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The Saratoga County Homestead has such an incredible history, and it’s so sad to see the state that it is in, given its local significance. It first began as a bunch of wooden cottages, known as the “Pavilions”. A gentleman by the name of Horace Carpentier who made his money as a lawyer & in California during the gold rush donated some land he used for homesteading- hence the name Homestead. Carpentier would donate the land, money for the infirmary in Ballston Spa, funds to improve & build roads from Mosherville to the sanitarium/through Galway to the sanitarium, & later left a final bequest of $40,000 to the county to use at the Homestead. December 5, 1914 the Homestead opened its doors to treat residents of Saratoga County & travelers afflicted with tuberculosis. Carpentier would donate an additional $5,600 in 1915 to provide 20 more beds at the sanitarium, as some patients were sleeping in tents. With the pavilions being constructed in an “Adirondack cottage” style, built out of wood, the state recommended that new structures be built to house the patients. It was nestled in the woods of Middle Grove, and state officials feared a fire would devastate the hospital. The new kids wing was built in 1928, opening July 1 1929, with the new main building being constructed in 1937. In 1960 as tuberculosis cases dwindled, remaining patients were sent down to Schenectady, and the Homestead would undergo renovations to reopen as the county infirmary. It would serve as an end of life care/nursing home style facility beginning in 1961, and by 1973 plans were already in the works to build a new facility closer to larger population centers, down in Ballston Spa. In 1979, the Homestead would close its doors for good- changing hands multiple times over the years. Used for storage at times, grand renovation plans fell through, you know how it goes. Now sitting abandoned for longer than it was in operation, the Homestead has survived decades of harsh upstate weather, vandalism, & fires. What lies ahead for the Homestead is uncertain- whether it will eventually succumb to the weather and vandals, or maybe a property developer will purchase the site for a new cell tower. In a perfect world, I’d love to see one of the last tuberculosis hospitals in our area converted into a museum- similar to that of Waverly Hills in Louisville KY, or Trans-Allegheny in Weston, WV. Have you seen, or heard of the Homestead before? #history #atlasobscura #saratogacountyhomestead #samandcolby #destinationfear #hauntednights
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