Schenectady Historic Stockade Garden Walk

If you’ve been reading my blog for long, then you know that my sweet husband and I enjoy poking around nearby towns and cities, exploring shops, enjoying art museums, and visiting historic sites. Not too long ago, we experienced the Schenectady Stockade Garden Walk for the first time. 

Multiple homes in the Stockade area of Schenectady (NY) opened up their gardens for a self-guided tour ($20), which benefited the Stockade Association. If you’re looking for things to do in the Schenectady area, then we highly recommend any of the Stockade walking tours that the Schenectady Historical Society puts on throughout the year. We’ve take a few ourselves and enjoyed them tremendously.

Settled in 1661 by Dutch fur-traders, this charming district located on the Mohawk River is the oldest residential district in the state and was in fact the first to receive designation as an historic site in 1962. It contains over 40 Dutch and English style homes that are each 200 or more years old(!).

Other related posts you might enjoy: Tour Schenectady Stockade, Mabee Farm: A Dutch Gem Part I, and Part II.

My introduction to the Stockade took place about two decades after I first moved to Albany. It came by way of the thrift shop at the historic St. George church–of course it was a thrift shop that drew me to the area. I’d heard about it for years, but had never visited.

“What’s the big deal,” I thought every time I heard about it.  Well today, I’ll give you a small taste of what the big deal is all about.

Unfortunately, all of the very earliest Dutch homes burned to the ground in 1690 during The Massacre of Schenectady, for which we have the French to thank.

But the area rebuilt quickly given its importance as a “gateway” to the West. The multitude heading to Buffalo and beyond would board a “bateaux” and travel up the Mohawk River to Lake Erie.

And as I mentioned, many of the remaining homes are plenty old and architecturally fascinating.

Antique Textiles at Schenectady First Presbyterian

We purchased our tickets for the walk at First Presbyterian Church and this beautiful quilt greeted us at the door. Covered with exquisitely quilted flowers and leaves in red, this quilt was handcrafted in the mid-1800’s by a Schenectady local of Dutch descent.

And this antique quilt, in the “Courthouse Steps” pattern and made of silk, dates to 1880.

And lastly, a jacquard coverlet dated 1834 was also on displya. But now it’s time to start the tour!

Starting the Stockade Garden Walk

Let’s go through the door in the secret garden and see what we find, shall we?

Beautiful hosta.

A leafy “Green Man” tile. In England, where we lived for two years (2009-2011), we spotted Green Men everywhere.

Stone carvers frequently added this motif to detail work both inside buildings as well as on the exterior. It can be fun to hunt for him while touring historic sites in Europe.

Flowers on the Stockade Garden Walk

Zinnias are some of my favorite flowers.

The bees like them too.

Aren’t they just beautiful?

Some trailing Verbina in front of an historic home–so sweet.

This photo a window box filled with pink geraniums is one of those happy accidents that you could never replicate no matter how hard you tried. The bright lighting washed everything out, creating a lovely watercolor effect.

I decided that I would love to share it with you! You can find it in the Member Library under the “Printables” category.

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Statuary on the Stockade Garden Walk 

Lovely statues adorned many of the gardens we visited.

They keep things interesting, don’t they?

Fencing I Fell in Love with on the Stockade Garden Walk

So here comes the super fun, chippy, rusty part of the tour–everywhere you turn in the Stockade. This term refers to the protective wall built around small towns in the “olden days”) you see old wrought iron fences of all shapes and sizes, many of them experiencing a bit of decay, like this one.

Many years of paint and rust on display here.

This rusty arrow-shaped fence against old barn board fencing is perfection.

And  the last “fence,” made brick, is my second favorite. The greenery trailed all along its length and created a brilliant contrast.

Historic Homes on the Schenectady Stockade Garden Walk

Speaking of brick, this 1860’s Union Street town home knocks my socks off. Love the old brick with white paint smatterings on this otherwise extremely tidy home. And that oak door! I mean really, does it get any better than this antique beauty?

And with a stunning brass doorplate–all scrolls and acanthus leaves and a lovely urn at the top. Yes, I love this door!

At 10 North Street you’ll find this darling painted brick home with black and red accents.

This c. 1790 Federal-style home on Front Street is known as the General Jacob Swits House, another lovely historic home.

We ended our tour by walking down to the river, and walking along the bike path. As we strolled along, we happened upon this painter–a charming end to a very charming garden walk.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

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Bye for now,

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