The Saratoga Springs City Center will set the stage for the 2013 Spirit of Preservation Celebration on Friday, May 17th at 6pm. The Spirit of Preservation Celebration honors organizations or individuals, who through their vision and dedication, fostered historic preservation in Saratoga Springs and contributed to the overall quality of life in our City.
This year, the George S. Bolster Collection of the Saratoga Springs History Museum will be recognized for its contributions to preserving the rich architecture and history of Saratoga Springs. Through collecting images of notable early photographers, George Bolster left an invaluable resource of 325,000 images, including his own, to the community. These photographs have been used to supplement many writings on the history of the City and have provided the basis for many building restorations. The collection has preserved thousands of images of places that are now lost and still remain, documenting Saratoga Springs’ development for future generations.
Mark Straus will be honored for his 40-year commitment to the stewardship of Saratoga Springs’ historic buildings. In the early 1970s, his goal was to breathe new life into the struggling downtown by creating an exciting streetscape to draw residents and visitors to shop locally-owned businesses, including his own retail shop, Mabou. Through solid rehabilitation and business principles he preserved a key shopping block at the center of Broadway, including the Downstreet Market Place and portions of the iconic Ainsworth Building. In addition, Mr. Straus was instrumental in helping to purchase and complete the first rehabilitation of the York Avenue Waldorf School building. Over the years, he has updated, renovated, and adaptively reused spaces to ensure the survival of some of Saratoga Spring’s architectural gems. As he moves slowly towards retirement, he intends to find buyers for his properties who will have the same sense of stewardship.
Tickets to the 2013 Spirit of Preservation Celebration at the Saratoga Springs City Center, are now available. Tickets are $55 for SSPF members/$65 non-members or $40 for those 40 years or under. Call 518-587-5030 to reserve your ticket today or purchase your ticket at the Foundation’s online store: www.saratogapreservation.org. The evening will feature a cocktail reception against the backdrop of historic buildings on Broadway, as well as catering provided by Kim Kloptock’s The Lily & The Rose. The celebration will also include an awards ceremony for the honorees, presented by speakers Julia Stokes and David Marcell.
Founded in 1977, the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that promotes preservation and enhancement of the architectural, cultural, and landscaped heritage of Saratoga Springs.