The Making of American Resorts: Saratoga Springs, Ballston Spa, and Lake George [Paperback]

Theodore Corbett (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2001

"Corbett's work makes a welcome addition to the regional history of upstate New York as well as the exploding interest in American resorts. Corbett's book . . . not only summarizes more recent work but adds new perspectives on the built environment, the make-up of the visitors, the role of women, and the nuts and bolts of resort development. . . . An indispensable work for anyone broadly interested in the history of leisure it he early republic, or upstate New York resorts in particular. Certainly, no one with an interest in the history of Saratoga Springs will be able to do without it."-New York History "Corbett takes readers on a grand trip into the history of three upstate New York resorts communities, Ballston Spa, Caldwell at Lake George and Saratoga Springs. Ballston Spa and Caldwell on Lake George were products of land developers who saw tourism as a way to success. But neither town invested in the infrastructure to make tourism work. Saratoga Springs did provide the amenities, with lavish hotels amid parks and pleasure gardens. It was also blessed with a strong work force, particularly in the numbers of Irish women ready to staff the resorts."-Waterbury Republican (CT) "Corbett cuts through the nostalgic haze and localized thought surrounding usual resort histories with the searching investigations and rigorous scholarship we have come to expect from the very best of modern urban studies."-Ellen Weiss, author of City in the Woods: The Life and Design of an American Camp Meeting on Martha's Vineyard "A book notable for its attention to the development of the infrastructure of resorts-hotels and boarding houses, public spaces, and service facilities-as well as the African American and Irish women and men whose labors supported the leisure of visitors." - David Schuyler, Franklin & Marshall College How did the rise of lavish hotels and spas reflect the changing values of American society during the nineteenth century? Historians have argued that resorts were created to meet the demands of a leisured social elite. Theodore Corbett demonstrates that resorts created and re-created themselves to keep pace with changing times. Success came with anticipating demands, not just reacting to them Corbett focuses on the conditions underlying the rise-and demise-of the resorts at Ballston Spa and Caldwell on Lake George. Both towns' major landlord-developers saw tourism as only one vehicle that could lead to success. As a result of their divided policies, neither town invested in the proper infrastructure to make tourism work. Saratoga Springs, however, was able to supply the amenities needed to attract the well-heeled. The town provided visitors with lavish hotels, parks, and pleasure gardens. It also had a workforce that was available for the five-month period per year that the spas were active. Corbett examines the participation of African Americans, Irish, and Native Americans in the resort's service sector The book also stresses middle-class America's emulation of the leisure habits of the English aristocracy. Even though these pursuits (hunting and horse racing) were dominated by men, social rituals were dominated by women, and resorts that accommodated "public domesticity" thrived as the century progressed. Theodore Corbett teaches history at Adirondack Community College and is former director of the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Rutgers University Press (January 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813528429
• ISBN-13: 978-0813528427
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #617,008 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ted Corbett grew up and spent much of his life in upstate New York, although he now lives in New Castle, Delaware. His books cover the history and architecture of New York, New England and Canada. They are the result of input from his college students and of grants from the National Trust for Historic Presevation, the New York Council on the Arts, and the Gilder Lehrman Foundation.

Customer Reviews

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Historical Saratoga, August 13, 2010

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Anna "Anna" (New York) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Making of American Resorts: Saratoga Springs, Ballston Spa, and Lake George (Paperback)

Originally I bought this book because I was interested in doing some research for a personal project. I ended up reading the entire book cover to cover, and wishing there had been more. Theodore Corbett does a great job of looking at the resort region as a whole - Ballston Spa, Caldwell (Lake George), and the grand dam - Saratoga Springs. I was a bit disappointed that the information on Ballston Spa and Caldwell was so lean, but then - both communities didn't survive as resorts for very long. Saratoga Springs thrives into the 21st century due to a large number of factors including planning, marketing, geography, and the flexibility to adapt to a changing clientele.

This book focuses on all of the things that went right or Saratoga Springs, and all the things that went wrong for other resort communities across the region. Because Saratoga wasn't limited by one single landowner, like the other two, it benefitted from the diverse experiences of those that recognized the potential of summer getaways with an English spa theme. Saratoga was also blessed with better geography; Ballston Spa is more like a box canyon in some ways. The landowners in Saratoga made certain there were open spaces, like parks and promenades, and that community planning incorporated alleys, all necessary features for enjoyment and infrastructure. The author also delves into the roles that religion, class, society, and gender played in Saratoga's success.

The pictures of the architectural gems to be found in the region are excellent; there were some I had never seen before. The author could have easily added more pictures; such is the depth of the historical structures in all three towns. The book basically covers the 19th century - with a little 18th century groundwork centering on the capital district and important regional families.

I would make this a must for anyone interested in the history of Saratoga Springs, especially for those who may want to do walking tours during the peak summer season.