Saratoga Battlefield Association

Detail image of the original 1926 map showing the 4 farms comprising the preserved battlefield site. Prominent image text reads "Freeman Farm" and "179.95 acres"

Saratoga NHP

How might individuals preserve memory?

The Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) thought of Saratoga Battlefield in the 1920s, and that question gnawed at them. Preserving the battlefield was blatantly necessary; doing so would prove challenging.

Just after World War I, amid growing national interest in preserving Revolutionary War battlefields, the Rochester (NY) Chapter SAR lobbied Congress to create a National Military Park at Saratoga Battlefield. Congress, overwhelmed by multiple similar requests elsewhere, did nothing.

Undeterred, in 1923, the Rochester Chapter SAR created a committee authorized to purchase a few farms on the Saratoga Battlefield. Extensive backing by the National SAR and several other organizations and individuals allowed the committee to acquire permanent status and obtain New York State legislative chartering as the Saratoga Battlefield Association (SBA). The SBA got right to work.

Anticipating the Sesquicentennial of the Battles of Saratoga, the SBA drew up a list of 10 resolutions for action. Their intent was that lands of historical significance to the battles would be acquired “and converted into a national park.”

Charles Ogden, alternating as first president and secretary of the SBA, negotiated purchasing two properties—the nearly 180-acre Wright (originally Freeman) farm for $11,500, and the 101-acre Sarle farm for $9,500. The $21,000 combined purchases gave the SBA just over 280 acres of then-preserved battlefield land.

The SBA’s initiative and efforts broke a lengthy impasse: in 1926, New York State finally showed support for Saratoga Battlefield by purchasing the 150-acre Neilson Farm ($20,500) and the 107-acre Gannon farm ($12,000)— a new total of 538 preserved acres.

The SBA’s vision for preserving memory of the Battles of Saratoga witnessed another milestone in 1927: NYS formally accepted the SBA’s two battlefield farms and combed them with their own two as a State historical site.

How might you preserve memory?