The History of Balls-Town

The Introduction

Ballston Spa is currently the border of two towns, the town of Ballston and the town of Milton. It is an area within Saratoga County, in upstate NY. Ballston Spa has its village, and outskirts that outline Ballston and borders Saratoga Springs.

It used to be distinguished by being called Ballston Centre. Before its incorporation in 1807, Ballston Spa was referred to as Ballston, (shortened from Ball’s Town), Ballston Springs, Bath, Springs, never really called Ballston Spa. Ballston Spa has its village, but its town and history have so many stories on how it got started, and when people realized how special this area is and was. Small hamlets or towns may have been forgotten, or the only thing that remains is a simple sign, such as Factory Village. Other hamlets are now just street names, such as the East Line hamlet. Bloodville and Craneville is long gone, and today, many would be surprised to know the infamy of the Old Iron Springs, and its healing mineral waters. Those waters still run, but not as vast as they did, and some forgot about them, and head north to Saratoga Springs, where they can enjoy, if they have a taste for it, the mineral water that pours from various fountains and salt banks.

Balls-Town

Coming March 21 2024

With such lush and savage history, the Towns of Milton and Ballston were one, Balls-Town. The settlers, pioneers may still be recognized for the start of the towns, but there is more to the story. People, not just prominent, and the writings of people, long past, where their work may be long forgotten. It is a shame that some are forgotten, so with this being a history of Balls-Town, the incorporation of the Village of Ballston Spa, it is also an homage to those who wrote about these precious lands of the towns. Some stories, poems, historical writings about these hometowns, may have been once lost, but in this book, some of them are being revived.
I'm Amy Shannon, and this is my hometown, and its community of history, lingering spirits, and neighbors.

A Poem on the Mineral Springs

An Analysis of the Mineral Waters of Saratoga and Ballston

A Poem on the Mineral Springs of Ballston and Saratoga, with notes illustrating the History of the Springs and Adjacent Country. Published by Reuben Sears, Printed by J. Comstock, Ballston Spa, NY. 1819

An Analysis of the Mineral Waters of Saratoga and Ballston

An Analysis of the Mineral Waters of Saratoga and Ballston, with practical remarks on their medical properties by Dr. John H. Steel, 1840.

The Bench and Bar of Saratoga County

An Analysis of the Mineral Waters of Saratoga and Ballston

Saratoga the Battle-Battle Ground-Visitor's Guide

The Bench and Bar of Saratoga County or, Reminiscence of the Judiciary and scenes in the courtroom by Enos Mann, ESQ. 1876

Saratoga the Battle-Battle Ground-Visitor's Guide

The Genealogy of Judge John Taylor and His Descendants

Saratoga the Battle-Battle Ground-Visitor's Guide

Saratoga the Battle-Battle Ground-Visitor's Guide with Maps by Ellen Hardin Walworth. 1877.

The Genealogy of Judge John Taylor and His Descendants

The Genealogy of Judge John Taylor and His Descendants. Published by The Richmond & Backus Co,. Stationeries and Printers. 1886.

Our County and its People.

The Genealogy of Judge John Taylor and His Descendants

Our County and its People. A descriptive and biographical record of Saratoga County NY. Prepared and published by The Saratogian, and printed by The Boston History Company. 1899.

History of the Ball Family

A pedestrian Tour of Two Thousand Three Hundred Miles in North America

Article: The Reminiscences of James Gordon

History of the Ball Family: Genealogy of the New Haven Branch by Abram Leonard Bradley. 1855. Privately Reprinted Printed in NY 1916.

Article: The Reminiscences of James Gordon

A pedestrian Tour of Two Thousand Three Hundred Miles in North America

Article: The Reminiscences of James Gordon

Article: The Reminiscences of James Gordon. New York History, 17(3), 316-333. by J. Gordon and J. Mayer. 1936.

A pedestrian Tour of Two Thousand Three Hundred Miles in North America

A pedestrian Tour of Two Thousand Three Hundred Miles in North America. To the Lakes, -The Canadas, and The New-England States Performed in the autumn of 1821. Embellished with Views. By P. Stansbury . New York. Published and Sold by J. D Myers and W. Smith. No. 59 Fulton Street. 1822

The first books printed in Ballston Spa

A Plain account of the ordinance of Baptism

A Plain account of the ordinance of Baptism; in which all the texts in the New Testament relating to it are proved and the holy Doctrine concerning dram from them alone by William Foot

A plea for the Non-Conformists

A Plain account of the ordinance of Baptism

A plea for the Non-Conformists by Thomas Delaune

Lectures on the Prophecies

A Plain account of the ordinance of Baptism

Lectures on the Prophecies

Lectures on the Prophecies by Elhanan Wincester

The Friend of Peace

Travels through the United States of America, in the years 1807, and 1809, 1810, & 1811

Lectures on the Prophecies

The Friend of Peace by Mr. Comstock in 1822.

Ballston Springs

Travels through the United States of America, in the years 1807, and 1809, 1810, & 1811

Ballston Springs by Thomas Law. 1806. Printed by S. Gould.

Travels through the United States of America, in the years 1807, and 1809, 1810, & 1811

Travels through the United States of America, in the years 1807, and 1809, 1810, & 1811; including an account of passages betwixt America and Britain, and travels through various parts of Britain, Ireland, & Canada. With corrections and improvements till 1815. Illustrated by coloured maps and plans by J. Melish. 1818.

The Tourist

The Tourist (pocket manual for travelers on the Hudson River, the western canal, and stage road, to Niagara Falls, comprising also the routes to Lebanon, Ballston, and Saratoga Springs) by Robert J. Vandewater. 1839.

Books by Nathaniel Bartlet Sylvester

Saratoga and Kayadrossera: An historical address

Saratoga and Kayadrossera: An historical address. (1876)

History of Saratoga County, New York

Saratoga and Kayadrossera: An historical address

History of Saratoga County, New York; with historical notes of its various towns. Together with Biographical sketches of its prominent men and leading citizens. (1893)

1609-1878 History of Saratoga County New York

1609-1878 History of Saratoga County New York with Illustrations and Biographical sketches. Some of its prominent men and pioneers. (1878)

Historic Muse on Mount MacGregor

1609-1878 History of Saratoga County New York

Historic Muse on Mount MacGregor, one of the Adirondacks. (1885)

Other Books About Ballston and surrounding areas

Centennial History of the Village of Ballston Spa

Indian legends of Saratoga and of the upper Hudson Valley

Centennial History of the Village of Ballston Spa, including the town of Ballston and Milton- A souvenir of the Centennial Celebration, held June 22-25, 1907. by Edward F. Grose, and John Booth

Indian legends of Saratoga and of the upper Hudson Valley

Indian legends of Saratoga and of the upper Hudson Valley by Nathaniel Bartlett Sylvester

Balls-Town

Amy Shannon talks about Balls-Town