A long and interesting history at.....
The Saratoga Farmstead Bed
& Breakfast

The Saratoga Farmstead
has had a very long history, having been built at the time of the Civil
War. Ownership has been traced
to Benjamin Dyer and Clarrisa Speare Dyer, natives of Vermont.
The Dyers had both been reared on farms and chose
to settle on one of the richest farms they could find in beautiful upstate New York. The farm
was named "The 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 held strong
beliefs and spoke fervently for 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 lecturing on the abolitian of slavery. Upon her
husband's death, Mrs. Dyer continued to run the hotel and the farm. She is known to have
funded the building of the first church in Saratoga for people of African decent, many who had
been in Saratoga Springs with their wealthy Southern masters prior to the Civil War and
then gravitated to the city after escaping or 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 1960'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 & breakfasts
in the Saratoga area.
The restoration project has been in the hands
of owners Mariana DiToro and Rosemary Jensen since 2002. Both are experienced in renovation, decorating,
gardening and innkeeping. Both are professionally trained chefs. They decided to offer
what the farm's founders had offered ....simple and genial sociality in a quiet and
homelike setting.
The
Saratoga Farmstead B&B has recently been recognized for its
Green Initiatives
by Audubon International and New York State.
We are the only Certified Green bed and breakfast in Saratoga
Springs.

41 Locust Grove Road, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Phone: (518) 587-2074
Email: saratogafarmstead@gmail.com
|