All Over Albany

It's Batcheller, not Bachelor

It's an easy mistake. When you hear the locals talk about the well known mansion above Congress Park you'd think it was an elaborate "Bachelor pad" from the Rat Pack age.
But the BATCHELLER mansion wasn't built by a swinging single cat in the 1940's, it was designed by a guy named Batcheller in the 1870's. A pretty impressive guy.

George Sherman Batcheller was no slouch. Born in the Adirondack town of Batchellerville (yes, it was named for his family) he graduated from Harvard at 20. At 22 he became a member of the New York State Assembly. He went on to serve in the Civil War, became Inspector General of the New York State Militia, and was appointed by President Grant as a judge of the International Tribunal in Egypt, where he became presiding Justice. And, oh yeah, he was eventually appointed the U.S. Minister to Portugal.

In Saratoga Springs, his longest-lasting accomplishment was the construction of his home at 20 Circular Street in 1873. The castle-like structure fell on hard times in the mid-20th Century, but it was eventually renovated and turned into a Bed and Breakfast.

Batcheller's responsibilities took him around the world, but he always considered Saratoga Springs his home. His final resting place is the Greenridge Cemetery, less than a mile from the mansion.

Mike Hare is the author of Saratoga Lives and a Spa City tour guide.