Canfield Casino Congress Park Saratoga Springs Ny
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The historic Canfield Casino, built in 1870, sits inside the boundaries of Congress Park. It now houses the Saratoga Springs History Museum, which we had the pleasure of visiting after our walking tour. I’m going backwards, I know, starting with the museum, but here we are(!). One floor is dedicated to the history of gambling in Saratoga. Long Description: 'Canfield Casino and Congress Park is a 17-acre (6.9 ha) site in Saratoga Springs, New York, United States. It was the site of the former Congress Spring Bottling Plant and the former Congress Hall, a large resort hotel, which together brought Saratoga Springs international fame as a health spa and gambling site.
Saratoga Springs NY 12866
Theater Notes
Morrissey first came to Saratoga Springs in 1861 and operated a small gaming house on Matilda Street (Woodlawn Avenue). While he was only 30 years old, he was already an accomplished athlete and politicatian representing New York in Congress. He was also a founding member of the Saratoga Race Course. He knew that there was more money to be made and starting in 1867 he invested $190,000.00 to build an elegant casino. Opening in 1870, his Saratoga Club House was a draw for wealthy and prominent visitor’s world wide. Morrissry did not use the name Casino. Morrissey operated the Clubhouse during the summers until his untimely death in 1878 at the age of 47.
Owner ship passed to Albert Spencer and Charles Reed. In 1883 Richard Canfield took a partnership in the Saratoga Clubhouse and bought it outright the following year for $250,000. Canfield invested an estimated $800,000 in enhancing the building and the grounds of Congress Park to bring them up to the standards of the top European establishments. In 1902-3 he added a sumptuous dining room to the back of the Clubhouse fitting it with stained glass windows and an early form of air conditioning. He ordered marble statuary for the Italian gardens in the northeast corner of Congress Park. The elegant atmosphere made the cream of society feel welcome to bet their money on the Clubhouses’s many games of chance. Canfield was recognized as the King of the Gamblers; Saratoga Springs was seen as the American Monte Carlo.
However, anti-gambling sentiments increased in the first decade of the 20th Century. Canfield was forced to close his New York City casino, paying a stiff fine. In Saratoga Springs, he kept the Clubhouse going until 1907. He sold the building to the village for less than he had paid for it in 1911.
Capacity: 500
The historic Canfield Casino in Congress Park (Saratoga Springs, NY)
John Morrissey, a New York State Senator, Congressman, former heavyweight champion and founder of the Saratoga Race Course built the Casino in 1870. His gaming club was so successful attracting Saratoga Springs’ visitors to nighttime gambling. In 1871, the addition to the east was added. The stately Italianate structure contained a bar and large gaming room on the first floor. On the second and third floors contained private gaming rooms and living quarters. John Morrissey had 4 rules:
- NO gambling on Sunday
- NO women allowed in the gaming rooms
- NO Saratogians
- NO credit
Gambling was technically not legal, and the reasoning behind the no Saratogians rule was that he did not want a local sore loser trying to shut his club down. Outside just to the west of the building stands the Morrissey Fountain, a tiered fountain that would have a ball bouncing in the water if the gaming rooms were open.
A ball bouncing in the fountain indicated the casino was open
Canfield Casino Congress Park Saratoga Springs Ny Menu
Morrissey died in 1878, and the club was sold to Spencer and Reed. John Canfield purchased the club in 1894 for $205,000. In 1902-1903 Canfield built the 93 x 58 dining room with beautiful octagon stained glass windows, and kitchen on the north side of the building. Canfield also designed the Italian gardens on the north side of the park with an investment of over $800,000 in improvements. Richard Canfield operated the “Monte Carlo” of America. High stakes gambling, fine food and wine attracted the high society of the Victorian Era. Ladies were allowed in the dining room only and it was here that the first Club Sandwich was served.
The success was short-lived. The Casino closed in 1907 because of the gambling reform movement. The village was growing and the climate of the community was anti-gambling. Canfield put the Casino up for sale and in 1911, the village purchased it and the plans were in place for Congress Park.
In 1915, the Historical Society had offices in the Casino and today is home to the Saratoga Springs History Museum. The Museum has a former gaming room on the second floor, and the exhibits change annually. For more information: www.saratogahistory.org The building is owned and operated by the City of Saratoga Springs, and the elaborate dining room, bar, parlor and kitchen are available for private events.
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The Centennial Series
Canfield Casino Congress Park Saratoga Springs Ny Obituaries
The city of Saratoga Springs was chartered on April 7, 1915. In celebration of our 100 years this summer, Roohan Realty brings you “The Centennial Series,” featuring the history of local properties – from origin to what we see today.
Do you own a historic property or know one you’d like to see featured? Submit an inquiry and our contributing writer will contact you.