Minnie Clark Bolster has collected thousands of pieces of historic memorabilia related to the city which she has called home for nearly a century. A new book, “Elegant and Fashionable as Seen Through the Eyes of Artists and the Words of Writers, 1787-1847,” depicts local life and architecture in prints and text, and was inspired by the research initially conducted by her friend, the late Sonia Taub. The 102-page publication features over 40 engravings, woodcuts and lithographs, many of which are extremely rare. Proceeds from the sale of the book, which is $24.95, benefits the Saratoga Springs History Museum. The museum, located in the Canfield Casino in Congress Park, will host a book signing and reception with Minnie Bolster at 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 8. The event is free and open to the public.
Who: Minnie Bolster.
Where: At home in Saratoga Springs.
- Tell us about the new book.
- Well, if you call this mine, this would be the fourth one. I just had to do this, to save it from the wastebasket, because I knew what it was. From cover-to-back it is a history of our city from 1787 to 1847. Everything you ever wanted to know about our city, in prints.
- When were you born?
- In 1920. I graduated high school in 1938. I’ll be 97 in a couple of months.
- Is there one era of Saratoga you prefer over another?
- I just love Saratoga. Period.
- What’s the biggest change in the city?
- You can’t find your way down to Broadway with all the buildings, haha. But, that doesn’t bother me.
- What was Saratoga Springs like when you were growing up?
- Everything was so calm and wonderful. The neighborhood kids playing ball in the street. The circus came to town every year. In the ‘50s it got kind of drab because a lot of the stores on Broadway started closing up, but it was just an amazing place to live and to grow up. You never wanted to leave it. I still don’t. We had so much going on. I remember when company would come over from out of town we would give them the tour, and my God, it went on forever. North Broadway. Union Avenue. Yaddo. it just went on and on. And those are all still there.
- Did you go to the racecourse often?
- I started going to the racetrack on my birthday in 1938. I bet two bucks. And every year on my birthday I would win the Daily Double! It was funny because the people who knew me would follow me around on my birthday. I had no rhyme or reason to bet, except that I had two dollars and I liked the colors and the horses’ names. I saw a lot of the big horses. Whirlaway was one. Native Dancer was another.
- You have a book signing coming up on June 8. What’s next?
- I think I’ve got another book in me. Why not? I’ll only be 97.
