Slices of Life at the Centennial:
West Side Cultures of Saratoga Springs, New York
Professor Michael C. Ennis-McMillan
Anthropology Department
Skidmore College
Welcome to our website and blog marking the centennial year of the founding of the City of Saratoga Springs, New York. Our project represents the cultural heritage of the West Side of Saratoga Springs. The people and places represent established traditions and new cultural experiences within the city. The Anthropology Department at Skidmore College supports student projects that document local culture and history as well as emerging contemporary issues. Students use ethnographic research methods, which means they participate and observe daily life first hand in specific places. And they interview local residents about their experiences living and working on the West Side. This local perspective reveals a distinctive pattern of cultural resources that enrich all of our lives regardless of where we live, work, and study in the city.
What is the West Side of Saratoga Springs like after 100 years? The students’ ethnographic explorations together weave multiple stories and experiences into a metaphorical tapestry – a metaphor that connects with the weaving artists do at the Textile Studio at the corner of Grand Avenue and Beekman Street. From the Principessa Elena Men's Society to the Beekman Street Arts District, from the Saratoga Bus and Train Station to the Saratoga Strike Zone Bowling Alley, our ethnographic projects represent how people live their ethnic, religious, and artistic identities.
In 1915, at the founding the of City of Saratoga Springs, the West Side was a vibrant mix of Irish, Italian, and Black families and businesses that supported a working class who helped make the city successful. The city has much to celebrate in recognizing the cultural icons, including the mineral springs, the thoroughbred racetrack, performing arts, and an award winning downtown street we call Broadway Avenue. While less recognized, the West Side is another precious jewel in the city’s crown.
The place where immigrants arrived 100 years ago remains a place for new ideas, such as the Arts District, a new Train Station, and new Thrift Stores. The place of creativity of new fraternal organizations, such as the Principessa Elena Society and the Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World (IBPOE of W, aka “The Black Elks”) has also given the city the area of florists, tattoo shops, and thrift and consignment stores. The West Side is also where we care for one another, in our hospital, senior center, homeless shelter, and community service organizations.
We encourage visitors to this blog to explore West Side culture and heritage, and please consider adding a comment to our blog. Together, we can continue creating a special part of the Saratoga experience.
What is the West Side of Saratoga Springs like after 100 years? The students’ ethnographic explorations together weave multiple stories and experiences into a metaphorical tapestry – a metaphor that connects with the weaving artists do at the Textile Studio at the corner of Grand Avenue and Beekman Street. From the Principessa Elena Men's Society to the Beekman Street Arts District, from the Saratoga Bus and Train Station to the Saratoga Strike Zone Bowling Alley, our ethnographic projects represent how people live their ethnic, religious, and artistic identities.
In 1915, at the founding the of City of Saratoga Springs, the West Side was a vibrant mix of Irish, Italian, and Black families and businesses that supported a working class who helped make the city successful. The city has much to celebrate in recognizing the cultural icons, including the mineral springs, the thoroughbred racetrack, performing arts, and an award winning downtown street we call Broadway Avenue. While less recognized, the West Side is another precious jewel in the city’s crown.
The place where immigrants arrived 100 years ago remains a place for new ideas, such as the Arts District, a new Train Station, and new Thrift Stores. The place of creativity of new fraternal organizations, such as the Principessa Elena Society and the Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World (IBPOE of W, aka “The Black Elks”) has also given the city the area of florists, tattoo shops, and thrift and consignment stores. The West Side is also where we care for one another, in our hospital, senior center, homeless shelter, and community service organizations.
We encourage visitors to this blog to explore West Side culture and heritage, and please consider adding a comment to our blog. Together, we can continue creating a special part of the Saratoga experience.
To learn more about the city's centennial: Saratoga Springs Centennial