"Reminiscences of Saratoga"
compiled by Cornelius E. Durkee

Mar. 27, Thomas Leonard was appointed janitor of the Town Hall. He is the father of Dr. Arthur J. Leonard.

Apr. 1, Alexander S. Hays celebrated his 70th birthday. He is the father of Lewis H. Hays of this city.

Apr. 10, Chas. C. Wells died. Mr. Wells was proprietor of a drug store on the east side of Broadway, opposite the United States Hotel. After his death his son, Charles Wells continued the business and later moved to a store opposite Washington St. where his brother, Henry M. Wells, now conducts a drug store.

Apr. 22, Halley S. Rickard and Jane R. Spencer were married.

May 20. The American and Adelphi hotels were opened.

May 21, The meeting of the 108th Presbyterian General Assembly opened in the First Presbyterian Church.

May 30, Thomas Eldridge, who was a prominent contractor and for, a number of years was village superintendent, died, aged 69. He was born in Middlebury, Vt. end came to this village with his father, Benjamin Eldridge in 1845 or 1846.

June 3, Harry J. Olmsted and Esther L. Curtis were married.

June 15, Congress Hall Hotel opened for the season.

Aug. 6, Mrs. Zilpha Buel Hodgman celebrated her 99th birthday. Mrs. Hodgman was born in Whiting, Vt. Aug. 6, 1797, a daughter of Reuben Buel and Mary Sisco. In February, 1819, she was married to John H. Hodgman at Sudbury, Vt. and in July of the same year, they removed to Saratoga county, the journey being made on horse back. The first home of Mr. Hodgman was at Eddy's corners and later Mr. and Mrs. Hodgman removed to this village. Mr. Hodgman was a builder and erected many of the first buildings in this city. A grandson, Dr. William H. Hodgman, a well-known successful physician of the village, died July 15, 1898.

Aug. 19, The Saratoga Golf grounds were opened on Church street.

Aug. 25, The Republican State Convention met at Convention Hall. Hall.

Sept. 9, Edward B. Ashton, and Harriet M. Lohnas were united in marriage.

Sept. 16, R. H. Rogers and Sarah E. Winney were married.

Sept. 20, Arthur Dodge Seavey, a prominent early resident of the village, died, aged 65 years. Mr. Seavey was born in Brunswick, Maine in 1831. When about 18 years of age, in 1849 he started for the gold fields of California and remained In the mines for seven years, when he entered into the general merchandise business in Springfield, Calif., with Deman Vail, who later lived in Saratoga. They remained in business about three years, and came to Saratoga in 1860. Mr. Seavey told me, as I recall it, that, while in business in Springfield, they had a uniform price for goods. A pound of sugar was $1; a pound of nails was $1; everything was $1 a pound or more.

Shortly after his arrival here, he married the only daughter of James Carrigan and they had one son, who married a daughter of H. S. Clement and who is living in New York at the present time.

Together with Willis Hurlburt and Deman Vail, he established a rolling mill, Iron works, nut and bolt factory at The Geysers. The business was conducted through the war and until 1870.