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The Saratoga Farmstead
HISTORY
The farmstead has a very long history, having been built in the late 1700's. Thus far, ownership has been traced to the beginning of the 1860's, when it was home to Benjamin Dyer and Clarrisa Speare Dyer, natives of Braintree, Vermont.
The Dyers had both been reared on farms and so, chose to settle on one of the richest farms they could find in beautiful upstate New York. The farm was named "Vermont Farm", in honor of their home state.
Shortly thereafter, they began building a boarding house in downtown Saratoga Springs and named it "The Vermont House". It was at the site of the present day civic center. Here, visitors were accommodated with simple and genial sociality in a quiet and homelike retreat.
Although in the political minority at that time, both the Dyers were reformers and firm believers in the evils of slavery. They believed in the abolition of war and the settlement of all national and international disputes by diplomacy or arbitration. The Dyers were rumored to have harbored escaped slaves at the farmstead as part of the Underground Railroad. Mr. Dyer also traveled throughout New England as a lecturer. Upon her husband's death, Mrs. Dyer continued to run the hotel and the farm. She is known to have funded the building of a church for people of African decent, many who had been in Saratoga with their wealthy Southern masters prior to the Civil War and and gravitated to Saratoga after being freed.
After their passing, the Dyers' former home and farm fell into great disrepair, the pastureland divided into lots and sold. Along with the 10 remaining acres, the home and outbuildings were purchased in the early 1980's by Dr. Vincent and Kathleen Lombardi. It was in a state of complete collapse and ruin. The Lombardi's and their family lovingly commenced the repair and restoration of the farmhouse, eventually opening what was one of the first bed & breakfast inns in the Saratoga area.
Now the restoration project is in the hands of new owners Mariana DiToro and Rosemary Jensen, both experienced in renovation, decorating, inn keeping, professional cooking and gardening. The property has begun its next metamorphosis, with plans that include restoring the carriage house, finding a unique use for the twin silos, turning the antique stone barn into a workshop and using the acreage for organic gardening, bird watching and growing native wildflowers.
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The Saratoga Farmstead
41 Locust Grove Road, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Phone: (518) 587-2074 Fax: (518) 226-0833 Email: information@saratogafarmstead.com