Saratogian Eugene Corsale Honored for Efforts Preserving Gideon Putnam Burying Ground:
The sun shined brightly Thursday morning at the Gideon Putnam Burying Ground for the memorial tree dedication ceremony honoring West Side resident Eugene Corsale and his efforts to preserve and enhance the city’s oldest cemetery.
Nearly 30 people gathered – including his wife Barbara Corsale and his daughter Angela Brady – to join members of the Heritage Garden Club, the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation, Sustainable Saratoga, and the Korean War Veterans Color Guard to commemorate the work of Corsale.
Despite efforts to preserve the cemetery that took place in the 1980s, by 2000 it had once again fallen into disrepair and had been vandalized. Corsale, disappointed by the condition of the burying ground, was committed to restoring the cemetery so it would be a source of pride for the West Side neighborhood and the city.
“The cemetery was ignored, overgrown, and misused – tombstones had been broken and used as skate board ramps; trash was strewn about; there was graffiti on the stone wall of the Gideon Putnam family plot; the landscape was overgrown; and dirt paths to the nearby strip mall traversed the cemetery,” shared Samantha Bosshart, Executive Director of the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation.
Those who gathered spoke of Corsale’s drive to restore the cemetery. With his tenacious leadership, the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation successfully secured $120,000 in grants to underwrite the restoration of the stone walls that surround the Putnam and Chapman family plots, the cleaning of gravestones, the removal of stumps and overgrown landscape, the reseeding of grass, the installation of perimeter fencing to prevent vandalism, and the completion of a survey and condition assessment of the gravestones.
Corsale engaged the help of the Department of Public Works, local businesses, and individuals as well as solicited volunteers of various organizations – the Boy Scouts of America, Saratoga Springs Lions Club, Saratoga Springs Rotary Club, Principessa Elena Society, and Soroptimists – to assist with clean-up and various projects.
The Heritage Garden Club became involved after Corsale spoke to the group about his efforts to restore the cemetery. After his presentation, several members of the club wanted to help. The first of many projects of the Heritage Garden Club in the cemetery was to plant flowers around the New York State Historical Marker when it was dedicated in 2003. “It was a joy and a pleasure to work with Eugene on the Gideon Putnam Burying Ground. The Heritage Garden Club is proud to be able to recognize his efforts in its restoration by planting an American Beech in his memory,” said long-time club member Martha Van Patten.
Sustainable Saratoga assisted the Heritage Garden Club with the purchasing, planting, and watering of the tree – during one of the driest summers in recent memory. “Sustainable Saratoga was happy that the desire to honor Eugene overlapped with our Centennial Tree Program and resulted in the planting of three trees in the cemetery including the one in Eugene’s memory,” said Tom Denny, Chair of Sustainable Saratoga’s Urban Tree Forestry Project. The partnership between the Heritage Garden Club, Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation, and Sustainable Saratoga in the planting of this tree is in keeping of Corsale’s collaborative spirit.
The Commissioner of Public Works Skip Scirocco was in attendance and was recognized for his department’s continued commitment to preserving this landmark with the recent repainting the ornamental iron fence.
“Gene’s vision for the Burial Ground – to be a site that honors the history of the city and is a source of pride for the people who live in the West Side – has come true. It is fitting that we honor his contributions with a memorial that will live on for future generation to enjoy,” wrote Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner who worked closely with Corsale during her time as Executive Director of the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation.
The founding father of Saratoga Springs, Gideon Putnam, set land aside in 1810 for a community cemetery. While inspecting the construction of his second hotel Congress Hall, he fell and died from his injuries. He was the first person buried in the cemetery in 1812. The cemetery is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a designated City Landmark.
Since 1977 the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation has served as the leading advocate for the preservation of the city’s unique architectural, cultural and landscaped heritage. To learn more or to become a member, please visit www.saratogapreservation.org.