Investigating Iconic Saratoga Springs

We are finally, finally settled.  We headed out to investigate one of the iconic areas of Saratoga Springs – Congress Park which is smack dab in the middle of town.

  It’s also the site of the city’s historical museum.  Naturally, it was in an old building (1870) – about one hundred years after the town had one European resident.  The 'Hard Rock Spring' attracted a British officer in  who had been wounded.  The Iroquis led him to the spring, and his wounds improved.  Shortly thereafter, an inn was built on the site, and Saratoga Springs (not so named at the time) was born.  We had dinner at the Old Bryan Inn which is the oldest building in town.  The history was better than the food as is so often the case.   

As you know, it’s sometimes the small stuff which decides whether one city is a big deal while one 10 miles down the road is just sort of sad and struggling.  Well, one deciding point for Saratoga Springs was the ‘springs’ of which there were over 20 in 1870,  People flooded up here from New York City via the railroad to stay in a resort hotel for a couple of weeks in the summer to ‘take the water’.  The second chance happening which rewarded Saratoga Springs was John Morrisey – a New York prize fighter turned gambling entrepreneur.  He chose Saratoga Springs as the town where he built a casino (building where the historical society museum is today),

and he also built a horse racing track.  Now, husbands could gamble, drink liquor, and race/bet on horses while the wives ‘took the waters’. (Here’s the building.)

After WWI when people had cars, they went farther afield on vacation, and the ‘waters’ trade dropped like a stone.  It was gambling that propped up Saratoga Springs until the Keefaufer Commision in the 1950’s outlawed gambling in New York in an attempt to get control over the Mafia.  And there was definitely organized crime in ‘the Springs’ including Myer Lansky and Lucky Luciano.     

   The powers that be in town reinvented the tourist trade using horse racing as well as the ‘outdoors’ to lure people back. They built a performing arts center and attracted top NYC classical entertainment to come to town throughout the summer.  Something must be working.  This town is so prosperous, cute, and friendly, it could be Beaver Cleaver’s hometown.  By contrast, Glens Falls/Queensbury just 20 minutes down the Interstate looks old, tired, and struggling. 

   The reason I know is we went to the annual art festival there yesterday.  It was really more of a crafts festival crossed with revolting fair/carnival food.  We did sniff out the ‘Strawberry Festival’ shortcake local dessert, and that was delish.  I skipped the crab cake sandwich, the clam roll, the Texas cheeseburger, the sausages, the fried dough, the cotton candy in a bag, etc. 

   I did get a new piece of jewelry – a great looking agate set in sterling silver.  This woman had a real feel for stone.

To sum up our early days, this is going to be a fun town.  Drinking the spring water isn't going to be part of the fun, though.  As always, if you want to see some MORE PICTURES, well, just click the link.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/bAtEuRcUwzStThFr6