Part 13 (1/2)
[Ill.u.s.tration: DRAWING ROOM GRAND UNION.]
The entire length of BROADWAY is a magnificent drive and affords an interesting and picturesque ride of some five minutes.
About a mile north of Congress Hall the half-mile track and handsome grounds of Glen Mitchel are located. The Saratoga County Agricultural Society have their buildings here. The track is open to all who wish, both pedestrians and carriages. At the base of a steep bluff, shaded with numerous trees, and directly facing the race-track, is the Glen Mitchel hotel. The grounds are maintained at great expense by the proprietors of the hotel, and when this and the short season of patronage is regarded, the prices for ordinary refreshments will not be considered as extraordinary as they might otherwise seem. The drive may be extended by turning to the east and driving round a small lake--Excelsior--and past the water-works, returning by Spring Avenue.
THE WALK THROUGH THE WOODS TO EXCELSIOR SPRING is by far the most beautiful in Saratoga. To reach the grove, pedestrians and carriages will pa.s.s along Lake Avenue a little past Circular street, when a small sign will be found pointing the way to the ”Walk to Excelsior Spring.” No tourist should fail to visit this place. A pleasant hour may be spent in the woods, after a stroll through which, the delicious water of the Excelsior will be refres.h.i.+ng indeed.
Congress Park
Is the gem of Saratoga. It consists of a small hill in the shape of a horseshoe, covered with handsome trees, and laid out in smooth walks encircling the low ground which surrounds the spring. The park is the property of the Congress and Empire Spring Co., who generously keep it in perfect repair, and open to the public.
[Ill.u.s.tration: UNION HOTEL AND GROUNDS.]
Gridley's Trout Ponds.
Those who are fond of ”speckled beauties,” and would like to obtain a fine mess without encountering the swarms of mosquitoes, gnats and sand flies that usually infest the region where the trout may be taken, should visit Gridley's. ”Old Gridley,” as he is familiarly called, formerly kept the Pavilion, near the depot. Some three or four years since he conceived the idea of starting a fish propagating establishment. His place is located in a beautiful little ravine, about one mile and a half from Congress Spring and just beyond the race-course. There may be seen myriads of speckled trout in a succession of small ponds situated along down the ravine, one below the other, supplied with water of the brilliancy of a crystal, gus.h.i.+ng from the banks. It is a well known fact that the chief reason for this species of fish being so scarce, is because of their devouring each other, or, in other words, ”big fish eating up little fish.” Hence, Mr. Gridley, as well as other propagators, is obliged to separate them as to age and size--one-year olds in one pond, two-year olds in another, and so on down.
Visitors are very cordially received by Mr. G., and provided with fis.h.i.+ng tackle, etc--and sometimes a bottle of Rhine wine gratis--and are duly informed that his prices are $1 per pound--that is, for every pound of fish caught, visitors can pay $1. The fish may be seen tantalizingly sporting and jumping out of the water two or three thousand at a time. For any one who contemplates indulging in the sport, and is willing to pay for it, this is the place to come.
The Saratoga Battle Ground.
A visit to the scene of the great battle of Saratoga, in October, 1777, which ended in the surrender of the British Army, under Burgoyne, to the Americans, under Gates, will occupy a pleasant though somewhat long day's excursion. The battle was fought upon the elevated lands at Bemis Heights two miles from the Hudson, in the town of Stillwater, about 15 miles from Saratoga Springs.
[Ill.u.s.tration: ”SET UP A CENT”--INDIAN CAMP.]
Visitors may obtain all desired information respecting the precise localities of the struggle from Cicerones on the spot.
The Surrender Ground,
The scene of the capitulation a few weeks subsequent to the battle, is a few miles further up the river.
The Village Cemetery,
In places that can boast but few objects of interest, is usually one of the chief places of resort. In Saratoga there are so many ”show places” and peculiar attractions, that the cemetery visitors are limited princ.i.p.ally to the resident population, and those who arm in arm, or hand in hand, stroll through its meandering paths, or while away their hours in its shady seats nurturing the tender pa.s.sion.