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Saratoga County

The 115th New York: The Iron Hearted Regiment During The Civil War

August 27, 2023 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Colonel Simeon Sammons of the 15th New York RegimentDuring the Civil War, Colonel Simeon Sammons received authority to recruit a regiment in the counties of Fulton, Hamilton, Montgomery, and Saratoga, with headquarters at Fonda. On August 26, 1862, it mustered into the service of the United States for three years as the 115th New York Infantry Regiment, known as the “Iron-Hearted Regiment.” [Read more…] about The 115th New York: The Iron Hearted Regiment During The Civil War

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Capital-Saratoga, Mohawk Valley Tagged With: 115th New York Regiment, Amsterdam, Ballston, Ballston Spa, Broadalbin, Brookside Museum, Canajoharie, Caroga, Charleston, Charlton, Civil War, Clifton Park, Corinth, Day, Edinburgh, Ephratah, Florida, Florida; Milton, Fonda, Fulton County, Galway, Glen, Greenfield, Hadley, Half Moon, Hamilton County, Johnstown, Malta, Mayfield Northampton, Military History, Milton, Minden, Mohawk, Montgomery County, Moreau, Northumberland, Oppenheim, Palatine, Providence, Root, Saratoga, Saratoga County, Saratoga County History Center, Saratoga Springs, St. Johnsville, Stillwater, Stratford, Waterford, Wells, Wilton

Ballston Spa’s 19th Century Grand Balls in Competition

August 16, 2023 by Guest Contributor 3 Comments

Brookside Museum Ballston Spa Saratoga CountyMany citizens of Ballston Spa in Saratoga County will be aware that in the nineteenth century the east end of Front Street boasted a sumptuous hotel called the Sans Souci. Some of these residents may have mused upon the great events, including grand balls, which might have enlivened this hotel back in the day, even ones graced by the presence of European royalty on occasion. [Read more…] about Ballston Spa’s 19th Century Grand Balls in Competition

Filed Under: Capital-Saratoga, History Tagged With: Architecture, Ballston, Ballston Spa, Brookside Museum, Cultural History, Dance, Historic Preservation, Saratoga County, Saratoga County History Center, Saratoga County History Roundtable

Side Paths: New York State’s 1890s Bike Trail Network

August 8, 2023 by Dave Waite Leave a Comment

East Avenue sidepath (Monroe County Sidepaths, 1899) Sidepaths were constructed for bicycles in the 1890sAs the 1890s took New York State toward a new century, the use of the bicycle for recreation by both the young and old was sweeping the country. One reason for this growth was the development of a safer, easier-to-ride machine with a smaller front wheel than the earlier high-wheeled bicycles.

Other advances in the development of the bicycle at this time were pneumatic tires and a chain drive that further eliminated the need for the large front tire. [Read more…] about Side Paths: New York State’s 1890s Bike Trail Network

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Capital-Saratoga, History, Hudson Valley - Catskills, Mohawk Valley, New York City, Recreation, Western NY Tagged With: Albany, Albany County, Ballston Spa, bicycling, biking, Glens Falls, Lake George, Legal History, Levi P. Morton, Mechanicville, Monroe County, Rochester, Round Lake, Saratoga County, Saratoga County History Center, Saratoga County History Roundtable, Saratoga Springs, trails, Transportation History, Warren County, Waterford

Early Forts Near Old Saratoga: Some History

August 3, 2023 by Guest Contributor 2 Comments

Fort Vrooman, Fort Saratoga and Fort Clinton historic sign in 2012 (photographed By Bill Coughlin)Many of the descriptions about fortifications in the Upper Hudson Valley, close to New France, were written by soldiers, travelers and settlers during the wars in the 18th century and into the 19th century.

Since many of the North American colonies were defended by Independent Companies, the regular English and, later, British armies had little direct influence on fortification designs, which created a high demand for the assistance of military engineers. [Read more…] about Early Forts Near Old Saratoga: Some History

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Capital-Saratoga, History Tagged With: Archaeology, Architecture, Battenkill, Burning of Saratoga, Engineering History, Fort Ann, Fort Burnet, Fort Clinton, Fort Edward, Fort Miller, Fort Nicholson, Fort Saratoga, Fort Vrooman, French And Indian War, Hudson River, Indigenous History, King George’s War, King William’s War, Military History, New France, Peter Schuyler, Philip Schuyler, Queen Anne's War, Saratoga, Saratoga County, Saratoga Patent, Schuyler House, Schuylerville, Seven Years War

Labor History: Saratoga, Belmont, Aqueduct & the 1961 Track Workers Strike

July 23, 2023 by Guest Contributor Leave a Comment

Horse Transports at the Saratoga Race Course in 2019 (Matt Bonk photo)There were only 14 horses at Saratoga Race Course in late July of 1961. By that time, it was expected that at least 200 would have arrived for the racing season. Strikes led by Jimmy Hoffa and a branch of the Teamsters Union, Local 917, halted the transportation of horses from New York City to Saratoga Springs. [Read more…] about Labor History: Saratoga, Belmont, Aqueduct & the 1961 Track Workers Strike

Filed Under: Capital-Saratoga, History, New York City Tagged With: Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park, Black History, Delaware & Hudson Railroad, Hispanic History, Horses, Labor History, Long Island, New York City, NYRA, Queens, Saratoga County, Saratoga County History Center, Saratoga County History Roundtable, Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, Teamsters, Transportation History

A Remarkable Saratoga Race Track Souvenir

July 13, 2023 by Bill Orzell 3 Comments

Photogravure reproduction of the William Dowling painting produced by the FA Ringler Company for the Saratoga Association in 1928 (Author’s collection)The New York Racing Association (NYRA) has four “giveaway” days planned for the 2023 Saratoga Racing season, which kicked-off today. This tradition, while the supply lasts, has been a standard at the Spa for decades. This year’s red and white swag includes a cooler jug, a T-shirt, a bucket hat and a tote bag.

Souvenirs date back to the earliest visitors at Saratoga Springs, wanting to return home with a tangible memento of their visit to the Spa, in the foothills of the Adirondacks. The Saratoga Association for the Improvement of the Breed of Horses early on recognized this desire of visitors, and devised of a plan for a valuable keepsake early in the twentieth century. [Read more…] about A Remarkable Saratoga Race Track Souvenir

Filed Under: Arts, Capital-Saratoga, History Tagged With: Gambling, Horses, illustrators, Material Culture, NYRA, painting, Saratoga County, Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, Social History, Sports History, Vice

World War II Home Front Memories

July 9, 2023 by Guest Contributor 1 Comment

Siblings Alphonse Lambert and Angie LaBelle, August 1943For the family of Italian immigrants Genaro and Jenny Lambert, a July, 1943 headline “ALLIED INVASION OF SICILY” had special meaning. Although the German occupation of Europe – Poland had been overtaken in thirty five days; Belgium, Netherlands, Luxemburg, and France had surrendered in six weeks- painted a grim picture, the newspapers’ headline created hope. No one thought defeating the Axis powers would be easy, but maybe the tide was turning. [Read more…] about World War II Home Front Memories

Filed Under: Capital-Saratoga, History Tagged With: Genealogy, Italian History, new York State Military Museum, Oral History, Saratoga County, Saratoga County History Center, Saratoga County History Roundtable, Saratoga Springs, Social History, womens history, World War Two

A Saratoga Man’s Role in Evacuating Americans from Europe in 1939 & 1940

June 21, 2023 by Guest Contributor 1 Comment

The SS Washington and Paul PhillipsOver 100,000 Americans were traveling or residing in Europe in 1939.  As the threat of war became ever more ominous, in August the United States Department of State created a new office to facilitate the evacuation of these Americans.

The war began with Germany’s invasion of Poland on September 1.  By the end of the year 75% of the Americans in Europe were either home or on their way home. Many American ships and men were involved in this evacuation. One of those sailors was my uncle. [Read more…] about A Saratoga Man’s Role in Evacuating Americans from Europe in 1939 & 1940

Filed Under: Capital-Saratoga, History Tagged With: Jewish History, Maritime History, Saratoga County, Saratoga County History Center, Saratoga County History Roundtable, Saratoga Springs, World War Two

Saratoga County Granges: The Patrons of Husbandry

June 11, 2023 by Guest Contributor 1 Comment

Mock wedding, celebrating Hiley and Mary Jane Armer's nuptialsThe Grange, formally known as “The Patrons of Husbandry,” was introduced to Saratoga County in 1890, twenty-three years after the agricultural organization’s founding and twenty-two years after the nation’s first local chapter was established in Fredonia, Chautauqua County, NY. In the 1880s and into 1890, New York State Grange sent organizers in the field to build up membership. [Read more…] about Saratoga County Granges: The Patrons of Husbandry

Filed Under: Capital-Saratoga, Food, History Tagged With: Agricultural History, Ballston, Charlton, Clifton Park, Corinth, free, Galway, Grange, Greenfield, Labor History, local farms, Malta, Milton, Northumberland, Political History, railroads, Saratoga, Saratoga County, Saratoga County History Center, Saratoga County History Roundtable, Stillwater, Wilton

Wildfires Continue To Burn Upstate New York State

June 7, 2023 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

June 2023 Wildfire in HadleyWildfires burned more than 25 acres in six Upstate New York counties over the past week, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The wild land fires were the latest of dozens of fires started by inattentive campers, illegal brush burning and other causes that have rapidly spread in unusually hot and dry conditions across the state. One fire spread into Hudson Highlands State Park; another burned in the Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest. [Read more…] about Wildfires Continue To Burn Upstate New York State

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Capital-Saratoga, Hudson Valley - Catskills Tagged With: Chazy, Clinton County, Delaware County, Garrison, Hadley, Hancock, Hudson Highlands State Park, Johnsburg, Putnam County, Saratoga County, Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest, Warren County

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