Saratoga County Historical Society at Brookside Museum - News

News

April’s Patriotic Parade

Hooray, it’s April! Below is a postcard of the Patriotic Parade held in Ballston Spa, April 29th 1917. Shown are volunteers leaving Ballston Spa to volunteer to fight in WWI. The image is of the Lincoln Building, looking North up Milton Avenue. Photographed by Jesse Sumner Wooley.

The Old Iron Spring

The Old Iron Spring was drilled by the village of Ballston Spa to a depth of 647 feet in 1874. This spring continues to flow even to this day, and is still drinkable. It is not to be confused with the Public Well/Old Spring/Iron Railing Spring which was an Artesian well discovered by Beriah Palmer in 1771 (Jean Puckhaber Collection)…. Read more »

The Grist Mill

Frederick J. Wheeler built a new grist mill and storehouse on Science Street after a fire destroyed his family’s mill on West High Street during the 1920’s. Wheeler subsequently sold the business to Ballston Spa Co-Op GLF Service (later Agway).

The Importance of Local History and Community Resources

Our society is constantly changing. Christa’s letter below is an invaluable demonstration of why local history and community resources remain important, no matter how fast the world moves forward. Here at Brookside, we work hard to remain relevant and current while continuing to help those who believe in remembering our history. Four or Five years ago (well before it’s recognition… Read more »

The Aftermath of a February Storm

A frontal view of the New Presbyterian Chapel in Ballston Spa N.Y. on West High Street. Snow covers the ground and roof in the aftermath of a winter storm in February, 1925. Photographed by Jesse Sumner Wooley.

Snow Then, and Snow Now

This winter has been particularly snowy. But what did it look like in the past? Here is an exterior view of the Lincoln Hotel on the corner of Milton and Malta Avenues, taken on February 14, 1914, a century ago! A trolley car of the Hudson Valley Railway sits to the right.

The Blizzard of 1914

A Sunday School class gathers outside the Christ Episcopal Church parsonage after the blizzard of February 14, 1914. It looks like the snow will be with us for a while here in Ballston Spa.

On the Tracks

Today we have a quaint shot of the Kaydeross Railway combination car attached to D&H freight boxcar. Men are working on railbed, with an old stone house in background (SCHS).  

Snow on Milton & Malta

Here is a lovely winter scene of the corner of Milton & Malta Avenues. (C.S. Doaty, ca. 1903-1905).

Tobogganing in January

Hope you all are enjoying this wintery January! Here is a shot of the Ballston Spa Winter Club Toboggan Slide, circa 1912. Taken by Jesse Sumner Wooley.