Gideon Putnam Burying Ground
Gideon Putnam - Father of Saratoga Springs
The Gideon Putnam Burying Ground is named for the man who is considered to be the founder of Saratoga Springs. Gideon Putnam is not simply remembered as the first man to have lived here, but as an entrepreneur who gave Saratoga Springs its character as a tourist resort, being the first person to capitalize on the Springs and build a hotel.
Born to Stephen and Mary Putnam in Sutton Massachusetts in 1763 and one of twelve children, Gideon Putnam’s rise from a middling background to that of a prominent and wealthy businessman through hard work is an exemplary story of success in the early American Dream. Gideon and his wife, Doanda Risley Putnam, tried settling in several places in Vermont and near Albany before they came to Saratoga when Putnam was just 25. Upon arrival in the white pine forest that would become modern Saratoga Springs in 1791, Gideon is reported to have said to Doanda “This is a healthy place, the mineral springs are valuable, the timber is good and here I can build me a great house.” (Britten, Evelyn Barret)
Ten years later in 1801, with a still-growing family of nine, Gideon Putnam excavated and tubed Congress Spring and other springs. During this year, he also bought the 150 acres including our modern day downtown, and laid out the plans for the entire village, designating a family burial plot, known as the Putnam Cemetery. Although the burial plot was exclusive to family, others could be buried in the area with Putnam family permission. With a rapidly growing town and increasing popularity of the mineral springs, Putnam began work on the Union Hall, later known as the Grand Union Hotel. The Grand Union Hotel became one of the largest hotels in the world in the 19th century. On December 1, 1812, Putnam fell from the scaffolding while inspecting work on Union Hall and died. He was ironically the first person to be buried in his own burial ground.
Check out the most recent exhibition on Gideon Putnam and the founding of Saratoga Springs at the Saratoga Springs Visitor's Center.
Born to Stephen and Mary Putnam in Sutton Massachusetts in 1763 and one of twelve children, Gideon Putnam’s rise from a middling background to that of a prominent and wealthy businessman through hard work is an exemplary story of success in the early American Dream. Gideon and his wife, Doanda Risley Putnam, tried settling in several places in Vermont and near Albany before they came to Saratoga when Putnam was just 25. Upon arrival in the white pine forest that would become modern Saratoga Springs in 1791, Gideon is reported to have said to Doanda “This is a healthy place, the mineral springs are valuable, the timber is good and here I can build me a great house.” (Britten, Evelyn Barret)
Ten years later in 1801, with a still-growing family of nine, Gideon Putnam excavated and tubed Congress Spring and other springs. During this year, he also bought the 150 acres including our modern day downtown, and laid out the plans for the entire village, designating a family burial plot, known as the Putnam Cemetery. Although the burial plot was exclusive to family, others could be buried in the area with Putnam family permission. With a rapidly growing town and increasing popularity of the mineral springs, Putnam began work on the Union Hall, later known as the Grand Union Hotel. The Grand Union Hotel became one of the largest hotels in the world in the 19th century. On December 1, 1812, Putnam fell from the scaffolding while inspecting work on Union Hall and died. He was ironically the first person to be buried in his own burial ground.
Check out the most recent exhibition on Gideon Putnam and the founding of Saratoga Springs at the Saratoga Springs Visitor's Center.
Gideon Putnam Burying Ground, Past - Present
Daily Gazette, 28 July 2000
In 1835, the Putnams gave the family burial land over to the village of Saratoga Springs to be used as a public burial plot. The people buried in the Putnam Cemetery are mostly the working class of Saratoga Springs, including Daniel Ellis, the porter of Union Hall, and John Clarke, a bottler of the Congress Spring Water and later famous for his collaboration in the formation of Congress Park. As the burial ground filled and Greenridge Cemetery opened in 1844, the majority of Saratoga burials began to take place in Greenridge. The last recorded burial plot in the Putnam Cemetery dates to 1871. There were 232 inscriptions standing in the Putnam Cemetery at its closing.
For much of the 20th century, the Gideon Putnam burying ground was neglected and became a site of vandalism and misuse. In the 1980s, citizens of Saratoga recognized the importance of this site in their history, and through a largely grassroots effort, the Putnam Cemetery has undergone a massive restoration. More than $100,000 has been poured into the restoration of the Gideon Putnam Park since 1985. The Gideon Putnam burial ground reminds Saratoga residents and visitors of the story of transformation that this town has undergone, from a white pine forest to a vibrant community in the 19th century, to the beautiful residential town of today. With dedication and attention, the Gideon Putnam Burial ground, more than 200 years old, will be accessible for many generations to come.
For much of the 20th century, the Gideon Putnam burying ground was neglected and became a site of vandalism and misuse. In the 1980s, citizens of Saratoga recognized the importance of this site in their history, and through a largely grassroots effort, the Putnam Cemetery has undergone a massive restoration. More than $100,000 has been poured into the restoration of the Gideon Putnam Park since 1985. The Gideon Putnam burial ground reminds Saratoga residents and visitors of the story of transformation that this town has undergone, from a white pine forest to a vibrant community in the 19th century, to the beautiful residential town of today. With dedication and attention, the Gideon Putnam Burial ground, more than 200 years old, will be accessible for many generations to come.
Photos by R. Gilligan.
Excerpts from Interview with Patty Putnam,
descendant of Gideon Putnam
Video by J. Taffet
Location and Hours
The Gideon Putnam Burial Ground is located on South Franklin St.
This site is locked to protect the site from misuse, but entry can be arranged by contacting the Saratoga Springs Visitor’s Center at (518) 587-3241.
This site is locked to protect the site from misuse, but entry can be arranged by contacting the Saratoga Springs Visitor’s Center at (518) 587-3241.