It is night now, and the lights within the grounds glow, painting the trees and the carriage house with eerie shades and shadows. The flicker of the fireflies star twinkles over the pond illuminating the darkness with flashes of blue neon. I sit and survey from the 60′ Victorian deck sipping my coffee. I become enchanted and drift in rumination, listening to the trickle of water, the song of rustling leaves play like chimes from a symphony of trees. To the front is the lattice fence with it’s arched entry leading into the garden. The misty glow from the main road’s lamp post peers through the lattice of the fence and places subtle silhouette kisses of orange on the grass and shrubs. In the rear to the left of the pond sits the gazebo. It sits alone and all by itself, but it is not lonely. A heart shaped border of flowers surrounds one spruce while to the front another is embraced and bordered with a wooden bench. Pensively I sit, her unspoken story enchants me, the placidness of the Mansion Inn heals and restores me.

George West was a British immigrant, who came to the United States and made his fortune with the invention of the folded paper bag. George West served in the New York State legislature and Congress from 1881-1889. In 1868 George West built this beautiful Victorian home and commenced it’s construction not more than 100′ from the mill where he manufactured his folded paper bags. That mill still stands today across the street from the Mansion Inn.

6 miles east, route 29 meets route 9. Here is downtown Saratoga Springs. Quickly I am reminded of a Norman Rockwell Main street painting of sorts. Quaint cafe’s, boutiques and restaurants line the route. North of that up the 87 sits Fort William Henry on Lake George. South lay the Saratoga battlefields of the American Revolution where General Burgoyne’s army was defeated. It is upon these fields where Simon Fraser succumbed to the mortal wounds inflicted upon him. These same fields saw the daring strategy of Benedict Arnold culminate in triumphant victory, while at the same time prostrating him from wounds inflicted by the lead of musket.

Saratoga revived me. How peculiar that times which have passed and died can still live and rekindle life within.