"Reminiscences of Saratoga"
compiled by Cornelius E. Durkee

Sept. 6, E. B. Robbins was trade principal of the High School.

Sept. 6. Six nurses graduated from the Saratoga Hospital Training School for Nurses.

Sept. 12, William H. Gibbs, who was born in the town of Greenfield in 1835, and came to Saratoga when a young man, died. He was engaged in the feed business in which he was successful for many years.

Sept. 20, The Supreme Council of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Masons of the northern jurisdiction met here.

Sept. 22, The Rev. Father Patrick H. McLaughlin, who was transferred to a pastorate at Dolgeville, was given a farewell at St. Peter's Sunday School rooms.

Sept. 26. It was reported that 15,000 had visited the casino at the teas during the summer.

Oct. 16, John C. Schwarte, a well-known tailor, making his home here since 1868, died.

Oct.17, The tenth annual meeting of the New York State Branch of the International Brotherhood of Kings Daughters and Sons met here.

Nov. 23, The fiftieth anniversary of the muster in of the Seventy-Seventh New York Regiment was celebrated at Grand Army Hall.

To this year, the state appropriated $350,000 for the state reservation.

In September Mrs, Joseph Wood state regent of the Daughters of the American Revolution was a guest of the local Chapter at its birthday dinner.

The death of Edward P. North, a civil engineer who stood high in his profession, for many years in New York City occurred in 1911. He was the son of Dr. Miles L. North who was one of the oldest Inhabitants of Saratoga and a very prominent physician here. He lived on Broadway, next door south of the present Adirondack Trust Co.

The Italian Turkish War begain in this year, and attracted the interest of Saratogians.

Once more, China was the scene of devastating floods with a loss of 100,000 lives by drowning.

The south pole was discovered on Dec. 14 by Capt. Ronald Amundsen and Saratogians took recognition of the fact by reading articles of the discovery before the various organization meetings.

The Triangle Shirt Waste factory fire which took a toll of 148 lives, occasioned a feeling of horror among Saratogians.

Note

With this year's record, I will complete my chronological reminiscences of the history of Saratoga and at the request of many friends and readers of the Saratogian which have been brought to my attention, will continue other reminiscences in the form of sketches of old times in Saratoga. These will be drawn largely from my remembrance of those times.

The chronological history of the community is ably continued in the Saratogian's Column, many will find, under the caption "Looking Backward". This records the events of 15 years ago and begins where I am leaving off with the year 1912.

Gideon Putnam

The early history of Saratoga Springs would not be complete without mention of Gideon Putnam and Benjamin Risley, pioneers here.

In 1790 Benjamin Risley and his two sons-in-law, Gideon Putnam, and Dr. Clement Blakesley, came to settle in Saratoga Springs. Gideon Putnam was destined to become the founder of modern Saratoga. Benjamin Risley was a prominent citizen of Hartford, Conn. and a man of considerable wealth for those days. In 1790 upon coming to Saratoga Springs, Mr. Risley bought of Catherine Van Dam and others several lots of land on the north side of Rock street between Catherine and Front (now Maple avenue) streets, where he built a tavern afterward kept by Thaddeus Smith.