October 2014 Newsletter: Forest Park Historic Tour

On Sept. 13, Town of Ballston Historian, Rick Reynolds, led 30 participants on a BLIA sponsored tour of the “Forest Park” section of our lake.

Mostly a walking tour, it included the area that was once “Forest Park,” a water-side attraction created by the Schenectady Railway Company as a recreational destination in 1902. The park featured a carousel (which is still fully operational in Congress Park, Saratoga Springs), a dance pavilion, bathing facilities, boat rentals, a dining hall , an inn (which still stand as a private residence) and other amenities. Participants also visited a home with visible pontoons in the basement - proof that in its former life it was a party boat during prohibition. The tour concluded with a buffet luncheon at historic Carney’s Tavern which served as a rest stop for Teddy Roosevelt as he traveled by train from the Adirondacks to Buffalo to be sworn in as the 26th President of the United States after the assassination of William McKinley. Mr. Reynolds continued the narrative with a short presentation and answered questions during lunch at Carney’s.

This vintage “Party Boat” ended its floating days by being pulled upon shore to become the eventual home of Dorothy and George Splain at 100 Westside Drive. Some thirty lake residents and “tourists” from as far away as California climbed into the Splain’s cellar to look at the giant wooden pontoons. Thanks go out to Drew Hamilink who did all the interfacing with getting permission from property owners, and he did poison ivy control, to Judy Brodeur who took reservations and kept us organized, to Rick Reynolds for his great presentation, and to Carney’s for providing a fine luncheon.