April/May

2015

Editor Nancy DiPace Pfau

Number 24

IS IT SPRING YET IN SHARON SPRINGS?

Van Goghs 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
anyones 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 OConnor, 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 Ketelsens 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&Bs, 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, Mays 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
kmerrick@myfairpoint.net
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 1990s, Todd Spofford and Christopher Eaves purchased the property, cleaned up the
building and rented it out as a gift shop. In the early 2000s, 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 Years 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 Craigs 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 Sharons 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

Editors 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 againTime 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 friendsstay 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!

Editors 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 CAF 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 whats happening!

2. ONATAH CAF 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 its 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 whats new in the flagship store on Main Street in Sharon Springs or on
the website: www.beekman1802.com

6. SUNNYCREST MARKETS greenhouses are filled with blooming garden plants, a perfect
spot for a pick-me-up in these gray sky days and muddy landscape.

7. Well know SPRING is really here when The Finishing Touch and McGillicudys 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, dont 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.