The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation thanks over 85 participants who attended the Pints for Preservation Pub Crawl held on Saturday, October 20, 2012 to benefit the Spirit of Life & Spencer Trask Memorial Restoration Campaign. The Pub Crawl kicked-off from the Old Bryan Inn, where Steven Sullivan and his accommodating staff served each participant one free drink on the patio. The weather went from thunderstorm to afternoon sun as pub crawlers moved from Maple Street to Cantina on Broadway, Tin & Lint, Gaffney’s, Bailey’s, and Seven Horse Pub, before the last stop at Irish Times. It was a great night and those who attended the event were treated to drink specials at each bar, making for an extra festive evening.

 SSPF sincerely thanks the bar and restaurant owners and staff for their generosity and for taking part in the Pub Crawl, we were able to build on last year’s success in raising funds to restore Saratoga Springs’ beloved memorial and sculpture in Congress Park, which serves as a symbol of our City. In addition, SSPF thanks; the talented Patrick Jankowski of JankDesign for again lending the Pub Crawl Logo design, which appeared on the event t-shirts and pint glasses, and Raderwerks for producing the t-shirts. SSPF thanks Bailey’s, Fresh & Co., Wheatfields, and Saratoga Brewery for providing raffle prizes. At the end of the night, names were drawn from the raffle and prizes where handed out. In addition, the winner of the Architectural Scavenger Hunt, Chris Craig, was announced and given his “major award.” 

 Participants of the second annual Pub Crawl included SSPF Restoration Steering Committee Members, SSPF Board Members, as well as many new faces.  Finally, SSPF would like to thank the Event Committee Members, Seth D. Finkell, Nicole R. Rodgers, Brian Gyory, and Jaclyn Hakes for their hard work and dedication.

SSPF is a non-profit membership-based organization that promotes preservation and enhancement of the architectural, cultural, and landscaped heritage of Saratoga Springs. SSPF, in partnership with the City of Saratoga Springs, is in the early stages of restoring the Spirit of Life & Spencer Trask Memorial in Congress Park. Restoration work will include the bronze sculpture, the masonry architectural surround and landscape.

In 1913, Katrina Trask, philanthropist, Yaddo founder, and Saratoga resident, along with George Foster Peabody, commissioned the Memorial to honor her late husband, Spencer Trask and his efforts to protect and preserve Saratoga’s natural springs while further beautifying Congress Park.  The work for the Memorial was completed through the artistic collaboration of two significant Americans, sculptor Daniel Chester French and architect, Henry Bacon. The Spencer Trask Memorial was a true partnership during the early career of these two friends, who also designed and executed the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC.  French created the bronze sculpture, Spirit of Life, while Bacon designed the architectural and landscaped surrounds. The Memorial was completed in 1915, the same year the City of Saratoga Springs was incorporated.     

www.saratogapreservation.org