"Reminiscences of Saratoga"
compiled by Cornelius E. Durkee

Feb. 27-The Rev. George B. Foster preached his first sermon as pastor of the First Baptist church.

March 9 - Adelbert C. Hayden and Nellie Lohnas were united in marriage.

March 9 - The death of Patrick H. Cowen, aged 68 years, occurred.

April 4 - On this date there was sleighing in Saratoga Springs. It is recorded that there were 120 consecutive days of sleighing.

April 15 - The death of Mrs. W. A. Shepard, prominent woman resident active in many community affairs, occurred.

May 2 - Frank H. Hathorn purchased the A. W. Wright property on Phila street. (This is now Hathorn Hall, Skidmore College).

May 4 - The Adelphi Hotel opened for the season of 1887, with E. M. Dillon as manager.

May 4 - The thermometer registered 80 degrees in the shade.

May 5 - The death of H. P. Hall, aged 74 years, occurred.

May 9 - The Saratogian and The Saratoga Journal consolidated under the management of J. H. Worman.

May 10 - Mrs. W. H. McCaffrey purchased the one-third Interest of her sister in The Adelphi.

May 24 - Trains began running on the Mount McGregor railroad.

May 26 - The Huestis House opened for the season.

June 1, The Fitchburgh Railroad took possession of the Boston Hoosac Tunnell and Western Railroad.

By mid-June the summer season was well underway wIth the principal hotels open. The Windsor opened on June 1, followed by the Holden House on June 4; and the American Hotel on June 6; while on June 18, The United States( The Congress Hall, and Kensington Hotels opened.

June 13, The Westminster Peal four bells for the Bethesda Episcopal Church arrived.

June 14, The pastoral relations between the Rev. C. J. Young and the First Presbyterian church were dissolved.

June 15, The weather was extra ordinarily hot; thermometers registering 93 degrees in the shade.

June 21, C. F. Fish, M. M. Cohn and B J. Goldsmith leased the Flat Rock Spring, later called The Imperial Spring.

June 22, This date was especially memorable in local history; for the Society of the Army of the Potomac held its eighteenth annual reunion here. Among those present were General William Tecumseh Sherman and Lieutenant Chauncey M. Depew, subsequently United States Senator from New York. The 69th Militia of New York was also in the parade. There had been incessant rains for a few days previous to the meeting and the streets of the village were a sea of mud, which recalled to the veterans, the Army of the Potomac's Mud March of January 20, 1863. During the meeting of the society here, the poem 'The Candle Parade' by Day Wallace Bruce was composed by him and read for the first time.

In the Casino, the society held its business sessions and heard inspiring patriotic addresses by General William Tecumseh Sherman and General Daniel Sickles, who lost his leg at Gettysburg.

June 25, The Grand Union, Clarendon and Columbia Hotels opened.

July 7, George W. Langdon was appointed postmaster.

July 21, Colonel F. F. Wilder, and Mrs W. H. McCaffrey were united in marriage.

July 22, The 24th season of the races opened at the Saratoga Track.

Aug. 27, The annual garden party was held at the Grand Union Hotel.

August 31, Professional boat races were held at Saratoga Lake. A gathering of many visitors from all over marked these events. It is recalled that twelve years previous on August 24, 1875, the International Rowing Races at Saratoga Lake, took place, participated in by crews from Canada, Michigan and other Western states and from Washington, Boston. and Eastern states.