HISTORIC HOMES
Tour provides look inside 7 notable private residences
Hundreds of history and architecture lovers Saturday fanned out across the city, taking the rare opportunity to step inside seven of the city’s historic private residences.
This was the 27th year the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation has sponsored its Historic Homes Tour and just the second when it has been held in the spring.
The day-of ticket price of $35 for members and $45 for the general public goes toward making this the foundation’s largest fundraiser. Three hours after starting to sell the tickets, there were already 400 participants walking the streets of the city seeking out the homes’ locations.
“Besides getting a chance to see the inside of these homes and their architecture this is also educational,” said Nicole Babie, the foundation’s membership and programs coordinator. “Part of our mission is to educate the community and visitors on preservation, why it’s important to Saratoga Springs, and why it’s important to the community. It’s just one part of what we do.”
One after another, enthusiastic participants walked up the steps of the Witt Construction building on North Broadway and stepped into the structure’s front room to get a ticket and speak with Babie.
“We have a good work-
ing relationship with a lot of construction companies in town,” she said. “This is a historic home too and people are welcome to walk around. We, as an organization, have a lot of knowledge and expertise and the construction companies use us as a resource, and we appreciate that relationship.”
One of the people getting a ticket from Babie was Diane Foody, the owner of a condo in the renovated 1875 Samuel Riddle House on Union Avenue.
“I always loved the city,” Foody said. “I moved here from Clifton Park two years ago. I came out to see other historic houses because I live in one. Samuel Riddle was the owner of Man O’ War.”
Another tour participant was John Cromie of Ballston Spa. Cromie is a history lover and a home restorer. He lives in a historic house in the village and restored another, the Doubleday House.
“I live in a historic home, so naturally I’m interested,” he said. “But it’s also a nice thing to do on a Saturday afternoon. It’s always good to support the organization when they hold these events. If people come out and support an event like this, then they’ll have one next year. Saratoga Springs needs the support, and Saratoga should support Ballston Spa too.”
This year’s tour included seven private residences, many on the north side of the city.
At 1 p.m. Saturday, pedestrian traffic was heavy inside the 1885 Edgar T. Brackett House at 605 North Broadway. Visitors pulled paper booties over their shoes to keep from tracking in mud.
The inside of the home was awash with dark stained wainscoting, plush carpets, antique lamps, art work, and the pièce de résistance, the Beechwood spiral staircase.
“It’s the largest floating spiral staircase in Saratoga Springs,” said docent Judy Killeen. Killeen was one of approximately 80 volunteer docents working in the homes to interpret the rooms.
A quick stop in the dining room showed another room where dark wood stain was predominant.
“This is a building where the architect had a tremendous sense of fun,” said Cromie, as he walked around with his wife.
To give the tour itself a sense of fun, the foundation created an artistic scavenger hunt. Each structure was given a framed copy of a historic postcard featuring the Spirit of Life statue from Congress Park. Visitors who went to every location could look for the postcards, note the location on a sheet of paper, and drop them in a box as part of a raffle. In the Brackett House the post card was placed nonchalantly on a desk, next to a modern phone. Visitors were also eager to see inside the renovated 1885 Cluett Family Carriage House. At one time the home was the carriage house for three large homes on Clement Avenue. Today it’s a modern single family home, but one that still retains its high carriage house ceiling in the main seating area. Three of the original horse stalls off to side of the home have been re-adapted for use by co-owner Betsy Olmsted’s textile company, Betsy Olmsted.
For those who missed the historic home tour, Babie recommends they keep their walking shoes handy and take advantage of the foundation’s upcoming Summer Sunday Strolls that start June 18.
“We have 12 guided walking tours between Father’s Day and Labor Day,” she said. “Each one starts at 10:30 a.m. on a Sunday and they go through different neighborhoods of the city. It’s a nice way to spend a Sunday morning.”
The price for the Summer Sunday Tours is $5 for foundation members and $8 for the general public.
More information on the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation can be seen at www.saratogapreservation.org.