Saratoga

By Thomas N. Wood III

Because of its strategic location, throughout the years Saratoga has been the site of numerous warring parties and battles, transportation links, industrial development, agricultural pursuits, recreational activities, and residential growth. Before it became a part of Saratoga County in 1791, the town of Saratoga belonged to Albany County and was much larger than its current size. Although rural in character, the town is composed of a number of hamlets and villages that have played an important part in Saratoga s development.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
• Release date: Nov 8, 2010
• ISBN: 9781439638750

Thomas N. Wood III

Thomas N. Wood III is a lifelong resident of Saratoga and a retired schoolteacher and administrator. He has served as the town historian for 18 years and currently serves as town supervisor. His hope is that the collection of vintage postcards found in Saratoga will expand and promote the knowledge of the history and development of the town.

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INTRODUCTION

Native Americans from the Mohawk branch of the Iroquois inhabited the Saratoga region over 12,000 years ago and called it Se-rach-ta-gue or Sa-ra-ta-ke. It was a favorite area because of its excellent hunting and fishing and because of the network of waterways. The Indians were able to easily travel north and south on the Hudson River, east on the Battenkill River, and west on Fish Creek to Saratoga Lake, the Kaderosseras, and, ultimately, the Mohawk River.

Dutch settlers were the first to obtain title to the land and gave the name Sarachtoge to the gently rolling region that extended roughly from present-day Waterford to the state dam in Northumberland, including land that stretched six miles along both sides of the Hudson River. As early as 1684, a group including Peter Schuyler obtained the Saratoga Patent, the first title to the land. Bartel Vroman became the first settler in 1688. Officials at a convention in Albany on September 4, 1689, resolved that a fort be made about the house of Bartel Vroman at Sarachtoge. In summer 1690, Schuyler, who was then mayor of Albany, cleared a spot in the forest, built a blockhouse for his military stores, and named the place Saratoga. In 1702, Johannes Schuyler settled along Fish Creek, near the present village of Schuylerville. He established farms and erected mills and other buildings as early as 1709. As a way of drawing new people to the area, Schuyler built a garrison for protection from raids during the various French and Indian Wars. Together Schuyler and the farmers and others who leased or bought land formed the town’s first major settlement, Fort Saratoga. In spite of frequent raids, the community grew. By the mid-1700s, it included some 30 dwellings with granaries, pens, gristmills, stores, and blacksmith shops, as well as the garrison. On November 17, 1745, a fierce attack destroyed Fort Saratoga. Capt. Peter Schuyler was killed in his own house. Many others were massacred or taken prisoner, and the settlement was burned. Fort Saratoga was rebuilt, but attacks continued during the French and Indian War. In 1763, France and England made peace, and the settlement revived. In 1767, Philip Schuyler erected a flax mill, reported to be the first in the American colonies. In 1770, the Saratoga Reformed Church was organized.

As the country struggled for independence from the British, Saratoga once again became a focal point of warring activities. Both patriots and loyalists maintained forts, camps, and headquarters within the town. Philip Schuyler, the American general in command, used his forces to delay the advance of the British, led by Gen. John Burgoyne. Hostilities intensified in the summer of 1777. On September 10, 1777, Burgoyne’s army, en route from Montreal to Albany, crossed the Hudson River just north of Schuylerville, halted for a short time, and headed south. Near Bemis Heights, Burgoyne’s army, considered the mightiest in the world at that time, was defeated in two battles at Saratoga on September 19 and October 7. Burgoyne retreated to what is currently the village of Schuylerville. Surrounded by American forces, he surrendered to Gen. Horatio Gates on October 17. This action marked a turning point of the war by providing the impetus that encouraged France to join the American cause, ultimately leading to victory for the Americans.

Saratoga suffered throughout the war. Many residents lost their lives while others suffered great damage to their property. Gradually, in the years following the war, the town began to grow and prosper. Gristmills, linen mills, paper mills, and sawmills were constructed. Schools, churches, and businesses were established. The two highways that passed through the town, the old Montreal and Albany military road and the Saratoga Springs to Boston road, were improved. The completion of the Champlain Canal in 1822 provided a great stimulus to growth. A boat basin and dry dock were developed, and the town became a major shipping terminal. Boatloads of potatoes, grain, lumber, hay, and paper originated here. A barn was built to house more than 100 mules. As the demand increased, numerous warehouses, hotels, blacksmith shops, and businesses were established. In 1882, the Fitchburg Railroad passed through town connecting Saratoga (Schuylerville) to Saratoga Springs, Mechanicville, and Troy. This railway became part of the Boston and