On this day – April 25

On this day in 1776, 10,192 soldiers of the United Army had been stationed in New York and in 2007, the Saratoga planning board allowed the subdivision of Darren Tracy’s properties on NYS 4 which included the old Webster house that relocated from the Spring Street (on property that the School District owned).

On this day is a chronological timetable of events that occurred on this day in history around the Town of Saratoga. Discover what happened today in local history by following our twitter account @historysaratoga

(Thank you to Deputy Historian Patricia Peck for compiling this timetable.)

April 25

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OTD in 2004, it was “Park Ranger Dick Beresford Day”

#onthisday in 2004, the Town of Saratoga declared it “Park Ranger Dick Beresford Day” .  This is a photo of Timothy Holmes and Richard Beresford (22 August 1937 – 29 April 2009)  at the Schuylerville Visitors Center during the British Motorfest at Fort Hardy Park on 17 July 2004.

Holmes and Beresford are/were historians and coordinators of the visitors center.

Holmes co-wrote a number of books, invested in a number of Schuylerville properties and was a Schuylerville economic development official (among other roles).

In 2004, the Town Board of the Town of Saratoga passed the following resolution.

TOWN OF SARATOGA TOWN BOARD RESOLUTION #04-54,

DATE: 03/08/2004

RECOGNITION OF RETIRING PARK RANGER DICK BERESFORD OFFERED BY SUPERVISOR THOMAS WOOD, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN BRUCE CORNELL

WHEREAS, Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has”, and this is indeed true of Saratoga National Historical Park Ranger Richard “Dick” E. Beresford, a man who has been a genuine leader in our community; and

WHEREAS, the citizens of Town of Saratoga have recognized Park Ranger Dick Beresford for his contributions to the visitor experience of thousands of tourists who visit the Old Saratoga region; and

WHEREAS, having served in at Saratoga National Historical Park, Ranger Dick Beresford is known as master storyteller, who enjoys dealing with the public and can tell the funniest stories, exemplifying the best qualifies of those who have chosen to devote their lives to the honorable profession of public service; and

WHEREAS, Dick Beresford served the US Army as an officer in Army Intelligence and Security; and served as the Secretary to the Association of the US. Army, Hudson Valley Chapter in which he served with the Commandant of the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York; and

WHEREAS, among Dick Beresford’s accomplishments, he served as Assistant Commissioner General for the United Nations in Montreal Canada; and he takes great pride in his efforts to furthering the aims of understanding and world peace. To that end, Dick was awarded a gold medal from the United Nations and ceremonial silk scarf from His Holiness, The Dalai Lama. and

WHEREAS, Dick Beresford, was the director of education for the Philatelic Foundation; and the director of the National Bottle Museum; and

WHEREAS, Dick Beresford, has served our community by being involved in countless organizations, including the Saratoga County Arts Council, Saratoga Springs Urban Cultural Park, National Museum of Racing, Saratoga County League of Women Voters, Old Saratoga/New Schuylerville Association, Schuylerville Area Chamber of Commerce, the Friends of Saratoga Battlefield, and many others too numerous to mention; and

WHEREAS, as well as Dick Beresford is the honorary chairman of the Friends of Saratoga Batt1efield’s March for Parks in Old Saratoga on Saturday, April 24, 2004. The March for Parks is a fim-day event held at the Schuyler House with the goal to raise funds and awareness of parks and will showcase Old Saratoga on the Hudson efforts to revitalize our community; and

WHEREAS, the visitors and the citizens of the Town of Saratoga will greatly miss the humor and storytelling of Park Ranger Richard Beresford who leaves his legacy of unsurpassed intellect, compassion and humor over endless long hours of welcoming visitors to our community each year,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWN OF SARATOGA BOARD is proud to honor and commend Park Ranger Richard E. Beresford, a man who stands admirably as an example for any Saratogian of a true leader of integrity and loyalty to his community and the country.

THAT the Town of Saratoga Board wishes Dick Beresford success, health and happiness in his retirement from the National Park Service.

THAT the Town of Saratoga hereby declares April 24, 2004, as “Park Ranger Dick Beresford Day” in the Town of Saratoga.

THAT a copy of this resolution be spread upon the pages of the Minutes of the Town of Saratoga Board as a permanent record.

THAT a copy of this resolution be dispatched to the Park Ranger Richard Beresford, a distinguished and resolute leader and public servant

Supervisor Thomas Wood — aye Councilman Fred Drumm -— aye Councilman Charles Hanehan — aye Councilman Michael McLough|in – aye Councilman Bruce Cornell – aye Carried 5 – O

OTD: Saratoga Voted for in the Presidential Primary

#Onthisday in 2012, the Town of Saratoga voted in the New York Presidential Primary. 136 people voted. Ron Paul got 28 votes, Newt Gingrich received 19 votes, Mitt Romney received 77 votes and Rick Santorium received 12 votes.

OTD: P Schuyler & Native American leaders visited the Lords of the Board of Trade

On this day in 1710, Pieter Schuyler and four Native American leaders were presented to the Lords of the Board of Trade.

The four Native American leaders visited London in 1710 as part of a diplomatic visit organized by Pieter Schuyler, mayor of Albany, New York. They were received in London as diplomats, being transported through the streets of the city in Royal carriages, and received by Queen Anne at the Court of St. James Palace. They also visited the Tower of London and St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Historian W. Max Reid describes that “no man in the whole province who had more extended views of the importance of driving the French out of Canada than Colonel Peter Schuyler. To preserve the friendship of the Five Nations without which it would be impossible to prevent the frontier from becoming a field of blood, he studied all the arts of insinuating himself into their favor, he gave them all possible encouragement and assistance and very much impaired his own fortune by his liberality to their chiefs. They never came to Albany but what they resorted to his house and even dined at his table and by this means he obtained all ascendency over them which was attended with good consequences to the province. Impressed with a strong sense of the necessity. Of some vigorous measures against the French, he resolved to make a voyage to England at his private expense the better to make known to the ministry the absolute necessity of reducing Canada to the crown of Great Britain. For that purpose he proposed to take with him to Queen Anne’s court five Indian chiefs representing the Five Nations.

Therefore in due time the journey was made and the embassy consisting of Peter Schuyler Colonel Necholson the Mohawk chiefs Hendrick and Brandt and three other sachems together with Abraham Schuyler as interpreter arrived in London after a voyage of considerable discomfort to the Indians It is recorded that three Sachems and their interpreter Abraham Schuyler were presented to the April 25 1710

The arrival of the Five Sachems in England made great bruit throughout the kingdom the mob followed wherever they went and small cuts of them were sold to the people. Schuyler was among Saratoga patentees in 1685.

Saratoga has been defined by the people who by choice or by chance make up this community. The Schuyler family help defined this community. The village of Schuylerville in the Town of Saratoga is named after the Schuyler family. It is the determination of our forefathers, including Governor Schuyler in surmounting overwhelming odds that help define the American spirit – the will and ability to shape a better future. It is the people it is that define this community by choice or by chance have changed this country and even the world political development. That is why studying the people of Saratoga is helpful in the understanding of the condition of being human.

On this day – April 24

On this day in 1895, NYS bought the Saratoga Monument from Monument Association; in 1897, two homes were destroyed by fire on Green Street; in 1936, the American Legion Auxiliary Post 278 was chartered; in 1964, Fr. LeMoyne came to Notre Dame Church; and in 2004, the Friends of Saratoga Battlefield had their annual March of Parks at the Schuyler House.

On this day is a chronological timetable of events that occurred on this day in history around the Town of Saratoga. Discover what happened today in local history by subscribing to our blog at https://historianatsaratoga.wordpress.com/

(Thank you to Deputy Historian Patricia Peck for compiling this timetable.)

April 24

Champlain Canal

“Some of the original canal was located in the slack water of the Hudson River but by 1828 the canal was shifted entirely from the banks of the river where it remained until 1917. 

Over the years following 1828 the canal was widened and improved several times.  In 1868 the iron bridge crossing the canal at Ferry Street was built. 

In 1905 a bill authorizing a new enlarged canal system passed the New York State Legislature and construction began.   

The system was completed in 1917 with the new enlarged Champlain Canal in the Hudson River just to the east.   

In 1911, by referendum the people of New York State voted to fund the construction of terminal facilities along the entire Barge Canal System.   

In 1914, the citizens of Schuylerville voted to retain a portion of the old Champlain Canal as a terminal in lieu of a new standard terminal facility that would have been located on the banks of the Hudson River.  Since the new large barges could not enter and use the portion of the old Champlain Canal in the village, canal traffic within the village soon died.”

This timeline from “The History of the Champlain Canal in the Old Saratoga Area” written by the former Town of Saratoga Historian Thomas N. Wood.

The Champlain Canal has served as a travel corridor for centuries. Stretching 64 miles between the Hudson River and Lake Champlain, the Champlain Canal stands as one of the earliest and most significant public works projects in the history of the United States.

It was General Philip Schuyler that recognized the economic potential for a continuous waterway between the Hudson River and Lake Champlain. The Champlain Canal was opened in 1823 and consisted of a land cut channel from Waterford to a canalized Wood Creek, which joins Lake Champlain at Whitehall. Later efforts to build a canal large enough for ocean-going vessels were too ambitious and costly to implement. Instead, an enlarged barge canal incorporating the Hudson River was built in 1916. 

Construction of the Champlain Canal created a physical and commercial connection between Saratoga (Schuylerville) and the U.S. Atlantic coast (and the nation’s Midwest and West) that had impacts far beyond its intended effects. The canal formed the first truly effective means of inland interstate commerce, directly enabling the growth of Schuylerville, Midwestern agriculture and the emergence of New York City and New York State as national and international economic powers.  The Champlain Canal help define this community and our region as a corridor of commerce.  Preserving key landscapes enhances our historic settings and protects the natural systems that are shared throughout our community, county and region.

On this day – April 23

On this day in 2001, the Village of Schuylerville adopts their annual budget of $636,098 which increased the property tax rate from $8.34 to $8.67 per 1000 of assessment and in 2002 a town-wide referendum was defeated proposing the construction of a new Town of Saratoga Hall by the highway garage by 462 votes opposed and 338 votes in favor On this day is a chronological timetable of events that occurred on this day in history around the Town of Saratoga. Discover what happened today in local history by following us on Facebook at http://bit.ly/2kLifwt (Thank you to former Historian and current Supervisor Thomas Wood for compiling this timetable.) April 23