keep Lake Luzerne rocking, including Hadley/ Luzerne super advocate Sue Wilder, Town Supervisor Gene Merlino, Historian Pam Morin, the Hadley-Lake Luzerne Historical Society, (celebrating their 50 year Anniversary in June!), the Lake Luzerne town garage crew for keeping the grounds and buildings beautiful, all the town officials, all the "Town Ambassadors," all the businesses, and all that have put forth the effort to keep Lake Luzerne amazing!
SS
…More Photos on SimplySaratoga.com!
For Summertime Inspiration & Fun,
Artist Richard Foster of Mayfield creates watercolor, oil, and acrylic paintings.
WRITTEN BY WENDY HOBDAY HAUGH PHOTOS PROVIDED
to determine your own creative path, perhaps, improve existing skills, or broaden your artistic knowledge—then plan on traveling the SVAN Art Trails the weekend of August 19-20. From 10 to 4 daily, this self-guided, educational tour enables visitors to interact with diverse artists within home studios and public galleries throughout the Sacandaga Valley region.
The Sacandaga Valley Arts Network (SVAN), which offers this yearly event, provides a brochure with a detailed map indicating each artist’s location and specialty. The trail winds through multiple communities, including Wells, Hope, Benson, Northville, Edinburg, Broadalbin, Vail Mills, Mayfield, Gloversville, and Sammonsville. Past Art Trails have featured sculptors, photographers, oil, acrylic, and mixed media painters, weavers, woodworkers, furniture makers, and more. A thumbnail photo of each artist’s work, included in the brochure, enables you to choose the art forms that interest you, plot your course, and hit the road.
Stained-glass artist Carolyn Wilcox of Hope coordinates this inspiring event. “I love talking to people about how I create my art, from concept to process. Because Art Trails is an educational experience, most of the people who take the trail are there to learn something new, not necessarily to buy something. People who ‘take the journey’ can select what locations interest them most. Maybe they are a painter themselves so they’d rather learn more about weaving, or a different type of painting. We really have it all on the trail! It’s a great event for the Sacandaga Valley as a whole,” she adds, “because it highlights the wonderful and varied artists we have in Fulton, Hamilton, and Saratoga Counties.”
If you’ve ever wished you could watch artists work and ask questions —Stained glass artist Carolyn Wilcox of Hope coordinates the SVAN Art Trails. Michael Kratky of Northville is a woodworker, woodturner, fine furniture maker, sawyer, and cabinet-grade native hardwood retailer. Artist Constance Dodge of Edinburg creates Adirondack paintings, archival prints, and notecards.
Last year, hundreds of people traveled SVAN Art Trails, including visitors from as far away as California, Florida, Maryland, and New York City. Sculptors Caroline Ramersdorfer and John Van Alstine welcomed more than 200 people to their 8-acre sculpture garden and riverside studios just off Route 30 in Wells. Ramersdorfer’s internationally-renowned works utilize marble, granite, and sometimes steel to create spiritually calm interior spaces. Van Alstine’s equally impressive stone and metal work is explored in depth in the recently-released book, “American Vistas: The Life and Art of John Van Alstine” by art critic/journalist Tim Kane.
Twenty-six years ago, Adirondack painter Constance Dodge—with the help of other artists and dedicated volunteers—founded the Sacandaga Valley Arts Network to support, encourage, and assist local artists, promote diverse cultural programming, and inspire and improve the quality of life throughout the Sacandaga region. A regular participant in SVAN’s Art Trails Weekend, Dodge looks forward to welcoming visitors to her lakeside home gallery.
“People appreciate meeting the artist, seeing the unique space in which they create, and getting a sense of the artist’s personality. It’s an opportunity to see current work as well as work that’s been done over the past many years. Seeing the space in which a piece is created helps people to envision a more personal link between the art and the artist.”
Years ago, after purchasing and gutting a derelict lakeside house, Dodge designed and recreated the space in such a way that her home, today, is a work of art in itself. Dodge’s actual studio is located upstairs, but the entire house serves as her gallery.
Northville plein air and folk artist Linda Finch always enjoys talking with Art Trails travelers on her home turf. “Every artist’s home and studio situation is distinctive, and that’s part of the fun for visitors,” she asserts. “Seeing where an artist comes from is important because the home’s orientation is oftentimes reflected in their art. During Art Trails, I hold my show on our big, long, 60foot front porch. There’s plenty of parking, it’s sheltered from the rain, and there are just two steps—unlike my second floor studio! Last year, we had between 120 and150 people stop by. Being at home, I’m really comfortable and relaxed, so I can have nice long conversations with people. I have many gardens, too, and I enjoy seeing people wander around them. The Art Trails weekend is great fun! I don’t have to pack up my paintings and go somewhere. People come to me.”
SVAN Art Trails is facilitated by a grant from the Saratoga Arts’ Community Arts Regrant Program, a program funded by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Governor’s Office and the NYS Legislature. “The grant allows us to keep our artist fees low, just $30,” Wilcox points out. “The only real costs to this event are advertising and the beautiful brochure/ map, designed by Linda Hinkle. The grant covers the brochure publishing, and we use the artist fees for social media advertising and road signage.”
To date, more than 15 artists have signed up for this summer’s Art Trails, but a final list of all participants will be released in late May. Brochures will become available in late June, both online and at galleries and businesses throughout the region. For an immersive weekend sure to get your creative juices flowing, be sure to take to the road this August for an awesome artistic adventure!
For more info, visit www.svanarts.org/art-trails, www.facebook.com/events/724372408243569, or www.instagram.com/svanarttrails SS
FOLLOW US AS WE EXPLORE SOME OF THE AREA'S unique spaces...
“To this day, it’s surreal to walk up to that house. It’s always been a dream of mine to have a house like this!”
Just when Zane Carruth thought she couldn’t love Saratoga more than she already did, her husband, Brady, surprised her with that house. Like with her marriage, she has loved the Wedding Cake House, and Saratoga, more since the wedding day.
“We had the perfect condo at Park Place and were not looking for a house,” recalls Zane. It was Sunday and they were leaving to go back to Houston, Texas on Monday. Situated on a .5-acre double lot with a premier walkable address, the sprawling 5,120 sq. ft. icing-white, triple layered, 8-bedroom, 6 bath main house was breathtaking. Fluted Ionic columns, like the supports of a wedding cake, add to the charm of the adorned two-story wrap around porch. Adjacent is an incredible 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath renovated carriage house.
Almost immediately after seeing the property, the Carruths made an offer.
“Brady is not one to make quick decisions, but he made this decision – like that – in no time!” said Zane.
After a whirlwind romance, Zane’s world was spinning with the responsibilities involved in owning a historic house, “It’s comical now,” she said. “We taped it together until we could get it into a condition where we were able to stay in it during track season.”
The house took nine months to renovate.
The Carruths began accentuating the ornate circa 1870 home (which came completely furnished) in the Fall of 2018 by cleaning house.
Lined up to-go, were exactly 58 items (Zane counted) including at least 30 sisal rugs, but the bulk of the home’s impressive craftsmanship and original details remain intact.
The rich, dark columns and intricate scrollwork in the entry have been refreshed with contrasting pale blue wallpaper, chosen with the guidance of The Furniture House's Emily DiSiena.
Randall Perry Photography
Several ceiling medallions were repaired and adorned with new light fixtures. The home’s largest renovations include the transformation of a bedroom into a double ensuite bathroom and closet. According to a 1911 Saratogian article, the "old gable was removed" and the Colonial Revival porch that you see today was added.
The Carruths restored it in a divine mahogany. New electrical wiring was installed, the boiler replaced, and the staircase handrail raised to align with building code safety standards.
In the utilitarian kitchen, modern appliances and three colors of quartzite countertops are unified by new white subway tile on the walls lain within the original navy-blue tile border. A beautiful full-size elevator with a stained-glass door was also added to transport guests’ luggage upstairs to the Elevator Bedroom.
In the dining room, eyes feast on the dramatic built-in buffet, jazzy table, freshly painted ceiling (draped in garland carvings), and on the walls, another exquisite example of the home’s wealth of wallpaper.
The Wortham parlor, as Zane calls it, is her favorite space. The fireplace was rebuilt and a formal portrait of John L. Wortham hung. Brady’s grandfather, B.F. Carruth, and Mr. Gus Wortham started Wortham Insurance and American General Insurance Company. Beside it resides an impressionist painting of riding boots. Zane likes an eclectic mix.
“I love the traditional, but I needed to do something different. It’s nice and refreshing. I find the blue (on the walls) is so peaceful. There are so many pieces in here that are so meaningful to me.”
The three-story house is within walking distance to the Saratoga Race Course, which is what first attracted the Carruths to the city from the Houston area where they are major philanthropists. Mr. Carruth serves on numerous boards and is Chairman of the Board on the Wortham Foundation. He is also an investor in a wide range of projects. In addition to horse racing, he enjoys baseball, hunting, and spending time with friends and family.
Zane Carruth is an award-winning international children’s book author of the trademarked series, “The World’s First Tooth Fairy.” She divides her time between philanthropic work, writing, and their grandchildren.
Since purchasing the home, the Carruths have made many friends at places like the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Gala, said Zane. And they are excited for their horses to be running here for the first time this summer.
Boarded at Stillwater’s Irish Hill Century Farm, is the Carruths’ mare GIANT BOXER (who appears with her in the large portrait above the bar). GIANT BOXER produced THATSMYBOXER who was sired by BIG BROWN. GIANT BOXER has since been bred to MIDSHIPMAN and back to WAR DANCER. That’s all the breeding for now, said Zane.
On Whitney weekend, the couple hosts a large catered party attended by friends from Houston, fellow horseman friends, and numerous locals. Typically, on Friday nights it’s hard to get restaurant reservations, so Brady likes to grill in their fully equipped outdoor kitchen and patio space. All summer long, morning coffee and evening cocktails are enjoyed on that spectacular porch.
“It’s just a nice way to end the day,” said Zane.
This year was also the first year 104 Union Avenue hosted the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation’s June Porch Party and was its first year on the May Historic Homes Tour since its renovation. (For history of the house, see Preserving Saratoga, page 30) Both events attract great throngs of people.
“We are huge believers in keeping the integrity of the city intact,” said Zane, adding that the house has a magical feeling worth preserving.
“The house has incredible karma. It just feels good. I don’t know why, but it’s just fabulous!” SS
WRITTEN BY COLLEEN COLEMAN OF CMC DESIGN STUDIO LLC
Could Saratoga be more Summer? What a wonderful early start to our warm weather, extending pool splashes and long lake weekends! I even finished my garden beds by Memorial Day! And now, we have the whole summer ahead of us to experience the warmth of weather, family and friends traveling from afar! Let’s explore some fun summer goodies from our local shops to spruce up your abode and put a little smile on your face when you see how simple things can make such a big difference!
At COMPLIMENTS TO THE CHEF, they’ve zeroed in on fun for cooking. What could be more cheerful in the kitchen than these MultiColored Pakkawood Cooking Utensils! Each individual piece is crafted from many layers of beautiful hardwoods and infused with natural and chemical-free dyes, creating a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork right in your kitchen! Put them on display instead of in your drawer to add a fun pop of color…but be sure your guests know they can cook with them too! And what better pans to pair them with than Hestan Nanobond Stainless Steel Pans! These are perfect for any cooktop and work marvelously with induction surfaces, including the CopperBond pans. The Triplebonded construction with exclusive ProCore™ heats 35% faster than typical clad cookware and offers 20% more cooking surface than pans of the same size. The flush rivets also allow for easier nesting in storage and prevent food build-up at the handle-pan joint. And there are so many more advantages…be sure to stop in and ask John Reardon about the many sizes offered and which are best for your style of cooking.
Just down on Broadway, SILVERWOOD HOME & GALLERY is boasting Vintage-style Prints on Canvas. What Saratoga home is complete without an equestrian framed print to pay homage to our hometown sport of choice! Be sure to head over and see the selection available while they last! And if your household is similar to how mine was, full of rough and tumble kids, dogs and lots of friends, this adorable Needlepoint Throw Pillow, and others, showcase a little classic style while injecting humor into any room. Not your grandmother’s needlepoint, but they’re sure full of timeless sayings we’ve heard through the generations… with a spice of wit!
COMPLIMENTS
33 Railroad Plce, Saratoga Springs SaratogaChef.com | 518-226-4477
SILVERWOOD
398 Broadway, Saratoga Springs SilverwoodGalleries.com | 518-583-3600
Is your patio furniture looking a bit aged? Or possibly you’re in need of a new front porch, people-watching perch? THE FURNITURE HOUSE presently has this marvelous Wesley Hall Teak Chair on display in the Glens Falls Showroom. With the outdoor collection consisting of a coordinating chaise and sofa, you could outfit an entire patio or pavilion with timeless teak offered in a full range of performance fabrics and colors! And don’t limit these beautiful pieces to the exterior, they’re perfect for a sunroom overlooking your favorite Saratoga view!
Now, after updating your outdoor furniture, you need to add a few colorful touches to the yard! For all my lake lovelies out there, look at this adorable Art Pole “Life is Better at the Lake” discovered at ACCENTS AT ALLERDICE…Wonderfully painted with an Adirondack theme and ready to install in minutes. They have many different styles, so even if you live in the heart of Saratoga, don’t be shy to check out their summer inventory! And my eyes couldn’t help but be drawn to this adorable Cast-a-Line Mobile with Glass Fish. The sweet metal figure with rod in hand sets the tone for relaxation while the chimes beacon you to sit back and unwind for the day…possibly even to plan a fishing trip! And if you don’t have a boat, maybe a more economical option would be these delightful Boat Appetizer Bowls, perfect atop a charcuterie board! But don’t stop there, be sure to catch a few of the Lake Themed Toothpicks for your olives, cheese cubes and melon balls! All-in-all, there’s a full summer theme abound…be sure not to miss the boat!
At FINISHING TOUCHES, they’ve just brought in some new Teak Outdoor Life-sized Cranes to add texture and height to any garden bed. These delightful creatures can be captured in pairs looking upward with necks “craned” high or bent low in hopes of finding a morning catch. With a metal footing, these summery fowls install in seconds and offer a season of enjoyment for all ages. And…can I spill the fudge… Yes, Finishing Touches is bringing in the most delightful selection of Gourmet Chocolates, Fudge and Truffles to pair with their coffee bar. Watch for the signs out front for the official debut…then be sure to save some for me!
450 E High Street, Ballston Spa
FinishingTouchesStore.com | 518-584-1490
1771 U.S. 9, Clifton Park | 518-383-2215
785 U.S. 9, Latham | 518-785-8555
EarlBFeiden.com
Now, for all my readers who roll up their sleeves and love to cook and entertain all year round, wait ‘til you see this! Currently on the Latham showroom floor at EARL B. FEIDEN’S, you’ll find the redesigned Bluestar 60” RNB Range Series featuring restaurant quality performance with endless customization! Besides the 750+ colors that get my designer energy just a tingling, they offer integrated griddles, char broilers, and wait…French Doors! You heard me correctly…now you can have two full ovens, with full access, without leaning over a hot door! Brilliant! It’s UltraNova TM power burner delivers up to 22,000 BTUs while the gentle simmer burner at 130°. With other options such as an 1850° infrared broiler and extra-large convection oven which holds 18” x 36” commercial baking sheets, your options are endless. Let’s not stop there… it’s best to pair this enchanting cooking chefd'oeuvre with a proper BlueStar Pro-Style Atlas Hood. Whisper quiet with professionalgrade performance, this uncompromising masterpiece offers a multi-stage grease capture system that easily cleans in your dishwasher! With accommodations for either top or rear discharge, your kitchen appliances could never perform or look more stunning! But wait, there’s more…I always wanted to say that…up the ante just one more level by incorporating a BlueStar Salamander Broiler into your cooking suite. The four-position, adjustable grilling rack can flawlessly broil a rare steak, crisp chicken or gently perfect crab cakes to please even the pickiest of diners. Two independently controlled 11,000 BTU infrared ceramic burners are at the heart of this 215 square inch of cooking space. Go ahead…you deserve the colorful options BlueStar has to offer…with all the professional features of a fine restaurant in your own home! Summer, summer and more summer! Let the sun shine, the flowers bloom endlessly and laughter be uncontainable! We live in the best city with the best people…Be sure to stroll our Saratoga Streets, stop into shops and give a friendly “Hello,” or dine the evenings away at local bistros and restaurants. But most of all, make this Summer one to remember!
Until next time my friends,
It’s time to celebrate summer with luscious dishes that include fresh fruits, salads, light meal ideas and delicious desserts. We are now planning on those cool and cold food ideas for those hot summer nights, and something easy you can throw on the grill. Summer is the best. The days are warmer, longer, and just happier. In addition to beach days and family vacations, summer is also one of the best seasons for eating and drinking.
I think about summer adventures. What is on your list of MUST-DOs this summer? My absolute favorite food in the summertime are burgers, and there's no better way to eat them than by a fire. Anything from the BBQ is amazing in the summertime, and there's so many ways to put a spin on your classic summer favorites. Looking for more of a low budget way to make your foodie adventure dreams come true? Go old school and grab your best basket, your comfiest blanket and fill up for a picnic. Picnics are great because you get to sit outside and enjoy the sunshine all while chomping down on some certifiably delicious summer snacks. There's just nothing like pouring a cold beer or glass of wine and sitting down in the backyard with friends or family for an al fresco meal.
Grilling up burgers is a summertime staple for many of us. My Dad was a grill master and he let us know that every time he would approach his grill. He never got to enjoy his backyard BBQs because he wouldn’t leave it! Uncle Cass was the only person that could take over for him, and Cass felt like he had been given the biggest honor. Dad, Uncle Cass, and Uncle Woofy had built a giant brick and cement grill that was a masterpiece. This masterpiece still stands today. They loved having family get-togethers every weekend.
Remember when your cousins were your best friends? My cousins were my best friends who I got to see all the time in the summer. At our family BBQs, everyone would marvel at Dad’s burgers, hot dogs, and chicken. They were better than any restaurant because of dad’s secret ingredients. One of the things he did that no one but me seemed to notice was use a small cast iron skillet to press his burgers. They came out cooked perfectly! He also would sing Frank Sinatra songs to all the moms (and he had a great voice). I once asked my Mom; “If Dad was so great how come he didn’t cook inside that much?” She responded with a quick; “Why do you think that we eat outside from Memorial Day to Labor Day? I get my summers off!” Very strategic on my mother’s behalf.
How do you like your burgers? When you get your burger fresh off the grill and they are sitting there all juicy and delicious on that bun…how do you make this perfect food even more perfect? Cheese is a good choice. But which one? American? Cheddar? Swiss? Maybe some crisp, smoky bacon. How about barbecue sauce? We could go on forever. Making hamburgers seems like something that should be simple—how hard can it be to cook those beefy delights? Yet somehow, nailing the perfect burger can elude even the most seasoned home cook. Make the patty too thick and you risk biting into a raw mess. Leave it on the heat for too long, and it'll end up dry.
• 1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chiles
• 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon hickory liquid smoke, optional
• 1/2 cup crushed butter-flavored crackers (about 12 crackers)
• 4-1/2 teaspoons chili powder
• 3 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 2 pounds lean ground beef (90% lean)
• 1/2 pound bulk pork sausage
• 8 slices pepper jack cheese
• 8 sesame seed hamburger buns, split
• Lettuce leaves and tomato slices
• Toppings of your choice
1. In a large bowl, combine the first eight ingredients. Crumble beef and sausage over mixture and mix lightly but thoroughly. Shape into 8 patties.
2. Grill, covered, over medium heat for 5-7 minutes on each side or until no longer pink. Top with cheese. Grill 1 minute longer or until cheese is melted.
3. Grill buns, cut side down, for 1-2 minutes or until toasted.
The secret to making juicy burgers at home is all in the meat. Did you burn your burgers while cooking them? The culprit is likely uneven thickness. While the shape of the patty doesn't matter, the thickness does. You really want to make sure the patty is uniform, an even thickness, or it's not going to cook properly, which can lead to a burnt outside and undercooked inside. A solution could be to flatten the patties by pressing them flat using a burger press.
Burger presses create consistently shaped and sized burgers. The presses allow you to pack patties without squishing the meat between your warm hands. Heat radiated by your hands can cause proteins to denature. Using your hands to pack raw meat can cause the fat to melt and the meat to break apart, which causes a mushy, unappealing texture when it's time to devour your burger. The burger presses make uniform patties: same weight and diameter every time. Uniform patties cook evenly throughout and will come to temperature around the same time on the grill. The burger press also helps to achieve the weight you're going for ¼, 1/3, and ½ lb. patties. And you get a prettier burger patty. The burgers look good. Who doesn't marvel at a perfectly round, evenly dense patty?
Elevate your grilling game this summer with less stressing and more pressing. Get the tools you need to make the burgers you yearn for. As Frank says:
“And if you should survive to 105, Look at all you'll derive out of being alive! And here is the best part, you have a head start - If you are among the very young at heart.”
Stop by Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery store located at 33 Railroad Place in Saratoga Springs, for the cool tools you need to help you with your summer creations. Remember my Foodie Friends, “Life Happens in the Kitchen” with your family and friends. Enjoy the summer season in Saratoga Springs, NY.
This time of year inspires me to get creative, and put my own updated spin on things. For this issue I’ve done just that with my Backyard Hotdog Bar, perfect for a casual warm weather get together. It is sooo easy to put together and serve, with a homemade chili sauce and a variety of “store bought” toppings you can assemble in advance. All you do is grill the “dogs.” Have your toppings laid out buffet style with your choice of hotdog rolls, and let your guests help themselves!
Before we go any further, we need to have a drink! For you I have the perfect summertime libation, a classic Gin and Tonic with a fun twist… instead of ice this tall drink keeps it’s cool with raspberry sorbet.
I love chili sauce on hotdogs and have my own plant-based take on this. Hot and Sweet Chili Sauce gets its meaty texture from brown lentils…give it a try, you won’t miss the meat! Mustard is the topping of choice for many folks, and if you like to jazz things up, give my Herbed Yellow Mustard a try. You can let your imagination run wild when it comes to “store bought” hotdog toppings. No need to stick to just traditional mustard, ketchup, pickle relish and onions. Check out the condiment section of any local market for ideas. Add some zing to things with Nance’s Corn Relish, or Wickles Spicy Red Sandwich Spread.
There are an increasing number of tasty plant-based hotdogs available in our local supermarkets. You can usually find them in the produce section. Many of these vegan “pups” have the same appearance, flavor, and texture as meat-based hotdogs and can be grilled too. Be sure to follow the cooking directions on the package. Of all the brands I’ve tried my fave is Lightlife Smart Pups.
I hope you enjoy these recipes. As I always say, have fun cooking (and making drinks!) for the people you love, and remember… it doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to taste good!
FOR EACH DRINK:
• 1.5 ounces of premium gin
• ½ ounce of fresh lime juice
• 4-5 balls of raspberry sorbet
• Chilled tonic water
• Lime slices to garnish
To make the sorbet balls, let the sorbet soften at room temperature for about ten minutes. Using an ice cream scoop (I think a smaller scoop with a 2-3 tablespoon capacity works best), scoop out the sorbet balls, place on a plate in a single layer, and put them in the freezer to harden.
Pour the gin and lime juice into an ice filled shaker, pop the lid on and shake it like crazy. Place four to five sorbet balls into a tall glass and pour in the gin and lime juice. Top off with tonic water. Garnish with lime slices. Cheers to summer!!!
I love summer and I love outdoor entertaining even more.
• 1 cup of prepared yellow mustard
• 1 tablespoon of dried herbs de provence
• 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar
DIRECTIONS:
Place all ingredients in a medium bowl and stir until well combined. Refrigerate in a covered container until ready to use.
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 cup of finely diced onion
• 1 teaspoon salt
• One 15 ounce can of brown lentils rinsed and drained
• 1/3 cup ketchup
• 2/3 cup water
• 1 tablespoon chili powder or more to taste
DIRECTIONS:
Heat the olive oil in a sauce pan over medium heat and add the onion and salt, cook for about 5 minutes until softening. Stir in the chili powder and cook for another minute. Stir in the ketchup and water, add the lentils, and lower the heat. Simmer for about 5 more minutes until the sauce thickens a bit.
WRITTEN BY DIANE WHITTEN, CORNELL COOPERATIVE
COUNTY
if you want to be more self-sufficient in your food supply, catching your own fish will give you and your family an excellent and healthy source of protein. Most of us don’t have our own pond that we could stock and catch fish from, but we live in an area teeming with great fishing opportunities. Saratoga Lake has lots of tasty Walleye, and one of the best trout streams in NY is the Battenkill River in neighboring Washington County. Other great fishing waters in Saratoga County include the Kayaderosseras Creek and Moreau Lake; in Washington County, Cassayuna Lake and Carter’s Pond are popular fishing waters.
The Hudson River, which runs between Saratoga and Washington Counties, is a great place to fish, however due to PCB pollution the section from Hudson Falls to Troy is designated as a catch-andrelease fishing area by the NYS DEC. For more information on the Hudson River fish advisory see this link to Hudson River Health Advice on Eating Fish You Catch. This brochure from the NYS Department of Health includes public access fishing waters in the region where the fish are safe to eat. Access it here: Hudson Valley Region: Health Advice on Eating Fish You Catch, or Google NYS DOH Fish.
To catch larger fish you can fill your larder with, such as Salmon from Lake Ontario or Striped Bass from the Atlantic Ocean, consider chartering a fishing boat with friends where local guides will clean and fillet your catch. To keep fish for long-term storage it can be frozen or canned in a pressure canner. For the best quality frozen or canned fish, follow directions from the National Center for Home Food Preservation: Freeze or Can.
Fish is quick and easy to cook, the biggest mistake people make is overcooking it. The standard rule of thumb is to cook it for 10 minutes per inch of thickness. If your fish varies in thickness, keep your eye on the thinner parts which will cook quicker. Fish can be baked, broiled, sauteed, poached or grilled. Fish is done when its color changes from translucent to opaque or it reaches an internal temperature between 140-145°F.
Remember that anyone 16 and older must have a fishing license when fishing in waters open to public access. A license can be obtained through www.takemefishing.org/ new-york/fishing-license or from the DEC online at www.dec.ny.gov/permits, or by phone: 1-866-933-2257. Walmart also sells fishing licenses.
Fish are highly perishable, so clean, fillet and put them on ice or refrigerate as soon as possible, if not consumed within two days, preserve it by freezing or canning. Freeze fish in vapor-moisture resistant paper or freezer quality plastic bags. If fish is frozen in a vacuum sealed bag, pierce a hole in the bag prior to defrosting in the refrigerator for safety’s sake.
Due to environmental pollutants some fish from certain bodies of water are not safe to eat or should be eaten in moderation. For advice on specific fish from specific bodies of water see the NY statewide DOH booklet, Health Advice on Eating Sportfish and Game.
For free brochures on the Hudson River Fish Advisories for yourself and others contact Cornell Cooperative Extension at 518-885-8995; or email Diane Whitten at dwhitten@cornell.edu.
WRITTEN BY CHARLIE KUENZEL | PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE GEORGE S. BOLSTER COLLECTION
Summer in Saratoga is a time-honored tradition for many people, both visitors and residents. The summer of 2023 is shaping up to be another great one! Two hundred years ago in 1823 the small village of Saratoga Springs was growing and defining itself in American culture as a health resort. That year, John Clark came to Saratoga and began to bottle the mineral water that flowed freely from the earth. These waters were enjoyed by many people around the world and were eventually shipped as far away as China.
Two hundred years later, Saratoga Springs still has its great mineral springs but has evolved into a wonderful yearround tourist destination. If you are reading these thoughts and are a visitor to our great city, then welcome to this magical spot. If you are a resident, then I say to you the line from an Indiana Jones movie, “You have chosen wisely.” The magic of Saratoga is infectious and is a great place to live, work and raise a family. If you are a resident then you probably know that eventually your friends and relatives will “discover” Saratoga Springs and make plans to visit you, especially in the summer. If this is true, then you must think about being the “tour guide” when they visit. What activities and locations will you choose to make their visit a special trip for years of discussion?
If you are faced with the question of what to do, I suggest the first stop for you is at the Saratoga Heritage Area Visitor Center at 297 Broadway. The wonderful and highly trained staff and volunteers will guide you and provide you with the best up-to-date information on events and locations in the city. More information about the Visitor Center can be found at: discoversaratoga.org/saratogasprings-visitor-center
As we all know, Saratoga Springs is great for museums, restaurants, music, outdoor activities, and history. Since my concentration has been history, here are a few ideas of mine concerning the story of Saratoga as told by our history and where to visit to learn that story.
As current President of the Saratoga Springs History Museum, I would be remiss if I didn’t suggest a visit to the History Museum to learn about the story of our great city. The museum is in the Canfield Casino, located in historic Congress Park, and is open daily from 10-4 pm. The museum has been telling the story of our city since 1883 and in my estimation, we tell it better than anyone else. Since the museum is in the Canfield Casino, a visit to the museum will provide you and your guests with a docent-led orientation tour that includes the story of the famed Casino and its role in the social offerings of Gilded Saratoga. The Saratoga Springs History Museum has wonderful exhibits on mineral water, hotels, local artists, high stakes gambling and many other aspects of Saratoga History. Visitors this summer will be treated to a new exhibit that tells the story of the impact that Native Americans had on the history of this area. Since the name Saratoga has its roots in the Mohawk language, then what better addition to the story of the city. The new Native American exhibit at the museum opened in June and a satellite exhibit is located at the Saratoga Visitor Center for a period of two years. More information on hours of operation, admission costs and upcoming events can be found at: saratogahistory.org.
Interestingly enough, Saratoga Springs has a long history of paranormal events that raise the question of ghosts and ghostly activity.
The Saratoga Springs History Museum offers ghost tours of the famed Casino every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 11 a.m. during July and August. During the month of October special evening tours of the Casino are offered on select nights. Check the museum website for dates and times. The Canfield Casino has been featured on the television series Ghost Hunters and was ranked the 4th scariest location in America by the Travel Channel. A visit is worth your time to hear the actual stories of events experienced by the staff and volunteers of the museum. In October of 2022 a collaboration between the Visitor Center and the History Museum resulted in the creation of the unique ‘Ghosts of Saratoga’ Guided Trolley Tours. These 90-minute tours were offered in the comfort of a climate-controlled trolley that took passengers to haunted sites in the city and finished with a tour of the Canfield Casino. The ‘Ghost’ trolley tours will be offered again this year with a Part Two being introduced to tell the story of additional haunted locations in the city.
If you and your guests would like to pursue the stories of Saratoga that make the city a portal of paranormal activity, check the History Museum or the Visitor Center websites for eerie entertainment!
The Visitor Center will continue to offer their original 90-minute Guided Trolley Tours this summer. This informative and entertaining tour will include historic sights and points of interest along Broadway, North Broadway, the Skidmore campus, the High Rock area, Saratoga Race Course, and beautiful Union Avenue.
In addition, the Visitor Center will offer a new “Mineral Water Tasting Trolley Tour.” Guests will be transported by trolley to taste test eight mineral springs as well as learn the geology, chemistry, and social implications of these springs on Saratoga’s history.
The strength of a trolley tour is that the day’s weather and the mobility of your guests are completely removed from concern. The air-conditioned trolley provides a comfortable ride for guests as the guide covers a wide area of the city’s history. As you consider what to do with your guests, this historical tour can provide an introduction to this world-renown city.
Contact the Saratoga Springs
Heritage Area Visitor Center for more information: 518-587-3241 or visit: discoversaratoga.org/saratoga-springsvisitor-center
For those who wish to stretch their legs, a walking tour might be something to consider. These 90-minute tours, led by experienced, knowledgeable, and entertaining guides will provide your guests with the legends and lore of our renowned city.
The summer of 2023 will offer a new walking tour option that is a collaboration between the History Museum and the Visitor Center. “Grand, Gilded and Glorious: A Saratoga Stroll” will be a new 90-minute walking tour that will begin at the Visitor Center and end with an exclusive tour of the Canfield Casino. The only walking tour in the city that incorporates all these assets, this tour has already proven to be a favorite among visitors and residents alike. To join the fun, contact the History Museum or the Visitor Center for details.
As mentioned previously, the summer of 2023 looks to be another great one. Have a wonderful time in one of the most interesting cities in the northeast. Although I focused on history in this article, the city has so much to offer that could not be introduced in a short column such as this one. Utilize the assets and knowledge of the Saratoga Visitor Center to plan your itinerary. Try to visit at least one museum and take at least one tour of the city this summer. Museums are learning centers and tours provide information, legends and lore that provide a better understanding of our greater city. Enjoy your summer and remember, for over 200 years, thousands of guests have enjoyed the wonders of this great city. Make sure this summer is a memorable year for you too. SS
Rarely Seen Photos of
The original Congress Hall was constructed by Gideon Putnam in 1812. The hotel grew to be one of the three largest hotels in the village. The hotel was razed in 1911-12 and is now part of Congress Park and the Spirit of Life Memorial.
This image shows the Victor Herbert Orchestra playing for afternoon tea at the Grand Union Hotel. Victor Herbert was the music director at the Grand Union Hotel for a number of summers.
This gaming parlor was added to the Canfield Casino in 1871 and was the main site for gambling at the Casino. The High Stakes Room was on the second floor but was restricted to only a few very wealthy gamblers because of the stakes.
Walks through historic High Rock Park or picturesque Congress Park, choosing from numerous concerts at SPAC and Cafe Lena's, taking in one of our countless downtown festivals, sipping coffee at a favorite outdoor cafe, and shopping in our vibrant downtown are so ingrained in my daily life that I need to take pause. Countless citizens are responsible for my good fortune. But the historian in me would like to pay homage to an overlooked former resident, Franklin Webster Smith.
Smith summered in Saratoga from 1889-1906. He has left a lasting impact in his mere 17 years of residence. After three trips to Pompeii, Italy, he chose Saratoga as the site of the Pompeia, a cultural museum and full-scale reproduction of the House of Pansa, a Roman nobleman's house destroyed by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 A.D. The building remains at 260 Broadway today, with the original atrium intact.
He believed Saratoga's summer season was too short and opposed its focus on racing and gambling. Instead, Smith set out "to devise attractive, harmless entertainments for the multitude."
In 1894, he cleverly implemented a floral fete festival, a four-day event held at the beginning of September, to encourage tourists to extend their time in Saratoga. An estimated 25,000 to 35,000 people viewed the extensive parade that took viewers' breath away.
Every major newspaper in the country reported on the spectacle. I especially liked the Asbury Park Press' description, "The floral fete's procession was novel and unique and two miles long. At its head was a great number of bicycles festooned and trimmed with flowers. Then followed a large cavalcade of men and women on horseback with tasteful floral decorations, a great number of floats illustrative of historical incidents, and hundreds of carriages... Both sides of Broadway for more than a mile were packed with people, all wearing or carrying bouquets: and as the floats passed each other in countermarch, there was a such 'battle of flowers' that the road bed was strewn with them."
Afterward, leaders awed by the event's success, invited Smith to address fellow Saratogians on his other ideas to improve our community.
Franklin Smith was not a native but brought "stranger value," meaning how an outsider's perspective can contribute to a community's growth and development. Our city historian Mary Ann Fitzgerald loves to use this term, first coined by folklorist Vaughn Ward. It is the perfect descriptor for Boston born and bred Franklin Smith.
Smith's 17 European excursions to famous spa towns brought the unique insights and perspectives of a worldly, well-traveled man to our community. In 1894, he challenged Saratogians to think, "What if?" not allowing complacency but urging us to think, "Why not?" He argued that Saratoga was great. He wrote, "It is beautiful, prosperous and popular; but not as prosperous, popular or beautiful as it should be."
Smith felt our natural spring waters positioned us as the "summer capital of the United States."
His futuristic ideas challenged existing norms. Smith detailed a comprehensive plan for "A Greater Saratoga" in a speech to 2,000 receptive citizens on November 8, 1894. His four-page address called for the creation of publicly owned parks and free springs for citizens; a redesigned Broadway that would include outdoor European cafes and apartments with rooftop gardens and terraces overlooking the park; and the importance of attracting musical, literary, and industrial groups to make Saratoga their summer headquarters. In 1894, Congress Park was privately owned, our state park system was yet to be created, and what is now High Rock Park was called the Valley of the Springs — a Street lined with "shanties" and over-drilled, privately owned springs that had a five-cent sampling charge.
Smith wrote, "Walking recently through the valley of the springs, among the shanties and shops which disfigure it, I imagined its renovation. Instead, I saw it swept off its fire traps and deformities under legal condemnation. A public park with fountains and cascades rippling down the hills, among verdure and pavilions."
Smith called for New York State legislation, like the European government protection afforded to their springs. He cautioned against "the possible exhaustion of the life of these springs by the extraction and sale of carbonic acid gas in great quantities from numerous wells being driven."
To extend the August season from June to October, he sought to establish intellectual entertainment "during the balmy days of June and the golden summer of early July when the great hotels are vacant."
Smith was aware of numerous "Social and Literary Clubs" nationwide. He contacted them and proposed they converge in Saratoga each June "at reduced rates of travel, with notice of the presence of those famous in their respective fields of study, with prepared festivities in the open air and verdure of spring."
Unfortunately, Saratoga was not Smith's only focus of reformation. He also had grand schemes to reconstruct Washington, D.C., which financially overextended him. By 1906, he was bankrupt and was forced to sell the Pompeia, the Hall of Ancients in Washington D.C.; and his vast collection of literature and artifacts obtained during his travels. He died in obscurity in 1911 at his sister's New Hampshire home.
Smith was born ahead of his time; unfortunately, only some of his visionary ideas had come to fruition. Had he lived another fifteen years, he would have seen the establishment of a park system. A 1917 Saratogian editorial credited his forward thinking by writing:
"Well, if the spirit of Franklin W. Smith has eyes to see today, it may look down upon the fulfillment of almost every feature of his dream, which sensible men and women of fifteen years ago labeled crazy. The springs are restored, great bathhouses have been built, parks have been created, and the city is marching along in much the same paths that Mr. Smith laid out for it."
In 1917 a group of citizens wanted to memorialize Smith for his efforts and planned an inscribed plaque to be dedicated in his honor in Congress Park. To my chagrin, this never happened.
But I'd like to imagine that Franklin W. Smith's spirit was among the 40,000 spectators in 2013 when we recreated his floral fete for our 150th Racing Celebration. I applaud his "stranger value" when I enjoy the culture of SPAC, our beautiful parks, or sip coffee in Mrs. London's European-style cafe. Someday, I may even work on getting his Memorial Plaque installed. SS
As a global resort, part of Saratoga Springs’ makeup for centuries was those that come to visit. Whether for the salubrious climate in the foothills of the Adirondacks, the healing waters of the many mineral springs, or the appreciation of the Thoroughbred, the old Spa has always offered the best. Horse racing is a sport where the fundamentals of this thriving industry generated annals which are interesting to consider through the misty glass of history. Wagering on the outcome of a race adds multitudinous elements and individuals to the contests. New York State adopted pari-mutuel wagering in 1940, a system where all bets are placed in a pool, and the winnings are divided on a pro rata basis, among successful selections, less the “take-out” by track operators and government taxation. A totalizer, or tote board, displays all funds in the wagering pool prior to the race, and the divided payment of the results.
Before the State referendum enacting pari-mutuel betting, it was an entirely different landscape of placing wagers. Those desiring to back a horse would need to locate those willing to book their bet. A bookmaker, or layer of odds, the legal term for a bookie, would be the principal. At Saratoga, these activities took place in a special location known as the Betting Ring. This separate structure accomplished the dual task of dividing the sporting public from the wagering public, and collecting all the bookmakers in one location for track officials to supervise only licensed individuals, and appraise and collect their take-out. All bookies would offer their own odds on each race, displaying their offerings on slates, and erasing and re-chalking as bets came in and odds changed, often times yelling out those terms in a bellowing madman’s chorus of turf slang.
The introduction of pari-mutuel wagering in 1940 obsoleted the Betting Ring, along with other traditions which had existed in Saratoga from John Morrissey’s introduction of the sport in 1863 as a diversion for the many guests visiting the springs. He and his fellow investors created a successful private enterprise incorporated as the Saratoga Association for the Improvement of the Breed of Horses, which combined the spectacle of sport with the financial elements of chance, at a pleasurable venue.
As racing at Saratoga only occurred during the summer months, the original Betting Ring was a canvas marquee, supported by many poles from below. The shelter would be renewed, replaced or relocated from season to season. The final iteration of the separate Betting Ring was a substantial structure, a rectangular pavilion over a paving brick floor. In 1890, majority Saratoga Association shareholder Albert Spencer discreetly offered the race course for sale to a consortium of established horse owners.
Members of this group were elected to positions in the Saratoga Association, at which point they contracted with Saratoga’s master builder Andrew Robertson, who had built numerous notable structures in the then village, to build a subsidiary building modeled on the recently opened Linden Park Track near Elizabeth, New Jersey. This summerhouse would be located just east of the grandstand, with an excellent view of the track, and planned to accommodate 50 bookmakers. It would employ a monitor roof, which is a hip style crown with a second or upper ridge parallel to the first, separated and supported by vertical clerestory windows which admitted light and provided ventilation. This attractive cover was supported with rafters on numerous posts, which numbered and labeled, provided location breadcrumbs for patrons to retrace their steps to the bookie who accepted their wager. Around the outside perimeter of this raucous marketplace were placed booths where the bookmaker and their sheetwriters were seated on tall stools, behind a low railing.
For decades the Betting Ring was managed by John G. Cavanagh, who began his professional career selling programs and pencils at the metropolitan tracks in the 1880s. His several track management roles were reported in newspapers who frequently printed his surname as Cavanuagh. He was a firm believer that the public should always be treated fairly when visiting the track, and with the support of August Belmont and the Jockey Club, he firmly maintained this probity. He organized a horseman’s train in the early years of the twentieth century, which brought the bookies, their clerks and their families from steaming Gotham to refreshing Saratoga Springs. Known as the “Cavanagh Special,” it would deliver more than 1,000 persons in parlor cars the day before the track opened. The “Special” also transported turf writers, many of whom moved directly from the train station on Division Street to the rathskeller bar of the Worden Hotel. “Irish John,” well attired and often wearing a soft panama hat, had a balcony-equipped office in the Betting Ring where he adroitly settled any disputes as the overlord of wagering. The Betting Ring was the reason for anti-gambling legislation which occurred in the years prior to World War I. Mr. Cavanagh was indicted under these laws, and no racing took place in New York State (1911-12), until the thorny legal struggle could be settled. Frank Sullivan, the Sage of Saratoga and humorist for The New Yorker magazine, recalled in his youth working for Mr. Cavanaugh as a water-boy, providing refreshing drinks to backers and bookies in the August heat. He fondly remembered the day he received a handsome tip from stage-star Lillian Russell. Bookmakers were not well thought of, seen as larcenous and cold blooded on the level of Jesse James holding a slate instead of a gun, with a death grip upon their cash satchel. Perhaps they brought revile and rebuke on themselves by facetious terming Saturday "All Suckers Day." Turf writer Toney Betts
The Betting Ring was an impious whirlpool of frenetic energy, money changed hands while barely counted, fortune and failure hung in that balance which provides the thrill of the racetrack. "Who d'yer like?" was the question asked countless times by the bookmakers on their blocks willing to extend credit in the form of a marker to any plunger. The human tide increased toward post-time with bankrolls and wallets carefully guarded, those funds soon to be exchanged for pasteboard tickets and a chance for a score. The saddling-bell rang, indicating the jockeys had taken their mounts in the paddock, and were moving toward the track, speeding up the animation of those making a stake on late-changing odds.
It was said that no one had ever entered any betting ring without hearing Jack Adler, a man with a tremendous voice who announced officially for the bookies. He would sing out in his basso-profundo voice, "They're off!" which indicated betting was closed for that race. Jack Adler would call out the order of finish in the Betting Ring, always concluding with his signature expression, “A-w-w-ll Rrrrrright!” This signified the race was official and the bookies could pay off, or more importantly to them, count their profits. At age 24, with an exceptionally powerful intonation, he received appointment as official announcer in 1887. The New York Morning Telegraph, print authority of the theater and the turf, once said the stentorian announcer had the vocal apparatus to make “Gabriel's horn sound like a toy trumpet.” His position made him an interface with nearly all participants at the race track, and his amiable nature made him widely known and liked throughout the industry. His regular announcements at the racetrack were scratched horses, rider changes, calling the overweights, and messages from the stewards. Leather-lunged Jack Adler eschewed the use of a megaphone, which he considered artificial, and at times would make special announcements. One such occasion was the 1920 Travers Stakes when Man o’ War’s entry generated an enormous crowd; he proclaimed in sonorous tones, that the infield was thrown open to spectators.
The advent of pari-mutuel wagering was a paradigm shift at Saratoga, so much so that Association President George Bull sponsored a junket for turf writers before the opening of the 1940 season. A special train was run just for the scribes, a sumptuous banquet with beverages were provided on their tour of the track, in hopes their print columns would introduce the changes to race fans before their next trip to the Spa. The inactive Betting Ring was used for storage, eventually torn down in 1964, and replaced by a 550-foot addition to the east side of the grandstand, which attempted to include architect H. Langford Warren’s roof treatments. Frank Sullivan, in his traditional track season opening column for 1965 in the New York Times, detailed updates made and how National Museum of Racing curator, Elaine Ensor Mann, had the forethought to preserve paving bricks from the recently demolished Betting Ring, moved across Union Avenue for preservation.
The affable George Bull always bewailed the end of each racing season, and would often recite:
“The melancholy days are here, the saddest of the year, it's a little too early for whiskey, and a little too late for beer."
On the conclusion of each racing season, known as “get-away-day” to the purveyors of the Betting Ring, the Cavanagh Special would run in the reverse direction, “highballing” its way to Grand Central Station. The highball is a railroad term for the superimposed illuminated signal prioritizing a special train over all others. Interestingly, both a Highball and Cavanagh Special are the names of potent potables, and if you make an inquiry about them with your local bartender, the study of history through that misty glass can truly be appreciated.
of John Henry, the “steel-driving man” is embedded in America’s consciousness. While some dismiss it as a tall tale, others believe it may be rooted in the life experiences of one local black man with ties to Saratoga, the Underground Railroad, and the most notable abolitionists of the day.
The dawn of the industrial era was a tumultuous time that pitted man against machine. It was the setting of John Henry’s tale, for he was the man who drove in railroad spikes faster than the steampowered mechanical counterpart destined to replace him.
In this race, John Henry’s story became more than a symbol of strength and perseverance. It epitomized the enormous contribution of the black man to the building of this nation, through each of its numerous retellings; in ballads, literature, films, animated shorts, television, and radio programs.
With a legend like John Henry, it is impossible to know where fact ends and fiction begins. A decade ago, however, local evidence emerged indicating John Henry may be more than mere myth.
In 2013, Greenwich photographer Clifford Oliver Mealy was alerted by the Willard Mountain Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) to the existence of John Henry’s photo. What he found was a leatherbound album featuring photos of Washington County’s earliest black families. Donated by Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Brassaw in 1957 to the Whitehall Historical Society (and now kept at the Whitehall Library) the extraordinary collection of 89 images is a pictorial history of the area’s upper middle-class society – both black and white.
“The images just blew me away. They were just beautiful,” said Mealy.
Although many of the portraits still have not been identified, the ones that have, feature hard-working, educated, well-to-do families. Among them is John Henry, his wife, Emma Baltimore, and their children.
For 20 years, this John Henry was a slave working as a blacksmith in the area surrounding the University of Virginia. During the same time, the University was building a railway line into the coal fields of West Virginia.
When the Civil War raged through the region, slaves escaped to the Union Army camps. These men, women, and children were dubbed “contraband,” designated Union property not to be returned to their former masters. This may be how John Henry met New York 5th Calvary Officer William Boyd.
In 1865, the two men arrived in Whitehall, Boyd’s hometown, where it is said, John Henry announced their presence loudly, for all to hear, from atop a white horse. Well-known in the area, William’s father, John Huggins Boyd, had served as a US Congressman and was elected Whitehall Town President.
Two years later, on May 18th, 1867, John Henry married Emma Baltimore, daughter of the prominent Troy family.
Emma’s grandfather, Revolutionary War veteran Samuel Baltimore and his wife, Phebe, had 10 children. Among them was Emma’s father, George, and uncle, Peter Baltimore (the proprietor of the Veranda, a barbershop at the intersection of River and First Street, that served as a gathering place for leaders of the abolitionist movement and a documented stop on the Underground Railroad).
“Politicians, businessman, everyone, wanted to sit in his chair,” said Kathy Sheehan, Director of the Rensselaer County Historical Society at the Hart Cluett Museum.
The legendEmma Baltimore and child. William Boyd & John Henry
Living in affluent neighborhoods across the region, the influence of the black upper middle-class community extended beyond their respective city limits.
Industrialists were attracted to the elegant resort area of Saratoga, including black families such as the Lattimores (key figures in the abolitionist movement) who bought an orchard in Moreau in 1847, and served on the Albany Underground Railroad Vigilance Committee with Peter Baltimore, as well as with nationally known figures Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass.
After their marriage, John and Emma lived in Whitehall, where John opened a blacksmith shop. Their active social life centered around the Methodist Church and they had five children together, but only two lived into adulthood. From the photographs, it appears the Henry children suffered a growth abnormality, and records indicate daughter, Georgiana, died at age 19. Their only surviving daughter, Isabella, became the owner of a candy company.
While it remains unclear who the John Henry legend is based on, Cliff Oliver Mealy said he is forever learning and looking for truth through the lens of his camera.
“I follow a journalistic point of view. I like realism and looking for the truth. I want to get the real deal.”
General George Washington came thisclose to losing his job as commander of the Continental Army in 1777 – and Saratoga was a big factor. Our city talks about Health, History and Horses, but maybe we should put political intrigue on the list.
During much of the Revolutionary War, George’s main talent seemed to be scooting away from the British in the dead of night and retreating quietly in the fog. Highranking military leaders and some in Congress started to get twitchy with GW’s antics.
Enter Thomas Conway, an Irishman educated in France and a former officer in the French Army.
Now in charge of a large force of American troops, Conway distinguished himself in the Battles of Germantown and Brandywine, then wrote to the Continental Congress touting his successes and all-around genius and throwing some major shade on George.
Conway’s letter found sympathetic eyes in Congress, including those of Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and the Father of American Psychiatry. “If it were not for God’s grace, the ongoing war would have been lost by Washington and his weak counselors,” Rush wrote in a letter to Virginia Governor Patrick Henry. He was quoting Conway.
It didn’t help that during the 1777 Battles of Saratoga, which were key to the British surrender six years later, Washington and his men were hanging out in Pennsylvania not doing much of anything.
American General Horatio Gates, the self-proclaimed hero of Saratoga, was hugely emboldened by his wins here and agreed that Washington had to go. Because of Saratoga, people took Gates very seriously.
The ugly imbroglio came to be known as The Conway Cabal. Gates claimed credit for the Saratoga victories, but this is controversial. Other American officers, including Benedict Arnold, who disobeyed direct orders from Gates during the conflict, helped carry the day.
It’s important to remember just how vainglorious these guys were - honor and acclaim being an essential part of victory in battle.
British-born Gates, for example, only joined the American cause after getting fed-up with the English military caste system and Arnold, who pretty much lost a leg at Saratoga, defected to the enemy because he felt unloved by Congress.
Washington himself could be a lot in the ego department. When he was president, he held fancy, men-only receptions called Levees and nobody touched “His Excellency” ever. At one such event, an admirer clapped George on the back and the President –magisterially tall at 6’ 2” – glared at the man so fiercely, the fellow cowered in shame.
Eventually, General George put the kibosh on the conspiracy against him, Conway got fired and Gates penned a weepy apology (which the imperious GW never acknowledged) and then everybody rallied behind the Father of Our Nation. Still, but for a turn of events, the US capital today might be called Conway, DC.
In 1783, General Washington was restless, waiting, forever it seemed, for the British to sign the Treaty of Paris ending the Revolutionary War, so on July 23, he came to Saratoga Springs to buy the place. That Sunday made him perhaps the first modern tourist here and the locals, welcoming America’s only celebrity, baked him some spring-water bread. But he had an agenda.
George knew the water here cured gout, dropsy, asthma, “the King’s evil” – syphilis – and was a natural contraceptive to boot. At his death, he owned 51,000 acres of land in the new nation and his estate, in today’s money, was in the billions of dollars - and he wanted this town. One of his soldiers called the waters “a great curiosity.”
After returning to Newburgh, the General immediately fired off a letter to New York Governor George Clinton, asking what to do next “regarding our purchase of the Saratoga Springs.” GW was, above all, a businessman, certain the waters had a big economic future.
But it was not to be.
Sixteen months after his visit, Clinton wrote to say the villagers had an absolute lock on the place and weren’t selling. GW wasn’t the only one to see dollar signs.
The General replied that “We are very disappointed in our expectation of the Mineral Spring at Saratoga.” He licked his wounds by snagging six thousand acres in Herkimer. It was probably for the best. In 1783, parking on Broadway was already a nightmare.
Oliver’s memoir is I Know This Looks Bad – Errors and Graces in a Louche Life.
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This year marks the 90th Anniversary of the founding of the Civilian Conservation Corps, a peacetime army battling the destruction and erosion of our natural resources. It was the fastest large-scale mobilization of men in US history. In 1933, during the Great Depression, as part of his “New Deal,” President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Emergency Conservation Work Act into law, creating the Department of Labor’s Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), a national relief program employing 275,000 men and 10,000 supervisory personnel in 1,468 camps across the country and in many US territories.
Roosevelt’s “Tree Army” planted more than three billion trees, created 94 national parks and 741 state parks. They constructed shelters, trails, roads, campsites, and dams; stocked fish; installed and maintained telephone lines; and fought forest fires.
The first CCC camp, “Camp Roosevelt” was near Luray, Virginia. There were 26 camps in New York’s Adirondack region alone. During its 1939-1942 operation, the Stillwater CCC Camp (near Stillwater Central School, where the American Legion is today), housed approximately 200 single men (ages 18-25).
These men worked on many projects in Saratoga County, including the clearing of invasive plants; managing of landscapes through prescribed fires; and the removal of fences, roads, and foundations.
The men enrolled in the program for six months and worked a 40-hour week in exchange for $30/month (the equivalent of approximately $650 today). They also received housing, uniforms, meals, medical care, education, and job training. The government sent $25/ month home to the workers’ families, leaving the men with just $5/month in spending money.
Saratoga Battlefield, a New York State historic site since 1927, was designated Saratoga National Historical Park in 1938, and by 1939 the CCC was sent in to perform grueling physical labor (including shoveling shale rock and digging trenches) while also conducting archaeological digs, developing maps, new roads, and offering site interpretation for visitors. FDR was involved in the planning of the park’s Visitor Center and the preservation of its two captured British cannons (that visitors can still see there today).
In 1941, the NPS formally assumed complete ownership and management of the site. With the onset of World War II, there were other employment opportunities, changes in public opinion, and a lack of funding, resulting in an increasing number of desertions. The camp was disbanded by the Spring of 1942.
The CCC’s efforts continue to enrich the lives of many Americans. For more information, visit www.ccclegacy.org or find them at facebook.com/groups/ccclegacygroup
Contributions to this piece were provided by Martin Podskoch, an author, historian, and East Hampton, CT resident recognized for his extensive work documenting the history of the Catskills, Adirondack Fire Towers, and the Civilian Conservation Corps camps.
He is a CCC Legacy Board Member and author of Adirondack Civilian Conservation Corps Camps: History, Memories & Legacy of the CCC, and two other books on the Connecticut and Rhode Island CCCs. He is also the author of the best-selling travel guide, The Adirondack 102 Club: Your Passport & Guide to the North Country.
Podskoch will be presenting the CCC 90th Anniversary, Its History & Legacy in the Adirondacks & Saratoga on Wed, Oct. 18th, 12 noon, at the Saratoga Springs Public Library, 49 Henry St., Saratoga Springs.
Find his books on Amazon, at Barnes & Noble, and at martinpodskoch.com.
The thrilling sound of synchronicity never gets old.
For more than a decade, on special Thursday evenings in July and August, one of the finest traditions in choral music rings out from the streets of Saratoga Springs.
Each summer, the Racing City Chorus strolls the sidewalks of downtown providing free a cappella entertainment for all.
“It’s amazing because, with all the tourists around, we invariably bump into one or two guys who are in a barbershop chorus in another part of the country and they always stop to sing a song or two with us,” said John Senecal, Racing City Chorus Vice President of Marketing. Street performances are followed by an “afterglow” at select restaurants.
Racing City Chorus celebrates summertime holidays with Harmony on Parade appearances. Barbershop, a style of music that originated in the United States, and songs such as the Armed Forces Medley, add a distinctively patriotic flare to parades marching through the region.
“On the parade route, seeing all the people lining the streets, and those who salute our float and flags- it’s very meaningful to us. Our songs are meaningful to so many people in so many different ways and it’s a learning moment for their children,” said Senecal.
The group is comprised of approximately 30 active members, ranging in age from 20s to 90s. Some have been with Racing City Chorus almost since its inception in 1956,
when harmonizing to the music of the old crooners like Frank Sinatra was the newest sensation. While the chorus still sings these classics, the barbershop repertoire includes enduring favorites such as My Wild Irish Rose and Heart of My Heart, as well as music from the 70s, 80s, and 90s.
“We love to get out in front of groups of people, that’s the most satisfying thing,” he said. “Our goal is to express ourselves. We always try to sell the songs to our audience and make them feel the music.”
In addition to a full chorus and quartets, Racing City Chorus is comprised of VLQs (Very Large Quartets of more than four singers) adding variety to performances and enabling nonquartet singers the support of being within a larger group.
“You don’t have to be an expert to join,” emphasizes Senecal. Every rehearsal is open to the public and a chance to partake in the brotherhood and bonding of an all-male chorus. They perform Singing Valentines and between 20 to 25 gigs per year for civic organizations, private groups, senior centers, schools, churches, and fundraisers. Under the direction of Gary Glidden, Racing City Chorus was the 2023 Northeast District of the Barbershop Harmony Society Mountain Division champions and will be attending the Northeast District competition in October.
For more information about joining, music, scheduling, and upcoming appearances, go to racingcitychorus.org, find them on Facebook at Racing City Chorus Saratoga, or call 518-504-SING(7464).
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Nearly 250 years ago, America declared its independence from Great Britain, and the resulting American Revolutionary War was a significant turning point in the history of all humanity. As the anniversary milestones of these events approach, commemorations will take place across the country. However, none will be more momentous than the 250th Anniversary of the Battles of Saratoga.
The commemoration of this significant anniversary is already underway. The Towns of Saratoga and Stillwater have joined together to form a committee to organize and promote events. The 250th Anniversary of the Battles of Saratoga is scheduled to take place in October 2027. The Towns are also partnering with the Saratoga County 250th Commission and the Saratoga National Historical Park. This commemoration will require extensive support from local historians, historical groups, and the entire community. Volunteers are what make events and commemorations like this one possible.
Participating in a historic anniversary such as the Battles of Saratoga has numerous benefits. Volunteers have the opportunity to learn and educate others on local history, meet new people, gain valuable skills, cultivate a sense of community and most importantly, it is an opportunity to have fun and be part of a significant commemoration of America’s history that comes once, maybe twice in a lifetime.
The 250th committee is planning various future events, not just the main event scheduled for October 2027. Over the next few years, there will be ample opportunities for those interested in participating in local events and commemorations centered around the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution. Keep an eye out for local historical events and commemorations in your community, and do not hesitate to reach out to local historians and officials to find out how you can be involved in the upcoming anniversary of one of the most decisive battles in history.
The Town of Saratoga and Town of Stillwater Joint Committee is committed to making the 250th Anniversary of the Battles of Saratoga into an unforgettable experience for everyone involved. Join us in celebrating America’s history and commemorating this significant turning point in our nation’s journey.
For more information, please contact Stillwater Town Historian, Mackenzie Macey, mmacey@stillwaterny.org. SS
Shortly before Laurina Inzinna Ecobelli passed away in 1981, she entrusted the preservation of a priceless family heirloom to the care of grandchildren Lora Lee and Tom, then ages 23 and 17.
The keepsake bequeathed to the Ballston Spa sibling pair by their cherished 75-year-old grandmother was more precious than gold for it told in her own words -- and handwriting -- the story of an epic chapter in her young life that ultimately culminated in a valiant quest for justice and triumph of the human spirit.
Born to Italian immigrant parents, “Nona” Laurina asked Lora Lee and Tom to one day find a way to share what she had secretly penned in her diary to help educate and empower others.
They vowed they would. To say they have kept their promise would be an understatement.
The journal in which Laurina detailed the physical and sexual abuse she had endured at the hands of her stepfather who impregnated her at age 13 a century ago is now an awardwinning short film that captures her courage, fortitude, and resilience as well as her pain. “We didn’t want to focus on the brutality of her situation, but rather the inner strength that saw her through those dark days,” reflects Lora Lee. “She wanted my brother and me to share her story in a manner that would bring hope and healing to future generations. It was important to her that the story of what led her to be at the center of a controversial upstate New York trial in 1923 be told in a way that would encourage victims of abuse and exploitation to speak up – to put an end to the kind of suffering that had in so many ways robbed her of her youth.”
Longtime Saratoga County residents and tourists may remember Laurina for her matronly hospitality at the former family-owned and operated Ecobelli’s Tam O’Shanter Restaurant on Route 50 in Ballston Spa. Although Laurina
kept the saga of her traumatic adolescent ordeal a closely guarded secret throughout her lengthy tenure at the popular dining establishment, Lora Lee and Tom say she quietly helped other women who were victims of domestic violence.
After decades of toiling (prior to the MeToo movement) to get the script they had co-authored produced as a motion picture, Emmy-winning director Sylvia Caminer ultimately signed on to the film-making project along with Executive Producers and Producers Michalina Scorzelli and Chris Gaunt. The latter pair also had acting roles in the production. Filmed entirely in the Capital Region in the autumn of 2022, with some scenes shot in the actual locations where the events had unfolded, Laurina features rising star Adriana Camposano in the title role along with Jenna Kurmemaj as the heroine’s sister Minnie and Stephen Schnetzer portraying their stepfather Pietro. In addition to their roles as screenwriters, Lora Lee and Tom (both of whom forged professional acting careers after their graduations from Ballston Spa High School in 1975 and 1982, respectively) were among the talented actors, extras, and crew members whose contributions enhanced the film-making experience.
It is noteworthy that legendary composer David Amram, who crafted the exquisite score, was the only person involved in the film’s creation other than Lora Lee and Tom, who had known the real Laurina. According to the siblings, Amram was inspired to write the score “to script” meaning he composed the music while watching scenes from the film. Among the world-renowned composer’s other stellar scores are those he wrote for the now classic movies Splendor in the Grass (Natalie Wood and Warren Beatty) and The Manchurian Candidate (Angela Lansbury and Frank Sinatra.) Talk about a hard act to follow!
matriarchSiblings Lora Lee and Tom Ecobelli at the Florida premiere of the short film about their late grandmother Laurina’s quest for justice a century ago.
WRITTEN BY ANN HAUPRICH | PHOTOS PROVIDED
is that at the time of the cookbook’s publication just over a decade ago, Lora Lee and Tom Ecobelli had not yet coauthored the script for the masterpiece that is now making film festival rounds. The siblings decided to call the latter creation Laurina because they wanted it to stand alone from Chickadee.
While the film titled Laurina captures a portion of the saga of a former restaurant’s beloved matriarch’s tragic youth, a cookbook co-authored by grandchildren Lora Lee and Tom Ecobelli is a light-hearted and heartwarming collection of what had once been secret family recipes as well as a treasure trove of memories.
Published by Square Circle Press, Laurina’s Kitchen is described by publisher Richard Vang as “a colorful and eclectic mix of ephemera, such as menus, postcards and newspaper articles which combine to bring this Upstate New York institution back to life. Peppered throughout are images of the Ecobellis and their extended ‘family’ around the restaurant and at home as well as special memories contributed by staff, patrons and friends who were all part of the restaurant’s devoted community.”
Although Laurina’s Kitchen was first published in 2012, Tom and Lora Lee continue to meet folks who are interested in learning how to secure copies of the richly illustrated 8.5” x 11” literary keepsake. “It’s amazing -- and touching -- how many people from near and far remember meeting our grandmother (Laurina) while dining at Ecobelli’s Tam O’Shanter on Route 50 in Ballston Spa,” says Tom. “At the time, of course, none of them knew the story of her tragic childhood which has now been brought to life in the film titled Laurina.” Noteworthy is that those who turn the pages of Laurina’s Kitchen will discover it contains references to plans for a major motion picture titled Chickadee, however, no mention of the recently released short film Laurina. The reason
“The short explores the beginning of Laurina’s story and ends with her courageous decision to have stepfather Pietro arrested. We wanted it to tell this portion of her life fully, not just have it be a promo for the future feature. This was very difficult to do in under 20 minutes, but we feel we accomplished most of what we wanted,” explains Tom. “The script for Chickadee, on the other hand, is the complete story of Laurina’s saga taking the viewer through Laurina’s journey from leaving the orphanage, the tragedy with Pietro, the difficult, landmark trial, the birth of the baby and eventually Laurina’s acceptance and healing.”
BOTTOM LINE: While the short film titled Laurina has been completed and is earning rave reviews, Chickadee has not yet taken flight. Tom and Lora Lee remain interested in meeting with benefactors and investors who might want to help them bring a full-length feature version of their cherished grandmother’s inspiring and empowering story to the big screen. “We would love to hear from anyone who can help make that happen,” says Tom, whose email address is tomecobelli@gmail.com.
To purchase copies: squarecirclepress. com/books/LaurinasKitchen.htm SS
Grace typing letters to aspiring Forty-Sixers. Credit: Adirondack History Museum (Elizabethtown)
WRITTEN BY ROBERT C. LAWRENCE Part of the "WHAT'S WITH THOSE ADIRONDACK MOUNTAIN NAMES?" Series.
While kayaking on beautiful Lake Durant near Blue Mountain Lake, New York, one June day, my wife, Carol Ann, asked, "Where does Blue Mountain get its name?" So, we visited the nearby Adirondack Museum at Blue Mountain Lake (Adirondack Experience) to find a book on the subject. But, there was no such book. So, I wrote, What's With Those Adirondack Mountain Names? The book alphabetically lists over a hundred Adirondack Mountain place names or oronyms, but only four Adirondack mountains have women's names.
Grace Peak, a forty-six-high Adirondack peak, is second in the Simply Saratoga series "What's With Those Adirondack WOMEN Mountain Names?"
On June 12, 2014, East Dix Mountain, North Hudson, Essex County, was renamed Grace Peak for Grace Leach Hudowalski (1906-2004) by the United States Board on Geographic Names. Grace was the first woman, the ninth climber of the forty-six highest Adirondack mountains, and the only person born (Ticonderoga) and raised in (Minerva) the Adirondack Park with a mountain namesake.
Doug Arnold chaired a committee to change the name of East Dix Mountain to Grace Peak, which was a lengthy process but ultimately led to its renaming. In the Fall 2014 edition of Adirondack Peeks, a magazine of the Adirondack Forty-Sixers, Doug Arnold remarked, "In today's world, reality-television stars, overpaid sports figures, and egocentric politicians are offered up to us by the media as our heroes. With the naming of Grace Peak, it is refreshing to know that a woman, born in 1906, who made such a positive impact on so many lives and whose love of the Adirondacks has had so many farreaching effects is now recognized for her lifelong passion."
Grace was the first president and historian for the well-known Adirondack Forty-Sixers (46ers). A person achieves a 46er status by climbing the forty-six highest Adirondack New York State peaks and documenting their climbs. During her fifty-nine years as a historian, Grace wrote over sixty thousand letters to aspiring hikers wanting to climb all forty-six high mountains. Grace often told hikers the advice her father gave her on her first climb of Mount Marcy at age 16: "It's not important whether you make it to the summit… what's important is how you make the climb."
In her professional world, Grace was a prominent government official responsible for promoting New York State tourism.
To learn more about Grace's accounts of her climbs and mountain love, view the documentary The Mountains Will Wait for You, directed by Fredrick Schwoebel and narrated by his father-in-law, singer-songwriter Johnny Cash.
Her legacy will live through her mountain, Grace Hudowalski Charitable Trust (1995), and letters. Furthermore, she encouraged young women "to get out of doors, to get lots of fresh air to bring color to your cheeks and zest in your step. " (Special Centennial Edition of Bob Marshall's 1922 The High Peaks of the Adirondacks, a Grace Hudowalski Charitable Trust Publication)
Names? (The Troy Book Makers) is available at the following retail locations: Market Block Books (Troy), The Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza (Albany), Open Door Bookstore (Schenectady), Northshire Bookstore, Mountainman Outdoor Supply Company (Saratoga), Adirondack Country Store (Northville), St. Andrews Ace Hardware (Queensbury) in many retail establishments in the Adirondack Park and on Amazon.com.
WRITTEN BY JOHN R. GREENWOOD | PHOTOS PROVIDED
With my 68th summer in high gear, I thought it might be fun to reminisce about my grandparents’ porch on East Avenue in Saratoga Springs. Frances and Elmer Greenwood owned a home there from the early 1930s until my grandfather's passing in 1990. The home is no longer in the family, and the house number has changed, but the sights, smells, and sounds that it left me with remain vivid and dear.
The porch was a hub of activity from May through October for decades. The attached photos were taken in August of 1957. I'm the little guy in the white shirt with a teddy bear on his chest. I’m sure it's August because the unidentified man standing behind me was a boarder who, at the time, rented a room for the four-week track season. The Saratoga Race Course was within walking distance, making it the ideal accommodation. My mother, Helen, is on my right, with my beautiful sister Joanne looking back over the wicker chair. My father, Ralph, is sitting on the steel glider with my grandparents. That porch was cared for like a cherished heirloom. I recall many times in early summer when I would help my grandfather wash down the porch floor and clean the wicker furniture. A fresh coat of oil-based gray was applied every few years. Fifty years later, I still have some of my grandfather's well-cared-for paintbrushes. Simply seeing them hanging in my garage initiates a sentimental journey.
One of the centerpieces of the porch was the massive Boston ivy that encompassed it. Like a forest canopy, the broad leaves kept the porch cool and inviting. Every fall, my grandfather would prune it back to its woody frame to ensure its future health and shape. I drive down East Avenue whenever I'm nearby to soak up a little nostalgia, and the ivy is still going strong. It must be closing in on its 100th birthday.
Another focal point on the porch was the steel glider that faced the street. It had green canvas cushions with white cord piping. It was well cared for and covered each fall. All it took was a gentle push with your feet to get it "gliding" back and forth. I remember staying at my grandparents’ when I was still young enough to take a nap after lunch. My grandmother would have me lie down on the glider and cover me with a light blanket. The sound of the passing cars, old reel-type mowers, and neighbors' voices in the distance was like a knockout punch to a little boy with a full belly. Man-oh-man, would I love to recreate that moment right now!
Another constant on the porch was an arrangement of flowers. My grandmother loved gladiolus, black-eyed Susan's, and pussy willows. They were always placed in a large antique vase of some kind. Their porch was a welcoming oasis, always occupied by friends and neighbors, many of whom just happened by. The flowers and calming ambiance were not the only things that drew people in like flies to honey; Elmer's highly acclaimed Gin Rickeys and Manhattans surely played a part. If you were a nondrinker or just plain thirsty, you would be offered a tumbler of Frances' sun-brewed iced tea with a dash of cinnamon. 7 UP was always my beverage of choice.
I'd be remiss if I didn't mention visits by the neighborhood Basset Hound, "Stretch." I say neighborhood Basset Hound because many people had no idea who he actually belonged to. Stretch would amble up the porch steps and stare at the screen door knowing there was some form of snack waiting for him on the other side. After receiving his treat and a scratch or two behind the ears, he'd head off down East Avenue in search of the next handout.
The porch was a bustling destination all summer, but it peaked during August. East Avenue led directly to the main gate of the track, just a few blocks away. People who didn't want to pay for parking or wanted a quick departure after the last race lined the street. Friends from out of town would park out front and have a quick drink before or after the races. Before long, conversation and laughter would overflow the porch and drift down the *Rudy Rydberg sidewalk.
*Rudolph "Rudy" Rydberg and his father were skilled masons who installed hundreds of sidewalks throughout Saratoga Springs. Many of them survive today. They can be identified by the RYDBERG stamp in one corner. SS
