Visit the Saratoga County History Center at the Brookside Museum for a mouthful of history! George Crum serves up his famous Saratoga chips in SCHC’s newest exhibit, “In the Saratoga Style: Potato Chips and Their Regional Folklore.” The chip exhibition comes in large part from the tasty collection of Alan Richer from Saratoga Lake, the greatest American collector of chips. Scoop up the history of Stewart’s Shops Ice Cream and learn of its founders, the Dake family, in the exhibit, “A Century of Ice Cream, a Centennial of the Dake family and Stewart’s Shops.” Enjoy the stories of Finger-Lickin’-Good Southern Charm through an oral history told by Anita Turner about the many black-owned restaurants in Saratoga Springs during the mid-1900s, including Hattie’s Chicken Shack, in the exhibit, “Black Experiences in Saratoga County: 1750-1950.” Finally, view a massive clambake held in Jonesville in 1922 through the presentation, “County Life in Photographs.” Get your filling of local history this autumn at the Saratoga County History Center, located at 21 Fairground Avenue in Ballston Spa, NY. Entry is complimentary.
The individual exhibits include:
“In the Saratoga Style: Potato Chips and Their Regional Folklore” (Open through December 23) – This is our newest exhibit, which explores the many stories that have claimed to explain the story behind the snack, from disgruntled customers to kitchen mishaps. The history of the legendary George Crum is examined, along with his experiences as a cook and outdoor guide of African and Native American ancestry. Learn more about this contender for the inventor of potato chips, along with other possible innovators who may have been responsible for the irresistibly crispy potatoes. This exhibit come largely from the collection of Alan Richer, America’s premier collector on the subject.
“A Century of Ice Cream, a Centennial of the Dake Family and Stewart’s Shops” (Open through December 23) – This exhibit celebrates the centennial of the famous company born in Saratoga County. In 1787, the Dake family began clearing farms in the hills of what became Greenfield. Three generations later, in 1921, dairy farmers Percy and Charles Dake responded to a changing economy (and America’s growing sweet tooth!) by shifting to ice cream production. True entrepreneurs, the Dakes sought other outlets for their talents, eventually becoming retailers. The chain they started in 1946 is now an anchor of northeastern New York and adjacent Vermont communities. Today, Stewart’s is perhaps Saratoga County’s most familiar contribution to the regional economy. The exhibit is made possible through the generosity of Stewart’s Shops/Dake Family.
Black Experiences in Saratoga County: 1750-1950 (Open through November 13) – This exhibit was developed to explore the diversity of the lives of Black Americans in Saratoga County over 200 years of our history from the colonial period to the mid-20th century. It is a chronological panorama of the struggles and hardships they faced, but also of their persistence and success. These episodes are examples from the annals of our history of the complexity of the lives lived by these Americans. It is not comprehensive, but rather snapshots of experiences shared by many people of color, designed to help us all better understand an important aspect of our complex American story. The exhibit includes artifacts, documents, and images on display to compliment the story as it unfolds on the wall panels.
County Life in Photographs (Open through November 13) – This exhibit features 26 images from the museum’s collection as well as from town historians, that shed light on everyday social life in Saratoga County from the end of the Civil War until 1950. From clambakes to national guardsmen to sports teams, the images showcase a wide variety of topics and locations around the county. Images were selected by three Skidmore College students, who also researched each image and wrote descriptions to accompany them.
SCHC’s Brookside Museum is open Thursday through Sunday from 1pm to 5pm. Admission to this museum is free and donations are welcome. www.brooksidemuseum.org
