In September of 2013, two years after purchasing Spa Dental, Susan Hansen ’01 and her husband, James, decided to renovate the second floor of 68 Milton Ave in Ballston Spa. Susan met with Paul and Diane Marotta of PDL Enterprises at the property to consider options. Thus began a year-long journey.
Originally, the Hansens contemplated creating two rental apartments due to the generous size of the building at 1,800 square feet. Ultimately, all agreed to preserve the natural beauty, albeit difficult to envision with the presence of such decay. Creating one home would involve removing walls that separated double windows, relocating bathrooms, restoring tin ceilings, cleaning up interior doors, replacing windows and exterior doors, designing a new kitchen, replacing the water pipes and electric wiring, fabricating parts for an ancient radiator system and exploring options for the floors. It was obvious that the walls constructed for office space were added at some point. After locating a wainscoting board with a name and date of 1942, it was realized that the last update perhaps was in the 1940s.
Over the winter months of 2013-2014, the progress was extremely slow. The two bathrooms present were in the kitchen and hall, both not ideal. The radiators did not operate properly and the electric wiring was faulty. On New Year’s Eve, a member of the cleaning staff called at 3 a.m. 
panicked that a pipe had burst upstairs and water was pouring through the floors to the dental office below.
In February, Paul and Diane made an amazing discovery. While removing linoleum flooring in the kitchen, Paul found a faded bowling lane complete with hardware. This singular event sparked Susan’s interest in researching # 68 Milton Ave.
Lauren Roberts, Saratoga County historian, toured the dilapidated rooms commenting on the later addition of walls, the rounded brick work over the windows. Lauren and Lynn, researchers, explained that the Sanborn Maps would be a starting point for research. Upon carefully examining the Sanborn Maps, coupled with the deed history, they realized several things: the street numbers had changed and that the building was indeed a restaurant and bowling alley with a kitchen in the rear of the first floor and cement between floors. The 1911 maps read “Restrt Sal. Bowling 2Fl Iron Ceilings.” This confirmed the lane discovery in a historically tangible way. Returning to the Sanborn map from 1897 “Herbert Ho” was at the same location. At this time, it was not realized that Herbert Ho indicated the Herbert House Hotel (opening in 1886). A few years later, in 1904, the Herbert House Hotel at #62 Milton Ave and several other properties were missing from the Sanborn Maps. Lauren compared the date on the deed indicating the Ballston Spa National Bank acquired the property in 1901. It was noted the changes on the map and surmised fire had destroyed the original three story building. According to the deed, Mary Massey bought the burned-out land from the Ballston Spa National Bank in 1902 at auction for $1,500.00. It was unknown the reason that the bank held the property, however, it is speculated that no fire insurance was obtained for the property.
Using the website Fultonhistory.com, it was ascertained that the Herbert House Hotel was a three-story building, small but well- appointed with a billiards room and eight sleeping rooms, a kitchen on the third floor to prevent odors from bothering guests and a barn in back. The Saratogian Newspaper frequently wrote about H.B. Massey, his building and the trouble he was involved in. Herbert was a man who displayed great compassion when he adopted Mary’s two young boys and offered employment with the restaurant years later. Herbert, however, was known to be very demanding, using his fists and his words to control others. Numerous articles depicted Massey as an aggressive person, a man not afraid to sue the local railroad or a land owner for a tree limb injury. Herbert was an owner of pool halls and a contemporary of James Canfield and “Cale” Mitchell. Illegal gambling, illegal alcohol sales and violence were his way of life in the early 1900’s.
The hotel burned completely March 1, 1901. Stephen Williams, a Schenectady Gazette reporter, provided photos of the burned out lot during his research of the bowling alley for an article ultimately published in February 2014. It would be nine years before the Massey Café & Bowling would be open to the public. During this time, Herbert purchased Pleasure Grove, a pool hall, and later the White House after the suicide of Caleb Mitchell provided an opportunity to lease the pool hall near the Saratoga Racetrack. The crack-down of gambling establishments, lead in part by the Trask family (known for the Yaddo Gardens of Saratoga Springs) occurred in 1902, causing “Pool Hall Wars.” Much was written about this in the local newspapers.
Upon removing the bathroom tub, sink and badly damaged tile floor, Paul discovered the second bowling lane. In an attempt to repair the sub floor Paul, waist deep in the floor, found the foot pedal mechanism for the bowling lane and a 1911 baseball card. The “cement” floor description on the Sanborn map was merely rocks and soil used as a buffer in 1910.
The baseball card found in the ruined floor depicted Edward Cicotte, “knuckle ball” pitcher for the Red Sox. Eddie later played for the White Sox and was involved in the 1919 World Series scandal. It is speculated that Edward Cicotte was cheated out of a bonus causing animosity against his manager, and bitterness in general. The card was in very good condition and today is framed for viewing of both sides. Cards like these were common in cigarette packs at this time and used to promote the sale of tobacco.
The bowling lane that was removed returned in the form of a table thanks to a local artist. The metal circles used to steady the pins, and the wood that held them, was constructed to both serve and be admired.
The original mosaic tile floor was a remarkable surprise under entryway hall carpeting. Unfortunately, the 1909 floor was covered by glue and leveling compound. Over many months and thorough scraping with razor blades and a strong product, the colorful flower and block design floor is restored to very good condition.
During the renovation every door was marked and removed. Each foot of tin primed and painted. Tin that was removed lay stacked in the great room, or tin sorting room. The two full bathrooms boast new subway tile as was common in the 1900 era. A hearth for a gas stove was installed from reclaimed brick and laid to resemble the brick wall on the southern wall. The original 1910 building was brick and tin on all surfaces, by revealing the brick along the length of one wall, texture and color offered an interesting contrast to the bronze tin.
The restoration of the bowling lanes/floor was a several week process. Due to the sap in the fir flooring, the removal of glue, and over one hundred years of neglect, the flooring was particularly difficult to restore. More than once it was deemed impossible to remove the remnants of linoleum, however, persistence paid off and the beauty of the contrasting boards is truly amazing.
On Nov. 6, 2014 an open house celebrated the completion of the bowling alley apartment. Between February and November 2014 each pipe, electrical wire, radiator, wall, tin ceiling, door floor board had been lovingly restored or replaced. Additions such as period lighting, a beautiful chandelier and a claw foot tub were brought in to complete the feel of the H.B. Massey Building. Approximately 25 men and women came to see the bowling lanes, learn about Herbert Massey and experience the contributions of talented artists, both men and women. Period bowling pins and a ball lent themselves to a bit of old-fashioned fun for the party goers, who marveled at duck pin bowling in a kitchen.
John Herbert B. Massey was 51 years of age when the Massey Café & Bowling opened for business. Mr. Massey passed away April 23, 1917 and is buried in Ballston Spa. Shortly after Herbert’s, death the business failed.
Paul and Diane Marotta of PDL Enterprises, numerous local companies and individuals have lovingly restored # 68 Milton Ave, known as the H.B. Massey Building. By listening to what this building whispered, the result is spectacular and one truly feels as though they experience a hint of the 1910 era upon entering.
Published: Fri, 14 Nov 2014 12:30:59 +0000 by g.miller