I am unaware of any evidence that James Fenimore Cooper wrote any of "The
Last of the Mohicans" at Ballston Spa, though he does, of course, mention
it in the novel as a resort. According to his daughter, he spent the summer
of 1825, during which he wrote "Mohicans," in Astoria, Long Island. He did
visit Saratoga and Lake George in August of 1824, and got the idea for
writing "The Last of the Mohicans."
        I should, however, love to hear of any evidence to the contrary.

Hugh C. MacDougall
Secretary/Treasurer
James Fenimore Cooper Society
8 Lake Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326-1016

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> From: Daniel H. Weiskotten <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Brookside Museum, Saratoga County History Center
> Date: Monday, November 09, 1998 1:46 PM
>
> Brookside Museum, the Saratoga County History Center, in Ballston Spa,
now
> has their new web page up and running!
>
> The museum occupies Brookside, built in 1792, which is one of the oldest
> buildings in the Village of Ballston Spa.  Originally built to house
> overnight guests visiting the famous springs of Ballston Spa, Brookside
> sheltered society from Albany, New York, Philadelphia, Charleston, and
New
> England. These guests included Washington Irving, who etched his presence
> on a window-pane, and possibly James Fenimore Cooper as local legend
states
> he wrote The Last of the Mohicans while in residence at Brookside.
> Brookside later became a boy's academy, private home, boarding house,
> sanitarium, apartment building, and now, finally, a museum, dedicated to
> preserving the history of Saratoga County.  As the home of the Saratoga
> County Historical Society, Brookside hosts changing and permanent
exhibits,
> educational programs, genealogical research, adult classes, and special
> events.
>
> On the new web page you will find information about the museum,
membership,
> adult classes, and a calendar of events.
>
> Please visit Brookside's web page at http://www.brooksidemuseum.org
>
> Thanks to all!
>
> Dan Weiskotten
> (formerly of Cazenovia, NY now of Richmond, VA)