East Side Historic District (Saratoga Springs, New York)
Encyclopedia
The East Side Historic District is a primarily residential neighborhood located to the east of downtown Saratoga Springs
, New York, United States. It is an irregularly shaped area 114 acres (46.1 ha) in size, extending almost to Saratoga Race Course
from the neighborhood of Congress Park
.
During the 19th and early 20th centuries, it was where the city's well-to-do residents built their homes, when the city was one of the country's top resorts, frequented by many of the wealthiest families of the era. Later on it was home to the earliest incarnations of Skidmore College
. In 1982 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
s, all contiguous, in the city. It is bordered by Union Avenue
on the south, Congress Park to the west and Broadway
on the northwest.
at Middle Avenue). It then returns to East Harrison along Swanner Lane and follows the back lines along some of the houses along Lake Avenue (NY 29
)
Opposite Marion Place, it goes out to Lake and follows it east to the middle of the block between Marion and Nelson Avenue. There, it turns south between two properties to eventually follow Diamond Place. It takes in the house at the corner of Diamond Place and Diamond Street, then follows the latter west to the line between two lots and goes south to Mitchell Place. It follows Mitchell out to Nelson and then turns south briefly to continue east along the rear lot lines of the north side of Caroline Street to include three lots east of Ludlow Street.
From there it continues south to the middle of the block, including all properties on Labelle Lane. It follows rear lot lines again along Fifth Avenue to East Avenue, which it follows south to the rear lot line of the properties on the south side of Fifth, excluding the stables and other track support buildings. This point is the district's eastern extreme.
The boundary continues to divide houses and racetrack buildings down to George Street, where it turns west. Other than including the house at 60 George, on the southwest corner of the Nelson Avenue intersection, it remains in George Street all the way to Court Street. There it dips southward again and follows Thompson Place to Regent Street.
It goes to its southernmost point when it includes all properties along the west side of Regent down to Union Avenue (NY 9P
), then follows their rear lines north to Spring Street, where it turns west again. It turns north around a property at the northeast corner of Spring and Henry Street, then goes west to follow Henry up to Caroline. There it goes east to the middle of the block and then follows lot lines to Lake.
After following the rear lines of two properties next to the armory on Henry at the northeast corner of Lake, it includes one more house on Henry and then follows a driveway to Bank Alley, where it turns west to Henry again. It follows Henry, then the rear line along the east of the street until it reaches that of the house opposite North Street, where it turns east.
.
There are 379 buildings within the district, many of them houses in an array of 19th and early 20th century styles
, from Gothic Revival to Bungalow
. They are predominantly faced in clapboard
or brick. Only 15 of them are of modern construction, including one supermarket
building, and thus not considered contributing properties
to the district's historic character.
A few institutional buildings remain from Skidmore College
's use of the area prior to 1976, especially its former art school near the west boundary. The state armory
on Lake Avenue, one of many designed by Isaac Perry, is also included, as well as a church, fire station and local elementary school.
In 1902 Lucy Skidmore Scribner
founded the Young Women's Industrial Club. It became Skidmore School of the Arts a decade later, in 1911, and finally Skidmore College
in 1922. The Regent Street Theatre was the first building constructed specifically for the college. By 1931 the campus
dominated the western portion of the district, with 82 buildings either built or renovated for it over 34 acres (13.8 ha). In 1976 it moved to a new campus in the city's north, and left most of its original buildings.
Currently its historic character is preserved
by the city's Design Review Commission, a seven-member body appointed by the mayor to staggered three-year terms. It reviews any proposed signage and exterior changes to any building in any of the city's historic districts.
Saratoga Springs, New York
Saratoga Springs, also known as simply Saratoga, is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 26,586 at the 2010 census. The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in the area. While the word "Saratoga" is known to be a corruption of a Native American name, ...
, New York, United States. It is an irregularly shaped area 114 acres (46.1 ha) in size, extending almost to Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course is a Thoroughbred horse racing track in Saratoga Springs, New York, United States. It opened on August 3, 1863, and is the oldest organized sporting venue of any kind in the United States. It is typically open for racing from late July through early September.-History:John...
from the neighborhood of Congress Park
Canfield Casino and Congress Park
Canfield Casino and Congress Park is a site in Saratoga Springs, New York, United States. It was the site of the former Congress Spring Bottling Plant and the former Congress Hall, a large resort hotel, which together brought Saratoga Springs international fame as a health spa and gambling site...
.
During the 19th and early 20th centuries, it was where the city's well-to-do residents built their homes, when the city was one of the country's top resorts, frequented by many of the wealthiest families of the era. Later on it was home to the earliest incarnations of Skidmore College
Skidmore College
Skidmore College is a private, independent, liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 2,500 students. The college is located in the town of Saratoga Springs, New York State....
. In 1982 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Geography
East Side is one of five historic districtHistoric district (United States)
In the United States, a historic district is a group of buildings, properties, or sites that have been designated by one of several entities on different levels as historically or architecturally significant. Buildings, structures, objects and sites within a historic district are normally divided...
s, all contiguous, in the city. It is bordered by Union Avenue
Union Avenue Historic District (Saratoga Springs, New York)
Union Avenue Historic District is a historic district in Saratoga Springs, New York. It was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1978....
on the south, Congress Park to the west and Broadway
Broadway Historic District (Saratoga Springs, New York)
The Broadway Historic District is located along that street in Saratoga Springs, New York, United States. It has a twofold character. The southern section is the commercial core of the city, with many of its important public and private buildings, most intact from the its peak days as a resort town...
on the northwest.
Boundary
The district's irregular boundary follows primarily lot lines and streets. It begins in the north at the intersection of Circular and North streets, including the properties on both sides of Circular at that point. From there it goes east along North to East Harrison Street, where it turns south. Houses on York Avenue all the way east to Nelson Avenue are included, then it follows the rear lot line of houses on the west side of East Harrison south of that intersection (excluding the entire blockCity block
A city block, urban block or simply block is a central element of urban planning and urban design. A city block is the smallest area that is surrounded by streets. City blocks are the space for buildings within the street pattern of a city, they form the basic unit of a city's urban fabric...
at Middle Avenue). It then returns to East Harrison along Swanner Lane and follows the back lines along some of the houses along Lake Avenue (NY 29
New York State Route 29
New York State Route 29 is a state highway extending for across the eastern portion of the U.S. state of New York. The western terminus of the route is at NY 28 and NY 169 in Middleville, Herkimer County. The eastern terminus of the route is at NY 22 just south of Salem,...
)
Opposite Marion Place, it goes out to Lake and follows it east to the middle of the block between Marion and Nelson Avenue. There, it turns south between two properties to eventually follow Diamond Place. It takes in the house at the corner of Diamond Place and Diamond Street, then follows the latter west to the line between two lots and goes south to Mitchell Place. It follows Mitchell out to Nelson and then turns south briefly to continue east along the rear lot lines of the north side of Caroline Street to include three lots east of Ludlow Street.
From there it continues south to the middle of the block, including all properties on Labelle Lane. It follows rear lot lines again along Fifth Avenue to East Avenue, which it follows south to the rear lot line of the properties on the south side of Fifth, excluding the stables and other track support buildings. This point is the district's eastern extreme.
The boundary continues to divide houses and racetrack buildings down to George Street, where it turns west. Other than including the house at 60 George, on the southwest corner of the Nelson Avenue intersection, it remains in George Street all the way to Court Street. There it dips southward again and follows Thompson Place to Regent Street.
It goes to its southernmost point when it includes all properties along the west side of Regent down to Union Avenue (NY 9P
New York State Route 9P
New York State Route 9P is a state highway in central Saratoga County, New York, United States. It is an alternate route off U.S. Route 9 between Malta and Saratoga Springs that connects US 9 to the eastern shore of Saratoga Lake. NY 9P meets NY 423 in the town of...
), then follows their rear lines north to Spring Street, where it turns west again. It turns north around a property at the northeast corner of Spring and Henry Street, then goes west to follow Henry up to Caroline. There it goes east to the middle of the block and then follows lot lines to Lake.
After following the rear lines of two properties next to the armory on Henry at the northeast corner of Lake, it includes one more house on Henry and then follows a driveway to Bank Alley, where it turns west to Henry again. It follows Henry, then the rear line along the east of the street until it reaches that of the house opposite North Street, where it turns east.
Character
The district's terrain is mostly level, most of it east of the rise from the small fault where the city's springs are located. It is extensively developed, with streets and narrower connecting alleys laid out in a grid planGrid plan
The grid plan, grid street plan or gridiron plan is a type of city plan in which streets run at right angles to each other, forming a grid...
.
There are 379 buildings within the district, many of them houses in an array of 19th and early 20th century styles
Architectural style
Architectural styles classify architecture in terms of the use of form, techniques, materials, time period, region and other stylistic influences. It overlaps with, and emerges from the study of the evolution and history of architecture...
, from Gothic Revival to Bungalow
Bungalow
A bungalow is a type of house, with varying meanings across the world. Common features to many of these definitions include being detached, low-rise , and the use of verandahs...
. They are predominantly faced in clapboard
Clapboard (architecture)
Clapboard, also known as bevel siding or lap siding or weather-board , is a board used typically for exterior horizontal siding that has one edge thicker than the other and where the board above laps over the one below...
or brick. Only 15 of them are of modern construction, including one supermarket
Supermarket
A supermarket, a form of grocery store, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
building, and thus not considered contributing properties
Contributing property
In the law regulating historic districts in the United States, a contributing resource or contributing property is any building, structure, or object which adds to the historical integrity or architectural qualities that make the historic district, listed locally or federally, significant...
to the district's historic character.
A few institutional buildings remain from Skidmore College
Skidmore College
Skidmore College is a private, independent, liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 2,500 students. The college is located in the town of Saratoga Springs, New York State....
's use of the area prior to 1976, especially its former art school near the west boundary. The state armory
Armory (military)
An armory or armoury is a place where arms and ammunition are made, maintained and repaired, stored, issued to authorized users, or any combination of those...
on Lake Avenue, one of many designed by Isaac Perry, is also included, as well as a church, fire station and local elementary school.
History
As Saratoga Springs began to develop into one of the country's most fashionable resorts in the late 19th century, it developed its own upper and upper-middle class. These people, primarily the owners of stores and spas and those who owned the firms that designed and built them, wanted to live in houses that reflected their success. They gravitated to the neighborhoods east of upper Broadway and north of Union Avenue, where the wealthy summer residents had their homes. Their own homes were scaled-down versions of those homes, often by the same architects, including R. Newton Brezee, who himself lived on the East Side.In 1902 Lucy Skidmore Scribner
Lucy Skidmore Scribner
Lucy Skidmore Scribner was the founder of Skidmore College.-Biography:She was born in on July 4, 1853 to Joseph Russell Skidmore , a coal merchant, and Lucy Ann Hawley . Lucy’s grandparents were Jeremiah and Judith Ludlam Skidmore and Irad and Sarah Holmes Hawley. In 1875 she married John Blair...
founded the Young Women's Industrial Club. It became Skidmore School of the Arts a decade later, in 1911, and finally Skidmore College
Skidmore College
Skidmore College is a private, independent, liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 2,500 students. The college is located in the town of Saratoga Springs, New York State....
in 1922. The Regent Street Theatre was the first building constructed specifically for the college. By 1931 the campus
Campus
A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings...
dominated the western portion of the district, with 82 buildings either built or renovated for it over 34 acres (13.8 ha). In 1976 it moved to a new campus in the city's north, and left most of its original buildings.
Currently its historic character is preserved
Historic preservation
Historic preservation is an endeavor that seeks to preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes or other artifacts of historical significance...
by the city's Design Review Commission, a seven-member body appointed by the mayor to staggered three-year terms. It reviews any proposed signage and exterior changes to any building in any of the city's historic districts.
Significant contributing properties
None of the properties in the district are currently listed on the National Register in their own right. Some are notable within it.- R. Newton Brezee House, 119 Caroline Street. This Clapboard Queen AnneQueen Anne Style architectureThe Queen Anne Style in Britain means either the English Baroque architectural style roughly of the reign of Queen Anne , or a revived form that was popular in the last quarter of the 19th century and the early decades of the 20th century...
designed as his own residence by the architect of many homes in the city, including several others in the district, and built in 1892. - New York State Armory, 60 Lake Avenue. A Romanesque Revival brick structure designed by state architect Isaac Perry in 1890.
- Regent Street Theatre, 153 Regent Street. Shingled Colonial Revival structure was first building built for Skidmore, in 1903.