Final Stroll of the SSPF Autumn Season, “Historic West Side”

On Sunday, October 19 at 10:30 AM, join George Demers for the Foundation’s final Autumn Sunday Stroll offering, “Historic West Side”. 

This stroll will be centered around the culturally rich history of the West Side region of Saratoga Springs. Historically, the West Side was home to the African American and immigrant communities in the city. The success and survival of the West Side can be attributed to the African American, Irish, and Italian owned businesses which existed there.

 The mid-twentieth century in the U.S was largely characterized by American’s “…fascination with the modern.” The economic restrictions that came with World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II caused cities to suffer in terms of their infrastructure. The Urban Renewal Movement arose to combat these issues, and the movement is historically noted to have begun with the passing of the 1954 Housing Act. In 1962, Saratoga Springs appointed the members of its Urban Renewal Board and began working on “…acquiring properties, relocating residents, contracting for demolition… and re-parceling the land for sale.” The two primary goals of this movement were to develop the economy of Saratoga Springs, as well as to revitalize the city’s Downtown area. The Urban Renewal Board was ultimately successful in achieving their goals during their 24 years of operation. While this movement greatly revitalized Saratoga Springs in terms of its economy and infrastructure, the movement had negative consequences for the minority populations living in the city.

 The Foundation is especially grateful for the generous support of the 2025 Autumn Series Sponsor: The Market Bar and Café at Franklin Square Market.

All Sunday morning tours last approximately 90 minutes and require walking and standing on varied terrain. Tours will be limited to thirty and tickets must be purchased in advance. The cost per tour is $15 for SSPF members and $20 for non-members. For additional information on the Autumn Sunday Strolls or to purchase tickets visit www.saratogapreservation.org, call (518) 587-5030, or email Dianne Winter, Development Director, at dwinter@saratogapreservation.org