Universal Preservation Hall: A Historic Beacon of Arts and Community in Saratoga Springs

Universal Preservation Hall (UPH), located at 25 Washington Street in Saratoga Springs, New York, stands as a testament to the enduring power of community, the transformative potential of preservation, and the vibrant intersection of history and the arts. Since its construction in 1871, the building has served as a cornerstone of Saratoga Springs, evolving from a Methodist church to a dynamic performing arts and community events venue. Its journey is a story of faith, decline, and ultimately, a remarkable rebirth fueled by the dedication of visionary Saratogians.

From Methodist Episcopal Church to Universal Preservation Hall

Early Years and Construction

In 1829, a Methodist Episcopal circuit was established, encompassing the towns of Malta Ridge, Wilton, Greenfield, and Saratoga Springs. Reverend Orin Foote traveled throughout the area, ministering to Methodist Episcopal families, as the church was still gaining popularity in Saratoga. Initially, the circuit served only one family in Saratoga Springs, John and Diana Morrill, whose influence helped the congregation grow steadily over the next three decades, swelling to a hundred members in just eleven years.

The first Methodist-Episcopal church was built in 1830 at the corner of Broadway and Greenfield Avenue. However, due to its inconvenient location, it was abandoned after nine years. J. D. Moriarty, the preacher appointed to Saratoga Springs, advocated for relocation. On April 23, 1836, the church purchased land at 25 Washington Street from Dr. John Clarke for $1000.

The cornerstone was laid in July 1840, marking the official start of the building's creation. Inside the cornerstone, a bible, hymnbook, discipline, a copy of the magazine Christian Advocate, and valuable documents regarding the congregation were placed. The First Methodist Episcopal church was dedicated and opened on July 23, 1841.

A Grand Vision Takes Shape

By 1870, the church had outgrown its space, prompting the construction of a new, larger building. Renowned architect Elbridge Boyden designed the Hall in 1871 to host Methodist Conferences. The Troy Annual Conference was held in the building from 1872 until 1961. This conference brought together Methodists from upstate and western New York, Vermont, and Massachusetts to discuss relevant topics such as district boundaries, the state of their respective congregations and to hold religious orations. The building even hosted the Methodist General Conference in 1916, at which President William Howard Taft and William Jennings Bryan both spoke. Notable figures such as Henry Ward Beecher, Frederick Douglas and Senator Edward T. Brackett also spoke at conference events.

Elbridge Boyden designed the Hall in 1871. It is considered one of the earliest and finest examples of High Victorian Gothic architecture. Boyden contrasted the rose colored brick with light Ohio sandstone to define the pointed Gothic arches that frame the doors and windows. He used horizontal bands of this sandstone to unify the entire building. Inside, two walnut and ash staircases lead upstairs to the main theatre. The ceiling of this room is forty-five feet above the floor. The balcony, when in use, can seat two hundred and wraps around three sides of the auditorium. All of the supports that define the balcony and the ceiling beams feature Gothic arches that echo those in the tall, abstract, Tiffany-inspired, stained-glass windows in the room.

Challenges and Transitions

The First Methodist Episcopal church suffered a setback on December 27, 1903, when a fire destroyed the front section of the church and the southwest steeple. This occurred just two days after the church officially paid off all debt that was owed for previous construction.

During the 1950s, despite extensive repairs, the congregation lacked the funds for daily maintenance. On December 18, 1976, the Universal Baptist Church, led by Reverend Minnie Burns, purchased the building for $18,000. The congregation was dramatically smaller than the previous parish and consisted of African Americans living on the West Side of Saratoga, a working-class neighborhood. Due to the limited financial resources of this congregation, the church fell into further disrepair.

A Fight for Preservation

By 1998, the Saratoga Preservation Foundation hired an engineering study to determine the full extent of the damages. It was determined that the building was unsafe for habitation, and the congregation was evacuated. With the help of community members and the town, the church was designated as an official project of the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Save America’s Treasures. This designation protected the building from destruction and opened doors to acquire much needed government funding.

This designation led to a partnership between the town and the Universal Baptist Church to create a community space within the building for performance and events, with a separate worship area for the Baptist congregation. The building is now structurally sound, allowing the congregation to return and resume services. Their chapel relocated to a small room on the first floor, instead of the sanctuary, which has now been allocated for the community. The upper floor is now designated to holding events such as weddings, dance performances, theater productions, and SaratogaArtsFest.

The Rebirth of Universal Preservation Hall

Universal Preservation Hall is a year-round performing arts and community events venue in Saratoga Springs, NY. Long-anticipated renovation and construction took place between 2015 and 2019. The Hall hosts a 700-seat theatre-in-the-round Great Hall with a community event space, administrative offices, glass atrium and an elevator for increased accessibility. The upstairs features new seating descending from the rear balcony and, on the other end of the 7,000 square-foot room.

Thanks to a group of dedicated and visionary Saratogians who wouldn’t let the space be turned into a parking lot, UPH has become is a true community center, adding to downtown’s vitality and continuation of a culture of the arts that is expected from Saratoga Springs.

Renovations to make UPH a truly stunning performing arts venue began in 2018. Universal Preservation Hall opened Feb. 29, 2020. The opening kicked off an entire week of grand opening activities with singer/songwriter Rosanne Cash.

Thaler Reilly Wilson Architecture & Preservation completed the exterior restoration and interior renovation of the building and the design of an addition. UPH was awarded grants from the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation and the New York Landmarks Conservancy Sacred Sites Program. They also assisted in securing a Technical Assistance Grant from the Preservation League of New York State for preparation of an accessibility study which was completed in 2014 and a 2015 grant from the Empire State Development Corporation.

Although the Hall won New York State’s Historic Preservation Award for renovation in 2007, construction is still ongoing as funds slowly trickle in. The building still requires a heating system, new floors, and windows but is slowly on its way to fulfilling the vision of the board of trustees for the space.

UPH as a Center for Arts and Community

A Diverse Range of Events

Shortly after opening, COVID-19 hit. Universal Preservation Hall featured the exhibit “Part of the Machine: Rock & Pinball” starting on July 26, 2020, through Aug. 30, 2020. The interactive exhibit, courtesy of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, showcased rock-themed, playable pinball machines and combined them with merchandise and artifacts to explore the artistic portrayal of artists and bands. On July 25, 2021, UPH welcomed “Dinosaurs in Motion: Where Art and Science Meet.” Dinosaurs in Motion was a new, interactive, engaging STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Mathematics) exhibition that engaged and educated the visitor by using 14 magnificent, fully interactive, recycled life-size metal dinosaur sculptures inspired by actual fossils. The visitor was taken on a highly interactive apprentice’s path that follows the story of the master artist, John Payne.

UPH hosts approximately 150 events annually, many of which sell out the almost 700- seat venue. The organization has established “Neighbors for Neighbors,” a program that is designed to help groups find affordable ways to use the space. A core of performing arts organizations use the space on a regular basis, including Opera Saratoga, Schenectady-Saratoga Symphony Orchestra, Nacra Dance Group and a monthly comedy series “Women Aren’t Funny.” As for basic bookings, that is done by Proctors. This has been so successful that UPH and Proctors are providing the entertainment and ticketing services for Saratoga’s New Year’s Celebration.

The Hall’s November schedule includes music ranging from country to grunge, a jazzy version of Broadway show tunes, comedy and children’s shows and a salsa night. December is even busier and more varied. LeAnn Rimes played the Hall November 10. The opening act for Universal Preservation Hall in February 2020 was Rosanne Cash.

The Vision of Teddy Foster

A person who has been vital to the process of rescue and growth is Teddy Foster, who is now the executive director of UPH. She joined the board in 2006 and was in charge of fundraising. Soon thereafter, she became board president, charged with keeping the dream alive without money or staff in a time of economic recession. In 2012, she contacted Philip Morris and began discussions of UPH becoming part of Proctors Collaborative. In 2015, the two groups joined forces. Foster became executive director of UPH and continued her fundraising efforts. Between 2018-2020 Proctors used the resources to reclaim and refurnish the building.

Foster’s vision has proven to be accurate. She estimates the Hall host approximately 150 events annually, many of which sell out the almost 700- seat venue. Jokingly she adds, “Maybe soon we won’t be the best kept secret in town.” She says that the support UPH provides to other not-for-profits seems to her to be the most satisfying.

Foster created the current healthy position of the Hall with a “one step at a time” approach. When asked her future goals, she says, quite simply “My goal is that Universal Preservation Hall continue to survive and thrive.”

A Sacred Space for the Community

Although the community does not recognize it as a space solely dedicated to religion, its rich history and importance to the community has made this building sacred to many Saratogians. It is a space that celebrates life, through marriage, the arts, local history, and community bonding.

Rev. Dr. says, "The space itself, um, it has a feel. When you walk into the building, I think it has a feel to it. Just the grandeur of the building, the fact this has been here since 1871, has been used for several different uses through the years. Um, I am always comfortable here. There is something about the space. I think it might have to do with the fact that it has been a church on this spot, since roughly 1840, 1841. Um, that itself, I think, gives it a special feel. It wasn't a grocery store and then changed into something else. It has always been a church for over the last 100 years, the last 150 years. Um, so that is what makes it special for me, and um, I love the space."

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