Sharon Springs, New York facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sharon Springs, New York
Village
Sharon Springs, New York Location in New York
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Schoharie
Area
• Total	1.83 sq mi (4.73 km2)
• Land	1.83 sq mi (4.73 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	1,102 ft (336 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	483
• Density	264.37/sq mi (102.09/km2)
• Honorary	720
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	13459
Area code(s)	518
FIPS code	36-66663
GNIS feature ID	0964946

Sharon Springs is a small village in Schoharie County, New York, United States. In 2010, about 558 people lived there. The village got its name from Sharon, Connecticut, where the first settlers came from. It also got its name from the important natural springs found in the village.

The village is located in the northwest part of Schoharie County. It is about 50 miles (80 km) west of Albany, which is the state capital. Sharon Springs is surrounded by rolling hills and sits in a winding valley. It is also close to many popular places in New York State. For example, Howe Caverns is about 15 miles (24 km) south. The Mohawk River and Erie Canal are 10 miles (16 km) north. Cooperstown, famous for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, is 22 miles (35 km) to the west.

Since the late 1980s, Sharon Springs has become more well-known. People from outside the area started new businesses and fixed up old buildings. This caught the attention of news reporters in New York City. The village has even been featured on a TV show. A company called Sharon Springs, Inc. has started working on the old bathhouses. They also let people book stays at the Roseboro Hotel.

Why Sharon Springs is Special

Sharon Springs is known as a historic spa village. Both the National Register of Historic Places and New York State recognize it. Many of its old spa buildings were added to the National Register in 1994. Long ago, people used the mineral springs for health treatments. Rich families from New York City would visit Sharon Springs in the summers for the spas. From 1836 to 1860, several large hotels were built here. Today, many of these old buildings are empty, but some are being fixed up.

The most famous spring in the village is the Gardner Spring. It was once owned by the Pavilion Hotel. The water from this spring has a lot of sulfur gas. This makes the creek water look white like milk. The stones in the creek get covered with a thick white layer. Even old shoes or tin pails thrown into the stream change color. Some turn snowy white, while others become deep black. The green plants in the creek also turn perfectly white.

Sharon Springs has four different kinds of mineral waters. These waters were believed to have healing powers. The village has sulfur, magnesia, chalybeate, and 'Blue Stone' springs. In the 1800s, Sharon Springs became a busy spa. At its busiest, 10,000 visitors came each summer. Famous people like the Vanderbilt family and Oscar Wilde visited. Trains and ferries connected Sharon Springs to New York City and Boston.

Village History

Before British settlers arrived, the Iroquois people used Sharon Springs. They came for its healing waters. In 1772, the British created Tryon County. Sharon Springs, then called New Dorlach, was settled around 1780. Tryon County was a large farming area. It was known as the "Breadbasket of the Colonies."

During the American Revolution, the town of Sharon saw some small battles. One important fight was the Battle of Sharon on July 10, 1781. About 300 British and Iroquois soldiers camped near Sharon Springs Swamp. They had just won a battle and burned homes nearby. Colonel Marinus Willett led 150 American soldiers to attack them. Willett's men fought in the swamp and killed 40 enemy soldiers. The British and Iroquois fled, and Willett claimed victory.

After the Revolution, Sharon Springs became part of Schoharie. In 1784, Tryon County was renamed Montgomery County. This was to honor General Richard Montgomery, an American war hero. Later, in 1795, Schoharie County was formed. The town of Sharon was created in 1797. In 1871, Sharon Springs officially became its own village.

Changes Over Time

Over time, Sharon Springs changed. Wealthy families who used to visit moved to other resorts. Then, Jewish families from Germany started coming. They were not always welcome at other places. Sharon Springs became a safe place for them. Later, these families also moved on to more modern resorts. The village's economy started to slow down. Other things that hurt the village were Prohibition (which stopped hop farming) and the new New York State Thruway. The Thruway made it easier for people to drive past the area.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Sharon Springs was linked to beer makers. Most American hops (used for beer) grew in this part of New York. So, brewers like Henry Clausen and Max Shaefer built homes here. But after World War I, hop farming ended in New York. This was due to new competition and Prohibition.

From the 1920s to the 1960s, "kuchaleyans" became popular. These were boarding houses where people could cook their own meals. In Yiddish, "kuchaleyans" means "cook-alones." They were cheaper than big hotels. Many poor people and refugees from Europe stayed there. One of these houses, "The Brustman House," still stands today.

After World War II, Sharon Springs got a boost. The West German government helped Holocaust survivors. They paid for medical care, including spa vacations. In 1946, Edward I. Koch, who later became mayor of New York City, worked at the Adler Hotel.

From the 1970s to the 1990s, Hasidic and ultra-Orthodox Jewish visitors came to Sharon Springs. Many hotels owned by Hasidic families opened. These hotels helped connect Sharon Springs' past as a famous resort to its new life as a travel spot.

Village Comeback

In the 1970s, people from the New York City suburbs started coming to Sharon Springs. Many were hunters who enjoyed the outdoors. Unlike the Hasidic tourists, who mostly moved on, these new visitors stayed. They built families and made Sharon Springs their full-time home.

By the late 1980s, Sharon Springs looked a bit run down. But in the 1990s, it started to get better. Many old buildings were saved from being destroyed. New people moved in, looking for affordable places to start businesses. The New York Times wrote about the village's comeback. They noted that many educated people from New York City were buying second homes. Also, "heritage tourism" became popular. This means people wanted to visit historic places. Low house prices and good news stories helped bring in new artists and business owners.

Interesting Places to Visit

American Hotel, a restored historic building.

The American Hotel on Main Street was one of the first buildings to be fixed up. It was falling apart when new owners bought it in 1996. They turned the old Greek Revival building (built around 1847) into a working hotel with a restaurant. The guest houses were also renovated in 2005.

The Klinkhart Building is across from the American Hotel. It used to have a theater with 300 seats. There are plans to fix it up and make it an arts center.

The Roseboro is another grand old building from the village's spa days. Two local people saved the 150-room Roseboro from being torn down. They started a huge restoration project. The building now has a restaurant, event space, and shops. You can find an antique shop and a Victorian tea room there.

Local Businesses and Success Stories

One famous business in the village is Beekman 1802 Mercantile. It was started in 2008 by Dr. Brent Ridge and author Josh Kilmer-Purcell. Their business has been featured in magazines and on TV shows. A reality TV show called The Fabulous Beekman Boys followed their efforts to build a farm business. Famous people like Martha Stewart and Rosie O'Donnell even appeared on the show.

Beekman 1802 Mercantile, a popular local business.

There are 177 buildings in the village that are on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1997, the village received a grant to create a walking tour. There are plaques on Main Street that tell visitors about the town's history. These plaques show old photos and give information. They help people imagine how grand the town used to be.

Many bed and breakfast inns have opened in Sharon Springs. They use the beautiful valley and hills to attract visitors. This helps the town's economy. Other business owners have moved to the village too. They continue to help the town grow.

The biggest employer in the village is a Walmart distribution center. However, there is no actual Walmart store in Sharon Springs.

Fun Seasonal Events

Sharon Springs hosts many fun events throughout the year:

• The Garden Party festival in May.
• The Father's Day Tractor & Antique Power Show in June.
• A Fourth of July parade and celebration.
• Summer concerts every Wednesday night in July and August.
• The Sharon Springs Annual Antique Fair in August.
• The Harvest Festival in September.
• The Sharon Springs Poetry Festival in October.
• The Victorian Festival in December.

TV Shows and Movies Filmed Here

In 2009 and 2010, Sharon Springs was the setting for the reality TV show The Fabulous Beekman Boys. The village has also been featured on The Food Network's $40 A Day and Rachael Ray's Tasty Travels. Famous reporter Charles Kuralt filmed a segment of his On The Road series here. He tracked a rare bluebird found on Route 20.

Sharon Springs has also been a backdrop for two movies. The 1951 comedy The Model and the Marriage Broker has a scene set in Sharon Springs. The 1970 horror movie I Drink Your Blood was mostly filmed in the village. A postcard of Sharon Springs even appears in the opening of the movie National Lampoons Vacation.

Future Plans for the Village

In 2004, a group called Sharon Springs Inc. (SSI) bought several historic hotels. Their goal was to make Sharon Springs a resort town again. They bought the Adler, Columbia, and Washington hotels. They also bought the Imperial Baths, which were working at the time. The Baths closed in 2005. This was the first time in a long while that the village did not have a mineral bath business.

In 2007, SSI announced a $12 million plan. They wanted to restore the Imperial Baths and the Adler Hotel. They hoped to bring in 700 visitors a day. The plans included traditional baths and modern spa facilities. Later, the plans changed to a much bigger idea. This new plan involved building two 11-story hotels, a golf course, and more.

Delays and New Ideas

For many years, no work started on these big plans. The historic buildings began to fall apart even more. In 2013, SSI said plans were back on track. They received a $5 million loan and a $1 million grant. This money helped tear down the Hotel Washington. It was also meant to help fix the roof of the Adler Hotel. The funds were also for restoring the Imperial Baths.

In May 2015, new plans for the Imperial Baths were shared. They included tearing down some collapsed buildings. Asbestos (a dangerous material) was to be removed from the Imperial Baths. Long-term plans included tearing down the Columbia Hotel for a parking lot. They also hoped to restore the Adler Hotel. The Imperial Baths were planned to have an Asian theme in the back. The front would look like the original design.

In November 2024, a Japanese hotel company, Hoshino Resorts, announced exciting news. They are developing a Japanese-style spa and inn (onsen ryokan) in Sharon Springs. This new resort is expected to open in 2028.

New York State Grants

In 2008, Sharon Springs received a $500,000 grant from New York State. This money was for the Pavilion Cottages. These cottages are the last part of the historic Pavilion Hotel. Sadly, this grant was not used and expired in 2010.

In 2009, another grant of $1,000,000 was given to Sharon Springs Inc. This was for creating The Imperial Spa. The plan was to make a large spa with outdoor bathing areas. This project was expected to create 100 new jobs. It aimed to turn the historic Imperial Bathhouse (built around 1927) into a modern luxury spa. The goal was to make Sharon Springs a spa destination again. However, work on this project has been slow. The historic bathhouses continue to get worse.

Village Geography

Sharon Springs is located at 42°47′41″N 74°36′57″W / 42.79472°N 74.61583°W / 42.79472; -74.61583. The village covers about 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²) of land.

Sharon Springs is on New York State Route 10 (Main Street). It is just north of U.S. Route 20. There are two small lakes south of the village: Bowmaker Pond and Clausen Pond.

Population Information

In 2000, there were 547 people living in Sharon Springs. There were 204 households and 130 families. About 30.9% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.42 people. The average family had 3.03 people.

The population was spread out by age. About 23.4% were under 18. About 23.4% were 65 or older. The average age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were about 89.3 males.

The average income for a household was $37,969. For a family, it was $45,000. About 12.1% of the population lived below the poverty line. This included 23.4% of those under 18.

See also

In Spanish: Sharon Springs (Nueva York) para niños