Waterford, New York History

09/10/2026

Another offering from the Waterford Museum.

09/04/2026

The Saratoga County History Center at Brookside Museum hosted a walk in Waterford on Wednesday. We traced the paths of many well-known and some unknown Revolutionary War-era personalities. We followed the "Great Road" area from the vicinity of the Van Schiack Mansion to the Tavern Districts of the Water Ford and Halfmoon. The walk was led by Town of Waterford Historian Russ VanDervoort

09/02/2026

08/26/2026

WATERFORD TUG BOAT ROUNUP ANNOUNCES SCHEDULE FOR 2026 TUG TALKS!

Love talking tugboats? Well take it from team TBR...our "Tug Talks" have a terrific tendency to tantalize and treat tons of tug traditionalists and tourists who take the time for the tiny trek to attend!
Saturday - 9/12
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM (Peebles Island): “New York’s 1976 Bicentennial Barge – A Retrospective” a moderated panel featuring Bicentennial Barge Project Director Phil Johnson. This moderated panel discussion about the trip of a large barge built by New York State to showcase New York State's history in conjunction with the 1976 bicentennial celebration. The barge traveled throughout New York State on the inland waterways including the NYS Canal and hosted nearly 1 million visitors.
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM (Peebles Island): “2026 TOTY Showcase - The History of the Shoofly Pie” by N.D. Austin. The owner of the Tug of the Year will give a talk about the boat's - ahem - colorful history. Please note... no recording or live streaming of this talk! (And all children must be accompanied by an adult.)
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (Peebles Island): “It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s…A Barge? Rescuing Imperiled Logistical Challenges using America's Original Superhighway – Ship By Canal!” by New York State Marine Highway. Rob Goldman and Steven Hayes of NYS Marine Highway will talk about two projects in 2026 which could only be completed by using the NYS Canal System.
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM (Peebles Island): “The Last Trip of the J.W. Lee – A Canal Boat Working from Whitehall to Albany goes over a dam
Waterford historian Russ VanDervoort tells the tale of an ill-fated canal boat trip from Whitehall to Albany interrupted when the barge goes over a dam in Waterford. A three-day rescue and reclaim meets with some success...and setbacks.
Sunday, September 13th
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM (Peebles Island): “Revolutionary New York & the Erie Canal” by Brad Utter. New York State Museum's Senior Historian and Curator of Science and Technological History Brad Utter gives a talk on a chapter he co-authored in the book Revolutionary New York by Bruce Dearstyne.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM (Peebles Island): “When Steam Whistles Sang: 1988’s Live Steam Voices – A Canallers Retrospective” led by Capt. Steven R. Wunder and Tom Prindle. Though recording devices have not specifically been banned from this talk, there may have to be some deleting depending on where things go. See less

07/09/2026

Upcoming Historical Walks. Waterford's is on September 2nd, hosted by the Saratoga County History Center and the Waterford Museum and Cultural Center.

SCHC News Account

History Center Schedules Five 2026 Walking Tours

Ballston Spa, NY — The Saratoga County History Center at Brookside Museum has announced its popular county-wide walking tour program for the 2026 season. “Our historical walking tours are back and better than ever for 2026!” Says SCHC’s Executive Director, Dr. Anne Hollmuller. “This year, we are delighted to feature two new guides and to offer a special woodland walking tour through Luther Forest. This year’s selection is not to be missed! These 90-minute tours will be held from July through September.

Anchor Diamond Park. Wednesday, July 22, at 10am. Ballston Town Historian Rick Reynolds will lead an historic walking tour of Anchor Diamond Park at the corner of Rt 50 and Middleline Road. The tour will visit the homesites and properties of several of Ballston’s prominent early settlers during a two-mile walk along flat trails.

Dunning Street Cemetery Tour. Wednesday, August 19, at 10 a.m., Malta town historian Tom Williams will lead a walk through Dunning Street Cemetery, visiting the gravesites of Revolutionary veterans and early residents of Malta. This event forms part of our Spotlight on Malta History series.

Waterford Revolutionary War Tour. Wednesday, September 2, at 10 a.m., longtime Waterford Town Historian Russ VanDervoort will lead this walk through Waterford Revolutionary War history. The tour begins at the Visitors Center on Peebles Island, the staging point for American troops during the War, including the Breastworks designed by Tadeusz Kosciuszko. Crossing the bridge into Waterford, we will visit the sites of Revolutionary War taverns and the route of the General Knox Artillery Train.

A Walk Through Luther Forest. Thursday, September 17, at 4 pm, Michael Gaige, an ecologist and Saratoga County native, will lead a tour of the 100 Acre Wood Trail System in Malta, New York. Together, we will explore this publicly accessible trail on the Luther Forest Technology Campus and gain an appreciation for the natural world around us. This event forms part of our Spotlight on Malta History series and coincides with our ongoing temporary exhibition, Luther Forest: A Family, A Woodland, A Legacy.

Heart of Dublin Tour. Wednesday, September 30, at 1 p.m., Mary Ann Fitzgerald, retired Saratoga Springs City Historian and co-founder of the West Side Oral Narrative Project, will lead this journey back in time. The tour will begin at the Putnam Burial Ground on South Franklin Street, then go over to Grand Avenue for traces of the early Irish Community, including family businesses, fraternal organizations, and festivals that radiate out from the intersection of Beekman & Oak Street in the heart of Dublin. For further information, contact(www.brooksidemuseum.org)

06/24/2026

Haunted History in Saratoga County!

This summer, dare to step out of the sunshine and into the shadows of one of Saratoga’s most legendary landmarks.
Our Summer Ghost Tours of the Canfield Casino return July 1 through August 31, inviting guests to explore the haunted history, eerie stories, and mysterious legends of the historic Canfield Casino.
Once the glittering heart of Saratoga’s Gilded Age social scene, the Casino has long been home to stories that refuse to rest, from unexplained sounds and strange sensations to ghostly sightings and chilling encounters. The building has even drawn national attention, including a visit from SYFY’s Ghost Hunters, adding to its reputation as one of Saratoga’s most fascinating haunted landmarks.
Led by museum storytellers, this 90-minute tour blends real Saratoga history with spine-tingling tales, making it the perfect summer outing for history lovers, ghost story fans, curious visitors, and brave souls of all ages.
Tour Dates: July 1 – August 31 Days: Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays Time: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM Location: Canfield Casino, Congress Park

06/19/2026

Life was a bit different for Waterford men during WWI.

The Anti-Loafing Law was passed in New York State in 1918, less than a year after the US entered WW I. Maryland and New Jersey led the way, and we were next. I found it fascinating that in a democracy, the law could require all men between the ages of 18 and 50 to be “habitually and regularly engaged in some lawful, useful, and recognized business, profession, occupation, trade, or employment until the termination of the war.” If a man didn’t have a job, a local authority was assigned to choose one for him. And no one could turn down a job because of the level of pay. Every man must work. It was the law.
“Useful” work had its implications as well. Already, by orders of the US General Provost, Enoch Crowder, men between the ages of 21 and 30 were “not permitted to be elevator conductors, club porters, waiters, pool room attendants, lifeguards at summer resorts, valets, butlers, footmen, chefs, janitors, or ushers in amusement places. Men of that age were needed for war.
New York’s government, indicating there would be few exceptions to the new law, fed the media a wonderful sound bite taken directly from the text: “Loitering in the streets, saloons, depots, pool rooms, hotels, stores, and other places is considered prima facie evidence of violation of the act, punishable by a fine of $100 or imprisonment for three months, or both.” Still not clear enough? Charles Whitman, governor of New York, chimed in: “The purpose … is to force every able-bodied male person within the State to do his share toward remedying the conditions due to the present shortage of labor.” By signing the law after New Jersey passed theirs, Whitman had a handy reason: if we didn’t pass our own law, men from New Jersey would flood across the border into New York State to avoid being forced to either work or fight.