‘MUCH IN COMMON’
Local historians discuss connection between Troy and Saratoga Springs
SARATOGASPRINGS, N.Y. » In the Saratoga Springs History Museum’s firstever virtual presentation, local historians spoke about the longstanding connection between the Spa City and the Collar City.
Titled “Troy and Saratoga Springs: Much in Common,” the virtual Alfred Z. Solomon Charitable Trust Program Series event was held on Thursday evening via Zoom, with speakers Richard Chait and Kathy Sheehan participating from the historic Canfield Casino in Congress Park, the site of the Saratoga Springs History Museum.
Chait and Sheehan each talked about the ties between Saratoga Springs and Troy, two distinctly different cities that, as the program title states, have much in common.
Chait, a former student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy and author of the recently released book “Remembering the Saratoga & North Creek Railway: Its Ups, Down and Final Hurrah,” focused on the railroads that provided transportation between the two cities.
These railways were an important factor in the late 19th and early 20th century economic development of Saratoga Springs and Troy, Chait said while sharing several images of both train stations.
“The D&H [Delaware and Hudson] railroad between Saratoga Springs and Troy moved a lot of people,” he said, noting that this service was very important for the economy of both cities. “Moving people was key to the economy of Saratoga Springs. It was key to the economy of Troy as well.”
Furthermore, “The railroad also
played a big part in the industrial development of Troy,” Chait said, mentioning Burden Iron Works, the largest iron company in the area at the time.
Sheehan, the City of Troy and Rensselaer County historian shared some history about the social scene among the two municipalities. “The connection, of course, that always is interesting are the people,” she said. Many wellknown Troy industrialists including George Cluett of major shirt and collar manufacturer Cluett Peabody & Company, Inc. and his wife Amandahadsummerhomes in Saratoga Springs.
While the city of Troy was a popular place to visit for its shopping at stores such as Frear’s Troy Cash Bazaar, Saratoga Springs attracted visitors for the same reasons it does today: horseracing and healing mineral waters.
Amanda’s diaries detail fond memories of how the family would go to Union Station in Troy and hop on the train to Saratoga Springs, where they would entertain guests, Sheehan said. “Amanda was constantly writing about taking their family and friends up here and going to the many different mineral fountains,” she said. “It was one of her great joys.”
Another reason rich Trojans liked spending time outside of the factory-filled city - “The air was better,”
Sheehan said. “There was so much manufacturing going on in Troy, and it was kind of pretty sooty and dirty to be honest with you.”
Onemorewell-knownhistorical figure with links to both Saratoga Springs and Troy is JohnMorrissey. Upon his family’s immigration the Irish-born American, grew up in Troy. Later in life, he established a gaming house in Saratoga Springs, the Canfield Casino, and became one of the founders of Saratoga Race Course.
TheCanfieldCasino is now hometotheSaratogaSprings History Museum, which recently reopened to the public.
The Hart Cluett Museum, located in George and Amanda Cluett’s former home at 57 Second St. in downtown Troy, is scheduled to reopen on Aug. 6. Details can be found online at www. hartcluett.org.
More information about the Saratoga Springs History Museum and upcoming events in the Alfred Z. Solomon Charitable Trust Program Series is available online at www.saratogahistory. org.