Courtesy of Saratoga Preservation Foundation
The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation recently announced that it purchased 128-130 Clinton Street, two small cottages on one property that have been on the Foundation’s endangered property list for more than a decade.
Based on preliminary research, it appears that the house at 130 Clinton Street, built circa 1877, was the first house constructed on the property by Dennis O’Brien, who was listed as a laborer residing at 108 Clinton Street. It is particularly unique because it is the only example of a shotgun style residence in Saratoga Springs. O’Brien built the second house, a one-and-a-half- story vernacular front gable house with a full-width front porch, at 128 Clinton Street in 1883. Both houses were built as rental properties.
A shotgun style house is a narrow – typically no more than 12 feet wide, rectangular residence typically with two to four rooms arranged one behind the other without a hallway.
“As the saying goes, one could shoot a shotgun through the front door and the bullet would fly straight through the back door,” said Samantha Bosshart, executive director.
The shotgun house is believed to have emerged in New Orleans in the early 19th century and was predominantly popular throughout the South.
According to the directories, the residents of the two houses were laborers, coachmen, teamsters, farmers, maids, gardeners, firemen, and employees of various businesses. In 1965, Nettie B. Dekalb and her son Ronald Dekalb acquired the property. The DeKalbs moved into 128 Clinton Street and rented 130 Clinton Street to others.
It was during the DeKalb family ownership that the houses fell into disrepair and became vacant. Earlier this year, the Foundation attempted to contact the owner to provide assistance to preserve the buildings or to offer to purchase the property. Their attempts went unanswered. Neighbors expressed concern that the buildings would be lost when they saw the red X’s appear on the buildings, indicating that the buildings were unsafe for first responders to enter.
Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP, the Capital Region’s largest law firm, has announced that John B. Cannie has joined the firm as Of Counsel in the firm’s Environmental, Land Use & Development, and Real Estate Practice Groups.
Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP, the Capital Region’s largest law firm, has announced that John M. Czajka has joined the firm as partner and John F. Wirenius has joined as of counsel.
brings to the firm extensive legislative and policy making experience as a former Albany County Assistant District Attorney, Assistant Counsel to the Governor, General Counsel of the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services, and most recently as General Counsel of the New York State Police. While Counsel at the NYSP for the past five years, Czajka served as the chief legal officer responsible for providing legal and ethical advice to the NYSP Superintendent and the more than 4,000 sworn and non-sworn NYSP personnel. During his tenure with the Troopers, Czajka was also responsible for managing the drafting of proposed legislation, implementing policy and legislative initiatives, coordinating and managing all State Police involved litigation, managing labor and employment issues, and advising the agency and the Governor’s office on the legal, regulatory, administrative, and legislative matters facing the agency.
