Saratoga National Park

New Facilities Manager For Saratoga National Park

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Superintendent Joe Finan has selected National Park Service civil engineer Jason Huart as the new Facilities Manager for Saratoga National Historical Park (the Battlefield). In his new position, Huart will manage the cultural landscape, historic structures and park facilities at the Battlefield, Schuyler House, Saratoga Monument and Victory Woods.

“John has extensive knowledge in asset management in the National Park Service,” Finan said in a prepared statement. “His background will enhance the parks ability to secure funds for stewardship of the parks varied cultural and natural resources. “

Huart comes to Saratoga NHP from the Alaska region of the National Park Service. There he served as a contracting officer representative for multi-million dollar construction projects and performed inspections. He oversaw the Asset Management Program which includes training staff in the use of multiple software systems and providing technical assistance to parks seeking internal grants through project management software systems. He also developed strategic maintenance and budget plans for the Alaska Region.

Huart has a Master’s of Science Degree from Michigan Technological University and a Bachelor’s in Engineering. Prior to his work with the National Park Service, Huart worked for the Peace Corps in Honduras as a water and sanitation engineer and worked in the construction field during college. He enjoys hunting, fishing, skiing, camping and loves being on the water.

Saratoga National Historical Park was established in 1938 to preserve the historic setting of the American victory and surrender of the British Army in 1777. The park includes thousands of acres of open space in four separate units along the Hudson River. Saratoga National Historical Park is one of 394 national parks in the United States.

Free August Music Series at Saratoga Battlefield

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The race track in Saratoga Springs may be quiet on Tuesdays, but Saratoga Battlefield will be alive with music. Friends of Saratoga Battlefield will sponsor four free lunchtime concerts at Saratoga National Historical Park’s visitor center located on Route 32 and 4 in Stillwater. Bring a lunch and listen to a different program each week: folk, classical and martial music.

August 2­ Rich Bala &#8211 Find out how waterways and canals shaped New York’s history from colonial times to the end of the 19th century on a musical tour by acclaimed folk singer Rich Bala.

August 9­ Elizabeth Huntley &#8211 How much more elegant can things get? Sublime music of the 18th century performed on the harp, sublime views of the Saratoga Battlefield from the Visitor Center lawn. Enjoy classical pieces played upon the Queen of Instruments performed by harpist Elizabeth Huntley.

August 16­ Dave Ruch &#8211 Dave Ruch presents Traditional and Historical Songs of New York. Lively presentations of songs and ditties from all corners of the Empire State. These are the songs of real-life &#8220Yorkers&#8221 from the past &#8211 farmers, lumbermen, immigrants, children,Native Americans, canallers, lake sailors and more &#8211 collected through considerable research, and interpreted for all to enjoy with banjo, guitar, mandolin, bones, spoons and more. (This Speakers in the Humanities event is made possible by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the New York State Legislature.)

August 23­ Fort Ticonderoga Fife and Drum Corps &#8211 Martial music at its best. The Fort Ticonderoga Fife and Drum Corps performs tunes that may have wafted over the landscape mingled with the gun smoke during the Battles of Saratoga.

Saratoga National Historical Park offers a variety of programs. For additional information call (518) 664-9821 ext. 224 or visit www.nps.gov/sara

Photo: Fort Ticonderoga Fife & Drum Corps (Provided).

Guided Hikes. Bike Rides at Saratoga Battlefield

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Visitors to the Saratoga Battlefield can join one, or all of a series of free guided walks or bike tours this summer. The bike rides will typically cover approximately 5 miles on each of four Wednesday evenings during the summer – July 6 and 20,and August 3 and 17, from 6 PM to 8 PM. Hike participants should be able to walk at least two miles over uneven ground- hikers should meet at the Visitor Center at 9 am, and bring insect repellent and drinking water.

The hikes are free, but entrance to the Battlefield is $5 per car, or a one-year pass is available for $10. The bicycle tours are free, and take place in the evenings, so no entrance fees are involved.

Hike Tour Dates

Wednesday, July 6th, 9:00 AM: “Why Saratoga?”
Why did the American forces choose to stand and fight here?

Wednesday, July 13th, 9:00 AM: “The First Battle”
The Battle of Freeman’s Farm, September 19, 1777

Wednesday, July 20th, 9:00 AM: “The Second Battle”
The Battle of Bemis Heights, October 7, 1777

Friday, August 5th, 9:00 AM: “Why Saratoga?”
Why did the American forces choose to stand and fight here?

Friday, August 12th, 9:00 AM: “The First Battle”
The Battle of Freeman’s Farm, September 19, 1777

Friday, August 26th, 9:00 AM: “The Second Battle”
The Battle of Bemis Heights, October 7, 1777

For more information about these or other events, please call the Visitor Center at 518-664-9821 ext. 225 or check the park’s website.

Photo: Guided Bicycle Tour at Saratoga National Historical Park (Photo: Saratoga National Historical Park)

Saratoga Battlefield New Exhibits, Audio Tour

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Saratoga National Historical Park, located on Route 32 and 4 in Stillwater, has opened a new exhibit called “They Had No Choice: Animals Exploited and Appreciated in the Revolutionary War” plus is also offering a free, downloadable iPod/MP3 narrated tour program of the “Wilkinson Trail” which is available on the park’s website.

The Animal in War exhibit, to be displayed for one year, features historical images, artifacts, contemporary artwork and original accounts depicting the multi-faceted roles played by horses, oxen, cattle, dogs and many other animals during the Battles of Saratoga and the Revolutionary War. It also reminds us that animals still play a vital role in modern conflicts as well. Park Ranger Joe Craig notes, “No army of the time could have functioned without using many different animals for transportation,
food and clothing. It wasn’t their conflict &#8211 but it became their fate.”

The new Wilkinson Trail iPod / MP3 narrated tour program features male and female actor’s voices describing personal experiences during the Battles of Saratoga. Visitors can listen to the program (on their own device) as they walk the scenic 4.2 mile trail. The free, downloadable file is available online.

For more information about these new offerings or other programs at Saratoga National Historical Park, please call the visitor center at 518-664-9821 ext. 224 or check their website.

Illustration: &#8220Colonel Knox Bringing the Cannons from Fort Ticonderoga to the Siege of Boston&#8221 by John Ward Dunsmore. Courtesy Fraunces Tavern Museum.

CANCELLED: Burgoyne’s Gold, A Murder Mystery Event

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On Saturday, April 9 from 7pm to 9pm in Saratoga Town Hall on Spring Street (Rte 29) in Schuylerville, “Burgoyne’s Gold – A Murder Mystery” set in an 18th-century candle-lit “tavern,” with light refreshments, merriment, mystery, and murder. Tickets cost $17.77 with all proceeds benefiting the Friends of Saratoga Battlefield.

Shortly after the American victory in the Battles of Saratoga people are searching for the rumored fortune in gold that British General John Burgoyne buried before his surrender in 1777. Participants will be asked to put on their detective caps for an evening of unique entertainment by blending the lore of British General John Burgoyne’s hidden gold with portrayals of local historical figures, stirring in fictional characters and adding a dash of “homicide.”

Written by O’Connor’s Murder by Design, Diane and Steven O’Connor have produced interactive murder mystery fundraisers since 1989, raising over $200,000 for local non-profits.

Light refreshments using 18th-century recipes include meat and vegetable pasties made by BOCES Culinary School and cookies made by Doris Olszewski, plus tea, coffee and apple cider. For more information about the event call 664.9821 ext. 227.

Reservations must be made in advance by emailing megan [email protected] or calling 518.664.9821 ext 219. Sorry, no walk-ins allowed.

Saratoga National Historical Park and the Friends of Saratoga Battlefield work together to foster awareness, enjoyment and preservation of Saratoga Battlefield.

Womens Art History Program at Saratoga Battlefield

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In recognition of Women’s History Month, Saratoga National Historical Park will offer a free public program on Sunday, March 13 at 1:30pm in the visitor center, in which Park Ranger Eric Schnitzer will explore examples of artwork made by 18th century European women painters and pastellists.

Commonly heard are the famous names of European or American artists of the 18th century, such as Thomas Gainsborough and Jonathan Trumbull. But women artists of the period, equally talented and prolific, have been traditionally ignored. Ranger Schnitzer will showcase a variety of 18th century women artists, show images of their artworks, and provide short sketches about the amazing women who created them. These artworks have been rarely seen since being created over 200 years ago.

Saratoga National Historical Park is located between Rt. 4 and Rt. 32 in the Town of Stillwater, NY. For more information, please contact the visitor center by calling 518-664-9821 ext. 224 or check their website at www.nps.gov/sara

Illustration: Mary Blood Mellen (1817-1882) &#8220Field Beach, c1850s&#8221 Oil on canvas on board, 24 x 33 15/16 in. Cape Ann Museum, Gift of Jean Stanley Dise, 1970.2019-2. Courtesy Thomas Cole National Historic Site.

Saratoga National Historical Park Seeks Volunteers

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Saratoga National Historical Park is preparing for the 2011 season and is looking for enthusiastic and dedicated individuals to assist as Volunteers in Parks (VIPs) in several areas. As a volunteer at Saratoga Battlefield you will receive training and a uniform, plus you’ll get to work in a beautiful environment with knowledgeable and friendly rangers.

Time requirements vary by position (they are listed below) and are arranged to work with the volunteer’s schedule. For more information, please call the Saratoga National Historical Park volunteer coordinator at 518-664-9821 ext. 225.

Schuyler House Guides – provide 35-minute guided tours of historic Philip Schuyler House in Schuylerville, NY. Six positions available.

Visitor Information Specialists – greet visitors and provide basic site orientation to the battlefield. Three positions available.

Battlefield Interpreters – stationed at Neilson House to provide historical information to visitors touring the battlefield. Six to eight positions available.

Bookstore Sales Associate – assisting visitors with suggestions for book or gift purchases, operating computer-based sales system. Three positions available.

Musket Corps – participate in living history programs through demonstrations of 18th century soldiers’ musket drilling, firing, marching and maneuvering. Eight positions available.

Special Event Volunteers – help during large events with needs such as parking, greeting and orienting visitors, handing out information and crowd control. Six to eight positions available.

Exhibit: Black Patriots at the Battles of Saratoga

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In recognition of Black History Month, Saratoga National Historical Park will offer a temporary exhibit from February 1 through February 28 called “Agrippa Hull – Ordinary Soldier, Extraordinary Man” and on Sunday, February 13 at 1:30pm in the visitor center, Ranger Eric Schnitzer will present a special program about black soldiers at Saratoga.

In the American Revolution, about 5 percent of the Continental Soldiers were of African descent. They fought shoulder to shoulder with white soldiers—but an integrated army would not occur again until the Korean War. That’s just scratching the surface of the information to be presented by Park Ranger Eric Schnitzer as he discusses evidence from memoirs, journals, muster rolls, and pay lists that documents
the roles of free and enslaved African Americans who fought in “the most important battle of the last 1000 years.”

Agrippa Hull, a black Revolutionary War soldier who served in the 1777 Battles of Saratoga, is the focus of a special exhibit titled “Agrippa Hull: ordinary soldier, extraordinary man.” Copies of Hull’s 1777 company muster roll, pension claims, portrait, and photographs of him and his wife Peggy will be on display in the visitor center in February.

Saratoga National Historical Park is located between Rt. 4 and Rt. 32 in the Town of Stillwater, NY. For more information, please contact the visitor center by calling 518-664-9821 ext. 224 or check their website.

Illustration: Portrait of Agrippa Hull, a freeborn black man and Revolutionary War veteran who lived in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. The portrait hangs in the historical room of the town library. Hull was 85 years old when his image was captured. Painted in oil in 1848 by an unknown artist, the portrait is a copy of a daguerreotype done by Anson Clark in 1844. Image courtesy Stockbridge Library Association Historical Collection.

Junior Ranger Day at Saratoga Battlefield

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Saratoga National Historical Park, located on Routes 32 and 4 in Stillwater, invites kids between 5 and 12 years old to a special Junior Ranger Day on Sunday, February 20 from 1pm to 4pm. Kids get to enjoy fun indoor activities, earn a badge and win a gift! The program is free, but reservations are required by calling Ranger Megan Stevens at (518) 664-9821 ext. 219 or emailing her at [email protected] by February 12.

1:00pm “Now and Then” for ages 5 through 8
You get to carry a book bag for your schoolwork… and a soldier needed a haversack to carry things to stay alive! See what different things a soldier would need and then watch, “The Hessians are Coming” – an episode from the award winning PBS series “Liberty’s Kids” to find out about Saratoga’s key role in winning American independence.

2:00pm “A Soldiers Life” for ages 8 through 12
You can tell a lot from a uniform! Why wear bright red? Would you want to wear a hat that makes you look 7 feet tall? Try one on, then watch, “Benedict Arnold” – an episode of the PBS series “Liberty’s Kids” that explores the life of Benedict Arnold, a hero at Saratoga who turned into one of the world’s most notorious traitors.

3:00pm “Who’s Protecting Our Parks?” for ages 5 and up
Kids will have the opportunity to volunteer to dress up and pose for pictures as they learn about the roles individuals have in protecting America’s National Parks. Then see “The Hessians are Coming” an episode from the PBS Series “Liberty’s Kids” that tells how important the battles of Saratoga were to our country’s founding.

Saratoga National Historical Park offers programs about our shared cultural and natural heritage. For further information, please visit our web site at www.nps.gov/sara or call (518) 664-9821 ext.
224.

Saratoga Battlefields 16th Annual Frost Faire

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The 16th annual Frost Faire will be held from 10:30am to 3pm on Saturday, January 22 at Saratoga National Historical Park, located on Routes 4 and 32 in Stillwater. Bring your snow tube for rides on the “Big Hill” (only snow tubes allowed- no sleds or toboggans) and enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides, winter nature treks, Contra Dancing, special exhibits, games (including Giant Soldier Puzzle, Ice Bowling and Bottle Fishing), plus cocoa and cookies by the bonfire. The event is free.

Popular in the 1700s, a “Frost Faire” eased the effects of “cabin fever” with opportunities to visit friends and enjoy winter activities, refreshments and entertainment.

Ongoing activities in the Visitor Center include contradancing, colonial
handwriting demonstration, children’s craft room including decorative tin piercing
and copper embossing, Stillwater town historian’s exhibit.

Cannon firing demonstrations are scheduled for 10 AM, 11 AM, 12
noon, 1 PM, 2 PM, and 3 PM- musket firing demonstrations at 10:30 AM, 11:30
AM, 12:30 AM, 1:30 PM, and 2:30 PM.

This event is sponsored by the Town of Stillwater and Saratoga National Historical Park. For more information on this or other events at Saratoga National Historical Park, please call the Visitor Center at 518-664-9821 ext. 224 or check their website at www.nps.gov/sara.

Illustration: Frost Fair on the frozen Thames River, engraving from Old and New London: The City Ancient and Modern by Walter Thornbury, 1897.