Otsego 2000 will offer a walking tour of Sharon Springs focusing on the village’s historic architecture this Sunday, July 31 at 4:30pm.
The tour will highlight adaptations made to the buildings to welcome Jewish visitors, especially after World War II.
A second tour, Sunday, August 14 at 4:30pm in Richfield Springs will focus on the interplay between resort and village architecture.
Water and the healing properties of springs rich in magnesium, iron, and sulfur, brought people to Sharon Springs and Richfield Springs for generations.
“After World War II, Jewish travel to Sharon Springs increased as Holocaust survivors received water treatments, and a distinct Jewish culture flourished in the area.
“Much of the built environment today, including the synagogue, eruv, and guest houses, reflects that period,” said Cindy Falk, who will lead the tour.
The buildings constructed in Sharon Springs, many in popular revival styles of the late 1800s and early 1900s, demonstrate just how connected the small Schoharie County village was.
Owners built palaces and temples where spring water could be accessed and constructed lodging houses, hotels, and cabins where visitors could stay.
Richfield Springs, further west on Route 20, also features buildings designed by noted architects, as well as boarding houses for those looking to escape the city heat and benefit from spring water treatments.
In Richfield Springs, public buildings like the library, churches, and school provided stylish community spaces that incorporated the architectural fashions favored by elite seasonal guests. Both Sharon Springs and Richfield Springs are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
“Understanding our historic built environment--what distinguishes a Victorian from a Greek Revival or an Italianate building--helps to interpret how our communities developed in relation to the climate and to fashions over time,” said Ellen Pope, Otsego 2000 executive director.
“This knowledge is vital to understanding how sense of place is created by our architectural history, and what could be lost if these buildings aren’t preserved for future generations.”
A professor of material culture at the Cooperstown Graduate Program, Dr. Falk served as co-editor of “Buildings & Landscapes: The Journal of the Vernacular Architecture Forum” for five years.
She is an advisor to Otsego 2000.
The walking tour series is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
There is a charge.
Register in advance by calling (607) 547-8881.