Saratoga Experience Summer 2010

2 | Saratoga Experience Summer 2010

Saratoga Experience Summer 2010 | 3


Table of Contents

Cover Main Photo Provided by:

NYRA

Cover Bottom Right Photos

Provided by ©stockstudiosphotography.com

6 They’re OffWelcome to The Historic Saratoga Race Course

12 Hope. Magic. Dreams. ‘Cause I’m in a Saratoga “State of Mind”

22 From Kaydeross to Congress:The Story of the Saratoga Springs Carousel

30 Spa City Porch Escapes

38 Fabulous Foliage

42 Saratoga Fashion

48 A Novel Collection - Lyrical Ballad Bookstore

56 Susan Farnsworth

66 History Homogenized

76 Get the Most of your Saratoga Experience

84 Golf Directory

86 80 Years Ago A Valley

Saratoga Experience is brought to you by Saratoga TODAY Newspaper. All information contained with-in this publication is based on data collected from a variety of sources at the time of publication.Saratoga TODAY shall make every effort to avoid errors and omissions but disclaims any responsibili-ty should they occur. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, ortransmitted in any form or by any means without prior written consent of the publisher Copyright (c)2010, Saratoga Publishing, LLC

ExperienceSaratogaThe

Publisher Chad Beatty

General Manager Robin Mitchell

Art Director Tiffany Garland

Writers Melissa Downer, Yael Goldman, Arthur Gonick,

Kerry Mendez, Barry Potoker

Proofreader Anne Proulx

Photographers Mark Bolles, Tom Stock

Account Executives Chris Bushee, Cindy Durfey

Pre-Press Coordinator Sam Bolles

WHAT: Saratoga Race Course’s 142nd season.WHEN: 40 days. Friday, July 23 throughMonday, September 6 (Labor Day).No racing on Tuesdays.WHERE: Saratoga Race Course,Union Avenue, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.FIRST RACE POST TIME: 1 p.m. On

Travers Day, Saturday, August 28, first race postis 11:35 a.m. On Party at the Spa Fridays, July 30and September 3, first race post time is 2:30 p.m.

ADMISSION: General admission is $3;Clubhouse admission is $5. Children 12 andunder are admitted free when accompanied byan adult. Admission gates open at 11 a.m. onweekdays and 10:30 a.m. on weekends. OnTravers Day, Saturday, August 28, gates open at 7a.m. Travers Day admission is $5 general admis-sion; $10 for Clubhouse. Reserved seating is soldseparately. On Party at the Spa Fridays, gatesopen at noon.

PARKING: Trackside parking is $10 andgeneral parking is free. Handicapped parking isavailable at the Clubhouse and Grandstandentrances. Parking gates open at 7 a.m. onTravers Day, Saturday, August 28. NO BREAK-FAST PARKING REFUNDS ON TRAVERSDAY, Saturday, August 28. There is alsoOklahoma Preferred Parking for $5 on the cor-ner of East Avenue and Union Avenue (nottrackside).

COOLERS: Coolers are permitted atSaratoga Race Course on the trackside apron,Top of the Stretch and the backyard area ONLY.No coolers will be allowed anywhere inside thebuilding. ALL GLASS CONTAINERS AREPROHIBITED. All coolers and any carry-initems are subject to inspection by NYRASecurity.

RESERVED SEATS: A limited number ofGrandstand seats are on sale each morning of arace day at the Reserved Seat Sales Office atUnion Avenue Gate at 9 a.m. (7 a.m. on TraversDay, Saturday, August 28). Closed Tuesdays.

There is a limit of four (4) seats per person.Cash, American Express, Visa, and MasterCardare accepted. Clubhouse seats Monday,Wednesday and Thursday, are $10 per seat; onFriday, Saturday and Sunday, they are $15 perseat. Grandstand seats are $6 per seat onMonday, Wednesday and Thursday; $8 per seaton Friday, Saturday and Sunday. On Travers Day,Saturday, August 28, clubhouse seats are $25 andgrandstand seats are $18. After Opening Dayphone orders are accepted until 4:30 p.m. eachracing day. No telephone orders are accepted for“Day Of” or “Sun Seats.” For more informationon reserved seats, call 1-800-814-7846.

DINING: NYRA has simplified its restau-rant reservation system with the creation of a tollfree dining reservations number (888) 516-NYRA. Dining options include: the TurfTerrace Dining Room, Club Terrace, At the RailPavilion, Carousel Restaurant, and The Porch.

SPECIAL EVENTS:30th ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE: Sunday,

July 18, FREE! 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors get afree sneak-peek into the popular summer meetprior to the start of racing season, with a full dayof games, activities, live music, food, pony rides,behind-the-scenes tours, mascot races, handicap-ping seminars, and non-wagering horse racing.Proceeds from the day’s events benefit dozens oflocal non-profit organizations.

OPENING DAY AT SARATOGA: Friday,July 23. It’s now Post Time as the 142nd seasonof racing at Saratoga commences! Gates open at11 a.m. and first Post Time is 1 p.m.

HATS OFF TO SARATOGA: Friday, July23 – Sunday, July 25. This three-day festivalincludes world-class racing, live music downtownand at the track, and a wide array of headpiecesto celebrate the start of the racing season plusthe Spa debut of the Betfair TVG CoachingClub American Oaks. Capping the weekend isthe annual Hat Contest, with contestants goinghead-to-head for prizes. For contest information

Saratoga RaceCourse


2010


Sunday, August 22 – Umbrella

Sunday, September 5 – Long Sleeve Tee Shirt

GIVEAWAYScall (518) 383-6183 and after July 23, call(518) 584-6200.

COACHING CLUB CELEBRATION: Saturday, July 24. In

honor of the 94th running of the Grade 1Betfair TVG Coaching Club American Oaks,a day-long celebration of coaching isplanned, including two antique coaches ondisplay at the racetrack and another coachthat will parade down the stretch.

MID-SUMMER ST. PATRICK’SDAY: Thursday, July 29. Come celebrate

the luck o’ the Irish as Saratoga celebrates St.Patrick’s Day in July. Local Irish bands willperform supplemented by an array of Irishentertainment, including traditional Irish stepdancers. Plus, an Irish-themed short-sleeve t-shirt is the season’s first giveaway!

COLLEGE DAY/PARTY AT THE SPA: Friday, July 30. College

students vie for their shot to win a $1,000scholarship after each race. First post time is2:30 p.m. as college students and racing fanscelebrate the first of two “Party at the Spa”Fridays, with live music and food after theraces.

FASIG-TIPTON FESTIVAL OFRACING: Saturday, July 31 - Sunday,

August 1. The Fasig-Tipton Festival ofRacing celebrates the rich history of Fasig-Tipton in Saratoga and the upcoming SelectYearling Sales. The festival will include anumber of interactive and educational activi-ties at the track and the beautiful Fasig-Tipton facility.

SARATOGA WINE FESTIVAL:Friday, August 6. Sample some of NewYork’s finest wines in the backyard to benefitthe Times Union Hope Fund and Gift ofLife ($25 to participate).

RACHEL ALEXANDRA BASEBALL CAP GIVEAWAY: Sunday,

August 8. Visitors can pick up a free RachelAlexandra baseball cap, with paid admission,while supplies last.

INAUGURAL SARATOGA HANDICAPPING TOURNAMENT: Wednesday, August

11 and Thursday, August 12. Limited to 100entrants, handicappers will vie for $100,000 inprize money and a chance to be part of thethree-person “Team Saratoga” at the DailyRacing Form/National ThoroughbredRacing Association National HandicappingChampionship in January in Las Vegas.

Contact Kathleen Locke [email protected].

FRIDAY THE 13TH HALLOWEEN:Friday, August 13. Boo! Kids come in cos-tumes and trick-or-treat at some of the track’sfamous landmarks as Saratoga Race coursecelebrates Friday the 13th.

HORSE RETIREMENT AWARENESS DAY: Wednesday, August

18. A day dedicated to the horses in an effortto raise awareness and funds for the care ofretired thoroughbreds. Various equine rescueorganizations will be on track to distributeinformation and collect donations. ESPNRacing Analyst Jeannine Edwards and herdressage horse Ashkal Way, 2006 BernardBaruch winner and Saratoga veteran, will per-form a dressage routine on track.

FABULOUS FILLIES DAY: Friday,August 20. Saratoga Race Course takes on apink hue in a fund raising effort for the BreastCancer Research Foundation. In the back-yard, learn more about women’s issues, fash-ion and health with interactive displays andexhibits.

15TH ANNUAL TRAVERS FESTIVAL: Saturday, August 21 -

Sunday, August 29. The Travers Festival cele-brates the 141st running of the $1 millionTravers Stakes! Visitors can enjoy nine days ofspecial events, kicking off with the BetfairTVG Alabama Stakes for the nation’s top 3-year-old fillies on Saturday, August 21. Formore information on the Travers Festival,pick up a brochure at Saratoga Race Course,call 1-800-526-8970, or log onto www.sarato-ga.org.

SARATOGA UMBRELLA GIVEAWAY: Sunday, August 22. Visitors

can pick up a FREE Saratoga umbrella, withpaid admission, while supplies last.

STEWART’S SHOPS ICE CREAMEATING CONTEST: Wednesday,

August 25. Participants see how much icecream they can devour without succumbingto brain freeze! Contestants are divided intothree age groups – kids, teens and adults. Thewinners receive gift certificates for freeStewart’s Shops ice cream.

FEAST OF SAN GENNARO:Thursday, August 26. Indulge in some Italianfavorites and listen to the classic tunes ofFrank Sinatra and Tony Bennett as a taste ofItaly comes to Saratoga Race Course.

AMERICAN RED CROSS BATTLE

1Thursday, July 29 – Mid-Summer St. Patrick’sDay Short Sleeve Tee Shirt

3

2

4

Sunday, August 8 – Rachel AlexandraBaseball Cap


2010 CALENDAR


OF THE BREWS: Friday, August 27. Visitors 21 and older get thechance to taste a variety of brews and vote on their favorites. Proceeds($25 to participate) benefit the Adirondack-Saratoga chapter of the RedCross. THE TRAVERS STAKES: Saturday, August 28. It’s Saratoga’sbiggest race: the 141st running of the $1 million Travers, the “Mid-Summer Derby” for 3-year-olds at a mile and a quarter. First post-time is11:35 a.m. and gates open at 7 a.m. The Travers Day undercard willinclude the Grade 1 King’s Bishop, the Grade 1 Ballerina, the Grade 2Ballston Spa and the Grade 3 Victory Ride.

VETERANS DAY: Thursday, September 2. Celebrate America’s her-itage and show off your patriotic spirit as Saratoga Race Course honorsveterans and active military with FREE grandstand admission, with prop-er identification.

PARTY AT THE SPA: Friday, September 3. Post time is 2:30 p.m. asclosing weekend gets underway with the final Party at the Spa. Stay afterthe races for live music and great food!

FINAL STRETCH FESTIVAL: Saturday, September 4 – Monday,September 6. The three-day festival marks the culmination of theSaratoga racing season with live music downtown and at the track, a fam-ily fun fest, and Labor Day BBQ to mark the final day of the 40-day meet.

LONG SLEEVE T-SHIRT GIVEAWAY: Sunday, September 5.Visitors can pick up a FREE Saratoga long sleeve t-shirt, with paid admis-sion, while supplies last.

FAMILY FUN FEST/LABOR DAY BBQ: Sunday, September 5 -Monday, September 6. Families can enjoy an afternoon of kid-friendlyactivities in the backyard, which benefits the Ronald McDonald HouseCharities of the Capital Region. Visitors also bid goodbye to another sea-son with a traditional BBQ both days. The specially priced family BBQincludes Clubhouse admission, official track program, BBQ lunch andtax. To order, call Group Sales at 1-888-516-NYRA. .

ATTIRE: Box Seats: Gentlemen – suits or sports jackets required.Ties not required. Ladies – dresses, skirts or slack outfits. No jeans, shorts,or abbreviated wear permitted. Clubhouse: No short shorts, cutoffs, orabbreviated wear permitted. No tank tops. Proper attire at management’sdiscretion. Grandstand: Shoes and shirts are required at all times.

BREAKFAST AT SARATOGA: A longstanding tradition is to watchthe morning workouts at Saratoga. A buffet breakfast is served every rac-ing day from 7 - 9:30 a.m. Admission to the breakfast is free, except onTravers Day, Saturday, August 28, and vehicles leaving the grounds before10 a.m. get a parking refund. Morning visitors may also take a free walk-ing tour of the Backstretch Area and watch the Paddock Show andStarting Gate Demonstration. There are no tours on Travers Day, orClosing Day, Labor Day, Monday, September 6. The buffet is priced at$14.95 per person, $7.95 for children between the ages of 3 and 12. Racefans who wish to attend the afternoon’s races are charged admission uponre-entering the track. For more information, call Customer Service at(718) 641-4700; from July 23 – September 6, call (518) 584-6200.

JOCKEY AUTOGRAPH BOOKS: On Mondays, except for LaborDay, a copy of the 2010 Jockey Autograph book will be given away freewith each paid admission, while supplies last. Sponsored by PriceChopper, the full-color booklet offers fans the chance to collect the sig-natures of their favorite riders on their own special pages.

PREMIUM GIVEAWAYS: All giveaways are free with each paid admission, while supplies last.Saratoga Short Sleeve T-Shirt Thursday, July 29 Rachel Alexandra Baseball Cap Sunday, August 8

Saratoga Umbrella Sunday, August 22 Saratoga Long Sleeve T-Shirt Sunday, September 5 NOTE: Saratoga will again offer “spinner-free” service – a dedicated turnstile at

the East Avenue admission gate specifically designed for patrons who wish to avoid thepotentially lengthy lines on giveaway days. No coupons will be issued in this express lane,which will be reserved for fans seeking expedited admission to the grandstand.

TRACK FACTS:MAIN TRACK: 1 1/8-mile oval with seven-furlong chute; 4 percent

banking on the turns; distance from final turn to the finish line is 1,144feet.

TURF COURSES: The Mellon (Outer) Turf Course is a one-mile(plus 98 feet) oval; 4 percent banking on the turns; distance from finalturn to the finish line is 1,144 feet; The Inner Turf Course is a seven-fur-long (plus 304 feet) oval; 4 percent banking on the turns; distance fromfinal turn to finish is 1,164 feet.

OKLAHOMA TRAINING TRACK: One-mile oval with a quarter-mile chute; 2 percent banking on the turns; distance from final turn to thefinish line is 990 feet.

OKLAHOMA TURF COURSE: Seven-furlong oval; 2 percentbanking on the turns; distance from final turn to the finish line is 1,024feet.

OKLAHOMA STEEPLECHASE COURSE: Six-furlong oval,five fences.

CLARE COURT TRAINING TRACK: Half-mile oval; 1.5 percentbanking on the turns.


It’s Derby Day, everyday, for 36 days atthe Spa and now 40 days starting thisyear. From the electric atmosphere ofopening day to the bittersweet energy ofgetaway week, The Sport of Kings atSaratoga is as good as it gets. The crisp,misty morning workouts…the clean,sweet aroma of the summer dew…andthe unforgettable sound of thunderinghooves; It’s a trifecta for the senses.

Being a native Saratogian, growing upon the East Side near what we called the“flat track,” I was “bred” to love, admireand respect the horses. From a Saratogakid’s perspective, it was like having a

‘Cause I’m in

a Saratoga

“State of

Mind.”

Hope.

Magic.

Dreams…

Photos by©stockstudiosphotography.comStory by Barry Potoker


traveling Disneyland in your hometown. I can stillhear Fred Caposella’s wonderfully distinctive voicebellowing; “They’re off” from my backyard during thefabled meet. On those dog days of summer, our fam-ily rented the house for the four week racing season(only 24 race days back then) and stayed at a campon the lake. Most days, my Mom and I would gohome and clean for the DuPonts (our renters) andpluck fresh tomatoes from our garden in the after-noon while they were at the track. That’s when I’d

hear the legendary call of the races. What a magnifi-cent sound, which still gives me goose bumps to thisday.

In the late sixties and early seventies, my croniesand I, (we all became seasoned handicappers in ourteens) would eagerly gather each night around 10p.m. at Richie’s Deli on Lake Avenue waiting for theMorning Telegraph (now the Racing Form). Invariably,we complained that the damn truck was late again,but it was all part of the ritual. We bragged about theday’s winners, lamented over the losers, debated thefeature race, and of course, speculated about the“would-have-beens.” It was all part of the experience.Once the truck arrived with the precious cargo - theTeles-we’d pay our buck and scurry home to do our

“They’re

off”

Photo by Adam Coglianese


studying. It was the sort of homework we actu-ally liked. The anticipation and hope of whattomorrow might bring was exhilarating.

Back in the day, wagering was so pure. Thegoal was to pick winners. There were no supers,triples, pick three’s, four’s or six’s, not even exac-tas or quinellas to confuse our brains-in-train-ing. All bets were $2, so with only $10 or $20 inour pockets, we bet to win. Maybe it’s some-what of a lost art these days. There was only oneexotic bet; the daily double and the only dou-ble, race 1 and 2. Picking that right was toughenough, but nonetheless a challenge and a truetest of one’s handicapping prowess. It wasimportant to be up at the track on time to makethat double wager. Years later when exactaswere introduced in races 3, 5 & 7, our mindsets

adjusted for saving an extra few bucks for thosenew and crazy bets.

Post time was 2 p.m. then, so we crawledunder or climbed over the fence on UnionAvenue, depending on how we felt that day,dashed to get our handy pocket program (theonly style available then) and went straight toour self-assigned spot. That was home base. Itwas our “sacred spot,” by the big wooden stepson the second floor where the clubhouse meetsthe grandstand, it still stirs me today. It’s locatedabout mid-stretch where Cappy would say,“coming through the stretch…” at the point inthe race where our breath was taken away withour hearts pounding as the horses raced to thefinish line. That’s where the boys hung out.“Who do you like in the big race?” was the typ-


ical chatter as we all settled in just before theponies broke for the first race. Today it’s,“who are your top three and in what combi-nation are you using them?” Between races,we journeyed back down to the jockeys’room and over to sneak a peek at the horsesup close as they were saddled under theelms. What a grand sight. Once we heard“riders up,” it was off to the two dollar win-dows to bet, then back upstairs for the postparade. It was our routine, and we got lots ofexercise in August. Then came the roar as thegate sprung open. Oh, what fun we had! Themagic of the day was upon us and we soakedit all up.

Throughout the 40 plus years of exploringthe hallowed grounds of the Spa, I’ve had theprivilege of seeing so many spectacular racesand countless champions. I am in awe ofhow they effortlessly glide over the spacourses and how these majestic creatures digin gamely with such determination andheart. It was the ultimate setting for the likesof the great Secretariat, Kelso, Arts & Letters,Buckpasser, Forego, Dr. Fager, Affirmed &Alydar (they go together!), Go For Wand,Ruffian, Fourstardave, Cigar, Easy Goer, justto name a few. Although Saratoga is knownas the ‘Graveyard of Champions,’ I’d like toimagine that these tremendous athletesenjoyed it here in the country so much andbecame so relaxed, they viewed it as well-deserved vacation time - so why work sohard? Just good horse sense. Along with ourequine favorites, who can forget classic jock-eys like Baeza, Pincay, Day, Vasquez, Ycaza,Woodhouse, Cordero and the Shoe. Thereare too many to note, but all heroes of sorts

It was all

part of the

experience.


now etched in my childhood memories. Another simple joy for me is the local sweet

corn and mouth watering Hand melons whichripen precisely around the Saratoga meet. It’sbecome part of the fabric of a Saratoga sum-mer and the racing season. What an extra spe-cial treat, after a thrilling day at the races, winor lose. And if you’re lucky enough to be awinner, they tasted that much sweeter. Wish Ihad some of those big juicy August tomatoesfrom my backyard right now…

Saratoga Springs is an extraordinary place togrow up. It is exciting and is the August placeto be (now late July and early September aswell). The rich tradition, charm and spirit ofthis historic race track on beautiful UnionAvenue is indeed a jewel for the ages. I learnedat a very young age to respect this remarkabletheater. Saratoga Race Course dates back to1863, and it still drips with the aura of abygone era, from the glorious grandstand and

Story Continued on pg 21


clubhouse to the peaceful infield lake withquaint gazebos; it can set you back a cen-tury in the blink of an eye. Time stands stillfor a moment. Our grand old oval is awak-ening from its slumber now and the curtainwill rise on another marvelous chapter inthis long-running event. As this 142nd sea-son unfolds, I will once again head up andvisit that “sacred spot” to pay homage tothe past. I can only hope and believe thatthe Saratoga ‘state of mind’ will remainuntouched for many more years to come.Let the dreams begin….

Story Continued from pg 18


Saratoga Springs’ history lives on every street corner throughtown. From City Hall dating back to 1871 to the Adelphi Hotelconstructed in 1877, one can’t escape the times gone by witheach step.

Unfortunately, some of Saratoga’s favorite places such as theGrand Union Hotel and Kaydeross Park are no longer in exis-tence; however, pieces have stayed behind to keep history aliveand foster new memories in the making. Dating back to 1902,the Congress Park Carousel is one of the most vibrant pieces ofart in the city and still lives on in its greatness more than 100years later.

The carousel was hand-made in 1902 by Brooklyn-basedmaster carver Marcus Charles Illions, a native of Lithuania.Illions was one of the most innovative and creative carvers of histime and produced 28 intricately-designed horses, donned inbright colors, jewels, tassels and real horsehair tails. For mod-els, he used the Arabian steed, mustang and quarter horse. Eachof them are unique and glide around the merry-go-round in dif-ferent poses from standing to prancing and jumping. Thecarousel also has two chariot benches, a wooden deck floorand brass poles (along with the unseen mechanics) that contin-ue to dazzle riders today as it did when it debuted in Luna Parkin Rexford, NY in 1910. Today, the carousel is the last double-row carousel made by Illions that remains intact.

While most adults remember this magnificent merry-go-round from their childhood days at Kaydeross Park, the massivepiece of artwork has traveled across the area over time.

Photos by ©stockstudiosphotography.com and Provided by The Saratoga Springs History MuseumStory by Melissa Downer

Kaydeross toCongress:

The Story of theSaratoga Springs

Carousel


Once the carousel was sold by Luna Park in1912, a man from Troy bought it and placed it inForrest Park on Ballston Lake until 1930. It was thenpurchased by a Mr. Goldfoot and entertained chil-dren at the Route 9 Roadside Amusement Park until1940, when Mr. Elmer Walker rented the carouselfor his amusement park, Kaydeross Park. The parkwas a steadily-growing amusement park when thecarousel was added.

Walker and his wife Edith bought the KayderossPark property in 1927for $30,000 from theHudson ValleyRailway Companywith the intention ofopening a recreationarea for families tospend their summer.It was home to a


beach and bathhouse, a dancing pavilion, carnivalrides and a restaurant under the Walkers ownershipuntil they sold the park to Robert D’Andrea andWilliam Wrobel in 1957 for $110,000.

When ownership changed, so did the park.D’Andrea and Wrobel made additions to the park andexpanded it by filling in a swamp area to make thepark an astonishing 26 acres. They added anotherrestaurant, a pool, a night-club style dance hall, morecarnival rides such as bumper cars and boats, softballfields and picnic spaces that could cater a party up to3,500 people.

For many years, D’Andrea and Wrobel operated thepark, giving families a fun-filled summer to look for-ward to and first jobs to many area children.

In May 1978, news broke that D’Andrea andWrobel planned to sell the park. D’Andrea, an assem-blyman, wanted to focus on his political career, andWrobel was concerned with insurance liabilities thatthe park held.

“A lot of people don’t understand our point of view.We’d rather sell it to somebody as an amusementpark; but one serious accident and the owners couldlose everything,” D’Andrea is recorded as saying.

After no buyers came forward to keep the propertyas an amusement park, the owners sold it to develop-ers who built The Vista on Saratoga Lake, a housingdevelopment. Most of the items from the park includ-ing arcade games, kitchen equipment, benches andcarnival rides, were auctioned off to the public.

The beloved carousel was also slated to be auc-tioned off, horse by horse, to the highest bidder onSept. 26 and 27, 1987 by Guernsey’s. News of thisupcoming auction sparked so much public oppositionthat residents started the Save the CarouselCommittee, raising more than $120,000 in a matter ofweeks in hopes that the City Council would purchasethe carousel as a whole.

On the day of the auction, with $150,000 in handfrom the committee and the rest of the funds raised bythe city council and private donations by MarylouWhitney and Charlie Wood, the city council, specifi-cally Commissioner of Public Works ThomasMcTygue, negotiated with the auctioneer to purchasethe carousel before one horse made it to the podiumThe Committee was a success.

But what to do with the carousel? The 28-horsemerry-go-round would sit in limbo for 15 years before

it could call a place “home.” First of all, according to appraisers, the carousel was

“not in good shape.” It had been exposed to rain, snowand moisture from Saratoga Lake for many years and itwas looking rather ragged. The carousel and all of itsparts needed to be refurbished before itcould be displayed and used by the public.

Between 1987 and 1991, Bill Finkenstein,principal restorer, and various other artistsworked on the carousel, bringing it back toits original beauty in which Illions intendedso many years ago.

Also during this time, the City Counciland residents were trying to figure out justwhere this artifact should be placed. In ahorse and history-themed town, McTyguefelt Congress Park would be the best place for the ride.Many agreed with him, but some were passionatelyagainst the idea. One of the most vocal opponents,Beatrice Sweeney, went on record many times to voiceher displeasure.

“Open space in the park will disappear, blacktop andpopcorn stands will proliferate, the traffic and parking inthe Spring Street area will go from bad to chaotic; thereis no concrete evidencebusinesses will profit fromthe location. There is nohistoric precedent,” shesaid in more than one let-ter to the editor.

Other sites were alsosuggested, such as HighRock Park, the spacebehind the Saratoga CityCenter and what lookedlike would be the finaldecision, the SaratogaRace Course. This alsoreceived harsh criticism.

According to ReverendRobert Munyon, “I guess Ifeel to get the best use ofthe carousel is to put it in aplace that will not beoffensive to the values ofthe family.”

In 2000, a decision was finally made. The carouselwould be placed in Congress Park. The ponies whosat in a public works shed, waiting to be debuted,only had a short wait left before they could provideentertainment to countless children again as they had

in the past. With just the pavilion left to build, the long

road was coming to an end. On June 29,2002, the $245,000 project was unveiled tothe public in a grand opening celebration.The refurbished carousel opened in the beau-tiful enclosed pavilion in Congress Park withall 28 of the horses restored to their originalgrandeur. Modern features were incorporat-ed, including a computer-controlled operat-ing system that replaced the original belt-driv-

en mechanics of Illions’ time. The new sound systemprovided calliope music to set the carnival scene forriders of the carousel. The upkeep is taken care of bythe Saratoga Springs Department of Public Works.

Today, the carousel opens each year from thebeginning of May through Columbus Day for familiesto enjoy the nostalgia of riding the merry-go-roundjust like the days of old at Kaydeross Park.


CarouselSchedule:Tues. - Sun.

11am - Dusk (Through Sept. 6,

2010)


There are few better places to enjoy the American frontporch than Saratoga Springs. Our love for porches goesback a long way, almost to the beginning of our city.When Gideon Putnam, entrepreneur and promoter of themineral springs, built his Union Hall hotel in 1802, hebestowed upon it a three-story porch supported by posts.

Its original purposewas inextricablytied to the mineralwaters. There wasone effect thatcould be proven:certain watersrelieved “costive-ness,” the conditionfor which our doc-tors prescribe fiber.So, at dawn, gentle-men and ladies insimple clothingmade their ways tothe springs, drank

Porch Scapes

Photos by ©stockstudiosphotography.comStory by Field Horne

Porch Escapesfor


There are few better places toenjoy the American front porch

than Saratoga Springs.


tumbler after tumbler, and then returned to the hotelporch to walk – we might even say march – back andforth until the exercise produced the beneficial effect.

Many hotels built both front and back porches. AsSaratoga matured, more people came here for the fash-ionableness of it, for the entertainment, the social oppor-tunities, the chance to meet a suitable wife or husband.The front porches evolved into a place for ladies, whilethe men used the back porches “to lounge and smokein.” Yet as late as 1850 Ellen Bond of Cincinnati


remarked on “promenading on theporches and through the grounds---thisseems to be the only variety here.”

Meanwhile, social and artistic cur-rents were creating the domestic porch.This new thing (for there were fewbefore the 1850s) was a transitionbetween the public street and the pri-vate home and between nature anddomesticity. Andrew Jackson Downingof Newburgh is often credited withpopularizing the domestic porch in hisbooks on country houses. But technol-ogy, too, contributed: balloon-frame


construction was coming into use, making it cheap-er and easier to build a porch, along with machine-made trim that helped decorate them.

By 1870, when the literary lion Henry James vis-ited us, the Grand Union Hotel porch was reputedto be the largest in the world, while all acrossSaratoga Springs houses great and small all hadtheir porches. The object was the same: guests orresidents treasured porches so they could enjoy theopen air while protected from the rain or the heatof the sun.

So what happened to our porches? New houses,built after World War II when construction resumedafter a long gap, rarely had porches. The automo-bile made the street less appealing to face, the tel-evision drew families inside, and air conditioningtook care of the comfort issue.

But around the Bicentennial, here in SaratogaSprings as elsewhere, Americans rediscovered theirporches, and with them the cultural ideals of fami-ly, community, and nature that they had fostered inthe nineteenth century. In our modern world, whodoes not love a porch?


PerennialResource.com

PerennialResource.com


Admit it or not, leaves are the backbone of your perennial gar-den. They play an invaluable and usually thankless role. Wheninterviewed by a national gardening magazine about how I createcolorful three season gardens, I gave foliage much of the credit.Great leaves complement flowers and bring out their best. Leavescan also hide eyesores and carry interest when blooms are mini-mal. When designing gardens, I rely on at least one out of threeperennials to contribute striking leaves.

A leaf’s color, shape, size and texture allplay into the game as well as the plant’s over-all form (upright, prostrate, mounded,arching or spiky). Here are sometips for getting the most out of foliage:

Be careful when using dark-leafed plants such as chocolate orpurple-black. Too much can produce a somberfeeling. But a dash here and there can create areal statement, like a simple black dress.Chartreuse plants really ‘pop’ next to these.

You can create an enchanting effect when placingtall delicate flowers or grassy foliage, such as Baby’sBreath, Crambe or Miscanthus ‘Morning Light’ behind dark-

Fabulous Foliage

By Kerry Ann Mendez, Perennially Yourswww.pyours.com


er, thicker leafed plants like Sedums or Hosta.Arching or weeping branches provide a serene

feeling. Working some of these through a bed, alonga walk or at the top of a wall adds a soothing touchto the garden.

Bold, spiky foliage can have a very dramatic effect,provide ‘shock value’ and work as super ‘exclama-tion marks’ or focal points. Just picture a large Yuccain the landscape.

Be careful when combining variegated plants. Toomany can cause a ‘dizzying effect; When placing dif-ferent variegated plants together try to combineplants with ‘reverse’ variegation next to each other.For example, a gold margined plant with a greencenter next to a green margined plant with a goldcenter. Also tuck in some solid leaved plants thatrepeat one of the variegated colors. You can putplants with the same variegated pattern next to eachother but change the size or form of the plants.

Use foliage color to unify a garden and to buildcontinuity in your landscape. For example, use goldfoliaged plants periodically down the length of a gar-den – some at the front, some mid-border, others inthe back – to carry the eye along. Repeat some ofthese plants in other gardens to unify the landscape.

Cover-up or disguise eyesores in your landscape or

your neighbor’s by siting large perennials, grasses,shrubs, trees or climbing plants appropriately. Plantsshould be evergreen to achieve their mission year-round.

Foliage can be a peacemaker, a ‘soothing respite’between flowers with strong, clashing colors. Silverand darker colored foliage plants do this especiallywell.

Foliage plants can make a sensational backdrop forflowers. Picture dark, purple-leaved Smoke

Bush (Cotinus coggygria) or ‘Black Lace’Sambucus (Elderberry) with pink and white

flowers in front. Or how about glowing yellowweigela ‘Rubidor’ or golden conifers

(Chamaecyparis p.f. ‘Mops’) framingrich blue or purple flowers?

Add statuary, rocks, water features and other fix-tures to add contrast to foliage in the landscape.Visualize feathery leaves against a rock; soft, hairyfoliage falling over a glistening glass globe and sharp,blue-needled branches rubbing against a moss-cov-ered, weathered statue. Take pictures of your gardenwith black and white film. This can be an eye-open-ing exercise to see how interesting foliage shapes,textures and forms are without the benefit of color.

Now that we’ve covered some design basics, let’slook at some specific plants that strut their leaveswith flair. And a bonus – all are deer resistant.

Jacob�s Ladder (Polemonium �Stairway toHeaven�) 1� - 2� tall. Sun to Part Shade. Springbloomer. Lavender flowers. ‘Stairway to Heaven’ isthe most reliable variegated Jacob’s Ladder I’vegrown. It has green, white and pink flushed leavesand grows to 2’ in flower. Other striking cultivarsinclude ‘Touch of Class’ and ‘Snow and Sapphires’that both have white and green leaves. After bloom-ing, shear off spent flowers to create an impressiveferny mound. Steer clear of ‘Brise D’Anjou;’ it tendsto wimp out (read between the lines) over the years.Zone 3

Sea Holly (Eryngium) 6� - 8� tall. Sun. Summerbloomer. Violet-blue flowers. ‘Jade Frost’ is the firstvariegated Sea Holly with showy pink, white andgreen leaves. It is a narrow growing plant, shooting

...leaves are thebackbone of yourperennial garden.

“

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its flower stalks straight up. As with all Sea Hollies, itthrives on neglect, poor soil and in hot, sunny spots.Zone 5

Coral Bell (Heuchera) 9� - 12� tall. Sun to Shade.Summer bloomer. Most have creamy white flowers.‘Green Spice’ is a showy coral bell that thrives in sunor shade. ‘Green Spice’ has large green, silver and redleaves. ‘Tiramisu’ and ‘Miracle’ are like chameleons.In cooler weather (spring and fall) they have pinkish-red and chartreuse leaves but in summer they changeto a chartreuse and silvery wardrobe. Interesting.‘Caramel,’ ‘Peach Flambe,’ ‘Marmalade’ and ‘GeorgiaPeach’ all have orangey-chartreuse leaves that shim-mer. Purple-leafed partners include ‘Plum Pudding,’‘Hollywood’ (bright red flowers) and ‘Midnight Rose’(purple-black leaved with bright pink splashes). Zone 4

Athyrium niponicum (Japanese Painted Fern) 8� -22� tall. Part Shade to Shade. Foliage plant. JapanesePainted Ferns are the lush ‘painted ladies’ of the shadegarden. The silver, burgundy-red, and green frondsmake all ‘bed partners’ look good. ‘Silver Falls,’‘Ursula’s Red,’ ‘Regal Red’ and ‘Burgundy Lace’ havericher coloring than ‘Pictum.’ These ferns look espe-cially lovely near heavier substance perennials likeHosta, Ligularia and Rodger’s Flower. Zone 3

Rodger�s Flower (Rodgersia) 30� — 5� tall. Part Sun toShade. Early summer bloomer. Creamy white and pinkflowers. These are cool, tropical-looking plants. Theyhave large, heavily textured, ‘five-fingered’ palmateleaves (leaves from a central axle) that are green orbronze. The flowers look like giant Astilbe plumes. R.aesculifolia has greenish-bronzy leaves and ivory flow-ers with a soft pink blush. The leaves of ‘ChocolateWings’ start out chocolate and change to bronze.‘Elegans’ and ‘Die Shone’ have pink flowers. ‘Rotaub’has large, bronzy-red palmate leaves and sensational,soft pink flowers that reach to 5’. All Rodger’s Flowersneed moisture-retentive, nutrient rich soil to thrive.Zone 4 or 5 based on cultivar.

I could keep writing but now I have an awful crav-ing to plant shop at one of the great garden centers list-ed on my web site, www.pyours.com. See you next tosome flashy leaves….


Saratoga FashionSaratoga Fashion

Available at Saratoga Trunk


Saratoga's most fashionable season has officiallyarrived. It's time to start revamping your wardrobe,weeding things out of your closet that you didn'twear last summer, which may result and involvesneaking out of work to go shopping alongBroadway to find staple pieces for your wardrobe.A staple piece is something that you can wear allsummer and for summers to come. So your bestbet is to flaunt some fun fancy floral frocks in allshapes and lengths, as all floral prints are high onthe trend o meter this summer. Black is out, sopush it to the back of your closet and save it fornext season. Shop for fabulous hats that stand outwith your wardrobe, and don't be afraid to be seenin a pair of oversized shades that screams MissMoney Maker at the track.

As for your toes, flats are in, so don't kill yourselfwalking around in high heels, and Stella’s carriesa line of shoes from Vince Camuto (co founder ofNine West), which is the shoe designer to watch

Photos by Mark BollesStory by Eliza DeRocker

Available at

Spoken

Botique

Available at

Rockabella


this year as his gem studded line is hotter thanever.

A Lilly Pulitzer dress is perfect for the Polomatches and every women should own one,which you can find at The Pink Paddock Boutiqueon Broadway.

Great accessories, clothing and jewelry is foundat Saratoga's newest fashion stop, SpokenBoutique. Stop in and browse the variety ofunique clothing for fabulous women of all ages.

As for hats, every trackanista fashionista shouldown at least one Kokin hat which you can find atSaratoga Trunk and while you are there, be sureto check out the Theia gowns all the celebritiesare wearing.

Need help finding an ensemble for a black tieaffair or for an unconventional backyard wed-ding? Violet�s of Saratoga houses looks for everyoccasion, from weekend casual and specialevents to every day ensembles.

Available at

Violets

Available at

80 West

Available at

Danielle�s


Available at

Stella�s


Available at

Clothes line


Going out for cocktails? Grab an affordable strapless dress fromRockabella’s and head over to Hattie's for a fashionable mojito

while you groove to songs fromMadonna.

Ready to unwind by the pool or hitthe beach? Head on over to Clothes Line for the latest in casual sportswear,swimwear, cover ups and bras.

And...No matter what your size, you can find a flattering trendy style atDanielle’s - from formal evening gowns to flirty cocktail dresses - try them onfor size.

Most of the fashions this summer are bright, colorful, and all looks go fromLady Gaga neon big shouldered dresses to Hippy Florals, so no matter whatyour style is, it's all in style these days, so step out in your own style, enjoy thesummer and remember to always stay cool and fashionable along the streetsof Broadway to the grounds at the track !

Available at

Rockabella

Available at

Pink Paddock

Available at Pink Paddock

Available at Danielle�s


Photos by Mark BollesStory by Yael Goldman

John and Jan DeMarco know their bookstore is somethingquite unique.

An unassuming tourist attraction in Saratoga Springs,Lyrical Ballad Bookstore is far from a hidden treasure: avidreaders, rare book collectors, authors and tourists fromplaces far and wide come to browse the rows and rows ofcolorful, previously handled bindings.

The store houses an immense collection of literature andreference – 100,000 books both rare and common; textscovering myriad myriads1 of genres and specialties to satis-fy almost any literary craving. Inside the small Phila Street

1In a sentence, myriad is used as either an adjective or a noun. Originally borrowed from theancient Greek word for “ten thousand,” myriad was adopted into the English language in the16th Century as noun meaning countless or innumerable. But in the 19th Century, poets beganusing the word as in adjective. In his poem “Hymn to the Earth,” Samuel Taylor Coleridgegives double-credit to the word: “and forthwith Myriad myriads of lives teem'd forth from themighty embracement” (Coleridge line 27 – 28).


Lyrical Ballad Bookstore celebrates the art of the book beyond content.


storefront, every square inch is covered, everysurface stacked high and a maze-like display ismeant to inspire curiosity and stimulate the imag-ination. Here, customers will become thinkers,moving from shelf to shelf with newfound interestand fancy.

Maybe it’s the scene, or perhaps the feeling onegets when handling objects of tradition that stirssuch excitement. Either way it’s unique; unlikethe experience of perusing the clean, rigid aislesof new books in “bigbox” stores. And that’s whatthe DeMarco’s intend.

The store is named for John’s literary prefer-ence: the English Romantics who revolutionizedpoetry, turning the ways of description into an artof illustration.

“Lyrical Ballads” is actually the title of a famousand important work: a collection of poems writ-ten and brought together by William Wordsworthand Samuel Taylor Coleridge in the late 1700s,said to have started Romanticism.

The title is singular, unlike the formative collec-tion, because Lyrical Ballad Bookstore is itself ananthology of sorts. Binding countless far-reachinggenres and discourses to engage both the amateurand the expert, the experience of walking throughLyrical Ballad is meant to mimic that of readingRomantic poetry.

Books have always been objects of value toJohn; after all it was an early love for fiction thatbrought him to where he is today.

John opened the store in 1971, after graduatingfrom SUNY Albany with a degree in EnglishLiterature and at the beginning of his obsessionwith rare books. Between graduate and post-grad-uate study, he began attending local estate auc-tions scaling book barns, and buying all theantique texts he could find.

“People just knew me as the ‘book guy,’” hesaid. “They started contacting me directly, andthat’s how it started.”

The DeMarco’s small Saratoga Springs apart-ment quickly began overflowing, and Johnthought “I have all of these books – huge amountsof them – and I don’t know if I can make a livingoff of them, but I have them.”

So, when a small tack shop on Phila Streetclosed, John headed straight for the bank.


“We didn’t have any money, so I just took a shot,” hesaid.

At the time, the DeMarco’s spent $75 a month for thequaint and undecorated space. Initially, there was onlya hand-written sign to crown Lyrical Ballad a Bookstore;they didn’t have a phone or proper shelving, and fictionwas all they had to offer.

“I wanted the store be the kind of a place where youhave to use your imagination, so the original goal wasto become a literary workshop,” John said.

But the store soon evolved, and John realized that lit-erature alone couldn’t pay the rent.

“We’re in Saratoga Springs so it wasn’t hard to figureout what sells,” he said.

John began a horse book section, which now hasprobably the best inventory of thoroughbred racingbooks in the country, or close to. He also set up a sec-tion devoted to ballet, to compliment the New York CityBallet’s strong summer presence in Saratoga, and a finearts section as well.

“Not everyone was walking in looking for WilliamBlake or Coleridge, unfortunately. Actually, most peoplewalk in and think we sell songs or music – which we

do, we have a large music section,” he said.As you can imagine, the original 400 square-foot library

quickly filled up, and John’s store outgrew itself. Tearingdown walls and breaking through to the neighboringArcade Building, Lyrical Ballad evolved into the incredi-ble marketplace it is today.

The current collection exceeds the store, spilling into alarge warehouse containing over 50,000 works, plus anaddition three climate-controlled storage areas. It seemsJohn hasn’t even begun slowing down.

The store celebrates the art of the book beyond content.According to John, the object and its form have a certainbeauty all their own.

“When someone illustrates a book and matches it witha text you get this great combination. You can readWilliam Blake online, but to hold it is an entirely differentexperience,” he said.

Yet, the art of appreciating books as art appears to belosing popularity and, although unsure whether it’s a signof the economy or of the times, the DeMarco’s have seenless traffic and perhaps a decreased interest in collectingused books.

“We’re seeing changes now because of the Kindle andall these kind of things that allow you to pull up text


immediately. That’s fine if you just want the information,but if you want something to hold and look at, if you wantto create a library, you need the object: you just need thebook,” he said.

The screen-displayed text shrivels in comparison to thereal thing, and John knows from experience; he’s had theprivilege of handling some incredibly valuable, highlysought-after literary artifacts.

In 1983, just as he was finishing a three-year quest toread everything Herman Melville had ever written, Johnwas informed about a shocking and unusual discovery.An original draft 30-page manuscript of Melville’s firstnovel, Typee, along with 500 family letters were found inan old trunk in Gansevoort and John was called upon tohandle its sale. The classic American author was notori-ous for burning all of his manuscripts, making the discov-ery somewhat of an anomaly – and John could not havebeen anymore thrilled.

“That’s the kind of thing you dream about in this busi-ness, but there it was right in our own backyard. That’s asgood as it gets,” he said. “It was serendipity.”

Other exciting finds and sales include a copy of Lewisand Clark’s travels and a signed, first edition presentation

copy of a Mark Twain novel, which brings a boyish grinto John’s face at the slightest mention. And the oldestbook he’s ever come across was from 1480, which wasthe very beginning of book printing.

Texts are ascribed value somewhat objectively; it’sessentially based on who wrote them, printing edition,condition of the book, how many of the same exact ver-sion are available, and so on. But worth defined in thisfashion is only relevant to a book collector, one who caneither afford it or dreams of some day being able to.

Otherwise, true value is subjective: it rests on content,personal interest, and the experience of reading a bookthat can be held, placed on a shelf or passed along tosomeone else.

“You can walk in here and stumble on something that’sreally rare, or you can just grab a book to enjoy,” Johnsaid.

And hopefully (despite economic hardships, new tech-nology and the imminent regression of language) thatvalue persists, keeping this well-known and well-regard-ed bookstore on in business and alive with purpose.

Lyrical Ballad Bookstore is located at 7 Phila Street inSaratoga Springs, New York 12866.


Susan Farnsworth


Story By Arthur GonickPhotos by Mark Bolles & Susan Farnsworth(Victorian dress and hat by Michelle Erceg of ‘Best Dressed Windows in Town’)A well-run festival is one where you just show up

ready to party! Seemingly rising out of nowhere, hun-dreds of details are not given a thought by attendees.But who makes it happen?

Over the past few decades, Saratoga Springs hasbecome known world-wide for putting on high-qual-ity and unique events and festivals. Throughout, theone person who has been a constant in the creationand enhancement of these celebrations has beenSusan Farnsworth. And the chances are very goodthat unless you have been involved in the planning ofthese civic parties, you really have no idea who sheis.

Part of that is the nature of the job: to put forwardthe people who provide the music, the entertainmentand the good times. Certainly she would want me tosay that in most cases she is part of a larger team, sowe’ll add that disclaimer for the moment. But if youbother to look around at nearly every organizingcommittee for these events, you’ll find her either

When Susan Farnsworth throwsa party in Saratoga Springs,everyone’s invited!

Ms. Festival!


leading the group or occu-pying a significant role.

And when people whoknow Susan were contact-ed for this article, theyreacted as one withincredible positive feel-ings about her and thework she has accom-

plished on behalf of promoting Downtown SaratogaSprings and the Greater Saratoga area.

One example is Dawn Oesch, Past President of theSaratoga Springs Downtown Business Association.“Susan is the lifeline of our organization. I don’t knowwhere we would be without her.”

From Dick Rowland, current Town of GreenfieldSupervisor who was Fair Manager for the SaratogaCounty Fair for years: “Susan has a great sense ofcommunity.”

So this is an acknowledgment to someone who

When we needed to bringsomeone on...during Fair timeshe was a natural

“

“- Dick RowlandFormer Saratoga County Fair Manager;Current Town of Greenfield Supervisor


takes care of the minutiae largely behind the scenes, a‘secret weapon’ if you will, that for the most part only thepeople she works for and coordinates on behalf of havereal knowledge of. Well, secret no more. SusanFarnsworth has been a key constant element for people,both local and tourist, visiting and coming away with apositive reaction to Saratoga.

She’s not retiring or anything, not to worry. As far as any-one can see, she’s still in her prime.

But we shouldn’t have to wait for years to pay homageto someone who arranges all these things that makeSaratoga what it is; festivals from Hats Off to VictorianStreetwalk and so many others, before we say thanks toher. In fact, if there was universal concept in discussingSusan with people who know her, it is that this acknowl-edgement is long overdue.

After growing up in Greenwich, Connecticut, Susancame to Saratoga Springs as a Skidmore student, graduat-ing in 1974. With interests in music, art and marketing shebecame involved with newspaper layout and eventually

sales. It was in that capacity that she met Dick Rowland,who was Saratoga County Fair Manager at the time, andshe started doing consulting work which led to herinvolvement with this annual summer event which contin-ues to this day: “Susan helped me develop the creativeconcepts and place the ads for the Fair. When we neededto bring someone on staff that would handle the press dur-ing Fair time she was a natural. Susan has been a greatasset to the Fair, and I obviously have been thrilled to seeher role here expand over the years…She has been a truepartner with the Fair, helping it become the event that ourCounty can be proud of. Susan is always giving of herselffor the betterment of the event.”

In 1986, as a newly appointed Director of Promotionand Marketing for the Saratoga Springs DowntownBusiness Association, Susan and Martha Margolis, whowas the owner of a Broadway store called CasualEnvironments, were looking for a unique way to show offthe quality, character and diversity of the Downtown mer-chants. They developed the concept of an “open house:”


basically a non-selling event in whichthe City’s warmth and heritage wouldtake precedence. The VictorianStreetwalk was born, and became aninstant institution which will cele-brate its 24th year in 2010. The part-nership between Susan Farnsworthand Martha Margolis on this eventlasted for the first twelve years withMartha contracting for the variety of entertainmentand Susan handling everything from graphic design tologistics – which became her forte` on several thingsto come. After Ms. Margolis relocated to Florida,Susan became the lead at putting on this event on theFirst Thursday following the Thanksgiving holiday; formany in the region, this is the kickoff to the annualholiday season.

“Our goal is to say ‘thank you” to everyone whosupports us year round and to give the local familiesa tradition that is unique to Saratoga Springs’ life.”Susan said “There is a whole generation of 20-some-things that grew up with the Victorian Streetwalk andare now returning from college and performing in it.That makes me extremely proud.”

“The Streetwalk is creating a place and memory forthe children. It’s something that is foremost in mymind throughout the process.”

Indeed, the Victorian Streetwalk has been featuredon CNN several times, and does as much to promoteSaratoga Springs internationally as the Race Course.

Buoyed by this success, the Downtown BusinessAssociation has launched and now maintains othersuccessful events throughout the year, such as itsannual Fall Festival. Dawn Oesch notes “It seemswhenever you need something done right, Susan isthe one for the job. Susan has always been intrinsi-cally involved in the process of creating events for usand elevating their quality. My four-year term as pres-ident would not have been successful without her.Simply put, she is an asset to downtown SaratogaSprings.

In 1998, The Saratoga County Chamber ofCommerce was looking for help in running its annu-al Hats Off and Final Stretch Festivals because theyhad grown to levels that were taxing its resources. The

festivals were funded in large part by the New YorkRacing Association, and are well-attended eventsdrawing tens of thousands of people downtown at thebeginning and end of each year’s race meet. Susanput in her bid and accepted the challenge. It wouldbe hard to think of anyone who had a better-equipped skill set for the multitude of logisticalnuances involved in a multi-site, multi-day festival.

Cindy Allen, Retired Vice President of CommunityAffairs for the Chamber, knew she had the right per-son when Susan was chosen:

“To look at this tiny, impeccably dressed woman, itis hard to imagine she can drive a big truck, close-offstreets, set up stages for performers and keep crowdsof thousands peaceful and happy. Susan is one of themost unflappable and energetic women I have met.She efficiently manages hundreds of details for majorevents such as Hats Off to Saratoga and Final StretchDowntown Music Festivals and makes it look easy.Her passion for keeping Downtown Saratoga vibrantis evidenced by the great events she organizes.”

One of the signature aspects of these festivals is thatit shows off the variety and quality of the region’smusic (see side box for this year’s lineup). Each yeara balance is struck between returning favorites andnew entrants with a balance of genre and demo-graphic appeal. “It’s important to let people who arevisiting know what a high-quality of entertainmentSaratoga Springs has,” Susan says.

Bob Warren has been a musician in this area fordecades. He is one of the leading performers in theregion: “I met ‘Susie’ back when I first moved toSaratoga in the early ‘70’s; she was a flutist in anoth-er band – she and I shared a love of music first andforemost and then we built a long-lasting friendshipthat led to some business down the road, but I have

Susan is the lifeline of our organization. I don’t know where

we would be without her.

“

“- Dawn Oesch,

Past President, Saratoga Springs Downtown Business Association

always regarded her as an artistic soulfirst and foremost… she has alwaysbeen a pleasure to deal with on festi-vals like Final Stretch. For me, themost amazing thing to see is howorganized she is. It looks like shehas an army out there to take care

of all the details that areinvolved in a multi-site festival.

What is remarkable is howcalm she stays outwardly when

the pressure ison. It’s thatcalming influ-ence thatcomes frome x p e r i e n c eand ultimatelyit allows us dowhat we needto from a creative standpoint.”

Susan holds a position of Artist Relations Coordinatorfor the annual SaratogaArtsFest, and has been involvedwith Saratoga Springs’ ‘Sister Cities’ initiative withChekhov, Russia. All this, and I still feel like I am justscratching the surface; you see her everywhere, if youknow where to look.

In her very limited leisure time, it is not surprising thatSusan’s interests have nothing to do with crowds, “I don’tgo out very much, unless it is to look at a prospective act.There are too many things that I already have to do,” shesays. Rather there are solitary or small group interests likekayaking, photography, biking and hiking, drawing andcalligraphy – even that is a semi-work-related activity, “letme know if you know anyone that needs wedding invita-tions done!” she says smiling. There is also the annual tripabroad to visit her husband’s family. The most importantconcept I learned from Susan is that she places a premi-

um on times like these, and appreciates the importanceof making time for herself whenever possible.

I ask her what makes a good event, perhaps a commonelement throughout: “There are a lot of things that comeinto play. You look for things that make an event family-friendly and entertainment that is high-quality. But ulti-mately it’s the welcoming nature of things.”

“I might have an event where 20,000 people or morecome on a given night, but if I can get the feedback fromindividuals that they were made to feel that the wholeexperience was put on just for them, then I know that we

– my team and I– have gotten itright,” Susansaid.

Writer�s note:It was actually apleasant surprisethat Susanallowed me todo this articlebecause I feltthat she wasmuch morec o m f o r t a b l ethrowing the

spotlight on others rather than herself. Perhaps it isbecause we have worked together for years, for I amalso grateful to her for involving me in the music pro-gramming end of many of the events during my career.Yet any objective analysis of Susan�s hard work wouldlead one to the same conclusion: she is a one-of-a-kindasset; it is near impossible to overstate the impact shehas had in this market. Indeed, it is a fact that many ofthe events we enjoy year-round here would not havebeen developed, or would not be of the world-classquality we have come to take as a given, without her onthe scene.

She�s not the easiest person to spot in the crowds, butI assure you that Susan�s always there. And if you arelucky to run into her, please take a moment to thank herfor her tremendous contribution to the quality of lifethat we enjoy here in Saratoga Springs year-round. Thisis my modest way of doing so.


To look at this tiny, impeccably dressedwoman, it is hard to imagine she can drive abig truck, close-off streets, set up stages forperformers and keep crowds of thousandspeaceful and happy.

“

“- Cindy Allen, Retired Vice President of Community Affairs

Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce,


Ellsworth Jones Place(by the City Center)BLUZ HOUSE ROCKERS (Friday)JOE’S BOYS (Saturday)

Collamer Parking LotBOURBON RENEWAL (Friday)CHRIS O’LEARY BAND(Saturday)

Post OfficeKELLY HURLEY—PARTY OF THREE DUO

Adirondack Trust Co. Drive-ThroughINCENDIO

Caroline StreetSLICK FITTY

Division StreetDISPOSABLE CULTURE(Friday) SIRSY (Saturday)

Rip Van DamPorchRACING CITYCHORUS (Fri)SARATOGASOUNDTRACKCHORUS (Sat)

Ben & Jerry’sSONNY DAYE TRIO

2010 Hats Off To Saratoga FestivalFriday & Saturday, July 23 and 24Downtown Saratoga SpringsMusic Line-up

(Band Photos Provided)

Photo by Mark Bolles


This story began with certain expectations: that itwould tell the story of a local man’s milk bottle col-lection, and that the finished product would surelyrest on the subtext “one man’s trash is anotherman’s treasure.”

But there is always a more interesting story hid-den far beneath the surface, and it’s only by peelingback layer upon layer of what one expects to findthat the real gem is exposed.

Collectibles and personal museums lend them-selves to human interest in the same way commonexperience can inspire the most unique fiction: theart is in finding beauty in something often over-looked or thought banal, and even more so in theindividual whose thinking yields such a perspec-tive.

So, as it seems, the story of Bill Barton’s milkbottle collection inevitably revealed somethingmuch deeper: how an apparently simple change inthe way milk is packaged parallels a much greater

History Homogenized

Story by Yael GoldmanPhotos by Mark Bolles

A Saratoga Milk Bottle CollectionReveals a Unique Story of Past and Present


change in the way Americans consume and think, andhow a father’s ability to find treasure in another’s refuseunknowingly became everything to his son.

Prior to the 1950s, when Bill Barton entered the worldof dairy, the glass milk bottle was symbolicallyAmerican – from breakfast to dinner; front porch tokitchen table and back to the farm, the refillable contain-er had its place in nearly every home and aspect of day-to-day living. At the turn of the last century, nearly everyneighborhood in Saratoga County had its own dairy andthe neighborhood milkman was a guiding thread in thecommunity fabric.

Consumers felt a real connection with their localdairy; they held the same glass bottle in their hand eachweek, and could expect a new one to take its place whenthey left it empty on their doorstep. This in turn provid-ed a sense of security.

But between 1935 and 1960, the majority of smalllocal dairies fizzled out and the friendly face of theneighborhood milkman quickly turned from a lively


presence to a ghost. Those dairies that remained began using disposable

paper and wax cartons sold in grocery stores and con-venience markets. The single-use carton lifted a burdenfrom the shoulders of the distributor; they weren’tresponsible for bottle returns or pickup and delivery.Disposable containers put the consumer in charge: justone swift movement from hand to garbage can, and nota thought required in between.

By 1960, store-purchased milk was the way to goand proved a lasting trend, so much that by 1988, 99percent of milk was sold in stores.

And while some metal milk boxes found respite asfront porch decor, others caught rust. Milk bottleslabeled with the names of extinct local dairies weremostly lost, broken or discarded, signifying the end ofan era and the death of a certain sentiment found with-in it.

Remnants of the old-fashioned dairy business belongnow only to collectors like Bill Barton who have a rea-


son to hold on to this part ofthe past.

Bill collected milk bottlesbecause he was a dairymanat heart – because towardhis later years he wanted topreserve a piece of history,of both the dairy industryand his own life. His careerin dairy is illustrated by hispassion and punctuated bymajor transformation in theindustry itself. From

mechanically washing the first refillable to drink-ing milk out of a paper carton with his own faceprinted on the side, he was right there in the mid-dle.

In his 43-year career in the dairy business, Billworked across the whole spectrum, from milkmanto Plant Manager, then Vice President, and quite abit in between. Consequently, he became familiarwith all aspects of the industry – from the farmer’sdaily ritual to the processor’s technology and rea-son.

Bill graduated from SUNY Cobleskill with adegree in dairy science and milk processing andstayed with the institution to become an assistantprofessor, eventually going back to run the campusdairy, which he did from 1947 to 1952.

- frombreakfast to

dinner; front porch tokitchen table and back to the farm,

the refillable container had its placein nearly every home and aspect of

day-to-day living.

Theglass milk bottle was

symbolically American


From there, his career quickly took off.Returning to Saratoga County on summerbreaks from school, Bill began his first job in1944 working as a milkman for SundaleDairy, a small operation owned by OscarSundquist that was located just east ofSaratoga Lake. At the time, Sundale Dairywas ahead of the game. Sundquist was a for-ward and innovative thinker; he was the firstproducer in the area to pasteurize his milkelectrically using Electro-Pure and to install acontinuous automatic bottle washer. WhenSundquist bought the machine, Bill was thefirst to use it and was coincidentally the last aswell. In 1945, Sundquist sold his farm toSaratoga Dairy, then owned and operated bythe Dakes, who replaced the machine 13 yearslater when Bill’s career with the large corpora-tion was just beginning.

Saratoga Dairy, which later becameStewart’s Shops, started out as a compan-ion business for local dairies. In 1935,P.W. and C.V. Dake started the companyto pasteurize and bottle milk for produc-ers who didn’t have the appropriateequipment.

Bill began what would be a 36-yearcareer running Saratoga Dairy as PlantManager in the early 1950s. He was oneof the company’s original bosses and,according to Stewart’s Shops representa-tive Tom Mailey, Bill was responsible forthe company’s decision to use local farmsinstead of co-ops for milk.

In 1951, the company became the firstin the region to use wax-coated papercontainers, and in 1954 Saratoga Dairybegan delivering their dairy products to


began to enjoy the convenience of single-use con-tainers, making the old-fashioned glass refillable athing of the past, and considered how this changewould, and did, reflect on the relationship betweenpeople and their things. He envisioned the path todisposable America just by holding a glass milk bot-tle in one hand and a plastic carton in the other,questioning the environmental impact of the papercontainer over its predeceased glass vessel.

“Paper containers gained great favor in our dis-posable society. It’s about this time we began torealize a tremendous solid waste problem,” Billwrote in the forward of his small book.

Glancing at the rows and rows of dated milk bot-tles and paralleling this image with that of any mod-ern frequented roadway, trash-strewn and litteredwith discarded bottles, it becomes clear what Billmeans by “disposable society.”

In a fast-paced world, everything is about conven-ience over quality: spending more money if it meansspending less time, choosing to replace rather thanrefill simply because it’s easier. But as productsbecome more convenient, the consumer growsincreasingly lazy. There is little left to appreciate ifthings are so easily obtained and discarded, makingwhat Bill refers to as a “solid waste problem” asymptom of what’s become a disposable culture.

“Heck, we have deposits on some kinds of bever-age bottles and even they don’t all find their wayinto the recycling stream,” Edgar King, Bill’smentee and a prominent figure in the dairy industrysaid. “Apparently the nickel doesn’t mean anythingto a lot of folks. It’s not appreciated if people are lit-erally throwing nickels away.”

But it seems that appreciation is not somethingwe’re born with or something to be achieved; it is anacquired taste.

Just as it took 43 years of hard work and dedica-tion to solidify Bill’s appreciation for the dairy busi-ness, his son Pat’s connection to the milk bottle col-lection took a while to develop.

Pat Barton has lived in Saratoga Springs hiswhole life; he knows the city corner to corner, insideand out, and for a good portion of his childhood itseemed the city knew him just as well.

area distributers and supermarkets. Customers nolonger picked up their milk at the “loading dock”; homedelivery was on its way out and glass-refillables grewobsolete. The industry was changing rapidly.

Bill retired in 1986. He began writing his book titledFacts and Tidbits of Saratoga’s Dairy Industry fromEarly 1800s to 1988 and started his collection ( a goodportion of which is kept at Stewart’s Shops plant onRoute 9N). He focused on all the local dairies, both inwriting his book and filling his basement shelves,because he knew the value in preserving this portion ofhistory.

During his career, Bill watched as his customers


Growing up on Loughberry Lake with his two olderbrothers and sister, Pat went to school in SaratogaSprings. He worked for his father at Saratoga Dairy, andspent his summers playing baseball for Walton’s SportShop. He was an ordinary kid, with ordinary interests,and like many youngsters he felt slightly embarrassedby his parents.

His father was somewhat of a local celebrity: every-one knew who he was, that he was the Vice President ofSaratoga Dairy and that he took great pride in his work.

But with Bill’s picture printed right on the Stewart’sShops half gallon milk, Pat often found himself underhis father’s spotlight.

“A lot of kids at school gave me ‘the business’ aboutit,” he said.

In his youth, these effects rendered disconcerting. At the time Pat didn’t get it. He couldn’t understand

why the dairy business was so important to his father orhow it could be his passion, and perhaps that’s the rea-son Pat thought the milk bottle collection was silly; asign that his father’s love for the job had turned into atrivial obsession – and, rightfully so.

Kids rarely understand their parents; they often mis-take personality for weirdness, wishing away thenuances – the quirks that make each family so unique,and that’s just part of growing up.

As we mature, our parents become people; we findthat growing up isn’t just a journey to self-discovery, it’sabout reaching the point when you can look back on itall and realize that everything you were once so

Billcollected

milk bottlesbecause he was adairyman at heart


ashamed of is, in fact, most important.At the time, they were just bottles to Pat: old, dusty

glass samples that hogged space in the basement and tooktoo much of his father’s time. He had no reason to seethem as anything more.

“I remember watching him: every time he bought a newbottle, he’d stand over the kitchen sink with a little brush,just cleaning and polishing the little thing until it wasgood enough to place on the shelf,” he said. “Lookingback, I wish I’d taken the time to appreciate that part ofmy father when I was a kid.”

But this isn’t about not knowing what one has until it’sgone: that’s simply not the case. Pat always adored hisfather; it’s the milk bottles he couldn’t feel for and maybeit’s because they weren’t his.

When his father passed away in May 2006, Pat inherit-ed the collection and his father’s passion for it. And, likemany adults, what Pat was uncomfortable with as a kid henow makes up for with pride. He finds himself polishingthe same bottles and building on his father’s collection,mostly to keep his legacy alive but a real part of him hasgrown to love the rows and rows of glass containerswrapped around the perimeter of the basement.

“As I matured, I began to see this stuff as somethingunique. But, growing up I really wasn’t at all interested inthe milk bottles, and it’s because I didn’t know theirimportance, maybe the importance of collecting,” Patsaid. “Now that my dad is no longer with us, these bot-tles are even more important to me than I ever thoughtthey could be because of all the time and effort he put into

collecting them and because he felt strongly enough topass them along to me. I know I’m going to make sure Ialways keep them and add to the collection.”

It just takes time to learn to appreciate, and a littlemore time to realize that you do.

“As we grow older and more mature I think we see thevalue in things, we value more of the history that we’vebeen involved in and that went before us,” King said.

Through the interview process – making observationsas Pat collected each thought to tell his father’s story;reading in between the lines, through the reflective paus-es as he recounted it all – it became apparent that he val-ues history and takes time to appreciate the little thingsjust like Bill. Although he appeared guilty, almost angrywith himself for not seeing the bigger picture in hisyounger years, it’s quite obvious that he always did.

He is a craftsman by profession and a woodworker atheart; he likes to restore and create, and can see beautyin a pile of disjointed materials, envisioning a finishedproduct in a way similar to Bill’s desire to improve andpreserve.

In moments of side-conversation and chit-chat, Patrevealed his true character and that, like his father, he ispassionate about all that he does.

A few years ago Pat noticed an “X” spray painted onone of the ancient cherry trees in his neighborhood, justoutside his parent’s house.

Realizing the bright symbol marked the tree’s destruc-tion, Pat began to wonder what would become of thewood; if it would be thrown away carelessly, or put toproper use.

A few days later, he watched as the tree was cut downand saw the trunk grow smaller and smaller, its valuedecreasing respectively. For Pat, the thought of suchquality material going to waste was nothing short ofappalling, so he offered the man with the chainsaw $100for the tree’s remains (“which was an incredible steal,”he said) and transformed that sad pile of cherry it into anarray of handcrafted pieces.

It may not seem like much, but Pat’s reaction speaksvolumes about his character and values. For most peo-ple, a stack of finely chopped wood is meant for the fire-place – no matter the species or cast. Only a trained eye,like Pat’s, one with a personal interest and the passion-

ate knowledge that soon follows, would have reason to res-cue the material and put it to good use.

In a part of the basement separate from where the milkbottles are kept, Pat houses his extensive collection oftools, many passed down from his father and grandfather,and the many handcrafted items he created with them. AsPat’s own personal display is starting to grow, his self-pride appears to be developing with it – even if he hasn’ttaken the time to see it in himself.

But that just may be the Barton-family way: concealinghard work and dedication with layers of modesty and reti-cence.

“My dad only had an Associate’s degree and was reallyhard on himself about it. But if I could achieve half of whathe did, if I could be half as successful and passionate as myfather, I would be as good as gold,” Pat said.

In the end, the link between Bill Barton, his son and thehistory of the milk bottle is plain and simple: it’s aboutlearning to appreciate the past, finding value in what’simportant, and taking pride in one’s work as if it weregoing extinct.


ExperienceArt VenuesArt District on Beekman St.(518) 584-1036Beekman St.Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

Crafters� Gallery(518) 583-2435427 BroadwaySaratoga Springs, NY 12866CraftersGallerySaratoga.com

Flores Fine Art Gallery(518) 232-1017492 BroadwaySaratoga Springs, NY 12866floresartnewyork.com

Gallery 100(518) 580-0818462 BroadwaySaratoga Springs, NY 12866

House of Creative Soul(518) 226-010038 Van Dam StreetSaratoga Springs, NY 12866HouseofCreativeSoul.Com

Impressions(518) 587-0666368 Broadway Saratoga Springs, NY 12866ImpressionsSaratoga.Com

Laura Wilson Gallery(518) 584-1142385 BroadwaySaratoga Springs, NY 12866

Mimosa Art for Home and Wear(518) 583-116370c Beekman St., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866mimosagallery.com

Riverfront Studios(518) 695-535496 Broad St.Schuylerville, NY 12871riverfront-studios.com

Saratoga County Arts Council(518) 584-4132320 BroadwaySaratoga Springs, NY 12866saratoga-arts.org

Schick Art Gallery(518) 580-5049Skidmore College Saisselin Art Building, 2nd Floor815 No. BroadwaySaratoga Springs, NY 12866skidmore.edu

Sorelle Gallery(518) 584-0600385 Broadway Saratoga Springs, NY 12866Sorellegallery.com

Spa Fine Art(518) 587-2411376 BroadwaySaratoga Springs, NY 12866Spa-Fine-Art.Com

Strolling Village Artisans(518) 885-585520 Washington St.Ballston Spa, NY 12020strollingvillageartisans.com

Symmetry(518) 584-5090348 BroadwaySaratoga Springs, NY 12866SymmetryGallery.Com

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Tom Myott Gallery(518) 798-843171 Lawrence StGlens Falls, NY 12801tmyottart.com

Bath HousesCrystal Spa(518) 584-2556120 South BroadwaySaratoga Springs, NY 12866thecrystalspa.net

Roosevelt Baths and Spa(518) 226-479024 Gideon Putnam Rd.Saratoga Springs, NY 12866RooseveltBathsAndSpa.com

Bike RentalsThe Inn at Saratoga(518) 583-1890231 BroadwaySaratoga Springs, NY 12866theinnatsaratoga.com

Boating, Marinas, Rentals Champlain Canal Tour Boats, LLC (518) 695-5609Canal House End of TowpathSchuylerville, NY 12871champlaincanaltours.com

Edinburg Marina & Powersports (518) 863-8398140 North Shore Rd.Northville, NY 12866edinburgmarina.com

Fish Creek Marina(518) 587-9788251 Staffords Bridge Rd.Saratoga Springs, NY 12866fishcreekmarina.com

Kayaderosseras Creek Canoe and Kayak Trailsaratogaplan.org/trail_ Kayaderosseras.html

Lake George Shoreline Cruises(518) 668-46642 Kurosaka LaneLake George, NY 12845lakegeorgeshoreline.com

Lake George Steamboat Co., Inc. 800-553-2628 or (518) 668-577757 Beach RdLake George, NY 12845lakegeorgesteamboat.com

Lake Lonely Boat Livery (518) 587-1721378 Crescent Ave.Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

Lakes to Locks(518) 597-9660lakestolocks.com

Majestic Mountain Marina (518) 696-37272335 N. Shore Rd.Hadley, NY 12835 majesticmountainmarina.com

Point Breeze Marina(518) 587-33971459 Rte. 9PSaratoga Springs, NY 12866pointbreezemarina.com

Saratoga Boat Works (518) 584-2628549 Union Ave.Saratoga Springs, NY 12866saratogaboatworks.com

Saratoga Rowing Center, Inc. (518) 587-6697543 Union Ave.Saratoga Springs, NY 12866saratogarowing.com

Schuyler Yacht Basin & Marina(518) 695-31931 Ferry St., Rte. 29Schuylerville, NY 12871 schuyleryachtbasin.com

State Boat Launch (518) 584-2000Rte. 9P, Saratoga Lake, NY 12866nysparks.state.ny.us/parks

Sacandaga Outdoor Center (518) 696-RAFT1 White Water Way, Hadley, NY 128354soc.comFor More Information: adksportsfitness.comsaratogaplan.orgjohnnymilleradventures.com

Fitness FinderGlobal Fitness(518) 584-5004165 High Rock Ave,Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

Saratoga Health and Wellness(518) 306-698730 Gick Rd.Saratoga Springs, NY 12866saratogahealthandwellness.com

My Gym(518) 885-42222100 Saratoga RoadBallston Spa, NY 12020


YMCA of Saratoga(518) 583-9622290 West Ave.Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

Curves(518) 587-41144208 Route 50, #3Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

Historical SitesThe Saratoga Springs Visitor Center andHeritage Area(518) 587-3241297 Broadway at Congress StreetSaratoga Springs, NY 12866saratogaspringsvisitorcenter.com

The Gardens at Yaddo(518) 584-0746Union Ave., Saratoga Springsyaddo.org

General Philip Schuyler House(518) 664-9821ext 224648 Route 32Stillwater, NY 12170nps.gov/sara

Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery

(518) 581-9128200 Duell Rd.Schuylerville, NY 12871cem.va.gov

Grant Cottage(518)587-82771000 Mt. McGregor Rd.Wilton, NY 12831grantcottage.org

Saratoga Monument(518) 664-9821Burgoyne St.Schuylerville, NY 12871nps.gov/sara

Saratoga National Historical Park (The Battlefield)(518) 664-9821648 Route 32Stillwater, NY 12170battle1777.saratoga.org

Stark�s Knob(518) 695-4159Off Route 4Schuylerville, NY 12871nysm.nysed.gov1services/starks

Horseback RidingBennett’s Riding Stable(518) 696-444491 Gage Hill Rd.Lake Luzerne, NY 12846lakegeorgenewyork.com/horses

Muddy Acres Farm (518) 581-0264410 Middle Grove Rd.Middle Grove, NY 12850

Schauber Stables(518) 399-2484428 Schauber RoadBallston Lake, NY 12019

Miniature GolfExit 17 Range & Mini Golf(518) 745-8415Rt. 9, Gansevoort NY, 12831

Mill Creek Miniature Golf(518) 885-PUTT (7888)1 Trieble AvenueBallston Spa, NY 12020Saratoga Mini Golf(518) 581-08523071 Route 50Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

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SlicesIce Cream Parlor & Mini-Golf(518) 250-0711Rt. 50 & Charlton Rd. Ballston Spa, NY slicesminigolf.com

Motor SportsAlbany Saratoga Speedway(518) 587-0220 or 857-07612671 Route 9Malta, NY 12020Albany-saratogaspeedway.com

Fonda Speedway (518) 382-3115Just off exit 28 of NYS Thruwayat Montgomery County Fairgroundfondaspeedway.com

Movie Theaters Malta Twin Drive-In(518) 587-60772785 Route 9, Malta, NY 12020maltadrivein.com

Regal Cinema 8(518) 587-04363065 Route 50Saratoga Springs, NY 12866regmovies.com

MuseumsChildren�s Museum(518) 584-554069 Caroline St. Saratoga Springs, NY 12866childrensmuseumatsaratoga.org

National Museum of Dance and Hall of Fame(518) 584-222599 South BroadwaySaratoga Springs, NY 12866dancemuseum.org

National Museum of Racing & Hall of Fame (518) 584-0400191 Union Ave.Saratoga Springs NY, 12866racingmuseum.org

NYS Military Heritage Institute(518) 226-0991 61 Lake Ave, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

Saratoga Automobile Museum(518) 587-1935110 Avenue of the PinesSaratoga Springs, NY 12866saratogaautomuseum.org

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Saratoga Harness Hall of Fame (518) 587-4210352 Jefferson St.Saratoga Springs NY, 12866

Saratoga History Museum(518) 584-6920Canfield Casino, Congress Parksaratogahistory.org

Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum & Art Gallery(518) 580-8080Skidmore College Campus815 N. BroadwaySaratoga Springs, NY 12866skidmore.edu/tang

Polo Saratoga Polo Association(518) 584-8108Corner of Bloomfield & Denton RoadsSaratoga Springs, NY 12866saratogapolo.com

RodeoDouble M Rodeo & Western Store(518) 885-9543

678 Route 67 (1 mile west of Exit 12)Ballston Spa, NY 12020doublemwestern.com

Painted Pony Championship Rodeo(518) 696-2421703 Howe Rd.Lake Luzerne, NY 12846paintedponyrodeo.com

SwimmingVictoria Pool / Peerless Poolat the Saratoga Spa State Park(518) 584-2003 - Victoria Pool(518) 584-2009 - Peerless Pool19 Roosevelt DriveSaratoga Springs, NY 12866nysparks.state.ny.us

YMCA of Saratoga(518) 583-9622290 West AvenueSaratoga Springs, NY 12866ymcasaratoga.org


Bay Meadows Golf Club(518) 792-165031 Cronin Rd.Glens Falls, NY 12804

Battenkill Country Club(518) 692-9179Route 29Greenwich, NY 12834battenkillcc.com

Bend of the River(518) 696-34155 Park Ave.Hadley, NY 12835bendoftheriver.com

Airway Meadows Golf Club(518) 792-4144262 Brownville Rd.Gansevoort, NY 12831airwaymeadowsgolf.com

Amsterdam MunicipalCountry Club(518) 842-4265Upper Van DykeAmsterdam, NY 12010amsterdammuni.com

Ballston Spa Country Club(518) 885-7935Route 67Ballston Spa, NY 12020ballstonspacc.com

Brookhaven Golf Club(518) 893-7458333 Alpine Meadows Rd.Greenfield Center, NY 12859brookhavengolfclub.com

Eagle Crest Golf Club(518) 877-70821004 Route 146AClifton Park, NY 12065eaglecrestgolf.com

Fairways of Halfmoon(518) 664-157817 Johnson Rd.Mechanicville, NY 12118fairwaysofhalfmoon.com

Galway Golf Club(518) 882-63955767 Jockey StreetGalway, NY 12074galwaygolfclub.com

Glens Falls Country Club(518) 792-1186211 Round Pond Rd.Queensbury, NY 12804glensfallscountryclub.com

Hiland Golf Club(518) 793-2000195 Haviland Rd.Queensbury, NY 12804hilandparkcc.com

Kingswood Golf Club(518) 747-8888111 County Route 41Hudson Falls, NY 12839kingswoodgolf.com

McGregor Links Country Club, Private(518) 584-6664Northern Pines Rd.Saratoga Springs, NY 12866mcgregorlinks.com

GolfDirectory


Mechanicville Golf Club(518) 664-3866Route 67 EastMechanicville, NY12118mechanicvilleny.com/mechanicvillecc

Pioneer Hills Golf Course(518) 885-70003230 North Line Rd.Ballston Spa, NY 12020pioneerhillsgolf.com

Pole Valley Players Club(518) 632-96323737 Route 196Hartford, NY 12838polevalley.com

Sagamore Resort & Golf Club(518) 664-9400800-358-6221110 Sagamore Rd. Bolton Landing, NY 12814thesagamore.com

Saratoga Golf & Polo ClubPrivate(518) 584-8121301 Church St.Saratoga Springs, NY 12866saratogagolfpoloclub.org

Saratoga Lake Golf Club(518) 581-661635 Grace Moore Rd.Saratoga Springs, NY 12866saratogalakegolf.com

Saratoga National Golf Course(518) 583-GOLF (4653) x 615458 Union Ave.Saratoga Springs, NY 12866golfsaratoga.com

Saratoga Spa Championship & Executive Golf Course(518) 584-2006 x 1060 Roosevelt DriveSaratoga Springs, NY 12866saratogaspagolf.com

Tee Bird North Golf Course(518) 792-772730 Reservoir Rd.Moreau, NY 12828teebirdgolf.com

Tee Bird South Golf Club(518) 747-028065 Reynolds Road (Rt 197)Moreau, NY 12828

Thousand Acres(518) 696-2444465 Warrensburg Rd.Stony Creek, NY128781000acres.com

Van Patten Golf Course(518) 877-5400924 Main StreetClifton Park, NY 12065VanPattengolf.com

Windy Hills Golf Club(518) 695-4902219 Windy Hills Rd.Greenwich, NY 12834

Photos provided by Larry Hart ("The Sacandaga Story"), originally published in 1967 containing photographs fromthe collection of John Bennis.

A Valley80 Years ago...


Now...

Sacandaga The Great

LakePhotos Provided by Fulton County Regional Chamber of Commerce & IndustryStory By Arthur Gonick

The Great Sacandaga Lake is one of the pre-

mier recreational areas for Saratoga County res-

idents and visitors to the region today. Its

majesty belies the fact that it is not a natural lake

at all. Rather, it was one of the first major dam

projects that was designed to forestall the flood-

ing that was an annual occurrence in the area.

Through the peaceful valley flowed the

Sacandaga River, and until 1930 passed through

farming towns such as Osborn Bridge, Fish

House and Denton’s Corners, The Vly marsh-

lands provided sport fishing and recreational

opportunities. Sacandaga Park was a summer

resort regarded as the playground of the North

Country.

These and other communities were lost when

The Sacandaga Reservoir was created to regu-

late the flow of the Hudson River. The $12 mil-

lion project was financed as a public corpora-


tion by New York State, with costs borne by the com-

mercial industries and the surrounding communities

which benefitted from the reservoir and the dam which

was constructed at Conklingville.

The Sacandaga today covers an area equivalent to

the size of Lake George, with a surface area of 42

square miles. In his book “The Sacandaga Story: A

Valley of Yesteryear,” historian Larry Hart transports us

back to a time where the communities of the

Sacandaga River had a rustic yet rich life, with covered

bridges, general stores and fishing camps in small, self-

sufficient hamlets.

The project was one of the biggest of its time. Eleven

hundred permanent residents and hundreds of graves

were relocated to higher ground. The railroads which

once criss-crossed the valley were dismantled and did

not return. In its place by 1932 were 50 miles of new

highways and 10 new bridges to reconnect the com-

munities that now occupied the shores of the Great

Sacandaga Lake.

Today the Great Sacandaga Reservoir is anundiscovered Mecca for boating, water sports,snowmobiling, skiing, fishing and all kinds ofrecreation. For summer fun, there are sevenpublic beaches and well over a dozen boatlaunches and marinas. Unlike other lakes theGreat Sacandaga Lake is still quaint and pris-tine! There are many historical museums andthe shoreline is dotted with markers notinginteresting landmarks and great events of thearea. Antiques and crafts are found in littleshops everywhere. And there are many optionsfor outstanding lakefront dining.

Summer Beaches on Sacandaga Lake:

Broadalbin Town Beach(518) 883-4657Lakeview Road, BroadalbinOpen Daily 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Town of Mayfield Beach(518) 661-5414Burr Road, MayfieldOpen Monday- Friday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.


Town of Northampton Beach(518) 863-6000Houseman Street, NorthamptonOpen Daily 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Village of Northville Beach(518) 863-4040State Route 30, NorthvilleOpen Monday-Friday 1 to 6 p.m.Saturday and Sunday 12 noon to 5 p.m.

Caroga Lake Beach and NY State Campground(518) 835-4241State Route 29, Caroga LakeOpen Daily 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Pine Lake Park Beach(518) 835-4930136 Timberline Lane, Pine LakeOpen Daily 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Great Sacandaga Lake Marinas and Public Boat Launches:

Cranberry Cove Marina, Inc.(518) 661-56161840 St Hwy 30Mayfield

Driftwood Park(518) 661-9905534 Vandenburg Point RoadMayfield

Edinburg Marina and Powersports(518) 863-8398140 North Shore RoadEdinburg

Gordon�s Lakeside Marine(518) 661-5031322 Lakeside Drive Mayfield

Holly�s Service and Marina(518) 661-5512275 Lakeside DriveMayfield

I-Go-Inn(518) 883-8900241 South Shore RoadEdinburg

Inn at the Bridge(518) 863-2240641 Bridge StreetNorthville

Lanzi�s on the Lake(518) 661-7711State Route 30 Mayfield

Millers Grandview Marine (518) 661-5824 342 Lakeside DriveMayfield

Montoney�s Marine(518) 661-6473199 State Highway 30Mayfield

Northampton Marina(518) 863-8127284 Houseman Street Mayfield

Park Marine Base, Inc.(518) 863-8112199 County Highway 152Northville

Sacandaga Marina(518) 661-6021117 School Street Mayfield

The Sand Bar(518) 883-4881306 Woods Hollow RoadMussels Harbor, Mayfield

Sunset Bay Vacation Resort RV Park and Marina(518) 661-6187Paradise Point RoadMayfield



¥ The Great Sacandaga Lake is one of the largest lakes in the Adirondacks. It is 29 miles long with 125 miles of shoreline.

¥ The Great Sacandaga Lake offers some of the best fishing in the Adirondacks and is one of the largesttourism attractions in Fulton County.

¥ The largest pike ever caught in North America was in theGreat Sacandaga Lake - a 46 lb., 2 oz. specimen onSeptember 15, 1940 by Peter Dubuc who owned a cabinon the lake.

¥ You can also fish on the Great Sacandaga Lake for browntrout, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass and yellow perch.

¥ The Great Sacandaga Lake offers a number of large

fishing tournaments each year. The Lake has hosted theESPN Bass Club World Championship Regional FishingTournament in 2007, and this year is hosting theNortheast Team Bass tournament in July and the RhodeIsland Bass Federation tournament in August.

¥ The largest fishing tournament held on the GreatSacandaga Lake is the Annual Walleye Ice FishingChallenge that welcomes 1500 fishermen on the lastSaturday in January.

For more information on Great Sacandaga Lake year-round events, visit www.fultoncountyny.org or telephone(518) 725-0641

The Great Sacandaga Lake Statistics:(Provided by the Fulton County Regional Chamber of Commerce & Industry):

Saratoga Experience Summer 2010

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Transcript of Saratoga Experience Summer 2010