Explore the history of Richfield Springs
August 11: This walking tour is now at capacity. We plan to hold additional walking tours in the future. Please sign up for our emails and follow on social media to find out about future events.
On Sunday, August 14 at 4:30 pm, join Otsego 2000 for a walking tour of Richfield Springs focusing on the interplay between resort and village architecture. Richfield Springs boasts examples of architectural styles ranging from Greek Revival to mid-century modern. There are buildings designed by noted architects as well as boarding houses for those looking to escape the city heat and benefit from spring water treatments. Public buildings like the library, churches, and school provided stylish community spaces that incorporated the architectural fashions favored by elite seasonal guests. The walk will be led by Dr. Cindy Falk, professor of material culture at the Cooperstown Graduate Program and and adviser to Otsego 2000.
While Richfield Springs has lost many of its hotels and its main bath house, there are still architectural reminders of its previous history as a resort where sulfur water was seen as a cure for ailments of all kinds. Richfield Springs is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Dr. Falk served as co-editor of Buildings & Landscapes: The Journal of the Vernacular Architecture Forum for five years. This is the third in a series of walking tours 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.
Weather forecast for Sunday, August 14 calls for 75 degrees and partly cloudy, good walking weather.
A portion of this early 1800s Greek Revival building, on the corner of Center and West James Streets, was originally part of the Union Hotel on the Great Western Turnpike, now Main Street.
The former Terrace Hotel and Bath House on Gould Street still speaks to Richfield Springs' past as a popular summer destination to take the waters.