When the horses make their end of summer exit, animals of year-round residency cooly mix it up a bit, quelling our equine overload of the senses. Situated south of the Adirondack Mountains, the Iroquois considered Saratoga a fertile hunting ground. Water is in abundance in this area, with 17 springs in a 10 mile radius. Water is the fuel for life, thus, attracting plants and animals to this area, making it a virtual living chef salad for the Iroquois.
Adirondack is what the Iroquois named the natives living in the mountain range, and it means "Bark Eaters." I guess the tribes in the Adirondacks, (one of the oldest mountain regions on the planet) http://www.adirondack-park.net/history/geological.html, dealt with harsh winter months with little food, resorting to eating boiled bark. I also guess that boiling the bark softens it up, making it easier to digest.
Saratoga Springs is currently overrun by two species. Squirrels and rabbits. Rabbits are a newer trend, due to overgrowth of suburbia. Squirrels dominate the scene, and the roadkill is keeping Poe's raven crow's ancestors in business. I found a little ditty about Poe's "Raven" and Saratoga Springs, though I think the boy helping him with "Nevermore" at the trout ponds is a bit fishy. Yaddo used to be the Barhyte's property and they had a tavern that Poe stayed at. Barhytes served a German Mustard that is a family recipe available to this day. http://barhyte.com There are stories of many famous people that stopped in, one popular story though, is "Mrs. Barhyte and the Bear," where she fended off a bear from ransacking the tavern. The Trask's famously owned the land later on, and the Barhytes are actually still there, (so are the Trasks) buried on the grounds.
^from this (with a Dehn's ad for ya!) v
The bronze lions on the steps of City Hall in Saratoga Springs are iconic to Saratoga, more than any statue of a horse could ever be. In 1871, City Hall opened with the lion statues guarding the entrances. In 1936, during renovations of City Hall, the lions were moved, one to the East Side Rec. Park, and one to the West Side Rec. Park respectively.
In 2008, the lions returned, where they remain today.
In Congress Park, at the Canfield Casino Clubhouse, sits 4 dog statues. The building was built in 1870 by an undefeated heavyweight champion bare knuckle boxer turned NY Congressman named John Morrissey. Richard Canfield bought it in 1894, renaming it the Casino, and renovated it to beyond it's lavish production you can visit and view today. There were 4 pewter dogs guarding the entrances, that can be seen in drawings of the building from the late 1800's. Two dogs were stolen, early 1900's and now, concrete reproductions of them rests out front of the club.
I found an old photo of a time when deer were freely roaming the park...
Deer Park Spring on the south end of Congress Park is named after the old lodge.
One unescapable animal in Saratoga Springs are the ducks. The ducks rule Saratoga, whether we like it or not. I remember the State coming down on the City a few years ago over some quackery about moving them. They are a well fed bunch, there are local fowl <-haha! rumors of an old joint Lum's or other chinese joints around town cooking them up, don't know if any were true. Canadian geese migrate to Loughberry Lake every year, and I'm surprised the Congress ducks haven't migrated over there yet.
The ducks recently barged the CVS up the hill, asserting their presence in this town, on national news, http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/50-duck-flock-invade-store-20703586
and on various social media sites...
One last story, where Price Chopper is on Rt. 50, there used to be an ostrich farm, that was a summer branch for a Florida farmer. An ostrich named Oliver W reportedly beat a horse in a dead heat race.
from Saratoga County Historical Society
from a Saratoga Seen early 90's
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