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The best small town in America
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April/May 2015 Editor Nancy DiPace Pfau Number 24 IS IT SPRING YET IN SHARON SPRINGS?
Van Gogh’s Garden in Arles You know you live in Upstate New York if the seasons are: Almost Winter, Winter, Still Winter, MUD, and Road Construction! So after one of the most ferociously cold winters in anyone’s memory, a garden [even in a painting or photo] brings a sense of delight. There are many great events in store this April and May, here are a few to mark on your calendars: April 18th: Book Launch at the American Hotel, 4-‐7 PM April 19th: Ron Ketelson to speak on “The Roseboro Renovation” with dinner, American Hotel, 6 PM. Reservations required. April 30th: Harriet Tubman Night at the American Hotel, 6 PM. Reservation required. May 23 and 24: Garden Party throughout the Village May 25: Memorial Day Ceremony and Parade in the upper village.
Gone were but the Winter, Come were but the Spring. I would go to a Covert Where the birds sing.
n Christina Rossetti
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO BRUCE BUTTON AND LEE PUBLICATIONS FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT IN PRINTING THE CHATTER!
THE BOOK IS LAUNCHED
Sharon and Sharon Springs, A History published by Arcadia Press is officially available. Author, Nancy DiPace Pfau, shares a copy with her favorite Mayor, Doug Plummer at the American Hotel. Make sure to come out for the book launch and get a signed copy on April 18th at the American Hotel. Copies are also available at Cobbler & Co, The Teepee, Fenimore Museum Shop, Catnap Books, Agway, as well as Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, and many other locations. Ordering information for the book can be found on websites in Poland, The Netherlands, and Australia! THE COMMUNITY SADDENED BY TRAGEDY A devastating fire destroyed the Sabler Home in the wee hours of April 2nd. Three young people were tragically killed Anthony Sabler, 13, Gabrielle Sabler, 20, and Ashley Tefft, 22. Here are two places to offer financial assistance to the affected families in this terrible time:
http://www.gofundme.com/qsp2w4 http://www.gofundme.com/qsghyw There is also a fund for the Sabler family at NBT Bank in Sharon Springs.
SHARON SPRINGS RESIDENTS PARTICIPATE IN ANIMAL RESCUE
Several Sharon Springs and surrounding neighbors recently participated in an animal rescue at a Cherry Valley farm. The farm had nearly 100 animals that were badly neglected. The owners just stopped feeding and caring for the animals. Jay Lavery, Ron Ketelsen, John Hall, Jessy Santiago, Laurel Shaver, Jamie Tilt, Jack and Bryan Jones, and Robert Hancock all participated in the rescue. Among the animals rescued were horses, rabbits, goats, sheep, chickens, ducks, geese, alpacas, and dogs.
Sharon Springs’ residents, Jay Lavery and Ron Ketelsen, became farmers overnight. While Jay already had a few ducks on his farm, he had not planned on expanding until spring. Jay ended up taking 6 Nubian goats. Fortunately, Jay had a space in his back building and with the help of John Hall, Jay was able to set up a great new home for the goats.
Ron Ketelsen who lives next door to Jay on Longhollow Farm took 7 ducks, 3 horses, 2 goats and 2 ram sheep. With the help of Gary O’Connor, Ron converted the old barn on the farm into a new home for the animals. New stalls were built for the horses, a new pen was built for the ducks, and the goats and sheep got a new large dedicated room in the barn. Laurel Shaver, who lives in nearby Fort Plain, has been active with animal rescues for quite some time. Laurel took to her farm several rabbits, alpacas, geese, and some goats.
“It was really a labor of love,” said Ketelsen. “These animals were being so badly neglected and not being fed. Now, they have great forever homes.”
“Ron, Laurel and Jay are a blessing to these animals,” said Jessy Santiago who coordinated the rescue. “These animals had been starved and so badly neglected. It is such a comfort to know they now have such amazing homes with such great, caring people!”
Ducks at Ron Ketelsen’s farm
COMMUNITY COOKBOOK PLANNED Dear Neighbors, Since first coming to Sharon Springs in January 2013 and buying a house on Union Street 11 months later, my husband Curt and I have fallen in love with this community and those lucky enough to live here full-time. We have been graciously welcomed and generously gifted with friendship, food, and much kindness. I have been so touched by how we have been welcomed that I have pondered some way to give back to this wonderful community. And so, the idea of the Sharon Springs Community Cookbook was born – with the profits from the sale of the book to provide support for the Sharon Springs Food Pantry, currently housed in the Sharon Springs United Methodist Church. According to the folks at Amazon, community cookbooks are the biggest sellers of any type of cookbook. The reasons are two-fold: people tend to purchase cookbooks which contain recipes they or friends and family have submitted, and people who have fallen in love with a certain place will purchase a cookbook from that community to help sustain that love. Due in large part to the success of Josh, Brent, and Farmer John and the goats at Beekman 1802, there are folks around the country (fondly referred to as “Beek Geeks") who have fallen in love with Sharon Springs and who, I believe, will also purchase our cookbook. To this end, Brent and Josh have graciously agreed to offer the cookbook for sale through Beekman 1802. Additionally, other local merchants will have the cookbook for sale. Local residents will be able to purchase cookbooks in the local stores or from me. I hope that it may also be offered for sale in our local B&B’s, as our visitors often want something tangible to bring home from Sharon Springs. So I am asking residents and employees of businesses in Sharon Springs and Sharon to submit one or more recipes that are personally meaningful and to introduce your submission with the story behind the recipe. Where did it come from? When was it served? What memories does it carry with it? When you submit your recipe(s), please note in which category you want them to be, and remember to include a short paragraph about the food and the memories behind it. Categories: Appetizers; Salads and Salad Dressings; Soups and Sandwiches; Breads; Breakfast; Beverages; Main Dishes; Sides; Sweets (to be divided into Desserts, Cookies, Pies, Cakes, and Candy); Miscellaneous (could include jams, pickles, and relishes), and Holidays. Please include your phone number so that I (or Pauline Brown and Karen Cookson, the other members of the Committee) might contact you if there are any questions. If you are a resident, please list your name as you wish it to appear in the Cookbook. If you wish the name of an organization you belong to (i.e., Historical Society, Fire Department, etc.) to be included, feel free to include that with your name. If you work in a business in town (even if you do not live in the Village or Town) please include that name along with yours, i.e., Mary Smith, May’s Good Eats. Send me your recipe not later than Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, 2015. Recipes may be sent either through the mail or to my email, listed below. Please do not hesitate to call me with any questions you might have. Thank you for your help with this project. Kathy Merrick [email protected] P.O. Box 83 Sharon Springs, NY 13459 cell phone: (603) 714-0531
SPRING HOUSE SPA: A SHORT HISTORY
Nestled at the foot of the Main Street Hill in Sharon Springs is one of our latest examples of historic preservation, The Spring House Spa. Formerly known as the “Monticello Cottage”, this building has seen many transformations over the centuries. The house appears on the recently discovered 1847 map of the Village, owned by a Dr. Green. It is believed that the house was built circa 1840, making it one of the oldest buildings in the village. From 1870 to 1925, the Grosmayer family operated the Cottage as a boarding house; during this period, it was famous for its teas and gardens. In 1993, when the property was granted New York State Historic status, it was owned by Irving Fuchs and used only during the summer months as a boarding house. The exterior at that time was unprepossessing (covered with asphalt siding) and definitely showed the ravages of time and neglect. At that time it was surrounded by commercial properties most of which were vacant. Today, as the Spring House Spa, it is part of the Village revitalization with several charming shops, restaurants, and a hotel as its near neighbors. The building itself is architecturally significant because of its gable front with double wing form; it is classified as a Greek Revival House still retaining the federal fan motif in the front gable. Probably during the Grosmayer years, Victorian and Queen Ann Style additions were made to the house. In the late 1990’s, Todd Spofford and Christopher Eaves purchased the property, cleaned up the building and rented it out as a gift shop. In the early 2000’s, it was briefly the site of an E-‐bay business. For several years, the property was vacant until the present owners purchased it after Cheryl Rosen told Craig her dream was to open a spa in Sharon Springs; this was New Year’s Day 2011 and 3 weeks later they purchased the building. Craig and Cheryl Rosen had several challenges facing them. The floors were covered with worn wall-‐to-‐wall carpet with 150 years of paint beneath, which was difficult to remove but with patience, diligence and hard work they have revealed magnificent old wide-‐board flooring. In addition, they needed to configure treatment spaces which would stay true to the feel of an historic space yet create a modern, cleaner environment. One of Craig’s more welcome challenges was to connect this new spa to the rich history of the White Sulphur Baths and the earlier manifestations of Health Treatments at Sharon Springs. His solution was to set aside one room where he created a photo gallery of scenes from Sharon’s Spa History. This room offers a nostalgic step back in time, a tribute to the once bustling health spa. The Village applauds the Rosens for giving us a return to our heritage for the first time since the baths closed in 2007. Today as one approaches 200 Main Street, a creamy yellow exterior provides a welcome, as do the plantings changing seasonally to offer another treat for the senses. Inside the rooms are painted in warm pastels, and the front two rooms offer many lovely items for sale from bath products to healthful foods to straw hats and beyond. Treatment rooms are located at the rear of the building offering massage therapy, facials, wraps, and other beneficial health procedures in state of the art surroundings. In addition to the charming and appealing Spa treatment facility on the first floor, the Rosens have remodeled the upstairs flat,which now rents out to travelers, a welcome addition to the Village where hotel and B&B space is limited.
SPRING HOUSE SPA Editor’s note: The Rosens and Spring House Spa will receive an award for their excellent restoration from Otsego 2000 this May! There are many reasons people return to Sharon Springs again and again…Time away to enjoy the friendly hospitality of our small town community, exceptional dining and shopping experiences, enjoying meaningful time with new and old friends, celebrating and attending special events, rubbing elbows with our local celebrities. And why not also experience the health benefits that have been drawing people to visit Sharon Springs for well over 100 years?…..hmmm…..sounds like an afternoon at the Spa! Here are a few of the many benefits that result from having a massage or spa treatment at the Spring House Spa. Research studies report that massage therapy has been shown to… Calm anxiety and depression-‐massage lowers the production of the stress hormone cortisol Ease muscle pain and tension-‐relaxes tight muscles and releases beneficial hormones that reduce pain (oxytocin) Improve Sleep-‐has a positive effect on Delta waves associated with deep sleep Boost Immunity-‐could go into detail here but simply put, reduces stress and keeps you healthier Increase Mental Alertness-‐ improved circulation reduces fatigue mentally and physically Create a Big Smile-‐we've seen it happen! Drawing on Sharon Springs's history as a mineral spa resort, we have designed a Magnesia Mud Wrap, incorporating some of those same mineral rich waters. The Spring House Spa continues to provide the best of care in their Spa Services and offerings. Now you can "Stay & Spa" above the Spa at Monticello Cottage. The charming and elegantly furnished one or two bedroom flat has the perfect floor plan to spend quality time with friends…stay in, watch a movie and cook dinner or walk to dinner and don't worry about driving home, because you are already home in Sharon Springs. If you are celebrating a special event or would like to plan time away with loved ones, friends or family and "Stay & Spa" with us, we would love to help customize that experience for you. See you soon! Cheryl & Craig Owners Spring House Spa
THE NEWEST STAR IN SHARON SPRINGS: MEET RUFUS! A few weeks ago, in the midst of winter, Drew Taylor and Gail Luna adopted a puppy and named him “Rufus”. He has since gained quite a following on Facebook. “ We would love to have Rufus in the Chatter, wrote Gail. “This photo is when he first arrived at his new home. He has 93 followers on Instagram. I get private messages from people when I don't send out the daily Rufus post. It's so cute! He's a Shepard, Lab and Rottweiler mix. He knows how to sit, shake hands, lay down, and retrieve his Frisbee!”
Editor’s note: Welcome to Sharon Springs, little Rufus, we look forward to chartering your many adventures.
OTHER NEWS AROUND THE VILLAGE, TOWN AND NEARBY 1. THE BLACK CAT CAFÉ celebrates 10 years of delicious food in a funky atmosphere, still open 7 days a week with new treats and happenings [music on a Saturday night anyone?] – check out their Facebook page and/or website to keep up with what’s happening! 2. ONATAH CAFÉ now open in Canajoharie: stop in for lunch and say hello to Heidi Meka, formerly of the American Hotel. 3. 204 MAIN BISTRO is back for another season of innovative food in a beautiful setting. Open Thursdays through Sundays until summer. 4. COBBLER & CO open Thursdays through Mondays until May when it’s back to daily, 10 AM to 6 PM, for your gift giving needs, new merchandise arrives weekly. 5. BEEKMAN 1802 MERCANTILE continues to dazzle us with new products! The Otesaga Hotel now has Beekman bath products in each of their guest rooms, as does the American Hotel. Check out what’s new in the flagship store on Main Street in Sharon Springs or on the website: www.beekman1802.com 6. SUNNYCREST MARKET’S greenhouses are filled with blooming garden plants, a perfect spot for a pick-‐me-‐up in these gray sky days and muddy landscape. 7. We’ll know SPRING is really here when The Finishing Touch and McGillicudy’s Soap put out their open signs. Our man in Havana, Mitchell Owens, has a feature article in the May issue of Architectural Digest about his trip to Cuba recently. And, down on the farm, John Hall has been extra busy with a bumper “crop” of adorable baby goats – he is even running out of names, so go to the Beekman website and suggest a few, you might win something! 8. LANDRETH SEEDS of Sharon Springs has donated Heirloom Tomato Seeds to the Beekman Mortgage Lifter Sauce project. 9. And, don’t forget to make your reservations for Harriet Tubman Night at the American Hotel, April 30th. The celebration will feature Austin Jetton singing spirituals as only he can. Dr. Graham Hodges of Colgate University, one of the foremost historians of the underground railroad, will speak, and Village Historian and Chatter Editor Nancy DiPace Pfau will discuss a fascinating documented link to Sharon Springs.