Nestled in historic Ballston Spa, at the west end of fashionable Front Street, sits venerable Brookside Museum. Built in 1792, just four years after the ratification of the United States Constitution, the grand mansion sports eight white columns and a welcoming front porch. Few structures anywhere in Saratoga County are as iconic. Brookside was the first respectable hotel in either Ballston or Saratoga, and was even remodeled in the 1830s to cater to changing tastes. When the Greeks won their independence from the Turks in 1829, “Greek Revival” became all the rage in America. People today can visit Brookside and revel in an exemplary example of one of America’s most popular architectural styles.
Sadly, the iconic porch – the face of Brookside – is in desperate need of repair. Though renovations and remodels have occurred over the past century and a half, the entryway needs more than periodic upkeep. Specifically, all the front steps and floor boards, which are ruined by rot and mold, need to be replaced, as well as the deck frame supporting the floor. Moreover, the entire portico needs to be rebuilt for proper drainage, and the earth beneath should be covered with plastic and pea stone to reduce future moisture. The crisis concerns both safety and appearance.
Total cost is estimated at $20,000 ($10,000 for material, the same for labor). To raise that sum, the Saratoga County History Center, which operates Brookside Museum, is launching a massive fundraising drive. “Preserve the Porch!” will begin November 4, and a long-time supporter of the History Center will match all funds donated. Matching funds means that the public need only raise $10,000 – a reasonable sum to save one of our community’s beloved structures.
Please donate HERE
