Saratoga County History Center reopens with Dake family exhibit

The Saratoga County History Center and Brookside Museum is set to reopen on Saturday with an exhibit on a “Century of Ice Cream!”

The museum has been closed to the public since March 2020 because of COVID-19.

The exhibit honors the Dake family, who own the Stewart’s Shops convenience store chain. Although the first store didn’t open until 1945, Percy and Charles Dake started making ice cream in 1921.

Ballston Spa is also the site of the first ever store as well as the company’s corporate headquarters. The company now has over 300 stores throughout upstate New York and Vermont.

The museum’s summer hours are Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.